#jun variety show

[m00nlightshine]

230813 My Neighborhood Friend Kangnami youtube community with JUN

[kimsmingyu]

tbh i know a lot of carats don't want the rest of seventeen to enlist soon but i kind of hope they do so they all come back around the same time. we're lucky as stans because we still have 4 members that can be active even if it's not related to music and performing

[lesbiancarat]

I'm gonna just post Twitter updates for the time being... I'm still a little burnt out on posting updates but I don't want to completely get out of the habit and Twitter updates are usually the easiest to post

[svtcontents]

[#WEIBO] 241116 JUN #준

🐱: I believe that, the relationship that is formed between people, can sometimes be like [that of] baozi to baozi. Baozi don't know the type of fillings people would like, I don't know which version of myself that people would like, that's why [I] want to become a little more outstanding, a little more remarkable.

And the me right now, can tell the Wen Baozi of back then with certainty, "no matter which fillings you are, they will accept you, [and they] will support you.

(full translation in the picture)

[hydranomago]

Friendship = Giving each other electric shocks while singing

For the best screams, check it out [here]

The whole video is chaotic af 😂 no one survives They bought an Abs Stimulator (the censored brand name part) just for this

[amyzworldds]

Hello, i have a request uhm yn the 14th member is getting hate because of her chaos or something, being compared to other demure idol, and then she heard other members talking about it when she heard it she felt hurt and she thought like really deep thought she's being too much so she just went like normal (not normal her but normal to others yk) she's not loud, chaotic, she laughs but not in her way something like that she's not giving silent treatment but she's not giving normal treatment like that she's slowly trying to grow up like others has been saying and the member didn't like it, not one bit then they realize no one is ready or will ever be ready for her to grow up, thank you 🫶🏻

Title: Weight of Words

Masterlist | Part 2

After a week of relentless online hate branding her a "pick-me" and "immature," Y/N, Seventeen’s wild, beloved maknae, overhears her members suggest she "tone it down" and "act her age," shattering her spirit. Pairing: Seventeen x 14th member Genre: heavy angst, with lil bit of fluff

It had been a rough week for Y/N, the 14th member of Seventeen and the group’s beloved maknae. Her chaotic, bubbly energy had always been her trademark—a wild, troublemaking spark that lit up every room she entered. She was loud, wild, and sweet all at once, the kind of person who’d strike up a conversation with a stranger or tease her 13 older brothers without a second thought. The boys adored her for it, and fans had long celebrated her for being a breath of fresh air in the polished world of k-pop.

But now, that same personality was being weaponized against her. It started with a clip from a variety show featuring female artists her age—an event Y/N had been thrilled about, a rare chance to hang out with girls instead of being the lone female in a sea of 13 boys. In the video, she was laughing—really laughing, that signature Y/N cackle—while clapping her hands, her whole body shaking with joy as she bantered with another artist. The other girl laughed too, but softer, more restrained. The cameras naturally zoomed in on Y/N, her bold energy standing out against the quieter, shyer demeanor of the others. Fans had always loved her for being natural. Until they didn’t.

Then came the second clip: Y/N playfully teasing a male idol she’d known for years, tossing a cheeky comment his way with that mischievous grin of hers. It was classic Y/N—harmless, friendly chaos. But the internet twisted it. Suddenly, clips of her were everywhere, stitched together with snarky captions: “Pick-me girl.” “Such a flirt.” “She’s too old to act like this.” “Immature.” “Stop flirting, act your age.” The narrative snowballed, and within days, she was trending for all the wrong reasons. People dissected her every move, calling her attention-seeking, saying she should “act her age” instead of being the wild, loud troublemaker she’d always been.

The group had moved on from dorm life. Sold-out concerts, solo gigs, photoshoots, and flights to far-off countries kept them scattered—some in their own places, some crashing with family or each other. Y/N chose solitude, her own quiet space in Seoul, a refuge from their relentless pace. Rest was a luxury now, not like their debut days when they’d pile into one room and bicker over snacks. She missed it sometimes, but this week, alone felt safer—until it didn’t.

She hadn’t told the members about the hate. They were busy—Hoshi with Woozi locked in the studio, Seungcheol juggling leadership and schedules, Jun acting career. When they met, rare as it was, she plastered on a smile, laughing off exhaustion like always. They didn’t ask—she didn’t tell. She figured they hadn’t noticed the storm online, or maybe they were waiting for her to crack first. Either way, she wasn’t ready to spill.

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That afternoon, the practice room hummed with restless energy, the 13 boys waiting for Y/N, delayed by traffic. They lounged on the floor, the air thick with unspoken worry. Seungcheol scrolled his phone, brow furrowed, while Jeonghan fidgeted with his sleeve. They’d all seen the hate—Y/N’s name trending for the wrong reasons.

“She’s been quiet,” Joshua said softly, breaking the silence. “Not texting much, no random facetime—anyone else notice?”

“Yeah,” Mingyu nodded, sprawled out. “She’s acting fine when we’re together, but it’s… off. She’s not yelling at us like usual.”

“She’s pretending,” Woozi said, blunt. “The hate’s everywhere—I’ve seen the videos. She’s gotta be feeling it.”

Seungcheol sighed, heavy. “She won’t say anything. Just smiles—I don’t know how to reach her.”

“She’s stubborn,” Hoshi muttered, kicking the floor. “Won’t crack ‘til she’s ready.”

“It’s brutal out there,” Seungkwan cut in, sharp. “They’re tearing her apart—calling her immature, a pick-me. She’s 24, and they’re acting like she’s a disgrace.”

“Fans twist everything,” Wonwoo said, frowning. “She was just being herself—what’s wrong with that?”

“We can’t let it keep going,” Seungcheol said, firm. “She’s drowning, even if she won’t show it.”

“So what do we do?” Minghao asked, glancing around. “Force her to talk?”

“No,” Woozi shook his head. “She’ll shut us down. Maybe she needs to lay low—tone it down, act more her age. You know, feminine, mature—just ‘til it blows over…”

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Y/N trudged up to the practice room door, exhaustion weighing her down. Traffic had been a nightmare, and the hate buzzing in her head didn’t help. She was about to push in when voices slipped through the crack—her name, clear and cutting. She froze, ear pressed closer.

“…lay low—tone it down, act more her age,” Woozi’s voice hit her like a slap. “Feminine, mature…”

Her breath caught, heart sinking fast. Act her age? Tone it down? Feminine? The words stabbed deeper than any hate comment, raw and sharp, straight from her brothers—her safe place. Her hands shook, eyes stinging, but she swallowed it down, jaw tight. She wouldn’t cry—not here. She shoved the door open, plastering on a smile that felt like glass.

“Hey, membedeul!” she chirped, too loud, tossing her bag down. “Traffic was hell—sorry I’m late!”

The room jolted, 13 heads snapping up. Seungcheol coughed, sitting straighter. “Y/N-ah, hey! Uh, no problem—glad you made it.”

“Finally!” Hoshi teased, grinning, though his eyes flickered with something unsure. “Thought you’d ditched us.”

She laughed—bright, brittle, forced—waving it off. “Me? Never! Just Seoul being Seoul. Let’s dance—I’m pumped!” She breezed past, dodging their stares, her chest a knot as she grabbed her water bottle.

Practice started, and Y/N threw herself in—steps sharp, spins flawless. She laughed when Mingyu tripped, nodded at Seungkwan’s grumbling, clapped Hoshi’s back like always. But it was a performance, every move masking the ache. Tone it down. Act more her age. Feminine. Their words looped, slicing her open, and every glance from them felt like a spotlight on her flaws. Jeonghan watched her, brow creased, but she turned away, grinning harder.

“Y/N-ah, you okay?” Joshua asked during a break, voice gentle. She was stretching, staring at the floor.

“Perfect!” she lied, flashing teeth. “Just tired—traffic’s a beast.”

He nodded, hesitant, but dropped it. The day stretched—hours of choreo, sweat, and her charade. She bantered with DK, dodged Seungkwan’s jabs, but her laughs were edged, her eyes hollow. Inside, she was unraveling—they think I’m wrong too?—and the silence she held screamed louder than her usual chaos.

By the end, they collapsed on the floor, spent. Y/N sat apart, scrolling her phone, the hate blurring into static. “Good job, guys,” she said, voice flat, standing. “I’m out—see you tomorrow!”

“Y/N-ah, hold on—” Seungcheol started, but she was already moving.

“Night!” she called, waving without looking back, slipping out. The hall swallowed her steps, her smile crashing the second she was alone. She’d heard them—her family—and the sting of tone it down cut deeper than any troll’s words. She’d keep up the act, but it was breaking her, piece by quiet piece.

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That night, Y/N lay sprawled on her bed, staring at the ceiling of her quiet apartment. The practice room words echoed—“lay low—tone it down, act more age, feminine, mature”—sharp and unrelenting. Her chest ached, a dull thud of doubt. Maybe they’re right, she thought, fingers tracing patterns in the dark. Her members—her brothers—knew her better than anyone. If they said it, it must be for her good, right? She wasn’t just Y/N anymore; she was Seventeen Y/N, and every misstep dragged their name with her. The hate online, the “pick-me” labels, the “immature” jabs—maybe toning down her wild, loud self would stop it. Maybe she should change. She rolled over, burying her face in her pillow, whispering, “I’ll try… for them.”

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Over the next few days, Y/N shifted. It wasn’t drastic—she couldn’t erase herself—but it was enough. In the practice room, she still talked to the boys, still smiled, but her laugh was softer, restrained, not the cackle that once bounced off the walls. She’d joke, but the edge was gone—no playful shoves, no exaggerated antics. “Hey, Mingyu oppa, don’t trip again,” she’d say with a small grin, not the usual loud tease followed by a slap on his back. The boys noticed—how could they not?—but they didn’t push. Seungcheol’s brow furrowed when her giggles tapered off too fast, Hoshi’s grin faltered when she didn’t match his energy, Jun’s gaze lingered when she sidestepped their usual chaos. She was still Y/N, but… muted, like a song played too quiet.

“Y/N-ah, you’re chill today,” Wonwoo said one afternoon, tossing her a water bottle. “Feeling okay?”

“Yeah!” she chirped, catching it with a tight smile. “Just… pacing myself. Long week.” She sipped, avoiding his eyes, and he nodded, unsure.

“Less wild, huh?” Dino teased, nudging her. “Where’s my partner-in-crime?”

“Retired,” she quipped, smirking faintly, but didn’t leap into his antics like usual. He laughed, but it died quick, unease flickering.

She kept it up—acting “ her age,” feminine, mature, whatever that meant. No loud outbursts, no clinging to her oppas. She told herself it was fine—fans wanted this, the hate would stop, and she wouldn’t taint Seventeen shine. But each forced smile felt heavier, each stifled laugh a knot in her throat.

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The Music Bank stage loomed that Friday, their latest comeback performance electric under the lights. They nailed it—crowd roaring, confetti falling—and when the winner was announced, Seventeen name rang out. The trophy gleamed in Seungcheol’s hands as they stayed on stage, waving to fans, the cameras rolling. Normally, this was their playground—goofy poses, Hoshi twirling the mic, Woozi fake-sobbing, Y/N hugging everyone in sight. Tonight, though, she stood still at the back, a polite smile plastered on, hands clasped in front.

Jeonghan, trophy in one hand, turned to her with his usual grin, arms opening for their signature hug—arms around her shoulders, her squeezing back, a staple for carats. “Y/N-ah, c’mere!” he called, voice warm over the cheers.

Her heart jolted. She stepped toward him—then froze. Flirt. Pick-me. Clingy. The hate flashed in her mind, a warning siren. She couldn’t—not in front of cameras, not with the world watching. She pivoted mid-step, a sharp U-turn, dodging his hug to stand at the edge, waving stiffly at the crowd instead. Jeonghan’s arms dropped, his smile faltering for a split second before he recovered, turning to Seungcheol with a laugh.

The 13 boys exchanged glances—quick, subtle, but loaded. Seungcheol’s jaw tightened, Hoshi’s eyes widened, Wonwoo tilted his head, confused. They’d seen her pull back all week, but this? On stage? They masked it fast—posing for the cameras, Seungcheol lifting the trophy high, DK flashing a peace sign—but the air shifted. Something was wrong.

“Y/N-ah, you didn’t hug me!” Jeonghan teased as they shuffled offstage, voice light but eyes searching.

She forced a laugh, shrugging. “Didn’t wanna steal your spotlight, oppa!” She skipped ahead, avoiding his gaze, her chest tight.

Backstage, the boys huddled, voices low. “She dodged me,” Jeonghan muttered, frowning. “That’s not her.”

“She’s been weird all week,” Seungkwan said, sharp. “Quiet—too quiet.”

“She’s toning it down,” Woozi said, realization dawning, his voice heavy.

They watched her across the room, chatting with a staff member, her smile polite but empty. The Y/N they knew—loud, clingy, and being all goofy—was fading, replaced by this careful, muted version. The trophy sat forgotten on a table, their win hollowed by the crack she wouldn’t show.

“We fix this,” Seungcheol said, firm. “She’s not dragging us down—she’s us. She needs to know.”

But Y/N, adjusting her mic pack, kept her distance, the weight of tone it down pressing her into silence. She’d keep pretending—for them, for the fans—until it broke her.

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Past midnight, Y/N sat hunched on her bed, the glow of her phone casting shadows on her tear-streaked face. Sleep wouldn’t come—the Music Bank moment replayed in her head, her dodging Jeonghan’s hug a neon sign of her new “mature” self. She’d scrolled to escape, but people threw a fresh wound her way: a clip of that exact avoidance, captioned, “Y/N pretending to be shy—such a flirt deep down.” Comments piled on—“She’s fake,” “Still a pick-me, just hiding it,” “old enough to act mature and still playing games.” Her breath hitched, and the dam broke. Sobs wracked her, loud and messy, echoing in her empty apartment. “I can’t do this,” she choked out, clutching her phone. She’d toned it down—acted her age, feminine, distant—like they wanted, like her members said. But the hate still came, sharper now, accusing her of faking it. What do they want? she thought, tears blurring the screen. I’m trying—I’m trying so hard. Why do they still hate me?

She scrolled more, hate comment after hate comment—“She’s dragging SEVENTEEN down,” “So annoying, just leave”—each one a knife. She couldn’t stop, couldn’t sleep, just cried until her eyes burned and her throat ached. Exhaustion finally pulled her under, phone slipping from her hand, still glowing with venom as she drifted off, tears drying on her cheeks.

Morning came, gray and heavy. Y/N woke to a pounding headache and a hollow chest, the night’s sobs lingering like a bruise. Practice loomed—she couldn’t face them, couldn’t fake it again. Her fingers shook as she texted the choreography director: “Not feeling well today—can’t make practice. Sorry.” She hit send, tossed her phone aside, and curled back into her blankets, the lie her only shield.

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In the practice room, the boys gathered, the air thick with unease. They’d barely slept, replaying the Music Bank moment—Y/N’s sharp dodge, her forced smile. It wasn’t just that; the past four days gnawed at them. She hadn’t touched them—no playful shoves, no hugs, no leaning on Seungcheol during breaks. She’d laughed, joked, but it was off, like she’d locked part of herself away.

“She hasn’t been herself,” Joshua said, voice low, stretching on the floor. “Not since… what, Monday?”

“Yeah,” Mingyu nodded, frowning. “She’s talking, but she’s not here. And last night—she didn’t even hug Jeonghan hyung.”

Jeonghan leaned against the mirror, arms crossed. “She U-turned so fast I thought I smelled bad. She’s pulling back—hard.”

“She heard us,” Woozi said, realization sinking in, his tone grim. “That day in practice—‘tone it down, act her age.’ She walked in right after.”

Hoshi groaned, running a hand through his hair. “She didn’t hear the rest—us worrying. She thinks we want her to change.”

“We screwed up,” Seungcheol said, jaw tight. “She’s doing this for us—shutting down—and we let it happen.”

The choreographer strode in, clapping. “Alright, let’s start—where’s Y/N?”

“She’s not here,” Hoshi said, glancing around. “She didn’t text us.”

The choreographer checked his phone. “She’s not feeling well—texted me this morning. Didn’t she tell you?”

The boys froze, eyes meeting in silent alarm. “No,” Seungkwan said, sharp. “She didn’t.”

“She’s dodging us,” Vernon muttered, pulling out his phone. “She’s replied to texts, but no calls—look.” He flashed a dry “Yeah, I’m fine” from her, timestamped an hour ago.

“She never misses practice,” Dino said, voice small. “Not unless it’s bad.”

Seungcheol’s frown deepened. “Something’s wrong—really wrong.”

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Past midnight, Y/N sat curled on her bed, the dim light of her phone cutting through the dark. She couldn’t sleep—the weight of the week pressed down, her chest tight. She scrolled mindlessly, seeking distraction, but twitter delivered a gut punch: a video of her dodging Jeonghan’s hug at Music Bank, her forced smile frozen on screen. The caption sneered, “Y/N pretending to be shy—still a flirt underneath.” Comments piled on—“So fake,” “Can’t hide her pick-me vibes,” “Old and still a clown.” Her breath hitched, and tears burst free, loud and ragged. “I can’t do this!” she sobbed, voice breaking in the empty room. She’d toned it down—acted mature, feminine, distant—like her members said, like the fans demanded. But it wasn’t enough. “What do they want from me?” she cried, clutching her phone. “I’m doing it right—why do they still hate me? What did I do?!” Practice loomed tomorrow, but she couldn’t face it—couldn’t face them. She scrolled more, hate fueling her tears—“She’s a disgrace,” “Leave Seventeen”—until exhaustion dragged her under, phone slipping from her trembling hands, still glowing with venom as she sobbed herself to sleep.

Morning crept in, gray and cold. Y/N woke to swollen eyes and a hollow ache, the night’s breakdown etched into her face. She couldn’t go to practice—couldn’t fake another smile. Her hands shook as she texted the choreography director: “Not feeling well—can’t make practice today. Sorry.” She tossed her phone aside, burrowing back into her blankets, the lie her flimsy armor.

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By 8 p.m., the practice room was quiet, the boys slumped against the walls, practice half-hearted without her. Seungcheol stood, pacing, his silence heavier than usual. “She’s not answering calls,” he said, voice rough. “Texts, yeah, but she’s shutting us out. This isn’t Y/N.”

“She’s hurting,” Jeonghan said, soft but firm. “We let her think we don’t want her—the real her.”

“We can’t leave it like this,” Mingyu said, standing. “She’s our sister—she needs us.”

Seungcheol nodded, decisive. “Enough. We’re going to her place—now.”

“What if she won’t let us in?” Seungkwan asked, worried.

“Then we knock ‘til she does,” Hoshi said, grabbing his jacket. “She’s not doing this alone.”

“She heard us wrong,” Woozi said, guilt lacing his words. “We fix it—tell her she’s not dragging us down. She’s us.”

“She can yell, cry, whatever,” Seungcheol said, pulling on his cap. “No more pretending—not with us.”

They piled into cars, the night dark and heavy, hearts pounding with urgency. Y/N was family—their loud, wild, irreplaceable maknae—and they’d let her slip too far. If she’d misunderstood, if she was breaking under their words and the world’s hate, they’d tear down her walls themselves. They couldn’t lose her—not to this, not to anything.

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Y/N sat slumped on her living room floor, surrounded by the chaos of her personality—bright pink throw pillows, a lime-green rug, a shelf of quirky figurines, fairy lights strung across the walls. It was her—loud, colorful, unapologetic. She loved it, but now it felt wrong.

She’d never felt so alone. The hate had chipped away her confidence, leaving a shell where her fire used to burn. “Leave SEVENTEEN—she’s a disgrace,” “Weak link dragging them down”—the comments looped, venomous and relentless. She’d trained for years, fought tooth and nail to debut, and now they wanted her gone? “I can’t leave,” she sobbed, curling tighter. “But I can’t stay like this either.” Solo flashed in her mind—her alone on a stage, no 13 boys, no laughter—but it terrified her. She couldn’t picture it, couldn’t breathe through the panic it sparked.

Her phone trembled in her hand as she opened a message to their manager, tears blurring the screen. “Do I need to leave the group?” she typed, each word a stab. She stared at it, thumb hovering over send, then pressed it, a quiet wail escaping as it delivered. “If that’s what they want…” she murmured, dropping the phone, burying her face in her knees. She didn’t want to leave her house—her safe, colorful cave—didn’t want to face the world until the hate died. But would it ever?

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In the practice room, the boys were mid-scramble—jackets on, keys jangling—when the door banged open. Their manager stormed in, phone gripped tight, face pale. “Have you talked to Y/N?” he barked, voice urgent.

Seungcheol froze, mid-step. “No—why? What’s wrong?”

The manager’s eyes flicked to him, tense. “Seungcheol, we need to talk—about Y/N.”

“Talk to all of us!” Hoshi snapped, stepping forward, voice sharp. “What’s going on? Why just him?”

“Yeah, spill it!” Mingyu demanded, towering over the manager. “She’s our sister—what’s happening?”

The manager hesitated, then thrust his phone out, screen glowing with Y/N’s message: “Do I need to leave the group?” The room went dead silent, the words a gut punch. Then chaos erupted.

“What the hell?!” Seungkwan shouted, voice cracking. “Leave the group?!”

“She can’t—” Dino choked, eyes wide. “She wouldn’t—why would she even think that?!”

“She heard us!” Woozi yelled, slamming a fist on the wall, fury and guilt colliding. “She thinks we want her gone!”

Seungcheol snatched the phone, staring at the text, his jaw clenched so tight it hurt. “This is our fault,” he growled, voice low and lethal. “We let her think she’s a burden—damn it!”

“She’s not leaving!” Hoshi roared, grabbing his keys. “No way—I’ll drag her back myself if I have to!”

“We’re going—now!” Mingyu said, already at the door, eyes blazing. “She’s not doing this—she’s not quitting us!”

Jeonghan’s voice cut through, sharp and trembling. “She’s breaking—alone—and we’re sitting here? Move!”

The manager stepped back, stunned. “She sent it five minutes ago—I came straight here. She’s not answering my calls.”

“She’s not answering ours either!” Seungkwan snapped, shoving his phone in his pocket. “She’s shutting down—we’re done waiting!”

Seungcheol spun to the group, fury radiating. “Get in the cars—now! We’re not losing her—not to hate, not to us, not to anything. She’s ours—our maknae—and we’re fixing this tonight!”

“What do we say?!” Dino asked, voice shaking as he followed. “She’s gonna be a mess!”

“We tell her she’s enough!” Joshua shouted, yanking his jacket on. “Exactly how she is—wild, loud, everything!”

“We beg if we have to,” Mingyu added, voice breaking. “She’s not a disgrace—she’s our strength!”

“She’s not leaving,” Seungcheol said, slamming the door open, voice a vow. “Not over a damn misunderstanding—I’ll burn the internet down before I let her think that!”

They piled into cars, engines roaring, tires screeching as they sped through the night. “She’s family!” Hoshi yelled over the noise, fists clenched. “No one gets to take her—not fans, not us!”

“She’s been fighting alone,” Woozi muttered, guilt choking him. “We end this—now.”

Seungcheol gripped the wheel, eyes hard. “She’s not a weak link—she’s our heart. We make her see that.” The city blurred past, 8 p.m. ticking toward a confrontation they couldn’t lose. Y/N was slipping—cracking under hate and their own careless words—and they’d storm her walls, mad as hell, to pull her back.

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an: Hii, anon! I know this is quite late, but I’ll be splitting it into two parts since it’s so longg—I was surprised to see it reached 16 pages! My thoughts just kept flowing, and I hope I’ve captured what you requested. Also, I’ve noticed many of you have been asking for an angsty part featuring the 14th member, so I’ll post that once this is done. Thank you so much for your support—lots of love!

[gotta-winwin]

OT13 Reaction -- to you asking them what their fave juno pose is

a/n: hellooo!! im curious what juno poses you guys think the boys would be into... feel free to send an ask with the pose (asks with media + anon are open!) - favourite one gets its own spinoff oneshot :)

MINORS DNI

tw: sexual positions, allusions to sex, boner talk

not proofread, if you don't like it - don't interact!

seungcheol is initially taken aback at the question. you ask it so innocently, so out of the blue - and he can feel his heart skip a beat at the mere pictures that are being conjured by his mind at the mention of you in any of those poses. he regains his confidence quite quickly though, proudly pulling up his favourite pose and eyeing you as you splutter. so, honey? reminds me of that one night we...

throwing up a shit eating grin, jeonghan takes the question with ease. he's been expecting it - he knows you well and ever since you sent him that reel, he's been preparing his answer. i personally really enjoy this one he'd say while showing you, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively in a way that makes you snort in laughter. 100% expects action later. you were the one who brought it up babyyy...care to follow through?

you cannot tell me this man doesn't prefer missionary over anything else. joshua loves seeing your face through it all, so asking him this question probably isn't going to get you anything you didn't already know. he blushes at the thought of it, shyly muttering under his breath that he likes it best when he can see your pretty face and hold you.

jun blinks, not quite getting what the fuck a "juno" pose is. he nods along as you show him his "options," turning red at the particularly scandalous ones and cringing at the ones he knows ya'll can't pull off. i don't think you're that flexible, baobei. he'd say, more worried he'd accidentally break you if you guys attempted the pose.

like with anything else, soonyoung is excited to answer your question. don't be surprised if he pulls out a powerpoint specifically for the occasion, listing out the pros and cons of each pose and the probability of how much he'd enjoy it. he's passionate with everything he does - and what better thing to be passionate about than fucking the love of his life?? lowkey ends up not being able to choose just one favourite. he likes variety in his sex life, thank you very much.

wonwoo stares at you once you're finished asking, bluntly dropping his answer and moving on with his day. he lowkey thought it was already obvious what his favourite one was?? you guys do it every time?? it's his default?? he calmly (a bit too calmly for the topic) explains to you why it's his favourite, giving you all the stats. well, it's easier to move - and you're more comfortable, and- you'd think he was giving a persuasive essay by the way he goes on and on.

you know better than to ask jihoon without first sending him the reel, asking him to check his message and to watch it. he sends back a screenshot of his favourite pose, a little miffed that this was the reason you interrupted his recording session but answering you nonetheless because he loves you. he tries to return to work, although the thoughts of you in that pose is sending him reeling. ends up giving in to his urges and rushing back home to test out his theory. told you that was the best pose, he'd say after destroying your insides.

again, a strong believer that minghao is secretly very kinky but prefers missionary because it allows him to feel the closest to you. reveals to you that his absolute favourite isn't on the juno pose list because sabrina would be canceled for acting it out - gives you that look, silently challenging you if you'd like to try it. don't pretend it doesn't excite you, love.

seokmin's face is burning the moment you ask the question, stuttering violently through his words as his brain computes your question. shyly points to his favourite pose, cringing into his hands as he awaits your reaction. why would you ask me that right before i have to go to work? he'd complain, hating how inconvenient being turned on could be during practice.

mingyu's got that shit eating grin on his face similar to jeonghan's, although his is more of a i think we should test all of them before i choose one type of grin. you can tell by the way he's eyeing you that he's already picturing you in those poses. i don't know, babe, he'd drawl out, reaching over to grab your waist. i think you should give me a refresher before i pick.

seungkwan's the one that asks you for your favourite juno pose, curious to know which one you prefer yourself to be in. it ends up being a whole conversation - riling both of you up as you discuss the pros and cons of each pose, leading to you guys ending up in the bedroom. who's idea was it to talk about this again? you know what, i don't care - c'mhere.

by the way vernon's looking, you can tell he's thinking about his answer like it's the most serious thing in the world. you let him think, sitting there in silence as you watch the guy contemplate. anyone else would think he was making a major life decision, with the way his eyebrows are furrowed and his eyes are full of concentration. finally deciding, he picks one that surprises you. idk, i know we've never done it before but i feel like i'd enjoy it. and you'd look so hot like that babe.

chan sends you his favourite juno pose before you can even ask. a cheeky lil grin on his face, he asks if you guys could try it out, his eyes sparkling with mischief and his boner already prominent. he's imagining you fucked out in the position that he's chosen and he- well, it's not his fault he can't control himself. you'd look sooo hot, babe. he'd persist. i'll take care you.

[trustmypoison]

SVT doing a variety show with their idol!crush

Requested? Yes!

Request: ‘hi can you do one where stv is doing some variety content for yt along with the reader (also an idol) and also their crush... ? thank you<3’

Cool as a cucumber - Joshua, Wonwoo, Minghao, Vernon

You would actually never know he has such a massive crush. Some of it is a poker face because he’s on camera, but some of it just that he wouldn’t be so outwardly expressive about that crush in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, they won’t shut you out. They’ll interact with you and totally enjoy that time, sort of hoping that at the end of the day you guys can exchange numbers and keep talking. Both you and his members will be a little surprised when he actually makes a move, because there were so few signs. 

A major flirt - Jeonghan, Hoshi, DK, Seungkwan, Chan

I think these guys kind of ham it up for the camera in the first place, so they aren’t really shy about putting on a little extra charm. I’m talking pickup line after pickup line and compliment after compliment, all complete with a boldly adoring look. Doesn’t care much in the moment if it seems like he’s just doing it because of the camera. The surprise will be when the camera is very obviously off and he’s still putting on the same kind of charm. 

Totally shy and obvious - Seungcheol, Jun, Woozi, Mingyu

It doesn’t matter if there are cameras, because he genuinely can’t hold eye contact with you if he had to. Might even seem a little standoffish at first, keeping is distance and not really acknowledging you. But if there’s a challenge or game that requires him to be closer to you or speak to you directly, it is completely obvious that he’s flustered. Oh my, will his group members tease him mercilessly about it. But he won’t be entirely upset about how obvious he made his crush on camera if it results in you showing your own interest. 

[lailols]

Txt as Love Languages <3

Soobin

Giving

Acts of Service

Soobin isn’t good with words :(

he’s such an overthinker and his brain goes a million times faster than his mouth

but he does his very best to show it in other ways

keeping track of your schedule and making sure you’re eating properly

restocking things around the house before you even know they're running out

refilling your body wash/perfume/lotions when they get low

he WILL try to cook for you and it MIGHT be bad but it’s okay cause he tried

he will peel every orange on this earth if it means you don't have to lift a finger when you're around him

he shows his affection in the ‘little ways’ that are often overlooked but has love written all over them

Receiving

Quality Time

PLEASE spend all of your time with him

let him game while you do your own tasks off to the side

just spending time in your presence makes him feel so loved and cared for

you don’t even have to talk :(

you wanna scroll on TikTok while he games? YES do face masks while he’s scrolling on TikTok? PLEASE nap while he’s "reading"? HOP IN THE BED

he just wants to be around you all of the time :(

you’re so comforting to him

Yeonjun

Giving

Physical Affection

ALWAYS has a hand on you

hand in yours while you’re walking

hand on your waist while you’re standing

hand on your thigh while you’re sitting

he just has to be touching you :(

not even in a sexual way

he just wants to make sure you’re by his side at all times

if you go too far at any point in time, he’s searching for you like a lost kitten :(

also, Jun IS a back pocket holder, I fear

Receiving

Words of Affirmation

catch him off guard with your words

say the intrusive compliments as soon as they enter your head

look deeper into him and say you love whatever you find below the surface

he gets so flustered whenever he gets complimented genuinely :(

he’s the most attractive then

he just stops for a bit and flushes

he’s also an overthinker so PLEASE don’t let him fall victim to his thoughts

tell him you love him every second!

make sure he knows he will always be loved when he's with you

remind him that he’s not perfect, but he’s doing his best

just absolutely shower him in praise cause he deserves it

Beomgyu

Giving

Words of Affirmation

gyu IS the real loser loverboy yearner

as soon as he’s in your presence hymns flow from his lips

he's a ten but he HAS to tell you how much you mean to him or he’ll blow up

he feels like he was put on this earth with no other purpose but to cherish you

it’s so random too

you’ll be walking in the freezing cold and he’ll just stop and pour his heart out to you

literally makes you cry in the middle of the street

Receiving

Gift Giving

gift giving in the “this made me think of you” way

send him songs that remind you of him and he’ll cherish them forever :(

make him little trinkets to keep around his room

get matching jewelry for y’all and he’ll never take it off :(

it just makes him feel so seen, so loved :(

he def has a box of all the things that you give to him and he rotates things so nothing feels left out

I kid you not, he has the first gift you gave him all those years ago proudly in the center of his dresser

buy him things that pertain to his interests and he’ll just melt

but DO NOT forget to give him gifts that remind him of you

most of the plushies you gave him are a weird mix of his and your names

Taehyun

Giving

Quality Time

the universal love language imo

can mean a variety of things and still be so special

whether it’s actively doing something together or just existing in the same space

he’s such a comforting person and he just wants to spend time with you

always in your space, but he frames it as if YOU wanted him there (you did, but you didn’t say it)

complains as if HE isn’t holding you tight

cooking together, watching shows together, working out together

anything that may seem like something a person can do along is actually something for TWO PEOPLE

yes, he needs to run to the store with you because what if you can’t carry it alone? (You wanted a bag of chips)

Receiving

Acts of Service

tae is such a reliable person that I think he would want to be taken care of a bit

having someone to look out for him, y'know (if the four men already doing that aren't enough)

not in the 'you can't do it yourself' way but in the 'I love you and want to make your life easier for you'

cooking for him (though you will have to strong-arm him into sitting down and not joining)

massage his (beautiful, hot, sexy) shoulders when he has a bit of pain

just do the little things that show you care and that you listen to him

make sure he’s pampered like the king he is

Kai

Giving

Gift Giving

Kai WILL gift you everything under the sun

it’s just how he shows his love

you ARE coparenting near a hundred plushies

he WILL buy cringy shirts for you guys to wear and YOU BETTER WEAR IT

proudly wears his “I <3 my gf/bf” shirt with your face on it at least once a week and expects the same in return (even better if you’re doing it together)

makes up holidays to give you gifts (it’s NAWT just a random Tuesday, it’s national kitten day, so YES he has to give you a kitten plush, wdym?)

flowers anytime he’s seeing you

no, he does not change

your parents adore him because he never shows up to the house empty handed no matter how long you’ve been dating

almost sobs when you have to stop home for something and he didn’t have anything on hand

literally keeps something in his car now for this purpose :(

Receiving

Physical Affection

PLEASE stick to Kai like glue

he deserves it :(

he’s such a physical person himself that he’d just love it in return

he’s so tactile, molding to fit his body against yours like it was meant to be (it was)

rests his head in your lap when you’re sitting near each other :(

RUB HIS TUMMY :((

give him head pats

forehead kisses PLEASE

cling onto him when you’re out and about

cuddles will follow anything you do

[pumpkinpaix]

Chapter Spotlight 8:

"'Censorship Made It Better': Anti-Fans and Purity Culture in English-Language Chen Qing Ling Fandom" by Abby Springman

Describe your topic/chapter in one sentence/one meme/140 characters.

Rejoice! MDZS has been cancelled!

What drew you to this topic?

When I got into CQL fandom and started lurking on its outskirts on Twitter, I started getting this weird sense of déjà vu. There was this bizarre similarity between the arguments I was seeing about the aspects of CQL/MDZS and their fandoms being "problematic" from a progressive, social justice point of view and the demands for censorship in American libraries that conservative groups were (and still are) making at an alarmingly increasing rate. In an attempt to make sense of this, I fell down what ended up being a really long rabbit hole, and, well, here we are.

Was there anything you were surprised to discover while researching?

I was surprised by the wide variety of fannish backgrounds found amongst members of English-language CQL fandom! I'm not used to seeing so many different "areas" of fandom intersect over a single piece of media like this. Some folks are primarily into the live action movies and TV shows side of things, some are mostly in bandom, some (like me) are traditionally a part of the anime, manga, and gaming contingent, etc. I think that's fascinating, honestly.

Did researching/writing your chapter change how you saw the text, the fandom, or the media? How so?

I didn't use the block button on Tumblr or Twitter for anyone in the fandom while I was working on my chapter. It definitely changed how I saw fandom on those platforms—literally. It really highlighted how much power social media algorithms have over what kind of content is presented to us front and center.

If there’s one thing you hope the fandom takes away from your article, what would it be?

I'll be thrilled if it makes people think about "problematic" content in less black-and-white terms. They don't have to necessarily agree with my conclusions! But if my words make even one person stop and think more about context before posting a reactionary comment, then that would be great.

If you were isekai-ed into MDZS/CQL, what sect affiliation would you choose and why?

The Lan. My existing skills are most likely to be applicable there (see: the library), it seems easy to find some peace and quiet when you need it, there are bunnies, and Hanguang-jun is there.

Chaotic one-sentence pitch to get your friends into MDZS/CQL?

My elevator pitch for CQL has historically been, "It's the adaptation of a book about a gay necromancer, except they can't actually show the gay romance or the zombies on screen."

What is one (1) book/media you would recommend to a MDZS/CQL fan? Tell us about it.

Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling. It's probably the most accessible collection of Chinese stories of the supernatural available in English. If MDZS/CQL was your first exposure to traditional Chinese cultural beliefs about ghosts, exorcisms, and the like, this is a great introduction to the less xianxia-specific aspects. If that isn't the case for you, I still highly recommend it on its own merits!

Character you keep getting in those "which MDZS/CQL character are you" quizzes?

Wen Ning

Anything to say to potential readers of the collection?

Thank you, and I'm sorry—no, that's a joke. More seriously, I really am thankful for anyone interested in the collection. It's the product of years of hard work by many people, and I'm sure there's an interesting chapter in there for everyone.

(FAQ) (all posts on Catching Chen Qing Ling)

[existingtm]

I think one of the reasons I'm absolutely insane about Jun Mochizuki's work is because she's the only person I've seen do a perfect execution of the "abused becomes the abuser" trope.

All of the characters in Pandora Heart and Vanitas no Carte are incredibly morally complex. They're heart wrenching, relatable, endearing, aggravating, and endlessly flawed.

MochiJun puts us in the uncomfortable position of confronting that victims can be perpetrators, that those who are hurt can hurt others, that sometimes, people you love are bad, and sometimes you love bad people.

Abuse is never justified; it's handled by different characters in a variety of ways. It's repressed, reciprocated, passed on, and stopped. MochiJun shows victims become awful people, not inherently because they were abused, but because of who they are as people and how that shapes the way they deal with abuse.

She shows victims as the complex people they are beyond victimhood. There are characters who are just and kind after facing abuse, and ones who are twisted and cruel. Most delightfully, she brings us characters who are both.

The heroes of her stories choose love, gentleness, compassion, and mercy. She shows that our choices matter, that our relationships are integral to who we are.

I think of how some of the characters, in spite of these forgiving traits, are not required to forgive their abusers in order to be seen as virtuous figures. They're allowed to stand their ground, even if it's violent to do so.

I think of how, at the same time, some characters are loved despite being abusive, because a tender character sees more in them than evil. Because abuse comes from people, and people are endlessly complex.

I think of how the heroes of the story tear themselves apart for the violence they inflict, and are shown the most painful love in return. How that love often comes in the form of calling them out on their bullshit.

I love the love in Pandora Hearts and in Vanitas no Carte because it's painfully human in the face of horrors beyond mortal comprehension.

I love the flaws in the characters because they're painfully human despite some of these characters' otherworldly natures.

Jun Mochizuki doesn't show us the abused becoming abusers to give us the idea that abuse is an unstoppable cycle, but rather to show that it is stoppable. To show that people have a choice in who they become. And that's one of the most wonderful and terrible things about people.

[seuonji]

彡 idol!svt x idol!yn

๑ secret relationship series! no storyline, just fun

one ๑ two ๑ three ๑ four ๑ five ๑ six ๑ seven #mlist

imagine you fall during the middle of a show, of course your boyfriend seokmin/soonyoung/mingyu would come to your rescue. despite the crowd you still imagine the amount of dating rumours that would arise to which you quickly get up and walk the opposite direction completely ignoring him. behind closed doors he would whine about how you didn’t let him help.

wonwoo/seungcheol/jeonghan doesn’t care much about learning other group’s choreographies yet whenever a song from your album plays, he is the first to get up and dance to it with full power like it’s his choreography.

seungcheol doesn’t even try to hide the fact he stares at you constantly. in music award shows his eyes are always on you. would be the reason for your relationship to be exposed.

during variety shows, seungkwan/soonyoung/minghao get very close to you out of habit but it’s covered up by all the bickering and okay fights. could be seen as banter but also an old married couple fighting—

when you’re practicing till night time alone seungcheol/jeonghan/joshua/jun would join you or just watch you. when he arrives he always brings you your favourite food. he might tackle you just so you’d take a break.

jihoon makes sample music for you or would make a beat that suits your style. you can add your own lyrics. he would follow your requests thoroughly. you both have some duo songs that are unreleased.

you and seungcheol/soonyoung/seungkwan/chan get each other’s albums and hope you get each other’s photo cards. on the rare occasion you get it it’s on the back of your phone (with a solid phone cover—)

due to vernon’s weird food combinations there was a notice of you taking a break due to being sick.

[lesbiancarat]

SHUT UP EXCLUSIVE FAIRYTALE CONFIRMED TO AIR ON IQIYI + JUN VARIETY SHOW IN CHINA WTF

[hannieehaee]

Could you make a seventeen reaction where they accidentally make fun of her in front of the other members? Angsty with a fluff end plss ☺💕

accidentally making fun of you in front of the members

content: established relationship, angsty, the members being dumb basically (but they didnt mean to!), fluffy ending, etc.

wc: 1361

a/n: i left the thing that they teased/made fun of you about very ambiguous so its up to interpretation! hope u enjoy <3

masterlist

seungcheol -

he wouldnt have been thinking of anything but his own entertainment when he made some mention of an embarrassing detail about you. it was a bad trait of his, but sometimes he wouldnt really think about the effect his words would have on others. this would sometimes cause him to put other people on the spot or embarrass them with what he thought to be a lighthearted joke. he'd, however, notice that his comment bothered you, which would lead him to constant apologies and promises to never making fun of you in front of the members again, knowing how awkward it felt to be made fun of in front of the crowd of twelve felt like.

jeonghan -

jeonghan knew that he could sometimes be a little annoying when he teased and probed at people out of sheer entertainment. he would usually gauge who he could joke around with, and who may not appreciate his humor. you, being the former, would leave him confused when you scoffed at him and stormed away when he played a prank on you in front of the members. he'd realize he offended/embarrassed you just as you left, feeling like an idiot (re: asshole) for making his sweet angel feel bad. would ignore the members' scoldings in order to chase after you so that he could coo and baby you to make up for his mistake.

joshua -

he could get a bit ... mean when he got around to joking with his friends (have you seen that clip of him coming after kwan while on that one variety show like !\€|£\), and you would be no exception. whether you shut down or retaliated after his comment, he would still realize he mightve gone too far right away. he'd feel awkward apologizing while still in front of his friends, so he would just be smart and shut up for the rest of the day. would try to get on your good graces throughout the rest of the day by making you laugh or by embarrassing himself in order to atone for his previous stupidity.

jun -

he would be a bit confused upon seeing you walk away wordlessly as soon as he made a little quip about how you weren't that good at some skill you had just claimed to be an expert at. it was just a lighthearted joke that you had even laughed at before! so why were you annoyed at him? he wouldnt mean this in an accusatory way, but more so in a confused way. one of his members would have to explain to him that maybe saying such things in front of others would make you feel embarrassed, in which case he would immediately face palm and chase after you with apologies already spilling out of his mouth.

soonyoung -

he probably wouldve been trying to fill the silence or something, not even realizing he had made fun of you whilst in the middle of conversation with his friends. following even more silence due to his stupid comment, one of the members would immediately scold him and tell him he was the one who deserved to be made fun of for speaking so carelessly. it'd all be lighthearted in nature but he would feel incredibly bad as soon as someone pointed out how his comment mightve hurt your feelings.

wonwoo -

cant really imagine wonwoo doing this even by accident but assuming in some alternate universe that he did, i think he would have an instantaneous 'oh, fuck' moment as soon as he caught a shift in your demeanor as the conversation with his members continued. you wouldnt mention it, knowing it was an accident and that he had only meant what he said as a lighthearted jab like the ones he would say towards his members. however, he wouldnt let it go without bringing it up in order to apologize for having made you feel any type of negative emotion because of him – especially in front of his friends.

jihoon -

he'd be so dumbfounded at you suddenly scoffing and walking away in annoyance. had he done something ... ? he'd need clarification from one of the members in order to realize that maybe he shouldnt have made you the butt of some dumb joke in front of all his friends. he'd face palm and groan at his lack of attention for your feelings, immediately running after you to apologize and to give you total amnesty to mock him whenever you so wished in order to even the scales between you two.

seokmin -

i cant imagine seokmin ever making fun of is s/o ever lmao but just for the sake of imagination, i think he wouldnt even realize his mistake until you started giving him the cold shoulder. he'd still be trying to interact and joke around with you only to be met with huffs of annoyance from you or just straight up dismissal of his presence. he'd eventually have an 'oh shit' moment and realize why you were acting that way. this would be subsequently followed by constant pleas for forgiveness, even pulling out all theatrics possible (re: getting on his knees, writing you an apology letter, self deprecation, etc.) in order to get you to forgive him.

mingyu -

he was just trying to join in on the joke! he could sometimes get tired of always being the one getting teased, so he thought that maybe he could tease you for a change. he had not planned this through, however, not realizing that making fun of you in front of his friends would immediately lead you to curse at him and storm out as he stood there dumbfounded. the entire thing wouldve backfired on him seeing as he would now get teased about this by his members and would have to go find you to apologize.

minghao -

even though i think he's super in touch with his emotions (and in turn your own), i dont think he would even realize he had made you the butt of the joke until a bit later, when he noticed your demeanor shifted and you were now on the sidelines rather than participating in conversation. when you told him what happened, he wouldve immediately apologized, feeling a bit embarrassed that he had offended you without even realizing it. he would think of this often and try and analyze his own behavior to avoid ever doing this again.

seungkwan -

he can get a little carried away with his jokes sometimes (re: every interaction he ever has with chan in gose), so this would probably happen a few times in your relationship. every time, he would feel like a horrible boyfriend and immediately try to do some damage control in order to make up for whatever stupid comment he made to you in front of the members. he would embarrass himself or even give you ammunition to embarrass him with to get you feel less hurt by his lack of thinking.

vernon -

oh fuck. he would notice your shift in demeanor immediately, and so would the rest of the members. this would create an extremely awkward moments, with the members immediately scolding vernon as soon as you walked away. he'd also be scolding himself in his head right before chasing after you to plea for your forgiveness. would justify himself by saying he was an idiot and he had a tendency of not thinking things through whenever he was joking around with friends. he'd pout and whine until he broke you down enough to forgive him.

chan -

as soon as the stupid words left his mouth, he would get scolded by twelve men (plus you) over thinking he could get away with trying to make fun of you in such a setting. did he have no respect for his perfect and amazing s/o whom he did not deserve (not your words, but those of his members)? there would be no chance for you to even feel bad or embarrassed due to his comment since he would get bullied over it immediately, making the situation not escalate.

[svtcontents]

[#WEIBO] 241116 JUN #준

🐱: festival of delicacies/It Sounds Incredible festival? [I'll] definitely not miss it 😼 The It Sounds Incredible family will definitely meet again🥰

[minisugakoobies]

The Purrfect Crime | HJS

Pairing: Joshua x GNReader (no agab)

Genre: fluff, friends to lovers, angst (tiny bit?), crack , non-idol!AU

Rating: T

Warnings: neighbor is implied to be a horrible pet owner but i promise there is no abuse here, catnapping, they're idiots and they're in love, so much pining, that trope where you have to kiss someone in order to fool someone else, apparently it's called a fake-out make-out thanks true tropes wiki, i don't even know where this sudden need to write a soft joshua came from but enjoy

Word Count: 3.2k

Disclaimers: SFW, obviously I don’t own SVT - they just inspire me

Summary: Fed up with the way your neighbor is keeping your friend/his ex's cat just to spite him, you hatch a plan to rescue the poor creature. Naturally, your best friend (and crush) Joshua is in for the mission.

Text Prompt: in italicized pink font in the story

A/N: It took me a while to find a text prompt for Joshua, but as soon as I saw this one, I knew it was his. Thank you to @minttangerines and @kiestrokes for taking a look at this one and reminding me that variety is good.

If you like this, please let me know! I’d love to hear what you think (but please be kind I’m fragile 🥺) 💕

SVT Masterlist 💜 Main Masterlist

“Rrrrrow. Mmmmrowwwrrr.” 

“Oh, not again,” you mutter to yourself, rising from your couch to trudge to your back door. It’s starting early tonight.

You can barely see into the yard next door, but you spy a fluffy grey and white tail bobbing around. There he is. Your neighbor’s cat, yowling to be let inside, like always he does. The pitiful creature lets out another cry, and your heart twists. You know from years of living here that the jerk next door won’t be home for a while, so poor kitty is stuck outside in the rapidly cooling autumn air. Probably hungry for his dinner.

Well, you’ve had about enough of this. As you stand there, watching the cat’s tail swish in the air, the barest puff of an idea sneaks into your head. Before you can stop it, it blooms into a full-tilt plan. 

You’re already in motion when your phone buzzes with a text. Normally, you’d ignore it, but it’s your favorite person on the planet. 

Shua: whatcha doin

You: stealing my neighbor’s cat

Even though your best friend is famously down for any sort of drama, his response is so ridiculously fast that it makes you smile. 

Shua: scandalous

Shua: can I help

You send him a brief description of your plan, and he shoots back that he’s already on his way.

There’s a knock on your day exactly twenty minutes later, proof that he wasn’t lying. When you open the door, Joshua takes one look at you and points, nodding. “Yes, good, I’m glad we’re on the same page.” 

He’s referring to the fact that you’re both dressed completely in black, head to toe. The only difference between you is that he’s got a cute beanie shoved over his hair, a few strands hanging down in his eyes as he smiles at you. 

“I worried maybe I was taking this too seriously.” 

“Oh, no, this is very serious,” you inform him, leading him through your townhouse to the back door. “I’m really about to rescue Mr. Meepers from that asshole.” 

“Hell yeah, you a- wait, did you say Mr. Meepers?”

“Yes, I did, and yes, I know,” you laugh. 

Junhui, your horrible neighbor’s amazing ex-boyfriend, might not be the best when it comes to naming pets, but he’s a very sweet guy. While he and Mr. Asshole Next Door adopted the cat together, it was always very clear that he was Jun’s cat, and Jun’s cat alone. It breaks your heart to know that Mr. Meepers is being kept hostage solely for the purpose of punishing Jun for leaving that asshole.  

“He’s such a cute kitty, though, so friendly and playful, and Junhui’s really upset that he can’t get him back. That asshole won’t return his texts anymore. And the one time Jun showed up, he wouldn’t even answer the door.”

You pause to look out the window. Your yard and the one adjoining to the left are clear - or, at least as much as you can see over the fence seems empty.

“It’s bad enough that he won’t give Jun his pet back, but I know this jerk doesn’t take good care of him. He’s always locking him out in the yard. Doesn’t matter the time of day - I hear him out there all the time, crying and clawing at the patio door.” You frown. “Doesn’t matter what the weather’s doing and he doesn’t leave any water out for him, either. Just throws him outside and locks the door.”

As you ramble on, Joshua’s expression darkens. “I knew your neighbor was an asshole, but damn. That’s fucking cold.” He tips his head as another mournful “mrrrrooowww” sounds. “Is that him?” 

“Uh-huh.”

“He sounds so sad. How can that guy not care?”

“I dunno. Guess it’s easy to ignore innocent animals when you don’t have a heart.” You square your shoulders, steeling yourself for what you’re about to do. “Thanks to that loud-ass engine on his piece of shit car, I know when that asshole gets off work. He always stops at a bar on Friday nights, so he’ll be home later than usual, but we don’t have a lot of time to do this. Might not be a great idea to do it now, but…”

“But Mr. Meepers doesn’t deserve to suffer any longer. I get it.” Joshua squeezes your arm, bolstering you a little with his comforting touch. You smile at him gratefully, and he grins back before clearing his throat and turning to the window. “So. We’re gonna go out there and get him.”

“Right.” 

“Right. So… how exactly are we gonna do that?” 

“With some loose fence planks and these.” You reach into the pouch of your hoodie and pull out a small crinkled bag. “Mr. Meepers loves tuna treats. I toss them over the fence whenever I see him out there.” 

“Of course you do,” Joshua hums, shaking his head. He loves to tease you about how soft-hearted you can be, but you’d argue he’s just as gentle and kind as you are. He simply hides it better - except when he’s around you. You’ve yet to figure out if it’s intentional or if your friendship is the chip in his armor, allowing you to see through to the real him. 

“Well, Mr. Meepers doesn’t deserve to sit out there all hungry because that jerk doesn’t actually want him. All he wants is to hurt Jun.” There’s no real need to explain yourself, but you do it anyway. Joshua’s hand brushes your arm again and you inhale a calming breath. “Okay. Time’s not stopping, so let’s do this. Are you ready?” 

Joshua gives you a nod. “Let’s go.” 

Leaving your back door open a crack, in case you need to make a hasty retreat, the two of you set out on your mission. 

Your neighborhood is typically pretty quiet this time of evening. There’s the sound of kids playing in their yard a few doors down, and the usual buzz of traffic on the main road two blocks over, but nothing loud enough to cover your footsteps as you crunch through the grass and fallen leaves lining the fence that separates your yard from your neighbor’s. The moon is already out, and a few stars dot the sky, but you still need the flashlights on your phones to give you enough light to keep from tripping over anything in your path.

Joshua insists on being the one to try to pry the boards off the fence. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to pull a few away, a fact that makes him cluck his tongue. “This is so unsafe, YN. Your landlord needs to fix this.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know…” You’ve got a whole list of breaking or broken items for the landlord to repair. It’s the effort - and, especially, the time - that it takes to call and wait around for him to show up that you don’t have. “I’ll get around to calling him someday.” 

“I’m being serious,” Joshua insists, the concerned furrow of his brow evident even in the dim glow cast by his phone. “It’s not safe. What if someone gets in this way? Like a burglar? Or - or worse?”

“Well, they’ll have to get into asshole’s yard first to get to mine this way…” The odds of someone breaking into your home via this now person-sized hole in the fence are incredibly low. But you’re not going to argue about it at the moment. Not when you can hear the worry in your friend’s voice. “You’re right. I’ll call him next week. After we’ve made sure Mr. Meepers is safe with Junhui.”

“Good. It’s just… I can’t even think about what I’d do if something happened to you.” 

Joshua’s look of relief is enough to send warmth flooding through your chest, but combined with his words, it has your heart launching into frantic palpitations. Quickly, you duck through the space in the fence, needing to move away from your friend for fear that he might be able to feel the fluttering. You’ve spent the better part of two years hiding your crush on your friend. No need to give yourself away now. 

A bright light suddenly clicks on.

“Crap!” you gasp. In a burst of panic, you dive back towards the gap in the fence, only to find Joshua there. He lets out a surprised cry as you crash into him, knocking him flat on his back, another tiny “oof” forced from his lungs when you land on top of him. “Sorry!”

“What are yommmmph-”

“Shhhh!” 

You press your hand over Joshua’s mouth and glance over your shoulder. Your neighbor’s yard is still, nothing that you can see through the hole moving except for some unkempt bushes swaying in the chilly evening air.

You sigh. “Sorry. I forgot he’s got a motion detector light. I panicked.” 

Joshua hums, the brush of his lips tickling your fingers, and you remove your hand with an embarrassed laugh. Now that your fright has passed, you’re painfully aware of your current position, lying chest to chest, hip to hip on top of your best friend. His arms are locked solidly behind your back, cradling you to him as if he’s still trying to break your fall. 

It’s impossible to turn away when he looks at you, even though your heart is twisting itself into knots, so filled with longing that it’s tying you up inside. The longer you gaze into his eyes, the more your heart aches. 

Completely unaware of the inner turmoil you’re currently facing, Joshua grins. “Next time we steal someone’s pet in an act of righteous retribution, maybe I’ll be the one to gather the important intel first. Like motion lights.” He laughs, and you can feel it through your chest against his. Your heart twists again. “You can be the muscle, with a tackle like that.” 

“Shut up,” you groan, trying to gracefully slide onto the grass beside him, without success.  “I didn’t hit you that hard.” 

“I don’t know, I think I’m gonna be feeling that tomorrow.” He rubs his left shoulder gingerly, but he can’t fool you. You smack his other shoulder and he gives up the bit, laughing. “Fine, fine, you’re not the muscle. But I’m definitely the brains of this team.” 

“Pffft. If you’re anything, you’re the face.” 

“The what?” 

“You know. In a heist crew, the face.” You stand up, brushing some dry leaves from your hoodie. “The smooth talker? The one they send in to charm a target. That’s you.” 

“Oh.” Joshua’s eyebrow rises as he considers your words. “Um, thank you?” 

“You’re welcome. It’s a compliment.” 

“Is it?” He cracks a grin when you lightly punch his shoulder again. “Sounds like a weird way to call me manipulative.” 

“Don’t read into it so deep,” you state wryly. “I only meant that you’re, like, a fast thinker. And good at talking to people.” And incredibly charming. Joshua’s had you wrapped around his finger for ages. Thank god he doesn’t seem to know it. If he ever realized his true power over you, he’d be totally insufferable. And you’d still do whatever he wanted.

“Uh-huh. But if it’s all about me being good at talking, then why is it called the ‘face?’” 

He would ask that. 

“Um… most of the time the face is also really good-looking. It helps, y’know, to sell the lie if it’s coming from a pretty face.”

“Pretty?” His fingers fly to the bottom of his beanie again, tugging it down further. A nervous habit of his. 

”Well, yeah,” you say, shrugging. “You are very pretty.” 

You ride the surge of adrenaline in your veins forward and step through the hole into the yard next door before Joshua can react. 

It turns out to be a blessing that your neighbor has a motion light. His backyard is an obstacle course of rusty lawn furniture, neglected plants, and overgrown tufts of weeds. Carefully, you wind your way towards the patio, only to realize that Mr. Meepers is no longer sitting there.

“Mr. Meepers?” you call out in a hushed yell. “Where’d you go?” You must’ve spooked the cat with your wild dive earlier.

“He couldn’t have gotten out of the yard, could he?”

“I don’t know. I always figured he couldn’t or he would’ve run away by now.” Taking the treats out of your pocket, you give the bag a shake. “I brought you some of your favorite num-nums!”

“Your favorite num-nums?” Joshua echoes incredulously. 

“Shut up or I’ll tackle you again,” you mutter, catching his smirk out of the corner of your eye. “Here, Mr. Meepers!” 

You shake the bag of treats again and a bush near the edge of the patio rustles in reply. Mr. Meepers comes striding out, tail flicking happily as he brushes against your outstretched fingers. 

“Mmmrowww,” he chirps.

“Hi buddy,” you reply, scratching his ears lightly. “Here are your num-nums as promised.” Mr. Meepers nibbles on his treats as you stroke your fingers over his soft fur. “This is gonna be the last time I’ll give you these. You wanna know why? Hmm? Because we are busting you out of here and taking you home! Doesn’t that sound good?” 

The cat purrs loudly, nosing at the bag in your hand, and you cave, giving him a few more treats.

“No wonder Junhui’s been so sad. You’re just the cutest little thing, aren’t you?”

“So cute.” 

The words are whispered breathlessly, so quietly you’re almost not sure you heard them right. You glance up at Joshua, only to find your friend staring at you with a curious look on his face, an expression that you can’t quite name but it makes your pulse jolt regardless. You’re about to ask him if he’s okay when he suddenly straightens up, shaking his head a little.

“We, uh, we should probably not linger here,” he says, fingers clutching at his beanie. 

It almost defies belief how quickly his words jinx the two of you. You’re about to pick up Mr. Meepers when you hear it - the sound of your neighbor’s front door opening.

“Fuck, he’s home!” you hiss. Fast as you can, you scoop Mr. Meepers into your arms, thankful that he trusts you enough not to fight. Joshua holds out his hand to help you up and you stumble clumsily to your feet, apologizing when you bounce off of him. 

“Forget it, just go!” 

Joshua’s fingers lace through yours as the two of you scramble madly towards the hole in the fence. He reaches it first, but doesn’t go through, urging you on, his hands pushing gently on your back the whole time. As soon as you’re clear, he pops through behind you. 

Mr. Meepers chooses that moment to start squirming. He wiggles out of your grip somehow and drops delicately to the ground. For a split second you’re afraid he’s going to bolt through the hole, but instead he darts across your lawn and into your open door.

Before you can follow, you hear the loud creak of your neighbor’s back door opening. You and Joshua both flatten yourselves against the fence, desperate not to be seen. 

“Dinner time, dummy!”

There’s a spike of anger in your anxiety. You really hate your neighbor. He doesn’t wait long for the cat to respond to his call, slamming his screen door shut a few seconds later. 

A few excruciatingly long seconds after that, the light goes out. Everything is quiet again, save for your slight hyperventilating.

You blink a few times. “Oh my god, I thought we wer-”

The screen door next door opens again. 

“Yo, dummy, where are you? It’s time to come in!”

Your neighbor’s head pops up over the fence as he walks out onto his patio.

Joshua grabs the rotten planks and shoves them back into place. In his race to cover up the hole, though, he’s a bit too careless, and pinches his thumb. “Shit!”

You freeze. 

“Mr. Meepers?” the asshole next door calls out. “Stupid cat, what are you getting into?”

You can’t breathe. The threat of being caught now when you’re so close to victory makes your heart skip several beats in fear. Then Joshua’s gaze meets yours, and your heart positively leaps as he springs into action, pressing you against the fence. 

“Just go with it,” he whispers. He doesn’t give you a chance to process his words before he’s cupping your face, and then he leans in and kisses you. It’s a little hasty, a little rushed, like desperation propels him forward. But when his hands drop to your waist, bringing the two of you closer together, you relax into one another. The kisses turn slow, lingering.  

Your eyes slip shut as you breathe him in, citrus and cardamom, his cologne so warm and sweet, just like his kisses. He’s covering your body with his own like he’s shielding you. Protecting you. You could simultaneously shout for joy and cry. 

“What was tha- oh - oh shit, ‘m sorry - “ 

Your neighbor’s voice sputters into silence, and then a few seconds later, the light goes out. Joshua keeps kissing you, arms on either side of your head, but his caresses are more playful now, teasing nudges of his nose against your cheek, tiny pecks on your lips. 

“Joshua.” You speak his name intending to ask what he’s doing, but it comes out like a whine. You’re flustered and Joshua laughs, clearly enjoying it.

“I don’t think he’s looking anymore,” he deadpans, thumbs stroking your cheeks as he cups your face.

“Okay,” you reply, leaning in for another kiss. Joshua’s laughter vibrates against your mouth as you clutch at his hoodie, trying to keep him close. He manages to pull away anyway.

“We should probably get inside before the cat gets out.” 

With that gentle reminder of why you’re out in your yard in the first place, the fog around your head dissipates. You look at your back door and find Mr. Meepers sitting right inside, staring at the two of you. 

“Right.”Joshua’s right, but he also hasn’t let go of you, and that is seriously affecting your ability to think right now. You try to pull yourself together. “Um. Joshua.” 

“Yeah?” 

Countless ideas flit through your brain, the majority of them involving kissing him again. 

“Thank you. For saving us. That was, um. That was good. And, it was…” You’re burning up, the back of your neck heating with a heady mix of desire and embarrassment at how you’re reacting to Joshua’s touch.

“It was what?”

“It was just… really good,” you trail off dumbly in a tiny voice.

He smirks. “Told you I was the brains.” 

You feel slightly sheepish when he laughs again, but you're quickly reassured when he kisses you softly.

“C’mon,” he says, taking your hand again. “Let’s finish your mission and get Mr. Meepers back home. Then maybe I’ll show you what else I’m thinking.”

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© 2024 by minisugakoobies. Crossposted to AO3. Please do not copy or repost. I do not allow translations of my work.