#jun variety show

[m00nlightshine]

230813 My Neighborhood Friend Kangnami youtube community with JUN

[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

[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

[frouponical]

KJ giving back for those comments 🤣

Yohan’s comments on Jun’s posts that I found so freaking cute T~T

a bit awkward ❤️

Dancing a little ❤️

Walking a little ❤️

Smiling a little ❤️

Woah that’s impressive~~~~❤️

The way they are written in similar pattern makes my heart burst ngl 😭 he’s freaking adorable 🥹

[sleepyparalysisdmon]

SVT helping a partner with trauma

Requested? Yes!

Genre: comfort

TW/CW: Implications of trauma

A/N: This will be less of a discussion about traumatic events themselves (if mentioned it’s brief only to give context), but rather the feelings and responses one might have afterwards. Trauma is varied and so is everyone's reactions to it, so I tried to include a variety of scenarios so there’s a little bit of something for everyone. 

A/N #2/Warning: Please use caution when reading if you might find the topic triggering. This is meant to be comforting, but if you find that it isn’t, come back later or skip altogether. 

Seungcheol

Money is an interesting topic between the two of you. At first, he thinks that you just like to keep a tight control over your finances, and he respects it immensely, applauding you for being money-smart. But he notices that you deny yourself a lot of things in an effort to penny pinch, and flat out refuse when he offers to ease your burden on little things like needing to replace something around your apartment or pay a bill that has an upcoming due date. In a vulnerable moment, you tell him the abbreviated version of the story - you depended on someone financially and then they left you with nothing, and you refuse to be stuck in that situation again. From then on he encourages your financial independence and for the most part respects your wishes for him to not spend a lot on you, even if it pains him sometimes. But you best believe the moment you accept it he’s already sliding you his card or heading to the store himself. Wants you to know that you can rely on him, but knows he has to earn that. 

Jeonghan 

You’re a flirt. It’s one of the things that he loves most about you. He's kissed you a few times since starting to date, but he notices how you pull back sooner rather than later, putting space between the two of you. You feel safer with words than you do with touch. He’s okay with that. If you ever try to explain yourself - doesn’t matter if it's a simple ‘I want to wait’, or a more detailed reason - he’ll shake his head. “You come to me if and when you're ready,” he’ll say simply without an ounce of teasing. I do believe that if and when you do approach him, he’ll want to have a not-so-sexy but still very needed conversation to make sure you’re both on the same page and he understands your boundaries. 

Joshua

On the very first date, you tell him you don't drink and don’t really like to be around alcohol. Noted, he thinks, and doesn't order another drink beyond the one he already has in front of him. He also doesn’t have a problem not keeping it at home. However, there’s a social element to drinking that is sometimes unavoidable. He sticks to non-alcoholic drinks with you when you have to go to these events and takes you home before anyone you’re with can be too far gone. You’ll tell him that he can have a drink if he wants and that he doesn't need your permission - but he's supposed to be the one that makes you feel safest, so he’ll shrug it off. He doesn’t miss it. 

Jun 

Absolutely respects your work ethic and even admires it. But sometimes he’s concerned by how you always go in early and stay late, take on way too many responsibilities, and never, ever take a sick day or vacation. When he asks you about it, you simply say that you can’t lose this job. He can sympathize because it would be devastating to not be able to do what he does for a living, but he recognizes that it’s not passion, but rather fear, that drives you to overwork yourself. Does little things like driving you to work so you show up on time rather than super early, or making plans right after work so you can’t stay late. He’ll also book a vacation to somewhere that you just can't refuse. Anything to encourage rest, really. 

Hoshi 

Bless his heart, but he's trying to be funny. He hears you come in and hides behind a door, jumping out at you when you enter the room. Does not expect for you to cry and panic, and cries and panics himself, profusely apologizing. Once you both are calm, he doesn't press for details, accepting your explanation that someone that used to be in your life used to do that sort of thing, but that it wasn't all fun and games. Will never, ever be doing that again, and if you're ever around his group members and they get a bright idea, expect that he'll put a stop to it before it even starts. 

Wonwoo

You’ve lost someone close to you. Whether it was a shock or not, whether you were there or not, doesn’t matter. He’s sympathetic to the trauma of losing someone and knows there isn’t a ton he can do to fix it. But he’ll do the little things. He’ll make sure you eat, even if it’s a little and even if he needs to feed you. He’ll make sure you shower, even if he has to get in and wash your hair for you. He’ll make sure you find a balance between sleep and activity, even if he has to gently drag you outside for some fresh air or carry you to bed himself. Also knows you can't really acknowledge any of it right now, but he’ll keep doing it anyway. 

Woozi

You guys don't fight, well, ever. You both are too laid back. But something big happens and you both have had bad days. Jihoon’s not proud when he loses his temper a bit, shouting. Immediately does not like how you fold into yourself and back away. You’ve confided in him before that your home life involved a lot of arguing growing up. He kind of feels like he’s looking at a kid version of you in the past and it makes him feel nauseous. He takes a deep breath, apologizes, and says that you both should cool down. Later that night, you two sit on the couch, talk it out, and promise to call a timeout next time one of you gets upset. Will absolutely never raise his voice at you again.

DK 

He checks your phone for something, not trying to be invasive, but because you had something he needed. He accidentally stumbles across quite a few reminders that you're way overdue for a check up at the doctor’s office. He apologizes that he was accidentally nosy, but asks if you’ve been able to schedule it yet. He can tell that you’re uncomfortable, bordering on scared at the mention of it. You’ve told him before that you were sick as a child and spent a not-so-insignificant time in the hospital and have since then hated clinical settings. So, so understanding, but also so, so insistent that you should take care of yourself. He’ll take off work in a heartbeat to go with you and hold your hand if it will help. 

Mingyu 

You both are working on a grocery list and you ask him to add another case of bottled water. He looks at you quizzically because you already have an untouched case in the closet and the fridge is stocked. You pause, frowning. “But what if we run out?” You’ll say in a small, worried voice. He knows you’ve lived through a natural disaster or two before you moved here. You don't talk about it much, but he’s seen clips on TV before about what that can be like. He nods. “You’re right. I’ll get another one.” He gets two. That closet will never be empty if it makes you feel better. 

Minghao

You’re getting repeated phone calls from a random number. When you tell him this, at first, he nods, kind of shrugging it off. Spam calls happen all the time. (God only knows I get like ten a day from telemarketers.) Still, he watches your anxiety spike every time it happens and gently presses for a bit of an explanation. You tell him shortly that you’ve gotten harassing phone calls in the past and have had to change numbers a time or two because of it. From that point forward, if he's with you and your phone rings from an unknown number, he's holding his hand out expectantly. Doesn't matter if it’s a telemarketer or not. Will always answer the phone for you or simply get you a new number until you’re comfortable. 

Seungkwan

Listen, I think he's ready to fight any day. He’s kind of surprised when you ask if he wants to meet your parents and especially surprised at how anxious you are about it. He sees why immediately because they aren’t nice people. Tolerates very few negative or demeaning comments directed at you and certainly won't tolerate any displays of violence, so I expect this to be a short visit ending with him deciding it’s time to go. Also won’t accept any apology from you for how they behaved and after some consideration will encourage you to limit contact. 

Vernon

When you tell him early on that you don’t drive, he just shrugs. He’ll take the bus or walk with you any day. But one night, you guys have gone out. When you walk out to go home, you realize it’s raining and that you’ve missed the last bus. Vernon shrugs, saying he’ll just call an uber or taxi. You panic and he’s kind of surprised. Still, he puts his phone back up and waits for the rain to stop with you before walking home. You tell him you got into a car accident years ago and your injuries were minor, but you still don't like driving or riding in cars. You say it’s one of the reasons you live where you do, so you can just walk everywhere. Will always stick by you no matter what mode of transportation you choose. 

Chan 

You express that you don't like your new job and he’s surprised, mostly because you were so excited to start it. You tell him your coworkers are kind of cliquey, and you don't feel like you fit in. He understands, telling you that they don't have to be your friends as you can work with them. Still, you tell him you can handle a bit of rejection, but you're afraid that they might become mean or hostile, like the catty women in the last place you worked. He encourages you to focus on work for now and feel out the situation for a little bit longer. It’s not the end of the world if it doesn't work out because you still have him. Cheesy, I know, but it does make you feel better. 

[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)

[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.

[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.

[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.”

If you liked this fic, please consider reblogging! Likes do not help it get seen by other readers. 💕

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

[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.

[kimbappykidding]

Imagine thinking Vernon hates you because he never talks to you but it's actually because he likes you and loses the ability to speak around you

You were known for being pretty loud and outgoing. Your role in your group was the confident performer and you always brought it on any stage or variety show. You'd met Vernon several times through Dino. The two of you were friends from the same home town. You even knew each pre-debut and somehow made it into the same company. So you saw one another a lot and through Dino, the Seventeen members. You loved all of Dino's hyungs but found Vernon the most surprising. Dino warned you Vernon, The8, Wonwoo, Woozi and Jun could take a little while to feel comfortable around people but the others had all been nice and made the effort with you. You'd made the effort with them back and now had their friendship. The8 would chat to you happily, Wonwoo would would play games with you, Woozi showed you how to make music and Jun...well it took about a week before Jun revealed his crackhead self to you which you took to be a token of his friendship. But Vernon was the only one you hadn't made any progress with. He was the only one where, if left alone it was awkward which was hard considering how talkative you were. Which was another thing that confused you. You had a similar personality to Seungkwan, Vernon's best friend, so you didn't get why this part of yourself was such a problem. You'd never mentioned it to Dino because you were sensitive about people not liking you. You knew it was a fact of life but were still insecure about it so you pretended everything was fine and that there wasn't this cold wall between the two of you.

Vernon experienced things a little differently. When he first saw you he found you attractive which was odd because he never really noticed those things about people on the first meeting. It usually took a while for him to feel attraction to people but with you, he'd noticed it instantly. That made him nervous and so he became awkward around you. He figured the best thing to do was just remain quiet around you. He noticed you trying to make an effort with him but you were too quick. Every time he'd finally thought of an appropriate response you'd have moved on to someone else. You found socialising so much easier than him and the two of you were just so different! The more he thought about how incompatible you both were the more he tried to hide his crush but it didn't stop it from growing. He liked your personality despite how different it was from his own. So much so he was now scared if he ever opened his mouth around you it'd all spill out. So he just pretended like he didn't even notice when you walked into a room when in reality you caught his attention immediately.

Vernon wasn't the most focused person, his mind had a habit of wandering and when you were there it got even worse. You'd come over for a movie night and Vernon's head was filled with a million questions as everyone debated what film to watch. Had your hair grown since last time? Or maybe it was extensions. Did you wear extensions? He wondered how you got your hair so shiny and if it was as soft as it looked when he realised people were talking to him. "Vernon" Seungkwan called snapping Vernon back into the room. "what?" he asked and Seungkwan laughed "what is wrong with you lately? You've always got your head in the clouds". Hoshi and Dino both laughed awkwardly and you were smiling. "Sorry...I'm just tired. What happened?". "Y/n just asked you a question". "She did? Ow what was it?" he asked turning to you but you shook your head "it doesn't matter". You smiled but Vernon noted the cold tone in your voice and hoped he hadn't upset you. Not wanting to do anything else wrong he stayed quiet the rest of the night and tried not to look in your direction. You stayed over as the movie finished late and crashed in Dino's room like normal. However you were unusually quiet and Dino knew something was wrong. "Y/n are you okay?" Dino asked. Never one to hide your feelings you shook your head "why does Vernon hate me?". "Awww come on he just didn't hear you". "No it wasn't just today! Every time I'm around Vernon checks out. He never takes up my offers to meet up, even when I check his availability with Seungkwan beforehand! The number of times I've tried to draw him into conversations just to get a nod or one-word answer. Whenever I greet him and ask how he is I just get a "good" and he never asks "how are you?" back. He just clearly cannot be bothered with me, I don't even think it's a dislike because that would imply he cares enough to develop emotions about me! He just has utter contempt for me and I have no idea why!" you cried. Dino placed his hands on your shoulders "hey breathe okay... it's okay". "But is not" you sighed and sobbed. Seungkwan and Vernon were in the room next door and while they hadn't heard a word of what you'd said they did hear raised voices and then crying. "Should you check on them?" Vernon asked and Seungkwan sighed but went to go see if you were okay. Vernon carried on as normal and had a shower before going downstairs to get a snack. Dino was there and Vernon remembered you immediately. "Hey is Y/n okay?" Vernon asked. Dino glanced at him before looking down "yeah she's fine". "Well that was convincing" Vernon tried to joke but Dino wasn't in the mood. "Well what do you want me to say Vernon? It's not like you care about her". Vernon was very shocked by Dino's anger and had no idea where this was coming from. "Who says that I don't care about her?" he asked. Dino rolled his eyes "please! She called your name three times earlier but you didn't even bother to respond. You know I never said you had to be best friends with her but I did think you'd be polite to her. That you'd try and make her feel welcome. I didn't think you'd be the one to be rude to her and make her feel like crap". Vernon froze "I never meant to! Is she okay? Should I apologise?". "No I think you'll only make things worse" Dino replied "I've lost my appetite" and he walked away leaving his food untouched. Vernon was beside himself but he has absolutely no idea what to do.  So he did what he always did in these situations...he consulted Boo Seungkwan. "See Y/n thinks I hate her" Vernon started and then paused waiting for a reaction. Seungkwan just stared at him "and?" he asked unsure why Vernon had stopped. Vernon paused "well that's bad!". "Because she knows?" Seungkwan asked and Vernon shook his head "because I don't hate her!". Seungkwan narrowed his eyes "really? Because you never listen when she's talking, you avoid her whenever she's around and you seem pained if she so much as sits at the same table as you". Vernon groaned "none of that is because I hate her! It's the opposite!". Seungkwan laughed before he saw Vernon's expression "wait you...". "I like her!" Vernon cried "and apparently I have the very worst way of showing it". Seungkwan nodded "yeah you were giving hard the opposite direction...erm okay. So why haven't you been talking to her if you like her or even just giving her your attention?". "I've tried but I freeze around her! Anytime she talks to me my mind goes blank and when she's around I'm too busy thinking about her that I miss her actually speaking to me. Like earlier today, I'm fairly sure I was wondering what colour I'd call her hair when she was talking to me". Seungkwan raised an eyebrow "wow okay we've got a lot of work to do!". Seungkwan decided the best thing to do with a newbie socialiser like Vernon was to ease him into it gently. So the first task was greetings. You'd been avoiding the Seventeen house after your last visit but Dino soon caught onto that and pretty much forced you to come over. You knocked on the door hoping Vernon would be out, when who opened the door but Vernon himself. You were prepared for a blank stare and nod but he actually looked at you and nodded "hey Y/n. Dino's up in his room". He'd never greeted you before and you weren't sure if he'd ever said your name. "He is?" you asked unsure of everything and Vernon nodded "yeah, would you like to come in?". You realised you were still standing on the doorstep in shock. "Thanks" you nodded and stepped inside. Vernon actually closed the door behind you and nodded "bye Y/n" before walking back into the kitchen. You stood there for a few seconds in shock before going to find Dino. Seungkwan had been watching the whole thing from the kitchen and cheered the second you went upstairs. "That was perfect Vernon and inviting her in was a wonderful piece of adlib". "Well she wasn't moving and I wasn't sure what to do but knew I should say something, so I went for it" he said proudly. Seungkwan nodded "excellent, now practice that and then it's time for phase 2. Casual engagement. You started feeling welcome once again in the Seventeen house. You weren't sure if Dino had said something but now Vernon said hello or goodbye every time he saw you. He looked you in the eye when he said it and even smiled. You were overjoyed at something so simple and so when Dino invited you to pizza night you agreed. All the guys were there when you arrived and they called out greetings to you, Vernon included. You ended up sat a few places down from him and when you joined in a conversation he was having with Mingyu he didn't check out. Mingyu was arguing that this restaurant downtown did the best chicken but Vernon said it was this one around the corner. "The one downtown is cheaper but the one up here is so much better" you said and Vernon smiled "see! Y/n gets it". Just something as small as him acknowledging your opinion made you smile. "But I will admit the one downtown has more tables making it easier to get into" you relented and Vernon nodded "I respect that" making you grin even more. Vernon kept being nice all night and you noticed. "Has something happened to Vernon?" you asked Dino when Vernon had stepped away. He frowned "no, why?". "He just seems so much happier and talkative". Dino shrugged "he's usually like this all the time when we're all together...he must just feel comfortable around you". That made you beam with pride and Dino smiled to see how happy that made you. After you left Dino went into the kitchen for some water and bumped into Vernon. Vernon nodded to him and they chatted for a while before Dino said what was on his mind. "I don't know what happened or if anything I said got through but thanks" Dino said "Y/n really appreciates the effort you're making and I appreciate it too". Vernon shrugged "you were right I wasn't making her feel welcome. I'm glad she noticed the change. She's always welcome here of course and I like her". Dino smiled "I'm so telling her that!" and rushed away so quickly he missed the blush on Vernon's face. Phase three was purposeful engagement. This involved Vernon actually initiating a conversation with you and asking you a question. It was definitely the most difficult stage and he was pretty nervous. Luckily it was taking place at a party and parties always made him nervous so it didn't change much in that respect. When you arrived Vernon immediately felt a little flustered because you looked so good but Seungkwan told him to be strong. So Vernon got a seat next to you at the table and kept his eye open for opportunities. Vernon had purposefully waited for you to finish your drink for the past 30 minutes and finally when you drank the last few drops he downed his. "I'm going to get a new drink, would anyone like one?" he asked and looked at you. He saw you glance at your now empty glass but you didn't say anything. "Y/n?" he asked and you blinked looking up at him. A smile came onto your face and you nodded "I'd love one but are you sure you don't mind?". Vernon smiled back "of course not" and took your glass. You watched him go and got a tingly feeling in your stomach. When Vernon returned he gave you the drink and you thanked him. Conversations carried on around you and you laughed at an argument Seungkwan and Hoshi were having when Vernon caught your eye. "So Y/n how's swimming been?" Vernon asked. You paused "what?". Vernon immediately panicked thinking he'd gotten it wrong. "You joined a new swimming team right? I thought you mentioned it last week". You nodded "I...yeah I did, it's been good thanks. Well okay I guess, there was some drama". "What happened?" Vernon asked and you weren't sure if he was messing with you. "You don't want me to bore you with it..." you said but Vernon shook his head "no I'd love to know. I was never sporty enough to join a club so I want to know all the drama. Every last piece of it". You smiled and told him all about it. By the time you finished your story the party was well and truly in the swing of things and you and Vernon were the only two people still sitting at the table. All the others had wandered off or congregated elsewhere. So when Vernon asked if you wanted another drink you went with him. You manoeuvred your way to the kitchen and laughed at Vernon's grimace when a guy nearly bumped into him with a full drink. Finally you got to the kitchen and Vernon passed you a drink. You headed back to the table chatting about the party when you saw what had happened. "And our seats are gone..." Vernon commented and you laughed "typical". Vernon didn't seem like he wanted to rush off and as you suddenly got a waft of fresh air an idea came to you "wanna head outside? It's getting really crowded in here". Vernon nodded "sure" and followed you out of the sea of people. Some of the other members were outside and they spotted you immediately. You and Vernon pulled up chairs near them so you could hear the conversation but also slightly apart. You laughed along with the group as Dk began teasing Joshua and Vernon told you they were always like this. You smiled at how comfortable he was around you and took a breath. "I just wanted to say thanks" and Vernon smiled feeling the buzz of the alcohol "for what?". "For not hating me anymore!" you laughed and Vernon shook his head "I never hated you Y/n" but you just smiled sadly. "It's okay Vernon, I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea. I'm loud, dramatic and emotional which is literally the worst combination I can think of...but I promise I'm working on it and it means a lot that you've given me a chance". Vernon shook his head "I don't think any of those things about you. I like how fun and extroverted you are". You shook your head not believing him and it suddenly became very important for Vernon to convince you he was telling the truth. "It's true! You're so friendly and kind to everyone it's really admirable. I wish I could be more like that and I think it's one of the best qualities a person can have. I never disliked you and actually really admire you". You frowned "but if all of that is true...why did you never talk to me?". You looked so vulnerable and curious Vernon didn't even hesitate. "Because I like you Y/n and have this whole time". "Like me as in..." you started and Vernon nodded "as in I think you're amazing Y/n. You're so smart and funny at the same time, the way your brain works so quickly always impresses me. Not to mention how you're also so beautiful, half the time you thought I was ignoring you I was probably just processing how good you looked that day. I'm introverted but I admire your extroversion and how brave you are. You're fearless Y/n and I could truly never hate you" Vernon finished. You blinked and for once were lost for words. "I...had no idea and I don't know what to say". Vernon shook his head "you don't have to say anything". He knew he should probably be feeling nervous he just confessed to you but he didn't. He just looked around the garden gently tapping his glass, enjoying the night sky. "So...you like me?" you asked eventually and Vernon "yes". "So do you plan to do anything about it?" you asked. What you meant was, did Vernon want to date you, what Vernon heard was "are you going to kiss me". So he leaned in and although you were surprised there was no way you were going to turn this down, so you kissed him. You'd forgotten the group of friends sat a few meters away but they didn't forget you. "Vernon? Y/n?" Seungkwan gasped unable to stop himself. You both broke apart blushing as everyone looked over and their jaws dropped. "Woah you just skipped like 3 stages and went straight to stage 8, become intimate" Seungkwan carried on. "Stage what?" you asked and Vernon blushed "Seungkwan was coaching me to talk to you". You smiled "really? That's so sweet" and hugged him. The boys found it so adorable and funny how Vernon went bright red but he melted into your embrace. He wrapped his arms around you and hid his face in your hair. When the boys had teased him enough you took his arm and led him away from the group. Vernon was still blushing but he had a huge smile on his face. You smiled "so that kiss was nice". "Yeah it was" Vernon said chuckling. "Would you maybe like to do it again on a date?". Vernon nodded "absolutely! We can go right now if you want". You chuckled "why don't we enjoy the rest of the party and save that for another day? There's no rush". Vernon nodded "of course of course" and you led him back to the group. They all smirked and teased you again but neither of you really cared. You sat together arms around one another and just enjoyed the night. Boo Seungkwan's 8-stage plan was very effective.

[lesbiancarat]

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

[zoology]

The racialization of pit bulls: What dogs can teach us about racial politics

ABSTRACT: Many have argued that discrimination against pit bulls is rooted in the breed’s association with Black owners and culture. We theoretically and empirically interrogate that argument in a variety of ways and uncover striking similarities between the racialization of pit bulls and other racialized issues (e.g., poverty and crime) in public opinion and policy implementation. After detailing the reasons to expect pit bulls to be racialized as Black despite dog ownership in the U.S. generally being raced as white, the article shows: (1) Most Americans associate pit bulls with Black people. (2) Anti-Black attitudes, in general, are significant, independent, predictors of both anti-pit views and of preferring other breeds over them; (3) stereotypes of Black men as violent, in particular, are significant, independent, predictors of both anti-pit views and of preferring other breeds over them. (4) Implicit racialization through a national survey experiment further eroded support for legalizing pits, with the treatment effect significantly conditioned by respondent’s race. And (5) state-level racial prejudice is a significant negative predictor of enacting legislation to preempt breed-specific bans. We conclude with our findings’ broader insights into the nature of U.S. racial politics.

Tesler M, McThomas M. The racialization of pit bulls: What dogs can teach us about racial politics. PLoS One. 2024 Jun 28;19(6):e0305959. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305959. PMID: 38941314; PMCID: PMC11213322.

i've been thinking a lot about the ravenous hatred some people have for pit bulls/bully breeds and i think this article is very insightful. for those of us who have grown up in heavily segregated poor neighborhoods this is a realization on par with "water is wet" but it's extremely helpful to have a professionally conducted survey and the stats to back it up.

[svtminji]

ᡴꪫ ⋆ ࣪ NANA TOUR ! ˓𓄹 ࣪˖ ─── half-cut episode one.

╰ here comes the 7-day vacation full of laughter! come enjoy italy to the fullest! follow the lead of guide na with seventeen, nana tour with seventeen! pd na, a 20-year veteran of travel entertainment shows, got a new job as a tour guide and became guide na! he's the tour guide for seventeen, who's going on a vacation into the summer in italy!

psa — this is half cut of episode one since the original episode is over 2 hours long 😖😖 part two will be posted soon enough 💆

septiembre ─── tokyo

                it was relatively quiet in the hotel room considering the commotion that was caused by the four drinking members. it begged the question on how the floors above and below did not file a noise complaint. well, whatever the noise was, it did not seem to bother the couple as they were sound asleep in the comfort of each other’s arms.

                not everything was sunshine and rainbows. as soon as na-pd stepped into the staff room, chaos began. na-pd explained to the staff about how he was kidnapping all of seventeen, minus seungcheol, and that it would occur today. minji’s manager had raised a few eyebrows and decided to speak what was on her mind.

“before we move on to the subject at hand, minji has already made her schedule designed to fit along with the rest of seventeen.” the manager explained. “she made reservations at restaurants to eat with her friends and family, so how are you going to break the news to her?”

[…]

                looks were thrown around the room and this started the worried expression of na-pd. he cleared his throat and spoke.

“well i’m sure minji won’t take the news so lightly, especially from me. but i’ll be the one to tell her, along with the8 and jun.”

[minji, jun, the8: their dreams ruined by na-pd]

na-pd recalled his plan with seungcheol and they managed to obtain 11/14 members without a complaint to say the least. the next room they needed to wake up with the news was the jeongmi room. although before na-pd could even touch the doorknob handle, seungkwan stopped him.

[?]

“this is for your safety and the viewer’s safety.” seungkwan spoke before putting his ear onto the door. mingyu, who noticed what seungkwan meant, pushed him slightly and waited for the confirmation. silence was passed around before he nodded. “coast is clear. you may now proceed.”

opening the door and turning on the lights, the group noticed two things. one: jeonghan pretending he was already waking up. two: minji having the blanket over her head. incoherent shouts were heard and it only made minji pull the blanket more to cover herself. just her luck, a group of men intruding her space once again. the members were mentioning something to jeonghan which minji couldn’t bother to hear about.

the female member could only care about two things: why the fuck they were in the room, and how to make them leave. before she could say anything, someone had pulled down the blanket over her head and revealed herself to the unnatural light, cameras, and men. minji opened her eyes and sighed.

[not a good morning]

“look who’s awake!! it’s minji!!” soonyoung spoke beside her while holding down the blanket so it wouldn’t go back up. minji, who could only reply with a glare, tried to pull the blanket back up but soonyoung persisted.

“why is everyone here? it’s not like we’re doing some variety show right now.. especially with the cameras..” minji spoke as she looked around the room, specifically for a shirt to put on, and that was when she saw na-pd.

like a deer in headlights, she laid there in shock. jeonghan, who knew she wasn’t in proper attire, grabbed an old shirt of his and handed it to her, along with her glasses. hoshi lifted up the blanket so nothing would be seen from the cameras, and muttered something which made him receive a slap on the back. pulling down the blanket, minji was dressed and she bowed her head to signal she was saying hello.

“i don’t want to be rude, but why is everyone here?”

“minji.” na-pd sat down on the bed and looked at minji with uncertainty. “remember during super promotions, the group chose ‘one fine day’?” the female member nodded and looked at him to go on. “well, that day.. is today..”

the truth comes out…

“oh..” minji looked at him then towards her members who were nodding to confirm. “oh…”

“it’s supposed to be random and ..” na-pd continued on explaining his initial plan but all minji could do was block him out. she stared at the floor and moved her gaze towards her phone then back at the speaker. “and so what we needed to do was-”

“i’m sorry to interrupt you, but i had already made plans two months ago with my family and friends.” minji had cut off na-pd, and got up from the bed. “i need to call them at this hour and tell them the news. i understand it’s not your fault but just give me a minute.”

minji’s actions displayed that she was displeased with the sudden news. na-pd started talking to the rest of the members as minji continued talking to whoever was on the line. after a while, it had gone quiet and japanese was only heard from the female member. jeonghan went up to her and asked for the phone; minji gave it to him and walked over.

sad minji in the morning..

“he’s talking to my mom right now, but is our passports all together? i just want to know in case i have to go look for it.” minji spoke as she looked at na-pd. her bedhead was still noticeable and some of the members stifled a laugh.

“yeah, all of the staff members have managed to collect the passports and the information needed to land.”

“oh okay, that seems fine. if you don’t mind me asking, where are we going specifically?”

na-pd looked like his mouth was locked and he shook his head. “that’s something explained later on once we have myungho. he needs to hear the news that jun and him aren’t going to their scheduled plan.”

minji nodded then connected the dots. “so.. their original schedule was just a cover up?” na-pd nodded. “ah, good luck with him. he’s kind of sensitive when it comes to lying about those things. pretty sure he had already called his family and told them about it.”

“well. i’m planning on telling him myself and explain to him the circumstances about it.” na-pd explained. “i don’t want to appear as a bad guy in general.”

an. personally.. i think i could’ve written this better.. but oh well🥲🥲🥲 this was in the drafts for at least 3 weeks and i didn’t want to hold this back even longer. pt 2 soon 👍👍

[npd-characters-tournament]

Propaganda

Ibara Saegusa

Peak ASPD+NPD To Me. Do not let his entire "businessman" schtick fool you, he's both silly and makes you want to bite on a wooden stick. Idol who ironically tries to not stand out because he saw idols on variety shows be humiliated while he was young, also there's the whole thing about A Certain Relative who revere idols but never thinks about his family. Also it's not like he doesn't like to be in the spotlight, there are instances where he shows he's a bit envious of another unitmate, Jun, who's supposedly like him in terms of supporting their seniors in the shadow find his own spotlight. Biggest example I can give: the recent main story 3 event where he goes scheming again the entire event because of... Jun forgetting to account for him as an opponent in a variety show (iirc) and didn't speak with him about quite an important matter because Jun only considered the other participating unitmate as an opponent he has to overcome. Oh yeah also silly stuff, Ibara got a scout story where he fumbles taking care of a dog. Also he may be a snake, but he's also a cat

---

Xanthomonas "Xanthe"

Everyone's favourite bigender narcissist scene queen/king. a myspace celebrity in the mid 2000s, he's famous for his music but even more so for his drama. a living embodiment of the "h8rz maek meh famouz xx" and "make a scene" era of the internet, she'd rather get attention from hate than ever be forgotten. the propaganda is that he comes from a story about redemption and shining light on the "unwanted/bad/unhelpable" victims and is written with explicit intention of honoring narcissism as well as other PDs in its full range and depth with a more compassionate and anti-stigma lens. ALSO HE'S MY SPECIAL LITTLE BOYGIRL AND HE CAN CAUSE AS MUCH DRAMA AS SHE WANTS TO, ITS ENTERTAINING we love to see it. RAWR XD it up !!!! one vote for xanthe is one vote for the spread of xanthomonas bacteria !!

https://www.tumblr.com/invaderskoodge/767195844730568704/xanthe-npd-poll-propaganda?source=share

[bratzkoo]

back to you | jun

Author: bratzkoo Pairing: jun x university student! reader Genre: fluff Rating: PG-13 Word count: 2.6k Warnings/note: requested by an anon. hope you like em.

summary: you struggle to adjust with your university life abroad and jun just wants to be a lovesick puppy

taglist (hit me up if you wanna be added): -​

requests are open, but you can just say hi! | masterlist -

The autumn breeze carried a hint of excitement as you hurried across the sprawling campus of Seoul National University. Your backpack, heavy with textbooks and a laptop, bounced against your spine with each step. The leaves, painted in vibrant shades of red and gold, rustled beneath your feet as you navigated the familiar path to your Korean Language and Culture class.

It had been three months since you arrived in South Korea as an exchange student, leaving behind the comfort of your home country for the adventure of a lifetime. The initial culture shock had given way to a sense of wonder and appreciation for the bustling city of Seoul and its rich history. You had made friends, tried countless new foods, and immersed yourself in a language that once seemed impossibly complex but now flowed from your lips with growing confidence.

But despite the thrill of your new life, there was an undeniable ache in your heart – a Jun-shaped hole that no amount of kimchi or K-dramas could fill.

Jun, your boyfriend of two years, had always dreamed of becoming a K-pop idol. You had been there from the beginning, cheering him on through grueling auditions, years of training, and the nerve-wracking debut showcase with SVT. Now, at 26, he was living his dream as the main dancer and vocalist of SVT, a group that had taken the K-pop world by storm and was currently celebrating their 9th year since debut.

You were incredibly proud of Jun, but his success came at a price. The long-distance relationship that had once seemed manageable now felt like an insurmountable challenge. Your schedules rarely aligned – when you were awake, he was often sleeping off the exhaustion from a concert, variety show appearance, or group practice. Your conversations were reduced to hurried video calls and a constant stream of text messages, each one a digital lifeline keeping your connection alive.

As you approached the Humanities building, you fished your phone out of your pocket, hoping for a message from Jun. Your heart sank when you saw the empty notification bar. It had been two days since his last message – a group selca of SVT looking exhausted but happy after a sold-out concert in Bangkok. You knew he was busy, but the silence still stung.

With a sigh, you pocketed your phone and pushed open the heavy doors of the building. The cool air conditioning was a welcome relief from the autumn sun. You made your way to the classroom, sliding into your usual seat near the window. As you pulled out your notebook and pencil case, your mind wandered to Jun. 

Where was he now? Tokyo? Manila? The cities of their world tour blurred together in your mind. You pictured him on stage, his graceful dance moves captivating the audience, his voice blending perfectly with his fellow members, his charismatic smile making Carats' hearts flutter. A pang of longing hit you as you remembered the way he used to practice his parts for you, just the two of you in his tiny trainee dorm room, his movements precise even in the limited space.

"Y/N-ssi, are you with us?" Professor Kim's voice snapped you back to reality. You blinked, realizing the class had already started.

"Yes, Sir. I’m sorry,," you apologized, feeling your cheeks heat up as your classmates giggled.

Professor Kim gave you a knowing smile. "That’s okay. Now, let's continue with our discussion on the influence of Confucianism on modern Korean society."

You tried to focus on the lecture, scribbling notes and participating in the class discussion. But your mind kept drifting back to Jun. You missed his laugh, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the feeling of his hand in yours. You missed the quiet moments between his schedules when you'd curl up together, watching dramas or planning your future. You missed being able to support him in person, to give him a hug after a tough day or celebrate SVT's victories with more than just a congratulatory text.

As the class drew to a close, Professor Kim assigned a group project on Korean cultural festivals. You paired up with Min-ji, a friendly Korean student who had taken you under her wing since your arrival.

"Y/N-ah, you seem distracted today," Min-ji said as you packed up your things. "Is everything okay?"

You managed a small smile. "I'm fine, just missing home a little."

Min-ji's eyes softened with understanding. "And by home, you mean Jun-oppa from SVT, right?"

You nodded, grateful for her perceptiveness. Min-ji was one of the few people who knew about your relationship with Jun. You had sworn her to secrecy – even though SVT was well-established, dating was still a sensitive topic in the K-pop world, and you didn't want to cause any trouble for Jun or the group.

"I know it's hard," Min-ji said, giving your arm a gentle squeeze. "But you're strong, Y/N-ah. And Jun-oppa is lucky to have someone who supports his dreams and SVT so much."

"Gomawo, Min-ji-ya," you said, feeling a lump form in your throat. "I just wish..."

Your words were cut off by a commotion outside. The sound of excited chatter and what seemed like... music? drifted through the open windows. You and Min-ji exchanged curious glances before joining the stream of students heading towards the source of the noise.

As you stepped outside, the autumn sun momentarily blinded you. You blinked, trying to make sense of the scene before you. A crowd had gathered in the central courtyard, surrounding what looked like a hastily assembled stage. The music grew louder – a familiar melody that made your heart skip a beat.

"No way," you whispered, pushing your way through the crowd. "It can't be..."

But it was. There, on the makeshift stage, stood Jun. His black hair was styled in the comma style you loved, a few strands falling artfully over his forehead. He wore simple black jeans and a white t-shirt under a leather jacket – a far cry from SVT's usual coordinated stage outfits. His eyes scanned the crowd as he sang, his voice clear and strong, filling the courtyard with the sweet melody of "Falling for U," the special unit song he had recorded with Joshua.

Your feet moved of their own accord, carrying you closer to the stage. The crowd seemed to part for you, or maybe you were just pushing your way through, oblivious to everything but the sight and sound of Jun.

As if drawn by some magnetic force, Jun's eyes found yours in the crowd. His face lit up with a smile so bright it rivaled the sun. Without missing a beat in the song, he extended his hand towards you, inviting you to join him on stage.

For a moment, you hesitated. This was crazy. Jun was an idol, a member of one of the biggest K-pop groups in the world. There were probably fans in the crowd, maybe even reporters. What about his image? SVT's reputation? A thousand worries flashed through your mind in an instant.

But then Jun winked at you, that same mischievous wink he'd given you on your first date, and all your doubts melted away. You took his hand, letting him pull you up onto the stage as the crowd cheered.

Up close, you could see the exhaustion hidden behind Jun's smile, the slight puffiness under his eyes that spoke of too many sleepless nights and intense performances. But his eyes were shining with joy and love as he sang directly to you, his free hand coming up to cup your cheek.

As the final notes of the song faded away, Jun lowered the microphone. The crowd's cheers seemed distant, muffled by the sound of your heart pounding in your ears.

"Surprise," Jun said softly, his breath warm against your ear as he pulled you into a tight hug.

You buried your face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with something uniquely Jun. "What are you doing here?" you mumbled against his shirt, not quite believing this was real.

Jun chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "I missed you," he said simply. Then, louder, addressing the crowd: "Thank you all for listening! I hope you enjoyed this special SVT unit performance."

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, with shouts of "SVT!" and "Jun-oppa!" ringing out. You became acutely aware of the dozens of phones pointed in your direction, capturing this moment for posterity – and potentially social media. A flicker of worry must have shown on your face because Jun squeezed your hand reassuringly.

"It's okay," he whispered. "I cleared it with the members and the company. No more hiding."

Before you could process what that meant, Jun was guiding you off the stage and through the crowd. You caught glimpses of shocked faces – your classmates, professors, random students who had gathered for the impromptu performance. Min-ji gave you a thumbs up and a wide grin as you passed her, mouthing "Daebak!" with an impressed expression.

Jun led you to a quiet corner of the campus, a secluded spot behind the library where you often came to study. Only when you were alone did he finally release your hand, turning to face you with a mixture of excitement and nervousness in his eyes.

"I can't believe you're here," you said, drinking in the sight of him. He looked different from the last time you'd seen him in person – more mature, with sharper features and a new confidence in his posture. But his eyes were the same, warm and full of love.

Jun ran a hand through his hair, a habit he'd never quite shaken despite SVT's stylists' best efforts. "I couldn't stay away any longer," he admitted. "We had a two-day break between concerts, and I just... I had to see you."

"But what about your schedule? The members? Won't you get in trouble?" The questions tumbled out of you, your practical side warring with the part of you that just wanted to throw yourself into his arms and never let go.

Jun's smile turned sheepish. "About that... I may have pulled a few strings. And by strings, I mean I may have begged Seungcheol-hyung and threatened to write a whole album of sad Chinese ballads if they didn't let me come."

You couldn't help but laugh at the mental image. "Jun! You didn't!"

"I did," he said, his expression growing serious. "Y/N, these past few years with SVT have been amazing. Performing, meeting Carats, achieving our dreams together – it's everything I ever hoped for. But none of it means anything if I can't share it with you."

Your heart swelled at his words. "Jun, I'm so proud of you and SVT. I don't want to hold you back or cause any problems for your career or the group."

Jun shook his head, taking both of your hands in his. "You could never hold me back. You're the reason I've made it this far. Your support, your love – it's what keeps me going on those days when everything feels too hard, too overwhelming. The members understand that. They've been pushing me to do this, actually."

Tears pricked at your eyes. "I've missed you so much," you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper.

"I've missed you too," Jun said, pulling you close. "Every city, every stage – I kept wishing you were there. That's why I talked to the members and the company. No more hiding, no more pretending we're just friends. I want the world to know how much I love you."

Your eyes widened. "Are you sure? What about the fans? SVT's image?"

Jun's smile was soft but determined. "Our real Carats will understand. They've always supported us in our personal happiness. And as for our image... SVT has always been about honesty and connection with our fans. I'm an idol, yes, but I'm also just a man in love with an incredible person who supports my dreams and my group. Why should I hide that?"

Overwhelmed by emotion, you stood on your tiptoes and pressed your lips to his. Jun responded immediately, wrapping his arms around you and deepening the kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of months of longing, of love that had only grown stronger despite the distance.

When you finally pulled apart, both slightly breathless, Jun rested his forehead against yours. "I have to leave for Taipei tomorrow night," he said regretfully. "We have a fan meeting."

Your heart sank at the thought of him leaving so soon, but you pushed the feeling aside. "Then we'll make the most of the time we have," you said with determination.

Jun's eyes lit up. "I was hoping you'd say that. I may have cleared your schedule with the international student office. How do you feel about playing tour guide for the day?"

You laughed, feeling lighter than you had in months. "I'd love to. Where do you want to go first?"

"Anywhere," Jun said, lacing his fingers with yours. "As long as I'm with you, I'm home. But maybe we could stop by that dakgalbi place you've been raving about? The members made me promise to bring back some food."

As you left the campus hand in hand, you knew there would be challenges ahead. Long-distance relationships were never easy, especially with Jun's hectic life as a SVT member. There would be rumors to deal with, possibly some backlash from possessive fans. But looking at Jun, seeing the love and determination in his eyes, you knew you could face anything together.

The future stretched out before you, full of possibilities. Maybe you'd join SVT on tour during your semester breaks. Maybe Jun would surprise you with more impromptu visits. Maybe one day, you'd stand side by side at award shows, no longer hiding your relationship.

For now, though, you were content to walk the streets of Seoul with Jun, pointing out your favorite cafes and study spots, listening to him talk animatedly about SVT's experiences on tour and the latest antics of the members. Every so often, he'd squeeze your hand or plant a kiss on your cheek, as if reassuring himself that you were really there.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink, you and Jun found yourselves on the banks of the Han River. Families picnicked on the grass, and couples strolled hand in hand along the water's edge. In the distance, the city lights began to twinkle to life, a reminder of the vibrant world you both belonged to.

"You know," Jun said, wrapping an arm around your waist as you looked out over the water, "I think I finally understand what all those love songs we perform are really about."

You leaned into him, savoring his warmth. "Oh? And what's that?"

Jun turned to face you, his eyes soft in the fading light. "That feeling of coming home, even when you're far from everything familiar. That's what you are to me, Y/N. My home, my anchor, my star. Just like how SVT is my family on stage, you're my family off stage."

As Jun's lips met yours once more, the world around you faded away. In that moment, there was no distance, no busy schedules, no uncertain future. There was only you and Jun, two hearts beating as one, united by a love that transcended time and space.

The night stretched ahead, full of promise and the joy of reunion. And though you knew morning would come all too soon, bringing with it the reality of goodbyes and long-distance calls, you chose to live in this moment. For now, Jun was here, solid and real in your arms, a piece of your heart returned from its journey. And that was more than enough.