#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

[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

[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.

[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.

[lesbiancarat]

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

[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.

[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🥰

[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.