#kind and cooperative with the media but talking. so fast.

[dvar-trek]

Yakov Trenin via AltitudeTV (30-APR-24) Stanley Cup Playoffs 2024 Colorado Avalanche vs Winnipeg Jets—Round 1, Game 5

[goldenlikedayl1ght]

bound for n.y.c - g. van fleet

a/n: hi everybody! i’m back with a cool 3.6k fic about the one, the only, greta van fleet! i am seeing them at msg next week and am so excited that i just wanted to write a quick fic. please note that there’s no set ship and that it’s sort of implied that reader is in love with all members of the band and all the band members are into reader and NOT EACHOTHER. except maybe sammy and danny. let me know if y’all want anymore of these types of fic, idk maybe it’ll flop. also this is kind of fast paced and i am very sorry for that warnings: kissing, physical touch, mentions of anxiety and stress, complicated love triangles, food mentions, reader has a stepdad and a good relationship with their mom, reader being from ny, i think reader is fully gender neutral with maybe a few feminine traits but no real descriptors. also reader has tattoos and mentions of a dog that is no longer with us! no use of y/n, one mention of drugs, a bunch of references to sex, and cursing :0 word count: 3.6k summary: as tour manager, it's your job to get the boys to new york city, your home town. just don't fall in love with them, or anything. now playing: runway blues – greta van fleet

Being tour manager for America’s favorite Led Zeplin cover band, or at least, that’s what your judgmental bitch of a landlord called them once, was surprisingly difficult.

You were constantly running around after the four of them, feeling often more like a nanny than a tour manager. Especially at first. You had started meeting with them a few weeks before their World Starcatcher tour had begun, where you wore these professional, stuffy outfits. They had been referred to you by their makeup artist, who you had known from when you were an assistant to the tour manager of Phoebe Bridgers’ 2022 reunion tour.

You had been working for a producer when you got the call. Truthfully, you missed touring. It was a great way to see different parts of the country and the world, and you thrived in the chaotic environment. And you had heard of Greta Van Fleet, mostly from your grandfather, who was a huge classic rock fan, and always exploring new music via his iPad.

But you started out rather cooperating with them, wearing these stuffy outfits—Mostly long button ups and pencil skirts, while the boys showed up in comfortable casual clothes, always joking about you having to loosen up a bit.

And one notoriously hot day in early July, you showed up in shorts and a muscle tee to meet with them to go over the final dates of the tour before you all gave your go ahead to the social media manager.

You didn’t do much talking about the tour that meeting, opting instead to answer questions about your tattoos, your taste in music, your life to this point. And in exchange, they gave you pieces of themselves.

“I’m from New York,” You had answered over some late afternoon drinks. “I haven’t been home since Christmas, So I’m excited to see my family when we’re there.”

Josh’s fingers traced your upper arm, over a tattoo of your long-gone dog. “Will we get to meet this little guy?” He asks.

You only chuckled, “No, this one died while I was in college. Best dog I ever had.” You said solemnly.

And that was it. One comment about your dog and the boys were hooked on you forever. And when the tour started, you only grew closer— Sharing with them parts of your childhood, Jake teaching you the very basics of guitar, Josh taking shots with you before shows, Danny bringing you coffee to cope with those shots the next morning, and Sam holding your hand when he’s anxious, or when you’re anxious—or both.

So, by the time you make it to the boys’ first show at the Garden, you’ve developed a routine.

The bus leaves by seven a.m. from the hotel in D.C. to get to New York by nine, nine-thirty-ish. You’re craving a sausage, egg, and cheese on a bagel from your favorite deli near where your mom lives, about an hour outside of the city.

So, you wake Jake up first, as he takes the longest to really wake up, and you’re sure you’ll have to shake him awake at least twice before he really gets up for the day. Then, you go to make sure Josh is up, and hear his shower going by the time you get to it. Good.

Then, you head to Sam, who is snoring away with Rosie. You almost don’t have the heart to wake him up. Almost. But Rosie senses your presence and stands up in bed, starting to lick his face. He groans, mumbling a soft, “I’m up, Rose, I know.” You feel good when you head over to Danny.

But thankfully, he’s already up. He’s in bed, writing in his notebook when you get there, sipping his coffee and all packed up for the road. His hair is tied up in a bun, and you’re entirely grateful that he’s so good at this whole thing.

Usually, you don’t need to wake each of them up, but every few shows, the five of you, as well as other crew members, indulge in the after party. And last night was your turn to be the D.R.O. Designated responsible one.

Eventually, you get all four of them downstairs and on the bus, no real difficulties. You all climb onto the bus and begin the drive to your home state. And you can hardly take the anticipation. Seeing your family again, visiting your favorite spots, and getting a homecooked meal was keeping you going. You had moved to California for school, before traveling on a few tours, and then settling for about a year in Nashville. But you ached for New York.

While your boys busied themselves with talk, games, and music, you stared out the window, biting your thumb and ignoring the reruns of Daredevil that played on your laptop in front of you. And apparently, you were bouncing your leg intensely, because the only thing that snapped you out of your thoughts was Rosie’s head on your thigh to relax you.

You scratched her head, sighing as you closed your computer, before glancing up to the boys, who had gone suspiciously quiet.

“What?” you asked, giving them a concerned look.

“You know we’ll make it to New York, right?” Sam asked, “You’ll be there soon.” He said, holding your hand, just like he always did when you were anxious.

“I know, I’m just—I miss home. And I love touring, and usually I’m never like this, but when I realized I’d be seeing my mom after months, I just... It made me start focusing a lot more on the fact that I miss it.”

You knew they’d get it. Michigan had been their home for years, and although they loved Nashville just like you did, you knew they left a part of themselves in Frankenmuth, just as you had in New York.

Danny tossed you a blanket, “Get some sleep, Sugar. You’ll need it.” he said softly. You nodded, too anxious and tired to argue any further than that. You cuddled up to Sam, Rosie finding her way in between your legs to further comfort you.

As you drifted off, you thought about your relationship with them. Things like Sam’s holding your hand and cuddling, Danny’s very often kisses to your forehead, Jake’s gentle hugs from behind, and Josh’s well—Josh’s everything, he’s a very affectionate young man—had been, for the most part, strictly platonic. You had thought about it. Kissing one of them, asking to break the professional lines of your relationship, however blurred those had become.

But it was more than that. Over the past few months of knowing them, it had developed from you getting them from place to place, into a softer, more tender relationship. The relationship you had formed with them was something you had been desperately lacking and needing. You had only realized that you missed it when you got it from them.

You were all real true soulmates.

You woke up to the sound of a loud series of honks and yelling from outside the bus. You peeked out of the window to see people screaming at each other, thousands of people making their way to work, and tall skyscrapers overhead.

“Jesus Christ, it smells like someone died!” Jake complained, as the rest of the boys agreed on the smell being horrid. It made you grin. You were home.

You stretched and pulled out your phone, checking the itinerary for the day that you had written out in your note’s app the night before. And you were right on schedule, since you accounted for traffic getting here. It was around noon, so you decided to head over to the hotel to get settled in before the show.

Except when you got there, the lady at the front desk informed you there were no rooms booked under the name you had given them. Which was insane, because you booked a room months ago knowing how expensive and unpredictable the city was.

So here you were, a show that night, with no hotel room, and a group of hungry twenty-something year olds. You were going to scream. And they could see it on you, your muscles tense, as you struggled to not start shaking.

Josh rested a hand on your arm, rubbing his thumb gently against it as he wrapped his other arm around your shoulders. “Deep breathes, Baby. You made that reservation; these guys are just a bunch of fucking fucks.” And it made you laugh, enough to relax you. You took another minute to think, before turning back to the rest of the guys.

“Okay, here’s the plan. We must be at the Garden for soundcheck and costumes, hair, and makeup by five thirty. We’ll go there now, drop off our bags and we can go grab pizza and garlic knots at this spot I know, good and are very cool with service dogs.” You said, unable to think of a scenario where you leave Rosie anywhere except with Sam. “While we’re there, I’ll make a call, since I think I know where we can stay if you guys don’t mind a bit of a drive after the show.” No one objected, they simply got back on the bus as instructed, and headed to enact that plan.

After dropping off your things and making it to the pizza place, you step outside for that call, telling Jake to just order you a soda. The phone rings. Once. Twice. And on the third call, your mom answers, excitedly saying your name.

“Where are you guys? Did you make it to the hotel okay?” she asks, and your face melts at the softness.

“Hey, Mom, we’re in the city, getting some lunch. Listen, the hotel messed up our reservation, and now we’re looking for a new place to stay... I know it’s last minute, but—” And before you can ask it, she cuts you off.

“Well, you five can stay here! We have the guest room, your room and your brother’s room.” She decides. “I’ll cook, do they like sausage and peppers?”

“Mom, you don’t have to, it’s gonna be late when we get in.”

“And you still need to eat. I’ll see you tonight, okay? I love you baby, break a leg tonight.” She advises, even though you aren’t the one preforming.

“Alright, I love you, mom.” You hang up and head back inside, settling into your seat next to Josh, just as the waitress comes back to take your order. “We’ll have a large cheese pizza with half mushrooms, please. And a dozen and a half garlic knots.” You say coolly, not giving the boys a chance at all. You love this restaurant. It’s best you order anyways.

They all stare at you for a few seconds before you smile. “You all get to meet my mom tonight.”

“Don’t you think we should have a couple of dates before we meet your mom?” Danny asks, and it makes you giggle.

“What do you think this is?” You tease.

Lunch goes really well, and after a bit of tourism and some drinks around the city, you make it to Madison Square Garden to get them ready for the show. For a brief few hours, you have a break. Usually, you spend it catching up on some work, having some quiet time, or anything of the sort. But this is their debut at the Madison Square Garden, in your hometown. You feel an obligation to watch the show.

Before the show begins, as Josh and Jake are getting their makeup done, you relax with Sam and Danny on a couch somewhere backstage. When Jake is done, he steals your phone off the table, and holds it up to take a photo of the three of you. Sam and Danny lean in and each kiss one of your cheeks, and it makes you roll your eyes for a second before you smile at the camera, letting them be all lovely dovey and affectionate, like a bunch of freaks. Your freaks.  

When the show starts, you watch from the sidelines, cheering for them and generally enjoying the show, because you just know how important this is for them. And you eat it right up, watching your boys perform at a dream venue for so many artists.

Before they start Highway Tune, Josh starts speaking to the crowd. “This is a very special show for us. Our debut at The Garden. The Garden, how about that?” He hums. “And we’re also playing in our tour manager’s hometown... So, we have some special surprises for you in their honor.” The crowd goes wild, and your face flushes, giggling at the idea of them performing a special show just for you.

The show goes by quicker than you would like it to, because you’re enjoying it too much. And you’re really understanding suddenly why so many people are down bad for them online. They look really fucking good. When they get off stage, you just want to cling onto them or make out with them or worse, and then they go back on for the encore and it leaves you longing, wanting for more.

What the fuck is happening to you?

You get caught up in this feeling to the point where the next hour or two—Waiting for the crowds to clear out, for them to get undressed, for the bus to get there—fly by, and before you know it, you’re in the bus again, heading to your moms. Josh lays his head on your lap, and Sam has found himself cuddled up against you. Danny is leaning against Jake across from you, and Jake is just staring at you. He has a familiar look in his eyes, and you just stare back.

When you make it to your home, while all the houses are dark and quiet, the kitchen and living room light is on when you make it to your home. The bus driver has family in the area, so he’ll stay with them for the night, and pick you up early on Thursday Morning, giving you all a break from the crazy travel days.

Your mom is in the kitchen when you come in, having late night coffee and tea with your stepdad. She hears you come in and gets excited, greeting you all at the door. She pulls you in for a hug and a kiss, holding onto you for a little while, just excited to see you. When she pulls away, she grins at the boys.

“And who are these lovely young men?” she asks, teasingly.

In a deadpan voice, you respond, “The cokehead rockstars I’ve been traveling with. I’m their groupie.” You say, and she scoffs at your sarcasm.

Josh smiles, “That’s us, Baby!” He opens his arms to your mom, and she gladly hugs him as a greeting, despite this being their first meeting. And there it is again, that aching feeling you had, when you watched them perform tonight, the same feeling that followed you home. After hugs and introductions, you’re all at the dinner table, gobbling down the dinner your mom made for you. You can almost cry, enjoying the taste of her cooking after months without it.

And the boys enjoy it too, loving a filling meal after a busy show. When you have all finished eating, you make your way up to your respective rooms. You stick Danny and Sam in the guest room, Jake sleeps in your brother’s room, and Josh in your bed, with you. You could almost die.

You take out your earrings and then you lay down. Your arms are exposed, showing off the tattoos you have once more. Josh sleeps in his boxers and a tee shirt, even though your room is chilly. He lays next to you and begins tracing his fingers over your tattoos.

“What’s this one?” he asks, tracing over a ghost that’s on your forearm, right above your elbow.

“Got it during the final show of Phoebe’s tour. She has a similar one somewhere, and I guess it was my way of commemorating the tour.” You explain. He hums, and moves to a different one, asking you the origin of that one. This goes on for a while, before you kiss his palm and tell him to get some sleep.

He falls asleep quickly, and you just stare at him through the darkness. ‘Are you dreaming of me?’ You want to ask, a hand reaching out to run your hands through those vicious curls. Before you know what, you’re doing, you cuddle up to him, laying your head on his chest. When you feel his arms wrapped around you, you begin to drift off, confident that you did not overstep any boundaries.

When the morning strikes, you get up and realize Josh is still asleep. You wiggle out of his arms and leave the room. You must be lost in thought because you bump flat into someone without even noticing. It’s Danny. His hair is wrapped up in a towel, and he only wears a towel around his waist.  

He reminds you of that one video of Slash from the golden age of Guns N Roses, and it stirs something deep inside of you.

But he just chuckles and kisses your forehead gently. “Hey, sweets.” he says softly, in that raspy morning voice.

“Good morning.” You respond. “Sorry for interrupting.”

“You didn’t interrupt anything; you don’t have to apologize.” He advises. “See you downstairs.” You take a cold shower just to get out of your own head before heading downstairs, where you meet your mom, Jake, Sam, and Danny laughing and eating French toast, as your stepdad cooks in the kitchen.

You love his French toast, but a pang of disappointment hits you as you think about your sausage, egg and cheese on a bagel, with hashbrowns. You quickly eat to dissipate any of those needs. But you’ve been talking about that sandwich for months, so it haunts you.

The rest of the day, you spend pretty much doing nothing. You nap, lounge, and catch up with your mom. It’s the perfect day. Just you, your mom, and your boys. And of course, Rosie. Your mom makes pulled pork sliders for lunch, and you order Chinese food for dinner. Real, good Long Island Chinese food.

And really, the day is over before you really want It to be. Sam asks you to join him on walking Rosie. You happily oblige, planning on taking him to get ice cream along the way. He has his arm wrapped around your shoulders, and you keep your head leant against his shoulder. Rosie trots in front of you happily.

“I could get used to this.” He says suddenly.

“Huh?” It catches you off guard. What does that mean?

“This. The quiet life. Walking my dog in the suburbs...” He says shyly. You get the sense there’s something on the tip of his tongue and you long for him to say it. “I love touring, but these domestic moments... You can’t beat ‘em.” He decides.

You want to kiss him so badly.

Instead, you just hum, and snuggle closer to him, wondering what the hell you’re doing. And that’s a super valid question.

The night goes the same as the last, except you kiss your mom and stepdad goodnight, not wanting them to have to get up in the morning to say goodbye. You suspect your mom will anyways. And she does. As the boys file out of the house, she’s handing them homecooked meals for the road, and you give her one more hug and kiss goodbye, before heading to the bus yourself. The others are on the bus, but Jake stands there, his hands behind his back. You narrow your eyes to him suspiciously.

“You’re an amazing tour manager, you know that?” He says gently.

“Yes, I do. What are you scheming at?” You ask, not totally trusting him.

He just grins as he reveals a brown bag he’s holding, handing it to you. Your confusion only grows as you take the bag and open it only to smell the best thing you have had in months.

A sausage, egg, and cheese on a bagel. With hashbrowns. From your favorite deli.

You almost scream.

“What?!” You gasp, “How did you—”

“I borrowed your mom’s car this morning and got it for you.”

“You didn’t have to do that...”

“Yeah, I did. I meant what I said. You hold us together, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Plus, you’ve been talking about this sandwich for months and—” You don’t let him finish. You kiss him. It’s full of all this pent-up passion you’ve held in, and Jake just wraps his arms around you, deepening the kiss. He wanted this just as much as you did, you realized. Your arms wrapped around his neck as you both lean into the kiss, fully enjoying the moment. Then, he pulls away, saying your name quietly.

You don’t know what to say. Then, the bus honks twice, scaring the shit out of you.

“C’mon you two! We got things to do, you sorry shits!” Josh yells. You can only laugh before you both climb onto the bus. Now, a new lust has overcome you. The lust for the sandwich you hold in your hands.

The lust for the four boys that surround you doesn’t dissipate either.

But as you head for Boston, your boys in tow, your shift as Greta Van Fleet’s tour manager begins once more, and you resume your position easily.

Until Sam kisses your neck. Then you melt again.

[orion-lacroix]

Thank you @cb-writes-stuff for the tag sorry it took me so long to do the tag game this is going to be colorful because I wanted to tell the question apart from the answer

Writeblr questionaire:

How long have you had your writing tumblr/writeblr? A fast and loose estimate is fine!

I don't know, I created it this year, but before that I had a random Tumblr account but I'm not really a social media kind of person so I generally forget to interact (sorry!!!!!)

What’s one thing you’d like your mutuals to know about you?

If I don't interact much or talk much it's not on purpose, I just kinda forget I need to answer or get to anxious to talk and start a discussion.

What’s your favorite thing about the writeblr community?

How it's kinda expanding my social circle. Not sure if it make sense but like mutuals of mutuals will become mutuals woth me and I'll start interacting with more people and I like that!

Which wips or writing projects have you been noodling about lately?

Honestly there are many. First there is Avalon's Child, set in the same universe as The Dead sea and a third project still unamed and not planned more that the general idea, then there is the hare and the fox shall dance, and finally there are the ones that I've put on hold a little until I get more inspiration and idead and motivation. (The protectors, Can I save you? And Forgive me)

Do you remember what inspired them/what got you started?

Well for some it's spite (I want to write queer stories that do not end with the death of the queer character, writing queer character in spite of what some will say) for other the story just kind of popped up in my head and has me in a choke hold until I write it ahah.

Is there anything you’d like to see more of on your dash?

More short stories or projects! I like learning more about what other people write about!

Name any characters you created. side characters, protagonists, antagonists, characters who’ve never been written, the first original abomination you ever pulled from your rear; whomever you’d like

I would say, in the original abomination category it would be Rain, a faune (made up species) which come from the project the protectors, they are just basically Gen z on drugs, from a species that has no gender, all the faune are agender. They are well... lets say very stubborn in protecting nature, even if they have to fight a giant dragon with nothing but their teeth (they did, and lived).

How much time, in your best estimation, do you spend thinking about them?

All day, every day. I'm at work sometime and I will use an old receipt to scribble notes that I thought about so I don't forget.

Who's the most unhinged?

I would say either Rain from the protectors or Atlas from Avalon's child. One fought a dragon woth nothing the other fought two gods and killed them.

Who comes the most naturally for you to write?

I would say either Ry (Atlas friend) or Gideon. Both are young, just turned adult or nearly adult but I can relate to the way they think, unlike Atlas who's in their twenties which is harder for me to write.

Do you ever cringe at them?

Not really.

How much control do you feel you have over your characters? do they ever “write themselves,” refuse to cooperate, or do things you didn’t expect? To what degree?

I lost control the moment I started to think too much about their personality. They write themselves entirely even if I'm not writing.

Are some less cooperative than others?

Well I would say Atlas is somehow the worst one because I spent so lonng thinking about their personality that they just sort of do their thing and i just gotta chamge the story accordingly.

When someone asks the dreaded, “what do you write about,” question, what do you usually say?

Depends on who? If I like the person I might explain a lot, if not I'll just say like fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, whatever genre it is and say the general idea like 《young adult thrown in a world of magic and they fight to belong》

Do you enjoy people asking questions about your characters?

Yesss please do!

and do you have a preferred means of receiving said questions? for example, as asks, as replies, as reblogs, as tag notes, as comments on ao3, etc.

Anything, if you have a question go ahead! Ask are fine, tags are fine and comments and reblogs are fine as well. It might sometime take me time to answer but I will try to answer!

What makes you want to follow another writeblr account? Do you follow ‘em as you see ‘em, or take time scoping out the blog to make sure you align with its content? Do you follow based on wips, or vibes?

Vibes ahaha, if I see something interesting I'll follow! I don't often check out blogs before following if the post I saw was cool

Do you interact with non-mutuals often?

Yes and no, depends on the day, my dash and many things but I try to interact with as many people as I can!

Do your mutuals’ characters occupy space in your noodle?

Yes a lot!

I'll tag @halfbakedspuds @thylocalbard @stew-magnetos-version @agirlandherquill but no pressure

[purplesurveys]

1892

What's your favourite flavour of soda, pop or whatever else you call it?: I don't drink soda at all. I never enjoyed the fizziness it has and I always found it more uncomfortable/painful than refreshing.

What level of brightness do you usually keep your phone at?: It's usually at max brightness for which I'll get occasionally made fun of since it's such an oldie thing to do lol. The only time I'll turn it all the way down is when I'm already in bed trying to fall asleep.

Have you ever attended a religious or private school?: Private Catholic school for 14 years, which from experience is also the easiest and quickest way to turn your kid into a rebel hah.

Do you have any pets and are they cuddly?: I have two dogs and a cat – Cooper is on-off cuddly, meaning he'll sometimes be bothered and show it if you get too close. Agi's super affectionate; will plop right next to you and doesn't ever mind being squished and hugged and kissed, even if you do it aggressively.

Max is the newest member of the family and is surprisingly affectionate. I've had mostly negative experiences with cats so he's been great at changing that for me (him and Miki, but unfortunately Miki passed away a week ago, just mere days after we picked him up from the streets).

What's the worst job you've ever had?: I've had one job ever so I can't really compare.

How many cars does your household own?: We have three.

Do you know anyone named Edward or any nickname of that?: I have a cousin with a variation of that name; he was named after his grandfather (my great uncle in law).

What time do you usually have dinner?: When my dad is home, anywhere between 7:30-8. When he's gone, my siblings and I don't follow a set schedule as we all just kind of eat by ourselves.

Are there any cracks or scuffs on your phone?: Impressively enough, none. I'm notorious for ending the lives of all my past phones from dropping them endless times, but my iPhone 13 seems to be stubbornly indestructible. My screen protector has a bubble from the time I needed to get the screen fixed, but that's it and it doesn't even count as a scratch haha.

What's your favourite meat?: Pork.

Do you need glasses to read or drive or need them all the time?: I need them all the time otherwise I'm a hopeless case (cause?).

How did you celebrate your last New Year's Eve?: The day part was a little quiet, but we had media noche with extended family in the evening and we pretty much just talked and listened to music until we entered 2024. When our guests left, I had a few glasses of wine and had my family watch The Beyoncé Experience with me until I dropped my glass and nicked my foot, stopping the party altogether lol.

Is the internet fast where you live?: It's fast for me because it's the internet speed I'm used to, but I know as fact that ours is very shitty from a global POV.

What is your favourite meal of the day and why?: Dinner. Typically the largest, and the best meals are usually reserved for dinner, so.

Do you like long surveys or short surveys better?: Such a safe and boring answer, but medium-length surveys are best for me – anywhere between 40 to 60 questions.

Xbox, PlayStation or neither?: Playstation.

Have you ever been to a cocktail bar?: Lots of times.

Do you consider yourself a fast typer?: I am, yes.

What's the best amusement park you've ever visited?: Universal Studios in Singapore was a lot of fun.

Do you keep the cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom organised?: Yes.

Have you ever had a romantic fling?: Nope.

Are you a very forgetful person?: Just about certain things, but I'd say in general my memory is pretty sharp.

What was the last movie you saw in the cinema?: BTS in Busan, 1 year and 5 months ago haha. I never go to the cinema.

How old were you when you got your first car?: I was 17 when my dad handed me the Mirage.

What colour is your shampoo?: White.

Are you doing anything tomorrow?: Just work, but Friday left me in such a pissy mood so I'm not looking forward to tomorrow very much. I might also need to use my lunch break to take Max to the vet for his first set of vaccines, as we weren't able to do so today.

Do you know anyone who's gotten pregnant over the age of 40?: Yes.

Who does most of the grocery shopping in your home?: My parents.

Have you ever been approached by someone in public preaching about religion?: Those people roam around my university all the time, but fortunately I never encountered any of them during my time there.

Are you listening to music right now? If so, what's the theme of the lyrics?: Being okay and accepting yourself despite your fuckups, because you are all you have. Uhgood by RM.

What was the last thing you had to eat?: Pizza, shrimp, and lumpia. Pretty damn great combination if you ask me hahaha.

[thealmightyemprex]

Disney VHS review Treasure Island

So I have a fondness for old home media formats and have a bunch of Disney movies on VHS ,thought it would be fun to let my mutuals pick which ones I watch .And to answer your question ,I am watching these specific films on VHS ,cause it legit adds to the nostalgic feel

Requested by @ariel-seagull-wings our first film is :Treasure Island

The plot of this 1950 film is Jim Hawkins (Bobby Driscoll ) comes into a poessesion of a Treasure Map ,and joins an expedition lead by the foolish Squire Trelawney (Walter Fitzgerald ) who hires a one legged sea cook named Long John Silver (Robert Newton ) who becomes fast friends with Jim…..Not knowing Silver is a trecherous pirate

So withthese VHS reviews I wanna talk about my personal relationship with these films,talk about my nostalgia for them …..Yeah this one I dont have any .I hsve nostalgia for the book which I read twice as a kid and funnily enough ,I have nostalgia for two other Disney film versions :Muppet Trasure Island (Which I shall review next month ) and Trasure Planet (Which I reviewed not long ago ). I knew of the film,the trailer was a bonus feature on the Treasure Planet DVD ,but I could never find it ,untl say about 2010 I think when I found the VHS at aflea market ….And the first time I tried watching I fell asleep cause I was tired and just never tried rewatching this VHS ..It wasnt till Disney+ that I finally saw the film in full a few years ago

Now this is a very important film ,being Disney's first totally live action film ,the sucess of this film ,lead to more adventure films shot in England then eventually to a big budget adventure film with 20000 LEagues Under The Sea which solidified Disney as maker of live action films as well as animation .Its also highly influential as Robert Newtons take on Long John Silver is SO iconic ,pirate talk we use now is just an impression of Newton.This film is certainly a classic…But for me its just missing something

My feelings of the film is it is a good adventure movie but its missing a spark . I think Byron Haskin (Later Director of War of the Worlds ) does a competent job directing ,the action scenes are decent , and the supporting actors do their job ,I especially like Ralph Truman as traitorous pirate George Merry (Also Patrick Troughton is a pirate here but you have to keep your eyes out for him cause he is basically an extra ) .However its kind of just a good movie ,I wouldnt even say its the best film based on the book cause it leaves out a bunch of good stuff (Poor Billy Bones ,Doctor Livsey,Captain Smollet and Blind Pew just feel kind of there.They even cut Pews death scene ) .I think the film became a classic beause the two central performances are really damn good .The central performances /central relationship is so good it elevates it

Now we get to the requestees questions,sopics they specifically want me to cover

1.Bob Driscoll and Robert Newton's performances as Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver , and their contrast with the side actors/characters

Bobby Driscoll I think is a great Jim Hawkins.Yes he is the solo American in a British cast but its not too distracting and Hawkins is kind oof a view point character ,but I think he nails the role ,I compare him to the two other straight adaptations of the book I have seen the 34 film where Jackie Cooper played Jim and the 1990 film where Christain Bale played Jim .Where I thought Cooper was too overthe top naïve and Bale too damn serious,Driscoll is how I see Jim ,a bit naive but a smart and brave kid .My favborite scene in the film is when he has to shoot Mr Hands , cause the look on his face shows both fear for his own life (If I dont shoot this guy he will kill me ) and the fear of can he pull the trigger (Do I have it in me to take a mans life ).Also while I like other takes on the Jim and Silver relationship ,I lkike the conflict in this version which is ,is the friendship real,I am micxed on the ending but I do like the moment where Jim is prepared to be shot but Silver cant do it (Though Muppets did it better )

Robert Newton is not a favorite actor of mine ....But Hot DAMN is he MAGNIFICENT here .He almost carries the movie .While Tim Curry is my favorite Silver ,Robert Newton is hands down the BEST .A key to Silver is he is a villain you just LOVE ,and boy is Newton a lovable rogue .You know he could stab you but at the sametime you wanna hear him tell you tales of his adventures .Im not surprised Newton reprised the role a few times cause he is excellent,he nealrly carries the movie and his performance is so gooo it elevates the film.ANd up to the end I love how ambiguious he is ,you dont know if he really cares for Jim or is just using him .Definately one of the best live action villains Disney has ever had

I think the problem with the supporting cast is they just feel like they are playing parts ......While Newton is embodying a character, I feel like there is a history to him before and after the film . All the other characters feel one note ,though they play those notes well .Trelawney is a blowhardt,Livsey is a nice smart guy,Smollet is stern,Hands is brutal,George Merry is rebelious ,Ben Gunn is kooky .They all are good,I especially like Geoffrey Keen as Hands ,Ralph Truman as George Merry and Walter Fitzgerald as Trelawney ......Ive jus seen other takes where some of these characters are better

2.The passing of the movie in the context of being a 1950 production

I think its very good in its time. I honestly think it is a very good adventure film ,and I see why it was a hit

Its legacy among Disney live actions films, and why it doesn't have a bigger following like 20 000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mary Poppins or Bedknobs and Broomsticks

In comaprison to those films,its not as grand.It has a great villain,good story ,fine action and there is some emotion .....But there is no SIGNATURE scene.This is a very dry talky film ,with one GREAT character . With the three you mention you get many great setpieces (Kirk Douglas and James Mason fight a Giant Squid ,Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke singing in a cartoon environment , Angela Lansbury on a broom stick leading an army of armor against Nazis ,etc )as well as great charcters and stories .When I think of Disney I think of my favorite scenes

OVerall,I want to stress ,I reccomend it ,it is a very good movie,I enjoyed it watching it and by Thunder ,Newton is amazing as well as Driscoll ....But I dont love it ,and I wish I loved it

@ariel-seagull-wings @goodanswerfoxmonster @princesssarisa@the-blue-fairie @themousefromfantasyland @filmcityworld1

[marvinthemillennialmouse]

Thoughts on Marvin Lore - part 4

Marvin loves all of Earth's science fiction. Fantasy he's a little iffy on--depends on the actual source material. But sci-fi... he loves all of it.

This is mainly because he views it drastically differently than people on Earth. Something like "Gravity" he laughs his ass off at because of the dubious orbital mechanics--though he gives credit where credit is due (it looks really great, and there are some stellar performances, no one said a comedy can't make you feel the feels).

Something like the Alien franchise he sees as more of a dramatization of actual events, kinda like how Apollo 13 is based on true events, but it's a little dramatized. To him, a company screwing over its entire crew, a bunch of soldiers, another entire crew, yet ANOTHER entire crew, and then YET ANOTHER entire crew... all in the name of profits... yeah, that's pretty accurate. Marvin's seen that. It's part of why he left Mars. That and the spider worms. Nasty fuckin' things--a lot like the xenomorphs in many respects, just smaller.

On that subject, any piece of media that has to do with Mars he kind of has to turn his brain off because of the scientific inaccuracy. Like, seriously? Mark Watney spent all that time on the surface and he never once came across any of Marvin's people? COME ON!!! John Carter of Mars? ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!! WHY WOULD ANYONE NAME A CITY AFTER AN ELEMENT!??!

Marvin enjoys Star Wars overall. It's got its ups and downs, but he thinks Anakin is a bit of a wimp. Oh, you don't like sand? You think it's coarse and uncomfortable? Bitch... try Martian regolith. That shit is jagged and sharp. Breathing it in can result in micro lacerations of your lungs! Get it in your eyes and you can go blind!

He enjoys Han Solo's absolute goblin energy and respects the capabilities of his ship--to say nothing of having a very large, very strong friend to crew said ship with him.

Marvin rather likes Star Trek--the idea of a collection of cooperative planets all working towards bettering life for everyone involved? C'mon... also some of those aliens are fuckin' hot.

"Dr. T'ana can play cat and mouse with me ANY time... but she's too busy shackin' up with Shaxs... Shaxsin' up. HAH! Get it!?" - Actual quote from Marvin

His favorite movie is Disney's Treasure Planet--because he loves the mashup of colonial era sailing ship aesthetic with sci-fi futurism. To him, it is an absolute underrated gem. (also it's basically canon that Dr. Doppler and Captain Amelia got married--it was Doppler who got pregnant, which the mouse digs).

His favorite TV show is Firefly--the reasoning should be obvious. Captain Mal is a hottie--so are Kaylee, Inara, and Zoe. He wishes Wash was his best friend. Also, the whole stellar-political situation is fascinating to him and he absolutely identifies with the anti-authoritarian folks. To him, it's all real shiny.

Don't get him started on Stargate (the movie, SG-1, Atlantis, and Universe, he hasn't seen the animated series) because he WILL talk your ears off endlessly about the good, the bad, the funny, the bleak.

"You would be surprised just how much they get right. Ancient Egyptian culture from Earth is a WEIRDLY popular trend in the wider galaxy. Especially Anubis. You think Earth has lots of porn of him? Fuck... you should see what the Zenoobians from Klexar Prime make of him. It'll make your asshole pucker REAL fast." - Another actual quote from Marvin, followed by an uncomfortably dreamy sigh

[entrepreneurgulf]

Social Media Marketing: Strategies that Drive E-Commerce Sales in Fast-Paced Gulf

Digital Marketing which is known worldwide for its strategic operations, is one of the best-used methods for brands in e-commerce sales to build, connect, promote, engage, and sell through different and unique channels. 

With advanced technology and innovations present at our fingertips and accessible at any time, using creativity in conjunction with the tools and resources that Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides, digital marketing can be used to its full potential which has proven to be a big advantage for e-commerce platforms and for businesses that want to transform from B2B to B2C. 

Digital Marketing is also known as online marketing and can be used as a very good leverage for the development, creation, growth, and overall success of business operations. In the retail industry where competition to be unique and to stand out from the others is always the go-to vision, the most common strategy used by companies to get there is through digital marketing. 

There are many types and kinds of digital marketing that are used to better reach, engage, communicate, promote, etcetera. Some of these are – Content Marketing, Social Media Marketing (SMM), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Email Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Mobile Marketing, Landing pages and Brand Websites, Online Advertisements, and Campaigning. 

In this article, we will be talking about Social Media Marketing (SMM) used as a digital marketing strategy and how its methods and uses drive sales of e-commerce brands, in the fast-paced and tech-savvy Gulf Region. 

What is Social Media Marketing (SMM)?

Also known as Online Marketing, Social Media Marketing (SMM) in simple terms, entails that it is a strategy used in online platforms such as the well-known applications of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etcetera., social media to reach, engage, and communicate with their customers directly. 

Providing a user-friendly experience and service, many businesses and brands need to keep up with the knowledge, skills, current trends, and the creative use of the features in social media applications to know how they can be used to their advantage.

Another essential purpose of using Social Media Marketing strategies is to also create and form a community and a strong, loyal customer base which would help in driving traffic to their brand’s products and services as well. 

Digital marketing strategies are a skill that can be easily learned if one is tech-savvy, aware of current trends, and has good knowledge about the brand, its services, and the products that are being sold. 

Be it in the form of image posts, video posts, or text posts, regularly commenting, regularly optimizing the brand page, adopting influencer marketing strategies, and timely responding to customers and users. The e-commerce sales generated through the effective use of this strategy will be unstoppable, more so with the right demographic target. 

In the Gulf region, due to the rapid development of e-commerce sales in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries, many brands and diverse businesses take to social media advertising as their first step in promoting and or announcing their online digital presence. 

Benefits and Advantages of Social Media Marketing:

Since the fast-growing population of Millennials and Generation Z in the world, the demographic presence makes use of online and digital platforms. As they are very primarily present and active on them, there would be a lot of reach, engagement, and promotions happening through recommendations, word-of-mouth, and post shares. 

Digital marketing has honestly shaped the world and redefined business operations providing them with a good leverage and advantage. Making the digital experience easy to navigate, and user-friendly, discount offers, coupons, memberships, freebies, etcetera., are some of the features provided by brands to increase retention. 

Visit Entrepreneur Gulf, for more interesting insights on diverse topics. 

Strategies Used in Social Media Marketing:

Before and during the implementation of social media marketing by and for brands for boosting and running their e-commerce sales, ‘Shoppable Posts’ and official e-commerce brand websites use the following strategies.

Primarily, understanding the target market and demographic is of utmost importance, without which there would be less to zero reach and engagements. Next, taking necessary action in approaching the target market by learning which platforms are used largely by the demographic would be very beneficial.  

Moving further, beginning to actively engage with the target audience by posting, sharing, interacting, commenting, collaborating, etcetera., can be used as leverage. Moreover, data analytical tools to identify and improve weaker areas can be implemented. 

To Conclude:

Consistency is key. Being regular and constantly engaging with the target audience can help Social Media Marketing (SMM) as an online marketing strategy to drive e-commerce sales of brands, by targeting the audience. As digital marketing has only increased in businesses in the UAE, building and forming trust, loyalty, partnerships, collaborations, and engagements, can be forces that push the reach, awareness, and presence of many brands in the industry and market.

Visit More : https://entrepreneurgulf.com/social-media-marketing-strategies-that-drive-e-commerce-sales-in-fast-paced-gulf/

[yourglobalexpansionpartner]

Unleashing The Power of User-Generated Content: A Game-Changer in Modern Advertising

In the fast-changing world of marketing and advertising, making the first move is an integral part of success. There is a particular strategy that has gathered a lot of steam and has indeed turned out to be a game changer, and this is the swift utilization of user-generated content (UGC). In this internet age, which greatly influences consumers through the internet connection, employees are more creative and genuine, which can result in an upward anticlockwise brand.

At the helm of this innovative approach is Apppl Combine, a premier marketing and advertising firm passionate about yielding results with contemporary methods. Let us, therefore, uncover the process of changing user-generated content and comprehend how it enables brands to leave a mark.

What is User-Generated Content?

User-generated content, simply put, is any sort of content created by people who may not be formally associated with some brand but are true users or clients. It may also involve social media campaigning posts, reviews, testimonials, images, and videos, among others. In essence, it can be referred to as the voice of a consumer talking about their experience dealing with a brand.

Authenticity and Trust

In a time where defining consumers’ consciousness through traditional advertising has become the order of the day, capturing authenticity presents a perfect solution. An authentic and honest voice of a brand is a voice among consumers that is given by user-generated content, supporting consumer trust. Real user ratings create a genuine connection, which traditional advertising just cannot produce.

Amplifying Reach and Engagement

User-generated content has soon gained the tendency to reach the height of an individual brand on different kinds of social media platforms. Social media is a perfect illustration, and its contents include other content as well, fed by willing users, to create a chain reaction. This organic sharing not only increases the brand’s reach but also raises engagement rates. Users are enjoying and re-posting the content, so the popularity of the brand increases, and as mentioned above, the loyalty of users also increases.

Apppl Combine: Pioneering User-Generated Content Strategies

The UGC as a form of content created by the consumer is the most powerful tool that Apppl Combine understands very well since it has the power to form the narratives of various brands. Their team of specialists integrates UGC into complex marketing plans, building a coherent synergy meant to produce a strong convergence between the brand and its audience. Utilizing the genuine expressions of happy customers, Apppl Combine guarantees that their initiatives reach deeper, people are inspired more, and they stay with a memory.

Want to radically change the way your brand advertises? Get into cooperation with Apppl Combine and let the untapped potential of user-generated content reveal itself fully in your favor. Leverage the authenticity, dissemination, and spark that UGC induces in the picture. The marketing strategies of your business should evolve and adapt to changes in the modern consumer's needs, which can be made possible through a team that knows the pulse of the current consumer.

Today, get in touch with Apppl Combine and let your brand story be multiplied with the power of UGC. A mile completely free from the truth in the authenticity of a brand experience—now create it. Contact Apppl Combine - Your Gateway to Innovative Marketing and Advertising Strategies.

[my-weird-news]

🍦☠️ Killer Listeria Outbreak Traced to Diner's Ice Cream!

Listeria Lament: The Meltdown at Frugals So, picture this: you're hankering for some fast food, right? The grease, the guilty pleasure, the oh-so-delicious milkshakes. But little did you know, lurking behind the scenes of your favorite Frugals diner in Tacoma, Washington, was a secret villain straight out of a B-list horror movie - listeria, the ice cream machine's uninvited guest. The state's health department played detective and discovered that the ice cream machine had been playing host to some very unwanted bacteria. It turns out that all those enticing milkshake flavors had a not-so-secret ingredient: a dash of listeria to spice things up. 🍦💀 Not only did this contamination create a buzzkill for your taste buds, but it also turned out to be a real-life thriller. Move over, Stephen King! The outbreak managed to snatch three lives from the land of the living, while six unfortunate souls ended up in the hospital, ages ranging from what I can only imagine were some seriously seasoned 40-year-olds to the wise old age of 79. But wait, there's more! All six of them had the same listeria flavor, I mean, strain. Turns out these poor folks had immune systems that were having a nap when they should've been at the gym. The health department even gave a little slow clap to the ice cream machines for not receiving their regular spa treatment - a proper cleaning. Apparently, no one ever told them that they're not that kind of machine. Now, here's the twist in the tale: this ice cream machine of doom hadn't been used since August 8th. But guess what? Listeria decided to be the ultimate party crasher and lingered around for up to 70 days after its last appearance. Talk about being fashionably late to the "make everyone miserable" party! 🎉🦠 So, if you've been pregnant, old enough to remember rotary phones, or just generally a little meh in the immune department, and you slurped on a milkshake between May 29th and August 7th, well, congratulations! You might have just won yourself a one-way ticket to Fatigue-Headache-Seizure-Vomiting Land. But don't you worry, dear readers, the good folks at Frugals took to Instagram to issue a statement. Because, you know, when you're facing a crisis, the first thing you do is post it on social media. They're "deeply saddened" and have been on a cleaning spree, sending their contaminated equipment off to a spa for a deep cleanse. But fear not, the ice cream machines at their other locations were reportedly spared the drama - their milkshakes remain innocent, for now. As they say, "the trust of our customers is paramount." Well, sure, until it's tainted with a side of bacteria. But hey, let's give them some credit for being sporty about it. They're rolling up their sleeves, vowing to cooperate with the investigation, and promising to keep their standard of operations as high as their milkshake towers. And so, my friends, the saga of the Listeria Lament at Frugals reminds us that even in the land of fast food dreams, reality can be a bit of a flavorless nightmare. Stay safe out there, and remember: the next time you're craving a milkshake, make sure you're not shaking hands with listeria instead! 🥤🤢# Listeria Lament: The Meltdown at Frugals So, picture this: you're hankering for some fast food, right? The grease, the guilty pleasure, the oh-so-delicious milkshakes. But little did you know, lurking behind the scenes of your favorite Frugals diner in Tacoma, Washington, was a secret villain straight out of a B-list horror movie - listeria, the ice cream machine's uninvited guest. The state's health department played detective and discovered that the ice cream machine had been playing host to some very unwanted bacteria. It turns out that all those enticing milkshake flavors had a not-so-secret ingredient: a dash of listeria to spice things up. 🍦💀 Not only did this contamination create a buzzkill for your taste buds, but it also turned out to be a real-life thriller. Move over, Stephen King! The outbreak managed to snatch three lives from the land of the living, while six unfortunate souls ended up in the hospital, ages ranging from what I can only imagine were some seriously seasoned 40-year-olds to the wise old age of 79. But wait, there's more! All six of them had the same listeria flavor, I mean, strain. Turns out these poor folks had immune systems that were having a nap when they should've been at the gym. The health department even gave a little slow clap to the ice cream machines for not receiving their regular spa treatment - a proper cleaning. Apparently, no one ever told them that they're not that kind of machine. Now, here's the twist in the tale: this ice cream machine of doom hadn't been used since August 8th. But guess what? Listeria decided to be the ultimate party crasher and lingered around for up to 70 days after its last appearance. Talk about being fashionably late to the "make everyone miserable" party! 🎉🦠 So, if you've been pregnant, old enough to remember rotary phones, or just generally a little meh in the immune department, and you slurped on a milkshake between May 29th and August 7th, well, congratulations! You might have just won yourself a one-way ticket to Fatigue-Headache-Seizure-Vomiting Land. But don't you worry, dear readers, the good folks at Frugals took to Instagram to issue a statement. Because, you know, when you're facing a crisis, the first thing you do is post it on social media. They're "deeply saddened" and have been on a cleaning spree, sending their contaminated equipment off to a spa for a deep cleanse. But fear not, the ice cream machines at their other locations were reportedly spared the drama - their milkshakes remain innocent, for now. As they say, "the trust of our customers is paramount." Well, sure, until it's tainted with a side of bacteria. But hey, let's give them some credit for being sporty about it. They're rolling up their sleeves, vowing to cooperate with the investigation, and promising to keep their standard of operations as high as their milkshake towers. And so, my friends, the saga of the Listeria Lament at Frugals reminds us that even in the land of fast food dreams, reality can be a bit of a flavorless nightmare. Stay safe out there, and remember: the next time you're craving a milkshake, make sure you're not shaking hands with listeria instead! 🥤🤢 Read the full article

[elivanto]

jedi and fatness in the high republic era

so. high republic media has given us so much in terms of characters that are not white, are not straight, are not cis etc. ... but what i expected the least was that they gave us jedi who literally don’t fit into the ~ideal~ body type that jedi typically have - slim, athletic, muscular. the #1 argument against jedi being fat is always: they need to be physically fit. they need to be disciplined. they need to be fast, and proficient in combat. disregarding the stereotypes that fat people aren’t disciplined etc. i just... i never got it because: you can be fit without being straight-sized. you can be proficient in combat. you can train to run fast. and jedi? jedi have the force to support them. and even if they aren’t all of those things they “need” to be - there’s always jedi librarians. healers. teachers. explorers. but i digress. let’s get back to the high republic!

there are two jedi padawans that are fat or fat-adjacent in high republic media: imri cantaros and ram jomaram. and they’re written in such a loving, respectful way i cry when i think about it.

i don’t want to make a huge analysis or anything, but i’d really like to share a couple of my oh-my-god-this-character-is-fat-and-i-love-them-so-much moments.

that’s ram, who has appearances in: the rising storm, race to crashpoint tower, high republic adventures, trail of shadows (in one panel lmao), midnight horizon.

Ram hated fighting. Well--he'd never done it, but he hated the idea of it. It felt like his body refused to cooperate any time even a practice battle was called for. Lightsaber training and Jedi combat maneuvers were his two worst areas, and the very thought of going face to face with an enemy made him jittery. (race to crashpoint tower)

but even though he says he hates it or can’t do it, he’s good at it!

and pls look at him go in this panel in trail of shadows #3:

and one quote from midnight horizon that i love love LOVE:

"Absolutely," Reath said, lighting his own green one and standing at the ready. “What were you going to ask me?" Their sabers met with a jangly surge of power. Reath was careful to move slow, telegraphing his every move so Ram would see it coming and block. "Oh." Ram said, easily swiping away Reath's sizzing blade and then shoving him clean across the room with the Force. "Never mind." Reath sat up with a huge grin plastered across his face. "It's like that, huh?" He stood, cracking his neck the way his master had. "Game on!"

reath like “i’ll go easy on this little dude” and ram just obliterates him. 😌

that’s imri! he has major appearances in: a test of courage, out of the shadows, mission to disaster. he’s not as explicitly fat as ram (and for some reason his depiction in the high republic comic is... not the way he’s described in the novels lol) but i’m absolutely counting him.

Imri was tall and broad-shouldered and his hefty frame was a perfect match for his master's. He had pale skin, a mop of golden hair, kind brown eyes, and an uncanny knack for perceiving the feelings and thoughts of those around him. (out of the shadows)

and:

Imri was relieved to see that there were no durga berries today. They were delicious, but Master Nyla had been hard pressed to find a tabard in his size, and he didn't want to tempt disaster by eating another one. (mission to disaster)

also, in mission to disaster he’s constantly eating or talking about food and it’s so incredibly delightful.

i love these two boys so much and it’s just really, really neat that the high republic writers are giving us at least crumbs of diverse body types on top of everything else.

EDIT: OH!! very important addition by @cohborikardok:

yes!!! thank you!

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor’s S2 Company Project – Rejuvenation Of The Glimmer Of Dawn

[Note]: As much as I understand the urgency of wanting to read the date first, it’s VERY IMPORTANT to read the company project before the date since it’s a continuation~ 💘

This features S2 Victor, but doesn’t contain any spoiler from the main story~ :>

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

–

✧ [Stage 1] ✧

Today is the day of coming to LFG for my routine debriefing. Victor seems to be in a good mood, and my proposal is approved quite speedily.

During the lunch break, I sit on the chair opposite Victor’s office desk and turn on my phone. At this moment, the news app I’ve subscribed to pops a push notification––

“The memories of a generation of Loveland meet their end with the closing down of Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market.”

MC: What kind of gimmicky news... Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market is not closing down at all. It’s just going to be transformed and upgraded, that’s all.

Victor is working on his computer. Hearing what I’ve said, he raises his head and glances at me.

Victor: You’ve indeed grown way bolder now.

Victor: Already daring to openly slack off in front of me.

MC: CEO Victor, it’s now 12:35. Strictly speaking, it’s already the lunch break.

MC: It’s the legitimate right of the employees to rest during this time. And besides, I was still thinking about a proper business matter.

I raise my head and meet his calm and composed gaze, swaying my phone screen at him.

MC: Not long ago, the person in charge of Glimmer Of Dawn reached out to me, hoping that the media could help promote their transition this time around.

MC: As a very representative of the old food market in Loveland City, Glimmer Of Dawn can be said to be the memory of a generation.

MC: Therefore, I think it’s a good topic, and I’m planning to agree to cooperate with Glimmer Of Dawn.

After voicing all of my thoughts conclusively, I wink at Victor.

MC: I’m still thinking about work during the break. CEO Victor, I’m indeed very dedicated to my work.

Victor: As it happens, Goldman has requested a leave of absence today.

Victor’s words carry the hints of a light-hearted sense of teasing.

Victor: Since you’re so dedicated to your work, do you wanna fill in for him for a day?

I immediately raise my hands in surrender.

MC: As compared to Goldman, I still have some shortcomings. He’s already been trained by you to become a decathlete.

I give a thumbs-up, indicating that I, a salted fish, have no desire to replace him.

–

[Note]: MC uses the term “咸鱼 (xiányú),” which literally translates to “salted fish.” It’s a slang that refers to a person who is too lazy or unmotivated to do something~ ʕ-᷅ᴥ-᷄ʔ

–

Victor smiles and reaches out to point at the stack of documents on the desk.

Victor: Back to the Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market. If you want to work on an issue related to it, I’ve got some materials here that should be of interest to you.

I poke my head up, and my gaze lands on a sentence written on the top– “The Support Program for The Traditional Industries in Old Town.”

The investor behind this renovation of Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market is actually LFG? I’m left a little stunned.

MC: Is LFG really investing in this?

MC: The renovation of the Old Town District is not a project that will be able to yield a fast return.

Victor: As an enterprise that originated in Loveland City, LFG supports a number of local industries every year.

Victor: Not only financially, but also with specialized technical support and guidance.

Victor: The Old Town District, represented by Glimmer Of Dawn, is just one of them.

Victor: In this regard, LFG does not value fast profit.

MC: Who would expect that CEO Victor, as a capitalist, would actually have a day when he doesn’t talk about profit~

After flipping through these materials, I’ve already obtained a general understanding of this project. Pondering over it some more, I speak to Victor.

MC: I’ve decided to officially launch a documentary project on Glimmer Of Dawn.

MC: Since LFG is involved in the investment as well, I’m going to disturb CEO Victor even more regarding the filming in the coming days.

Victor raises his eyebrows, the lights within his dark pupils circling on my face as he turns to me.

Victor: [pouting LOL]  Since you’re saying it’s a disturbance, why should I say yes?

Grinning, I lean over and blink at him with utmost earnestness.

MC: Because, of course, CEO Victor wouldn’t decline a very tiny request from his cooperative partner.

–

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

–

✧ [Stage 2] ✧

When I come to Victor’s office again to report the progress, I hand him a complete filming planner.

MC: The Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market once used to be the most “favored” food market within the range of several kilometers, with a daily flow of thousands of customers.

MC: At this food market, you can get fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and spices... everything you need for your everyday life can be found here.

MC: As a former “beloved” food market in Loveland City, it hasn’t been easy for Glimmer Of Dawn to persevere up until now.

MC: Therefore, its transformation will also have extraordinary representativeness.

I make a brief statement about the reasons for doing this show. Victor sets down the proposal document, nodding his head lightly.

Victor: The idea is pretty good, but it’s still lacking something more substantial as the content.

He’s about to say something else, but I’ve already opened my mouth first.

MC: I’ve already carried out an investigation and analysis in response to the specific transformation program.

MC: It will easily turn into a preachy film if it’s just about the dry and dull industrial upgrade.

MC: Therefore, I intend to cut through the ordinary people in the food market and show the lives of ordinary citizens caught in the crevices between the end of the industry and the regeneration.

As I finish my specific plans in one breath, I see Victor leaning back in his chair, the tip of his brows are slightly raised, and he seems to be in a good mood.

I press my fingertips on the proposal document on his desk, looking at him in glowing spirits.

MC: CEO Victor, is there anything else you would like to ask?

Victor smiles as he reaches out to pick up the pen and signs his name on the last page of the proposal document.

Victor: There’s nothing I can ask. It’s been laid out perfectly.

Victor: I’m looking forward to the day when I can see the result.

He hands me the proposal document. As I reach out to take it, my fingertips touch his warm finger pads, causing my heart to stir. I put away the proposal, then slowly walk up to his side.

Victor is drinking his coffee. When he sets his cup down, he catches a glimpse of me standing next to him with a radiant gaze, his hand holding the cup giving a start.

Victor: Why are you being sneaky? What are you up to again?

I immediately take the coffee cup from his hand and place it on the desk, displaying a solicitous manner.

MC: CEO Victor, as far as I know, LFG has already dispatched professional product managers to support this industrial upgrade.

MC: And, you will also be personally participating in some important meetings as an investor...

Victor: You want me to be in the frame again?

Before I can finish my sentence, Victor has already hit the nail on the head.

Under my gaze brimming with expectation, Victor sighs slightly.

Victor: After saying all that, you’re clearly determined to drag me on board.

MC: So–– you’re saying yes!

I look at Victor in high spirits. He nods.

Victor: Glimmer Of Dawn carries a generation of memories in Loveland City.

Victor: This, of course, includes me as well.

–

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

–

✧ [Stage 3] ✧

It’s the first day of the official filming. When I’m about to conclude work for the day, I run into Victor.

He has probably just finished a meeting. I brisk walk to catch up and stop him. Victor arches his eyebrows slightly.

MC: CEO Victor, since we ran into each other, would you like to take a moment and stroll around this food market with me?

MC: I’m also about to call it a day. I just have to shoot one more last piece of material before returning home.

Victor is clad in a crisply pressed suit. His gaze lingers on my smiling face for a moment, the corners of his own lips perk up in a smile, and he raises his arm slightly.

Victor: I think, a certain someone wants to take the ride back home with me later.

Smiling mischievously, I naturally hook my arm around his and stroll through the food market with the camera in hand.

MC: Although the food market is not as bustling with noise and excitement as it used to be previously, it’s not as cold and cheerless as I imagined it’d be either. There are still many regular customers.

MC: I’ve observed that most of them are grandparents from the neighboring residential buildings.

MC: There’s also a small number of parents; who drop by to buy vegetables on the way back home after picking up their kids from school.

MC: So this place is quite lively towards the evening instead.

As I walk on the roads of the food market with Victor, I observe and make assessments the entire time.

MC: Hmm... the environment feels somewhat shabby and disordered. It seems that the management isn’t very good.

Victor pauses in his footsteps, seemingly grasping for some fragments in his memory.

Victor: In my memory, this place used to be very clean.

Victor: Judging from the surveys I received earlier, it appears that the recent decline in profit and revenue and the negligence of the management have led to the current situation.

I nod my head thoughtfully. All of a sudden, the sound of shouting comes from the vendor’s booth next to us.

??: Freshly arrived strawberries and bananas. Have–a–look–and–see––

??: We do business in good faith and sincerity. No sweetness, no money––

Attracted by the waves of shouting, I curiously pause in my footsteps and drag Victor over to the shouting vendor’s booth.

MC: Victor, since we’re already here, let’s buy some fruits to bring home!

Victor: ...a certain someone’s “since we’re already here” principle is really invincible.

Despite saying so, Victor still holds me by the hand and walks me over to the stall.

Victor: What do you want to eat? Strawberry or banana?

MC: Strawberry, hehe!

Victor nods and chooses them conscientiously, filling the entire bag in no time.

MC: Wow! CEO Victor’s technique is so proficient. I feel like he’s an expert fruit picker too!

He doesn’t answer. After putting a palm-sized strawberry into the bag, he opens his mouth.

Victor: Auntie Zhang’s fruits here are really good. My dad used to be very fond of bringing me here to buy them.

At this moment, the auntie, who has been stealthily studying Victor from the beginning, displays an expression of sudden realization.

Auntie Zhang: AH! You are the son of the Lao Li family, aren’t you?

–

[Note]: She uses the term “老李(Lǎo Lǐ)” to address the legacy of Victor’s family with the surname “Li.” It translates to “Old Li.” I just decided to keep it as it is hehe~  ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄

–

Auntie Zhang: I didn’t think it was really you! It’s been many years since you’ve been here.

While Auntie Zhang speaks, she nimbly helps Victor to choose the fruits. She picks up a larger bag and loads it with all kinds and sorts of fruits on the stall.

Auntie Zhang: When you were a child, you always followed after your father to buy fruits, wearing your solemn and neat school uniform. You were so well-behaved and adorable...

Auntie Zhang: And helped your father to pick out fruits and vegetables!

As the words of the past are brought to the surface, Auntie Zhang seems to have opened the satchel of stories. The more she talks, the more Victor coughs slightly unnaturally.

I secretly can’t help but laugh. Who would expect that the CEO Victor, who’s always had a poker face, was so well-behaved and cute when he was a child~

Auntie Zhang: Since you’re back here, take some more fruits.

Auntie Zhang: Auntie doesn’t have anything else here, only the fruits, which are quite delicious. Bring some more of them home with you. No money is needed.

Auntie Zhang stuffs the full and bulging bag into his hands, with an enthusiasm that one is completely unable to decline.

Auntie Zhang: This is a new arrival of snow pears, and they are delicious.

Victor refuses. But in the end, he has no other choice but to accept them.

After saying goodbye to the cordial Auntie Zhang, we turn around from the fruit stand and move to the other ones. Looking at the stall owners chatting with the customers in the surroundings, I become wistful.

MC: In fact, for such an old-fashioned food market, a large part of what everyone recalls fondly is the human warmth within, right?

I turn my head to look at Victor. He is carrying a bulging bag; the setting sun sprinkles down on his shoulders, drawing the outlines of his broad, tall, and upright figure.

I think of what Auntie Zhang said just now. Perhaps Victor might have been the same as now in his childhood too, carrying the fruit bag with all his efforts, following behind his father step by step. 

I can’t help but smile slightly, holding Victor’s arm as we walk forward.

MC: In addition to this, many precious and exclusive memories are hidden here, waiting for people to unearth them slowly~

Having filmed a lot of materials that can be edited along the way, I put the video camera away in my camera bag. Victor automatically reaches out and takes it for me.

Victor: So that’s a wrap. Let’s go home. 

–

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

–

✧ [Stage 4] ✧

MC is continuing the filming process as usual, and the main thing in her today’s agenda is interviewing the manager of the food market.

After the interview, the manager expresses his concerns to MC – whether they will be able to attract more customers after the upgrade. MC says that while this upgrade will attract a lot of customers, but for the long-term reputation, the food market has to maintain the quality and costs concisely.

At this moment, MC sees couple of LFG employees walking in and recalls that they are here for the meeting to discuss the next steps with the manager.

However, she’s left stunned by what she sees next—

–

To my surprise, the last person who walks in actually turns out to be Victor.

Is he here to attend the meeting too? How could Victor come to such a small-scale meeting?

He notices the video camera next to me but doesn’t slow down in his footsteps, as though he doesn’t mind being in the frame.

Although I’m puzzled, a warm current surges through my heart regardless.

He still remembers what he promised me back in the office.

As for why he is here... giving it some thought, I walk over to Victor with the microphone.

MC: May I ask, why is CEO Victor personally following up on the Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market project?

MC: This is not worth mentioning at all compared to your usual hundreds of millions of dollars projects, am I correct?

In front of the camera lens though he is, Victor’s dark-colored eyes still linger on my face for a moment before he opens his mouth.

Victor: The Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market project is indeed just one of the numerous investment projects of LFG.

Victor: But what I value is not its rate of return to LFG, but rather its return to the Loveland City.

Victor: In this aspect, Glimmer Of Dawn’s project is important to me. And that’s the reason I’m here right now.

After Victor finishes speaking, he nods his head toward the manager.

Victor: The first half of the industrial upgrade has been completed. The personnel sent by LFG to support this project has already reported the degree of progress to me.

Victor: Would it be convenient for you to listen to the next step of the program right now?

Manager: Of course, of course! Please come with me, CEO Victor.

The manager leads Victor out of the food market. After they leave, a crab seller in the zone who was watching gives a thumbs up.

Uncle: This President Victor seems to be a reliable person. I’m sure that he can reinvigorate the vitality of our food market!

The granny, a stall owner selling white shrimp on the side, twitches her mouth.

Granny: What reinvigorating the vitality! It’s all tacky. They must be just re-establishing themselves and getting bigger and bigger!

I can’t help but laugh and open my mouth to speak.

MC: The projects that CEO Victor has settled on have always yielded good returns.

MC: Therefore, you all don’t need to worry. By the time the upgrade is completed, there will undoubtedly be many people coming here on account of its reputation.

The uncle selling the crabs is even happier at these words. But he hesitates immediately afterward and raises the question very carefully.

Uncle: So... our food market won’t be running out of business?

My heart skips a beat. Although the overall assessment of this project is very satisfactory, it is an investment after all.

As long as it’s an investment, there will be risks.

But when my mind recalls the words Victor has told me in LFG’s office, it seems as though I’m suddenly revitalized with confidence. 

MC: My answer is not required in this matter.

MC: What kind of future Glimmer Of Dawn holds is something that needs to be built with the extraordinary efforts of everyone who has lived here for so long.

MC: After all, what’s most precious about it is the memories that have been preserved here for a generation.

MC: I believe that we can pass this memory onto the next generation through our hard work, for them to call it their own.

Suddenly, a clip of that moment flashes in my mind – the helpless look on Victor’s face in front of the fruit stand when his childhood anecdotes were brought up.

I chuckle, turning my gaze towards the orange sky that spreads outside the Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market. 

MC: It’s the memories that we cherish the most.

–

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

–

✧ [Stage 5] ✧

According to LFG’s plans for the next step, Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market has to close down for the renovation, and this stirs uncertainty among the stall owners – worried how the people who depend on their income from this food market will earn their living.

MC tries to assure everyone that it’s just a temporary shut down. At this moment, her phone rings.

–

The Caller ID reads “Victor.”

I gesture to my other colleagues to explain the matter in more detail, walk to a corner and answer the phone.

Victor: Still filming?

MC: Mm... I won’t need to come in every day and keep an eye on everything after today’s shoot.

Victor: What’s the trouble you’re facing?

MC: Eh? How did you hear that? I haven’t even said anything yet.

Victor: ...look up.

I raise my head in hindsight and see the person standing against the light in the doorway.

Victor walks over. He sweeps a quick glance over the machines we’ve set up and then on the distressed expression of the manager and seems to have understood what’s going on.

He pauses for a moment and then speaks unhurriedly.

Victor: I understand the concerns of everyone.

Victor: But, Glimmer Of Dawn’s current business condition is steadily deteriorating. If we don’t make a firm resolution to temporarily cease the trading and reorganize, it will soon disappear.

Victor: This is something that no one wishes to see.

Victor: If you all have confidence in yourselves and the customers around you, now is the opportunity to put your everything into the fight.

Victor’s words are powerful and resonating, and they are far more persuasive than my placations.

I nod my head along with the stall owners. He suddenly glances at me.

Victor: Is there anything the producer would like to add?

I mull it over for a moment, then continue with his words.

MC: In addition, you guys don’t need to worry about not being able to open for business during this time.

MC: A follow-up can be for the manager to discuss setting up temporary mobile stalls on the street outside the food market with the City Management department.

The hesitations on the faces of the stall owners slowly disappear. They all nod their heads in succession, expressing their support.

Uncle: Okay. I believe in the two of you!

I spot Auntie Zhang in the crowd, who’s also smiling reassuringly.

By the time evening descends, the stall owners have packed up their belongings and left one by one.

Looking at the empty and dilapidated Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market, I can’t help but feel a twinge of mixed emotions.

MC: After filming here for the past few days, I’ve also actually grown a bit attached to this place.

MC: I can’t stop imagining how extraordinarily bustling with noise and activity the place must have been back in the day when it opened for business.

MC: Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been named “Glimmer Of Dawn.”

MC: Reminiscent of the sun’s brilliant rays at its first rise.

Hearing my words, he remains unusually silent for a moment.

Victor: It still is.

Victor: After the renovation, this food market will be rejuvenated and will welcome a large number of customers again.

Victor: Once again, the name fits the bill.

Victor’s tone is exceptionally light. But every time I hear him speaking like this, my heart always fills to the brim with confidence.

I take Victor’s hand in mine and walk outside together with him.

MC: When it re-opens for business, how about we become the first batch of customers on that day?

A smile surfaces in Victor’s eyes, and he gives a “Hmm.”

Victor: I think a certain someone still wants to eat Auntie Zhang’s fruit.

–

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

–

✧ [Stage 6] ✧

[Victor’s feedback e-mail on the samples]

I’ve received the samples you’ve sent me. The shots are good.

As for the impression after watching them for a longer stretch, I’ll tell you later when we are having dinner together.

After all, judging by when I received the e-mail, a certain someone probably has been busy until now and hasn’t had dinner yet.

I’ll pick you up in the evening. You’ve been turning the 24-hour clock upside down lately, so I’ll take you for something light to eat.

–

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

–

✧ [Stage 7] ✧

On the day of the re-opening, Victor and MC arrive at the food market ahead of time and it truly does welcome an explosive flow of customers on the first day. [T/N: The main events of the date takes place on the day of the re-opening.]

After a period of regular operations, the food market far exceeds the business targets that were initially set by LFG.

Today, after getting off work, MC comes to have a look around again.

Though she initially just wanted buy some ingredients for dinner, many stall owners naturally recognize MC and insists on giving her way more ingredients than she intended to buy.

Carrying the bulging bags, MC heads towards Souvenir and finds Mr. Mills catering to the guests. So she enters through the back door––

–

I place the big bag and small packets of groceries on the table.

MC: Chef Victor, I’m back from grocery shopping~

Victor shoots a quick look, appearing slightly stunned.

Victor: Why did you buy so much?

MC: I bought the vegetables in this little bag, and the rest were given to me by the stall owners at the Glimmer Of Dawn Food Market.

MC: When I went shopping, they also asked me why you didn’t come together with me.

MC: After hearing that we’re gonna have dinner together, they gave me a lot more seasonal vegetables. Said that you are an old customer and must be taken care of more.

He smiles slightly at my words, his hands continuing to move.

Victor: So, it turns out they still remember.

MC: On our first visit to the food market, I saw you exchanging greetings with several stall owners in a very adept manner.

MC: It does seem like you used to go there frequently for grocery shopping.

Victor never lifts his eyelids.

Victor: So, what have you gathered from this conclusion?

I smile gleefully and help him take out the plates for serving dishes.

MC: I think that CEO Victor is different from the CEO everyone imagines he is.

MC: Although I know that you’re the chef of Souvenir, this can be regarded as a personal hobby after all.

MC: But a CEO who goes to the food market to buy vegetables after getting off work and is well acquainted with the fruit picking techniques... these make one feel that he is even more immersed in the details of life.

MC: And I’ve heard a saying that if a person can navigate the food market with skill and ease, then his cooking must be delicious! 

I take the tomatoes out of the bag one by one, and Victor takes them from me, the corners of his lips curling slightly.

Victor: Even after knowing me for so long, you still somehow manage to find something different every now and then.

Victor: All that aside, what do you want to eat tonight?

I swallow a mouthful of saliva and point to the tomato in his hand.

MC: I was craving Spaghetti Bolognese with tomato tonight.

MC: But it was a little late when I got to the food market, and the fresh minced meat was already gone.

MC: So, Chef Victor, just make something out of the ready-made dishes. As long as it’s something made by you, I will definitely eat up everything~

Victor: It’s okay if we don’t have minced meat. I can use something else instead.

MC: What else can be used instead?

Victor: Ingredients like shiitake mushrooms can also be sautéed to achieve a taste and fragrance analogous to that of minced meat.

He lifts his eyes to look at me, his tone carrying a hint of teasing within it.

Victor: It’s not only the food market that has evolved with the times, but also the way people cook.

MC: It turns out that there’s so much more knowledge hidden in the kitchen! And to think I used to ignore it before.

MC: Can I learn more of this trivial kitchen knowledge with you in the future?

I ask Victor with a wink as I take the shiitake mushrooms out of the refrigerator.

Victor taps me on the head and takes the round, plump mushrooms from my hands.

The rising steam from the pot crawls up to his figure, wrapping him in an embrace of hazy white mist.

Victor: If you have the patience to keep helping me out all the time, I can consider it.

The words I’ve wanted to say find themselves caught up in the heat. After a moment’s pause, I smile and walk over to help.

When it comes to a commitment like this, it truly does become more real when one practices what they preach.

As for today, let’s enjoy this rare dinner time first.

—

[xgryffinwhore]

Hey! Can I request a jaeden martell x reader where basically their charters are dating on a tv show and they are really really good best friends in real life and they they both go on the Jimmy fallon show and he keeps on asking if they’re dating because everyone thinks they are and when they say no he obvi doesn’t let it go lol and it ends up slipping up that jaeden did/ does have a crush on reader and they maybe end up sharing a kiss in front is Jimmy & audience & stuff😶just an idea i had 😂:)

i love this idea wow, thinking i’m going to put my own little twist on it but i think you’ll still be pleased ;)

just friends

warnings!: suggestive topics, fluff

word count: 2.1k

five

your face was being touched up with powder, the cotton pad dabbing at your nose as the white powder absorbed into any oil your face may have had.

four

you look over at jimmy, this wasn’t your first talk show, but it had been the biggest one with the most following. it was intimidating, you bounced your foot up and down and played with your hands.

three

behavior jaeden had grown to recognize. he knew you better then you knew yourself, your anxiety was worse then you put it out to be. “you ok?” he questioned, “fine, i’m fine” you painted a small smile on your face. but he wasn’t easily fooled.

two

he grabbed one of your hands and rubbed circles into your palm, this sent vibrations of relaxation down your spine.

one

his eyes locked with yours, you swore they were a different color each time you saw them. sometimes more blue, sometimes more green, sometimes dark with mystery, sometimes light and playful.

‘aaand where on air’

you wiped the hand that was interlocked with his off on your dress, it was clammy. the curtain came up fast, and your vision was soon flooded with bright lights and silhouettes of bodies.

making out the faces in the sea of people was impossible, but you knew your friends were out there. they had flown out to see you, a) they could go see new york and b) you were on national television, and they wouldn’t miss it for the world.

jimmy was talking, you knew that much, but your nerves took over and honestly you weren’t registering a damn thing he was saying. the crowd cheered, you snapped out of your daze.

“and here tonight, we have jaeden martell and y/n l/n from the new HBO tv series: turning tables”

he turned to both of us, and gave everyone time to clap. he tired to speak over the loud hands, moving on with his show, but the crowd made that difficult. eventually the clapping died out and he could continue.

“now, i’ve watched all of the episodes but, for the people who haven’t seen: can you explain what the show is about?” he looked a jaeden, you let go of a breathe you had held in.

“s-sure” jaeden turned to face the audience more, he was soft spoken and shy, so it was important he projected as much as he could.

“turning tables is a teen drama. it’s about families of poverty in the seattle washington area and how they struggle to go to school and work. my character, jennings cooper, is the main protagonist. the show is mainly from his point of view, and how he struggle to support his family.”

jimmy nods and smiles, he looks pleased with his explanation. i’m truth the show wasn’t that simple, he knew that. but, it would take so long to explain.

“and y/n, who do you play?” he knew the answer to this obviously, but you were becoming a crowd favorite. everyone loved your personality, and you were an up-and-coming a list celebrity.

“i play parker marlow, jennings girlfriend” you blushed at this statement, the crowd giggled and ‘ouuu’ed. jimmy rubbed his hands together, getting excited at the upcoming topic of discussion.

“so, your romance on season one was steamy” you thought back to the scenes you did together. all of the kissing, which felt normal at this point. he wasn’t a bad kisser, in fact- you didn’t mind it at all. your romance through the season built up to a sex scene, your mind flashed through the memories of filming it.

filming those scenes isnt half as steamy as you think it is. it’s awkward, you laugh a lot. you had never felt that exposed in your life! however watching it was different, it looked so real, so perfect.

you blurred out your thoughts, mr. fallon still speaking on the subject. “can we expect more -“ jimmy searched for your ship name, it was on the tip of his tongue. the combination of your first names on the show didn’t make an attractive combo. it was either jarker or pennings. your last names matched a little better.

“-carlow” jaeden finished for him. jimmy nodded and smiled “yes- carlow- can we expect more carlow next season?” you both looked at each other and smiled. the writers for the show already had the next four seasons laid out. you knew that carlow was a continuing relationship on the show.

“yes, you should expect more of that sort of content from us” you stated. the people in the crowd had a positive responce to this, the applause lapping until it died out once again.

“right, your characters have so much chemistry in the show. two struggling teens just trying to break even.” jaeden agreed “yes, our characters balance each other out, and being from the same background helps them associate. jennings is kind of a bad boy-as the ladies say- he’s a felon, he steels cars and sells them to counterfeit manufacturers and dealers for money. parker, y/n’s character, has a job at a diner. she shows him the light at the end of the tunnel if he chooses to go down a good path.”

“yes, parker gets jennings a job at the diner with her, and he falls for her sweet disposition even after everything she’s been through” you add.

jimmy licks his lips and pops another question: “so id imagine the chemistry in the show heightens the real life thing?” he cocked an eye brow, the group gasping at the intrusiveness.

“jaeden and i are just friends” you blurt out, your nerves working up again. it was hard, you liked jaeden ever since you had your first kiss with him.

“y-yeah” he stutters, he obviously wasn’t expecting this either “friends” jimmy shakes his head and puts his finger on his lip “recently, you both have been showing a lot of pictures of you two together on social media.”

the audience ‘awwwed’ at the photos that displayed behind you. on the screen, there were pictures of you and him that were on both of your instagrams. you two at gardens, getting food, even watching movies at each other’s houses.

“for just friends, these photos looks intimate , wouldn’t you say” a bunch of ‘yes’’s and ‘mhm’’s came from the crowd as both of your faces became red.

“we’re just best friends, honestly” jaeden laughed nervously, he fixed his hair with his hand has he always does.

“right right- can you tell me when this photo is from?” jimmy asked, the last picture flashing on the screen. it was of you both, you had just filmed your first scene together.

the first scene you filmed together was episode two, he saved you after you fell into ice cold water. it was how the characters met, and it was filmed at a cove on a windy august day.

the picture was a little blurry, but it added character. he had his arm around you, both of your hair soaked, and you share a huge towel. you remember how cold you were, your teeth chattered so rapidly. his hair was stuck to his forehead and more small pieces went up. and your lips were almost purple, half from the makeup, half because you swore that was the coldest water you had ever went in.

“that’s from when we first started filming, it was the first time we met in the show” you recited, re living the memory in your head. you remember jaeden pulling your head into his chest when the wind began blowing. you remember his thumb trying to create friction on your back to make you just a little warm.

“yes yes- you two look so adorable!” jimmy squealed, he was the most teenage-girl-grown-man you had ever met. his hand opened one of the drawers in the faux desk he sat behind, pulling out a small blue camcorder.

the camcorder.

you know how on tv shows, there is special footage? sometimes it’s just behind the scene specials but sometimes- sometimes - it’s footage the actors document when they were just having fun? yeah it was one of those camcorders.

the camcorder was brought in by the two other co hosts wyatt oleff and finn wolfhard (i know this cast is sooo original not really) they played jaedens two best friends on the show. while they weren’t filming, they’d dick around and talk about stupid stuff. you’d never seen what they filmed, but you had been featured quite a few times; their by them pranking you, or invading your personal space.

you looked over at jaeden, you watched his adam’s apple bob and a thin layer of sweat flush over his face. he bounced his leg slightly, a habit he had picked up from you.

“let’s just review our material here” jimmy teased, his tongue darting out between his teeth. the video began to play, the sound was loud; assumingely for jaeden quiet voice in the tape.

the video started with wyatts unsteady hand, him and finn were running around set, they stopped at jaeden, he was playing on his phone in his trailer.

“jaeden wesley we have come for you” finn yelled. you could see jaeden shoot up from his chair. “hey guys” he waved. they talked for around a minute, jokes and all. then finn started to giggle, wyatt zoomed in on jaedens face.

“so jaeden, how’s y/n?” he chuckled, jaeden blushed “she’s ok i guess dunno.” wyatt stopped zooming in when the only thing in frame was jaedens head. “the kiss was good hm?” wyatt asked. jaeden continued to play on his phone, he nodded. “yeah, she’s pretty cute too.”

the video cut to another segment, this was filmed after the sex scene. you knew because jaeden laid on the bed you, in the same underwear that he wore during the scene. the boys were jumping on the bed, and jaeden took the camera and talked to it.

“this is for memory and memory ONLY! h-hey y/nnn” he was talking to the camera like it was you “you’re amazing and cool” you could hear finn explode into laughter as he stole the camera back and started running “yeah! and he wants your babies and loves you so much-“ “SHUT UP FINN!!!” and jaeden chased him around.

the video was taken off the screen. your face had become close to ghostly white. it was weird, it was almost like he was dumb enough to think finn wouldn’t give jimmy this blackmail goldmine. you looked at jaeden, he hit his bottom lip until it was red, he itches his neck and laughed it off.

“yeah ok-ok jimmy, maybe i liked her back in the day” jaeden tried so hard to be casual, but jimmy hit him with a heart stopper: “but mr martell, the last clip was filmed less then a month ago!”

your mind flickered with memories and ideas of him.

your first time meeting, how good his hand felt in yours. when you wiped icecream off his chin, and him dotting icecream on to the top of your nose. the way his hair always fell perfectly above his eye brow. and SHIT how he always smelt so fucking good. how he let you fall asleep in his arms and how he never complained when you put on some stupid romcom and-

“y/n?” jimmy questioned. “huh?” you spaced, come on y/n you gotta stop doing that. “i asked how you felt about all of this.” “well, there isn’t a right word i can use.”

jaeden took this has a bad reaction, he did a small wave to the crowd and stood up to get off the stage.

you stood up, grabbed his hand, and laid one right on him. kissing him felt normal, but now that there was emotion behind it, it just felt so right.

you both stopped for air, the crowd went wild. jimmy was clapping too, you could barley hear them, your heart was pumping throughout your whole body. you swore jaeden could hear it.

after the show, you sat in your dressing room for a bit, contemplating the events of tonight, and how they were all broadcasted for your embarrassment. but it was only the beginning. only the beginning of what was to come for mr. and mrs. jaeden martell.

[lubdubsworld]

Better Man.

~~~~~~~~~~~~`Just to see you smile, I’d do anything. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taehyung x Oc

Rated 18 +

Post Divorce, Getting Back Together, Second chances, Angst.

Chapter 1    Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Do you ever truly know what someone is feeling?

You could spend decades , breathing the same air, hands held , your fingers brushing ....connected physically and even mentally but a person’s emotions, they’re hidden away. 

You only ever know what they’re willing to show .

And yet, 

all of us build relationships, convinced that we know exactly what the other person will feel when we act a certain way. Buying her flowers will make happy....visiting him at work will take away that little bit of stress.

But sometimes, what we think someone feels, may not be what they truly feel.

And that’s when your actions, well intended actions..... end up with disastrous consequences. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So....last night...” Jungkook’s teasing voice did nothing to ease the pounding in my head.

“I do believe you promised not to tease me about it if I drank two glasses of water, which I did by the way.” I told him firmly, trying to bring the words on my planner into focus as i squinted. Three meeting. Each two hours long. 

kill me now. 

“I wanted to ask HR to give you the day off but you have quite a schedule today. “ He said casually,  leaning over me to peer into the planner . I glanced at his wrist resting on the table, the expensive rolex showing that it was a little past 9. 

“ We’re planning out the Christmas campaign first and I have a meeting with Taehyung’s team in the afternoon so we can go over the contract see if they have any requirements and then the social media team in the evening at four to discuss promos and revamping the website.” I glanced up at him. 

He gave me a smile before casually leaning down, lightly gripping my chin and tilting my face up. I felt the brush of his lips against mine, fleeting and gentle. 

‘You’re beautiful.” He smiled. 

I blinked.

And then took a deep breath.

“Your wife...” I said softly. “ I saw her today.” 

Jungkook went completely still at that. 

“She was waiting in the lobby on my way up. I didn’t know who you were married to and I was a little shocked and also little upset because....” I glanced at him. “ She was my best friend in college. “

Jungkook swore. 

“Fuck.. I told her to stay the fuck away from my company. Did she say something to you?” 

i shook my head.

“I didn’t greet her because I wasn’t sure if she remembered me. And I wasn’t sure if i was remembering her right. i didn’t know she was your wife till i heard someone mention it in the elevator on my way up. Did you know that she and i knew each other?” 

Jungkook looked just a little guilty.

“When you first joined the company, she saw your resume on my cvomputer. told me a lot about you. She remembers you. Fondly. She wanted to come meet you but...things happened.  “ He shrugged.

Things like infidelity and divorces . 

“Ahh...” I smiled. “ Tell me i wasn’t another way to get back at your ex wife, Jeon Jungkook ssi...” 

He made a noise of protest.

“no... No of course not Christ...it’s just...I’ll admit she made me curious about you. She spoke of you being spontaneous and fun and wild and I’d seen you as this demure, elegant woman in the office. i was curious. I wanted to know which one was the real you. “

“Were you curious before she cheated....or after?”

“ Jang Mi...this isn’t what it looks like .. I’m done with her. She fucked my best buddy and ruined my fucking life...” He sounded pained. 

I frowned. 

“It’s hard to believe she would do something like that. The Aera i remember had a very strong moral compass.” 

“Yeah well, apparently, you can live whole entire lives with someone and never really know the person. Listen, do we really have to talk about my ex wife?” He asked, eyes shining with discomfort. 

I shrugged.

“I’m not fond of drama. I won’t tangle myself in a relationship that risks hurting a lot of people Jungkook. That’s just not the kind of person I am. I’m sorry.” 

He made a noise of impatience, shaking his head. 

“We won’t be hurting anyone... We have fun together. We like each other. We’re attracted to each other...that’s all that matters....” He said sharply.

“ If we were in our twenties , without kids ....maybe. But that's not how it is now. I have a son, you have a daughter and I think I’m not completely over my marriage yet.” I said softly. 

He froze.

“And i don’t think you’re completely over your wife either.” I smiled.

He glared at me. 

“Ex-wife.” He snarled.

“She makes you feel things, Jungkook. You need to sort that out before you start something new with someone else. I’m only saying this because we’re old enough not to 

He growled and punched the desk. 

“God, how can she keep ruining my life even when she’s out of it.” He muttered, stepping away from me and moving to the door. 

I watched him storm out of my office and bit my lip. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time evening rolled around, I was exhausted. But the day had been productive and I was happy because the contract had been finalized, the theme had been decided and we’d also spent an amazing three hours redesigning the website. Although it wasn’t in my job description I had studied web design in college and the creative department always welcomed my inputs. 

“You’re in a good mood...” Taehyung’s voice was a complete surprise and I turned to him, shocked. He was dressed in a black t shirt and blue jeans and sneakers and looked a whole decade younger. 

I felt affection rise up my throat so fast I nearly choked. 

“What are you doing here?”

“My agent told me you guys were incredibly cooperative today. She also told me you were quite possibly the loveliest woman she’s ever met and that I’m an idiot to have let you go.” He smiled. 

I laughed, shaking my head and my gaze shifted to the small bunch of tiger lilies in his hand. 

I felt warmth bloom in my chest. 

“You remembered.” I said softly, pleased. 

“Thirteen years since our first date.  The lily to my tiger. ” He held the flowers to me and I grinned, pressing the flowers to my chest. 

“Man I feel old.” I muttered.

“You are old.” Tae grinned and i grimaced, before tossing him a glare. . 

“You’re supposed to say I still look as beautiful as i did thirteen years ago.” I said. 

“But you don.t” He grinned impishly. “ You look a billion times  more  beautiful.” 

I felt the atmosphere shift, the air charged with something dangerous and i looked away. Usually, this was when I would laugh and throw my arms around him. Pull him close and press my lips against his , slip my fingers into his t shirt and trace the skin of his back. Feel his hands on my waist as he lifted me up to twirl me around and kiss me just like that. 

How often had we kissed that way? Thirteen years is a long time to count the number of kisses we’d shared. 

We both stayed quiet, looking anywhere but at each other.

“I...there’s a reason I came.” He said finally.

I glanced at him.

“Oh?”

“The lawyer. Ms. Lee she ... recommended a relationship counselor”

I blinked, my breath catching in my throat. 

“Taehyung we’re-”

“Just hear me out. Its not mandatory and it won’t affect the divorce in anyway. its just something the court offers all couples going through a divorce and we’re free to refuse it. “

“Did you?” I asked. 

“Did I what?”

“Refuse it. Did you tell her no?” 

He stared at me. 

“No.” He said finally.

I exhaled sharply.

“Wow.” I whispered, feeling jittery and unbalanced. He sighed and came closer, reaching out to lightly grip my wrists. I let him tug me closer into a hug and held him tight, my heart pounding with anxiety.

“Mia.... I just... I’m not saying we should try to fix this.... relationship.” He said softly, eyes gentle and pleading, “  I just think this whole thing has taken a toll on both of us and maybe we can heal better if we get the help of a professional. Come out of this with closure. Instead of battling guilt and regrets everyday. Just ....it could help us move on. Don’t you think?”

You could never really tell what the other person is feeling. 

I couldn’t tell what Taehyung was feeling right now? 

Hope ?

Hope that we would fix our marriage....

or maybe hope that he would finally move on from me.. Maybe this whole thing was his final attempt to end things with me for good. So he could walk out of my life forever without any lingering guilt or regret. 

I would never know. 

I clung to him harder and somehow the pain of the entire two years we’d been apart, rammed into me at once. 

I choked on a sob. Breathing became difficult and I felt myself gasping for air. 

“Mia?” Taehyung’s panicked voice was the last sane thought that registered. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay? I can stay the night if you want. I’ll sleep in the spare bedroom . ” Taehyung whispered,  seated on the warm fluffy blanket that he’d managed to dig out of the closet in the spare bedroom. i was already tucked into the bed, fingers clutching the satin lined edges . 

i shook my head.

“I know how much you need your gazillion pillows. Go on... I’ll be fine.”

“i feel terrible. i pushed you into a panic attack.”

I waved off the guilty words. 

“You didn’t . i was already a little frayed and i guess i haven’t really been processing all the stuff between us the way i should have. i just got a little overwhelmed.” 

A panic attack. At the age of 32. The last time i had one I was twenty four. I wanted to crawl into the bed and never resurface. 

Taehyung’s gentle fingers , stroking my cheek brought me out of my own head. 

“I was so scared.” He said softly and my heart ached.

“I’m sorry i scared you.” I said apologetically, gripping his wrists lightly and stroking the skin there with my thumb. 

“I really want to stay. i don’t think I’ll be able to sleep if I go home right now.” He whispered. 

I bit my lips. 

“Okay... but... You need to hug something. To sleep. “ 

He grinned at that. 

“I’m old enough to survive one night without a pillow, Mia .” he chuckled. 

I flushed, sinking deeper into the covers.

“Okay.” 

“You don’t have to worry about the counselor thing. I’ll tell Lee we don’t want to do any-”

“No!!” I said quickly, a lot  louder than I’d intended. 

Taehyung blinked.

“I just... I realized that I haven’t been dealing with any of this...the right way. I’m so confused and disoriented all the time and I .. I don’t mind getting some help. To sort things out. Just for myself you know...without the pressure of trying to fix...well us.” I finished .

Taehyung gave me a wide smile before bending down and kissing my forehead.

“ Okay, Mia mine. Sleep well, and I’ll see you in the morning.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

[plenaurum]

What Love Is: Pt 2/2

Might be an epilogue after this. I just wanted to get this out. Sorry it’s so long. Antoine Dawson. Word count: 3k. Part 1 here. Enjoy! Feedback appreciated but not required.

It has been over a week since she cut him loose. Throughout the week, she has had to dodge phone calls, FaceTime requests, text messages, direct messages, even comments under her Instagram posts from Antoine.

Funny how he gives a damn now.

Refusing to entertain him any longer, she avoided reading any of his messages, cutting her eyes away from words like “Y/N, I’m so—”, “I love—“, “Please can we ta—“, before she could get too far and let him pull her in too deep. Again.

So she blocked him. On everything. She unmatched him on Lovelink, blocked his phone number, his e-mail, all of his socials, even going as far as to private her social media accounts. She didn’t want to give him any wiggle room to slide back into her life.

And she refused to let the pain of having to let him go, of not being able to talk to him again, to see his face again, to hear his voice affectionately call her name in a way only he can, get in the way of her anger. Because she is angry. And heartbroken.

She would weather any internal storm if it meant not having to go through heartbreak like that again.

So she persisted.

“Are you sure you’re gonna be ok?” Jake asks.

They have just finished up a movie night with their friends Grace and Jasmin. They insisted that they have one because “you can’t spend your life wallowing over a fucker that couldn’t appreciate a bad bitch when he had one,” Jasmin said.

They’ve been pretty damn upset with Antoine, and make their disdain known whenever his name is brought up. Jasmin especially.

“This too shall pass,” Grace said ominously, curled up on the floor with a cup of toffee ice-cream.

“Is that Shakespear?” Jasmin looked over at her curiously, licking the remnants of the popcorn from her fingertips.

“It’s from the Bible!” Jake exclaimed. He was sitting on the floor next to Y/N’s legs, head leaning against her lap like a cat. Y/N let out a chuckle, a grin pulling at her lips as appreciation for her friends welled up in her chest.

It’s been about 20 minutes since Grace and Jasmin took off, Grace having to work on her thesis and Jasmin having a meeting with her model agency in the morning. They each departed with a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. Jake stayed behind, however.

“I’ll be fine, Jake.” Shaking off the memory, Y/N gathers the rest of the dishes into the sink. “You don’t have to babysit me.”

Jake leans against the counter next to her, a friendly warmth radiating from him. “It’s not babysitting when it’s your friend, Y/N.” He begins to help her with the dishes, their arms occasionally brushing against each other as they move in-sync. Y/N felt a rush of affection at him for being so kind.

Jake. Always such a softy.

“Besides, I don’t have my date for another hour, so I don’t have to leave just yet.” Jake turns his head and quirks a smile at her, eyebrows dancing playfully. “I could always kick your ass in another round of Uno.”

Y/N can’t help but laugh. “You know damn well it’ll be the other way around, Romeo.” Jake shrugs, a triumphant grin still on his face. He doesn’t really care about winning so much as he does about making that sad look on her face go away.

“Besides, shouldn’t you be preparing for your Juliet?” She says teasingly.

Putting away the last dish, Jake avoids her eyes, a blush dancing on his cheeks. “They’re not Juliet. They’re just helping me film.” He mutters.

Another giggle bursts out of her chest. “You mean they’re not Juliet yet.” He rolls his eyes, a bashful grin breaking through.

“How is it going with them by the way?” She asks.

He perks up adoringly, jumps to sit on top of the counter, eyes shining. “It’s going so well!” He says excitedly. He goes on to talk about the person he met from Lovelink, ironically the same site that she met Antoine on. She listens to him talk, feeling the heaviness from her chest lighten up a little at how happy he is, how utterly smitten he is.

At least one of them can have their happy ending. She smiles softly, a little sad. “I’m really happy for you Jake.” She says sincerely. “You deserve this.”

He stops talking and just looks at her, a soft look on his face at her tone. “You deserve it too, you know.” She just smiles at him, a faraway look in her eyes.

“I’ll get there eventually.” She affirms. He slides off the counter and pulls her into his arms. She didn’t know how much she needed a hug until now. Burying her face into his neck, she sighs, the heaviness in her chest lifts significantly.

“I know you will,” He whispers.

They stay like that for a few moments until they hear a knock at the door. They pull away from each other, looking at it quizzically. “Are you expecting anyone?” He asks.

“No. It was just you guys.” Besides, it’s almost 9pm. There’s another knock at the door, this one more persistent. Jake furrows his brow. “Are you gonna get it or should I?”

“No, I got it.”

Letting go of his hand, she goes for the door, and opens it without even looking through the keyhole, curiosity getting the better of her. “What can I do fo--” Her eyes lock with Antoine’s icy blues.

An icy feeling shoots it’s way through her body. She’s frozen, staring at him, heart beating out of her chest. She can’t breathe.

Then she feels a presence at her back and Jake’s hand on her shoulder. She lets the warmth of his hand spread through her body, soothing her. He knows who it is, if the pictures are anything to go by.

She watches Antoine’s eyes shoot to where Jake is touching her.

Everybody’s frozen, waiting for someone to make the first move. Then Antoine clears his throat, shifting on his feet. “Um,” he stammers, face reddening. “Is this a bad time?”

Jake stiffens, face hardening a bit. He shoots a look at Y/N, who turns around to look at him. They seem to have a silent conversation, his eyes saying are you sure about this? To which she replies I’ll be fine. I got this. He nods.

“No. I’ll see you later Y/N,” She hears him say, still staring at Antoine. He meets her eyes, his own unreadable. She nods at Jake, turning to give him a weak smile. He returns it, then parts with a quick peck on her cheek. He shoots a sly look at Antoine, and says, “See ya.” Then, brushing past Antoine’s tense body, he’s off.

Taking a deep calming breath, she pulls herself together enough to say “Do you wanna come in?” He gives her a smile and nods. Stepping aside, she lets him in, making sure to press herself against the open door to prevent any contact between them.

Closing the door, she turns to look at him to see that his eyes have been on her the entire time, seemingly drinking her in. Ignoring the tingles that spread through her body, she crosses her arms and fixes him with a hard look.

“What are you doing here, Antoine?” She thought he was in Nepal. Probably chasing some baby animal and getting himself stuck in a cave, she thinks bitterly.

“I wanted to see you,” he replies. Giving her another once over, he smiles softly at her. “How are you? How have you been?”

“Fine. Good.” She says sharply, ignoring his flinch. “What do you need?” She repeats.

Hands shoved into his pockets, biting his lip, he looks toward his feet, obviously unsure. “I deserve that,” he mutters to himself.

Deciding to cut him some slack and be a good host to an otherwise unwelcome guest, she clenches her jaw and bites out “Do you want a drink?”

His shoulders fall away from his ears, hope all over his face. “Please.”

She says nothing else and instead, giving him a wide berth, walks to the kitchen. It must be obvious that she wants her space, because Antoine keeps a careful distance between them, following her lead. He doesn’t want to set her off and kick him out when he misses her so much.

Yanking out two glasses, she pours a glass of one for each of them, ignoring his watchful eyes, filling her own cup to the brim. She passes the other to Antoine, his fingers brushing against hers when he takes it, almost as if he can’t help himself. She yanks her hand back and takes a long sip.

She decides to take a seat. No use being uncomfortable in your own damn house. She fixes him with another hard look and says: “Sit down.” He obeys, taking the seat across from her at the counter. He hasn’t taken a sip of his drink yet.

A few moments pass in tense silence. She has a lot of questions for him that she refuses to ask out loud, like Why did you insist on keeping me around if you were just gonna keep running from me? Was I not enough for you? Why would you say one thing and then do the complete opposite? Why? Why? Why? But she won’t ask. She’s done looking weak, being weak for him.

She feels him staring at her. Looking toward the ceiling to keep the tears at bay, she takes another long sip of her wine, reveling in the warmth settling in her belly.

“Why are you here, Antoine?” She asks again quietly, looking down at her drink.

“Who was that?” He blurts out instead of answering the question. He looks almost guilty, like he knows he should’ve kept to himself.

“Who was who?” She says cooly.

“That—that guy. Is he—? Are you—?” He’s stammering, tongue not cooperating with him.

She looks at him incredulously. Is he serious?

She’s silent for a moment, wanting to be petty and reply with what’s it to you? We’re not together anymore! I’m not even sure if we were together at all! But instead, allowing herself a moment of weakness and not being able to bear the pain of him thinking that she’s moved on so fast, she just says: “That’s Jake. Remember?” She’s told him about her friends at the beginning stages of their relationship, making it clear that while she and Jake are really close, they’ve never thought about one another that way. Besides, they’re both in love with other people.

The relief he feels is painfully obvious. “Oh.” He says dumbly. “Oh.” He repeats to himself. He lets out a breath, as if he’s been holding it in anticipation of her answer.

She doesn’t say anything back.

He tries to catch her eye again. “Listen, I want to tell you something.” She cuts her eyes back to him. “And I know I’m not in a position to be making any demands right now, but I just need about five minutes, okay? Then I’ll go, no problem.” His eyes are wide, almost pleading for her to listen.

She grinds her teeth, wanting to be difficult, but also wanting all of this to be over already even more. She nods once. He sighs again, nodding to himself.

“I’m sorry.” He says softly. She tries not to scoff, head shaking tiredly. He stays strong, however.

He sets his glass down and leans closer, all of his focus on her as if she’ll disappear at any moment. “I’ve been stupid. And selfish. And an asshole.” He sounds angry with himself. Well, no shit. Good on you for realizing. I guess. She takes another gulp of her wine in response.

“Y/N, I turned it down.” She almost chokes. He shoots up and would have ran to her side if she didn’t put a hand up to let him know that she’s ok.

He sits back down gingerly, still gazing at her worriedly. “And I know what you’re thinking. I didn’t turn it down just to get you back. I mean—it’s part of it. But it’s not the only reason.”

“I love my job. I love what I do. I love being able to see all of these new places, to have all of these new experiences. I do.” Unshed tears well up in his eyes. “But I realized—none of it matters if I don’t have you.” Screwing up her face, she shakes her head in disbelief, trying to stop the tears from falling.

“No. No—”

He shoots up and speeds around the counter to kneel down next to her, looking up at her and taking her hand.

“Please listen.” He goes on further. “When you left me, I was angry at first. Frustrated. But it was with myself for—for hurting you so much. For being so selfish and not seeing what I was doing.”

“I’ve been running from my problems, Y/N. I felt like if I didn’t keep moving, that I’d—I’d spiral. What happened with my grandpa in Alaska really shook me to my core. And I noticed that whenever problems arise, I run away. I avoid them.”

“But at the same time, I met you, and I knew that I wanted you in my life. That you’d be it for me. You are it for me.” His voice shakes, but he runs a thumb over her knuckles, eyes roaming her face reverently. “I want a life with you. I do. More than anything, I want you.”

Her heart slams against her chest.

He sighs. “And I didn’t want to admit it but, that scared the shit outta me.” He sniffs, tightening his hand around hers. “I knew that one look at you and it was over. That I wouldn’t be able to run anymore.”

“Is that why you were so adamant about leaving?” She asks weakly.

He shuts his eyes, squeezing them tight. “Yeah. I—I didn’t know how to deal, Y/N. I wanted to run as far as possible, to keep going and to keep focusing on my career so that I didn’t have to.” He opens his eyes again, tears falling down his cheeks. “That’s why it was so hard for me to fly you out to see me in Columbia.”

“I thought you just didn’t want to see me.” She utters.

He shakes his head frantically, squeezing her hand so tightly it almost hurts. “No. I wanted to see you. More than anything.”

She tries to pull her hand away. “You’re confusing me, Antoine. That was the problem—”

“—Wait! Wait! Please!” He goes for her hand again, and she lets him, though she keeps her grip loose.

“I wanted to see you. But I was genuinely concerned for your safety. I didn’t want you to get hurt.” He grimaces, letting out a hollow laugh. “Hell of a job I did at keeping that from happening, huh?”

“And I didn’t want you to leave again. Because I knew I’d try to follow you. And I almost did. You don’t understand the pull you have on me—I wanted to be with you more than anything, more than I wanted to run. So I pushed back against it. Tried to ignore it. Threw myself into my work so I didn’t have to face it. Because facing you, in my mind, meant facing what I’ve been through.” He tentatively reaches a hand out, gently cups the side of her face, wiping away a tear. She has to keep herself from nuzzling into his hand.

“I can’t run from you. Yet I kept trying. And I was a fucking idiot for it.” He grits his teeth, the anger at himself glaringly clear.

“Because throughout all of this, I never communicated what I was feeling with you. I didn’t try to get over my fears for you. I was only thinking about myself and what I wanted. And you...” He slides his hand under her chin, leaving a trail of fire burning on her skin.

“...You tried to keep me happy. You followed me on my whims, you let me take the lead while I made decisions about us without ever consulting you. And I hate that I made you feel like you had to do that.” She feels her face burn, more tears spilling onto her face. His breath catches at that.

“Baby, can I hold you? Please? I can’t—”

She throws herself into his arms, full on sobbing now. He catches her, tucking her face into his neck, making shushing noises despite him having a few tears of his own, as he holds her tight, stroking her back. She feels him bury his face onto the top of her head. He continues. “I’m so sorry. It took that conversation and being without you for me to realize what an ass I’ve been. I’d love to keep you with me but more than anything I want to keep you happy.”

“I’ve scheduled my first therapy appointment.” He admits. “I’m not just doing it for you but it’s also for me. It’s for us.”

She pulls away, and at first he tightens his hold around her like it pains him to let go, but he eventually lets up. “If we get back together, you better be doing all of this for yourself. I can’t be your—“ she swallows, “—your emotional crutch. Not anymore.”

His eyes are understanding, earnest. “I know that. I don’t want you to be. I’m doing this because honestly…I need it, after what went down. And I want to make you proud. I wanna support you, too. To be here for you.”

She feels her heart swell in her chest despite herself. The last of her walls crumble away, and she’s left looking at him with an admiring, but stern, smile. “I’m not going through that shit again, Dawson.”

“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I don’t hurt you again,” he promises, holding her hand over the strong, steady beat of his heart. She knows he’s telling the truth.

“Y/N—” She cuts him off with a kiss. He starts, but soon returns it, sitting down and pulling her onto his lap, hands gripping her waist. It’s painful, longing, loving--everything that they feel for one another poured into that kiss. She pulls away, but not too far, leaning her head against his. He shifts so his lips are a whisper away from hers, sneaking in a few more kisses.

“Y/N. I love you.” And she finally believes it. “And I’m done running. Will you be with me? Please?”

Her heart flutters. “I love you too.” She feels his heart speed up where it’s pressed against her chest. He hugs her even closer. She smiles against his lips. “You have me.”

[cybernaght]

Guardian rewatch: episode 7

The world’s most amicable mugging continues in this episode, as Shen Wei waits for Zhao Yunlan to spring into his defence as his personal knight in shining armour. Or, as the official subtitle of the episode states:

I kid you not. Here’s the original with the alternate translation.

I am once more very much not mad at it. 

I say that Shen Wei’s mugging is amicable, but that is of course is before one of the “gangsters” tries to grab at his Pendant of Pining. “It’s not something that you people can touch”, he states, easily restraining the man’s wrist. He’s not losing his composure just yet, but his warrior’s stance is showing, and he comes pretty close to breaking cover.

Thankfully, this is when Zhao Yunlan shows up to intervene. Hearing him approach, Shen Wei’s first priority is hiding the Pendant of Pining. His second priority is straightening his collar and tightening his tie. Shen Wei may be in a middle of an attempted mugging, but he’d be damned if he allows Zhao Yunlan to see him dishevelled. Come to think of it, it’s kind of hilarious that Shen Wei’s attempt at pretending to be a poor helpless human includes being completely nonplussed by being attacked. Surely freaking out a little would be an infinitely less suspicious choice. 

Yunlan politely but firmly pushes the professor aside, and Shen Wei waits patiently next to the wall, neatly folding his hands the same way he did at the unpleasant councillor meeting in the previous episode. 

Here we finally see that Zhao Yunlan is pretty impressive in hand to hand combat. This man may not have a sword, but he can easily knock two dudes out with three moves. Again, this is a very short, but pretty damn flawless little piece of choreography. Zhao Yunlan’s fighting prowess is even more accentuated with a gleeful adrenaline-filled grin he breaks into after he’s done. I understand Shen Wei’s endless desire to protect the man he’s devoted to, but, honestly, it’s nice to see Zhao Yunlan not really needing protection - not against simple street crime at least. 

Shen Wei proceeds to calmly dust off his discarded briefcase. Zhao Yunlan proceeds to retrieve the other man’s watch from the ground and then passes it on. With physical contact. Should I be obsessing over how their fingers linger together for a second? Maybe not. I am doing it anyway. 

“What a coincidence”, deadpans Shen Wei, who knows for the fact that the other man is tailing him, and causes a delightful burst of faux outrage in response. 

“What are you implying?”, Zhao Yunlan asks innocently, deflecting further by inquiring whether Shen Wei thinks he staged this little rescue mission. He follows it with “Only you’re allowed to be here this time of night?”, which I choose to read as, “Really, Shen Wei. Why do you think you should have a monopoly on stalking in this relationship?”

As the two are distracted by the low key flirting, one of the muggers makes an opportunity attack on Zhao Yunlan. Shen Wei is alarming Yunlan to this with genuine worry, but does not lose his composure enough to intervene.  

We are treated to another excellent three moves, which are block-break-backfist. Well mixed sound helps, but Bai Yu does look very good as well. The footage does not appear sped up at all, but his movements are fast and crisp, he’s engaging his whole body, everything lands well angle-wise, it’s appropriately safe... Again, I cannot fault this at all. Bai Yu is not physically strong, and this just goes to show that you don’t need a lot of muscle to look like you can be an effective fighter. I don’t want to go into long detail on western media’s obsession with unrealistic physical standards in action media, but suffice it to say that it’s an unhealthy and pointless aesthetic choice which has nothing to do with reality of combat performance - as this scene clearly illustrates. (Look. As I said, stage violence is one of my jobs, and I’m a curvy woman who spends a lot of her time with insecure young actors and drama students. I have opinions.)

Having fended off the attack, Zhao Yunlan exaggerates the situation with the proverb “talking too much will get you killed.” Shen Wei is obviously distressed over his choice of words, but he looks down to hide it. 

At this point the two decide to go home instead of getting the street criminals off the street. 

Zhao Yunlan follows Shen Wei into his flat, pretending very loudly that he has not seen this place before. He is trying way too hard. And there is a touch of a naughtily feline glimmer in his eyes, because he is probably still on that adrenaline rush: his heart would be pounding, senses elevated, brain basking in a pleasant sharpness akin to a sugar rush, when everything is a little bit too saturated. And an attractive mysterious man he just saved is asking him to stay. Zhao Yunlan’s going to have even less brain to mouth filter here than he usually does. 

Shen Wei is getting a first aid to kit to treat Zhao Yunlan’s injuries. It’s anyone’s guess why the self-healing Envoy needs a first aid kit at all - it lives in a Tupperware box as well, suggesting that it’s been assembled and organised by hand rather than store bought. 

Sitting down, and tucking his tie in (because neatness is everything), Shen Wei prepares to administer a mysterious ointment to Zhao Yunlan’s bruise, and states that this is him giving Chief Zhao an opportunity for interrogation. I bet he has got a lie prepared for any question, because this situation has definitely been pre-planned. 

Instead of probing the other man, Zhao Yunlan offers him a job. Shen Wei’s answer is a firm no, which he utters without even a second hesitation. To Zhao Yunlan, this clearly reads as a rejection, as his face crumbles. 

He livens up however, when Shen Wei hurries to add that this is not a denial of help or cooperation. Zhao Yunlan is right to ask why he would take the job then case; this is an entirely reasonable question. I’m guessing, Shen Wei’s reluctance comes from his unwillingness to compromise Hei Pao Shi’s position, rather than an attempt to prevent Zhao Yunlan from getting involved in the cosmic shitstorm which is currently brewing: as the Lord Guardian, he’s gonna get right in the middle of said storm either way. 

“You just move in and didn’t invite your neighbour over for some fun?”, Zhao Yunlan asks.

Laying it on really thick, I see. 

Shen Wei blinks disbelievingly, as if to say “did he just…?” then recovers enough to huff out a laugh.

“My mistake. Next time, I’ll properly invite you.”

Zhao Yunlan snaps his fingers in delight, visibly vibrating with joy. In his head this is Yunlan - 1: Xiao Wei - 0. 

As Shen Wei starts to apply the mysterious ointment, Zhao Yunlan flinches, and Shen Wei is genuinely taken aback by an idea that he might hurt this man. He is so preciously startled for a second, shedding ten thousand years in an instant. I am never going to not be impressed by Zhu Yilong’s ability to switch into Baby Shen Wei mode in a matter of seconds. 

“I didn’t expect you to have such skilful hands.”

Zhao Yunlan’s charm attack truly is unrelenting, and Shen Wei looks up with such a fragile hope in his eyes. He has lived a long time now, and he has learned to maintain thick walls around himself, but he is still incredibly affected by Kunlun’s shameless flirting. 

Continuing his charm offensive, Zhao Yunlan gets so distracted by trying to further impress Shen Wei, he unwittingly reveals that he knows the layout of this flat. And realises what he said. And hopes that the other man had not noticed, adorably brushing his nose in embarrassment. 

He dug this one out for himself, and Shen Wei is far from mortified: he is pleased to have caught the other man out. Zhao Yunlan flails, and Shen Wei quite literally is failing to wipe a smug smile off his own face. 

He’s not even really waiting for an explanation. He’s just happy to win this round. There is even a little “yeah sure let’s pretend I believe you” tilt of the eyebrow, when Yunlan finally comes up with something that sounds as a reasonable excuse. 

After his massive blunder, Zhao Yunlan tries to leave again. Shen Wei stops him, again, and there is no limit to how slyly Zhao Yunlan turns around, followed by a hind of disappointment when all he gets is an ointment, and not, you know, an opportunity to have a good look around Shen Wei’s bedroom. 

Shen Wei is left alone in his flat in a state of utter emotional overload, stroking the Pendant under his shirt. 

Let’s disregard for a second the fluctuating length of the chord the Pendant hangs on (is it between his collar bones or in front of his breastbone? Pick one!), and just appreciate the pining. Shen Wei is going through a lot of feelings since his Kunlun’s returned into his life, and sometimes computing is not an option. 

In the next scene, the muggers are discussing Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan, calling them both too formidable to even attempt an act of revenge against them. Definitely a wise idea. Unfortunately for them, they immediately get attacked by… something.

Spoiler alert: no, it’s not a bear.

It’s the White Shirt Day at the SID. Chu Shuzhi is the only one not participating. In this scene, we discover that Lin Jing likes a horror web novelist called Lai Su - which will be very convenient for the case at hand. During their conversation, Wang Zheng alerts he team to the new case, asking for the whereabouts of their boss. Zhu Hong’s reply is that who knows which old pal the man is hang out with. As we never see him having any friends outside of his job, I choose to believe that he is probably hanging out with Shen Wei; quite possibly exploring the layout of his bedroom. Especially considering how good his mood is as he strolls into the office announcing that he is going to buy a feast for everyone.

Unfortunately, the feast has to wait. Zhao Yunlan, Chu Shuzhi and Xiao Guo head towards the crime scene, which is the very same alley the mugging took place the night before. 

“Based on my experience, he died from freezing.” 

There has never been a more apt reason to use the phrase “no shit Sherlock”. 

Apparently, there is a cctv camera trained right on this very particular dark alley. Which implies that the muggers were even less professional than they appeared to be at the beginning of the episode. Mysteriously, the footage fails to show the actual monster who attacked the poor unfortunate street criminals. It did, on the other hand, capture Zhao Yunlan’s dashing rescue of Professor Shen.

Zhao Yunlan can’t exactly stop his team from rewinding the footage, so he is just left squirming as those around him gape at him spending time with Shen Wei in the middle of the night. 

“You... and Shen Wei? This late at night?”

Chu Shuzhi’s transition from disbelief to a knowing “ah” via a mischievous smirk is particularly amusing. 

The following afternoon, Zhu Hong appears in Shen Wei’s office, laptop in hand. She is quietly furious at being given this task; as I imagine it is very awkward indeed to be a laptop carrier for your crush’s crush. The entire scene she will be alternating between glaring, rolling her eyes, pursing her lips, and glaring with even more venom. 

After Shen Wei gets over his initial bafflement at technology, he realises that Zhao Yunlan is video calling him in order to ask for his expertise on the current case. For the most of this scene the call looks like some sort of fake generic video conference software, apart from some shots on the SID side which very obviously show a pre-recorded footage being played: with a pause button, and a time stamp, and everything.

Shen Wei is in full trolling mode when he educates the SID team on all the types of bears that could have attacked the victim. He tasted this feeling of outsmarting Yunlan the night before and it’s too sweet to let go. Judging by the fact that Da Qing, who is by Zhao Yunlan’s side, is falling asleep during this conversation, we can guess that it’s been going on for a while. 

Zhao Yunlan knows that Shen Wei is trying to prove a point here - he will not be bullied into being a consultant. So, Zhao Yunlan changes tactics, and asks Shen Wei for clues as a friend. Shen Wei assures Zhao Yunlan in turn that he would never hide anything important from. The magnitude of this particular lie is immeasurable, unless Shen Wei considers turning himself into a literal suicide bomb inconsequential. Which, to be fair, he might do. 

Finally, Da Qing wakes up and suggests that the suspect is a Youchu (translated in subs a “secluded beast”). He is not correct, but it is important that we know what those are, because we’ll see them in a couple of episodes - so it actually makes sense to write them in here. 

Shen Wei instantly comes forward, fishes a relevant file out of his drawer, and educates the team on that particular monster. Zhao Yunlan relates that he is familiar with those, and that he knows Hei Pao Shi fought them before in nearby cities. 

Existence of aforementioned nearby cities will remain a beautiful enigma, which will never be explained. Seastar will remain very much a Little Prince-sized planet. 

At this point Zhao Yunlan gets a call about the other mugger being found, and Shen Wei tells him in a rush that he does not think those two men possess Undergrounder qualities. 

When asked however what those qualities are, he does not elaborate, and, after a thick silence, Zhao Yunlan sighs in resignation and finally lets Shen Wei off the hook, assuring him that he knows not all Undergrounders are monsters. He knows - of course he knows - that Shen Wei is hiding stuff. He knows the other man is somehow invested in the Undergounders, and is probably is one himself.  Once again he chooses to trust him absolutely. I know it feels like I say those words every single episode, but this is also the choice Zhao Yunlan makes, deliberately, every single episode. This conversation will leave Zhao Yunlan very cranky for the remainder for the case, but his willingness to keep giving Shen Wei concessions is actually really sweet. 

Shen Wei asks, perhaps, impulsively, that Yunlan shares his findings with him, because he is curious who the culprit is. It makes, as ever, little sense for him to do so considering that he would find it out anyway as Hei Pao Shi.

After completing her mission, Zhu Hong leaves in a huff. She did not say hello and she does not say goodbye either. Shen Wei tries to wave amicably, but aborts the gesture.

He does not yet know - and will not find out for quite some time - why Zhu Hong feels so antagonistic towards him. 

Next stop: the hospital ward with a now insane criminal. Portrayal of mental health issues on this show is... interesting, by which I mean terribly stigmatising. I would have understood if this was a magic-induced psychosis, but I don’t think that’s the case at all. 

Lin Jing realises that the case sounds very much like the web horror novel he likes. It sounds insane, but Yunlan hears him out. The scientist goes into great detail over the author, revealing that he was a leader of his fan club at some point, and detailing several murders from his recent novel that appeared to have have happened in reality.

The team moves on to scout the author’s - Lai Su’s - house, with Zhao Yunlan being the one to approach it. He then proceeds to summon his team via a non-existent radio. 

Look. There is no mouth piece on this jacket. There is no earpiece in his ear. There are no wires. None of the team have radios. None of them even look like they are listening to radios. (Trust me, the “please shut up for a second, someone is speaking into my ear” is a recognisable look). Guardian’s writers/directors. Mah dudes. If you can’t afford radios, just make him do a non-verbal signal, seriously. Same effect, with much less silliness, and no continuity issues. 

Before the team enters the house, we see Ya Qing in crow form for the first time. Even without the benefit of hindsight, it’s easy to recognise that the crow will become narratively significant because she is animated, and this show would not waste its very scarce and rapidly depleting CGI budget in vein. 

We also know that the crow is a Yashou because Lin Jing starts talking about Zhu Hong at that exactly moment. Guardian is many wonderful things - it’s dramatic, breathtaking, heart-wrenching, and poignant - but subtle it is not.

Inside the house, they discover a secret room, which Lai Su is hiding in, and we finally get to meet our unfortunate culprit. 

It is very peculiar how mean-spirited this episode seems to be. The web novelist in question is shown in an unequivocally negative light. He is a coward hiding behind a blanket, a weirdo living in a secret room, a glutton stuffing his face with snacks and drinking wine. He is shown as too vain to stop chasing clout even when he suspects that his novel is leading to people dying. He writes for attention and money rather than out of genuine artistic expression. He is a whimpering mess, begging Lin Jing on his knees to speak to the Chief on his behalf. Even if we consider that moral of the story (as stated later in Guo Changcheng’s diary note) is “internet bad”, this insistence of making Lai Su so unmistakably despicable is baffling. The series is based on the web novel. What kind of message is this sending about its origins?  

On the bright side, I suppose it is nice that part of this episode not revolving around Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei’s relationship is actually rather Lin Jing-centric. So far, he was mostly there for occasional tech support and countless shots of him of screaming at a computer, but here we get to know more about him, and he goes on a little emotional journey of his own - meeting his idol and being distraught by the author not living up to expectations. It is always so disappointing to see creators you admire being imperfect, or downright unpleasant, and it’s easy to sympathise with Lin Jing’s discontent. 

Zhao Yunlan’s modus operandi has always been intuition. Looking at the author, he knows that he must be responsible for the murders, and also knows that he could not possibly have been. For once it is actually Xiao Guo who suggests the solution: multiple personality disorder. Or, magical multiple personality disorder, as it is the case. We see this click with the Chief, and he genuinely praises the young man. 

Back at the house, Lai Su is deciding to stop the murder spree by writing the demise of the homicidal protagonist of his novel. This is his ultimate redemption, which also leads to his untimely death by the hands of the monster who lives within him and is manifested through his writing. 

The team asks Zhao Yunlan what was going on with this strange case. They won’t get an explanation; but Shen Wei will. 

Zhao Yunlan, as promised, drops by Shen Wei’s office late at night to tell him all about the case. He concludes that Lai Su must have had Undergrounder blood in him, with his power not manifesting until now. Zhao Yunlan sounds rather remorseful as he stipulates that the writer could have lived a long happy life despite his origin and abilities, had he not started unknowingly abusing his powers. This Zhao Yunlan is miles removed from the man who vowed to catch every Undergrounder, and we can see Shen Wei infinitely moved by this man’s empathy. 

This, I think, is the very moment Shen Wei starts to fall in love - not with the man who was Kunlun, or the man who will be Kunlun, or the man who resembles Kunlun - with Zhao Yunlan, Lord Guardian, Chief of Special Investigations Department, with all his incessant flirting, and sharp edges, and pointed questions, and endless understanding. 

In the final moments of this episode Zhao Yunlan shares a dark premonition that something truly terrible will happen in their city. 

He has no idea how right he is. 

Next up: Episode 8: The Morning Porridge 

——

This conversation happened with my partner as I was working on this recap:

Me: … I am two scenes in and this is how much I’ve typed up already. 

My partner: Honey! I know you’re Russian, but War and Peace has already been written. 

[closer-stars]

Gut Feeling (6)

Member: San Genre: bit of angst, kinda better tho?? Word Count: 6.6k Content: A bit better than the last chapter. Food mention as per usual. Maturity.  Note: HELLO AFTER A MONTH. I AM BACK. This one is a lot shorter than the other chapters, idk it just felt right. Second half of this series of sorts amen. It’s not a lot but... i guess you can consider it as those type of stuffs that needed to happen ??? Yes. I tried my best amidst everything that happened recently ;; As usual I’ll update this with links after 24 hours. Tag list: @barsformars @shinyddeonghwa @yeotlny @hwaberrykiwi @miniyeo @seoultraveller @frankenstein852

Part 5

It’s back to work but you’re a little dazed. The two rest days did you good to a certain degree but having to go back into the swing of things was a bit of a challenge for you. Even if the managers would give you updates, it’s different when seeing it in real time. So here you are, back in the office, catching up on everything. 

You head out to the kitchen to get your bottle refilled with water only to be greeted by San himself. Out of surprise, your heart does a little flip. You don’t know why you’re surprised though, usually at this time he and the boys should still be in the studio. Also, you’re the one who’s bringing them home tonight. 

San looks up from his phone, just as surprised as you are to see you. “Hey, how are you feeling now?” He asks, his voice soft and careful. 

He’s not ignoring you?

You make your way to the water dispenser, refilling your bottle. “A lot better, thank you.” You say, which comes off more as a murmur. Though it was true, you weren’t really sure of how to approach him since that talk with Seonghwa and Hongjoong. It’s constantly fight or flight and knowing you, it’s usually a little bit of both. 

“Can we talk?” He starts carefully. At his voice, you look up from your bottle. Your eyes study the male carefully. You can’t keep running anymore you suppose. 

“Five minutes. Go.”

He didn’t expect you to cooperate like that but he’ll take it even with the time limit. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for thinking that you and Seonghwa liked each other--”

You and Seonghwa, again. You had questions but you let him continue. 

He sees how your eyes narrow at him and he feels fear course through his body.  “for making things more difficult for everyone, especially you. You don’t deserve that, I still have feelings for you yeah but I understand if you don’t…” he trails off, trying to catch his breath after saying everything. “I just-- you deserve an apology after everything I caused.” 

Something inside you snaps though. You’ve harbored enough frustration from how everything was going and to hear him come clean about his assumptions just made you see white. “That’s the thing with you idols, you suddenly get so used to getting everything so quickly, you think everything is reachable with a snap of your fingers. San, wake up, please. That’s not how life works, that’s not how relationships work. Not everything’s going to be fast and easy...” You refrain yourself from cursing him out, instead, you let out a sigh. “San, relationships, romantic or not, those take time.”  Internally, you had to admit those words were harsh but you had to say it. You were tired. Tired from the growing workload of finding the common ground with clients, you barely had time to process everything since the near dating scandal. You ended up actually putting your account on private a few days after the chaos on social media. 

It’s past five minutes already and you let him go to his scheduled practice with the boys. “Go. The boys are waiting for you.” You state, catching sight of a concerned Yunho standing by the door. 

He’s never seen your eyes so cold yet so hot at the same time. It doesn’t take much to know that there’s pain in those eyes and it hurts to know that he’s the reason behind the pain. Knowing better than to push, he nods and bids you goodbye. You watch him jog over to Yunho who seems to be eyeing San then you with concern. It would be stupid of you to underestimate his smarts, so you shake your head, before turning away from them. You don’t want them to see you cry. You try your best to keep yourself together, you’ve cried enough over this matter, it’s pathetic. 

When San enters the studio, Yunho gives the two oldest members a look, enough for everyone to know that he had talked to you, regardless of how it could end. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Seonghwa asks carefully, bringing him aside away from everyone’s ears first. While it’s a blessing that the group feels emotions so strongly, especially for the sake of performing, there were times where intense emotions become scary to deal with. When the younger shakes his head, they know better than to press him when things are still so fresh. 

Hongjoong glances at the two of them and nods. “Let’s try to clean half of the choreography tonight.” That would probably be enough to have San’s focus on something else. 

--------

You’re back in your office, thinking about what had happened. You know you would need to sit San down and get a clearer picture of everything eventually. Your phone buzzes, reminding you that the boys have to eat soon. 

[ You to Hongjoong ] Do you guys have money for dinner? 

You hover over the send button, deciding as to whether or not to send the message or just buy them food. It’s already 8PM and for sure those boys were hungry. You don’t really know what their routine is when it comes to choreography work especially with how stacked their schedule is, it could be anything. “Fuck it.” You delete the message and make your way to the nearest restaurant. You make sure to wear a mask before leaving the premises, already paranoid from past events. 

If there’s one thing you’re grateful about, it’s how the boys are already regulars for the nearby restaurants. All you have to do is say their names and show your proof of relation with the boys and the company to get things moving. You stay outside the premises, not wanting to take up a table that could be for someone who plans to dine in. 

[ You to Hongjoong ] Bought you guys food, will be there in half an hour max. Buy yourselves a drink or whatever in the 7/11 just give me the receipt afterwards. 

[ Hongjoong to You ] ryan_salute_sticker

You chuckle at the reply and wait patiently outside, watching people come and go as the week comes to an end once more. The staff comes out with bags of food ready for you. “We put a little something for you as well, it’s on us.” She says, gesturing to the food container that has your name on it. The look on your face makes her chuckle lightly. “Don’t worry about it. Tell the boys that we’re looking forward to them visiting us again after their promotions.” With that, you flash her a bright smile, promising to relay their thoughts to them. 

By the time you return, you could hear the boys messing around in the studio. Not that you minded, they do deserve to have some fun every one in a while. As you set the food down on the table, two figures suddenly make their way to the kitchen. An excited scream that could only come from Wooyoung startles you. “Meat!! Oh my god is that what I think it is?” He exclaims zooming towards you with his energy drink in hand. Hongjoong follows him a few seconds after, still drinking what seems to be orange juice. 

You let Wooyoung do his thing, already so excited over food. “Can you get the others?” You ask Hongjoong, as you make sure that Wooyoung doesn’t create a mess. It’s not that you think Wooyoung’s incapable of being responsible, it’s that you know that when he gets excited, hell can break loose. 

You eat at the second table, at least you had the company of the other members that you don’t get to talk to often. It was a nice change of pace, though still as hyper as their peers they know how to slow down. Though the conversation was on something you didn’t quite understand (see: dramas), you didn’t mind hearing the boys talk about it with such excitement. Mingi and Jongho were kind enough to give you context especially when you looked a little lost. 

“Manager-nim! We’re done for the day.” Hongjoong says once you peek out from Jongho’s side. 

“Oh? Okay that’s good, just take your time eating. I’m bringing you guys home anyways.” Those words make the boys bustle with energy. From the looks of things, it’s been a while since it was you who brought them home. 

It’s the same thing on the way home. The boys calming down in the car as the food coma hits them: San’s knocked out in his seat, slouched against Wooyoung’s side who’s busy on his phone. Hongjoong was the same, except he was leaning against Seonghwa who was also asleep. Mingi and Yunho were busy on their phones as well, looking for new music to listen to. Jongho is seated next to you, still awake. “Jongho?” He responds with a polite hum, still drinking his water. “Just what was your schedule today? Everyone’s so tired.” You were used to them sleeping on the way home but something about today just feels so different. 

Jongho laughs softly, his shoulders rising a little in the process. “Ah, it’s mostly preparations for upcoming stages. We have concert appearances in the next few weeks so we just really drilled the cleaning earlier. I think Hongjoong-hyung had a radio appearance yesterday too so he could only catch up on sleep here and there.” He explains. “The others also did vocal training and dance training in their spare time.”

You glance at the boys through the rearview mirror. No wonder they were more exhausted than usual. “How about you? How are you faring with all of these?” It’s a question that must be asked especially to someone who tries their best to be just as dependable as their hyungs. 

“Me?” He repeats the question before pursing his lips for a moment. “I’ll admit that it gets tiring.” He looks over his shoulder. It’s no surprise the rest of the boys have fallen asleep. “But I’m happy doing what I’m doing. As for the recent thing happening between you and San…” This boy really doesn’t beat around the bush. “He’s matured,” he reassures you. “He’s learned from his mistakes.” Truthfully, you weren’t sure of how to respond to such a statement but you let him continue. “Let him make up for his shortcomings. You can depend on us too.” You weren’t sure if he’s the third or fourth person to tell you that, regardless you find comfort in his words. 

He sees your body relax slightly as you drive. He doesn’t want you to think he’s trying to get you to date his hyung, rather to see him as someone who feels sorry for what he’s done and genuinely wants to make up for it. “Thank you for your words, Jongho.” You admit softly, easing the car into its parking spot. “Help me wake up the boys?” You ask once you’ve switched off the engine. 

“Cover your ears.” 

“Jongho, it’s past midnight. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

--------

You had a mix of now wide awake boys and still groggy boys in the elevator with you. Of course, Jongho looked a little too proud of his doing. Hongjoong didn’t have the heart to get mad, he was clearly improving in his singing and control. You let a still sleepy Wooyoung lean against you as the elevator goes up. Holding up a sleepy twenty something year old was a little tricky but at least he wasn’t drunk. You had made sure their floor was the first destination, they’re tired. They need the rest more than you do. 

Once the elevator notifies everyone of the floor. You gently shake Wooyoung awake. “Hey, we’re here.” You say softly. It’s thanks to Yeosang and Jongho who manage to wake him up, a few insistent pokes apparently do the trick. “Sleep well guys.” You wave them goodbye. Those who were awake bid you a good night. Your eyes flit over to San, his shoulders seem a bit lighter now. 

You wonder what made him look a lot lighter now. Maybe Jongho was right. 

--------

You’re in your sleepwear now, nursing a hot cup of tea as you think about the events that went down today. Your phone in your free hand as you read through your conversation with San. It’s hard to admit but you did have your own shortcomings. A thoughtful sip and a deep breath. You owe him something too. 

San’s in his room, already in bed, as he was just waiting for Yunho to return from the shower. 

Ka-talk!

His phone vibrates with a new message. It’s from you but it’s an audio clip. He reaches over for his earphones. It takes a while for him to play the clip, a little fearful of what it carries. “Hey San.” Your voice sends a shock over his body. He didn’t expect you to actually send him something. “Listen, i’m doing this because i can’t look at you outside work, as far as i know, for now at least. I can see why people like you San, i really do…” Your voice trails off and San has to glance at his screen to make sure if it wasn’t cut off. “I will admit, if things happened differently, I probably would have caught feelings for you too.” A small part of him twists at those words but it was something that didn’t surprise him. “For now, still, I need time and distance unless it’s needed for work for us to talk. Everything you told me…” Another pause. “I need time to process that San.” He understands that and he stares at the screen count down what’s left of the audio clip. “I do forgive you but I need time to heal.” He smiles softly at the last few words. He didn’t want your romantic feelings at this point, being forgiven was the best thing for the time being. 

“What’s up?” Yunho asks. Out of surprise from the sudden voice, San accidentally drops his phone on his face. Yunho pokes his head from his bed to see San clutching his nose in pain. “Are you okay?” The older asks in alarm.

“When did you finish your shower?! I didn’t hear you.” San complains once the pain ebbs away. He lifts himself up, eyeing the other through narrowed eyes. 

Yunho shrugs, running his fingers through his still slightly damp hair. “Two minutes ago? You were busy on your phone so you probably didn’t hear me.” He explains. That made sense, his volume was around 70% so he wouldn’t be able to hear Yunho enter the room unless he started playing League. 

“Sorry about that..” San says rubbing the back of his neck. He recounts the voice note with just the important details: you forgave him but you need time to heal. Something in Yunho relaxes at the news. Your reaction makes sense, but also seeing San look like something has been lifted off of him were good things. Even if it seems like something’s still bothering him, he still looks better as compared to the past few months. 

Yunho shakes his head, dismissing the younger’s apology. “I’m just glad things are kinda patching up with you and them.” He yawns through his thoughts. “Let’s talk about this when we wake up. I’m too tired.” 

San looks at his phone again. It’s 2AM. They need sleep, at least their day starts at a later time. 

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While San and Yunho discussed your voice note, you were in your room, biting your lip in thought after that voice note you sent. You like what you were doing but you didn’t think the price to pay for a hectic job would be like this. Did other managers go through this type of issue as well? Fingers fly through the keyboard as you look for a certain draft in your emails. You read through it again a few more times, asking yourself over and over if this is a good idea. 

The answer comes when you change a few things here and there in the letter. If it still lingers in your head after this week, then you’ll push through with the change. Making decisions at near two in the morning wasn’t always the best idea. For now, you need to rest to prepare for the next day. 

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You wait for the boys outside their dorm, knowing that by now, they’re nearly done getting ready for another day in the studio. If you remember right, their choreographers have managed to create a choreography for one of their songs that they have yet to perform. The boys come out of their dorm in their training clothes and you give them a quick scan, to make sure it’s all eight of them. 

“Manager-nim!! Did you sleep well?” Leave it to Wooyoung to still continue to cling to you. It’s nice to know some of the members are morning people still despite the hectic schedules they have. 

You think back to last night and your decisions but you don’t let them in on it. “Yeah, sleeping after a long day in work seems to feel a little different.” You say brightly. This causes Wooyoung to sulk at your words. 

“Are we a handful, Manager-nim?” He asks in a tone that makes certain members glare at him, also he’s now clinging to you. None of the members have the heart to make him stop, but they do pose themselves to hit him. 

With your free hand, you pat his head. “No, you’re not~” You return in a light enough tone that just fans the flames of Wooyoung’s antics. In response, you snort much to his disappointment. “Come on. After tomorrow, you got a concert to perform in so it’s all rehearsals and meetings for your upcoming photoshoots.” 

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While you’re in your workspace, fixing the schedule with their personal schedules in mind, Yoon comes to you with a grin. “Hey, good news.” He greets you with an iced bottle of coffee from the 7/11 downstairs. 

You glance at the coffee then at the male who’s still beaming. “What’s up? Did you get a raise?” You ask as you twist the cap open. Iced macchiato. 

“Manager Hwang’s coming back earlier than expected!” He says, grinning ear to ear. 

Your gaze turns to him, surprised but also partly relieved to have the guy back soon. “Really? I thought he’d be back much later.” You say, clearly taken aback. “Also hey!” You quickly add. “If you wanted me out, just say so.”

Your joke makes the guy panic, realizing his words could be misunderstood. “No way! You’re amazing to work with. Hwang has to experience working with you.” He explains quickly. “I’m excited because this also means, you’ll see how great he is in FIFA.” 

FIFA? The football video game?

You were about to laugh at his panicked expression until he mentions a video game. “Wait, I was joking about you wanting me out also, FIFA? What about it?” You didn’t really play video games growing up. You watched your cousins play but never really had an interest in playing. 

“You haven’t seen how competitive the boys get with video games huh?” 

“I’ve heard stories but never seen it happen in real time.” 

He grins. Truly, like idol, like manager. “You will soon.” 

You press send on the email after making sure it’ll be directed to all the parties involved in the decision. You suppose Hwang’s return is a sign that you’ve been looking for. The request would only be effective by his return as you did keep your side of the agreement. 

The only thing you can do now as you wait for their response is to work. Your phone rings with a reminder, time to bring them to meet the stylists for an upcoming photoshoot. Though, you do remember that the stylists themselves are the ones who are visiting rather than the boys. 

[ You to Hongjoong ] Make sure to look presentable, the stylists are coming within an hour. 

You look around the office and the kitchen for the refreshments for the stylists. Once successful, you put them by the counter in the kitchen. The fitting and meeting were mostly going to happen in the studio; enough room to move for eight boys and probably three stylists. You didn’t really get a number of how many were coming today. 

Fortunately for them, their schedule had enough breathing room for them to make themselves look well kept after a long time in the studio. Once everything was prepared for later, you decide to check in on them. The music playing wasn’t their songs now, rather songs from the artists they look up to. You peek through the sliver of clear glass from the door to see what they were doing. 

San and Yunho were messing around in the room, eliciting laughs from the rest of the members. The two were running around and were actually on beat with the music. The scene in front of you makes you laugh to yourself: they were doing okay. As you straightened yourself again, to return to your office, the door opens enough for the muffled bass to be amplified. You look over and it’s Mingi. “Manager-nim! Did you need something?” He asks, even with the hint of exhaustion in his eyes, he still had so much energy in him to flash such a bright smile at you. 

His question surprises you but you suppose he saw you peeking earlier. “No, no. I just wanted to check on you guys since the stylists will be here in roughly an hour.” You explain, gesturing that you were on your way back to your office. 

Someone calls out your name in between laughter. It’s Wooyoung. “Manager-nim!” He calls out, running over towards the both of you. “We need a tie breaker.” Huh? He doesn’t explain much but tries to get you to join. You glance at Mingi and it takes him awhile to understand why, to which he starts to crack up. 

“What’s going on?” Your voice carries apprehension. Now, you know these boys can barely hurt a fly, but these boys are capable of doing the weirdest things for the sake of entertainment. These are eight boys who will have a competition on who can stuff the most ramen noodles into their mouth in one go. The other two managers have become unfazed to their antics while you have yet to see just how far they can go. You’re not quite sure if you could handle them at their highest peak of beagle-like energy. 

“Manager-nim,” Wooyoung starts, now holding up a pen as if it were a microphone. “Are you a mint-choco fan or a mint-choco anti?” He asks, now posing the pen near your lips. 

You stare at him in disbelief, then at the seven boys who seem to await your answer. “W-wait.” You push the pen a little farther from you and gesture to the others. “What are their answers?” It was obvious for you that San and Mingi were into mint chocolate, while Seonghwa and Hongjoong being the two who weren’t into it. 

Wooyoung answers it for you with ease, though with a hint of impatience. “San, Mingi, Jongho and I are into it. Seonghwa-hyung, Hongjoong-hyung and Yeosang aren’t. Yunho’s neutral on it.” To you the answer was already obvious that a majority leaned towards liking the flavor. 

“Guys, I’m just…” You trail off trying to find the right words. The silence makes Hongjoong jump into it. 

“Manager-nim doesn’t like it either! Bleh~” He exclaims, looking all proud. Rare was the sight of Hongjoong being mischievous in front of you. 

“N-no, it’s just, I don’t really mind it. If it’s there, I’ll eat it. If it’s not there, it’s not the end of the world.” You explain, much to his dismay. 

“How can you eat something that tastes like toothpaste..” Seonghwa mutters much to San’s dismay. His comment makes you look at him in mild alarm. 

“Seonghwa, toothpaste doesn’t have chocolate bits in them..” Just what went on in their dorms? Your words make him whine and you start to laugh at how they were so passionate about something as simple as ice cream flavors. You wondered what their stances are on pistachio and matcha ice cream then. Your phone vibrates, a call coming through. While the boys were busy trying to win the debate, to which Yunho slightly struggles to control, you answer the call outside the studio. 

“Hello?”

“Hello! We’re the stylists for their upcoming photoshoot. We’ll be in the company in ten minutes!” The voice on the other line chirps politely. 

The voice makes you stand a little straighter, almost on instinct, you use your formal voice. “Alright, I’ll wait for you by the entrance of the building.” With that the call ends, you return to the studio and it’s calmer now, though you could see that Wooyoung and San were sulking over what could’ve been the other half of the debate. “Guys, get ready. The stylists are on their way.” With that said, the boys fix themselves again. 

Hongjoong looks over at you. “Manager-nim, should I go with you?” 

Now, in your eyes it’s not a bad thing if the leader decides to greet the stylists with you by the entrance. It’s not a bad thing either if he doesn’t. “Your choice, Hongjoong. If you are, meet me by the elevator. I’m just grabbing my laptop.” Without missing a beat, you slip out of the studio immediately. You can only imagine how much notes you need to update for the other teams after this meeting. 

Once you head towards the elevator, you’re already greeted by the leader busying himself with his phone as he waits for the elevator to arrive at your floor. “Seonghwa and Yunho are watching over the boys?” 

“Yep, they’ll take care of them as we wait.” His response makes you nod, relieved to know someone’s keeping them in line before their energy bounces back up once more. It’s not that you think they can’t take care of themselves, but more of, when one’s up, everyone’s up. 

The elevator doors close in on the two of you as it brings you to the ground floor. You want to tell Hongjoong what had happened in the past few hours but now isn’t the right time. Just as you were about to open your mouth about a quick summary, the doors open. Though knowing Hongjoong, he already knows something about it even without you telling him. 

It only takes five minutes of waiting for the two of you to be greeted by three stylists. Though they dress simply, they knew what piece fits them best. A small pang of jealousy blooms in your chest when you see how well kept they were; you knew your own body and fashion and how to look put together as well but those who were in the fashion industry just seemed to do it better. Small talk happens among the five of you as the of you lead them to where the rest of the boys were. Maybe it was a good thing that Hongjoong came with you due to the some of the clothes they brought in a few bags.

There was something about the third stylist, that put you off. It wasn’t her overly warm and optimistic energy, which honestly at this point doesn’t faze you anymore as other idols who have greeted the boys had the same energy she had. You weren’t so sure yet of what it is, but you’re not sure either if you want to find out what’s putting you off about them. She continues to make conversation with Hongjoong as you’re left juggling a conversation with the other two. You don’t notice Hongjoong’s uneasiness around her until the two of you welcome them inside. 

 The two of you do notice how her eyes light up at the sight of everyone else who were lounging about. You just assume that she was a big fan of them and was struggling to keep it together and carry on. The boys do their signature greeting then move about to get their measurements and a run down of what will happen in two weeks time. 

You along with another stylist keep track of the clothes that the boys and they liked, those that were debatable and those that just didn’t look that great on them. The other two took their measurements, and offered the clothing pieces that they would try on. The first stylist from earlier seems to be taking her sweet time with San. If you actually focused on listening to their exchange, you could tell she was having the time of her life. It took a lot of your self control to not outwardly sigh in front of the stylist who was labelling which clothes the boys liked as their basis. 

It takes a while before the said stylist moves to another member, and at that opening, San immediately moves away. You glance at San over your laptop, and he’s sending you a look that says, ‘I’m not talking to them unless I have to, please help.’. While San is a grown man, you do know how it feels to be cornered at work due to unwanted advances. You flash him a smile and beckon him over. “I hope you don’t mind if San helps us out on this too?” You ask the stylist as he practically hops over to the two of you. Much to San’s relief, he welcomes the added input. 

San’s eventually joined by Mingi who knows more of fashion than you and San combined. You could see the gears in their heads running as the idea in the stylist’s head was starting to become more and more clear. Once all of the work has finished, the boys take one last look at the outfits the head stylist has set out, you know that they wouldn’t change anything anymore but you kept your fingers poised on your keyboard should there be any changes made. Seeing that everyone was satisfied, they ask you to take their photo to celebrate a job well done. 

You receive the head stylist’s phone and you let them gather around for the photo. It’s not hard to spot the first stylist from earlier try to worm her way near San, only to be blocked by Wooyoung and Seonghwa already around him. It takes a bit of your self control to not snort at her feeble attempts be quashed so easily by clingy boys. Three shots and everyone’s now back to cleaning up the room. 

The eight of them help pack and fold everything into their rightful place that the head stylist had to send her praises about them to you, even going as far as offering their services for the future promotions. She slips her contact card to you, which you keep in your phone’s case for the time being. This time, it’s only you who accompanies them out, much to Hongjoong’s surprise. You signal that you’ll be okay and for him to keep an eye on San. 

---------

“I swear hyung, she was trying to hit on me…” San mutters in his spot as he shudders at the mere thought of it; the praises were alright but the slightly lingering touches and gaze made him want to leave immediately. Some of the boys find a little amusement in his complaints, they understand the issue on hand but to see San whining excessively was a sight to see. Of course they couldn’t do much about the situation while it was happening but they could prevent it in the future. 

The door clicks open and they see you poking your head in. “How was it?” You ask them. It has become a routine for all of you to check in on them after meeting with any outsider of the company. They’re still young and while they have good heads on their shoulders, the industry is a scary place to be in. 

“Manager-nim, is it alright if we don’t work with one of the stylists on the day of the photoshoot?” Hongjoong starts carefully. Always a leader that guy is. 

You glance at him then at San who was still sulking against Yunho’s shoulder. “The lady with the high ponytail and rolled up denim jacket?” You ask, even acting out how her clothes looked like. At your description, San jumps into the conversation. 

“Please? Is it possible? Manager-nim, Ms. Mihyun was trying to know me a little too much and flirting with me.” San pleads. You feel bad for him. In other circumstances, being hit on would’ve been an ego boost but being hit on at work really doesn’t sit well with you. 

It’s the way you look at him that he realizes just how you’re able to keep things professional. You still look at him with protective warmth and concern for his safety, even after everything. It gets his head a little dizzy to put it lightly. “I think I can make it work. The head stylist did like your work ethics, even wants to work with you guys in the long run.” You bring out your phone, making quick work of writing a message up to the head stylist. “Hello! This is ATEEZ’s manager.” You read your message out loud for them. If there were any comments from the boys, you tweak the message around to their liking to make sure the point of the message is received. 

The boys were impressed with your message and didn’t mind it one bit. They could see why the company wanted you: you could fit in any of the teams. Once satisfied with their response, you press send. A small part of you waits on a reply from company heads in regards to your email but even that would take some time. With a group that’s a rising icon in the k-pop wave plus a few trainees that show just as much potential as the boys, the love calls from other companies are still coming in. 

For now, you’ll enjoy and make the most out of the time you have with the guys through your work. 

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Over the next few weeks, San has been more mindful of his actions around you. While he still cares for your health like the first few months, he’s come to understand you a little better now. He does his best to see you more as who you really are, rather than the idealized version he had of you months back. He’s realized you had a bit of a soft heart behind your independent exterior, how you always preferred a stronger type of coffee, compared to the group (much to Seonghwa’s horror). It took a bit of time to notice how protective you are of your own friends and them. 

You pick up on the changes as well. He joins in on the teasing every now and then, but always making sure never to cross the line. Sometimes at the corner of your eye, you catch San watching you joke around with his members, his gaze soft but he never makes a move. He doesn’t seem to sulk over the lack of attention either, letting you joke around with the other members as well. They’re small changes but it has improved his performance as himself and as a member of ATEEZ. 

There were changes and there were still constants. He still stays late into the studio practicing new moves, new styles, different combinations just to better himself. As usual, you bring him back to the dorms. He doesn’t make a fuss about you waking him up now, rather he hops out of the car as soon as you switch off the engine. You were a little grateful for that, more time for you to sink into your bed after the long day. As you step out of the car, rummaging through your bag, you find him waiting for you by the elevator. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” You say as you rush over to press the up button. 

“Nothing to be sorry about. It’s late after all.” San reassures lightly. He watches you rummage through your bag. “You got your phone?” He asks. He’s noticed as well how you sometimes have slip ups with your memory. You bring out your phone, putting it in your pocket. “Wallet?” He asks then he sees you bring it out. “Powerbank.” He lists off and that’s when it takes you a while to bring it out. 

“That’s what I forgot.. It’s in the office.” You mutter. There was no way you’d drive back to the company to pick it up. You’ll just bring your charger for tomorrow. 

A soft amused huff slips from his lips and he gestures for you to enter the lift first. “It’s okay, I can bring my powerbank tomorrow.” He offers as he follows you inside. 

“You don’t have to. I can use my laptop as a powerbank if all else fails.” You return. 

Always an independent one you are. He doesn’t push but he still keeps it in mind to bring it just in case. “You know,” he starts, as he presses the number for your floor first. He then leans against the wall opposite of yours. “After that thing with Ms. Mihyun, I kind of understand why you were probably against the idea of us dating.” Well he knew of your main reasons, but Mihyun really had him thinking. 

You lean against the wall, arms crossed. His words had piqued your interest. Whenever San’s in those moods, he does drop a few things that remind you he’s maturing. “Oh? And what is it?”

“The idea of flirting and being in a relationship with someone while at work is kind of.. Weird.” he wasn’t sure if weird was the right word but to be the subject of flirtations while everyone is trying to work didn’t feel right to him. He knows he can separate his personal life with work but emotions have made him act out of line. To risk all that he’s worked for: for the sake of a relationship, maybe not now. Hearing you chuckle makes him frown in confusion. “What?”

You were endeared by his moments of childlike tendencies. You know he has a way with words but there were also moments where his vocabulary reminds you of a high school kid. “Mihyun really tried to flirt with you huh?” You ask. The conversation is cut short when the elevator pings; you’ve arrived at your floor. You return your gaze back to the male. “Anyways, get some sleep okay?” 

A small part of him wanted to walk you back to your apartment, but he knows this complex was a safe one. You also apparently knew how to hold yourself up against Wooyoung’s pestering actions. He knows better to offer that so he smiles at you and nods his promise. “You too.” He addresses you by your name this time though still with the formal honorifics.  

“Drop the formalities when we’re outside of work, San.” You say. He doesn’t get the chance to say anything else but a good night, as the doors close in on the two of you. You’re back alone now in the lighted hallway, a heavy sigh slipping through your lips. Another long day coming to an end. 

Your phone pings with a few alerts that you’ve kept at bay throughout the day. One of the notifications is from the email you’ve been waiting for. Your request has been approved, effective in a few months.

Part 7