#should i? na-- ah what the hell here goes

[koicrimes]

.....i got curious and poured hot candle wax on my hand and can i just say? i don't get it.... 😐

[animeyanderelover]

Hi! First of all I want to thank everyone for the support you have given me so far🥰. I really, really appreciate it! Here is my next post. Hopefully you like it.

Tw: Yandere themes, unhealthy mindset, unhealthy relationship, possessiveness, obsessiveness, delusions, paranoia, manipulation, bipolar behavior, violence, guilt-tripping, manipulation, sabotage, blackmailing, threatening, bribing, mentions of kidnapping, mentions of killing

Yandere Trancy Manor Hc’s

Alois Trancy

👅This one’s really a handful to take in. He’s pretty bipolar and that effects his Yandere behavior as well. Depending on his mood he can have less worse traits or worse ones. Let’s start with the “better” traits which are delusional, clingy, lovestruck, obsessive and desperate. In his mind the both of you were made for each other so it’s only natural that he wants to know everything about you. Extremely clingy, wherever his s/o is he’ll be there as well and he wants, no, he NEEDS your attention and love even more than Claude’s! This boy cherishes you so much. Extremely touchstarved.

👅The worse traits from him are possessive, manipulative, cruel and some tendencies to the sadistic type. He lost his little brother and won’t lose his darling too, no matter what he has to do! Manipulative as fuck, he fooled everyone with his acts when his “father” died and will use his horrific past on the s/o as well. The thing is, I think he would be more than hesitant to hurt his darling. He doesn’t care about hurting other people, but with the s/o he’s more careful. But when he’s angered enough he might loose it and hurt the s/o and insult them without really realizing what he does until he snaps out of it and as soon as he realized what he’s done he’s heartbroken. Also a very cruel type, but mostly only with the people who are in his relationships’s way with the s/o.

👅Possessive and clingy is a frightening mix. Do everyone the favor and don’t look at anybody else except him. He already punishes his servants when they take your attention away from him, but if it’s another person they’re dead. If someone even takes his darling’s attention away from him for one second he’ll throw a tantrum right then and there. After this he’ll act like the brat he is, even towards you, but one simple hug or a gentle kiss on the cheek from you and he’ll melt and goes back to treating you like a queen/king.

👅Alois is ready to kill everyone who comes in his way. Most of the time he orders Claude to do it, but if someone made you cry, harmed you or confessed to you is when the boy shows his true cruelty. First of all he’ll order Claude to take that person to a secure place where only he has access to. Then he’ll tell them in detail what is going to happen to them with a crazed look in his eyes, which is already enough to make someone never go near the s/o again. After that the torture starts and I can guarantee that everyone begs him to just kill them after merely 30 minutes, but days or even weeks might pass before that guy kills the person. Even hell will seem harmless compared to this.

👅Alois will kidnap his darling really quickly given his paranoia. But he makes sure that everything is towards their liking, there’s nothing he doesn’t know about them. If they try to escape him he’ll chain them up to the bed, but will still spoil them.

👅Uff...This is hard to say. If we go by his worse traits and by how he treats the s/o sometimes and the people around his darling he’s one of the really dangerous ones. But if we go with the better traits and how he treats you most of the time he’s in a dark dark green zone. He spoils you to the rotten and if he accidentally hurts you this boy starts crying, going on his knees and begging you for forgiveness. For the next few days he’ll smoother you in even more affection, hugs and kisses than he already does. I think it’s up to you to judge if he’s a better or worse one.

Claude Faustus

🕷He’s a demon so naturally possessive over the s/o, never letting them leave his side for more than a few seconds. Also the aware type, just like Sebastian he might not know human feelings that well, but he is sure that they aren’t supposed to be so passionate. He’s a manipulative one, using lies to slowly trap his darling in his web without them noticing.

🕷Also a clingy one, I already mentioned it in Sebastian’s Hc, it’s rare for demons to find true love and he never knew what joy he could feel from simply being near his darling. Also an obsessive one he loves everything about you what makes him a touchy one as well.

🕷Possessive and clingy ones are always easily jealous, same goes for Claude. He just found his mate, do you seriously expect to just watch when they’re having fun with someone else?! Na-ah, not happening. His reaction would be similar to Sebastian he would most likely let some part of his demon form appear for a few seconds to scare the other person away.

🕷If someone even dares to touch his s/o’s skin he makes sure to make their death as agonizing as possible. He won’t let anyone take his darling away from him and is willing to crush everyone who tries it. But just like Sebastian he is careful with his killing because the last thing he wants to happen is that this little brat called Alois finds out about you.

🕷Claude will kidnap his darling very quickly given his possessiveness. He doesn’t even think about asking them to work as a maid because Alois is already really cruel to the demon servants so thinking about what harm he might cause a human servant...Yeah, no chance that he’ll let his s/o anywhere near that brat. He’ll search for a nice and cozy cottage somewhere isolated and makes sure that his darling can’t escape from there.

🕷Compared to his master he’s a better Yandere. He just wishes to spoil the s/o and he’ll bring you everyday a new gift. Books, sweets, dresses/suits, whatever you wish for. This guy helps you with everything and will insist on dressing you. He wants you to rely on him and if you act up he’ll be more strict with you, but overall such a gentleman.

Hannah Annafellows

🟣She’s a demon so she’s a possessive one. She’s also obsessed with her darling, loving their hair, scent, skin, laughter, everything about them is addicting to her. She’s a manipulative one and will ensure that everyone the s/o is close to will somehow end up leaving them. And who’s during such times your shoulder to cry on? Hannah! She makes sure that her s/o relies on her and only trusts her.

🟣Hannah is also the lovestruck and overprotective Yandere. She always makes sure that her darling is being watched by her or the triplets so nothing bad happens to them. No words can describe how much she adores and loves her darling. And just for you she’s a really soft one. But don’t get too comfy with her because if you anger her enough she’ll punish you.

🟣Hannah has different from the other demons here just a bit more patience with people, mostly because she knows that they’ll leave the s/o very soon for some “unknown” reasons and that her darling will then run crying to her, needing her hugs and comforts. With these thoughts in her mind, you in her arms and clinging onto her for dear life, she can hold out for some time.

🟣She won’t kill unless given a good reason to. If someone for example takes a liking towards her darling and ignores Hannah’s warning that person is dead. Same goes for people who made you cry and hurt you, even if it’s just a small scratch, that person will be dead within the same day.

🟣She won’t kidnap her s/o unless something bad happens. Most likely scenarios are if she confesses to them and they reject her, they find out about her behavior towards others around them, you distance yourself from her or you’re getting seriously harmed. But as soon as she does her s/o has no chance to escape her with not only her, but the triplets watching over her as well.

🟣I believe that Hannah can be a better Yandere, but only if you behave well. She has some kind of reward system which means the better you behave the more she’s willing to let you out and grand you your wishes. If you don’t behave or try to escape she’ll punish you, but I believe that her punishments are more mentally than physically. That doesn’t really make it better since she’s a demon. She’ll probably let you imagine your worst nightmares and then you’ll run like a frightened bunny to her and beg and cry for her help which she’ll gladly give you, making you see her as your hero and savior which is exactly what she wants. But overall a soft and caring woman.

Timber, Thompson & Canterbury

🤫Since they’re really discreet they prove a little challenge, but I really like them and want to give it a try. All demons are possessive, no exception with these guys. Since they’re so quiet I think they are stalkers as well. At least one of them is ALWAYS observing you from the distance.

🤫Obsessed with their darling in every sense possible. They’re the types to steal things from the s/o and since they are 3 of them they steal a looot of things from their darling. Books, toothbrushes, clothes, underwear... Also the lovestruck types, always imagining how wonderful it would be to have their darling near them. When they are near the s/o then they are incredibly touchy with them.

🤫They know who you meet during the day since they’re always watching! The one who watched you that day will report everything to his brothers and they’ll decide together if that person should be killed or not. Nearly 97% of the time they go with the first option since they can’t stand the thought of someone else being near their darling.

🤫As mentioned above, they hate the thought of someone else near the s/o. It’s already bad enough to have one demon wanting to kill you, but 3?! That’s the worst situation someone could ever ask for. They’re the quiet but deadly types, but I can imagine that the triplets will toy with the victim at first, making fun of them before cornering that person and killing them.

🤫The brothers make sure to kidnap you very soon because at one point just watching didn’t satisfy them anymore. They’ll most likely have a fight about who gets to kidnap you before deciding that they’ll all go together. Isn’t just the thought of having 3 lovesick demons hunting you down wonderful? You’re never going to see anything except the small house in which they keep you again. Escaping isn’t an option too because one of them is always with the darling. Now they only need to find out how to share the s/o.

🤫They’re in the middle, meaning they’re not the worst and not the best. They always argue about who gets to take you on a short walk outside, who gets to help you dress up, who gets to help you with a bath, honestly it’s more frustrating. Punishments are only given when you try to escape or resist their affection towards you and consist of locking you in a dark room with only one meal per day. Probably doesn’t sound that bad, but when you’re about to sleep they silently hide somewhere in the dark and use their demonic powers to give you terrible nightmares and at some point you’re going to be too scared to sleep. That’s when they let you out again and the next few weeks or even months, depending on how far they went, you won’t be able to sleep without at least one of them with you in the bed, cuddling you satisfied and happily in his arms. But most of the time they’re your loyal servants, you won’t have to lift a finger just let them do anything. ( The triplets turned out longer than wanted, but as mentioned above I really like them and just the fact that they’re 3 makes the whole situation even more interesting. From the whole Trancy household they’re definitely my favorites.)

[curestardust]

Dust Watched: Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Final Season

Genres: Dark Magical Girls // 4 episodes //  S01 (x) | S02 (x)

Hopes and dreams crushed, now I shall pretend this anime doesn’t exist.

✧  story  ✧

I honestly could just copy-paste my review from Season 2 cause everything I said there apply. Obviously, cause this isn’t an actual new season; it’s 4 episodes to the previous’s 8, and a direct continuation meaning that these are just one season cut into 2 releases. I hope the reason for that is the pandemic and they didn’t plan to release it like this all along.

These entire 4 episodes was me going “Who’s this?” “Where’re the other characters?” “What the HELL is happening?” and “Am I supposed to be feeling sad right now?”. Imagine cramming an entire season’s worth of content into 4 episodes and you have the final season of “Magia Record”. The entire main plot of Iroha’s quest of finding Ui had one of the most underwhelming conclusions I’ve ever seen. They also managed to put 2 boss fights and characters flip-flopping between goals at breakneck speeds in the final episode. I’m not going to lie, I just gave up 2 episodes in and stared blank faced at my screen until the screen went black. I think the fact that I could understand what was happening but the anime couldn’t make me care in the slightest is worse than me actually being lost when it came to the plot. There’s no time to breathe and take in the developments. I try to feel sad but by the time I would, the story has already moved on. And if the anime doesn’t seem to care enough about its plot to ponder on it, why the hell should I?

“Magia Record” did have some good ideas here and there, making Iroha’s constant careless optimism and naivité have negative consequences. But she brushes herself off and goes back to her old self in half an episode soooo...

✧  characters  ✧

I somewhat praised “Magia Record” during its first season for taking a more generic Magical Girl route with friendship building as its main focus but apparently everything PMMM related has to end in despair and tragedy so that sure aged like milk. Maybe if the characters this “despair and tragedy” happened to were, you know, characters I knew, I might’ve actually cared. But na-ah. Let’s see, we’ve Random Magius Girl who was introduced in S02, did nothing, then gets her backstory right after she dies. Remember those 2 girls who were Ui’s roommates in the hospital? And are the head of Magius? Those two change their minds faster then you can say “Magia Record: Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica Gaiden Final Season - Asaki Yume no Akatsuki”. Which just leads them to having no character at all, so I felt no attachment to the girls unlike Iroha, who apparently loves them like they’re her sisters, so there was an insane dissonance between me and the characters I was watching on screen. Let’s see, who else... ah, right, the girl with green hair employs some world-changing absolute Galaxy Brain plan and then gets taken out about 2 minutes after. I don’t know anything about her either so *pretends to be [whatever emotion the creators wanted me to have]”. EDIT: Realized there were also other 2 chars who died but I also knew literally nothing about them so whatever I guess.

The main cast we spend the first season with barely say 2 sentences each and do even less. They try to pull a friendship card with the 5 of them near the end but man, does it feel disgenuine. 

✧  art  ✧

Most important scenes, mostly the battles, had pretty good animation and art but everything inbetween looked wonky as hell. Characters can go from looking detailed to their faces being made up of 3 (badly drawn) circles. The animation managed to look extremely goofy in some areas too which was the worst during important high-stakes scenes. The only constant that I can praise is the Witch designs. Although they come nowhere near the ones from PMMM, they still carried the same energy and creep, uncanny valley factor.

✧  sound ✧

Also pretty good but *insert doesn’t live up to PMMM part here*.

✧  overview ✧

I’m not sure what the point of this anime was now that it’s ended. It had a somewhat wonky but still promising start but I thought surely if anyone can avoid the pitfalls that come with gacha game anime adaptations it *has* to be the PMMM team, right? Well, apparently not. 

My Rating: 3/10

[bl-garbage]

to dance is to unshackle

um, okay—how else do i express this buoyant happiness that Gaya sa Pelikula has awoken inside me? i’m in complete and utter awe. i did not expect a drop of what the sixth episode has brought us. more than satisfying, it’s utterly fascinating. this is quite a lengthy post, but if you have the time, please bear with me. and since we’re already here, let’s fucking dissect the shit out of this:

right off the bat, it’s sweet how consistently written Vlad was the entire time of the show. at the start of the episode, for one, he was concerned with Karl’s disposition, saying, “anong iniisip mo (what are you thinking)?” and, later on, as we know, he pops that question again in this episode. what are you thinking? always in limbo. true, it’s considerate, yet more than that, it’s always a sign of waiting for permission. Vlad has been like this since the beginning: observant and willing to reach out, confident on the surface, yes, but always afraid of going overboard. 

that is not to say that Karl isn’t. in fact, the whole dynamics of their relationship rest on the fact that they can lean on each other and just be honest. many moments show this: Karl’s desire to shift; Vlad not getting  into the film lab and Karl knowing something was up; the entirety of Vlad’s birthday; Karl and Vlad’s reticence to open up to Anna, in contrast with how comfortable they feel with each other. in a nutshell, they’re each other’s homes. more on this later.

the part i was most frightened at with this episode was when Karl finally told his parents his desire to shift. to be honest, personally, i wouldn’t know exactly how that pressure on Karl feels, as i was able to study the degree i wanted. yet, back then, i had already known that my parents, who wholly supported me just the same, would have wanted a degree that leaned on science or engineering. that still sucked to know. Karl’s situation is much more complicated. his desire to shift to another course is to make up for lost time, a sense of hurrying before it really becomes all too late. this was a heavy lot to take in. the disappointment and anger in his father’s face when he dropped the bomb was too much to handle. Karl had expected it, yet its impact still hurled shrapnel that he was not able to dodge, sustaining him with several wounds. it would be curious to see how his parents come to terms with his confession. i am certain that a number of people have connected with Karl here.

which brings me to another point. Gaya sa Pelikula creates these characters with their own agency. it’s touted as a BL series, yes, but our two main characters’ point is actually not to fall in love — but to live, part of which is to fall in love. they have their hopes and dreams and own burdens to carry, and while falling in love takes centerstage here, we see how they can stand alone, on their own two feet. falling in love is central to their growth, but it is evident that love is not the whole point of their existence. 

speaking of which: ate judit. ah, yes, where do i even begin to explain the exquisiteness with which ate judit was written? how, after all of five episodes, it was only now did it make sense why judit was overly, unnaturally caring and protective, a mama bear that would not let anything happen to his little Vlad. now we know why: guilt.  

imagine that. being told you were the reason why your whole family went into shambles. there is much vindication in Vlad’s line of questioning, “why would you say that to a child?” (god, i’m tearing up even as i write this.) this was a pivotal scene, with a focal point on judit, the likes of whom we cannot entirely fault for not knowing any better. the fact remains that we are still in an era that fails to understand the spectrum of gender identities and the far utopia that we seek, where gender and sex would not be a damning classification anymore. and for true allies, it is in admitting that they “didn’t know then what [they] know now” that their support gains more strength. it is in confessing where they got wrong, how harmful their actions were, and in the commitment to do more, that their promise is made good.

parenthetically, can we talk about Vlad’s mom as well? have you all noticed how her voice broke when she said, “siguraduhin mong hindi ka na itatanggi niyan, ha (just make sure he won’t deny you, okay)?” was that pain, or guilt even? i wonder if we’re ever going to see her. it would be a regret not to. for so long Vlad had thought that he was the reason his father left, and that his mother was mad at his queerness. i wouldn’t want this simple call to be the resolution that the show had for him. at any rate, we have two more episodes to await, so i am not going to strike my gavel on this judgment just yet.

but whereas Vlad found his longtime coming reconciliation with his sister, Karl had no one to turn to. his call to Vlad was a cry for help. it was heartbreaking to see him like this. Karl had always put up a fake smile against any adversity that had come his way. to him, these were trivial matters that would pass, and they did so — until now. after all he was, as we would later come to know, living a script that had been prewritten before he even came to being. that explains his nonchalant demeanor toward life, the seeming discontent behind those dead eyes, and a repeated hinting that he was always yearning for so much more. at the end of the call, Karl instinctively goes to the closet - and his proverbial closet - and sees the skeletons he had hidden inside, drop in a mess. 

that it was Karl’s brother who was in the photo shook me. that past was so well thought out. things made so much sense in this episode: why Karl tried to fit in, why everything seemed so fake. why he was so discomforting to watch, even! that made sense now.  

and what do you do when everything has become a mess? the once seamless film that had been rolling without any glitches now sprawled on the floor, entangled in a hodgepodge well beyond fixing. when that happens, what do you do? well, you dance.

i have so many things to say about faux masculinity. it is a fact undisputed that in this society, gender roles are still very much pillars that we have yet to dismantle. our genders have been geared toward performativity, and our consolation is the external validation we receive through the acts of fitting in. in the process, we lose sight of what we really want. we blur the lines between what is and what should be, in favor of what society has demanded upon us. Karl took that role and lived by it religiously. yet, those things has gone haywire in this episode. more than his parents, it was to himself that Karl has finally admitted that the act can be dropped now: the fixed posture, those rehearsed lines, that painfully faux masculinity, on guard all the fucking time. all of those things were dropped.

that is not to say that Karl was faking all of it. there is no denying that Karl has been a masculine person most of the time. but the show portrayed before us a discarded femininity that Karl had been trying to bury deep inside him — one that all people who have been and who are still in the closet know by heart. the thing is, all of us have masculine and feminine sides, the expression of which vary at different levels in different situations. sadly, we have been preconditioned to believe that male persons must be masculine, and female persons must be feminine. Gaya sa Pelikula acknowledges this hegemony, and then throws it away all the same. true, Karl may very well be comfortable in his masculine expression, but his femininity must also be allowed to grow. one cannot be complete without embracing the entirety of who they are. many have died — been killed — for simply living who they are. society has long been a vicious environment. but people have also long fought for their fundamental right to perform these things, and through them, we know that things can change. that things are changing.

it is against this context that imprints more meaning, more gravity to when we finally, finally see Karl dance. in every sense, his dance was the show’s climax for me. it is, quite emphatically, freedom incarnate.

when i say i fucking bawled at this scene, you best believe it.

quite important to note: when Karl sees Vlad, he stopped abruptly, only for Vlad to signal to him, in an OK sign, that what he was doing was perfectly fine. that Karl could be effeminate all he wants, and who the hell in this earth should care? this allowance has given Karl all the needed validation he will ever need, at least, for that one night where they could bare it all. it was only the two of them, but the house has never been more crowded, because their feelings have seemingly exploded and have been overflowing in a glorious climax for all of us to witness. in this scene, Karl has unshackled the chains with which he had been bound all that time, and it was Vlad who helped him finally break the last of those chains. in this moment, there was only pure bliss.

(that the song playing here was Ride Home by ben&ben is the perfect giveaway. for non-Filipino readers who have only listened to ben&ben now, check this band out. it’s one of the best bands to have ever come out of the Philippine music industry.)

and, of course, in this waterfall of emotions, it is only perfect to time the moment of their first kiss. they have accepted each other, haven’t they? in a meaningful act (the gravity of which we will only realize in full later when Vlad tells the story of his dad), Karl rumpled Vlad’s hair, but only after Vlad had already consented to it. then, afterward, it was Vlad’s turn to ask, what are you thinking? to which Karl had this—and i know we all expected it, nevertheless—to say: i don’t want to think anymore. then they kissed.

i swear to god. i only watched this for the 92432475781 time.

the denouement was so well put, too: now everything is put back into its own place. Karl’s brother. his death. his parents’ expectations. the substitution. Vlad’s father. his parents’ expectations. the horror of realizing one’s difference. the abandonment. in these stories, it becomes more and more permissible to believe that Karl and Vlad have easily found comfort in each other. to say that they are soulmates (as the creator, juan miguel severo, told on his twitter) is not an exaggeration.

and, make no mistake: Karl and Vlad did not find each other’s embraces out of pity. no. it would be unduly harsh to view them that way. rather, they found solace in each other’s embrace and warmth, but it is still they who will muster the courage to face their own demons. the only difference is, they now have each other to find some sort of release. they are not destructively dependent on each other; instead, they help each other grow into the versions of themselves that they can be proud of.

finally, a couple of small things: look at the way Karl was inviting Vlad to lie in bed with him. that simple gesture harks us back to the early days of their dynamics: Vlad had expressed that it was okay to share a bed, but Karl was adamant that they do not. Karl had once dreamed of Vlad joining him there, and that scared him shitless. in contrast to that, now we have this: Karl himself inviting Vlad, and Vlad accepting for Karl’s wholehearted invitation. the moment this happened, there was a consummation of the expression of their love. if they had their doubts prior to this, those could not have been more obliterated now. 

needless to say, i fucking, fucking loved this. as one who has only ever written three fanfics (2gether and History 2!), all of which seemingly related to sleeping (what the fuck, do i have a sleep fetish or something), this ending to episode 6 is just the cherry on top. 

their lines by the end particularly strike me. here we have Karl who wishes to create his own stories. on the other hand is Vlad who wishes that he be in charge of the endings, too. how do they do that? who knows? but the certainty that defines their pact is that they shall do it together, unbound and free to dance to the song they have chosen of their own accord. and that simple promise, made in each other’s tight embrace under artificially warm lights amid that early january weather, with no certainty at all of what tomorrow has to bring, has made all the difference. 

in 34 minutes, Gaya sa Pelikula has, yet again, done more than we could have ever expected.

i just checked and this reached 2k words. i’m not even gonna attempt to proofread this anymore. anyway, this is all i have to say for now. i just simply cannot let go of the best episode i’ve seen in this show without expressing my own reaction to it. 

(also: i’m thinking of writing a fanfic; that is, the morning after. just a one-shot, hopefully a cute one. as usual, an introspection of these characters, and what lies ahead. hope i actually get to write it!)

thank you so much, Gaya sa Pelikula. you are proof that things do change.

[btxtreads]

✒️ opposite attraction 🖋

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: WISH

↳ Pairing: Kang Taehyun x Reader

↳ word count: 1.7k words

↳ rating: PG

↳ genre: fluff, so much fluff

↳ warnings: underage drinking, sunhee tries to sell herself too much, sunhee verbal smackdown

a/n: I lied. There is a chapter in Beomgyu’s house and it’s written. 🤡anon big brain that’s so sexc

IMPORTANT: i dont know if you guys know this, but this smau was inspired by two of my favorite mangas-turned-jdramas: Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo and Hana Yori Dango. This chapter was inspired by Hana Yori Dango Season 1′s theme song: Wish by Arashi. I think the upbeat hopeful tone of the song describes Taehyun and Y/N’s relationship a lot lol. You can read the english translation of the lyrics here. Enjoy! 💖

Taehyun leaned on the counter doing what he does best—observe.

In his hands was a cup of grape soda, which he was told was Hueningkai’s specific request.

All around him were strobe lights and drunk teenagers.

Beomgyu, sporting a can of sprite, was actively avoiding Minjeong as he made his way to Taehyun.

Minjeong was behind him, tipsy and drunk as she called to Beomgyu.

Both boys knew she already downed three shots upon arrival.

“What’s up!” Beomgyu greeted happily as he reached Taehyun, slinging an arm around the shorter male.

“She’s wasted,” Taehyun noted, pointing over to Minjeong.

The said girl swayed as Ara, equally as drunk, approached her with a giggle.

Beomgyu winced.

“Yeah, someone saw her down three shots in one go. Is she even legal yet?”

“Nope,” Taehyun shrugged. “That’s what you get when you throw a party with an open-for-all liquor bar,”

Beomgyu chuckled as Taehyun raised an eyebrow at him.

“You’re already legal though, and it’s your party. I’m sure you could drink,” Taehyun said. “Why aren’t you?”

“I have a mission and I can’t do it when I’m drunk,” Beomgyu shrugged. “Also I’m not in the mood, maybe later.”

Taehyun rolled his eyes.

Beomgyu’s phone rang with an alert.

“Oh, they’re here,” Beomgyu muttered.

Taehyun whipped his head to the boy, heart suddenly pounding as he fought to maintain his composure.

“Oh, are they?” Taehyun asked nonchalantly as he looked back at the crowd.

Beomgyu snorted, patting Taehyun’s back.

“Yeah, so is Sunhee,” Beomgyu teased before a hand gripped Taehyun’s shoulder.

“Hi, Tae!” A shrill voice called.

Taehyun turned, raising an eyebrow at the girl.

“Beom, this is Sunhee?” Taehyun asked, frowning as the boy nodded.

Sunhee’s eyes brightened as she straightened her posture, smile widening.

“Oh, It’s you,” Taehyun hummed.

“It’s me?” Sunhee blinked flirtatiously, hand landing on Taehyun’s arm. “Ah, have you been looking for me?”

Taehyun remained stone-faced as the girl flaunted her short dress.

“I dressed up for you, by the way,” Sunhee giggled, gesturing to her awfully tight dress and sky-high pumps.

“Can you even walk in that?” Beomgyu asked incredulously.

“Oh, of course, Gyu!” Sunhee giggled, making Beomgyu form a face of disgust.

“Please don’t call me that,”

“But Y/N calls you that?” Sunhee replied, her smile tense.

Taehyun’s head whipped up at the mention of the girl.

“Why can’t I, Gyu? We’re friends, right?” Sunhee continued, her arm snaking around Taehyun’s.

The boy’s eyes wandered around as Beomgyu shook his head with a firm no.

Taehyun’s eyes locked onto Y/N, who had the prettiest white dress on, walking across the room with Hueningkai.

They conversed by the snack table, Hueningkai grabbing them two bottles of grape juice, before Hueningkai was pulled away by Ara.

Y/N shot a gaze over at their direction, locking eyes with Taehyun.

“Tae, babe? You okay?”

Taehyun flinched, looking down at Sunhee.

In a span of the few seconds he was looking for Y/N, the girl manage to press up even closer to him and procured a can of beer in her hands.

“How old are you?” Taehyun asked.

Delighted, Sunhee giggled.

“You must be so curious about me,” Sunhee tilted her head and hummed.

Beside them, Beomgyu muttered under his breath as he shoved a nacho chip in his mouth.

“I asked you a question,” Taehyun rolled his eyes. “Are you deaf?”

There was a beat of silence before Sunhee laughed obnoxiously, making Taehyun glare at the girl in irritation.

“That was so funny, babe!” Sunhee giggled, lightly hitting his arm. “Hm, well, I’m the same age as you,”

“So, you’re not legal?”

“Oh,” Sunhee raised her eyebrows, smirking as she tilted her head flirtatiously. “That wouldn’t be a problem,”

“It actually is, since you’re drinking under legal age,” Taehyun commented, gesturing to the can of beer in her hands. “Stop calling me babe, we’re not close. Don’t call me Tae, we’re not friends.”

Sunhee blinked in surprise as Taehyun shook her off with an irritated sigh.

“For the record, I don’t like girls who sell themselves too much,” Taehyun rolled his eyes, crossing his arms.

“Tae, I’m just teasing,” Sunhee rolled her eyes, smiling.

“Yeah? Well, it’s not cute or sexy or whatever you’re going for so stop,” Taehyun snorted.

“Oh, but you looked at me like I was when you said ‘It’s you,’” Sunhee said suggestively.

Behind Taehyun, Beomgyu sat at the counter as he watched the exchange in amusement.

“I was just wondering who you were since you assumed my tweet yesterday was about you,” Taehyun scoffed. “Which isn’t, since I have no idea who the hell you are. Stop holding me, god.”

Before Sunhee could reply, Taehyun backed away from the girl, who tried to take his arm again, and turned back to Beomgyu with pursed lips.

The said boy was cackling silently at the side.

“She’s so annoying,” Taehyun hissed as Beomgyu snorted. “Anyways, have you seen—“

“Y/N?” Beomgyu teased, wiggling his eyebrows at a fuming Sunhee behind Taehyun.

“I might be looking for Kai,” Taehyun said, turning back to Sunhee. “You’re still here? Why are you still here?”

“I was hoping that we could—“

“Are you stupid?” Taehyun groaned. “I was asking you to leave,”

“She’s at the garden,” Beomgyu said, nodding at the direction of the backyard.

“Whatever,” Taehyun snorted before glaring at Sunhee. “Don’t follow me,”

Beomgyu snorted, wandering away to save Hueningkai, who was stuck trying to get away from a drunk Ara, as Sunhee stewed in her spot.

Taehyun made a beeline over to the door to the exit, standing at the veranda.

He always found Beomgyu’s massive mansion beautiful—especially the backyard that was decorated with hanging plants and twinkling lights by the pool and the gardens.

The way the backyard looked right now made him doubt a little.

The tanning beds by the pool we filled with booze and beer cans, with the crazy students swimming around the pool in their outfits.

The pathway to the gardens, however, was much more peaceful.

Past the short pathway was a big space with a table in the middle, with bean bags and a fire pit at the side for campfires.

Lying on one particular bean bag, was a girl in a white dress.

Slowly, Taehyun made his way to the coffee table, taking a seat as he observed the girl who opted to observe the stars.

The girl slowly raised her head, blinking over at Taehyun.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

Taehyun frowned, shrugging.

“I don’t know,” He replied. “What are you looking at?”

Y/N cracked a tiny smile and leaned back, gazing up at the stars once more.

“The stars,”

“There are no stars,” Taehyun deadpanned, making Y/N laugh.

“Well, yeah, but you can imagine,” Y/N said.

Taehyun sighed, observing the girl.

She was so carefree. She looked like someone who doesn’t think things through and just goes with whatever was handed to them.

Taehyun didn’t like people like that.

“The news said there would be a shooting star tonight,” Y/N said. “At 10.”

“You’d be looking at a dead star,” Taehyun replied.

“I should make a wish,” Y/N hummed, ignoring the boy as she gazed at her watch. “Oh, that’s in 10 minutes,”

Taehyun cracked a smile.

Taehyun can stand her though.

He stood up and moved to the bean bag next to her, positioning himself to look up at the sky.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking,”

“At what?” Y/N frowned.

“The stars,” Taehyun replied, raising an eyebrow at the girl. “Now, shut up and wait for the shooting star,”

“Are you going to make a wish?”

“Maybe.”

“You’d be wishing on a dead star,” Y/N teased, making Taehyun snort.

“Original,”

Y/N giggled as she checked her watch again.

6 minutes.

“Hey, Y/N?”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry,” Taehyun said, his eyes trained at the sky.

“What are you apologizing for?” Y/N asked turning to the boy in confusion.

“I’ve been a big asshole lately,” Taehyun replied, before shaking his head. “I’m an asshole to everybody, but particularly to you,”

“Ah, it’s no big deal,” Y/N shrugged. “Co-captain of the basketball team, president of the student council, top student of the school and trying to ward girls off of you—must be so tiring,”

“I guess,” Taehyun sighed, making Y/N shake her head with a chuckle.

“I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to take the worst out on me,” Y/N smiled over at the boy before looking back up.

3 minutes.

“Beomgyu said you’re amazing and stuff,” Taehyun hummed. “I wondered what all the fuss was all about since you didn’t seem so confident and amazing when we did the project,”

“Well, I was—uh—dealing with some stuff,” Y/N replied. “Class, friends, bullies. You know, high school.”

“Bullies?”

“Oh yeah,” Y/N snorted. “You know Sunhee? She and her friends—what a peach. Locked me in rooms and poured lunches on me,”

“Sunhee?” Taehyun furrowed his eyebrows, remembering the girl cozying up to him earlier as he sat up. “We should do something about it,”

“No, it’s okay,” Y/N smiled. “I’m a big girl. I can handle it,”

Taehyun turned to the girl, frowning.

“But, Y/N—“

“Trust me,”

“Okay, then,” Taehyun sighed, lying back down. “If you say so.”

Y/N smiled.

One minute.

“Hey, what are you wishing for?” Y/N asked, eyes darting around the sky to look for the shooting star bound to fall anytime.

“Uh, good health? grades? to win basketball finals?”

“I wish we can be great friends,” Y/N smiled over at him.

Taehyun smiled back.

“Yeah,” he agreed softly. “Me too.”

Overhead, a white streak darted past the night sky.

Y/N snapped her head to it with a gasp.

“Oh, there it is!” Y/N said, sitting up. “It’s a shooting star!”

Her hand reached out, taking a hold of his arm.

“Yeah,” Taehyun smiled at her. “Yeah, it is,”

He was more interested in looking at the star sitting next to him.

[cherry-gemz]

The City by The Bay: Part II

Summary: Fates push you and a handsome and known stranger into each other's paths. His chilvary and good looks make you take a leap into his world and more.

Chapter Summary: You and Keanu get to know each other better.

Word Count: 2100 +/-

Pairing: Keanu Reeves x Y/N (F!Reader)

Rating: PG, fluff

A/N: First time taking a try on a Keanu fic, be nice, please! This little ficlet will have more chapters, hope you enjoy.

Who might be interested: @whiskeyslullabye​ @marissat1998 @aestheticallywinchester​ @fookingbitch​

Last chapter recap:

"Yeah...just around the corner. Did you...did you want to hang out for a bit? I mean, I didn't know if you were headed somewhere before I spilled your drink. What am I thinking? Of course you were off somewhere…"

"Are you always like this?" You giggle as you turn to head to the hall. 

"Like what?" 

"Nevermind, I'll be right back," you reply coyly. "And...I didn't have any plans today...I'd love to hang out."

"Really? Cool," Keanu responds and a grin appears on his face. 

"Yeah, I can't stay very long, however. I have a meeting with a client for lunch," you reply and he looks deflated. 

"Yeah, okay...well..hmmm," he says lost in thought. 

You feel stupid, you can't believe he wants to hang out with you and you're choosing work. You're really kicking yourself for even mentioning it. This opportunity will never happen again. 

"Well, I tell you what," he pipes. "I still owe you a cup of coffee. I happen to make the most amazing cappuccino. How about I start off with that?"

"Sure, that sounds lovely," you smile and his expression changes in a light-heartedness. 

"Great. Great, Y/N, head over to the kitchen after you change your shirt and we can get to know one another better."

You beam and head to the immaculate restroom. It’s very contemporary and the natural light from the ceiling windows are pretty to look at. As you unbutton your blouse you look at yourself in the mirror: you have a goofy grin and you can’t believe in you’re in Keanu’s house. Let alone, changing your shirt and going to hang out with him a bit. This is all surreal. 

You grasp his shirt and give it a sniff, clean. And you quickly put it over your head and leave the room with your blouse and book in your hand. As you turn the corner, you see him fiddling about and admire the open floor planned kitchen. You run your hand across the white, granite counters as he ushers you to have a seat at one of the barstools where you place your bag, the book he offered, and blouse down.

He claps his hands and rubs them as a cheshire cat grin appears on his face. 

"Okay, be ready to be blown away at these magic hands," he waggles his brows and holds out his large hands as you stifle a giggle. 

You'd watch interviews of him and he always seemed so genuine, and while he still does, there's a more childlike, goofiness that melts your heart a little more. You try not fall so quickly, but he really is quite loveable and easy to be around. Much different from the men you're accustomed to in the city. Their grittiness and quick paced talk tends to exhaust you. You're more in your element with one on one, in an intimate setting like today. It's ideal. 

Keanu grins and turns steadfast to the counter by the fridge and beelines to the espresso machine. He grabs a new bottle of water from the upper cabinets and places it in the boiler of the machine. You sit taller and try to peer over. You're never really that fancy with your coffee and it's usually due to the nature of your work and how quickly you need that caffeine fix, but you appreciate the art and look forward to his recipe. 

He continues his task at hand and opens a canister that's unmarked and pours two shots of ground espresso into the portafilter. He turns to you, to make sure you're watching as he plays along as if he's a magician and you're watching his act. 

"Secret recipe," he beams.

"What is it?" You ask inquisitively. 

He holds up his index finger and shakes it, "Na uh. If I gave that away, we could no longer be friends."

"Oh, we're friends are we?" You flirt and he blushes. You got him to blush!

He holds out the tamper he pulled out of the side drawer and presses the coffee three times to ensure it's packed tightly. 

He then places the portafilter into the espresso machine's group head and locks it in place by turning it to the right.

He continues his stride and places the tiny, white cup under the head for about 30 seconds. 

"Voilá!" He exclaims and you clap. He grabs a carton of cream from the fridge and you give him a puzzling look. Even as a chef, you're quite aware of the complexities of cream, so you're curious if this is part of the plan. He pours the cream into a small metal pitcher and inserts the steam wand. 

"Ah! Almost forgot…" he smacks his forehead with his free hand and goes to the cupboard and pulls out a jar. You notice it's sugar and he pinches a good handful in the metal pitcher and continues.

As the milk foams, he starts to pour it atop the cappuccino and walks over to give you the cup. 

"Mmmm, smells amazing. Thank you," you graciously accept the cup and take a sip. An explosion of the dark, roasted bean excited your taste buds. It's most likely hands down the best you've had. 

"Omigosh, Keanu. This is beyond good. I don't think I can ever go back to normal coffee again!" 

"Aw shucks, you'll give me a complex now," he teases. 

"Well if you ever decide to quit acting, I say you'd make a hell of a living doing that. Why, my bookstore would have lines out the door to see Keanu Reeves make them a cappuccino!"

He laughs heartily, "That would be a sight wouldn't it? Ah that's fantastic." 

You bring the cup to your nose as you try to make out the ingredients. You can tell there's a hint of spice and earth, and you take a guess of what he has mixed with the grounds. 

"Is there cocoa powder?" You look directly at him and he bites his lip.

"What are you doing?" He asks and shakes his index finger at you playfully and walks over to you. 

"Trying to figure out this recipe. You don't go tell a chef that it's a secret and expect them to not figure it out. I saw you toss in some sugar for the cream. And even noticed you use cream instead of milk. But I think it's cocoa...maybe even a hint of cinnamon?"

"What are you? Some super chef-dectective?" 

He dabs the frothy cream from your cup and places it on the tip of your nose, making you giggle. He licks his finger off and gives a sly smile.

"Maybe I have a profitable future ahead of me?" You lightly rub off the cream and gaze into his eyes.

"I think so Y/N, I think so." He shyly turns his eyes away and taps the side of the cup as if he's pondering a thought.

"So tell me," you gain confidence in speaking with him. "If you can make such a delicious cappuccino like this one, why were you at Saint Frank's?"

"Hah," he replies as he turns to start his own cup. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

You smile in-between another sip and notice he's flirting back.

"Well?" 

You prod and arch your brow as he leans his back against the counter. His black  shirt hugs his biceps as he crosses his arms, and the blue jeans he pairs it with fit him perfectly. His medium length hair seems to always get in his face, but it's endearing and he swipes away some strands. He's handsome without any effort and you slightly blush as your mind wanders about how his lips would feel against yours. 

"Honestly, I went out for a ride and needed to clear my head. I found myself just being pulled in that general direction and decided I needed a cup of joe," he says as he pours the cream for himself. 

"I guess it was you pulling me in or something,” he adds.

"So then what, it's like fate that we happened to be at the same place at that exact moment? And you happened to bump into me and make me spill my drink, therefore resulting in me jumping on your motorcycle with you. And then visit the home of a mega movie star and try the most fantastic cappuccino?" You laugh and he tilts his head earnestly. 

"What, you don't believe in fate, Y/N?"

"Not exactly," you reply. 

"Why not?" He walks over and sits next to you on the other barstool. 

"I mean, if it wasn't me, it'd be some other woman you'd be inviting over instead."

"No…" he replies as he takes a sip of his drink. "No, I don't think I would."

You both sit in silence for a minute, you sigh and then turn to look outside at the view. 

"I'm sorry, Y/N if I've seen to offend you. I can drive you back if you'd wish…" his voice softens and you can tell you hurt him a little. 

"What? No, Keanu. I'm...I'm sorry," you place your hand on his. His knuckles are worn and rough. He looks down at your hand and a small smile appears. 

"I...I want to be here, really I do. I guess I'm trying to make sense of it all. You're Keanu Reeves. And I'm just me. Why do you want to know me for?"

“Why wouldn’t I want to get to know you, Y/N? I am very glad we met. You're funny and kind... I'd like to get to know you further. Let alone, you're beautiful."

You blush and look away, he's not coming on strong, but could he be sending you signals that he's into you? Did you die and just find yourself in limbo with the angel before you?

"Do you want to go for a drive before I take you back?" He asks as you both notice you haven't lifted your hand on his. You quickly remove it and place it in your lap. 

"Sure, but this time please wear a helmet. I was worried sick thinking if something terrible might happen." 

He softly chuckles, "Of course, I have many in my garage to choose from. Curious though, is it because you care about me, Y/N?"

"Oh believe me, more than you know," you quickly cover your hands over your mouth as you realize what you've said. 

He kicks his lips and tries to brush it off. 

"I'm sorry," you apologize. "I really should use my filter from time to time."

"No need for apologies. Your truthfulness is refreshing."

"Well I have a lot of that. Probably more than I should. I bet you find in your line of work it's difficult to find people you can trust."

"Yeah, I definitely have a close knit of friends through the years. Do you have family here?"

"Yes, born and reared in the Bay," you say with confidence. "I went to culinary school in New York for a minute, however. But there's something about this city that's magical."

"So you believe in magic, but not fate?"

You laugh, "Okay, you got me there."

He finishes off his cappuccino and motions to ask if you're finished, which you nod and hand him your cup. He walks over to the sink and rinses out the cups. It's fascinating to watch him do mundane things like wash dishes. 

"I am beginning to enjoy the city. There is much richness to it and the landmarks are beautiful. I will be honest though, I haven't had much time to explore like I usually like to do when I'm on location." 

He places the cups back in the cupboard and dries his hands with a cream colored terry cloth. 

"You did mention you had a project up here. Mind if I ask what?"

His eyes light up as if he were a kid on Christmas Day expecting all the joys of the morning. 

"Oh well it's not for a movie. I'm not filming yet...least as far as I know. My agent, Meredith keeps me up on that."

"If not a movie, then…?"

"A book," he replies. 

"You're not giving me much here, buddy," you laugh as he joins you. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I...it's just something dear to me that I've been working on and haven't really announced anything yet."

"Look, I get it. Don't worry, no pressure, you reply as you start to get up.

"Well it's not that," he gestures a stopping signal with his hand. "I... I really don't know what it's about it. I'm collaborating with a friend of mine, a photographer. And we are in the early stages, that's all."

"Oh well it sounds great," you say enthusiastically. 

"Yeah...I feel good y'know? I feel like I'm doing something different and that I can connect to people on a different level."

"Keanu...the influencer," you say as you raise your hands up in the air as if an imaginary marquee is right before your eyes. 

"Haha, I wouldn't go that far. But, I'll have to keep you posted." 

"Yeah, that would be great," you cringe. Great. Everything is great. Why are you being such a spaz?

He doesn't notice, but he gets quiet again and you don't know what to do next. Silence sometimes makes you feel awkward and now throw in the ridiculously nice and dreamy man in front of you and you're a ball of nerves.

He seems relaxed, however. In tune with himself and surroundings. 

He smiles and holds out his hand, "C'mon. Let's get going on that ride. I'll take you to one of my favorite spots in the house besides the library...the garage. Oh, and don't forget your book."

You nod as you place it in your bag and accept his hand and hope to never let go.

[dreamiesdotcom]

complicated (slow spin-off) | z.cl, h.rj

Summary: Think of heartbeat, only a little faster. And more demanding. Afraid? Hurt? In love? How different are they supposed to feel? Free fall. Stardust. Rose. "Perhaps, everyone just falls in love with their best friend," Renjun drawls out, "Even just a little bit, from time to time."

Word Count: 2.9k

All Renjun ever wanted was peace, an alien friend, and a book that hits him right in the gut.

The thing Jaemin does where he's hopelessly in love? None of that — they're almost always falling for each other in such different times that they never align, and when they do overlap, one's feelings is already dying down.

The thing that Jisung does where he looks at Jaemin like he's terrified? Terrified because of how much he loves him in the way he shouldn't? Yeah, Renjun wants none of that as well.

Chenle, too — this boy, how Renjun doesn't want to feel whatever hell it is Chenle goes through every day.

Watching the boy you adore, who happens to be your best friend, fall in love with your other best friend who's in love with your other best friend just sounds like an experience he doesn't want to have. Pining is one thing. Pining this aimlessly is another.

Looking through a classmate's camera as he finds the shot the other asked him to look for? A whole new level of complicated feelings and friendships and he doesn't even want to know. They have a project and that's about his business — so he doesn't judge nor pry, but he chuckles, "Jeno-ssi, did you give me the wrong camera, or am I only supposed to see candids of Donghyuck?"

Jeno blushes red, stutters an apology. He fiddles with his gadget a bit, messing with cards. For the meanwhile, Renjun decides to go and buy coffee for the both of them. It's trouble, really, since he already can't feel his legs from sitting so long but then it might be for the better.

It's less of a drag from when the other sweetly mutters a thank you, and it's a pity that Renjun didn't really get to focus on that.

"Hey, you're welcome and sorry to interrupt you but... Jeno?" he squints at the street outside. He carefully, slowly, sits back down on his chair and gets a clearer view — he can't believe the sight in front of him. He calls the other again, "Am I seeing this wrong, or is that Lee Donghyuck?"

Jeno raises a brow and looks to the side, the park opposite the store they're sitting at — certainly, at 3 a.m in the morning, the boy at question is there. He's walking past streetlights, a cup of coffee in his hands, and now he just sat at the swings.

Now, Renjun isn't his friend; he's not interested in him one bit, but he's not blind either. At one glance he knows that Jeno likes Hyuck, and at one glance, he knows that the person at the park is definitely the said boy.

Again, that's not his business, but that's also not what he's looking at.

Lee Donghyuck seems to be giggling, the brightest smile on his face as he gently swings — only he's not alone. He's with a very familiar person, one of Renjun's best friends, the subject of Na Jaemin's love.

"Uh. Yeah," Jeno nods, turning his head back to his laptop one beat late. He hands Renjun the camera, this time with the appropriate card. Renjun doesn't miss the dull sparkle in his eyes as he forces out a laugh, "Let's get back to work?"

They're not particularly close friends, so Jeno's feelings are not his business; he doesn't think he should even know about it, but hey, it's either that he wasn't so discreet or that Renjun's just observant — it's not his fault that he hesitates a bit, especially when Jeno blinks away his tears like that.

He doesn't want to make it awkward, still, so he nods.

Questions flood his mind as they work silently, questions much like 'Why do people do this to themselves? Of all the people you'd fall for, why your best friend? Is it because you're always close? Is it the mutual understanding?' He doesn't understand at all — looking at Jeno, he's really, well, an elegant person. Not to mention, kind as well. To be realistic, most people fall in love with looks at first so no doubt people adore Jeno, and yet... yet he's here, waiting on a possibly unreturned affection.

But then to consider, Jisung is stunning. That didn't make Jaemin love him the same way. What the hell is this mess?

"It's already 4:30, so what do you say we head home now?" Jeno proposes, and he snaps out of his stupor. Renjun absentmindedly nods.

They walk side by side in peaceful quiet until they part to the direction of their own homes. Before he reaches his, he remembers the pictures from Jeno's camera: snapshots of Donghyuck's sweet smile occupies the camera's memory — one where he's dressed up as an angel, one where his eyelids glimmer of gold eyeshadow and glitters, many of where he's laughing and not looking at Jeno's direction. Some of where he's wistfully staring at his phone.

It kind of reminds him of Jaemin to Y/N, or Jisung to Jaemin, or Chenle to Jisung. Now, whenever he looks at lines that never meet, he'd think of Jeno and Donghyuck as well — because Jeno doesn't need to say it, but his eyes do the work for him. Renjun doesn't need words to figure out that Jeno's in love.

Renjun worries about him a little.

####

Whenever something intriguing happens, he's almost always accidentally there — back then, when he and Jeno saw Hyuck and Y/N, and now, standing a few meters away from Chenle and Jisung.

He doesn't understand — all he wanted was peace, an alien friend, and a book that hits him right in the gut. Watching his friends do this thing they're so bad at is easily not something he signed up for.

He could look away. He could turn and walk the other way since obviously, Jisung and Chenle would feel awkward if they realized he's there, but then he heard it. Chenle's question. It makes his heart miss a beat.

"How many times are you gonna keep on breaking your heart?"

Renjun furrows his brow. Could Chenle even answer his own question? It's all too ironic. It's none of his business, but it's all too ironic.

He realizes at that incredibly strange moment that Jisung and Chenle appeared like a movie scene, or a drama, whatever works. Something in the way they stand in front of each other is oddly pleasing, an aesthetic so hard to get enough of. If not for the anguish in Jisung's eyes as he falls on Chenle's arms, Renjun would say that it's the perfect sight.

Before all of that, Jisung had smiled and answered the other's question: "How many times can your heart break for the person you love?"

Chenle only stretched his arms as a reply, an invitation for a consoling hug. "Never too much," he wanted to say.

Renjun could see.

How in the world they don't notice him there, Renjun doesn't know. By now, he figures he should be used to his friends being dense. He means, well, they had these feelings for each other for as long as he can remember and if Huang Renjun, Mr. It's-None-Of-My-Business-So-I-Didn't-Know, noticed whatever the hell this mess is, surely they should've known long ago, right?

Chenle stands there alone. Jisung must've left earlier during the time he spent spacing out. He stands behind the other, a reasonable distance away so he still doesn't figure out he's there. He waits for him to resume walking; for five minutes, he doesn't. Renjun makes himself known by rushing and cheerily slinging an arm on the other boy.

"Hey, Zhong Chenle, whatever it is you've been doing these days, how did it go?"

"Same old, I'm amazing," he airily says, startled but comforted at the knowledge that it's a friend and not someone trying to kill him. "Haechan hyung wrote a song. I'm certain it's for Y/N."

"Really? That's sweet," Renjun can just begin to imagine the blush at that friend's cheeks if Donghyuck decides to sing the song on the school showcase. It should be a fun night for them! Jisung is performing, Chenle too, Jaemin as well... his smile dies down a little at the other's name.

"But... Jaemin, though."

It's something he shouldn't know — pretty sure Jaemin thinks nobody knows about his feelings, but then again, how can he hide anything from anyone when he looks at that person with hearts for eyes?

"Yeah. I'm worried for Jaemin hyung and Jisung," the younger wistfully sighs, tugging the other to walk on his pace. He sighs again. "You know how he is."

"I do. In fact, I'm worried about all of you," Renjun hums. Chenle raises a brow, but Renjun makes note of the split-second panic in the younger's mask of faux confidence. Renjun smiles, "I'm worried about you, Chenle-ah."

He makes an odd sound aiming at nonchalance, and it scares him how natural he sounded as he fakes a laugh. He slings an arm on Renjun, making them walk the opposite direction of where they should be going, "You've been working hard and you're saying nonsense now. Let me just treat you ice cream — trust me, hyung, you need it."

The older of the two sighs and decides to let it go. Before that, though, Chenle smiled at him and shook his head, "What's there to worry about me?"

Internally, Renjun wanted to pull him into a hug. In his mind, he'd held his friend and answered, the heartbreak you feel in silence.

###

Back then, Jaemin told Renjun something very interesting — something about the way he glances at people.

As an example, Jaemin had said then that Renjun looks at Y/N like he does to his favorite book, full with wonder — Do you know how loved you are? How many people love you... how many hearts broke for you... how beautiful and conflicted you are — and well, he agrees. He does feel like that.

Jaemin said Renjun looked at both him and Jisung like twin stars, as if the world is never correct unless they're side by side. One is always beside the other, even when one is shrouded behind clouds.

Secretly, Renjun disagreed: he feels like he looks at them like a scene that was supposed to be but never was. An accidental masterpiece that never occurred because the artist was too careful.

Jaemin said Renjun looked at his almost acquaintance Jeno with a strange kind of familiarity, like they knew each other for several lifetimes but never dared to actually get to know each other; he stared at him as if they were identical. As if somewhere in the boy with hopeless love beating in his heart is a part he relates to.

But Chenle... Jaemin said he looked at Chenle like his heart broke. He didn't go into detail, he refused to, and it left him confused.

A year, seven months, and two weeks from that event, Renjun realizes just why, and he figures out that after all, most things in life are not a choice. Maybe that's why people continue to adore hopeless cases.

All Renjun ever wanted was peace, an alien friend, and a book that hits him right in the gut. He never asked to realize that all those years, he refused to acknowledge something, a big part of him. He never asked to be one of those people who couldn't control their feelings.

"You were a dream that shined brightly above me..." Renjun reads, the words more saccharine and dreamy when it's spoken in his voice, "and just like the fate of a gazer and a star, you are so far from my reach. But still, you've had me at first sight, and all I wanted was for gravity to let me fall from Earth and then into your hold— this doesn't even make sense."

"Yeah, but only because you skipped to that chapter, dummy." Chenle grumbles, stealing back his book, "These are references. They're referencing to the past events you didn't get to read."

"Yeah, but still. It's unrequited love." Renjun answers, "It's way too complicated for me."

The wind blows, an addition to the cold lingering in the air. Jaemin isn't present tonight as he's dealing with the consequences of procrastinating essays for weeks, so naturally, his best friend Y/N should be there too. Renjun wishes no heartbreak to his pure, lovesick heart — something in him knows that it's where everything will lead to, but he hopes it'll go easy on him. Jaemin deserved the world, none of the painful side of it.

Jisung didn't come today, too. He's busy with his performance, perfecting every snap and every turn, every single move that completes his routine. Maybe it's a diversion for him. Renjun prays he doesn't overwork himself, and he hopes the younger doesn't go harsh on himself, he hopes he doesn't beat himself up for falling for someone who was too busy hoping to catch somebody else.

Jisung deserved the world, as well. All of his friends did. Renjun finds himself quickly growing fond of them all from their most lovable traits down to their unnoticeable flaws. He loves them all each a different way, all with the same intensity.

This one, though. This one might just be a little too special.

A deep frown leaves him as he decides to lay down the grass he's previously been sitting on, and Chenle bemusedly laughs, a small sound compared to his usual.

"You're smart. That's why everything is way too complicated for you."

And it's there again, the longing in his gaze, the one Renjun knows is for someone else. The omnipresent feeling of telltale heartache signs floats around him like lustrous fireballs, but the boy beside him seems iridescent, each a different color on every side. If Renjun closes his eyes long enough, he could just imagine himself having control and not fading at the sight of every view.

"You know, don't you?" Chenle asks, turning his head away from the other and staring up at the sky instead. He compares to an epic painting. "I'm in love with Jisung."

"And Jisung is in love with Jaemin, Jaemin who is in love with Y/N," he adds in affirmation, knowing it's what Chenle wants to hear but his mind is far away from being lucid to that thought.

In his mind, he adds, but me? Do you know that I'm in love with you? He shakes that thought away, "I know. I know you guys, and it's not hard to see."

Carefully, Renjun adds, "The words each of you refuse to say... they're in your eyes. All the time."

With him laying down like this, the other resembles the Little Prince from the book Renjun always loved. His blonde hair sways with the wind and the things it does to Renjun makes him heady of stars. Chenle shrugs, "I thought you'd be mad. It could've ruined our friendship."

Think of heartbeat, only a little faster. And more demanding. Afraid? Hurt? In love? How different are they supposed to feel? Free fall. Stardust. Rose.

"Perhaps, everyone just falls in love with their best friend," Renjun drawls out, "Even just a little bit, from time to time."

Now, he gets a little bit of what Jaemin was trying to say but refused to explain: Renjun looked at Chenle like his heart broke. He looked at him like that, and a thousand more unsaid ways he didn't even know existed. He looks at him like all he wanted to do was tell him his feelings, but he was so afraid. He looked at him like he's afraid that he won't fall in love as hard as this anymore, like he's scared that one day he'd be unable to adore someone romantically because they're not this boy, his greatest love.

He looks at him like all he wanted was a sight so beautiful he overlooks the other, and arms so warm he doesn't seek this one-sided fire, like he craves for a drink that'll burn away the confessions stuck on his throat and trapped on his lips.

He looks at the boy he loves with lenses of blue, that in a way where he isn't really sure if he wanted to forget or remember. All that he knew was he wanted to be loved.

Chenle chuckles again, but this time he lets himself fall down and lay beside Renjun. He reaches his hands to the stars, dwelling on how much smaller he is than these speckles of lights, and swears on each and every one of them — "Friends forever?"

"Best friends," Renjun corrects. "You, me, Y/N, Jaemin, Jisung — best friends forever."

And he said it a hundred times, he wants to say it a million more. He wouldn't wish any other way for all of them but always; there is so much he wants to share, so many things he wants to experience with all of them.

They're best friends forever, they've said that a hundred times. He wants to say it a million more.

But somehow, sitting underneath the stars with only his favorite book and Zhong Chenle beside him, it doesn't feel right.

It doesn't feel right to be just best of friends.

[hyucksong]

[11:23am]

Jaemin sat with a small smile on his face, chin resting in one hand as he repeatedly crushed the small and empty plastic poop-bag with the other. His Samoyed puppy was living the time of his life, running around the dog park as he chased other dogs, tongue sticking out of his happy, slobbering face.

Jaemin loved Jammy; he was his dog since he moved to Seoul, but damn -- he was bored. Not to mention that it was near freezing outside, the snow being filled with several types of puppy tracks. Most of the year was too hot for Jammy, so when winter came, it was like he was unleashing a years-worth of energy. Which meant at least two hours spent outside in the biting cold. Jaemin wasn’t sure if the numbness of his face was worth seeing his dog sniff other dog-butts. 

Then suddenly, a flash of black, brown, golden, and sable fur rushed past him, their leashes flapping in the wind behind them. The poor boy was still trying to process the army of dogs that just surged past him when a shrill voice screamed out behind him.

“GUYS! GET BACK HERE!” And with that, a bright yellow parka flew past him towards the dogs. Jaemin blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. And yet he still couldn’t process the scene in his head. You, a beautiful yellow-parka-wearing patron of the dog park, were chasing after the dogs one by one, taking off their leashes. Jaemin almost laughed -- you were running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

As he thought this, a beautiful Great Dane with uncropped ears sat at his feet, long tail wagging. His leash was blue and gold, which matched his collar that had an ‘SD’ dangling from it. Jaemin reached out to pet the giant, not abhorred by the massive canines that his tongue was partially blocking. “Scooby! There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you, bud.”

Jaemin flinched, and looked up. Sure enough, you were there, yellow parka and all. The boy’s heart suddenly did a triple flip at the sight of your red nose and wide-smiling mouth. You paid no mind to the stranger, simply reaching down and taking the long leash off your beloved pet before you sat down with a sigh next to Jaemin, Scooby resting at your feet. 

Jaemin’s gaze stayed on you. Your breath was coming out fast, the evidence of such the small clouds of hot air that left your lips and nose as you stretched your legs and arms. Despite sprinting around the park (it was pretty big) you still had a breath-taking smile plastered on your lips, eyes wide and darting around the park before slowly turning towards the pink-haired boy sitting next to you. His equally-as-wide eyes and rosy cheeks made you smile instinctively. 

“Hi,” you started, holding your gloved hand out for him to shake, “I’m Y/n.” Jaemin quickly took your hand and shook it, “I’m Jaemin.” A few seconds of silence pursued as you took your hand out of his.

Why the hell was he being to shy? Na Jaemin was not known for being shy or awkward -- he was an extrovert that thrived on human interaction. Yet, here he was, his tongue currently tied and movements stiff and unfamiliar. Jaemin racked his head for anything to say -- to keep the conversation going. Something about you made him want to keep going, despite being a total stranger. 

“Are...Are those all your dogs?” He managed to brave the serenity, though there was still hesitance on his tongue. You laughed, shaking your head, “God, no! I walk dogs in my free time. My only son in this one,” you roughly petted the dog at your feet, “His name’s Scooby.”

“Ah.” Was his lame response. Really? ‘Ah’? That’s it? He panicked in his mind, hoping to not make his emotions readable on his face. You looked expectantly at him for a few seconds before he gasped, “Oh, sorry! My dog is the Samoyed. His name’s Jammy.” You smirked, raising a brow. “Is he usually misbehaved like this?” “Huh? What do you --” and then he sees it. The horrifying truth.

Jammy is humping the golden Labrador you were walking. 

“Oh god! I’m so sorry!” Jaemin quickly sits up and runs over to his dog, ripping him from your unbothered client, ears red from the embarrassment instead of the cold. He can hear your loud laugh approaching from behind him, yet he’s too flustered to face you. 

“It’s okay, Jaemin. I don’t mind, well -- actually, Jammy here should be apologizing to Ruby.” Jaemin’s heart rate goes down at your nonchalance and he uses a fake voice to meagerly apologize to Ruby the golden lab. It takes all of him to not disappear from the spot when you hide your laughing face behind a covered hand, your squinting eyes saying it all -- you’re laughing at him.

“Hey! Why’re you laughing, I’m just trying to apologize here...” You shake your head in response, “I know, I know -- you’re just so cute with your little red cheeks and nose!” Jaemin heats up from the compliment, and he’s sure that if you looked at his feet there would be no snow, only a radius of grass from where the snow had melted. 

“I’ll tell you this; If you take me to get coffee right now, then I think Ruby and I will forgive your dog.” Ruby barks at this, and Jaemin smiles shyly, his fingers toying with the long fur on the top of Jammy’s head. It wasn’t even a choice in Jaemin’s head.

“Yeah, sure. Uh -- do you need help herding all the dogs?” You cheerily nod and hand him a few leashes, fingers brushing softly against his own; and he swears he can feel his heart pant for you to brush him with your fingers again like a dog in heat. 

Jaemin would have to be an idiot to not accept the maybe-date; there was too much opportunity in your rosy cheeks and happy eyes to not take the chance. Plus, Jammy already seemed to like you. There was a bubble of joy in his heart as your shoulder bumped against his every few steps towards the coffee shop, dogs leading the way. Jaemin knew that if this kept up, then he’d never get bored at the dog park again. And he couldn��t wait. 

[tellywoodtrash]

immj2 02.01.21 lb

jesus christ itna toh ghar vansh/riddhima ke shaadi ke time pe nahi sajaaya tha.

sis ki phattttt rahi, to put it lightly.

hears vansh’s car and is about to run out when she’s stopped by.......

huh..... ishani looks different with her hair like this. anyway she tells her to go get ahaana, as part of badi bahu duties.

vansh looking at kabir like......... KAISA TU HAI NIRMOHIIIIIII, KAISA HARJAIYAAAAAAAAAA, RE KABIRAAAAAAA MAAAAAN JAAAA...........

actually he must be playing this mashup in his head:

idhar these two looking 🔥🔥🔥 mere sarr mein toh din shagna da is goonjofying; what a beautiful WLW wedding these two would make!

anyway riddhima is needling ahaana for “answers” and ahaana’s like bitch don’t kill my vibeeeeeeee, just coz you didn’t enjoy YOUR wedding doesn’t mine should be a dragfest too.

riddhima giving lecture on shaadi being a pavitra rishta and she shouldn’t just be doing it for shits and giggles and boy, do i relate with ahaana:

i say kill riddhima off and make ahaana the lead of this show, coz she’s infinitely more interesting and rootable for.

anyway ahaana’s like bitch i’m not married to you, so i don’t have to put up with this crap; go find your pavitra rishta fellow who’s legally mandated to deal with this crisis you’re having.

lmao i’d have the same expression if  knew my friend’s toxic love story was about to implode spectacularly. maybe not to her face, but i would definitely look like this on the inside.

lol kya din aa gaye; apne hi ex ko uski sagaai mein tilak lagaana. bhagwaan aise bure din kisi ko naa dikhaaye.

they cute. i wish they were real. actually i don’t care they’re not, they’re better this way, playing all the rest of these suckers (and each other) for fools. i think this might be the most non-dysfunctional marriage on this show!

idhar this one chabaa chabaa ke telling angre ki make sure no one disturbs when riddhima and i are gonna have our epiccccccccc showdown in a communal part of the house. jaake apne bedroom mein kar na kalesh, if you don’t want anyone to see/hear?? (but actually iss ghar mein uska bhi koi fayda nahi. this place like facebook. doesn’t even give the illusion of privacy.)

kabir cutely telling ahaana ki soon vansh/riddhima will be out, and we shall rule this house. SEE? A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, WITH SHARED GOALS AND EQUITY AMONG THE PARTNERS! LOVE IT! LOVE THEM! #KAHAANA ARE THE SUPERIOR SHIP OF THIS SHOW!

lmao ahaana mann hi mann mein like, lol fool, you don’t even know who the real players of this game are. dude i love her so much.

lol whyyyyyyyy is ishaani dancing so happily at the engagement of someone she doesn’t give a single fuck about? isse bhi vansh waala dance keeda hai kya?

anyway, vansh keeps getting called away every time riddhima wants to talk to him and ouff, i have had enough. fwding to the confrontation.

dramatic fucker set up a wholeass spotlight, to make this even more of a production.

aslkjdlaskjdlsakjdlaskjlkjlkj so much lighting change. imagine poor angre stuck in some back room changing the lights as per the script vansh has given him.

lmaoooooooooo this is like when you wanna confront your parents for some shit and they bring up some entirely different kaand you did and now the conversation where you were supposed to have the upper hand is all about how YOU suck .

“aaj ka din bohut saare sawaalon ko janam de gaya hai. aur main woh saare sawaal tumse poochna chaahti hoon.”

she’s legit asking for a promise that he’ll tell the truth. and sis, how THE FUCK would you know????? already apni maa ki jhooti kasam khaa chuka hai yeh, how the hell you trust anything this man says?

anyway he promises. with a look on his face like THE AUDACITY OF THIS B TO DEMAND THE TRUTH OF ME WHEN SHE’S A STONE COLD LIAR. he’s not wrong.

chaliye badhte hain sawaalon ke taraf.

“kyun chalti hai pawan?”

“kyun jhoome hai gagan?”

“kyun machalta hai mann?”

“oh and while you’re at it, can you also explain how to convert celcius to fahrenheit......... coz i still don’t really get it.”

lol ok ok her questions were “ahaana was in delhi on the day you said she saved your life. so she didn’t save your life?” (no.) “you lied to me? you brought ahaana into the house with some motive?” (yes.) “so all those attacks.............. you told her to try and kill me?” (yes.)

denial. it’s not just a river in egypt. it flows through the mind of every sis who thinks purely with her pussy instead of her god gifted brain.

the fact that this bitch is still standing here talking to him when he just straight-up said that he’s the one who plotted to kill her and then pretended to save her....... *tiktok waala HOW BIZARRE music plays*

OH MY GOD HER ASS IS HUNG UP ON THE FACT THAT THEY HAD SEX/HE IS PRETENDING TO BE IN LOVE WITH HER MORE THAN THE FACT THAT HE’S BEEN TRYING TO MURDER HER DIRECTLY/INDIRECTLY EVER SINCE THEY MET. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS CHICK?????? YOUR VIRGINITY MATTERS MORE TO YOU THAN YOUR GODDAMN LIFE??????????????

brief cut back to ahaana thanking bappa for making her a woman who thinks with her brain instead of her vajayjay.

idhar dhakka-mukki shuru.

toh ofc bhai kaise peeche rahein? unne bhi apna move maar liya.

bohut ban liya tumne derek o brien. time for ME to be the quizmaster, wifey.

ok his first question dumb as fuck. “did you love me when you married me?” ofc not, you coerced her into it, giving her three days. she told you that she didn’t wanna marry you. how the fuck you gonna hold that against her? even if a chick had feelings for you at that point, they’d outright hate you if you forced them into marriage.

“was i just a task for you when we got married?”

lmao she’s not liking it when she’s the one in the hotseat.

“didn’t you just marry me so that you could gather proof against me and get me jailed for murdering ragini?”

ah man, can’t say i don’t feel bad for the guy. just a little bit. bassss thodaaaa. ittu sa. 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

anyway, long story short, you a lying bitch who’s been cheating me since the moment you stepped into my life. so......................

this dumbass still like, but i wrote everything in the letter, and he read it and gave me the rose!!!!!! THE ROSE WAS A LIE?????????????/ someone hold me back coz this b really be testing my patience with how fucking dheent she is.

jeene ka will power ho toh vansh jaisa, who literally came back from death just to fuck with her because DHOKAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! idhar my internet goes down for half an hour and i’m crying out for death already.

riddhima trying to defend herself and he’s just like

how is she supposed to tell this knife business from the sexy knife business? main hoti toh pavalovian response se i’d get turned on whenever i saw the dude with a knife.

oh i think she’s kinda turned on anyway. nothing like the fear of impending death to make you horny, i guess.

[cynergy-laughter]

Obey Me! One Master to Abridge Them All! Ep.3

3: I Pact You a Lunch~! (Rated PG-13)

MC: *laying in bed, thinking about stuff* I’ve met all but one... who’s the youngest brother? The Avatar of Sloth... I imagine him as a scene boy, carrying a pillow everywhere.

*D.D.D. Vibrates*

📶________0️⃣1️⃣:4️⃣3️⃣________🔋69%

Levi: So you are sure that Lucifer said that Mammon’s assets were frozen? Like he said the word frozen?

MC: Yes, for the 18th time, as in Let it Go, as in ❄️❄️❄️ Like what do you want from me?

Levi: ... Come to the kitchen.

MC: You getting another Game Fuel energy drink?

Levi: NO... Maybe... no! Just come to the kitchen. And be quick about it, normie.

__________________________________

MC: *smirks* It’s been a day and Otakon still hasn’t noticed.

————

MC: *walking into the kitchen, and hears a rustling in the kitchen* A burgular is eating our food? *walks backward, and hides behind the wall* okay... 1... 2... *jumps into the kitchen* FREEZE SUCKA!

Beel: *jumps up and hits head on the top of the fridge* OW! *cough cough* ah shi-...! You startled me!

MC: I startled you?! B-Beel?! I thought you were a burgular! But I can see I was right, you’re the Hamburgular!

Beel: *eating a leftover burger* I eat when I’m lonely... and hungry, and my whole life. What are you doing here?

MC: Oh I’ve been there... But I was seeing if there were anything to eat, I couldn’t sleep.

Beel: Ah, a fellow midnight snacker, Huh? Well sorry to disappoint you, but I just polished off everything in the fridge.

MC: Well, I guess I’ll have to resort to my own stockpile.

Beel: You were holding out on me with snacks earlier. I want more.

MC: Alright, but first... *pulls out a snack cake* Sit.

Beel: *sits*

MC: Roll over.

Beel: *rolls to the right*

MC: ... Play dead.

Beel: *faints in a dramatic way*

MC: *blinks and goes over to Beel and rubs his belly* Good boy! Who’s a good boy?

Beel: *chuckles and squirms* Thahat tickles.

MC: *gives him the snack cake* There you go.

*interview*

MC: As frightening as the amount of stuff he eats is, Beel is pretty adorable... I absolutely love how he’d do anything for food. He’s like a mix of Garfield, Nermal, and Odie. Always hungry, super cute, and innocent, to an extent. That’s my first impression of him anyway, watch him really be a hard rock.

————

MC: By the way, where’s the 7th brother?

Beel: Do not talk about him, especially not to Lucifer! You should just stop sticking your nose into business that isn’t yours. Thanks for the snack cake, but I’m leaving. *storms off*

MC: ... Call Me... *takes out another snack cake and eats it*

*interview*

MC: ... I guess that was a sore subject... I think I heard him crying... Now I’m determined.

————

???: Psst! Hey!

MC: *looks up* God? Is that you? Grandma? Uncle Jack? Dad?

???: No! Down here! Help me out!

MC: Levi, what are you doing down there?

Levi: Planting a garden and talking to the tomatoes, what do you think I’m doing? I was hiding from Beel!

MC: Are you stuck?

Levi: N-No! I’m not! I’m just... grr... sore cause you... ack! Kept me... come on... waiting!

MC: *takes out D.D.D., gets down onto the floor near the island and makes a video of them and Levi.* Just making memories with my best bro Levi.

Levi: Gah! Hey, what are you doing?!

MC: Levi thought it would fun to try and dive through the island, and he got stuck! Heh, classic Levi. So glad you chose to stop gaming and hang out with me, your best pal! *stops recording*

Levi: YOU DELETE THAT RIGHT NOW! I WILL NOT BE LOOPED INTO YOUR NORMIE POSTS!

MC: Heh, okay okay... there, it’s deleted, alright, let’s get you out.

*interview*

MC: It’s not really deleted, I just sent it to my other phone and deleted it off the D.D.D. It actually gets good reception down here. So, I have some leverage, and Levi thinks that it’s not on my D.D.D. Maybe next time, don’t talk trash about my baby boy Shizuo Heiwajima.

————

Levi: Ugh, finally. Now, back to business... since Lucifer told you that Mammonms assets were frozen, there’s only one place it could be.

MC: ... So why are we in the kit- no. You’ve gotta be kidding me... in the freezer?

Levi: I mean it’s worth a shot. After all, Lucifer wouldn’t put it somewhere far away, like over on Diavolo’s personal ski resort.

MC: Well... work smarter not harder. Which also works better cause it deters idiots.

Levi: *opens the freezer* Let’s see... Hmm... Frostbitten Salmon... Freezerburn Gorgon steaks... Oh, there’s Beel’s ice cream sandwich he lost a few thousand years ago.

MC: *blinks* That’s an ice cream sandwich? It looks like the inside of a meteorite...

Levi: Oh! Here it is! *picks it up and falls down, the block of ice with the credit card resting on his chest* Ack! It’s cold and heavy! H-Help!

MC: You are a demon, you are stronger than me, and I’m a human.

Levi: Just help me team lift it to the microwave!

MC: Alright, hold on!

————

Mammon: Hey! What are you two doi- *gasps* Is that Goldie?!

Levi: Yep! I found it all by myself.

MC: ... Oh hell no, you got me messed up Boku No Shut-in... Wait... he named his credit card Goldie?

Mammon: Shut it human, me and Goldie have been through so much together, you don’t have what we have!

MC: You sound like you both starred in a romcom called The Golden Moron.

Levi: *snorts at that* And you aren’t getting it back until you do what I say.

Mammon: P-Please sir, Please May I have her?

MC: This guy did an Oliver Twist impression... I’m done.

Levi: I will when you give me the Seraphina figurine you won.

Mammon: The Sera-who?

Levi: Seraphina.

Mammon: *blinks* Seratonin?

Levi: Ser-A-Phi-Na! You don’t even know about her, you probably forgot all about her! I got pile driven by you trying to get her back, and you were half asleep naked!

MC: ... lucky bastard...

Levi: How dare you forget about the cold, egotistical Queen of the High Elves who wants nothing more than affection and love-!

MC: Hey, Otakon 2020, can we wrap this up here, I’d like to get some sleep before Lucifer blasts the morning bugle, thank you very much!

Levi: *slowly turns head, hurt* How dare you...

————

Mammon: I’ll do anything, just give me back my card.

Levi: Only if you also make a pact with Enn. So I can finally get my money back from you.

MC: Oh now we’re getting somewhere.

Mammon: Ain’t no way I’m gonna be making a pact with this simple, lowlife, good for nothing, piece of garbage.

MC: I’ve been called worse, you Pell Grant Reject.

Levi: Oh Luciferrrrrr~ 🎶 Mammon’s defrosting his credit card~!

Mammon: I mean yes, i’ll form a pact with this amazing, first class, special, beautiful slice of heaven. It would be my honor~.

MC: Don’t push your luck, Mammon.

*interview*

MC: This fucking sucks! In prison, you have to take down the biggest baddest mfer down in order for people not to mess with you and get respect, and then the funniest. Now I only got the funniest guy and the biggest and baddest is still not taking me seriously. So what the heck does this mean for me? I’m at second best right now.

Mammon: *next to them* Hey, you know I’m right here right?

MC: Yeah, and you started the insulting first, and plus, I said you were the funniest, take credit where it’s given, dumbass.

*moment of pause*

MC: I’m sorry I called you dumbass...

Mammon: Oh you’re so kind, Enn, I’m so grateful to be your demon. *Fake Smile™️*

MC: Well now I’m not sorry Yeager Sarcastic.

[drabblesbydobi]

Hyunsuk went down on the architectural department awhile to ask the team leaders about the progress of their ongoing projects. Well he can just tell them to go into his office but he wants to check on his wife and see if she's doing fine.

"Goodmorning, Sir!" the employees stood up greeted him as he entered the department. Tin also did the same as if he is not her husband.

While one of the team leader is discussing his plans on the project, he slightly peaked at Celestine. She's wearing a white fitted turtle neck and a black pencil skirt. He's lowkey checking her out since she doesn't even look stressed while working compared to the other employees. He smiled knowing that his wife is one of the best architects in his company.

His thoughts got distracted when he saw one of the employee casually looking at Celestine instead of working.

"Sir hindi niyo po ba gusto yung idea?" The team leader asked since his forehead suddenly creased.

"Ah no, I like the idea. Send me the file of the the whole plan" He said to dismiss the employee in front of him.

Hyunsuk stood there for awhile and saw the guy still looking at his wife. He wants to walk towards her and kiss her in front of that guy but he just dismissed his thoughts and went back to his office.

He's currently reading the project plan sent to him but he just can't process everything so he texted her to come up to his office.

"Pasok" Hyunsuk said when he heard a knock on his door. Tin has the rights to just barge into his office anytime without knocking but she still treat him as a boss when they're in the company.

She opened the door and peaked first to ask him what's up but he just stared at her so she decided to enter the room already. She doesn't have any idea why he called her and as far as she know she didn't do anything wrong and she's not even a team leader.

"Why did you call me?" She asked and she stood up in front of his desk.

Instead of answering, he tapped his desk as a signal for her to sit there.

"Mahal?"

She looks so confused and cannot think of a reason why Hyunsuk is suddenly acting like this.

"Just come here" He said and looked at her seriously.

She sat down on his desk and as she was about to cross her legs, Hyunsuk held her thighs and stood in front of her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck while examining his face, "You look mad. Why?" She asked and pouted.

He didn't talk and just kissed her lips. She kissed him back but the thought of someone might barged into his office bothers her.

"Mahal, wait" She pulled away from him and place her hand on his chest. "Baka may pumasok"

Instead of locking the door, he pressed the intercom to talk to his secretary,

"Don't let anyone come in. I'm having a serious talk with my wife"

"Noted, Sir"

Hyunsuk kissed her again and wrapped her legs around his waist. He lightly gripped her thighs which caused her to moan.

"Mahal" She called him when he let go of her lips and kissed her on the side of her ears instead.

"What happened?" She asked and as much as she want to continue what they're doing, she wants to know first the reason why he's acting like this.

"Answer me or aalis ako dito ngayon" she said with authority since he's still not talking to her.

Hyunsuk groaned and stopped kissing her. He hugged her waist and placed his chin on her shoulder before answering, "Naiinis lang ako kasi nakatitig sayo yung isang architect kanina"

She laughed and pushed him away from her. She went down on his desk and walked slightly away from him. Tin started posing and even did a catwalk in front of him.

"Duh mahal ang ganda ko kaya, who wouldn't look? I mean, look at me" She said and pointed her face and her body.

Hyunsuk looks so amused while watching his wife flex her physique. He really loves her confidence. Well, as she should. He knows he's one hell of a lucky man.

Tin walked towards him and wrapped her arms on his waist, "Mahal don't be jealous. May anak na nga tayo oh. Tingin lang naman kaya nilang gawin" She said and kissed him on the cheek but sneaky Hyunsuk followed her lips and lifted her again on his desk.

She pulled away from their kiss and started kissing his neck. Tin likes placing small hickeys on him which he clearly don't mind. She owns him after all.

He lifted her top together with her brassiere to reveal her breast. Her hand automatically gripped his hair when he took one of her mounds inside his mouth. She's getting loud as the time goes by so he covered her mouth with his hand while he's still busy with her breasts.

She guided his face up to kiss him while Hyunsuk lifted her skirt up. He traced her folds slowly which made her moan loudly. "Quiet, mahal" he said before kissing her again to drown out her moans. He wouldn't mind if people from the outside will hear her but he's worried she might get embarassed. He knows Tin can't really control her moans so he placed a handkerchief on her mouth for her to gag on.

He sat down and pulled her thights towards his face. He removed her underwear and stared at her folds for a moment to admire his view. Tin got shy and as she was about to cover it, he grabbed her arms and pinned it on her sides.

He held her thigh as he started kissing her folds. She can't help but threw her head back and grip his hair hardly. Thankfully Hyunsuk placed a handkerchief on her mouth since she knows she cannot control her moans right now.

She looked down and almost gasped when she saw him staring at her while he's eating her out. He saw how disheveled she is right now and he wants to see more so he inserted a finger on her core as he lap her juices away. Tin almost screamed when he added another finger inside her. She don't know what to do anymore or where to place her hand. It feels so good she started tearing up.

Tin got quiet which is a sign that she's already close. He already knows her habits when they're doing it. It means she's already overwhelmed with what she's feeling that she cannot find her voice anymore. He removed his fingers and sucked her core. He felt her body vibrate and licked all of her juices.

Hyunsuk stood up to hug her and waited for her to catch her breath. "I love you" he whispered on her ear and stroked her back to calm her down.

"love you" she said in a low voice. She was about to bury her face on his neck but she saw some of her extra juices on the side of his lips which made her laugh. She took a tissue and cleaned up his face.

He cleaned her up down there and helped her put back her underwear.

"Pero mahal" she protested when he's putting back her underwear and looked at him knowingly.

"No, its fine" He smiled and gave her a peck.

"Eh pano ka?" She looked at him worriedly.

"Let's just continue this later at home" He winked at her and kissed her again.

Things were about to get heated again when the intercom suddenly beeped and he pressed it without even breaking their kiss

"Sir andito po yung kaibigan niyo, si Sir Jihoon po"

The two of them laughed when they heard Jihoon's name.

"Let him in" Celestine told Hyunsuk's secretary.

Jihoon entered and he saw Tin sitting at Hyunsuk's desk and of course, he already understand what just happened.

"Tangina niyong dalawa. Tanghaling tapat!" He shouted at them and the couple just laughed at him.

[nightowlfandom]

Kim Namjoon- Mixing Business With Pleasure (Office AU) Part 1

REQUEST FROM PROMPT LIST- RIGHT HERE

Leggo!

If this sounds familiar it probably is, I’m not in a creative space today since my request box is emptyyyyy. A part of this was inspired by a scene in the Webtoon let’s play where Sam stands up to Charles and it’s still to this day my most favorite part of that Webtoon. Like yes girl, tell him! Gosh I loved her aah!

Also I know that nobody probably cares but would anyone like me to post a playlist of my inspiration/writing list. I kind of want you all to know what goes through my brain when I’m typing. I’m probably gonna do it anyways so just like yah

...

You were grateful your aunt had managed to get you a job here, she just didn’t tell you what a complete bully the boss was. You liked to stay out of his way other than do what you were supposed to, bring him papers and what not. 

That didn’t stop your constant run-ins though. He was pretty cold. You were surprised that his heart wasn’t made of ice either. He shamelessly used his charm to get out of getting his ass kicked though and it baffled you. 

“Get it done.” Namjoon slammed the folder down onto the desk of the girl next to you. “Or you’re fired.” 

“Y-yes sir!” the girl looked like she was on the verge of a freakout as she began typing. “You.” he pointed to you. “When you of the phone with Mr. Jung, bring the report to my office.”

“Yes sir.” you said, holding back the urge to roll your eyes. 

You had a history with Namjoon, that dated all the way back to high school. You didn’t like going back in the past but it was no mystery why he was the way he was. It had nothing to do with you, but since you were the best friend of the girl he was dating with (who dumped him), it got you some...points. That’s another story though.

...

“Mr. Ki-” 

“So you got it done?” Namjoon took the documents from you.

“Yes sir.” you replied. “He said that he will definitely be working with you in the future, I just had to convince him...by that I mean beg.” you mumbled.

“Is that a new perfume?” he suddenly asked. “You smell different.”

“Uh...yeah.” you trailed off. “Is that an issue? Is the smell too-”

“No...It’s nice. It fits you, you should wear it more often.” he looked down at the papers. Your silence made him speak further. “It was a compliment Y/N.” 

“Oh..thank you sir.” you said. “I’ll get back to work.” you smiled, bowing a little. You exited the office, about to go back to your desk when you were blocked.

Office mean girl, no stupid wannabe korean drama lifestyle if fit without them. Don’t forget the useless, brainless followers to match.

“It looks like my computer is malfunctioning, so I hope you don’t mind me asking you do send out some emails for me.” she said. Whatever the hell her name was.

“Um, I have my own work to do and doing your work doesn’t seem like a fun time.”

“Well either fix my computer or do my work, there’s no in between.” she looked bored.

“How about a fist between the eyes.” you suddenly found yourself saying.

“Ugh! How violent!”

“You have been a pain in my ass since the day I met you, you know that” you asked. “Why Mr.Kim hired you I will never understand since you don’t have the capacity to-.”

“Are you jealous of her Y/N.” her friend said cut you off, smirking. “You didn’t get the promotion you wanted and now your all mad.”

“Hm...Y/N can’t help it that she’s mediocre and oops!-”

You were suddenly greeted by the feeling of something hot, thankfully not burning liquid. you sniffed your now brown stained shirt. Coffee. 

“What’s going on here!?” You heard Mr. Kim storm in upon hearing the round of “OOOOOHHSS” from onlookers

Namjoon was surprised to say the least to see you standing there, soaking wet. 

“Oh No...I’m sorry! It was an accident.” she laughed, not knowing Namjoon was watching the two of you. You could see him out the corner of your eye....and y’know what...fuck it. Namoon saw the coffee dripping down from your hair to your clothes....fuck...it

Crack!

You wanted to say you weren’t aware of what you were doing in that moment but you knew full and well what you were doing and why. You had enough of her constant belittlement and sabotage of your work. You didn’t care if you had gotten fired that day, in fact that would only add to the victory. It just felt good to feel her nose crack under the force of your knuckles.

“Oh my god! She punched me! My nose!!!” she screeched, pointed at you.

“YOU WANT ME TO DO IT AGAIN!” You threatened getting closer. She could only scramble to back away. No one came to her aid or anything, they were too busy looking at you. “I HAVE HAD IT WITH YOU. I’VE HAD IT WITH THIS JOB,  AND I AM DONE!”

She looked up and saw Namjoon and instantly pointed at you. “She’s crazy!! She punched me for no reason! Fire her!!!” she cried. “She started it!” she lied.

“Y/N...a word please?” he said lowly, a glare etched on his face. Begrudgingly, you followed, crossing your arms. You looked around, your fist clenched. “If none of you have any work to do, I’ll be happy to give you a stack of paperwork.” he barked. You walked into Namjoon’s office, only to hear him slam the door shut. “Now before I lash out and fire you, I’m assuming you’re aware of the company policy of no fighting?”

“Fire me??!?! You’re seriously talking about firing me?!?!” you laughed in an over-exaggerated tone, but really you were fighting back new emotions welling up.

“Are you crying?” he asked, looking taken aback. “Y/N L/N Are you really crying right now?!?!”

“...I’m covered...head to toe...in hot coffee and the first time I defend myself, you’re threatening to fire me!. What the hell do you think I’m doing?!!? Have you any idea what goes on outside your office walls!!!”

“I know that I saw you react to playground bullying by breaking a presteigious worker’s nose.” he said as if what he was was factual.

“Y-you think that idiot is presteigious, she’s been getting everyone to do her job for her since she was even hired!” your office voice was gone and the real Y/N was starting to break free. “You’d have to be real fucking stupid to think she’s anything other than useless.” 

Before you could say another word, Namjoon began unbuttoning his shirt. “Take off your shirt.” he sighed. 

“I’m sorry?” your eyes widened. 

“Your shirt is covered in coffee and you are not returning to work looking. So take off your shirt and put this one on.” he said again, holding out the shirt he had just taken off his body. “I keep a spare in my briefcase.”

. “I’m going to have a word with Ms.Na.” he exited the room.

Ah so what was her name...

...

The next day you had walked into the building, still very upset from yesterday. Namjoon had called you into his office with a proposition...

“Apologize!?!?!” You were taken aback at his words. You had leaned against the door with your arms crossed. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Yes. Ms.L/N” Namejoon warned. “Please don’t raise your voice at me. I only saw what I saw and if what i saw was you punch Ms. Na in the nose, then I have to set punishments accordingly.”

“Oh so forget the fact that she just poured hot coffee on my head an tried to degrade me-”

“You know what Ms.L/N, you leave me no choice-”

“ NO! Do You know what Mr.Kim. Instead of being standoffish and rude to people why don’t you try being nice for once in your miserable life. Has it ever occured to you that maybe being kind and actually smiling for one would actually make you a few friends. Maybe you want me to apologize to her because you and her are one and the same. You aren’t afraid to be mean and hateful towards people if it means you get what you want! People aren’t scared of you’re because you’re the boss, they’re scared of you because all you do is bully and scare people into think they’re gonna lose their jobs if they don’t do what you want. Well you know what? I am fed up! Fire me if you want but I refuse to stand by and let you or anyone bully me anymore! I refuse to apologize to that little brat and if you think for one second I will then you have lose your mind,” you spat, exhaling sharply. You had said everything in one breath so you had no idea what you said. “...S-Sir.” you added on politely. 

Oh no, now that came out of nowhere, oh man...oh man oh man oh man. 

Mr.Kim’s face was blank or at least blank in the sense that he wasn’t glaring into your soul. Suddenly, he smirked. He began laughing a little too. He reached out his hand, smirking a little. He untucked your shirt that you hadn’t bothered to fix and straightened out your collar.

“Hm...Spoken like a true future boss. So You finally stand up to me.” he chuckled. “I knew I liked you Y/N” he bit his lip. He laughed a little straightened up your necklace. “Maybe I should have given you that promotion.” he sighed.

“Then why didn’t you?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I was testing you.” his fingertips moved up to move your hair out of your face. “And I think you just may have passed. However, you can’t be a boss without looking the part.” 

“So...does this mean I get to keep my job?”

“Yes Y/N.....” he chuckled. “You can keep your job.”

“Mr. Ki-” the door opened and since you were standing in front of the door. 

“Ack!” you stumbled forward, falling right into Namjoon’s arms. Your noses bumped against one another, his lips brushing yours momentarily.

“Oh, it looks like you two are busy sooo-” the door closed.

You yanked yourself back, standing up straight. “I am so sorry sir! I didn’t mean to- I fell...I’m just....Bye now!” You squeaked, bolting out of the room.

[headoverhiddles]

We've Got A Deal - Beetlejuice x Reader [Smut]

Synopsis: Beetlejuice makes a demon deal that gets you desperately horny for him for 24 hours straight. You find out, and curse him back with the same affliction.

Notes: Ah, my spooky horndog ghost. Slowly getting back into Michael Keaton rn so this happened. Also, slight warning, this may be a little dubcon-y, if you squint. Both are consenting tho, as any relationship with BJ is insanely tumultuous a little wild.

Beetlejuice paces in the hellish abode of the demon he summoned.

"Alright, alright, just listen. Hey-- Hermano! You gotta help me out here."

The demon sighs. "What? What do you want?"

"I need something real good. Something that'll knock my socks off. Hers too!"

"Why don't you just do it?"

"Well. I would. Duh. I just, uh... y'know, I don't have the juice for it right now."

"You're not powerful enough," the demon smirks, sitting forward, and BJ growls.

"You want my business or not, chump?"

The demon sighs again. "I can offer you a sex curse."

"Curse..." BJ shifts. "Yeah, just... why don't we call it a spell, alright?"

The demon shrugs. "Whatever helps you sleep at night. Once I cast it, your lover will want you desperately for 24 hours."

"In other words, (y/n)'s gonna want me to rail her on every surface of the house for an entire day?" Beej grins.

"Essentially," the demon mutters, making a face. "Do we have a deal?"

"Hell yeah we do!" Beetlejuice jumps up, shaking the demon's hand heartily. "Throw in an extra hour for me, will ya?" He winks, and appears with a black poof back in the bedroom.

You come out of the shower, squeezing your hair out, and suddenly frown.

"What..." you murmur, and look up at your undead boyfriend, spread out on the bed with a dead rose between his teeth.

"Heya babes," he smirks, and you can't explain it-- you just need him.

You drop the towel, and stride over to the bed, sliding into his lap and making out with him. You drag yourself against his growing bulge, moaning softly into his neck. You must be PMSing, cause you've never wanted Beetlejuice so fucking bad.

You lick over his lips and up to his nose, nearly coming then and there as he grabs your tits.

"Awww fuck yeah!" BJ shouts, moving his hands down to your hips, and dragging you down against him, "I got 24 hours of this?!"

You pause, and tear yourself away from him for a second. Your eyes narrow, and you sniff him. He doesn't smell like his usual grave rot and deadly nightshade cologne. He smells like demon ash.

You get off him, crossing your arms, and he follows quickly, pants unzipped.

"Wait! Wait, babes, you can't leave me like this!"

"I can very much leave you like this."

Opening the book BJ had taken out on the mantle, you start to read the demon incantation.

"AW NAH!" BJ shouts, before you're transported down to the same demon's lair. You're a little bit freaked out, since all this dead, supernatural stuff only really started a year ago for you, but you adjust to the fiery living room you've just transported yourself to.

"Ah," the demon looks you up and down, then takes his reading glasses off. "(y/n) I presume?"

"Same spell," you grit out, "All day."

The demon chuckles. "Have fun." He shakes your hand.

When you get back, BJ is pouting in his old musty chair. He looks up.

"You didn't have to reverse it, y'know. It's basically just satanic viagra, I mean, c'mon."

You wait for it to hit, standing by the mantle, and when it does, he looks at you, eyes lit up.

"Oh..." he looks down at his crotch. "Oh hell yeah, babes, I am feelin' it..." He gets up, walking over as he realizes what you've done. "Oh, see this is why we're MADE for each other... oh yeah... I am gonna make that pussy feel so good, babygirl--"

"I'm inviting Barbara and Adam over for dinner."

"Na-ffija-ne-do-eeueuuigh!"

BJ watches you walk off, falling to his knees and throwing a mini tantrum.

Later, at dinner, you sit across the table from the ghostly couple you two are friends with.

"What a lovely surprise," Adam says, sipping his drink, "Barbara and I were just fiddling around the house when we got your invitation."

"That's what we're supposed to be doing," BJ mutters bitterly, "'Cept a little less fiddling, and a lot more f--"

You kick him in the crotch, and smile sweetly.

"We hadn't seen you in so long, figured it would be a good time." You try not to look at your boyfriend, as the spell is still in effect. Honestly, you just want to get down underneath this table and suck him off, but this is his punishment for putting a damn sex curse on you.

"Is... everything alright?" Barbara asks, exchanging looks with you, and you cross your legs, trying to ignore the lewd gestures BJ is making with his tongue at you.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, just... feeling a little hot."

"Wish we could feel hot," Barbara sighs, "Or feel anything. Being dead sucks sometimes."

"You're right, honey," Adam agrees, "At least we didn't go pale, though. Uh, no offense, Beej."

"None... none taken..." He must be really distracted, cause he totally would've taken offense to that. Your boyfriend suddenly clears his throat, and looks down. "Ah, look at that, dropped my napkin, oh..." He drops down to his hands and knees to crawl under the table. Your eyes widen as you feel him roughly bury himself between your legs. Barb and Adam raise their eyebrows in alarm as the table bumps up a little. You tilt your head back for a split second, before you clamp your thighs shut on his head.

"Get. Out," you growl, and the Maitlands look up at you.

"Did we do something wrong?" Adam asks, and you look up.

"N-not you! I was just talking to... um..." You look at the food on your plate. "I don't like my peas... in my gravy."

BJ sits in his seat again, holding his neck. You look at the exposed skin there, and want nothing more than for him to pin you down and destroy you. You want his spooky, dirty fingers all over you, on you, inside you. Is he...

You try your hardest not to look under the table... but you can't help it. Taking a quick peek, you see his hand on his cock, stroking himself through his slacks with his napkin over top. The clear outline of it is noticeable, and so fucking big. Your mouth waters as you tear your eyes away, and try not to rub yourself against your chair for relief.

"Come n get it," Beej hisses so only you can hear, smug smile on his lips.

"Well, this was fun," you suddenly say.

"Yes, I guess we should be--" Adam starts to say, but Beetlejuice has already started pushing them up and out the door.

"Love you guys-- love your shirt buddy, we still shop at the same store, good catch up, we'll do lunch, SEE YA!"

The door slams, and you're thrown against the wall by BJ's invisible force, chest heaving. Fuck, you've never been so horny, never needed anyone this bad.

Beej's eyes roam your body, and he starts doing what he likes to call his "mating" dance, shaking his arms and dancing toward you.

"C'mere, doll," he growls, and dips you, kissing you hard. You moan through it, and start to palm him, desperate to get that big cock out and inside you. He bucks into your palm, and you finally take him out, stroking up to the head.

"Fuck me from behind, daddy, fucking please?" you gasp urgently. Holy hell, you need him so bad. Beetlejuice looks at you, his voice becoming normal and serious.

"You know, when I died, I thought I would be doomed to my own eternal hell. They must have gotten the papers mixed up." He attacks you again with kisses up your back, and parts your legs a little more, pushing in.

"Oh, ohhh yeah..." Beej hisses, "Daddy's girl... so fucking good, babes..." He keeps thrusting, rocking you against the coffee table.

"Mmm," you whine, and you're both already so close. All you'd really need right now is--

He pulls out, flips you around, and goes back in, kissing you rough and sloppy. He hooks one of your legs over his shoulder, going even deeper with the new angle. You moan into his mouth, grabbing at his wild hair, and come hard around his cock. He grunts in relief, thrusting a few more times before pulling out and coming on your chest. You look down, and think about how hot that is.

"Oh, sweetie. You remembered," you tease, getting up and dragging a finger through it, "I like it messy." Beej lays back on the bed, letting out a breath.

"You know me, babe. I always get messy," he grins, whistling in awe. "Wowsers. What a roll in the hay."

"And we still have half a day of this stupid little curse left," you grin. He wiggles his eyebrows at you.

[01010010-posts]

— stuck/stick with me.

requests: I've got a great idea!! (Or so it seems rn) the Android Bois walking in on their s/o changing. How would they react? Bonus points if their s/o is more flustered than they are because they're stuck in a piece of clothing that isn't easy to take off 😈

could i possibly request a headcanon for the rk's where their s/o is getting dressed/undressed and suddenly their fav song comes on the radio/from the tv and they just start making these small dance moves while they forget what they were doing. like they just have half their clothes off and the bois come in. how would they react?? me? not exactly following requests? no, na-ah, not me.

Connor:

• “you’re sleepy?” he asks, tenderly caressing your hair, a soft smile on his lips while looking at your half closed lids • “mh-mh” you weakly murmur, almost dozing • “c’mon then, let’s go to bed” he turns off the tv and mechanically touches his knees, as if requiring them to help him get up, as if they could ever get stiff • he chuckles seeing your drowsy expression and can do nothing but being overwhelmed by an incredible sweetness, realizing how lucky he is to have you • he gets closer, leaving a peck on your forehead as he lifts you up with his arms around your figure, yes, he’s definitely spoiling you • your mind is partly awake partly in the land of dreams at this point • but you still manage to slurs out some words, head resting against his shoulder “how did that commercial go? tuttururuttu” you feebly sing • “you really need to get some shut-eye soon” and his chest rumbles with laughter, because, honestly, he was not expecting that • ‘you’re especially pretty when exhausted’ he’d like to confess you • he props you on the bed and hands you the pajamas • you do your best to not give in, ‘im not tired’ echoes in your brain as you put on clothes at a sloth speed • he’s this close to burst out snickering as he’s watching your cute ass self battle with a t-shirt • you’re so damn lovely he can’t • and out of the blue you continue your song, softly moving your legs as you’re putting on a pair of pants • he probably dies at that point • he, already in sleepwear, sits near your side, swiftly assisting you into changing since you’ve just got your right foot in the left leg of the trousers • and he goes along with you, his voice software imitating the music’s tempo • “you’re good at this” you murmur, tone doughy from the impending fatigue • “am I?” he whispers, giving you yet another kiss on the face, tucking you in “could say the same about you” • “am I?” you copy him, eyes already betraying your desire to let this conversation last longer • “yes, you are” he nods and smiles, knowing you probably didn’t even hear him, too busy drifting off “goodnight, love” 

RK900:

• you got off earlier • and you know this sap is going to take his time working serious stuff • so what’s best than changing into something cozy and eat unhealthy when he’s not here to scold you? • nothing trust me • yeah he MIGHT be the latest model in the whole state and a detective • but that bitch won’t ever know where you keep your secret junk food stash • actually he does know, he’s just playing along • you grab a few chips to placate your hunger, wipe your hands onto a towel and slide off towards the bedroom • nothing special happened today, in fact nothing special happened all week, but, to tell the truth, you feel.... happy? yes, you feel weirdly happy. serene, perhaps. you’ve got food on your table, a house, a partner. there’s no reason to have negative emotions if you think about it. • so it’s inevitable for you to start singing a little tune in the middle of searching for your sweatpants • what you don’t know is that this stupid little shit is home as well • but yep, of course, he’s silent as hell • you told him MULTIPLE times to put on a cowbell or something he has no right to scare you like THAT • he sighs as he sees your coat placed on the couch and not on the hall tree • OKAY fine he’ll put it there for you • as he’s doing that he hears you humming to yourself and gosh he melts on the spot • a dumb smile appears on his lips without him even realizing • he’s drawn to the bedroom and to you, bouncing your head left and right while you’re changing your shirt • he wants to give you a little surprise so he slowly starts to kiss your neck from behind • WHAT THE FUCK you’re obviously startled and your heart jump in your throat • he’s quick to repeat sorry over and over, fidgeting with his own hands because no, you were so cute, he didn’t want you to stop he’s such a clumsy dork he’s so so sorry • you brush it off, it’s nothing really, you just need to– • to– • “baby” • “mh?” • “im kinda– you know.... stuck.” • “what” • “my shirt. stuck. my arms are starting to hurt.” • “I take back my apology you broke the magic” • “COME ON I LOVE YOU” 

RK800-60:

• he insisted on taking you out on a date • which is hella cute if you ask • but he said it was going to be something special, something for your anniversary • ugh, this means you should dress up nicely, he’ll do the same after all • he’s such a dork you could take a hour on deciding your outfit and he wouldnt mind • you’re kinda there, juggling between clothes, and suddenly you hear him turning the radio on • gosh if he loves that tiny thingy • and gosh if he loves putting your favourite music • you unconsciously smile because gosh he is your dork • “babe! I’m ready, what about you?” he inquires from the living room • you can already picture him: seated on the couch with his usual weird position – the one he does only when he’s waiting for you – leg stiff, back properly straight, not touching the sofa and leaving few inches of space between, hands on his knees, tension in every fibre of his wires, fingers probably tapping out of impatience because as he told you one time ‘we spend too little time together! humans sleep and work so much!’ • “yeah– im almost done– FUCK!” • he listens to your struggle, perhaps about being stuck on some complicated piece of clothing, and giggles, standing up and going to see if you need any help • you surely do • ‘everything’s all right?’ he’d like to announce himself with a bit of a hint of a joke but words die in his mouth and he’s capable of only gulping down inexistent saliva • he watches you, dancing at your own rhythm, changing to look good for him, for him   • “you.... you’re really cute today” • you stop, oh? he was here? you didn’t notice? you laugh, untangling yourself from the mess “just today?” • he melts on the spot, leaning against the doorframe for support, a palm on his heart that’s beating fast • “no, always”

[sunstar-of-the-north]

Distant Shores: Chapter 1

Far into the waters of the Silver Sea, there was a small island nestled in its vastness. A band of Sifa gelfling called this island home, living on the land for many a trine. This place also served as a midway point for many sea fairing travelers who needed rest, repairs, and to restock their stores. The port was quiet, save for the gentle lapping of the waters against the ships’ bows. A small trail snaked its way from the port to a small village nearby. Warm lights shone brightly in the night as homes were preparing for slumber. One however was buzzing with tension.

A group of six gelfling was sitting around a fire pit, faces solemn. One of the gelfling looked pale and eyes glazed which was in stark contrast to his dark orange coat and fire red tricorn hat. Dolen let out a coarse cough, the gelfling woman sitting to his left resting a hand on him in concern. She looked similar to the coated gelfling, except her hair was copper orange while his was maroon laced with grey. He cleared his throat before pulling out a letter from a pocket. “You all know what this is,” Dolen said hoarsely. The others nodded in silence. He rested the letter on his lap. “I cannot make the journey to Cera-Na, not when I’m hacking and wheezing like a beached hooyim.” He let out a tired sigh, looking like a gentle breeze could easily knock the gelfling over.

No one spoke, the situation choking out any talk. The Omerya-Staba was docked at Cera-Na, indicating all Sifa must return. The old Sifan maudra had abdicated her throne and now her daughter would take her place. The elders must come to give their blessing to the new maudra as is tradition. But Dolen had fallen ill beforehand. It wasn’t life threatening, however it had prevented him from leaving his hut. The gelfling woman sitting next to him frowned. If she had to be the one to state the obvious, then so be it. “Someone has to go. If not, the rest of our clan will see this as a sign of disapproval.” Some of her peers nodded while others clenched their jaws. “What do you suppose we do,” asked a male gelfling sitting across from Dolen. His face was worn from traveling the harsh oceans. “The elders must go. Not even their right-wings can go in their place!” She glared at him, freckled face scrunched up. “I am not letting my father sail when he can hardly stand!”

“Enough,” barked Dolen. The outburst caused him to go into a fit of coughs.

The two gelfling closed their mouths. The male gelfling lowered his gaze. “I’m not suggesting Dolen goes…but who can?” The room fell silent once more, except for Dolen’s coughing. He spoke up when he regained his composure. “Liliah.” His daughter turned to him, resting a hand on his lap. “Yes?” The elder gazed at her, eyes stern. “You and Ekoi are right; someone has to go in my stead, someone who holds the same authority as me.”

He took Liliah’s hands into his own. “Ekoi cannot be my replacement. No one on our island can…except for one.” The woman’s heart was pounding against her chest, like the waves crashing against a beach. She swallowed, waiting for him to say the words she so desperately wanted to hear.

“You must go in my place.”

The room gasped. “B-But she isn’t an elder! She hasn’t even gone passed the Spirals,” said a gelfling. Liliah was about to snap at them but Dolen beat her to it. “She may not have the experience as the rest of you, but her boatmanship is impeccable! She did have two amazing mentors after all,” he added with a twinkle in his eye. Liliah smiled. It was good to see a glimmer of his old self. He then became serious again. Dolen took sip of water before addressing the group. “We need to be at Cera-Na in a unum. It will take half a week for us to make the Silver Splitter sea worthy and to prepare enough supplies for the trip.”

He looked to his daughter. “I suggest you study the maps, captain.” Even though there was pride in his voice, there was a quiver of apprehension. Liliah grew stoic, setting a slim hand over her heart. “I will. I won’t fail you.” She then turned to the rest of her band. “I won’t fail us. We will go to Cera-Na to give our blessing. Nothing will stop us, come hell or high water!” Her words moved the group, clapping and cheering ringing throughout the hut. Liliah gave them a large grin. She looked to Ekoi. “Will you help me, right-wing?” She leaned toward him, offering a hand. Without hesitation, he gripped the woman’s hand firmly. “Of course, captain.” Dolen nodded in approval.

He waved the group off. “Off with ya. You’ll all need your sleep, as do I. Pleasant dreams.” The rest of the gelfling bowed to him and then left. Only Liliah and Dolen remained. She helped her father up and led him to the bed in the far corner. He started to take off his coat. “You should rest too, my darling. You’ll have a busy day tomorrow.” She shook her head. “I need to make sure YOU go to bed first.” He huffed, setting his hat on a hook on the wall. “Oh how the tables have turned. Instead of me tucking you in it’s the other way around!” Liliah rolled her eyes before helping him to bed. “Good night, father.” She kissed his forehead. “Good night,” he said tiredly.

The woman then made her way to a curtain, pulling the fabric aside. She entered the room and sat on her bed, head buzzing with excitement. The Sifa couldn’t believe that her lifelong wish was finally coming true. She laid down, too elated to sleep.

***

Days had passed. News of Liliah’s departure spread like wildfire, leaving the island bursting with excitement and fear. The island gelfling were now busy on the Silver Splitter. Liliah was watching them from the dock, eyes shrewd. Her thick braids were swaying in the gentle breeze, bringing with it the smell of the sea. A few of her crew went passed her, whispering quietly to each other while giving her side way glances. Even though she couldn’t hear their words, she knew what they were.

The new captain didn’t address them. She wouldn’t let them get the better of her. Instead she closed her eyes to took it all in; the saltiness of the air, the squawking of migratory birds, and the noise of the waves hitting the ships.

“Captain Liliah.” She opened her eyes and turned, pearl earrings swishing as she did. Ekoi dipped his head to her. “We are almost ready to sail.” She nodded in approval. “Good. The sooner we leave the better. It would be embarrassing to be the last to show up.” Ekoi chuckled softly. “Yes, it would.” The two were silent for a moment. Liliah took a deep breath, trying to settle herself. “Is it normal to feel this nervous,” she asked Ekoi softly. The older man smiled. “It wouldn’t be normal if you weren’t.” She felt relieved. Ekoi patted her back, making sure to not hit her sapphire blue wings. “You’re not alone. You got a crew full of dedicated and well-seasoned members at your beckon call.”

She appreciated the reassurance, but there was a thought nagging at her brain. “It’s not that I don’t trust the crew’s capability…I’m worried they won’t accept me as their captain.” Ekoi eyes light up with surprise. The copper haired woman folded her hands. “I know there are those among the crew who think I am unfit to sail…in truth I don’t fault them for their doubt.” She didn’t dare look at Ekoi. She didn’t want to see him agreeing with her.

“Do you want to hear the advice some crazed gelfling told me once?” Liliah furrowed her eye brows, confused. “…Yes?” Ekoi gently rested his hands on her shoulders and forced her to look into his brown eyes. “You can learn all the wisdom in the world from stories and songs. But that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t see the world for yourself.” Liliah felt a lump form in her throat. She knew that saying all too well. She put her hands on Ekoi’s shoulders, squeezing them in thanks. He grinned warmly at the younger gelfling.

Liliah broke away from him, regaining composure. “We better board the ship. The wind is starting to rise.” She started to make her way to the Silver Splitter but was stopped by Ekoi. “Wait, we’re still waiting for our last member.” Liliah raised an eye brow, fists on her hips. “Who? Last time I checked our crew is on board.” Ekoi simply replied. “All but one. She should be here soon.” Before she could question him further, a rumbling came from the ground. Fear gripped Liliah like a clawed hand. “Is it an earthquake?!” Her right-wing on the other hand was calm and motionless.

Suddenly a burst of water shot upward, nearly hitting the docked ships. Liliah ducked, shielding her head with her arms as a roar erupted. “You can look now.” The gelfling opened her eyes, letting out an audible gasp. A behemoth of a sea creature was near the dock, easily eclipsing the sun from her view. Its back was covered in what appeared to be mountains. She willed her legs to move, but she was too frozen with fear. Ekoi only smiled when he saw the beast.

“Ah, she’s here.”

This is a spin off series of Bonds. This story is set before/during the events of the AU but will not effect the main story. Guess who finished Tides of the Dark Crystal?! I was planning this story before I read the book, but I wanted to make sure I at least read TotDC so I could get a feel for the characters. I'll be posting the second chapter soon after! I hope you like it! Liliah/Dolen/Ekoi (c) Me The Dark Crystal (c) Jim Henson/J. M. Lee  

[minyoongijjangjjangmanboongboong]

Ephemera Chapter Seventeen

Ephemera: In art, transitory written and printed matter (receipts, notes, tickets, clippings, etc.) not originally intended to be kept or preserved.

Alternatively, things that exist or are used for only a short time.

Description: Nobody knows who Vante really is. Everything about the popular artist is shrouded in secrecy: from his face to his name to everything in between. After years of working for his art gallery, Y/N feels she may just be the closest thing he has to a friend. Between her success at work and her relationship with campus hot-shot Jeon Jungkook, Y/N’s life has never been better. But is Jungkook truly who he says he is? And who will Y/N protect now that she knows Vante’s livelihood may be on the line?

Genre: Romance, Drama, Fluff, Angst

Pairing: Jungkook x (f) Reader x Taehyung

Word Count: 5.0k

Tags: Non-Idol!Au, Gang!Au, Art History Student!Reader, Film Student!Jungkook, Art Student!Taehyung

Warnings: Swearing and mentions of alcohol, although infrequently

A/N: PER-SO-NA ! WHO THE HELL AM I ! I’m so hyped up for this comeback, you guys. I can’t wait to see what they’ve prepared for us. I hope you guys like this new chapter! We’re winding down now. Probably only a few more chapters! It’s pretty lucky because the timing works for my trip to LA. Anyway, please don’t be shy and send feedback, critique, questions, theories, and comments my way. I’ll be sure to respond to all asks I receive within a day of receiving them! Links will be added later, so for now check my masterlist to find previous chapters!

And again, if you want to follow my Twitter, my username is @/plzpunchmebts. I’m super active over there and hopefully in the future I’ll do some livestreams/chats with you all! And concert videos!!

- Mercury

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Masterlist

Weekly updates: Sunday, 1PM (PST)

“Sanyo Industries celebrates their thirtieth year in business-,”

“Six Sanyo products you can’t live without!”

“Last year, Sanyo’s gross income was-,”

Everywhere I went, it felt like that name followed me. On the walk back to my apartment, a disembodied radio host would shout it at me from the open window of a passing car. The ads on my social media all pointed to it. The very phone in my hand as I collapsed onto the couch was manufactured by them. I squeezed my eyes shut, begging night to fall faster. I didn’t want this to be reality.

Of course, I’d had my suspicions. With what Jungkook said before and that guy Younghoon from Sanyo and all the strange connections…

But I didn’t want to live in a world where this sort of corruption bled into even the most respected of companies. I didn’t want to believe what Seokjin said about corporations being legal criminals. I didn’t want to believe that the institutions I trusted were fraudulent.

Eyeing my cell phone, I quickly powered it off and slid it across the floor, furrowing my brow as I rested my face on the couch cushions. Today had been a bad one. Between the strange photo Taehyung had taken, Namjoon adding pressure, Nara losing her job, Yoongi’s involvement, and my own misgivings about ratting out Seokjin and the others, I felt like I could sleep for days.

And, even though my arm was dangling off the side and my cheek was squished against the stiff couch cushion, I shut my eyes and drifted off into a fitful sleep.

Sighing, I took my seat in class. Professor Jung stood at the front of the room, scrolling through his phone, and I couldn’t help but feel hyperaware of it. His cell phone. Her laptop. His drawing tablet. I rubbed my bleary, warm eyes and rested my cheek in my palm, shaking my head.

“Morning,” said a deep, comforting voice I’d recognize anywhere.

I opened my eyes with a start and turned toward Taehyung as he stood beside my desk, smiling gently. He set a hot coffee beside me and settled in the seat to my left. He looked well. Shaven, hair windswept but not messy, glasses prim on the high bridge of his nose. He was dressed as usual: colorful and artsy, with a blue patterned button down and baggy slacks. He settled into his seat and gave me a smile before sipping his own coffee.

At his entrance, there was a noticeable shift in the classroom atmosphere. People became quieter, talking in hushed tones. Instead of chatting openly, now they leaned across desks and pushed aside paint brushes to whisper. I felt all the eyes on him and, by proxy, on me and sighed, resigning myself. I took a drink of coffee and ran my fingertips along the sides of the paper cup.

“I’m happy you came,” I said with a gentle smile his way.

Perhaps I’d have been content to forget about that picture he’d taken of me, sleeping. Perhaps deep down I wanted to pretend I’d never seen it. But when he turned to me with warm, tender eyes and a smile I felt a little piece of me shift out of place. The gesture wasn’t so innocent anymore. There was more now, more than before.

And I was too chicken to face it.

So instead I simply kept my smile pasted right on my face. Unwavering. “Yeah. After talking with you…I realized I’d probably regret it if I let my fear get in the way of something I’m passionate about.”

I nodded. “Good,” I said, giving his shoulder a weak punch. “Don’t go running away again, alright?”

He smiled and patted my hand, sighing as he eased into his seat. “I missed this room,” he said, then glanced around, his gaze quieting every person it touched. He winced a little, like it hurt, then chuckled and nodded. “Didn’t miss that.”

“What?” I asked.

He eyed me and shook his head. “Being looked at like that.”

I nodded. “I see…”

“But it’s different now,” he said with a simple nod, smiling as he sipped his coffee. “They’re not looking at me like I’m weak. They’re looking at me like…like I’m cool.”

I chuckled. “Maybe it’s because you are cool,” I teased with a smile.

He laughed, shrugging, and took another sip and another sweeping glance around the room. “I’m glad I came back.”

I was quiet for a moment, debating whether or not I should say what I wanted to say. But seeing his eyes cast down, watching his own deft hands as they moved gracefully over the top and sides of his coffee cup, I couldn’t help myself.

With a soft smile, I took a swig of my drink, sighed, and eyed him sidelong. “I’m proud of you, Taehyung.”

His back visibly stiffened and he turned to me with round eyes. “Hm?” he asked, and I caught a faint blush on his cheeks.

How had I missed all these signs?

Despite myself, I smiled and nodded. “I’m proud of you.”

He swallowed hard and looked away, back toward his hands, and smiled gently. Like he was really pleased. “Thanks…,” he said on an exhale.

Class finished a few minutes earlier than usual, and as I was collecting my things and arranging my scarf around my neck, Taehyung reached out and grabbed the crook of my elbow. Startled, I turned to him expecting something to be wrong, out of place, but instead simply saw him smiling beside me, his bag already packed.

“Do you have time?” he asked.

I raised my brows and consulted my cell phone, checking the time. I didn’t have work until the evening and had intended to spend my break studying, but the hopefulness in Taehyung’s eyes halted me and instead of wasting my breath explaining it to him, I chose instead to nod and smile. Even though I had a feeling I knew what was coming next. Even though I didn’t want to face it.

“Sure,” I said.

He grinned and led the way out into the hallway.

The day was crisp, but not unpleasantly so and the sky looked unblemished and endless overhead. The Han River lay peaceful below us as Taehyung and I leaned our forearms on the railing beside the sidewalk, overlooking the water and the boats and the children playing. I kicked the toe of my boot against the ground and watched a thin swirl of dust escape into the air.

“We came here that night, didn’t we?” I asked, although I knew the answer.

Taehyung nodded beside me and sighed. “Yeah.”

“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble these days, I think,” I said with a nod. It was true.

Looking at him now, I felt a little guilty keeping everything from him. He wasn’t a bad person, nor did he have bad intentions. But the longer I thought, the more I realized concealing the truth was an act of pity rather than cruelty. If I told him I was working as a spy for Namjoon, infiltrating Jungkook’s gang, putting myself at risk…surely he’d have a fit. And beyond that, he’d find some way to make himself the martyr.

And really, I didn’t see a single reason why anyone should be the martyr.

Perhaps it was foolish, but I held out hope for a more diplomatic solution.

He smiled and rubbed his jaw with a pensive sigh. “It’s not that you’ve caused me trouble,” he began, eyeing me with a smirk, “but that trouble follows you wherever you go.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “It didn’t used to,” I said, then paused, alarmed at just how true that was…

He nodded. “Regardless, I’d rather be in trouble with you than living a peaceful life without you.”

I stiffened, cheeks flaming, and cleared my throat. “Ah, well, the sentiment goes both ways,” I said with a nod, but cursed myself. Wasn’t I supposed to be more careful now? “Anyway, I guess more than anything I need to say thank you.”

He raised his brows and glanced at me, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth. “Thank me? Why?”

I shrugged. “For everything. For being here,” I said, then shook my head. “For being someone I could trust and rely on.”

His smile slowly fell and he nodded, letting his eyes wander back toward the river. “Is…is that all I am?”

I swallowed hard. Here it was. I laced my fingers as they dangled over the edge of the railing. “What else is there?”

“I…I think you know by now, but…I have feelings for you. Real feelings,” he said with a nod. “And I don’t know how else to say it.”

I kept my eyes on my hands, watching as they clasped and unclasped. My heart thumped too loud in my ears. “I…see…”

“Not a great reaction,” said Taehyung with a chuckle. “Although I didn’t expect you to feel the same way. Not now anyway.”

I tried to remain calm, to maintain my composure, to manage my expression so as not to hurt Taehyung. He was someone I valued, someone I loved. Long before I met him in person, he was someone I cherished more than anyone. The last thing in the world I wanted to do was hurt someone like that.

I exhaled slowly, shutting my eyes for a moment as the wind swept up from the river, blowing against my cheeks. “You know…I told you before, that night we went out, that Vante was everything I couldn’t be.”

He nodded. “I remember.”

“I remember when I first began working at the gallery, feeling overwhelmed. I was so happy to be working. Like…a real job. In my industry and everything,” I said with a breathy chuckle. “My mom…she left when I was pretty young. She wanted to be a graphic designer, so she moved to Seoul. And, when I was old enough…so did I.”

“I…never knew,” said Taehyung with a somber nod.

I smiled. “Yeah,” I said, then sighed. “I staked a lot of my hopes on this job.  Getting good work experience, making connections, seeing my mom again. Everything that meant anything to me was tied to the job. And…in the beginning, I was scared I’d mess it all up somehow. Like, I’d forget something critical or I’d flub a sale and lose everything. So, just like when I was younger, I started taking on too much. More than I could handle, really. Extra shifts, opening or closing alone…because I was so desperate to do well, to be useful.”

“That’s a heavy burden,” he said.

I nodded. “But Vante made it lighter somehow. Like he understood me, understood the desperation. Like he would root for me even if I failed,” I said, my heart swelling as the fond memories returned like a warm rush of water. “Like I didn’t have to do anything or be anyone for him to believe in me.”

“I see…”

“He was almost like a guardian angel, as cliche as that sounds. Like someone who was watching over me while I was making my way in this new place, new job. He never asked me to be anything more or less than what I was, and he never made me feel like he’d disappear if I did something wrong,” I said, feeling my chest constrict.

“You’re very afraid, aren’t you? Of being abandoned?”

I nodded. “I realized it once I got older, but…I’ve been like this for a while. Like if I didn’t do everything perfectly, everyone I loved would leave,” I said with a sigh. “Which was why it was so powerful for me to have someone as strong and competent as Vante telling me I had value even if I didn’t do things perfectly.”

Taehyung was quiet for a long moment, but there was no malice in the set of his eyes as they watched the river. Just quiet. Just thinking. “I’m…happy I could be that person for you.”

I let the cool autumn air swallow his words before responding. “That’s why…it kinda hurt when you used me at that party,” I said with a nod. “I know it seems strange that I was so hurt by you when Jungkook had done such horrible things. I know it’s…counterintuitive.”

“I understand, though,” he said, eyeing me almost desperately.

I smiled. “I know you do,” I said, voice soft against the quiet cacophony of activity around us. “I guess…having the person who I trusted most, the person who would never exploit me like I let other people do…,” I paused with a sigh and clasped my cold hands together tightly, like a prayer. “I understand why you had to do it. Namjoon is your friend and I would have been happy to help had you told me beforehand.”

His brows furrowed as he gazed out across the river. “But would you have?” he asked, glancing at me. “Would you have knowingly betrayed Jungkook?”

I set my lips thin and met his eyes. “Yes,” I said with a single, sharp nod. “I would have done it.”

He swallowed hard and nodded. “I guess I was trying to do too much on my own,” he said.

“You have a tendency of doing that.”

He chuckled. “I know,” he said. “I’ll work on it. I don’t want to make a mistake like that again.”

I sighed. “I forgive you, by the way. Completely. Because your intentions were never cruel,” I said. “It just…disillusioned me. Which was probably for the best, really. Worshipping Vante made me rely on him too much. I figured if I just had him believing in me, that was enough.” I chuckled and nodded my head as my thoughts became clearer. “But now I think…I think it’s not enough until I believe in myself too.”

“That’s all I ever wanted,” he said, glancing at me. “I wanted you to get stronger.”

I nodded, smiling. “And I want to get stronger too,” I said. “On my own two feet. With nobody’s help.”

“Good.”

“Which is why I have to reject your confession,” I said, turning to face him properly.

His eyes widened and for a fraction of a second his expression revealed a little bit of shock, round eyes, open mouth. “O-oh!” he said, turning to me as well. “Um, sure.”

I smiled, reaching out to rub his forearm. “I think…maybe if you’d told me this before everything with Jungkook happened, I might have said yes.”

“Timing is a bitch,” said Taehyung with a soft smile. “I don’t have any hard feelings.”

I shook my head. “I’m not done,” I said, smiling up at him. “I might have said yes, not because I felt anything, but because I would have been too scared to be abandoned by you.”

He raised his brows, lips parted, and shook his head. “I-I’d never leave you behind because of something like this,” he said, chuckling. “You can’t control your feelings. No more than I can.”

I nodded. “I know,” I said. “I know that now. I know that the right people will stay even if I can’t be everything they want me to be. That the people who belong in my life won’t disappear like Mom did.”

He flashed me a slow, sad smile and swept me up in a soft embrace. “You’re right,” he said, nodding against my head. I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. “You’re worth staying for.”

I sniffled a little in the cold and held on tight, feeling his warm, strong arms around my shoulders. Things seemed clearer now, less confused. And with that clarity came a feeling of strength. I remembered that ruby necklace, sitting on my wardrobe in its box. Perhaps I’d never needed something like that at all. Perhaps I didn’t need anyone holding me up.

Perhaps I could be my own strength now.

I knocked on Nara’s door as the sun hung suspended on the horizon, nearly dipping below with the coming evening. Taehyung had called his driver and offered to take me home, but I’d refused. It wasn’t that I was uncomfortable around him, in fact with the invisible tension between us now severed I felt more comfortable than ever, but I needed to check up on Nara and I needed a little time on my own to settle some matters in my mind.

Unfortunately, the walk did little to help, as the recording I had made my phone feel heavy and hot in my back pocket.

Nara pried the door open with Hyun pushing his head through the space between her hip and the doorframe, straining to meet me in the hallway. She gave me a weak, pale smile and gestured for me to come inside. I followed her small frame into the dark living room, the blinds drawn and the TV on low. It looked as if she’d been sleeping on the couch for the past few nights. Her hair was a mess, roots growing in black, and her eyes sported violet bags underneath, hanging to the starts of her cheekbones. She smiled and again it felt hollow.

Seeing her in such a state shook my resolve.

Wasn’t she more important after all? If it meant saving my friend, wasn’t I willing to sacrifice those boys at the headquarters?

“Hey,” she said softly, rubbing Hyun’s head like it was cathartic.

I crouched down before the big ball of white fur and gave his neck a good scratch, smiling. “You been well, Hyunnie?” I asked, working my fingers behind his ears. He panted and wagged his tail, leaning against my hands.

“He’s been better,” said Nara with a sniff.

“Yeah? Are you stressed because of all that business with your mom’s job?” I asked Hyun who remained, predictably, unbothered.

She chuckled. “Mhm. And the fact that mommy has applied to just about every open position in the city with no word back.”

“And college? Are you worried about your mom’s coursework?” I asked, eyeing Nara from below.

She was still smiling fondly at the top of Hyun’s head. “He’s not worried about that since Mommy hasn’t been keeping up with it anyway.”

At this, I sighed and stood upright, resting my hands on my hips. “Nara…”

She smiled and shook her head. “Too busy applying all over. And besides…I may as well drop out,” she said with a sigh.

I felt my eyes go wide and I approached her, gaping. “Nara, you can’t be serious.”

She shrugged. “I can just move back home with my parents. They always need help with Nunchi.”

“Nara, you can get another job,” I said, rubbing her shoulders. “You can’t get so down like this.”

She smiled. “I know,” she said with a sigh. “I really love my major and I want to get my degree. And it’s not like we’re in the middle of nowhere with no jobs. There’re plenty of opportunities. It’s just…with school and Hyun it’s a lot to take care of.”

I nodded. “I know,” I said, smoothing my palm against Hyun’s head. “I can take care of Hyun while you job hunt,” I offered.

She chuckled, shaking her head. “Nah, he’s the only reason I haven’t really gone off the deep end. I need this little shithead.”

“Have you heard from-,” I began, then swallowed hard and glanced away as she looked at me with expectant brown eyes. “That guy? That stray cat guy?”

She raised her brows. “I…no? Why would I?”

He…hadn’t reached out? After the conversation we had? I’d been too soft on him. I’d given him too much mercy. I should have been harder, should have demanded he take responsibility, demanded he write her a check right in front of me. Seething, I tried to conceal my clenched jaw with a hand.

I opened and closed my mouth a few times before shaking my head. “Just…figured maybe he’d reach out after seeing you’re not at work.”

She laughed, a wry sound, and shook her head. “Nah. I don’t think I made that much of an impact on him,” she began, then sighed. “Or on my job for that matter. Seems they’re doing fine without me.”

I sighed, feeling my phone in my pocket. I touched it gently and sighed. “You know…as soon as I give the proof to Namjoon you’ve got a job at Ori Technologies.”

She smiled. “But…that’s too much pressure to put on you,” she said, rubbing Hyun’s back. “Y’know, I realized it recently. Back when we had to help out around Nunchi.”

I stiffened. “What do you mean?”

She shook her head, crouching beside Hyun and working her hands through his thick fur. “When you said you’d get me a job at Ori. I felt…really useless, you know? And it made me realize that I’ve been relying on you for everything for so long. When I asked you to come over and help wth Hyun and didn’t even ask about what happened at Jungkook’s. When I beg you to keep me company at the pet shop…just when did I start treating you like the class dog too?”

I swallowed hard, my throat constricting. I shook my head. “You don’t treat me like that.”

She smiled up at me. “But I do,” she said with a nod. “Until when can I keep relying on you all the time? Until when am I gonna let other people fix things for me?”

I crouched beside her and held on to her shoulder. “Nara-,”

“If I get a job at Ori, it’ll be on my own merit,” she said, leveling her eyes at me. “You can keep doing this…spying thing or whatever, but just know you’re not doing it for me.”

“Nara…”

She looked at me seriously. “I’ll get back on my feet,” she said, nodding. “On my own.”

Troubled, I sat at the front desk of the gallery as Areum worked the floor, showing patrons around with a halfway-there smile. I tried to greet them warmly, but my mind was elsewhere. Where was Yoongi and why hadn’t he compensated Nara yet?

And furthermore…wouldn’t she be mad if she knew I was coercing him into helping her after everything she said?

I worked my lower lip between my teeth and set my eyes low, watching the door as a well-dressed woman sauntered in with a smile. I gave her a nod and forced a grin before returning to stewing, resting my chin atop my laced fingers. Nara…wasn’t there anything I could do for her that wouldn’t upset her further?

“Y/N?”

I jumped and turned to face Mr. Kwon as he stood before the front desk, peering over the surface. Panicked, I wondered how long he’d been standing there watching me stare off into space. But to my relief and surprise, he greeted me not with a scolding or a scowl, but with an easy smile. He adjusted his lapels and scanned the desk, humming.

“Uh…hello, Sir,” I said, bowing my head.

He met my eyes once more, still smiling. On edge, I forced my own smile to remain plastered across my face. “You don’t have a drink at the desk,” he said.

I blinked at my empty desk and struggled to find the words. “Um…no, I don’t…,” I said, meeting his eyes once more with a confused smile.

He hummed once more and produced a banana milk from behind his back, handing it to me. “Well then, here you go,” he said, grinning. “Keep up the good work!”

I nodded, bowing my head, and glanced down at the milk in my hands, perplexed. I watched as he approached Areum, tapping her shoulder. She jumped and was quick to bow at the waist. He chuckled and, although I couldn’t hear him, I was sure he was giving her a similar speech because after only a moment he was presenting her with a banana milk as well.

She bowed as he excused himself to his office. Taking a cursory glance around the relatively quiet gallery, Areum rushed over to me and leaned down beside me behind the desk, eyeing her own milk.

“He gave you one too?” she asked, raising her brows.

I nodded, glancing over my shoulder at where he’d disappeared down the hallway. “Yeah…,” I began, shaking my head with furrowed brow. “The hell’s gotten into him?”

She raised her sculpted brows and leaned back. “You haven’t heard?”

I shook my head. “Heard what?” I asked.

She smirked and cupped a hand around the side of her mouth like we were sharing secrets at a slumber party. She leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Rumor has it he’s having talks with those Japanese charity guys about a business venture.”

“Business venture?” I asked, eyes wide.

She nodded, resting a hand on her hip after she stabbed her milk with the straw and took a sip. “Mhm,” she said with her lips still wrapped around the straw. “Dunno what kind of business, but it has to do with the gallery so he’s excited.”

I hummed and took a sip of my own milk. “Wonder what it is,” I said with a sigh.

She chuckled. “Don’t wonder,” she said, patting my shoulder as she turned on her heel back toward the floor. “You’ll just get sucked in to his weird energy.”

Weird was right, alright. I glanced back toward the hallway and wondered. Maybe Taehyung would tell me about it if I asked…

I stepped out onto the street after my shift and sighed, glancing at my phone as it sat hefty in my palm. I had a big decision yet to make. And, despite trusting Jungkook well enough, I didn’t want to rely on him for this. I wanted to make the choice on my own. I wanted the decision to be mine only, so I could confidently stand beside it.

Despite my heavy thoughts, my stomach was light and as I took a step toward the subway entrance down the street, my gut grumbled like it was trying to communicate. I stared down at my abdomen and gave it a few rubs. Had I eaten today? I sighed and glanced around the road, tall buildings on either side. I’d eaten in this neighborhood a few times, but mostly for company dinners. Company dinners where I wasn’t expected to pay…

One of the detriments of working in a rich area.

I sighed and patted my stomach. Surely I could find a fast food joint around the corner or something if I gave it a real shot. I shoved my phone into my bag and wandered down the sidewalk, hanging a left down the street. To my chagrin, this street was no better. Businessmen and women walked with purpose on either side of me, in either direction. The buildings were just as tall and the restaurants were just as glitzy. Tenth-floor steakhouses, prime sushi bars, fusion restaurants with intoxicating scents and ridiculously expensive menus.

I shook my head and kept walking, but things weren’t much different on the next street. Or the next one. Block after block, things were just too glamorous to match my pay grade.

Would’ve been better off taking the subway, I thought to myself with a scowl. Frustrated, I wrapped my arms around my torso to keep my stomach from groaning and pressed onward. I was blocks away from the gallery, in a part of town that was labyrinthian and far too ritzy. Nonetheless, I held out hope for a McDonald’s.

I sighed, waiting at a busy crosswalk, watching the lilac twilight emerge through the gaps in the tops of tall buildings. Arms crossed, I sighed and my breath escaped in a plume of white. I lowered my eyes as the signal changed and the amorphous crowd of people moved forward in sync. But as I took a single step toward the street, I paused. Something caught my eye.

Across the street was a sleek black car with heavily tinted windows. A driver had just stepped out onto the sidewalk and was glancing around with shifting eyes partially obscured by sunglasses. Sure, I was in a rich neighborhood but this seemed excessive. Quietly, I watched, waiting for a celebrity to emerge or maybe even a politician.

But as the passenger stepped out, I felt my expectations crest and fall flat. Because not only did I know him, he was the person I was actively avoiding.

Kim Namjoon braced his polished shoes on the concrete sidewalk and adjusted his black button down so it lay just right across his broad chest. He smiled as he turned back to the car, leaning down to speak to someone still inside. Was he with someone important? An investor perhaps? I hung back across the sidewalk and watched like a hawk. It wasn’t my business, but something like curiosity kept me in place.

Namjoon stepped back from the car and fixed the sleeves of his shirt, patting down his pants with his palms. Was he preening or something? I might have laughed, but for fear of drawing attention to myself I kept quiet. He crossed his arms across his chest and grinned down at the car as his passenger scooted out onto the sidewalk. Not even offering his hand? I sighed and rubbed my forehead. He sure did have a knack for rubbing people wrong.

But before I could begrudge him for his lack of manners, his companion emerged, ducking his head as he exited the low cab of the car. My breath caught in my throat and my heart raced, thundering in my ears. Palms gathering sweat, I turned toward the crosswalk and saw that the signal was about to change to red. Desperately, I sprinted across to a symphony of honks from cars awaiting their turn. I waved my hands, frantic, and gave a few sloppy bows as I reached the other side of the street. Breathless, I turned back to the car where Namjoon had emerged, just to be absolutely certain I’d seen it right.

And indeed, there he was. Looking my way after the scene I’d caused in the crosswalk.

Standing beside Namjoon with wide, startled eyes and lips parted as if to speak was none other than Min Yoongi.