#ultimate gang leader?

[spinjitsuburst]

me: man I’m in a danganronpa mood today it’s been a minute I miss my kids. I kinda wanna do something fun maybe I’ll just doodle hajime or something-

brain: ninjago danganronpa au

me: oh god no I don’t have the energy right now-

brain: ninjago danganronpa au

[lockpickingliar]

What do you do when you're having a REALLY fun conversation, but the thread has reached Do You Love The Color Of The Sky levels of post length???

-Kichi

[mythgirlimagines]

Any headcanons for Ultimate Biker Gang Leader Celeste/Taeko?

this one just Clicks

Taeko was a boring person. Celeste was the leader of one of Japan’s biggest and most terrifying biker gangs. She was quite proud of her status, and dressed accordingly.

She was a born leader, able to delegate to and protect those under her wing. Anyone in her gang would have her protection from harm, though she did suggest they not go out finding trouble.

She preferred to skip class so she could rise with her gang, or on her own, though she did deign to attend sometimes. Her classmates didn’t bother her, which was more than fine.

Celeste had many standards, and her classmates hardly met any of them. She would rather be with the people she knew were worthy of her time than those who weren’t.

Her favorite time to ride was at night, when the roads were more empty and everything was darker. It fit her whole aesthetic in the most perfect of ways.

[swampythesweetsketch]

I can't help but think of an AU where O'Waddle partakes in the killing game instead of Mondo.

Like he's still Mondo, but Junko (I guess?) reprogrammed his memory to think he's the real Mondo(???). Or more reasonably, his identity as Mondo was removed, but in someway he still dons his jacket cause what else would be in his tiny closet?

[more-than-a-princess]

From his tone, it seemed like he felt his request was something easy. As easy for him, Sonia thought, as kicking someone in the head if the rumors were to be believed. Amongst the monsters and zombies popping out from behind headstones, she had to chuckle at that. "The thing about dancing, unless you intend to dance all alone, is that you will have to move in sync with a partner. Without, you know, attempting to injure them," She stated the obvious with a smirk. "It may take some dedicated practice on your part, but I think you will be able to master it in time. A different sort of physical act than fighting."

Physical combat, anyway. And not everyone engaged in conflict chose fists or feet. She certainly didn't, but her family's methods got one of his friends killed and she was reluctant to bring that up as they stepped off the ride. Though ironically enough, he shared his disdain at another part of her family's methods: namely, keeping the family line strong enough to continue through generations.

"My family's reasoning, behind all marriages," She told him simply. Something she'd just...accepted, really, as a fact of life. If she abandoned that plan, it wasn't like her mother would have any problem killing her and passing on the family legacy to the next female member of the family in line for the title. Probably one of her aunts or cousins on her mother's side, something that would bring cheer to Valentina Borghese: finally scrubbing the Nevermind name from one of the world's richest crime families. "Not all of us have the luxury of marrying for love, you know. Try not to hold that against us?"

Despite the depressing future ahead, Sonia still preferred to live in the present. At least for today, as she shared the many facts she'd come across over the years about amusement parks she never thought she'd visit. Hoarding random facts the way dragons did gold didn't really serve her well as the leader of an organized crime family, but it entertained her, particularly when she had no friends of her own to talk to. People were frightened of her, wanted to be her, or wanted to be with her: friendship was, quite often, off the table. Like taking photographs in public places where she wasn't supposed to be while various members of the Family were likely scouring Chiba in an attempt to track her down.

Though watching Mikey address him as 'Mr. Mouse' was worth it. She wasn't the most worldly when it came to current popular culture, but Sonia at least knew that he was Mickey Mouse. "Oh, how terrible for you, Mickey-san!" She said, though from her accent it was easy to confuse 'Mickey' with 'Mikey,' something she was sure Mikey would enjoy. "My friend seems to be a little shy, but I shall hug you in his stead." Which she did, before giving the costumed character an understanding nod. "He can be little scary sometimes, but I assure you he is friendly."

Something that made Mickey gesture with laughter before giving Mikey an enthusiastic wave goodbye as Sonia approached him with a Cheshire Cat grin. "Sorry, could not resist the opportunity!" She informed him cheerfully before half-leading, half-dragging him towards Splash Mountain to cool off.

If he was going to insist upon calling her 'Princess,' then she would be deciding all of the attractions they'd visit after Splash Mountain: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the spinning teacups, and finally, getting front row in a boat on It's a Small World, partly to see if the animatronic singing dolls were just like they were depicted in videos, partly to settle their stomachs after Sonia insisted on turning the middle wheel round and round on the teacups, and partly to see Mikey's reaction to a pastel-covered attraction with a catchy childhood song.

"I think this is either a charming attraction or a wonderful setting for a horror film," Sonia quipped as the boat sailed into yet another room with dolls all singing the same song. "I wonder what they do at night. In any case, it is getting dark regardless. Should we try the carousel or the Star Wars ride, or shall we watch the parade? Apparently there is a parade with floats covered in lights followed by fireworks!"

She presented each option with the same amount of interest and optimism, though she briefly wondered if she'd worn him out. It had been hours since their last snack and last rest: even gang leaders, she guessed, needed to eat proper meals.

The way they bantered with such ease already was something he hadn't imagined possible just the previous day, when he'd left for Hope's Peak with vengeance on his mind. Yet, here he was, teasing a mafia heiress as if she were one of his own men. He had a feeling that her easy smile and relaxed nature was something that she was unaccustomed to be able to express, and he was happy that she felt like she could be herself around him, no matter the circumstances that led them here.

"Huh, traveling helps with loneliness? First I've heard of that. Guess I'll have to go someday then... and dancing. Maybe you'll have to teach me how to dance, princess." He grinned easily and looked away. Surely, the art of dance couldn't be that complicated. He was quick on his feat and could kick better than the rest of them already. Some dances required kicks. He was quite confident that he could at least learn how to break dance, although he was sure that wasn't the type of dancing that would stave off loneliness, a feeling he felt immensely when his hectic life slowed down just a little bit.

Mikey had decided at a young age that he didn't need to be comforted ever. He was a strong leader, and he'd had enough of that after Shinichiro's death. He was still glad, as they were finally free of the clowns, although the poor, heartbroken ghost that next appeared before them didn't improve his mood much. "Marrying her for power and control.. what kind of shit reason is that?" He supposed that people did that all the time, but he was young enough that he hadn't encountered such cases. "People should marry for love, not personal gain." Sure enough, he would have kicked that ghost's ass if he had been present, so maybe it was good he was absent. Otherwise, they would have likely gotten kicked off of the ride for ghost assault.

"It would be nice.. If Satori and Baji are partying like this. Scaring children and shit. Not.. in limbo or whatever. Even reincarnation.. it's hard to think of them ending up as a new person. Maybe someday they'll even scare me." His chest constricted, and yet, he could imagine the two of them causing all kinds of mischief on the other side. The thought made him feel just a little more at ease as they slowly disembarked off of the ride. The Toman leader thought to offer his hand to Sonia's, but she was off before he knew it.

"Yeah it'll be nice to cool off." He agreed, smiling softly as she prattled on about the historical facts concerning splash mountain. While he wasn't that into history himself, he found the way she got so animated when she talked about something that excited her, cute. He'd sweated a bit more than he wanted to admit when they went through that clown room, and the cool water was exactly what he needed.

"Oh I see." He knew her family was well connected, but to feel that she couldn't even take a personal photograph for herself while in disguise... He couldn't help but notice the wistful way that she glanced towards the oversized mouse. "Well... At least go say hi." He gave her a small push towards him, before sighing.

"I guess... I'll go with you." Before she could protest, he led the way to the large mouse, that was, unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, taller than him. "Hi, Mr. Mouse, sir..." He started awkwardly, clearing his throat. "My friend really wanted to say hi. Even if she doesn't want to admit it." He gestured towards Sonia, presumably next to him.

"Why hello there kids. Aha!" Mickey did his signature giggle and waved to the both of them. Mikey grimaced at being called a kid, but he wouldn't ruin this moment for her. Mickey mouse took both of their hands in a firm handshake. "Thank you for coming to greet me. It's always great to meet new people. You're welcome to hug me if you want too! I love hugs. Aha!"

Manjiro took an extra step away. "No hugs from me, thanks." Once Sonia was done greeting the mouse, he would nod. "Splash Mountain it is."

[artbyblastweave]

What I like about New Vegas is that out of all the Fallout games, it feels like it's the most aware of the fact that everyone is doing a bit of some kind from the fifties and is much more attentive and thoughtful than some of the other games to the implications of the fact that everyone is doing some kind of bit from the fifties.

The Kings are a salient example of this. The surface level gag, of course, is that they're a militant gang of Elvis impersonators, having adopted the aesthetic after their leader mistook a training facility for Elvis impersonators as some kind of religious site. Stock Future-imperfect stuff, oh-those-silly-wastelanders, elevating our pop-culture to the level of organizing-societal-principle.

Until, of course, you take into account the (singular) King's actual project- the fact that his gang is the defacto governing body of Freeside, the accompanying fact that he's got his anarchist predilections and thus would like to maintain that governing position without having to constantly kick people around to get them to listen. And here you've come across a guy from before the war who was apparently so incredibly charismatic that people came from all over the country to see him, so charismatic that they built an entire school to train people how to imitate his mannerisms. No shit they're gonna check if there's any gas left in that can! There might be some real practical power on the table if they can walk that walk! Even if the quick-and-dirty pitch for the gang is "Elvis Cult," there isn't really a spiritual component, they aren't morons who're mistaking this guy for a literal god, they just recognize that there might be some unreclaimed social capital here for them to tap into. And there absolutely is, in-universe and out- have you ever encountered a Fallout fan who didn't love The Kings?

Compare this, by the way, with the Three Families, who aren't in a situation where they're scrambling for a symbol they can rally populist support around. These guys are on top of the world. They aren't doing a bit because they're pursuing the social power that bit would provide them- there ultimately is some, but that's not why they started doing it and it isn't strictly something that they needed to do, given their combined force of arms. They're doing their respective bits because the guy with the robot army told them to. They're theme-park employees, working to brute-force back into existence the halcyon youth of a guy who can't even go outside to enjoy it.

[lighting-and-shadow]

Transmigrate as Sylus' Wife

So I had a thought again (shocking, I know) for an angst story: waking up as Sylus' wife before the LADS cannon even starts.

I mean, you're of course, shocked. The game made no mention of a wife. Why would they? Sylus' love belongs to MC and only MC; there would never be a past love in the picture.

So you dig into your own backstory. You find out that the marriage was arranged and you're the daughter of one of the gang leaders in the N109 zone during the gang war. And Sylus clearly hasn't won yet.

And they you think more. Was the wife not mentioned because you died? Because Sylus killed her?

You love Sylus in the game, but that's because you're MC. You're his love. You're his life. Now, in this life, you're nobody. You're nothing to him.

So you scheme to survive. Plans to help him and MC fall in love. Plans to destroy Ever with whatever information about the game you can remember. Plans to escape from the family that would sell you off to such a dangerous man.

But during all this together, you begin to fall in love with Sylus for real. Not the version of him that the game shows, but the real person he is. You learn things about him that you never could in your past life.

And it hurts. Because you know how this story goes. You know who he truly loves and holds in his heart. You know that this won't end well for you. That's why you wanted to escape, after all.

But how could you just leave the man you love? Maybe death by his hands doesn't seem so bad after all...

Edit: To make it even darker, what if he got the Aether Core in his eye from his wife? It’s the only reason he married her and what ultimately gets her killed.

[emmcfrxst]

thinking about mutual masturbation with jason todd. afab!reader

It probably happens right after a particularly successful patrol; he’s finally managed to get to the leader of a gang he’d been chasing after for a couple weeks, killing him and dissolving his operations with minimal damage on his side. He comes home to you high on adrenaline, throwing his helmet to the side and reaching you in one big stride. He’s quick to bring his mouth to yours, groaning into the kiss when you part your lips to invite him in. He presses you against the wall, hands moving to your thighs to hoist you up into his arms, bringing you over to the bed and plopping you down onto the mattress delicately. He’s much too riled up for actual sex— he knows he wouldn’t last a second inside you with his heart pumping the way it is right now, so he chooses the next best option, cock twitching when you mewl and arch into him, allowing him to make quick work of both your clothes. He curses out loud as soon as your hand wraps around his cock, the tip of it leaking down the shaft. His fingers are already shaking by the time they reach your cunt, your slickness causing him to inhale sharply, long eyelashes fluttering prettily over baby blues. He has half a mind to move the two of you around so you can sit on his face; the thought of tasting you makes his cock twitch, but he knows his bruised ribs would scream in protest at the repositioning, which would cause you to notice them and consequently stop everything to tend to his injuries and it’s something he absolutely cannot handle right now— he needs to touch you, to have you touch him; his body craves it more than the oxygen filling his lungs. A loud, broken noise comes from deep within his chest when you start pumping him without any warning; your thumb swirling around the head just the way he likes it, strong, muscular thighs quivering under your touch. He can tell from the smile on your face that you’re about to tease him for being particularly needy tonight so he strikes before you can say a word, rough fingertips circling your clit in fast motions in return, action that has your lips part in surprise. A soft, honeyed moan leaves you and buries itself deep within the confines of his ribcage, rattling around his beating heart and causing his pulse to spike. He moans again when his gaze reaches the apex of your thighs, visibly affected by the way your cunt glistens under the light pouring from the window. It doesn’t take long for either of you to reach your orgasms, bodies arching into one another’s, skin on skin, molded together in a way only two pieces of the same soul can be. You feel his lips trail down the side of your neck before he pulls away from you, a muffled, pathetic little noise leaving you when he starts to clean you up with his tongue, ultimately deciding to ignore the ache in his ribs in favor of the pulsing in his gut.

[debtofdeception-if]

Debt of Deception

Demo

If you’re curious about who the teen pregnancy route is available to, here is a post that explains it.

Genre: Gritty crime/action thriller/slice-of-life.

💰play as a stay-at-home parent that gets entangled in a life of crime!

💰Inspired by the TV show Good Girls, and a little bit of Breaking Bad.

Summary: Life used to be about toddler tantrums and sleepless nights. Now, it’s about dodging bullets and prison bars—thanks to your charming spouse.

It all started when you were almost finished preparing dinner, as you did every night, when your spouse stumbled through the door, bloody and bruised—with a revelation that would shatter your world. Their hidden gambling addiction has racked up a staggering debt, but that’s not even the worst part. They owe half a million dollars to MC-14, one of the most ruthless gangs in the city. You have 8 months to gather the money, or your family will pay the ultimate price.

Thrown into a deadly game you never asked to play, you’re forced to make impossible choices to survive. Can you protect your family? Can your marriage survive this betrayal? Do you even want it to? Will you come out of this situation as the person you always thought you were, or will this dark world you’ve been thrust into reveal who you really are?

💰Customize your character; their name, gender, sexuality, physical appearance, personality, background, choose how birth affected your character mentally and physically, IF they gave birth. and so much more. Customization matters!

💰Choose your character's age; you can be in your early 20s or 30s. Were you a teen parent or not?

💰 Customize your 5 year old child.

💰Determine who you were before you became a parent, how you feel about parenthood and suburban life in general.

💰Do jobs for a criminal organization in order to pay back your spouse's debt, whether you succeed or fail is on you.

💰Determine what kind of relationship you have with your spouse and child.

💰You may have to be a stay-at-home parent but you can choose why you decided to stay home.

💰Get a divorce or try to fix your marriage? It's your choice.

💰Try to manage a double life.

💰Drama, chaos, and more drama.

💰Determine how you feel about the life of crime.

💰Determine what kind of parent you are.

💰Try to revive your broken marriage with your spouse or possibly romance the ruthless leader of MC-14. Maybe even get yourself involved in a messy love triangle….oof, or have some hookups along the way.

💰Try to manage your expenses, pay your bills on time, and for the love of god, don't lose the house!

💰Alaric/Alara Coleman- The Spouse 💍

Age: 21 or 30 (Depends on the MC’s age).

Occupation: A software engineer at Cordovian Technologies. If you choose the teen parent route, the story will delve into how A secured this position at a young age and manages to support a family of three on a single income.

Description:

The love of your life, your best friend, the one person you always felt you could trust without question. There was never a secret between you two… or so you thought. You and A were high school sweethearts, and from the moment you met, you felt something inexplicably special. Smart, funny, goofy, and effortlessly charming, A had a way of making everyone feel at ease, their infectious laughter always filling the room. The A you knew was capable and reliable—loyal to a fault, always showing up when needed. They never broke a promise, and their word was unshakeable. It seemed like A could do no wrong—excelling in every area, from academics to extracurriculars. They were the golden child, the kind of person everyone admired. Yet, in the quiet moments, you couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe no one, not even A, could truly be that perfect… Maybe you were right.

Tropes: High School sweethearts, golden retriever, soulmates.

Red Flags : Deceptive, prideful, egotistical, self-destructive.

Green Flags: Protective, intelligent, self-sacrificing.

Physical Description: 

Male A: A stands at 5’9” with a lean, subtly athletic build. His short, wavy dark blonde hair is styled in a textured crop, he has light blue eyes and light freckles that dot only his face. He has fair skin , and his style leans toward a sporty, preppy aesthetic.

Female A: A stands at 5’6” with a lean, subtly athletic build. Her shoulder length, wavy dark blonde hair is styled in beach waves, complementing her sharp blue eyes and light freckles that dot only her face. Her fair skin has a natural, youthful tone, and her style leans toward a preppy aesthetic.

💰Victor/Victoria Delgado- The Leader 💀

Age: 35.

Occupation: Leader of the MC-14 gang.

Description:

V Delgado is a gang leader who embodies cold ruthlessness. From birth, they were immersed in a world of crime, violence, and destruction, which forged them into the stoic, calculating figure they are today. With an enigmatic allure and an icy demeanor, V is a master of control—of others and of themselves. Words are unnecessary to them; actions speak louder, and they lead with unflinching efficiency. Brutality is second nature, and they waste no time or energy on hesitation. Their rise to power came through a mix of cunning and raw force, and they will go to any lengths to maintain their dominance. V isn’t a person to be admired, but something about their very presence pulls at you. They are a living, breathing reminder that not all paths to power are clean—and yet, you can’t help but wonder if, maybe, you could get lost in their darkness.

Tropes: Corruption, enemies to lovers, mama I'm in love with a criminal, dark romance, forbidden.

Red Flags: Possessive, controlling, domineering, dangerous, emotionally detached, unpredictable.

Green Flags: They….like puppies, jk. Determined, strong, resilient, very protective and loyal to those who earn their trust and loyalty (which is very few).

Physical Description:

Male V: Standing at a commanding 6’4”, V Delgado carries a powerful, muscular build. He has an olive skin tone. His short, straight dark brown hair is kept in a no-nonsense buzz cut, matching the sharp intensity of his hazel eyes—eyes that hold a calculating, unnerving depth. A prominent scar runs from the corner of his mouth, slashing upward to his ear. His right arm is covered in a detailed sleeve tattoo of a serpent. V’s wardrobe leans toward practicality—subdued, simple outfits that blend into the background. His nice clothes, always at risk of becoming bloodied or torn, are too inconvenient for him to care about; function always comes before appearance.

Female V:Standing at a commanding 5’11”, V Delgado carries an athletic, hourglass build.She has an olive skin tone. Her waist length, straight dark brown hair is kept in a loose style, her hazel eyes hold a calculating, unnerving depth. A prominent scar runs from the corner of her mouth, slashing upward to her ear, a constant reminder of past conflicts. Her right arm is covered in a detailed sleeve tattoo of a serpent, symbolizing her cunning and dangerous nature. Female V’s wardrobe, unlike male V, tends to be elegant, fashionable, sleek, and refined. 

💰Renay Bueller-The Bestie 🫂

Age: 21, or 30 (Depends on the MC’s age).

Occupation: If Renay is 21, she’s currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in graphic design at the University of Ridgepoint. If she’s 30, she works as a graphic designer at Horizon Design Studio.

Description: Renay Bueller is your sharp-witted and fiercely confident friend who thrives on making her presence known. Her quick tongue and sassy demeanor never miss a beat, and she’s always ready with a perfectly timed comeback that leaves no room for hesitation. Renay is unapologetically bold in everything she does, embracing her individuality with a flair that’s both magnetic and unshakeable. Her charm lies in her unfiltered honesty and the playful, yet unapologetic, attitude she brings to every conversation.

Physical Description: Renay has curly red hair that falls just above her shoulder. Standing tall, her frame is full and curvy, embodying a blend of strength and softness. She has light green eyes and a tan skin tone. She typically wears bold prints and bright colors, which reflect her bold and loud personality.

💰Haruki “Haru” Kim- The Jokester 🎭*Possible hookup option*

Age: 20.

Occupation: Works as a goon for the MC-14 gang.

Description: Haru Kim is a volatile and unpredictable henchman, known for his chaotic nature and love of causing mayhem. A fearless jokester with a creative streak, Haru thrives on bending the rules, often disregarding orders and pushing boundaries. Recently, he’s  been testing V’s patience with his disobedience, straining the once-solid respect between them. Despite this, V remembers the time Haru saved their life, holding it in high regard. However, there’s a limit to how much disrespect and insubordination V is willing to tolerate before they must make a choice about Haru’s future in the gang.

Physical Description: Haru is of Asian descent, standing at a short height with a lanky frame. His platinum blonde hair is styled in a messy, short cut, often looking deliberately unkempt. He has dark eyes. His fashion leans toward grunge, favoring oversized, worn-in pieces—ripped jeans, band tees, and leather jackets—reflecting his rebellious nature. His overall appearance gives off a carefree, slightly disheveled vibe, perfectly complementing his chaotic personality.

💰Jacob Johnson- The Muscle 💪 *Possible hookup option*

Age: 27.

Occupation: Works as a goon for the MC-14 gang.

Description: Jacob is impulsive and quick-tempered, often letting his emotions drive his actions. Fiercely protective of their gang leader, V, Jacob is known for his intimidating presence and a deep sense of loyalty. He thrives in combat, showcasing impressive skills in a fight, but his reckless tendencies can sometimes jeopardize carefully laid plans. His unwavering loyalty is both a strength and a flaw, as he often charges into dangerous situations without fully considering the consequences.

Physical Description: Jacob is of African American descent, with closely cropped black hair in a buzz cut and intense dark brown eyes. Standing tall with a muscular build, his presence is commanding and his physique speaks to years of physical training and strength.

💰Kenny Lockwood-The Veteran 🪖

Age: 52.

Occupation: MC-14 gang’s second in command.

Description: Kenny is a stoic and disciplined individual, harboring a dark past known only to V. With a background in combat and tactical expertise, he is stealthy and calculated in his actions. Though he often butts heads with the younger, more reckless members of the gang, his experience and steady demeanor make him V’s most trusted and reliable confidant.

Physical Description: Kenny is an older man with a grizzled appearance and a bald head. He dresses in an unassuming, practical manner, blending into his surroundings. Of average height and build, his grey eyes carry a quiet intensity that hints at the depth of his experience.

💰Lauren/Lorenzo Esposito- The Fiancé 💔

Age: 30.

Occupation: Nepo baby.

Description: L. Esposito is V’s fiancé—a calculated arrangement orchestrated by their parents to cement loyalty and strengthen the alliance between the MC-14 and Hollowed Saints gangs. While V agreed to the engagement stoically and without hesitation, seeing it as a strategic move for the business, L’s feelings are far from transactional. Cunning, charming, and adept at reading people, L is a master of manipulation when needed. Yet beneath their calculated exterior lies a flicker of compassion and a surprising romantic streak. They genuinely crave a deeper connection with V and are determined to claim that love—no matter who stands in their way. Watch your back.

Physical Description: L. Esposito has sleek, dark brown hair that falls neatly into place, complementing their warm, light brown eyes that always seem to be calculating their next move. Slightly below average in height with a petite, lithe frame, they exude confidence that makes them seem larger than life. Their impeccable sense of style gravitates toward high-end designer clothing—tailored to perfection, whether in sharp suits or sophisticated casual wear. Female L favors bold makeup, often sporting a sultry smokey eye paired with a classic red lip, embodying elegance with an edge.

💰PTA Demons 👿- A clique of has-beens who peaked in high school and made your freshman year a living hell. Now they’re attending PTA meetings—proof that parenting should require a license. *Will encounter them the most if you choose to attend PTA meetings*

• Amanda Willmont- The “HBIC” 👑

Age: 25, or 34 (depends on MC’s age).

Occupation: Nurse for Redwood Medical.

Description: Amanda Willmont is a former high school queen bee who never quite moved past her glory days. Beneath her deceptively sweet demeanor lies a sharp, catty edge. She’s fiercely competitive, a master of passive-aggressive jabs, and always seems determined to undercut whatever I do, as though winning petty battles is her life’s purpose.

Physical Description: Amanda has long, luscious blonde locks that cascade down her back. Her petite frame stands at a striking, model-like height. She’s always impeccably dressed in preppy ensembles, with pink as her signature color—a hue that dominates her wardrobe. Flawless makeup is her armor, and she never steps outside without every detail meticulously in place.

🧸 Child: Emily Willmont.

• Senae Zitkala- The Follower 📱*Possible hookup option*

Age: 25, or 34 (depends on the MC’s age).

Occupation: Blogger.

Description: Senae Zitkala is a timid and impressionable individual who clings to Amanda’s every word, eager to please. Easily swayed by others, Senae’s insecurity often leads her to seek validation through drama and gossip.

Physical Description: Senae has a medium brown complexion and long, sleek black hair. Her style is refined and reminiscent of old-money elegance, favoring timeless and polished attire. Short in stature with a willowy, graceful build.

🧸 Child: Isi Zitkala

• Dan Meadows- The Ex Jock 🏈

Age: 25, or 34 (depends on MC’s age).

Occupation: Briar Prep football coach

Description: Dan Meadows is a cocky, self-assured jock with a penchant for arrogance and an air of entitlement. Quick to brag about his accomplishments, he thrives on attention and often dismisses the opinions of others. Though confident in his physical prowess, he has a tendency to be air-headed.

Physical Description: Dan is tall and well-built with a lean, athletic physique. His caramel brown hair is often tousled in a carefree manner, complementing his striking green eyes and fair skin. He gravitates toward a sporty, casual style—think fitted tees, joggers, and clean sneakers.

🧸 Child: Kyler Meadows.

💰Jimmy/Jain Lockwood 👮-An FBI agent who also happens to be a ghost from your past—one you wish had stayed buried.

Age: 25, or 34 (depends on MC’s age).

Occupation: FBI agent.

*Serious trigger warnings with this one*

Description: J Lockwood is the FBI agent assigned to a case that entails investigating MC-14. But J is more than just an investigator—they’re a ghost from your past, the embodiment of everything you’ve tried to leave behind. On the surface, J is charming, polite, and socially adept, seamlessly fitting into any environment. Their easy smile and confident demeanor mask a darker truth: a relentless, obsessive manipulator who bends reality to fit their desires. Beneath the polished exterior lies a dangerous fixation—J has convinced themselves that your rejection is merely a challenge to conquer. Where others see professionalism, you see the chilling glint of possession in their eyes. And all you’ve ever wanted is to be free of them.

Physical Description: J Lockwood stands slightly taller than average, with a commanding presence that naturally draws attention. Their thick, jet-black hair is neatly styled, a sharp contrast to their ice-blue eyes that seem to pierce through anyone they meet. J’s pale skin hints at long hours spent under artificial lights rather than in the sun. Their athletic build, honed through discipline and physical rigor, is evident in their poised stance and confident movements. Everything about their appearance suggests control—but it’s the chilling intensity behind those eyes that’s impossible to ignore. 

💰Monica Delgado- The Matriarch 👸

Age: 62.

Occupation: Retired.

Description: Monica Delgado is warm, nurturing, and deeply affectionate toward those she holds close, embodying a protective and compassionate mother figure. However, in public and professional settings, she transforms into a fierce and authoritative presence, displaying a cutthroat demeanor that commands respect and fear. 

Physical Description: Monica Delgado is a petite woman with an average build. She has dark brown hair interwoven with elegant grey streaks that frame her face. She has hazel eyes, and an olive skin tone. She has a shorter stature.

💰Frank Delgado- The Patriarch 🤴

Age: 62.

Occupation: Retired.

Description: Frank Delgado is a disciplined and calculating man who approaches both his criminal organization and family life with a cold, businesslike mindset. Emotionally detached and lacking empathy, he views emotional bonds as a weakness and struggles to connect with his child. His pragmatic and methodical approach to life has shaped V, who inherited many of his traits, including his reserved demeanor and analytical mindset.

Physical Description: Frank Delgado is a tall, distinguished man with an imposing presence. Despite his age, he maintains a fit physique. He has a full head of grey hair that matches his well-groomed grey mustache and beard. His olive skin tone and light brown eyes hint at a steely, calculating nature.

💰Sarah Coleman- The Loving Mother 🤱

Age: 54.

Occupation: Retired.

Description: Sarah Coleman radiates warmth and positivity wherever she goes. With an optimistic outlook, she sees challenges as opportunities and believes in the inherent good in people. Her kindness is evident in the small, thoughtful gestures she offers to friends and strangers alike. Always supportive, Sarah has a natural talent for listening and uplifting those around her, often placing the needs of others before her own. She approaches life with a gentle resilience, driven by her desire to make the world a little brighter for everyone she encounters.

Physical Description: Sarah Coleman has short blonde hair styled in a pixie cut that frames her face. She has blue and a dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Standing shorter than average, she has a lithe frame.

💰Daniel Coleman- The Loving Father 👨‍🍼

Age: 54.

Occupation: Retired.

Description: Daniel Coleman is  charismatic and has a playful, and lighthearted demeanor. He has an easy going nature and sharp sense of humor making him effortlessly likable, often lightening tense situations with a well-timed joke or witty comment. 

Physical Description: Daniel Coleman has greying sandy blonde hair. He has dark blue eyes that often gleam with humor and warmth. He Stands at an average height, and carries a slightly chubbier build.

💰Mandy (last name depending on MC)- Mommy Dearest ⛓️‍💥

Age: 57

Occupation: Retired

Born In Poverty Background Description: Mandy is a person who has a rough and harsh demeanor, often resorting to verbally or physically aggressive behaviors to gain control. She’s impulsive, and quick to lash out at others, especially when things don’t go her way. She tends to use her aggression to intimidate and belittle those she deems as beneath her. She is  crude and trashy and ever since you can remember, her abusiveness has made you feel nothing but emotional and physical pain, constantly creating a toxic environment that you couldn’t wait to escape from.

High Middle Class Background Description: Mandy has always been someone who placed immense value on appearances and status. She’s condescending and dismissive of others, always believing her way is the best way. She has a controlling nature that makes her prone to micromanaging situations and people, especially when things don’t go according to her standards. She’s a perfectionist and that drives her to be harsh, particularly with those who fail to meet her expectations. She has always been  image obsessed and is only worried about how people will perceive her life, never caring about how you’ve felt. You couldn’t wait to escape the suffocating and cold environment that she created.

Physical Description: *partly depends on the MC* Mandy has a voluptuous body type, and she stands at a height that is a little taller than average.

💰Bill (last name depending on MC)- The Pawn ♟️*pretty much stays the same regardless of background*

Age: 57

Occupation: Retired

Description: Bill is a passive, mild-mannered man who has always  avoided conflict and tends to put others’ needs before his own, driven by a deep desire to please those around him. He is emotionally withdrawn, and rarely expresses his true feelings for fear of upsetting the balance of his relationships, especially with his wife, Mandy. Though he secretly has always  supported you, he was too afraid to stand up to Mandy’s controlling nature. He never wanted to disown you. 

Physical Description:*Partly depends on the MC* Bill is of average height with a lanky, slightly awkward frame. He has wire-framed glasses, and a receding hairline.

*MC was disowned by their parents, the reason depends on your MC and choices.*

💰Cian Murphy-Leader of the rival biker gang 🏍️ *Possible hookup option*

Age: 25

Occupation: Leader of the Eastside Marauders biker gang.

Description: Cian Murphy is the charismatic and ruthless leader of the Eastside Marauders, a rival biker gang to MC-14. With a mix of cocky confidence and a seductive charm, he commands respect and loyalty from his crew. Cian’s ambition drives him to constantly expand his territory, but his temper can ignite in an instant, especially when betrayed. Though vengeful, he holds onto a strong sense of morality, often struggling with the darker side of his actions. His loyalty to his gang and close allies is unwavering, but the weight of his leadership sometimes leaves him questioning the cost of his ambitions.

Physical description: Cian stands just above average height, with chin-length, wavy auburn hair. He has a lean build. His style consists of traditional biker clothing—leather jackets, worn jeans, and boots—complete with a few personalized touches.

💰Your Child 🧸

Age: 5.

Occupation: Just starting kindergarten.

Description: Your child is a joyful little bundle of light, with an innocence that shines through in everything they do. They’re courageous, never shying away from new challenges, and show a surprising level of smarts for someone so young. It’s clear they have a bright future ahead!

This game is 18+

⚠️Content Warnings: This story has very dark and mature themes such as violence, gang activity, trauma, childbirth, sexual content (optional explicit), unhealthy relationship dynamics, profanity, alcohol, and drug use, struggles with mental health, child abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, self harm, unhealthy coping mechanisms, misogyny/sexism, homophobia, transphobia, cheating/affair? sexual harassment/sexual assault (based on a choice, so don't worry it'll be avoidable and nongraphic. This is NOT done by any RO or by the MC), harassment, mentions of abortion, the MC can be a very flawed and morally grey character depending on player choices, I'll continue to add more if I notice more, or if something is brought to my attention.

Note: I do not condone any of these behaviors; they are solely included to illustrate the moral shortcomings of certain characters, including the MC, depending on player choices.

This is my first IF, so I'm kind of nervous 😅.

[jangillman]

To all the "Hands Off" Protesters (Democrats):

We are currently at a critical juncture with a national debt of $36.5 trillion, increasing by $2 trillion each year. This is a critical issue, and most experts are warning us that we have relatively few years left to take decisive action before America faces a financial crisis that would have catastrophic consequences for this country and the world.

Amid all your protests, the burning of Teslas, and your petulant vitriol, one crucial element is glaringly missing: any plan to cut government spending. Instead, your goal appears to be to spend even more.

We finally have leaders in President Trump and Elon Musk who are courageous enough to finally focus on sustainable spending practices that are critical to avoid risking our economic future. Time is of the essence—instead of being in the way, let’s act together before it’s too late.

If not...

HANDS OFF - my tax dollars, which were not intended for your pet projects and the corrupt, virtue-signaling Socialists who spew the garbage you all take as gospel. It’s not a slush fund and a money laundering operation through left-wing NGO's to make politicians rich.

HANDS OFF - my child at school. Teach them the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. They are not there to be indoctrinated into your Marxist ideologies.

HANDS OFF - trying to force American women and girls to compete against biological men, and then adding insult to injury, forcing them to change and shower in front of them. Stop forcing your fu@ked up theories on the rest of us.

HANDS OFF - all the property you destroy in the name of whatever cause you’re supporting that given week. Other people’s vehicles are not yours to destroy. Neither are statues or all the other s#it you light on fire.

HANDS OFF - our college campuses. Decent kids are there to learn. Free speech is protected. Violence, intimidation, and taking over buildings are not. By the way, if your cause is so just, take off the masks and show yourself. Cowards one and all.

HANDS OFF - our president, who was duly elected to clean up the mess y’all created. We sat by and watched as you supported a puppet who was practically dead. It damn near destroyed the nation. Financially, from a security standpoint, and morally.

HANDS OFF - to all the federal district judges. Your power does not supersede the executive branch. And, stop using Lawfare by going after your political opponents.

HANDS OFF - our ICE Agents, who are taking violent gang bangers out of our country and forcing people who want to come here to do so legally. It should be the only way. Period. End of story.

HANDS OFF - our Free Speech rights. For years, you have used the process of cancelling people who simply wanted to express their own ideas. In your world, you think free speech can only be allowed if it agrees with your screwed up ideologies.

HANDS OFF - the American family. You have done everything possible to destabilize the concept of families because you believe that our ultimate allegiance should be to the government.

HANDS OFF - from imposing your Marxist views of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the methods you’ve used to implement them through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Most Americans are compassionate individuals who believe in judging people based on their character rather than the color of their skin.

These principles are what the vast majority of Americans voted for.

You don’t like it, be like that slob Rosie O'Donnell and move to Europe, which is being taken over by radical Islam.

So, to borrow your stupid little slogan…. Hands Off...

Love,

MAGA Country...

[lockpickingliar]

Who, Umami-chan? He's not MY Ran-chan! Whatever gave you the impression that he was? Jeez, get with the program, Saihara.

To answer your question, though, we have quite the random assortment ourselves! Not a lot of them match, but Gem's got a few of his folks, like Lyra-chan.

And also... a couple particular Remnants of Despaaair you might be interested in?

-Joker

Y'know, in light of your little chat earlier, I figured we should let you know: we've got more folks over here than just us Oumas!

-Joker @lockpickingliar

I thought so. After all, your Rantaro cut in during a prior conversation.

But just how many “folks“ do you mean? Is it the rest of the class, or a random assortment like we have here?

[sorryimananti-romantic]

The Leaders | Chapter IX

"maybe a place where light and darkness meet, the choice between truth and lies is mine."

masterlist

ot8!ateez x f!reader, mafia au

chapter warnings: drinking, smoking, illegal businesses, mentions of war/military, drugs, gangs and corruption, impending doom arrives, first date with wooyo, lots of tension, smut mdni!! (fingering, oral f! receiving, p in v and all the good stuff).

chapter wc: 14.5k

chapter synopsis: with the illegal shipment and resultantly, the crescents under investigation, you are all on the move. despite the stressful and tense atmosphere, you manage a successful first date with wooyoung. jaebeom confirms that madame tiffany is involved with the elites and you confront hongjoong and seonghwa who remind you that the crescents are a power to be reckoned with. you learn the identity of the last anonymous funder but it threatens the weapons channel and the crescents gather to strategise. the night ends on an intimate note with yunho.

prev chapter recap: jaemin informs you that the sirens have turned on president lee because of his involvement with the hala official, major sung, who you learn from seonghwa is the pseudo-governor of strictland. you can’t shake off the feeling that president lee might be involved with the elites. you go to the bar to confess to yeosang and he talks in detail about what being in a relationship with the boys entails. you understand and agree, finally sharing a kiss with him. the boys gather at the bar to congratulate you for officially becoming a leader, and you take the opportunity to tell them that you would like to be their partner as well. they welcome you and afterwards, you steal a romantic moment with yunho who tells you that there is trouble at the port. someone tipped the navy and they made the crescent’s illegal shipment of black shadow come back, which is odd because in doing so, the navy bends some international waters laws. you have a romantic moment with seonghwa before you go with his guard yuta, and jaemin to meet up with mingi to hide all the crescent’s illegal documents. you learn that mingi, san and jongho were in the same platoon as you during the war though you don’t recognise each other.

Things had never been busier at the Crescent Company– at least not in the past couple of years since you became an employee of the business empire.

The office was, of course, the one that took the brunt of it. With the navy’s tip about the Crescent’s illegal trading now becoming a full-fledged case in the Edenary Station, which just so happened to be the biggest police station in Eden, a follow-up investigation was being carried out. You had to deal with a lot of investors wanting to opt out, inquiring about their safety when they were wholly aware that the Crescent Company was never a very moral and legal business to begin with. You were getting tired of convincing the investors that this tip wasn’t something that could shut the business down when its foundations were still strong.

For how long, they wondered? That question nagged at your brain too. Technically, an illegal trading caught would only result in a trade ban with the concerned country, or worse, a total trade ban for a few years. If you were right, from what you had learned about the Crescents so far, they always had a second plan and a third in case things went south. You and everyone at the Crescent Office were aware of this, yet it hardly did anything to quell the chaos. 

The Crescent Bar was as active as before, though with an influx of new customers hoping to get a whiff of what the Crescent’s future looked like. The warehouse, however, put a halt to most of its illegal production and was sticking with the legal and licensed business in case of a raid by the police. With the production slowing, the trading with Utopia was ultimately going to get affected– if the Crescents couldn’t export the promised amount of weapons parts, they wouldn’t get their share of Black Shadow, which would generate loss at the Bar too.

Hongjoong made sure to assure you that things like these happened all the time, though it couldn’t be denied that the severity this time was perhaps greater. However, every business had to deal with losses. The important thing was to be able to recover from that, stand back up and keep functioning like normal. He was anxious, which was a given, but he was also navigating this catastrophe with an objectivity and a level-headedness that you were starting to admire. 

It had been a good few days since you went to hide the official documents with Mingi. You were on standby at the office while Hongjoong and Seonghwa went out for a meeting with one of the RV spies– for some reason, the RV spies weren’t ready to meet you. Or maybe, the boys did not want you to meet any of the RV spies considering the thing about these spies actively protecting you. 

Yunho and Yeosang had been the only ones to tell you about the spies’ role in your life,  insisting that you did not need to worry about them but you couldn’t help but wonder– who were they? How closely were they watching you? And if they were watching you closely, why did they not protect you the uncountable times you were in danger?

Or had they protected you without your knowledge? They were spies and assassins for a reason– you wouldn’t know if they were watching you right now. Whatever their reasons to protect you were, you couldn’t help but feel exposed. No matter how much you tried to hide or live in the shadows, you were always under observation, and no matter how much you pondered, you couldn’t come up with a reason strong enough to justify your circumstances. 

You could finally understand why Hongjoong was adamant at bringing you out of the shadows. Now that you were in the light, things were slowly and certainly coming to a clarity and you could not wait to see the whole picture, even though the prospect of it sounded downright scary.

The silence in Hongjoong’s office room filled with the loud bell of the phone and you picked the receiver with your usual greeting, physically relaxing when Jaehyun’s voice greeted you instead of one of the investors.

“How have you been?” You asked, leaning against the table. ���What’s the news?”

“All good. The news, well… we divided and conquered, Ten and I,” Jaehyun said and you hummed in response. “Our image does not look good, that’s a given.”

“Yeah, you can imagine how chaotic it’s been in the office,” you said.

“The partners and investors are jumpy, yes, but I don’t think this is the right time to pull out. They won’t, rest assured. However, they’ll try to find openings and try to target the business itself.”

“Ah…” you recalled Yunho talking about something like that a few days ago. “That makes sense. Strike while the iron is hot.”

“Exactly,” Jaehyun said. “I’ve got some interesting proposals, though. General Wi is willing to help us in any way that he can, which is… odd but understandable. He’s just trying to secure someone who will have his back at the time of the elections.”

“And he’s worried that his secrets might get leaked,” you added. “Does he have any ideas?”

“He’s looking into the source. We unfortunately could not find that out.”

You paused for a few moments, absently playing with the cord of the phone, before answering, “Yeah, that’s okay. If it was this easy to find out, they wouldn’t have attempted this. Anything else?”

“Yeah, there’s one thing and it might be of importance,” Jaehyun began and you urged him to continue. He took a deep breath, “Inspector Gong is looking into you– your background, specifically.”

“Inspector Gong?” You frowned, straightening. “Why?”

“I thought you’d know?” Jaehyun asked. “Maybe because you’re a Crescent now? I mean, he’s aware of our history, but not yours. And it’s probably nothing, but I just thought you should know in case it is something.”

“Thank you for letting me know,” you sighed. “Actually, can you do me another favour and find out when exactly Inspector Gong was demoted to Sector 1?”

“Oh, I can tell you that,” Jaehyun said. “Some time after President Han got assassinated. I remember because he was one of the few detectives hell bent on investigating officially, because a public assassination happened under his jurisdiction.”

“Did he ever get to the end of the case?”

“He was demoted because the higher-ups wanted to close the case. President Lee apparently had his own private team because he couldn’t trust the police force with this. It was a hot topic back in those days.”

“That would be right after I came to Sector 1 too…”

For a few moments, you both had the receiver in your hands, listening to the static as you processed this information. It was Jaehyun who finally broke the silence and asked, “Do you think you’ve encountered him while you were in Edenary? Before or after your stay in Wonderland?”

“I might have. A very high possibility. I’m not sure if he remembers me, because I don’t,” you admitted. “Why would he look into me, though? And why now?”

“Strike while the iron is hot?” Jaehyun repeated. “He might be doing this to target us. He’s been after us for a long time.”

“Yeah, well, I hope he finds something,” you scoffed. “I’d love to know what secrets I might be hiding.”

Jaehyun laughed, aware of your situation and your involvement with the business. “I think I should look into you too. We might find something of importance.”

“Ha, ha, sure,” you shook your head. A knock sounded at the door and Seonghwa entered, settling on the couch when he noticed you were on call. “Okay, I’ve got to go now. Thank you for the update, Jaehyun. And do look into me– specifically with Secretary Park’s connection. Let me know if you find something new.”

“Sure thing,” Jaehyun said, hanging up. You exhaled deeply and turned in your chair to look at Seonghwa who was stretching while trying his hardest to stifle a yawn. You were getting used to seeing that sight now.

“Was that Jaehyun?” Seonghwa asked.

“Yeah. He didn’t find the source, but Inspector Gong is looking into me these days.”

“I had a feeling he would when you went to see him with Hongjoong,” Seonghwa tsk-ed. “Anything else?”

“Nothing. How did the meeting go?”

“Awful,” Seonghwa smiled in defeat. “They don’t know who the source is either– or they’re lying. It was cryptic but I think if they knew, they would have been gloating about it.”

“A person capable of putting the RV spies off their scent…” You thought out loud. “We’ve had quite a few of those happenings recently. Makes me wonder if the RV spies are all that good.”

“Oh, they are, trust me,” Seonghwa raised his brows for emphasis and you shrugged, not fully convinced. “But you’re right. They might be losing their touch– Hongjoong was sure to let them know. You can imagine what happened next.”

You curbed a smile at the prospect of Hongjoong talking back to the group of assassins but you would expect nothing less from him. A thought gnawed at you. “The RV spies don’t know about the anonymous weapons funder’s identity, right? Do you think that person could be the one who tipped the navy?”

Seonghwa folded his arms in thought. “Whoever did this… their goal must be to cause damage to our business, right? I think the funder would have been better off exposing our weapons channel, because there would be no coming back from that. Someone has a bigger problem with us– at least, I think so. The timing of this… someone must be aware of our new deal and is trying to sabotage it.”

That made sense. You nodded slowly. “A mole?”

A topic everyone was avoiding talking out loud about, yet was being investigated cautiously. Seonghwa glanced at you, silently nodding. 

You got up and went to sit beside him on the couch, your thighs brushing against each other. You poured him a drink and he accepted it, downing it in one gulp. 

“Have you ever had a mole before?”

“A few, yes,” Seonghwa admitted. “I can’t help but wonder if it’s someone from the inner circle– someone we personally know. Usually, it’s someone new or a person with very strong opinions.”

“Which is why the RV spies may not know who the source is,” you concluded. “Because it might be an insider job.”

Seonghwa nodded grimly and you decided to change the topic, taking his hand and squeezing it in hopes of comforting him. “How have you been?”

Seonghwa’s lips curled into a smile and he shifted to pull one leg over the couch, giving you his full attention. “I’m okay. How have you been?”

You suppressed a giggle at the way he searched your eyes. “I’ve been well, thank you for asking, Mr. Park.”

“Would you like to go for dinner tomorrow night?” Seonghwa asked, pressing a kiss on your knuckles.

“You’re just a few hours too late,” you let out a wistful sigh. “Wooyoung’s booked me for tomorrow night.”

“Can’t I join?” He pleaded and you raised a brow, knowing he very well could. Seonghwa shrugged. “He wants you all to himself, a little one-on-one with you. He’s never had that, right?”

“Yeah,” you nodded. “I’m not too worried. He knows how to get me talking and I’m really comfortable with him.”

“That’s good,” Seonghwa smiled, taking a deep breath and looking down. “You know, I’ve been wanting to take you out on dates too. I want to be a proper gentleman. Bring you your favourite flowers, take you out on walks. All I seem to do is give you more burden.” 

“That’s work,” you corrected. “That’s what we do. And it’s not like I’ve been doing this alone– we’re all in this together.”

Seonghwa sighed deeply, “I suppose you are right.”

You understood where he was coming from. “Even if we’re stuck up in this office room worried about and preparing for the worst case scenarios, you’ve still been a gentleman. You bring me chocolates from the reception, a flower from the pot outside–”

“I can do better than that,” Seonghwa interrupted with a laugh. “I just haven’t had the chance.”

“I know,” you nodded. “But I want you to know that you don’t have to feel obliged to do that. You probably want to go out of your way because we– we’re new, right? I don’t see you doing that with the rest of your… lovers. With the boys.”

“That’s because with them, it’s been a long time– and I do that with them too, just in private,” he confirmed and stifled a grin at the twinkle in your eyes. “You can’t stop me from doing that. It isn’t because what we have is new, it’s because I want to. I want to treat you better because I know I can do better than this.”

You supposed that it made sense. “Alright, you can bring me an actual bouquet of flowers and treat me to a dinner date when we have time. So far, our dates have mostly happened in the office, huh?” You pondered. “I think we might be past the stage of wooing each other…”

“I haven’t tried wooing you properly yet, though,” Seonghwa leaned in to whisper in your ear, making heat creep up your cheeks. “There’s only so much you can do in the office room.”

You shook your head. “You and Yunho… it’s the proximity getting to your heads, isn’t it?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Seonghwa feigned innocence, earning a smack to his chest. “What did he do?”

“He’s just…” you brought your knees up, unable to meet his gaze as you recalled all the times Yunho got romantic in the office. “So full of energy.”

Seonghwa laughed loudly. “He is. I get worried if I see him tired.”

You turned to Seonghwa, your eyes brimming with curiosity. It had been a while since you got to talk to him about such mundane stuff, anything that was not work and business. Seonghwa leaned in to share a sweet kiss before straightening.

“Ask away. I know you must have a lot of questions.”

You inhaled deeply, wondering how to make sense of the tangle of questions that you were harbouring in your head for days now. Seonghwa rubbed your hand assuringly and waited until you were able to form the words. 

“How is it like having so many partners, Seonghwa? I mean… how does it work between you guys? It looks like you hardly have time for each other– especially these days.”

Seonghwa smiled knowingly. He knew this question was long coming and he was glad that you were opening up and asking him– perhaps, hearing the answers would make you feel more at ease. He wanted to clear your confusions away as best as he could.

“It’s… great to have people I can depend on. People who have my back and who I can trust blindly,” he began and you smiled. It was truly a blessing to have utmost faith in someone, knowing you would never get hurt by them.

“After the war, we found each other over a period of time. I think some of us like San, Mingi and Jongho knew that we could never find a home except with each other. We all gladly accepted each other– as brothers and partners at first. As a family. We rebuilt Eden, starting from Sector 5 which took the worst of the war.”

“Because of the Eight Hills– it borders Strictland and Halaland,” you recalled hearing news about Sector 5 long after the war was over and he hummed in confirmation. 

“It was a tough time, I’ll admit, and we naturally found a safe haven with each other. There was no judgement, no jealousy, no restrictions. We were one and we were each other’s, yet free. It wasn’t until we became a gang in ‘64 when we finally talked about it and realised that we would always want to be with each other.”

“That… sounds beautiful, actually,” you whispered, in awe. “Was there really never a fight or some drama?”

“Not really. Someone would complain if they thought they weren’t getting enough attention from someone else, but that’s about it. We all lived together so it wasn’t a big deal at all. We only got separate housing a couple years ago.”

“Can I ask why?” 

Seonghwa chuckled. “It’s hard to live with 7 men and take care of them all at once. It was a unanimous decision.”

“And… how did you pick your housemates?” You asked, intrigued.

Seonghwa stifled a grin. “How do you think?”

“Don’t tell me it was a random pick,” you narrowed your eyes but when he pursed his lips in guilty admission, you shook your head in disbelief. “I figured– you all make the most unbelievable bets when you’re drinking,” you commented. “Can I ask another thing?”

“Sure,” Seonghwa looked at you with curiosity. “Don’t hold back. Transparency is appreciated here, Luna.”

“Are the sparks still there? After all this time?”

It was such a candid question that Seonghwa found himself smiling, moving his hand to cup your face and caress your cheekbone, his heart bursting with affection at how your eyes were just a little wide as you anticipated his answer, looking like you were holding your breath.

“Sounds like an important question, eh? Have you ever been in a relationship, Luna?”

“Tried and failed. Very casual, but it’s been a while,” you told him and he nodded.

“Did you feel sparks?” He asked and you raised your brows at his counter-question, but you felt at ease– there was no mockery in his tone.

“I think? You have to feel something in order to be with someone, right?” 

“I suppose that’s true,” Seonghwa rested his head against the couch, tired. “When you are with the right person, or people, Luna… there are no sparks. Sparks are meant to be exciting but eventually, they die out. It’s what is left after the initial sparks that makes all the difference. For me, personally… it feels like I’m floating freely among the clouds when I’m with them. Untrapped and unbound. That is what love feels like for me.”

His answer made perfect sense. Sparks were only an indicator of a beginning of something– what really mattered was what was left after the smoke cleared. 

You scooted closer and rested your head on his arm while he shut his eyes to rest them. 

Unguarded, vulnerable and exposed, yet… radiating with warmth and gentleness.

You truly were the luckiest if the mafia underboss let you see these sides of him.

There were times when you wondered if you should have never come back to Eden.

After all, would it have been so bad if you forgot about your past, your family and moved on? Was Wonderland not good to you?

Living in the mansion at the outskirts of the Capital, surrounded by expanses of lavender fields, learning about world history, politics and business with Madame Cha, and occasionally practising self defense of shooting with one of her boys– it wasn’t a bad life at all. You were looked after. Madame Cha cared for you as if you were really her niece, and you cared for her as an aunt.

And her boys– Jaebeom and his gang– they would always bring something for you whenever they came around. A flower from the field, an odd scarf that stood out to them in the marketplace, a dagger (which would immediately be confiscated by the Madame) or a ruffle to the hair, a kiss to the top of the head. You were their little sister. Their friend. 

So, would it have been selfish of you to want to continue living with Madame Cha? She sometimes joked about how she would like to pass her establishment to you– she did not have any family of her own and she claimed that her blood relatives were all ‘vultures’. She pretty much ran her trade business with Jaebeom and often mentioned that if you agreed to cut ties with your father, she would take you in as her own. Of course, it took a while before she warmed up to you, and she was awfully suspicious of you when you first arrived.

So, after spending three years in Wonderland when you decided to go back to Eden for good, she wasn’t surprised. She said that she always found you staring at the horizon with a wistful look on your face, looking as if you were wondering what could have been and what could be. She asked you something that would stay with you like a weight on your shoulder–

If you had really cut ties with your father, what was really calling you back to Eden?

At that time, you had no answer to that. When Jinyoung, the second-in-charge of the gang heard, he wondered if you were finally going to look for your birth mother. You told him that according to your father, she was dead and no good would come out of learning about her, but Jinyoung said that if she really was dead, your father should have no reason to hide her identity from you.

And that got you wondering if it really was true. Upon arriving back to Eden, you tried snooping around to find something, anything, but it was always a dead end. Even your half-brother Sunghoon did not know your mother’s identity. So that left your father–

And your father announced himself as your enemy as soon as you joined Kihyun’s company, a partner to the Crescent Company.

You initially speculated that it was Kihyun your father had a problem with. After all, he protected you far too many times from your father. But when you learned that your father still often met up with Kihyun regarding pharmaceutical-related dealings and that the MX Pharmaceuticals also distributed Park Pharma’s products, you started to wonder if your father simply hated you. 

And it was perhaps true, but there was also another answer– your father had a problem with the Crescent Company, and it wouldn’t have been obvious if you had no knowledge about silver light, because it changed a lot of things.

The Crescents would be rivals of not only the pharmaceutical businesses but basically every high-profile man who consumed silver light as a drug, or every person of power to whom the drug was merely a currency to exploit this world’s resources. You could not even fathom out just how extensive their network was. Could an organisation like Ateez really expose their propaganda and stop the exploitation of silver light as a pleasure drug or currency?

If that network had lasted so long without the name of silver light coming out of the mouth of a common man, you were pretty sure that it would be extremely challenging, even with Madame Tiffany’s partnership– and you couldn’t shake off the feeling that Madame Tiffany was going to be the source of the Crescents’ demise rather than salvation…

“I go to make tea for you and you look like you’re drafting a plan to take over the world,” Wooyoung scoffed, having proven himself true when he said that you were distracted the whole evening.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I saw you staring at the tea leaves for a solid two minutes before you moved,” you countered and he smiled guiltily, settling down next to you and bringing you in for a kiss to your temple before he handed you the cup.

“Now, what’s got my girl all bothered?”

Your response stopped midway when you heard the jingle of the keys and in came Hongjoong and Jongho, discussing something in a low voice and taking off their shoes in the foyer. Their eyes lit up at the sight of you–

But you were busy shaking off your initial surprise. Of course they could come here. This was their house. 

You just didn’t expect them to come back so early, and it seemed like Wooyoung didn’t as well because he let out a frustrated ‘you’re interrupting my date!’, which led to Hongjoong rolling his eyes and Jongho threatening to throw him out, the air filling with friendly squabble as they all settled down in the living room.

The date had truly not been without distractions and interruptions, but considering the circumstances, you would say that it went pretty well. You took the evening off and went to your apartment to get ready, borrowing a cap-sleeved black dress from Wendy who was simply pleased that you were going out with someone, no matter who it was. You promised to tell her who it was some other time but she was pretty sure it was one of the Crescents from the office. You let her believe that and she styled your hair with a jade pin, adding a deep brown fur coat on you as a finishing touch.

Wooyoung came to pick you up, an absolute gentleman to the bone who kissed your knuckles in greeting and opened the door of his car for you. You had dinner at one of the fancy restaurants in the food street of Sector 1– a lavish dinner that reminded you of what you used to eat back home in Edenary. 

Wooyoung was talkative and kept you engaged in conversation, but the two of you were consciously trying to avoid discussing work. You talked about your likes and dislikes, about your past and your relationships, and unsurprisingly, you found a lot in common with him. You both were the type to speak your mind about things so the conversation flowed naturally, drifting from preferences to some stories of your pasts.

But you could tell that the recent happenings were weighing Wooyoung down, even though he did his best to make sure that you were comfortable and having a good time. With a gentle squeeze to his hand as you took a walk in his area, you told him that if he would like, he could talk to you about anything that weighed on his mind. He invited you for tea and here you were, joined by his housemates.

“How was your first date?” Jongho asked, wiggling his brows teasingly and your eyes darted over to Hongjoong who was sitting comfortably on the sofa in front of you, an eyebrow slightly raised indicating his anticipation to hear your answer.

“Well,” you glanced at Wooyoung who was eagerly awaiting your answer. “Let’s just say you all have some competition now. The bar has been set.”

Wooyoung clapped loudly while Hongjoong snickered under his breath, clearly amused. “See? I told you I would set her standards high. Good luck crossing the bar, folks.”

“I’m happy to hear you had a good time,” Hongjoong looked at you earnestly and watched your smile drop. He shook his head and added, “You needed that. It’s not good to be so stressed all the time, and I heard that our little secretary has been zoning out at work a lot.”

Your lips formed into a pout as you folded your arms. “I can’t help it. We tried hard not to get distracted by the work stress during our dinner too, but… decided to give in and just talk at home, with some tea.”

“You guys want some?” Wooyoung asked and when the two nodded, he muttered something about how he brewed extra just in case and in no time, you were all in a deep discussion of the recent updates.

The situation was nowhere near dying down hence the pressure looming over everyone’s head. With the illegal trades put on hold entirely while the Edenary Station investigated the case in collaboration with the prosecution, Hongjoong was worried if Madame Tiffany was going to retract from their recent deal and if rumours about the Crescents’ possession of silver light were going to get rampant.

“They could easily charge us on the basis of illegal drug trade and confiscate all our possession of silver light if it comes to that,” Hongjoong explained. “That’s the worst case scenario but I’m preparing to make it look like our hands are clean. They can charge us but they will never find the evidence that we possess the drug.”

“We’re going to have to contact some underworld dealers in that case,” Jongho clarified. “For now, we’re just hoping we can get away with a heavy fine and they do not dig further.”

You nodded along. “No idea about the source of the tip?”

Hongjoong shook his head grimly. His knuckles almost whitened as he clenched his fists, clearly agitated. You looked towards Wooyoung who was already staring at the boss’s hands, no stranger to his mannerism.

“We’ll get to that,” he assured with a smile in an attempt to lighten the mood again. “I’m getting my boys to sniff around. They’re like hounds so we’ll know in no time.”

“I don’t think it is that simple this time,” Hongjoong admitted, making both Jongho and Wooyoung shift uncomfortably in their seats. Perhaps, this was the first time their leader expressed his opinion about the matter. 

Hongjoong glanced over at his capos and then at you. “Something tells me that this is the beginning of the end.”

You frowned. “The end of what?”

“The end of our attempt to present ourselves as something we are not– a legal, respectable business organisation,” Hongjoong said, straightening his shirt and leaning forward, meeting eyes with the youngests. “I’m coming back from hearing whispers in the wind– someone is trying their damned best to bring Ateez out of the shadows.”

“If they want us back that bad, they can have us,” Wooyoung started. “We can call ourselves the Crescents as much as we want, but we will always be Ateez. A gang.”

“I hope they are just whispers,” you said, your own voice sounding unconvincing and Hongjoong caught that. 

“I hope so too,” he said earnestly, and something told you that he knew about how you would be getting a confirmation soon. You gulped uneasily, checking your wrist for the time.

“Don’t let that keep you up at night, Captain,” Jongho said, getting up and clapping, breaking the tension in the room. “Everyone knows who we are, and this isn’t the first time someone has attempted to trigger us. Once we find the source, everything will fall into place. Business will get running.”

“He’s right,” Wooyoung nodded. “If they want us back so badly, I’m happy to go back to my old ways. It gets tiring to act like a refined gentleman when I’m anything but.”

Jongho laughed mockingly and you frowned at him. What he said next had you covering your mouth.

“You’ve never been a refined gentleman.”

Wooyoung put his hands over his hips, challenging Jongho while Hongjoong got up, sliding between them and joining you in a corner before they started squaring up, finding you thoroughly amused by the scene in front of you.

“I don’t know what I expected when I joined the inner circle, but this…” you watched Wooyoung patting Jongho’s arm aggressively, pleading for him to stop between laughs while the younger had him in a chokehold. “This was certainly not it.”

“They’re still young boys at heart,” Hongjoong smiled rather proudly. “I wish I can protect their spirits forever.”

You glanced over at Hongjoong, curiosity piqued. 

“And what about you?”

Hongjoong’s lips curled in a surprised smile but the only response he gave was a subtle nod– perhaps, a gesture of gratitude that you thought about him at this moment. He clapped loudly and immediately, the boys straightened.

“Take your date home, Wooyoung. You and I have places to go in the early morning.”

“Yessir,” Wooyoung straightened his clothes and beckoned you to follow him outside and you exited the house, joking about what happened moments ago.

It was during the short car ride that Wooyoung took a deep breath and said, “Thank you for today, Luna. I really needed a breather.”

“So did I,” you smiled, playing with the straps of your purse. “It was a wonderful first date, Wooyoung.”

Wooyoung grinned. “Had to do our new member some justice. The hyungs keep you holed up in their office, though…” He stole a glance, shaking his head in amusement. “I’m sure you like that too.”

“Hey,” you smacked his arm, no longer shy. “I spent almost two years at the bar too.”

“But Yeosang did not really realise how much he liked you until you left the bar,” Wooyoung shared. “I knew he liked you, though. I told him that he should make a move, but he was wary of you. Makes sense now.”

“Wary of me?” 

“Imagine if he started dating you and found out who you are much later. I’m not sure he would have liked that– he doesn't like secrets,” Wooyoung said, stopping the car when he reached your street.

“Noted,” you shrugged. “I’m not sure I would have accepted at that time either. I had secrets to protect, after all.”

“And are there more secrets you’re keeping, Luna?” 

Wooyoung’s eyes always seemed sharp, however, there was a certain glint to them as he asked that question, almost of a protective nature. If it would have been anyone else, you might have been a bit offended, but since this was Wooyoung, a fierce protector of his group, you did not mind the apprehension in his eyes one bit.

So you slid your hand over his and squeezed it in assurance. “Nothing of importance. I’m a pretty open book now. Especially with Seonghwa and Yunho– I don’t know how they do it, but I find myself speaking my mind and baring my soul when I’m with them.”

The corner of Wooyoung’s lips tugged in a small smile. “I’m glad to hear that.”

You smiled back and he kissed the back of your hand, the tension breaking as you both broke into laughter. He got out of the car first and opened the door for you, spreading his arms and bringing you in for a nice, warm hug. 

“Don’t stress too much about what’s happened, sweetheart,” he said as he swayed you back and forth in the hug. You squeezed the material of his coat in response. “Things like these happen all the time. It’s just that people forget that we made our way up all the way from rock bottom.”

“And rock bottom never scared you,” you finished and he pulled away with a proud smile. 

“That’s right,” he cupped your face. “I sure hope things get better, but if they don’t, we’ll be okay.”

“I have faith in that,” you said and he kissed the top of your head in farewell.

However… faith can only get you so far, for things get worse before they get better. Just like the cold winds in Sector 1 shifting to an icy breeze with the telltale signs that it had snowed in the mountains, the Crescents’ fate took a darker turn when Jaebeom arrived at the Crescent Office bearing news of confirmation. 

You welcomed Jaebeom into Yunho’s office with a heavy heart, and it did not help that he was struggling to smile. Your stomach twisted in knots, hand almost shaking as you poured fresh tea for the man.

As Jaebeom spoke, the walls of Yunho’s office room felt like they were closing in on you, suffocating you as if you were trapped in a small space. You listened to his every word carefully, nodding along and when he apologised for not bringing good news, you told him that it was something you already expected– it was as if deep down, you knew that a storm was coming.

Only you didn’t realise the storm would be in the form of a typhoon, threatening to shake the ground from underneath your feet. Jaebeom got up to leave and patted your head, sharing your sentiments and telling you that he would be in contact for further updates, and that if the Crescents ever needed a helping hand, Jaebeom’s gang along with Madame Cha were at their service. 

That did nothing to quell the unease in your heart. After being left alone, you slumped down on the couch and stared up at the ceiling, wishing the sky would burst open and take you away from this dark, wretched world. There were no tears left to cry– with each passing second, you mustered up the little fragments of strength that threatened to leave your body. With each passing minute, you straightened up as you let the information and its implications sink in.

And with each passing hour, you waited. Waited for the underboss to arrive so that you could deliver the news to him. 

Strangely, it made you recall that night when you risked everything to obey Yeosang’s orders and get the contents of his locker safely out of the Crescent Bar, when you were under attack. Except… 

There was nowhere to escape now. No gambles to make, no tables to turn.

It must have been around midnight when the boss and his underboss arrived at the Crescent Office to store some documents and get some ledgers before moving to their house to get some rest. Upon finding the light of Yunho’s office on, they wondered if Yunho had already arrived back from Sector 8– the consigliere had been out all day tracing the source of the tip with Kihyun’s men and had ringed the office to let them know that he might not be back tonight.

But when Seonghwa found you curled up on the couch with your head resting against your knees, he immediately knew something was wrong. Seonghwa glanced at Hongjoong to confirm if he was the only one who got that feeling and when he found the boss’ brows scrunched with worry, he gently approached you.

You straightened at the sight of Seonghwa, sighing in relief but your heart quickly twisted with anxiety at the sight of the Captain. How were you to tell him that you both had doomed the Crescents, perhaps, with no return?

“Did something happen?” Seonghwa held you by your shoulders and scanned your figure. You pursed your lips and took a few deep breaths, motioning at Hongjoong to take a seat. 

“I finally heard back from Madame Cha,” you looked at the Captain and he raised a brow, leaning forward, eager to hear more. You wondered if you were the only one feeling bile rise up your throat.

Surely, Hongjoong had no idea who Madame Tiffany was, right?

About a minute of silence passed with the men exchanging glances between each other. Hongjoong exhaled, slumping back in resignation.

“Just tell us how fucked we are, Luna. I’m ready to hear it.”

A short laugh escaped your mouth and Hongjoong resisted the urge to comment on the sarcastic tone of it. “Fucked would be an understatement, Hongjoong. Tiffany is involved with the elites who are pushing for Strictland’s nuclear operation to become successful.”

“Strictland’s nuclear operation,” Hongjoong repeated, his gaze sticking on the teacup you had been drinking from. 

“Their end goal is triggering a regional war so Eden and Halaland get distracted. Strictland can test their nuclear weapons around that time, but there are rumours that as soon as Strictland makes that move, Eden or someone else from this continent might attempt its annexation,” you added and Seonghwa cursed under his breath.

“Triggering a regional war– they could achieve that through a lot of ways,” Seonghwa deliberated. “Either blow Strictland’s cover and make it known that the nuclear base has been active, or find another reason important enough that turns Eden and Halaland against each other. Either way, the Treaty of the Eight Hills gets violated.”

“If they need to test their nuclear weapons, a war could be a good time to do that,” Hongjoong shook his head in disappointment, head hanging low in defeat. “I can’t believe we’re close to seeing another war in our lifetime.”

Silence filled a room at his statement before Hongjoong spoke again. “Madame Tiffany signed on the silver light deal with us while knowing exactly who we are. The question remains– did she agree on silver light’s medical distribution to have the upper hand as she controls the world of the elites, or does she intend to end us– our company?”

“If she was the one who tipped the navy about the shipment to Mist Island…” Seonghwa said what you both were thinking out loud. “It would be the very first step to trigger our doom. She must be working with an insider to know exactly how much damage this would do–”

“We don’t know that yet,” Hongjoong looked at the underboss and your eyes twitched at his statement. “It could be anyone–”

“It can not be anyone, and you know that, Captain,” you declared and Hongjoong cocked his head at the stiffness of your tone. “Think about the timing of this all. Tipping the navy right when we’re about to launch the silver light drug? Too big of a coincidence.”

“I’m trying to give her the benefit of doubt and see if we have another enemy– someone who might be far worse than Tiffany,” Hongjoong counter with narrowed eyes. “Tiffany might be a bait even in their game if she really signed the deal of silver light for another, much sinister purpose.”

“Don’t be fooled, Hongjoong,” you told him. “The elites– they all work together, not against each other. If Tiffany is part of the elites who intend to make sure that silver light never sees the light of the day as a medicinal drug, then you don’t have just one enemy but an entire group of people with power, from all over the continent–”

“You think I did not consider that when I shook hands with that woman?” 

Hongjoong’s tone was so cold and sharp that it made you hold your breath. 

“I needed someone with power to be our partner on this. Someone with a status that could match that of the elites. So what if they are a member of the elites themselves? If that means that they protect us when we launch this drug into the market, it doesn’t matter who they are.”

“You know how limited our options were, Luna,” Seonghwa said in a soft tone, sliding his hand over your clenched fist and rubbing it assuringly.  “Sure, signing with Tiffany could be a big mistake, but we don’t know that yet, and we cannot take the next step until we confirm that Tiffany intends to destroy our company. You know how important this deal is to us. You understand, right?”

“I do,” you took a deep breath, trying to swallow the lump stuck in your throat. “I just… I keep seeing my father’s cocky smile when he learned that we’re aiming to partner with Tiffany. It’s as if he knew.”

“We’ll start looking into it properly now that we have a potential lead,” Hongjoong said, this time much gently. “We will also make preparations for what could be another attack on the Crescent Company.”

You nodded in gratitude and Hongjoong held your gaze– if this was just another day, he would have reprimanded you for talking to him like that, but he understood how anxious this made you considering you already had an inkling of what the elites had been planning all this time. 

“Can your source…”

“Lim Jaebeom,” you told Hongjoong and he nodded, memorising the name. 

“Can Jaebeom name all parties involved in this scheme if possible?”

“I’ll send him a message and arrange a meeting,” you said. “He shifted his focus on Madame Tiffany now but he’s been looking into this for a while so his information can be trusted.”

“Good. I trust you, Luna,” Hongjoong said, getting up. “Let’s go home and get some rest. We’ll start planning in the morning, okay?”

You nodded weakly and Hongjoong gazed softly at you, drawing closer and resting his hand on your cheek. 

“Look at me, sweetheart,” he almost whispered and you mustered up the remnants of your diminishing strength to meet his eyes. “We are warriors, all of us. Not just the nine of us, but the rest of the employees of the Crescent Company. All of us share the same goal– to protect this homeland and to provide the next generations with some sense of security. If that means that we have to fight the very people who wish for the demise of the entire continent… so be it. They may be the leaders of this society, but we…”

“We are the leaders of the underworld,” you quoted him and watched his lips curl in a satisfied smirk. “The underworld that no one escapes from.”

“That’s right,” Hongjoong said, planting a chaste kiss on your temple. “Straighten your shoulders and never look back, you hear me?”

You looked in Seonghwa’s direction, finding him smiling almost proudly. He passed a subtle nod and you finally managed a smile on your own.

These men would remind you time and time again that no matter how dark it gets, you rule the darkness. You had no reason to be afraid.

That did not help the stress too much though, and naturally, you found yourself standing outside the back exit of the Crescent Bar yet again, staring at the dim lights that peeked from the frosted windows. You debated going home instead but your heart knew what it wanted so you discreetly made your way to Yeosang’s office, not bothering to knock but slightly opening the door to check who was inside.

San spotted you, seated on the chair in front of Yeosang and he smiled at the sight of you, urging you to come inside. Yeosang’s eyes lit up as soon as you entered but when he found your shoulders sunken and form weary, he immediately knew something was wrong.

“Are you okay?” Yeosang asked, hesitantly getting up as if unsure what to do.

“Not really,” you let out a short laugh, looking up at the ceiling and willing yourself not to break down. Now was not the time. 

San and Yeosang moved in synchronisation as if they had done this several times already. San took your bag from you and placed it on the table, taking off your coat next and going to hang it on the stand. Yeosang gently brought you in a hug, caressing your head silently. 

You took a deep breath– the warmth of his hug was definitely helping with the ease of your mind. You felt San’s hands on your shoulders, gently massaging the tension out of your body while you stood still. The two of them waited until you broke apart, feeling a bit refreshed. 

“You wanna talk about it?” San asked, hands still on your shoulders and a light kiss planted on your cheek.

“I already did, with Seonghwa and Hongjoong. Things will be okay, they assured me. I’m just…” you sighed, meeting eyes with the both of them.

“Tired?” Yeosang suggested and you laughed in admission. “Sick of it?”

“You can curse at them if you want to,” San squared up, making you laugh harder. “We’ll join. Hongjoong can be an ass, right?”

“Stubborn ass–”

“An extremely stubborn ass,” you interjected Yeosang and they smirked in victory. “What makes it more frustrating is that he’s always right.”

“This!” San clapped in agreement. “If he rubbed this in our face, that would perhaps be better than the silent victory judgmental glare thing that he does.”

You chuckled under your breath– so it wasn’t just you. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s easier to deal with someone pompous than to deal with someone who doesn’t realise their own power.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Yeosang assured, but then glanced at San. “Or not.”

“You don’t get used to it,” San corrected. “You just learn to live with it and deal with it.”

“Sounds tiring,” you sank down on your chair and Yeosang poured you a drink, the duo snickering at something. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” San smiled. “It’s just nice to know that you found your way here.”

“Yeah, it’s on my way home. Don’t make too much of it,” you teased and San poked your shoulder before settling down on the chair next to you on your left, clasping his hand around yours. 

You made small talk, getting some recent updates on how the bar was functioning (without you, you made a point to highlight). The conversation shifted to your recent date with Wooyoung and how he could not stop boasting about being the first and only gentleman in the group.

“It’s funnier this time because usually, he’s an absolute goner who can’t keep his hands off a new partner,” San revealed and that piqued your curiosity. “He’s taking his time with you. He must really like you.”

“He’s always liked me, don’t be mistaken,” you told him and the duo agreed– Wooyoung was perhaps the only one of the Crescents who was friendly with you before you became a bookkeeper. “I thought he’s a bit sceptical of me, but maybe that’s just me?”

“How so?” Yeosang asked.

“He asked if I have any secrets that I’m keeping from you guys. He seems very protective of you all.”

“That’s just how he is,” San chuckled. “It’s not scepticism, not really. Just his protective nature.”

“He probably wanted to see how you would respond,” Yeosang snickered in amusement. “He knows right away if someone lies.”

“I… will keep that in mind for the future,” you said and San narrowed his eyes.

“Who do you plan to lie to?”

“Not him,” you said and the boys laughed. “You seem gullible. You’d be my target, San.”

“Not fair!” He tried snatching his hand away but you kept your grip tight around his hand. 

The sound of your laughter filled the room. Outside, a woman with silver hair hiding the little of her face that was visible from her cloak stood near the door with her own drink in her hand, her lips threatening to curl into a smile. As soon as the door of the office opened, she shifted her body towards the shadow in an attempt to appear inconspicuous.

As you said your goodbyes to the men, San escorting you to the exit, you thought you heard Yeosang’s voice– ‘winter’, he said. You turned to look but there was no one in the shadows anymore.

However, the next day as you switched your belongings from one bag to another, you found a crumpled piece of paper. Being the kind of person who usually folded paper instead of crumpling it, you flattened the paper and found a message written on it.

You read it, once, twice. And then you tossed it in the fireplace.

“What do you mean it was Secretary Oh Jungse?”

Hongjoong’s voice practically boomed in the room as he spoke into the receiver, making you and Seonghwa pause in the middle of arranging the documents. Seonghwa looked at you but you shrugged, not recognising the name.

“And you’re positive about the source?”

For a moment, you straightened, heart beating with anticipation. Did you finally have the source of the tip? Had it finally worked out? 

But Hongjoong’s tight grip on the receiver revealed that it was perhaps something else, probably of a more alarming nature. As if to confirm, Hongjoong slammed the receiver down to end the call and you shivered, the temperature in the room noticeably dropping.

It was another gloomy morning in the Crescent Office with you and Seonghwa compiling some reports to present to the Edenary Office to help with the illegal shipment case. The ringing of the telephone had started to sound ominous for a few days now. You had stopped expecting to hear any good news, and watching Hongjoong clench and unclench both his fists and his jaw while his gaze fixed at the revolver lying on the table had you squirming in your seat.

“What is it?” Seonghwa asked, but Hongjoong shook his head, still processing the information.

Seonghwa got up and moved towards the main desk where Hongjoong sat. He gently approached him with an assuring squeeze to his shoulder, rubbing it to provide some comfort. You watched as the tension in the boss’ body started to dissipate with each gentle rub, and you could see that Seonghwa was muttering assurances, fixing his hair and caressing his face every once in a while.

Hongjoong took a deep breath and looked towards you, motioning you to come closer. You dropped the files on the table and took the seat in front of him, waiting for him to catch his breath.

“It was Yunho– someone is deliberately targeting our business. Remember the anonymous funder for our weapons project? The one whose identity we could not find out?”

“That’s Secretary Oh?” Seonghwa frowned. “Isn’t he…”

“President Han’s secretary,” Hongjoong confirmed and your jaw went slack after hearing the connection. “The man who supposedly went into hiding when President Han was assassinated. He was supposed to deliver the funds to us but got arrested on suspicions of treason. He’s under interrogation right now.”

“I remember hearing things about that man,” you leaned forward. “Things like how he might have been involved in the assassination itself, or how he was targeted after the assassination as well.”

“I don’t think he was involved in the killing of the president, but you can never be too sure,” Hongjoong pursed his lips in thought, holding Seonghwa’s hand and squeezing it to let him know that he was okay now. “The Edenary Station is now aware of our weapons project and is going to proceed with investigation, but… I’m not sure if they learned that from Secretary Oh or if this was pre-planned.”

“They must have tortured him quite a bit for him to confess,” Seonghwa winced at the thought. “Secretary Oh has done a lot to hide his identity. To be caught now of all the times…”

“Or someone found out about Secretary Oh and decided to use that to expose our weapons dealings,” you countered and Hongjoong agreed. “I’m going to ring the Edenary Office and get Jaehyun on the move. I know how the Edenary Station will proceed with this case.”

“You do that,” Hongjoong passed you the receiver and you called Jaehyun, requesting him to keep watch over Secretary Oh and see who visits the man or if anyone bails him. Jaehyun assured that he would keep an eye and check the public sentiment while he was at it.

“So now…” you said when you ended the call. “All of Eden will know that the Crescents have been smuggling weapons.”

“Not so quickly, no,” Hongjoong shook his head. “Edenary Station will make sure the public does not learn about this. The public will be with us on this because the majority of the war veterans believe that our current office isn’t doing a good job with the nation’s security. And President Lee’s position will not look good if the public learns that a ‘gang’ is doing more for national security than the office.”

“Plus with Major Sung’s recent visit, people are already condemning the president,” Seonghwa added. “They wish to learn what they talked about, but President Lee is keeping mum.”

“As he should be,” Hongjoong stretched his neck, producing cracks. “The boys are on their way here, all of them. It’s time we get things straight and retaliate against whoever is targeting us.”

You finished compiling the report with Seonghwa while you waited for the rest of the Crescents to arrive. Yunho, San and Yeosang were the first ones, having been out making sure that the silver light batches were safely moved to a different location in case the recent happenings were a scheme to stop the Crescents from trying to manufacture the drug into the market. The warehouse boys arrived next after making sure to get rid of any tails that would lead the Edenary Station to find their base for weapons dealings. 

You were all chatting among yourselves, catching up and exchanging updates when Hongjoong clapped to get everyone’s attention. The boys started to settle down, but you pursed your lips in amusement when you saw Yunho, who was standing next to Hongjoong, shoot subtle glares at anyone who had not shut up yet. He caught you stifling a smile and you watched his eyes twinkle with a hint of mischief.

“How’s it looking at the warehouse?” Hongjoong asked Mingi.

“Pledis has agreed to pause all weapons-related manufacturing until things settle down. They won’t back out. We spread the word in the underground network and all weapons dealings and exchange will be put to a halt until further notice.”

“I met up with Changbin,” Wooyoung said and you asked Jongho, who was sitting next to you, about who Changbin was. You learned that he was a member of Chan’s gang– Wolfgang. “They’re also going to pause all dealings because they fear that they might get exposed, and they are open for a chat in case we want to team up and find whoever is behind this.”

You were surprised to hear that. You had kept the little chat with Chan back at Edenary from the boys since they were rivals, but hearing that they were open to being allies for once had you intrigued. 

“Team up?” San scoffed. “That’s new.”

“They wouldn’t want to get involved with the police either,” Jongho mused. “They may be our rivals but we share the same goal.”

Hongjoong nodded, revealing the contents of his phone call with Yunho and a string of gasps and curses sounded across the room. “Now… what do we make of this?”

“It can’t be denied that we are being deliberately targeted,” Wooyoung started. “I would like us to focus on why Secretary Oh, of all the anonymous funders, was the one chosen to be exposed like this– he was attacked, you say, and arrested? His life could be in danger.”

“Sounds like a good place to start,” San agreed. “It can’t be a big coincidence– not anymore. Someone is trying to attack the very foundation of the Crescents. Of Ateez.”

“I feel like we’re missing a big link among all the things that have happened recently,” Yeosang spoke with a sense of sobriety and you looked at him, grateful that he felt the same. “With Tiffany’s possible connection to the Strictland programme and our deal with silver light which, by the way, she’s awfully quiet about… I’d like to have some eyes on her too.”

“I agree,” Seonghwa began. “Either she does not fear a tarnished reputation, or… she’s involved somehow. I still don’t get why she would opt for this route– tipping the navy and then exposing an anonymous funder. If she wants silver light all to herself, she could have gone for a less messier option.”

“I doubt that,” you commented, making everyone look at you. “These elites… they have a way of operating, especially when they aim to create some significant damage. The quicker, less messier options do not sound appealing to them.”

Hongjoong nodded in consideration. “Either way, we have to take a step back and secure our footing. Yunho, if you will?”

Yunho nodded, getting up and looking around the room in thought. “I think first and foremost, we need to make sure that the weapons channel remains safe and unexposed to any outsiders. That means that we must form partnerships with other gangs and we should start contacting the funders to let them know about the situation– anonymous ones too.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Hongjoong exhaled. “Mingi, Wooyoung, and Luna– you can work on this since the three of you have the most connections. If you need some help, Yunho or Seonghwa can join.”

You agreed, meeting eyes with your new partners who passed you a nod and a cheeky smile. 

“Next, San and Yeosang should continue to make sure the silver light medicinal production begins at one of the MX Pharmaceuticals’ factories. It doesn’t matter if someone is targeting us to stop the launch of this medicine because the only people who might be behind this must want to keep the current status of silver light intact– a pleasure drug.”

“The elites,” you sighed and Yunho nodded. “Do you reckon that these are the same people who are working for the Strictland programme?”

“That’s what me and Jongho will start looking into,” Yunho said. “We’ll get General Wi and other Edenary figures to start sniffing around too and see where it takes us. We might need you to join us in that case, Luna.”

“Happy to help,” you assured.

“Hongjoong,” Yunho looked at the Captain. “I think you are due a meeting with President Son. If there’s one person who might know where Secretary Oh’s loyalty stands, it’s him. And make sure we know what Madame Tiffany’s stance on this is.”

“Fine, I’ll contact them,” Hongjoong groaned. “Can’t say President Son will be pleased to hear that we want to meet him.”

“I don’t think he’ll be that mad to see you,” Wooyoung chuckled as the Captain’s pout deepened. “You’re just a tiny bit intimidated by him, admit it.”

“Yes, so what if I am?” Hongjoong pulled out his pipe to everyone’s amusement, Seonghwa automatically retrieving a lighter from his pocket and helping Hongjoong. “It would be unwise not to be intimidated by the person who ran this country for the majority of our lives.”

“Well then,” Yunho clapped in conclusion. “I think we’re all sorted now. Captain?”

Hongjoong took a deep smoke, meeting eyes with all of you before he started. “I think it is about time we stopped acting like the Crescents and started acting like Ateez. Do you get what I mean?”

Silence filled the room and you watched how each one of them shifted in their seats at Hongjoong’s proposition. Hongjoong leaned forward, taking another smoke and clearing his throat. 

“Some fucker out there has forgotten that we rose from nothing, and we are not afraid of the darkness, yeah?” Hongjoong’s voice had significantly deepened and you were surprised at the change in his demeanour. “Get your weapons out. Show them what we are made of. We will not allow our establishment to fall, you hear me?”

There was another moment of silence and Seonghwa took the lead then, straightening his coat. 

“We will probably get attacked more often– our bases and offices might get compromised, so let’s be careful and on guard, okay? We have to stay one step ahead now, so everyone… get to business.”

“And it’s probably not one person,” Hongjoong completed his train of thought, saying out loud what everyone suspected. “I really don’t think it’s just a single entity anymore. We’ve got a mole, that’s for sure. Find them immediately and report to me, and make sure our people are protected before you step out in the field, got it?”

A chorus of ‘yes boss’ and ‘yes captain!” echoed in the room, the men immediately starting on breaking and dividing tasks while you went to take the now empty chair beside the Captain who offered you his pipe jokingly. He was surprised when you accepted.

Hongjoong watched you blow the smoke, the noise in the room almost fading momentarily and he shook his head lightly. You asked him for a favour and he raised a brow in question. You explained that it was something that weighed over your mind and you always wanted to do, and he agreed. 

After the meeting, you finished your tasks for the night and informed Eunha and Jihoon about the shift in your duties. They took over your work, assuring you that they got it covered and prayed for you– anything to end this mess, they said. If your presence at the warehouse would speed things up, they would gladly let you go. 

After sending Hongjoong and Seonghwa home for the night, Yunho joined you in the office, watching you fret over the unfinished work. He assured you that it was okay, but you weren’t having any of it. When he shut the folders to your protests, your pout deepened and you folded your arms.

“Do you want to come over at my place?”

“At your place?” You narrowed your eyes and he laughed discreetly. “What are you planning?”

“Ramen and cuddles, if you will?”

You pretended to think for a moment but agreed. How could you resist the offer–

“And some kisses if we can squeeze that in too.”

Right. 

“So you’re just lovesick, huh? None of the boys giving you attention lately?” You teased, getting up and gathering your things. 

“Oh, Wooyoung almost killed me with affection earlier,” Yunho recalled with a laugh and you scoffed. That sounded like Wooyoung, alright. “I just miss you. Is that so bad?”

“I miss you too,” you said, linking your arms, too tired to continue teasing him. The two of you started downstairs. “We haven’t had one stress-free moment ever since you decided to give me some space, Mr. Jeong.”

“That’s when you were still pretending to make up your mind about us,” he said, opening the door of his car for you and you gasped scandalously. Yunho got in himself, looking at you before starting the engine. “Hope nothing holds you back tonight.”

With a wink, he started to drive, stifling a grin when you smacked his shoulder and folded your arms. You tugged your coat closer, still feeling the cold from when you stepped outside the office and you looked outside of the window, finding not a single star in the sky.

“Looks like it’s going to rain soon.”

“Or snow,” Yunho whistled. “Would love to see some snow soon.”

You looked over at him. “Seems like someone has some fond memories of the snow.”

He smiled and nodded in answer, the rest of the short trip passing by with talks about your weather preferences when you reached a small house in the same neighbourhood where San’s house was. 

“I heard that you came up with the housing arrangement very randomly,” you said as you got out of the car and Yunho chuckled at the memory. “Do you like how it turned out?”

“It never mattered who we got paired with,” he admitted, unlocking the door for you and turning on the lights. You took off your shoes, greeted with a surprisingly homey vibe with warm-toned interior and furniture. “We only really come here to rest. Plus, we crash at each other’s house too often anyway.”

You nodded, taking off your coat and hanging it on the stand before following Yunho to the kitchen. While it almost looked unused, there were still signs that someone was taking care of the house. You stood near the counter and watched Yunho quickly make work of the few ingredients that he found, tossing the ramen in the pot. You offered help but he insisted that he was fine so you decided to set the table.

“Is Yeosang not home?” You asked and he shook his head.

“He’s probably with Mingi tonight– I saw the two of them leaving together earlier.”

“Do they still have some work, or…” 

Yunho glanced at you. “They’re probably going to blow off some steam before they start working tomorrow.”

“Ah, right– oh,” you subconsciously put your hand over your mouth when you realised what Yunho had implied and he laughed loudly. 

“Is it strange to hear things like that?” 

“No, not really,” you confirmed. You had seen your fair share of open relationships in Edenary– and half of the time, you had been too young to fully understand what it meant. “It’s just that sometimes it’s hard to picture some of you together.”

“Well, you’ll be quite surprised to learn how closely knit we are,” Yunho finished cooking and brought the pot to the table, the two of you settling down with a few cans of beer. “Took us a few years to get here, I’ll say, but it has never been better.”

You nodded, asking if he could tell you more– as much as he was comfortable with, and he was pleased to find you eager to learn more about them since you were a part of them now too. You learned that Mingi and Yeosang were quite alike, often seeking solace in each other’s company, even if it was just sitting together in silence.

“And how are you with everyone?” You asked, resting your face on your hands as you gazed at him with curiosity. Yunho found that adorable and his eyes curved as smiled at your question. “What sort of a relationship do you have with everyone?”

“Hmm… let’s see,” Yunho pondered for a moment, drinking a few sips of his beer. “Mingi and I have always been together so he’s someone I’m always looking for in a room full of people, if you haven’t noticed already.”

“Yeah, you two absolutely love each other,” you agreed. “Moral loyalty and all that.”

Yunho grinned. “I think with Yeosang, it’s… more on the comfortable side. He takes care of me a lot, especially now that we live together. His presence… you know how comforting it is to sit in one room with him, right?”

You nodded. “I keep finding myself going back to the Crescent Bar and to his office when I’m overwhelmed.”

Yunho smiled. “With the younger ones, I’m able to have fun and let go, be adventurous and wild. But with the hyungs, they just need someone to take care of them and I’m happy to be that for them.”

“It’s surprising because they appear very calm and put-together, very refined,” you started, producing a snort out of Yunho. “But they’re just like the rest of you. Worse, if I have to say.”

“That’s true,” Yunho laughed heartily. “They are worse. The younger ones always take care of them, but don’t you be mistaken, Luna. The hyungs can be quite… dominating when they want to be. It’s almost scary.”

“Dominating,” you repeated, drinking as you analysed the implications behind that word. “How nice.”

“What’s going on in your head, sweetheart?” Yunho chuckled in a low tone.

“Nothing,” you feigned innocence, finishing the last of your beer. “Absolutely nothing.”

Yunho narrowed his eyes but you took a deep breath, looking around. “It’s just really nice to sit and talk. Haven’t done that in a while, even with Wendy.”

“We’ve all been far too busy,” Yunho agreed, getting up and quickly cleaning up before taking your hands and making you get up, twirling you around once which made you laugh out loud rather uncharacteristically before he steered you to the living room. 

“It’s always like this though,” Yunho continued as he settled you down on his lap and you wrapped your arms around his waist, resting your head on his shoulder. He took off your hair clip and began to smoothen your hair, running his fingers through the strands occasionally. “Something is always happening. Not one peaceful moment ever since we started, but that became the norm for us. That’s why we always try to find some normalcy while we can.”

You let his words sink in, just like you let the warmth of his skin seep through his clothes and into yours, just like you let the sound of his breaths sync with yours. The contact of his fingertips on your scalp as he lightly massaged it made you close your eyes and snuggle closer until the tip of your nose met the crook of his neck.

“Well, this is nice,” you whispered, the feeling of being in his arms almost intoxicating. “It’s going to be a while before we get to be like this again, isn’t that so?”

“I suppose so,” Yunho sighed. “You’ll be very busy with Wooyoung and Mingi, and I’ll be busy with Jongho hopping from one place to another–”

Yunho paused mid-sentence when he felt the soft skin of your lips press against his neck lightly and he shifted underneath you. “We might still see each other– well, I’ll try to make time for you if you want–”

He stopped talking yet again when you moved closer and craned your neck to kiss the curve of his jaw. Yunho held your hand and peered down at you, finding your eyes laden with something he had definitely not seen before.

“Love… what do you think you are doing?”

“Squeezing in some kisses?” You responded and Yunho shut his eyes as if in pain, shaking his head. 

“If you tease me like that, I don't think I’ll be able to hold back. I am very sensitive these days, Luna.”

“And where did you get the idea that I want you to hold back?” You pulled away to look him in the eyes. “I thought we both wanted each other.”

“Of course I want you,” Yunho’s brows furrowed in concentration as he cupped your face. “But… I want you to be comfortable first. I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you or… I don’t want you to think that I’m demanding something from you. I would never–”

“Jeong Yunho,” you cupped his face, caressing the curve of his cheeks and swiping the dark tendrils of his hair away from his forehead. You locked eyes with him, finding hesitation if the slight shake of his voice wasn’t already a sign. “I want this– I want you. Is that okay?”

“That’s okay,” he nodded slowly, visibly gulping. “Do you know what you are getting into?”

“Yes,” you nodded, unable to resist pecking his lips. You lingered at his bottom lip purposely. “Do I have to say it out loud?”

“Are you sure?” Yunho asked yet again, inching closer until the tips of your noses brushed.

“Absolutely,” you whispered, “I– I want you. I want you so bad that it’s killing me–”

Yunho did not need to hear another word. He let his hand crane your neck as his lips met yours in a kiss like none other, deep and demanding in every sense now that there were no boundaries. You sighed in relief, kissing him back and sucking at his lower lip, gladly opening your mouth for him when he swiped his tongue across your lips.

Yunho slid his tongue inside your mouth, switching between licks and kisses and you found yourself letting loose with every little groan that you earned, getting more comfortable with each kiss to your lips or on your face, your body moving in tandem with his hands that traced your curves. Before you knew it, you were straddling him, your skirt riding up and Yunho’s hands found purchase on the bare skin of your thighs that your stockings didn’t cover, causing you to break apart and look at each other in surprise.

“Is this okay?” Yunho asked, hands unmoving. “Use your words, love.”

“More than okay,” you breathed, wrapping your arms around his neck and kissing him sweetly. “You can touch me. However you want.”

Yunho nodded, joining your foreheads and matching the pacing of your breaths, his thumb starting to trace your bare skin. You shifted in his lap, feeling the telltale signs of a bulge and met his eyes, exchanging a kiss to assure him that you were okay before rolling your hips on his bulge, making him throw his head back and laugh in disbelief.

“You like that?” You asked, making the same movement again and he looked at you challengingly, daring you to do that again.

That did nothing to stop you.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, sweetheart.”

“Whatever,” you shut him up with another needy kiss and this time, Yunho let his hands roam over your upper body, both of you making quick work of unbuttoning each other’s shirts. You made him take his white dress shirt off completely, running your hands against his toned muscles while he traced his fingers against the outline of your black bra, looking almost entranced, his chest rising up and down in deep breaths.

Before you could make a move, Yunho was bringing you closer, kissing you once before he let his lips trail along your jaw and down your neck, breathing in the scent of you. You squealed in surprise when he picked you up effortlessly as he muttered, “Fuck this. I’m taking this to bed.”

You wrapped your legs around him and between fits of laughter and some teasing jabs, he reached his room and gently laid you on his bed after taking off your shirt and throwing it to the side. While he stared at the sight of you in his bed, imprinting it in his mind, you took a quick look around.

“Nice room,” you commented. It was quite simple with monochrome decorations. 

“That’s all you can think of right now?” Yunho pressed his hand in the middle of your chest, feeling your heartbeat and smirking in satisfaction. 

He had his answer. He pulled you up and removed your bra in a matter of seconds, swallowing any other comment with a heated kiss and soon, you lost yourself in how his lips felt against your own. On how his lips felt as they left a searing trail down your neck, making your back arch when he started fondling your breasts and sucking on them, alternating between kisses and littering your skin with a reminder of what you were doing tonight. 

You curled his hair between your fingers and when he paused near your belly, you pushed him downwards– a sign that it was okay. He looked at you for confirmation and when you nodded, he took off your skirt, leaving you in a soaking wet underwear.

Yunho continued to trail kisses down your thighs, pulling the stockings down, and something inside him broke when he traced his thumb on the wet patch on your underwear.

“Someone’s been enjoying this,” he commented, locking eyes with you. His gaze was dark and you could tell that he was doing his best to take this slow.

“Clearly,” you scoffed, knowing fully well how hard he was as well.

“Tell me, love. Tell me what you want me to do to you tonight.”

You took a deep breath at his commanding tone, feeling a fresh wave of arousal course through you as his breath caressed your thighs. “Touch me, Yunho.”

“How?” 

You looked at the mafia consigliere, almost in disbelief. Did he want you to say that out loud too? 

Oh, but what a sight he was, looking up at you from between your thighs. 

“However would you prefer… Lieutenant Jeong?”

The last thing you saw was Yunho’s smirk before he looked down, his hair hiding his face as he pulled your panties down in a swift motion and you barely had time to shrug them off before he spread your legs apart, cocking his head in satisfaction at the sight of you before attaching his mouth to your core.

The moan that his action produced out of you came from somewhere so deep within you, quickly masked by another as he continued to suck on your aching clit, providing you with both relief and edging you to no end. You dug your fingers in the sheets, in his hair, anywhere as he continued with his ministrations, licking a stripe up your wet folds and teasing with his finger before crawling up and meeting your lips in a kiss, making you get lost in how you tasted on his tongue. If that wasn’t enough, he inserted his finger inside you, making you squirm in pleasure. 

He watched you intently as he pumped his finger inside and out, exploring your cavity and muttering praises. 

“Yunho– I don’t think I can last very long, fuck–”

“That’s okay,” he caressed your head with his free hand, inserting another finger inside you and holding you in place as you squirmed with need. “I need to hear your pretty little sounds some more– don’t be shy. You’re doing so well for me.”

As your breath started quickening, a telltale sign of an approaching orgasm, Yunho started to rub your clit in circles and pump his fingers inside at a rapidly growing pace, and perhaps the last straw was the way he kissed the top of your stomach because you came crashing down, your moans filling the room. All the while, Yunho muttered praises about how good you were, how you did so well for him, how pretty your moans sounded to him, and how he wanted this so bad too.

He got up to grab a towel from the stand and wiped his fingers before he got back on his position on top of you, kissing you deeply as if he had nowhere else to be, the movement of his lips leisurely but full of desperation. You traced your hands down on his abdomen and he broke apart to look you in the eyes and make sure you were okay once again.

“I want you,” you told him and he exhaled as if still in disbelief. “Please. Don’t make me beg.”

Yunho bit his lips before unbuckling his pants and taking them off, leaving himself in just his boxers that struggled to hold the sheer size of him. Your lips parted in surprise at the sight of him– you were aware that the man was big but this? Your mouth felt dry yet your core throbbed, knowing what it wanted. 

As Yunho took off his boxers, you sucked your breath when his cock sprang free, riding upwards and painfully hard. You met his gaze, sharing a small laugh before he moved to take something out of his pocket–

“Of course,” you shook your head at the packet of condom. “Always keeping it on you, eh?”

“Just in case,” he teased. “But really. My intentions tonight were only to feed you and take care of you.”

“Squeeze in some kisses,” you quoted him, reminding him of what he said earlier. “And… some orgasms?”

“Never said that, but I’m not complaining. Are you?” He raised a brow and you told him to shut the fuck up and get started. That had him snickering and after he finished wearing the condom, he slid between your legs, letting his hard length slide against your wet folds as he peppered kisses all over your face. You wrapped your legs around his hips, your body aching with need all over when he started to suck on your neck. While he kissed you, he started to slide his length inside you and when you winced painfully, he stopped right away.

“It’s just been a while,” you assured him. “Be gentle.”

“Of course,” he nodded, understanding and caressing your head, planting a kiss on your forehead. “Just relax, okay? Breathe.”

You obeyed, following his movements. He caressed your thighs, easing the tension out of them and when you fully relaxed, you finally realised how much you had stiffened. He pushed a bit more inside, this time caressing your abdomen and easing the tension from there.

“You’re doing so well,” he whispered, continuing to rub your thighs, switching to your abdomen every once in a while. “Deep breaths. Just let go, and if you want to stop, let me know, okay?.”

“Yessir,” you managed, relaxing some more.

“You’re safe with me, okay?” He kissed your head again. “I would never hurt you. Let me know if it’s too much.”

Somehow, those words were what made the remaining tension in your body snap and Yunho found himself sliding in easier, though he made sure to monitor your reactions, slowing himself considerably. Once he was fully sheathed inside, he cursed out loud.

“How does it feel?” He asked, unmoving. “Fuck, you’re so tight, love.”

“So full,” you breathed shakily simply because you were finally starting to feel the arousal come back with full force. “Move, please.”

Yunho nodded, sharing open mouthed kisses with you as he started moving rhythmically in and out of you. His movements remained gentle until you felt comfortable enough to take control, wrapping your legs around him once again. That was when he started to pump inside you harder, your kisses growing sloppier and moans intermingling with your breaths. 

“Fuck,” he muttered, holding your face as he pumped inside you harder, the interval between your breaths growing shorter. “Wanted this so bad, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” you breathed. “So long. I– I needed you. So long now,” you managed to say.

“God, you’re amazing,” he said, resting his lips against your cheek. “I’m not going to last long.”

“Neither am I,” you breathed, “you’re doing so well.”

“Fuck,” Yunho latched his lips on the crook of your neck as he pumped harder. “Cum for me, darling. Cum all over my cock.”

You nodded, moments away from a shattering orgasm which you achieved exactly when Yunho put some pressure on your clit with his thumb, your loud gasp echoing off the walls, the dim lights of the lamps filling your vision as your eyes widened and you came with a force that made you wonder if you would even be able to stand up again. 

Yunho, however, was not done. He kept pumping you through your orgasm, his own breath shaky and with his hands holding your hips and a few harsh thrusts, he groaned deeply as he came, riding out his high and dropping on top of you, peppering kisses on your neck as if thanking you for the ride. 

It took you both a few moments to recover before he lifted himself up, making sure you were okay. You nodded and he caressed your face lovingly.

“I know people say that you shouldn’t say these words with your dick inside someone,” Yunho laughed. “But lord help me, Luna. I love you so much.”

You laughed at his admission, kissing his cheek. “I think I love you too, Yunho. Very, very much.”

Yunho grinned, sliding out of you and quickly discarding his condom before bringing some towels to clean you up. You let him take care of you, watching him with a smile.

“Or maybe it was the sex,” you teased, poking his thigh with your toes.

“Hey,” Yunho almost whined, pulling you by your legs and making you laugh out loud in surprise. Yunho attacked you with kisses all over your face until you admitted that it was not (just) the sex but also actual feelings. 

You really did love him. You told him that he was blind if he didn’t see that in your actions already.

So he picked you up and took you inside the shower. You let the big, scary army man bow down on his knees as he cleaned you up and kissed your skin. You let the gangster wash your body, holding you as if you were fragile. You let the consigliere hold you close, wrapping you both in one big towel as you struggled to make your way out, teeth chattering with cold as you put on whatever you found and got inside the covers, quickly.

You let the man– your friend and your partner– hold you protectively as you both fell asleep in the warmth of each other’s embrace.

next chapter

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[mythgirlimagines]

Gundham as the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader? I have a feeling he’d like have people who are as enthusiastic about the dark arts as him in his ranks…also people who love animals and like have them on hand like he does his devas

I can't decide if they'd be more or less intimidating than the Crazy Diamonds lol

Gundham’s biker gang started off small, with just him and an old friend, but because of his diverse interests, he soon began recruiting more people to ride with.

It was almost unfair how much of a bad reputation the gang had, since Gundham ensured everyone was on their best behavior and didn’t start anything with anyone who didn’t deserve it.

In fact, their reputation came mostly from a shared interest in the dark arts, something he was also mildly interested in. Also animals; they all stopped if someone spotted an animal in need of help.

Gundham himself was a pretty upstanding guy, if super intimidating. But he was the kind who would gladly give any of his classmates a ride if they asked him for one.

He knew the dangers of riding, of course, so he did his best to ensure the safety of everyone who rode with his gang. It wouldn’t do anyone any good to crash, though so far his gang had a clean record with that.

[hawkepockets]

actually. 🫷😀🫸 THOUGHTS ON AVELINE

i think aveline is a CORE da2 character, and her relationship with hawke is super super interesting. she’s hawke’s oldest friend in the game & by act 3, maybe the only enduring connection to their homeland & childhood besides the mabari. her voice, her bearing, her stated values are all very noble & movingly fereldan—but her actions both as guard captain & as a party member should be so profoundly disappointing to hawke almost no matter how you play them, which generates a powerful tension. imo it’s really poignant and adds a lot to the game’s central tragedy.

because how can hawke cut her off! but look at how she behaves: ignoring the serial killing & sexual assault of isolated older women and elf girls, baiting the arishok, slut shaming isabela, condescending to merrill. but how can they cut her off? the question is a privilege and a torment!

in this way i think she strikingly complements gamlen. like no matter what gamlen does and says to you, your love interest, leandra, the surviving hawke twin—he’s family and the only way into kirkwall. hawke is not permitted to sever those ties. and no matter what aveline does and says to you and all the women in your party, she remains your oldest friend and the only way back to ferelden, emotionally.

both aveline & gamlen will maintain a warm relationship with hawke as long as hawke tolerates their picking on those in proximity to hawke—but if hawke pushes back with aggressive dialogue options, both will tone match and became sour and hostile. aveline can be really quite awful to a red hawke, and will throw them to the ground and beat them at 100% rivalry. so there’s kind of an underlying challenge in both of these characters: how much will hawke, as gang leader & player character, put up with when it’s not directed at them?

of course, for all the nostalgia that seems to occlude av’s wrongdoings in kirkwall, she’s not really a childhood friend of hawke’s. she was a grown woman when they met, lothering was lost, and the moment was pretty heated thanks to aveline’s hostile templar husband.

and yet hawke is no more reliable & objective in their treatment of the past than varric is. and aveline is what they have! she’s standing in for all of ferelden, all of the past before the blight!

and likewise hawke for her! hawke is the only one left in act 3 who remembers wesley! aveline is the only one who remembers the dead hawke twin!

and as reprehensible as some of her decisions are, aveline’s grief for wesley and her enmity toward the old corrupt guard captain are sympathetic and her voice is sexy and husky and beautiful enough that. well im sorry i just lost the plot for a minute. uh

there’s also the act 3 subplot of the templars trying to take over the city guard, which sets up aveline as the only thing standing between kirkwall’s mages & absolute templar authority in the city. it’s literally her or cullen at his most brainwashed & violent. (to cullen’s credit he also thought it was a bad idea. but i won’t give him so much credit that i believe he’d turn down the position if aveline was removed.) between a knight-commander and a hard place, a pro-mage hawke has to choose the hard place.

so both of my playthroughs i’ve felt like hawke’s friendship with her is at the very least strained, if not completely ruptured, but they have to back her. how much that feels like fucking sandpaper may vary from hawke to hawke.

ultimately i just think she brings a lot to the table. i don’t necessarily understand why she’d be anyone’s all time #1 favorite companion, but you know.

[lockpickingliar]

I'm sorry, did you just refer to us as "they"? You're really out here misgendering us on the first day of Pride Month? For shame!

Usogender

A gender in which any gender you could possibly conceive of is not that gender because your gender is a lie. Not that lying is your gender or that your gender is connected to lying per se, but that your gender, at any given moment, is itself a lie in the sense that the gender itself is untrue. Including this one!

Any pronouns you use are inherently misgendering because that gender is a lie and thus the pronouns are Also a lie. The flag is a lie, too. Any flag can be the usogender flag but not really because it's a lie.

It's all a lie. All of it.

Made by an Ouma for other Oumas but anyone can just lie about being an Ouma just to gain rights to this gender I don't make the rules.

[residentwordsofaffirmationdealer]

barbara gordon in thrillkiller

every few months i remember that Batman: Thrillkiller and Batman: Thrillkiller '62 exist and reread it and get obsessed with it cause genuinely its so crazy. its an elseworld where bruce's parents were killed by their employees and bruce didn't get any of the money (because they lost it during the great depression) so he's just chilling in the suburbs. he becomes a police officer and later commissioner gordon's right hand man and a really good detective. there's this vigilante duo that appears, and they call themselves batgirl and robin, and they show up to places where the police work dirty. bruce starts investigating it and he figures out who batgirl and robin are.

for broader context, batgirl is barbara gordon, the daughter of bruce's boss, commissioner gordon. she's a "madcap heiress" and lives in wayne manor. she quit college to run away to the circus and at the circus, she meets german immigrant and teenage aerialist richart graustark. richart (nicknamed dick) and her fall in love and they come back to gotham, where they become batgirl and robin.

while this is all happening, everyone is trying to stop this gang lead by bianca steeplechase, also known as the joker.

unfortunately, dick's family (of aerialists) is killed by bianca. at the same time, selina kyle is killed by bianca as well. bruce is framed for selina's death and becomes a fugitive on the run. dick and babs plan revenge on bianca and while executing their plan, bruce crashes their party to save babs from getting shot by bianca. unfortunately, bianca kills dick through her poisonous kiss and bruce and babs are forced to escape. now that dick is dead, bruce vows to continue dick's legacy -- but named after babs because she was the one who inspired him. he becomes "the batman" now, there's more story than that but this is enough because holy shit. the agency it gives barbara specifically is crazy.

as you can see through these sceenshots, yes, barbara is batgirl, but she's batgirl in the way that batman is batman in most other media. if that didn't makes sense: she's the leader, brains, and detective. even her Alter Ego is very similar to what bruce wayne's traditionally is: she's a very a charming "madcap heiress" and "ultimate party girl" (basically her version of "billionaire playboy"). barbara owns wayne manor, she owns the batcave, she buys, creates, (and uses) the arsenal of weapons, she drives and repairs the motherfucking batmobile, she is a better fighter than robin and batman (judging by how many times they get caught/injured compared to her). she's also the one with the cool toys. she's the master of disguise, and her crusade for justice is her mission. she's the one with the guilt complex, she's the one who uses the tear gas and smoke pellets. she's the one with the strong dislike for guns, and she was the one at the circus the night that dick's family died. she even gets the tragic backstory with a visual of kneeling over a dead parent's body! -- she is what all things Batman traditionally has

the amount of agency it gives over her story and also how it acknowledges that she is such a powerful and driven hero who's talent is equal to batman (in other medias) is honestly so cool!! esp since recently in the new 52 and rebirth eras, i feel like babs has been done so dirty by how she's portrayed -- recently, she's been portrayed as a lot younger and more naive and inexperienced as she's traditionally been, and often she's only there as a plot device or shallower character (in comparison to who she used to be). i think the era where she was oracle and the leader of the birds of prey in the 90s and early 2000s did a lot better on being accurate to who she was supposed to be -- in some of her earliest appearances, she literally had a PhD (in library science and later, in law) and even was a congresswoman. also, in this elseworld, barbara's and bruce's dynamic is especially interesting because she is still very much the one in charge -- and especially after reading newer comics or seeing fandom stuff where babs is included as a "batkid" (which i hate), this comic really reminds me of the era where babs and bruce very obviously cared a lot for each other but also did very much see each other as equals and he even looked up to her (like stated in gotham knights, or bruce wayne: the road home).

also its such an interesting play on how things usually are: in this book, dick is basically "fridged" for her character development (while yes, babs wasn't technically killed off for a male character's character development in the mainline comics, she was "depowered" and it left her with a lot less agency (which she did eventually get back -- as oracle), but mostly it was done for her dad's and bruce's character development and she was just a plot device in that book....

again, i really like how in Thrillkiller, bruce was inspired by her to become batman because usually its the other way around. her name comes first on the title and when people refer to them as "batgirl and robin", and pretty much everyone refers to dick through his relationship to her.

dick and babs they literally meet (in the flashback) when he falls into her arms... anyway i think its especially interesting how this comic with only 4 issues basically created THE first female batman story of the time (it was written before cass existed or helena was the bat (or before she was "batgirl" if that's what you prefer cause i would argue helena was trying to emulate batman, not batgirl, and that she was batman not batgirl in terms of who she was trying to be, who people thought she was, and etc etc)). but anyway barbara gordon the woman that you are <3