#vanderwood my love

[mc-and-elise]

So I've been obsessed playing Pokémon Scarlet, and have found the Pokémon version of Vanderwood: Arven.

BEHOLD, POKÉ VANDERWOOD, AKA ARVEN:

Arven: loves cooking, studying different dishes to help Pokémon feel better, is a bit standoffish with some people and Pokémon, a major dork. I love him.

Can I explain why he gives off Vandy vibes? No. No I cannot. But he does.

[clownsheepartsies]

Quick sketch on da boss

At this point I just want a Vanderwood Route to get more info on him-

[zyanblue]

He slaying

Are there any canonical cases of what Vanderwood's shoes look like? This is very important. I kinda wanna do heels cuz they're hella gnc, but they would never do that. They take their job too seriously for heels.

[cloudcountry]

Hey Кролик!!!! I saw you changed your bio, so I think I can still request? Maybe? Idk, tell me if I can't.

I read and reread the rules, so here is what I thought of: absolutely obliterating 707 with snowballs, the poor unsuspecting fool gets hit with way too many snowballs (that's what he gets for being mean to me >:] ) and falls to the ground getting buried for his sins >:))))

Then, he gets a little kiss as an apology because he's my little pookie bear <3

(Make sure to take your time! And eat and drink! I love you! Muah ❤️)

SUMMARY: you take saeyoung completely off guard with a snowball to the back of the head!

WARNINGS: spoilers for seven's route, contemplation of death. ITS FLUFF I PROMISE.

COMMENTS: ignore the fact that i picked the most summer cg ever for him ok HE LOOKED HAPPY. the seven kissers hiveminded you guys are so weird /aff (also abel!!! i love you too!!!!! RAHHHH)

TAGLIST: @haruhar-u since this was also your request <3

It almost seems like the rolling of the snowball in your hands is an absentminded movement, but it's very much intentional. Your eyes are training on the back of your boyfriend’s head—his bright red hair is a beacon in the bright white world around you. It’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop (or, alternatively, Saeyoung’s giggles as he sculpts the little snow Elizabeth the Third next to the snow-you and snow-him.

You’d be lying if you said you weren’t impressed at how quickly he whipped up snowpeople of everyone. Impressed, but not surprised. You think you even see Vanderwood a little ways back, isolated from everyone else, and you feel a stab of pity for the poor guy.

Working with Saeyoung can’t be easy, but he’s always been nice to you. Even up until the two of you ran away, you know deep down Vanderwood cared for Seven.

You shake yourself out of your thoughts, not wanting to get too caught up in the nitty-gritty of the situation when Saeyoung had it handled. You trusted him to protect the two of you, You know he can. You’re incredibly lucky for each and every day you get to spend at his side, even though you’re nearly always aware that each day could be your last.

But you chose this life when you chose him, and you would have it no other way.

And so, you show your love by winding up and throwing your perfectly crafted snowball as hard as you can at Saeyoung.

It hits him square in the back of the head, wetting his vibrant hair and sliding down until it hits the inside of his hood.

“Yikes!” he yelps, flailing his arms around his back as he springs away from snow-Elizabeth, “Enemy attack! God Seven is down!”

You laugh, already scooping up more snow and pelting him with your (much more sloppy) snowballs. Saeyoung makes a big show of gasping for air and pleading for mercy, occasionally playing dead and waiting for you to come over and poke him before smacking you with snow as well.

It doesn’t take long till the two of you are out of breath, your fingers ice cold but intertwined through your gloves.

“Want to head inside?” you murmur, kissing his snowflake-sprinkled brow, “We can have some of your very special hot chocolate.”

Saeyoung’s eyes light up and he gives you that big goofy grin you fell in love with.

“One thing first.” he whispers, the quiet of his voice exaggerated and theatrical.

And for a moment, you expect a snowball to the face, but he kisses you instead. It’s soft and sweet and tastes like an unholy combination of energy drink powder (which...now that you think about it, likely explains how quickly he crafted everyone out of snow.)

“Now we can go inside.” he laughs softly against your lips, scooping you up in his arms and carrying you inside, where you can be warm and comfortable with the one person you love most.

[sadability]

Did you get mysterious messages? ~🎵

MYSTIC MESSENGER MUSIC HEADCANONS :D (RFA + V, Rika, Vanderwood)

Jihyun / V

I think V would love Mitski. Just imagining him painting while my love, mine All mine plays in the background is so sweet. I also think he'd like cavetown, clario, Adrianne Lenker, Liane Flores and Tears For Fears. He often listens to it as background noise when painting or photographing but I also believe he'd practice singing using certain songs (and maybe sing you to sleep HSHSHS)

Jumin

Jumin gives me trouble because I feel like he listens to music for lyrics or lack thereof rather than sound. He listens to blues, jazz, classical and maybe a soft rock love song here and there. If he listens to a song with lyrics, he'll study them. He doesn't really listen to music often but when he does, it's often used as background noise rather than him genuinely indulging.

707 / Saeyoung / Luciel

I think he'd listen to mostly everything but especially synth wave, pop, new wave, rap, noise and glam rock for some reason. I could see him vibing to Depeche Mode one moment and then Fetty Wap the next. He would definitely unironically listen to wannabe by the spice girls LMAO. Also probably really likes tv show intros like iCarly theme or something. AND DISCO!! Seven dancing to bee gees when!?!?

Yoosung

To get rid of the obvious he'd listen to video game osts, pixel (I think that's what the genre is called?) and probably, here me out, pop punk. Or like Falling in Reverse. I think his favourite band would be the All American Rejects but I can also see him liking old demi lavato or Camilla cabello. Both basic white girl music and then randomly pop punk mixed in. As for gaming soundtracks I think he'd really like the undertale ost and probably listens to music through gacha life amv 😔

Zen / Hyun

I FEEL LIKE HIS MUSIC TASTE WAS EXPLICITLY STATED BUT I DONT REMEMBER RAHH okay okay uhm- !! I can totally see him listening to Whitney Houston, Abba, The Cardigans, The Beatles etc for some reason but also he'd feel self conscious that his music taste is too "old" so he would throw in shit like Kendrick Lamar and Future to spice things up and he would never ever admit that his favourite song is Angeleyes by Abba.

Jaehee

Bubblegum Pop, Indie and Doo Wop!!! Mitski, Girl In Red, Kinneret, Princess Chelsea, The Chordettes and The Supremes are frequents of Jaehee's playlist! She only really listens to music on the plane or in the office though. It helps her relax and take her mind off the stress for a bit. I can imagine her learning piano and playing songs like Johnny Angel or Mr Sandman in her free time.

Rika

Rika likes Melanie Martinez and i refuse to argue. She would probably relate really hard to some of her music and overall loves the way it sounds. Can also see her liking Penelope Scott. On the other hand, i see her liking classical or just soft piano music. Color me Blue by Akane would also be a song i can see her liking.

Vanderwood

Metal, Glam Rock, Glam Metal, Dad Rock, 80s rock just. Yeah. You get the point. Metallica, Journey, Mötley Crüe, Guns n Roses, Van Halen, Cinderella, Def Leppord and Dokken !! His favourite bands. Just classic 80s/90s rock for ya. Absolutely goes to their concerts religiously. Probably plays electric guitar as well..he could perform his own concert tbf

[lucystarclub]

We love Ms. Vanderwood, ehehehehemmm, Maid 707,,, I meAn •//\\• what a gorgeous person my GoD

[erimeows]

Mystic Messenger: Masterlist

Hi there! I'm Eri, and I write for all sorts of stuff. While I do have everything published on here, I personally choose to have my masterlists linked to my Ao3.

Some of these are NSFW, so be sure to check the tags!

If you'd like to learn more about me, send in a request, or look at my works for other fandoms, check out my pinned post! P.S. some of these are a little old... Like, from when I was a middle-schooler old. Please be kind ^^

Headcanons:

Mystic Messenger Drabbles/Headcanons/Scenarios- this is my gigantic compilation of headcanons and little drabbles! Includes character x character, character x reader, gen, etc.!

Multichapters/Series:

Cared For (Jumin Han x 707)

Never Changing (Jumin Han x V): Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3

Eclipse (Jumin Han x Zen)

Safekeeping (Vanderwood x Zen)

Character x Character Oneshots:

A New Hobby (Zen x 707)

Next To You (Zen x 707)

Secrets (Zen x Saeran Choi)

Mysterious Clues (Yoosung Kim x Saeran Choi)

The Letter (Yoosung Kim x 707)

Just A Little Longer (Yoosung Kim x 707)

Uptight (Vanderwood x Saeran Choi)

Again And Again (Vanderwood x 707)

Hurting You (Jumin Han x V)

Happy Tears (Jumin Han x V)

Tangerine Skies (Jumin Han x V)

Falling (Jumin Han x 707)

My Funny Valentine (Jumin Han x 707)

Philocalist (Jumin Han x 707)

Kissaphobic (Jumin Han x 707)

Priorities (Jumin Han x 707)

Dye (Jumin Han x 707)

The Things You Don't Talk About (Jumin Han x 707)

Bad Idea! (Jumin Han x Zen)

Character x Reader Oneshots:

Sleeping Beauty (Jumin Han x Reader)

Drunken Confessions (Saeran Choi x Reader)

I Could Use A Little Danger (Zen x Reader)

Shy (Zen x Reader)

Tell Me What You Want (V x Reader)

Love And Coffee (Jaehee x Reader)

Don't Tell (Jaehee x Reader)

Midnight Chips And Madeline (707 x Reader)

Webcam (707 x Reader)

Partnership (707 x Reader)

In The Same Bed (707 x Reader)

Movie Night (707 x Reader)

Cherry (707 x Reader x Saeran) (Angsty love triangle with unreciprocated love, NOT incest)

[reifromrfa]

Mystictober 2024: Favorite Character/Hourglass

Hello, it's been a while (ᵕ—���—) I really missed the mysme universe and, though life is still busy, I'm trying to make time to do things I love; one of which is writing, even if I only write one fanfic per year lol XD

Sooo without further ado, here's a short fic based on this list by @sensetenou :)

P.S. I think tumblr broke my post, I can't add the "Keep reading" link after editing a typo ;A;

Vanderwood

He steps out of the cabin and takes a long, deep breath

It feels suffocating inside

With that damn 707, the girl, and their blue-haired friend...

Vanderwood ties his hair into a low ponytail and reaches for the pack of cigarettes in his pocket

Taking a stick, he lifts it to his lips

He pats his pockets for his lighter and mutters a curse under his breath when he realizes he left it inside

With a frustrated groan, he turns around—

—and he freezes

Standing before him, a nervous smile on her face, was the girl

MC

"You left this inside, I thought you could use it," she says, holding out the lighter to him

His throat feels tight and Vanderwood can hear the loud drumming of his heart against his ribcage

It takes every bit of his strength not to reach out and pull her into his arms

MC tucks her hair behind her ear, outstretched hand wavering as Vanderwood stood there staring at her

He clenches one hand into a fist

Then slowly relaxes his hand, his shoulders drooping as he resigns himself to the fact that she'll never recognize him

And it was all his fault

"Thanks," he mutters, cigarette still between his lips

He holds out his hand, expecting her to drop the lighter onto his palm

But the girl looks up at him and then lights the device, holding it close to his lips

Instinctively, he leans closer before he could even stop himself

As MC focuses on lighting the end of his cigarette, he can't help but stare into her eyes

At the reflection of the flames in them

"Maybe it's the fire in your eyes that I love, baby."

"Because it matches yours?"

"Hahaha MC, baby, I don't think my fire even comes close to yours."

"It's because got this fire from you, baby. You're the one who inspires me to be bold and brave."

MC takes a step back, smiling at him

Vanderwood takes a step back too, looking away from her

Blinking away the memories he so desperately wants to cling to

"Thanks," he mumbles, taking a long drag

Allowing the poison to fill his lungs before blowing a puff of white smoke away from where MC stands

"Umm...so..."

He glances at her

She has her hands clasped together in front of her

Then she bows to him, which startles Vanderwood

"Thank you so much for helping us save him."

Him

That V guy

Her current route

"Hey, don't worry about it," he replies, rubbing the back of his neck

He doesn't want to hear this

He doesn't want to listen to her talk about how much she loves that man

Because she once felt that way about him, too

MC straightens and grins at him

"I mean it. You saved his life and I hope I can repay your kindness one day."

Vanderwood waves a gloved hand dismissively, pulling the cigarette from his lips

"If I didn't do it," he forces himself to say. "707 would be distracted and he'd stop doing his damn job and we'd both be fucked."

She gives him a look that says she doesn't buy a single word out of his mouth

"Even so, without you that elixir might've brought more harm to him...Whatever your reasons, I'm really grateful to have you here, Vanderwood."

A mixture of feelings erupt from his chest, despite all his efforts to smother them

The bloom of hope, the scathing pang of hurt

Despair in the knowledge that she'll never recognize him ever again

Vanderwood looks to the door that leads back into the cabin, unable to meet her eyes

"You really care for him, huh?" he asks, careful to keep his feelings hidden

"Do you love me, MC?"

"Yes," she answers, her voice full of emotion

Vanderwood's brows furrow as he puts the cigarette back to his lips, turning his back to MC and choosing to gaze up at the stars instead

Here, out in the middle of fucking nowhere

Away from the city lights

They can actually see the starry night sky

Out here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, everything is quiet

He can hear the grass and leaves rustling from the gentle night breeze

Hear the crickets and owls

Hear his own heart breaking all over again

MC moves to stand beside him but Vanderwood doesn't dare look at her

He keeps his gaze up at the stars, remembering his promise to her

"It's beautiful out here, right?"

"It's only beautiful because you're here, baby."

I don't have the right to call her that anymore

He lost that right when he gave her up

But it wasn't because he didn't love her anymore

No...

He doesn't think it's possible to love anyone else but her

His MC

But when MC only chose his route, over and over again

When he and MC found a way to be together —breaking through the codes and the walls

Breaking the impossible

...the system found a way to keep them apart

"NO!" Vanderwood yells, holding MC in his arms

She's not moving, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow

His big hand envelops her smaller one as he cradles her to his chest, tears rolling down his cheek as the red stain on her clothes start spreading

"Baby, stay with me, baby. Please. I'll get you to a hospital, MC. Please, I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Don't leave me, MC. Please. Please!"

He tries to lift her into his arms, but he hears the cock of guns and he protectively holds her close, glaring at the men in suits surrounding them

Each one with guns trained at the couple

A lone woman in a suit approaches them, her face expressionless as she gazes at Vanderwood and MC

"This could have been avoided, had she not foolishly jumped in front of you."

"You fucking bitch!"

Still, the woman remains impassive

She steps forward, closer to where Vanderwood and MC are

"You can save her, you know."

Vanderwood glares at the woman, but she continues

"I offer you the choice, ██████ ███," she says, lifting her hand and opening her palm

Over it, a hologram of an hourglass appears and becomes solid

"Return to the game and reset the clock. Go back to the beginning and undo what has been done. Or..."

The woman's eyes go to MC's pale form

"...live with your reality."

Return to the game...rewind time?

"If I do that...reset the game," he begins through gritted teeth. "She'll live? She'll be okay? She'll...be happy?"

"Yes. But she'll forget about you. And, to prevent a repeat of your insolence, we're removing your route from the game. We'll take your name, ██████ ███, your identity, your story...she will be happier this way, believe me."

Vanderwood's head snaps up, his eyes widening

Then...that means...

No.

"What the fuck?! If I fucking agree to this, then—"

Then I'll lose her forever

"You're losing her now, ██████."

He tenses and looks back at his girl, whose eyes flutter open slightly

She shakes her head, those beautiful eyes filled with tears

"No...don't."

"Shhh, it's okay, MC. It's gonna be okay," he whispers, his heart twisting painfully in his chest

The answer is obvious...so fucking obvious

He's the one who broke the game, who defied all the rules and brought this shit onto her life

He's the one who put her in danger in the first place...

"Mi███n...please," she pleads in a soft voice, panicking at what she sees in his eyes

"I'd rather die, having lived my life with you than live the rest of my life without you."

Vanderwood chuckles sadly, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers

He presses his forehead to hers, holding her close to him

One last time

"MC, baby..."

"I love you so damn much."

"There's not a single day of my life where I won't be loving you, MC."

"You're my North Star...you'll always be my home, you'll always be the light in my life."

"That's why I have to say goodbye."

"I can't...I can't live in a world without you, baby."

"I'm sorry...this is so fucking selfish of me, but I'm just a character in a game."

"You are REAL."

She sobs and winces, reaching out and cupping his cheek despite the pain

"You're real to me, ██nj█n."

He smiles and kisses her again

"Even if your mind doesn't remember me," he whispers between kisses

"I hope your heart won't forget me."

The woman, watching the two lovers, turns the hourglass

Around them, everything slowly fades into dust

Vanderwood smiles at MC, tears streaming down his cheeks as he memorizes all the details about her

MC holds onto him with the last of her strength, panic coursing through her body

She doesn't want this, she doesn't want to leave him

"Hey, lady," Vanderwood tells the woman without looking at her

"I have one favor to ask. Please."

"Yeah," Vanderwood replies to MC, keeping his gaze trained at the brightest star in the sky

"It's beautiful."

"Vanderwood..."

He turns to look at her and sees a confused expression on her face

"Have we...?"

The door suddenly bursts open and Seven comes out, a smile on his face

"He's awake!" he informs MC

A smile spreads across her face and she bows again to Vanderwood

"Thank you, Vanderwood!"

She runs inside and he watches her go, swallowing the lump in his throat

Guess he'll have to get used to this

Watching her from afar as she runs into the arms of another man

A man that will never be him, ever again

"After all this time?"

Vanderwood rolls his eyes, blinking away the hurt and pain and arranging his expression into one of annoyance

He turns his back on Seven, putting his cigarette back between his lips

"Aww c'mon. This is the perfect time to re-enact that scene from Garry Potted!"

"Go back to fucking work, Seven."

Seven stares at Vanderwood's wide back, a sad smile on his face

Even though Vanderwood isn't aware of it, Seven actually knows who he is

What he's been through

After all...Vanderwood isn't the only one working on breaking the game's code

Working on ending the reset system, once and for all

Seven wishes he could do more to comfort his friend

But instead, he goes back inside and sits on the couch

Cracking his fingers, Seven focuses his gaze on his laptop screen

"Hang in there, Minjun. We'll get out of this one."

"Promise."

・・・・☆・・・・☆ ・・・・

If you're reading this, thank you so much for reading my fic ;w; I hope you enjoyed it <3

P.S. Minjun is a name I made for Vanderwood, but it's not official or anything! Still hoping and praying Cheritz makes a route for him ;w;

Check out my other Mysme writings here!

Mango Shake/Ko-fi is always very much appreciated (ᵔᴥᵔ)

[onlinekitsune]

winter with them ʕ⁎̯͡⁎ʔ༄

mystic messenger edition, part two

a/n: hi... hallo!!! yes, i am alive again, this time for real (hoping) i wanted to post something similar to my one winter dates post since tis the season and whatnot. but i made them into little drabbles to expand just a bit. they're quite short because i was terrified to not have enough room. i don't know the limit for tumblr and didn't want to test it. obey me version here! if you care abt those demon boys ANYWAYS, i hope you enjoy! and remember to take care of yourself, mwah

includes everyone but vanderwood and rika + genderless reader

※*: . ｡. — jaehee kang

the cozy dim light of the kitchen illuminated the various ingredients laid out on the kitchen. jaehee’s gaze was soft but fully focused. you two had spent the day figuring out seasonal snacks for the cafe. you dusted her nose with flour as she pulled you closer. her laugh echoed through the kitchen, filling you with a warmth you adored. she'd hand you a pastry for you to taste and tell her your thoughts. she studied your expressions, seeing what you liked. and what you didn't. it was clear the passion she had regain after quitting. it made you happy to see her finally bright. to see her have life in her. it was even more special that you were the one to help her see it. that life doesn't have to be miserable.

※*: . ｡. — jumin han

waking up to snow wasn't completely surprising, you had expected it for a while. what you didn't expect was waking up to the other side of the bed empty. usually, jumin would notify you if he was to leave. you groggily get up, petting elizabeth as you exited the room. the sweet smell of breakfast and coffee found you, heading to the kitchen you expected one of the various of chefs. but found jumin instead. he revealed he had been taking secret cooking classes to surprise you with a breakfast in bed. he was slightly disappointed you'd woken up a bit earlier than expected.

※*: . ｡. — jihyun kim (v)

you loved the winter season. even more than that you loved the holiday festivities. you expressed to jihyun that you'd wanted to decorate the house for the season. he made it an entire day activity. he was mainly there just to help you put decorations where you couldn't reach or to put up things you couldn't carry. he just loved seeing your bright smile. you two ended the day putting up a christmas tree. you sighed, leaning your head on his shoulder. he pulled you closer, as you two admired the tree. it was the first time in a long time that he was able to fully appreciate the pretty lights.

※*: . ｡. — saeran choi

while half-heartedly watching a bad hallmark movie, saeran asked if people really did do these activities. your heart ached a bit remembering that he'd never experienced anything like that as a child. you nodded before stating that you were going to help him be able to experience them. he was a bit hesitant but with a little push, agreed. the first thing was to build a snowman. he felt a bit awkward at first, questioning why he gave in. but eventually, he grown fond of it. he gently placed a hat, finishing the snowman. he let out a laugh, proud of your shared efforts into making such a silly thing.

※*: . ｡. — saeyoung choi

this was planned out to be just an outing for some hot chocolate but ended up as taking a walk through the park. you nudged into him slightly, continuing the playful banter between you two. he laughed, bouncing back into you. you both found a trash can to dispose your garbage. and as saeyoung asked if you were ready to head back, you'd ran into where the grass would have been, now piled up with bright snow. in seconds, a snowball was formed in your hands. you playfully threw it at him as he was none the wiser. he dramatically gasped as if he was offended before chasing you with a snowball of his own. you continued your little snowball fight for a bit, before he swept you in his arms. causing the two of you to crash down (unhurt) before placing a soft kiss on your lips.

※*: . ｡. — yoosung kim

yoosung pouted like a troubled puppy, as you try to help him with his finals. he whined that he should be celebrating the season with you doing more exciting things. you'd assured him that he'd be able to. he continued to pout as you sipped on your coffee. you added that a cafe date was actually very cute to you, causing him to immediately perk up. you smiled seeing the effect your love had on him. it was sweet and innocent, at times. with a newfound resolve, he pushed through his studies. after a bit, you both decided to pack it up for the day. as yoosung returned his books in his bag, he remembered what he initially came here for. unbeknownst to you, he bought you an early gift. he laid out a box in his hands, revealing a pretty necklace inside.

※*: . ｡. — ryu hyun (zen)

winter season was busy for most celebrities and actors. there were plenty of cheesy romcom movies to be made. even though zen wasn't a big name yet, he was just as busy. however, he still made incredible effort to spend as much time as he could with you. though he felt bad for most of that time being behind the scenes of whichever project he was currently on. which is why he'd taken matters into his own hands. he invited you out for a surprise date, not revealing any hints. even going to the extent to blindfold you until you reached the location. he'd 'rented' (agreed to do an ad) out an ice-skating park. you were hesitant for your lack of skills. zen assured you that he'd take care of you. and he did. you weren't as good as he was but, he was a great teacher.

[michiigii-writes-mysme]

Love and Deepspace x Mystic Messenger

I am full of unpopular, problematic opinions, with this crossover! Because the similarities and differences I see are unlike what everyone else seems to see!

The easy one: Zayne and Jumin are the same.

Hot, cool, stoic.

Elite Sir.

Does Zayne wear gloves to fancy hospital charity events? Because I think he should.

If you like Jumin, you will like Zayne. Not an opinion, just the facts.

Less easy one, but not unexpected: Yoosung and Xavier are very similar.

Blond

Videogames

huge "step on me, mommy!" vibes, until their switch is flipped, and then it's "I'm The Alpha."

if I had been playing from the beginning, Xavier would have been my favourite. He's not, but more on that later.

They're very Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. Fandom Flanderization sort of devolves them into slacker gamer and sleepy boi. But then you get to know them more and you see how responsible and hardworking they can be. Love it, 10/10, very husband material

And then there's Rafayel. A lot of people have paired him with Zen, because he's an artist, he's famous, he's talented, he's a diva. But he also hates sweating/working out, he expects to be pampered, he expects not just praise but worship. (Which is fair, considering where he's from!) These aren't Zen things. Zen doesn't expect anything from his MC; she could treat him like dirt and he'd still stay in a relationship with her (Bad Relationship Ending 2? 3?) No, I see Rafayel as being similar to Seven.

flighty and odd on the day to day

Very Memeable. Very good.

running off and doing Art Things feels like running off and doing Hacker Things

goofy and breezy when things are light, when times are good.

when times are bad, they get surprisingly intense and dark.

the old "remembering past lives/remembering past playthroughs" conspiracy

If they need to be serious, they will be The Most serious.

Hacker v. Assassin?

Dodging their managers.

It's the hidden depths, for me.

So. My favourite is Sylus. I started playing when they introduced him because white hair, red eyes, broad shoulders. I am a simple woman with simple tastes, sue me.

The easy thing would be to say that he and Zen are similar. And they have their similarities: aside from confidence in their unearthly beauty, they also handle their MC like gold, they have rough, violent pasts, and basically raised themselves up.

But I would say Sylus' MysMe parallel is Vanderwood.

We don't have the VanderRoute (although it would be nice, it doesn't make sense to the Rika/V of it all!), but:

elite, special operative of some kind

shady deals

guns

fashion

being frustrated with their underlings

the banter. The amazing, chemistry-steeped banter.

a dangerous man who needs a love interest who can keep up with his lifestyle.

[marshmallowprotection]

What do you think of a VAE Saeran being told by MC and Saeyoung that they have a flat ready and want to live together the three of them, when he appears at the RFA party? In this scenario I imagine V told them Saeran was alive and with him and MC would have realised her feelings and that as soon as V felt better she realised she was never in love but had feelings for Ray all that time. Saeran wouldn't be aware of MC feelings unless they got to talk on the phone...I even think Saeran would have wanted to go back earlier but V got controlling again and stopped him until he felt he really had tamed...still in that scenario MC and Saeyoung would quickly get annoyed with V if he's too worried about Saeran being triggered and over sheltering him...

Well... I think it's important to understand that Jihyun made a fatal mistake in trying to protect Ray and Saeran the way he did.

He told himself he was doing the right thing by keeping the truth of their survival secret until he was certain they were at a place where they felt ready to confront everybody with their existence. The real problem with this is that Jihyun let them assume that Saeran was dead and never coming back.

So much of the pain experienced in the VAE in that regard is because of Jihyun's silence.

However, I understand why he thought it was the best choice, I just don't agree with his final decision in the matter. I think he told himself that he was doing right by Saeran. "I know he doesn't want to be near his brother or myself, but he and I need time to process what went on in Mint Eye, and I want to make sure he's safe before I he's forced into a corner with Saeyoung. Being around me made him feel like a caged animal, and I can only imagine it would be worse with his brother... so I will let them assume what happened until I'm sure Saeran's ready..."

Saeyoung nearly got rid of himself and Rika in that cabin and the only reason he survived is because Jumin, Jaehee, and even Vanderwood stepped the hell in to stop it from happening. That's the only reason... he survived. If it wasn't for them, Saeyoung might not have left that cabin when he did. This is one of the failures of V's After Ending, and it's the one that most people are haunted by because even if you can see why he did what he did, it doesn't justify it.

Jihyun's reasoning was: If I tell Saeyoung his brother is okay, what does that do to Saeran? Does he have to face charges because of Mint Eye? Will the Prime Minister find out about them? What about the agency? What if they find out Saeyoung's brother is alive and... and I let them see each other again? What happens? I've been trying to keep my promise to these boys, but one wrong move and I fuck it up even more than I already have. Saeran may not even want to see his brother ever again, so what happens if I force that?

He got in his head about it.

It wasn't okay.

The path paved to hell is made with good intentions. That's how I like to look at Jihyun at times.

That being said, onto your question what if Saeran got that offer from Saeyoung and MC? What if he was honest? What if he told them that Ray was alive? That Ray and Saeran were both alive both they needed to leave to heal first? Well, that's already a mess because Saeyoung is going to want to see his brother, and he probably won't take no for an answer.

I think he would push, unfortunately, and that in itself is already a mess that I don't know how to wrap my head around. I think he would have to relent and let his brother go to heal and work on himself, but how would they convince him to get to that point? I’m not sure. That isn't going to be simple. Saeyoung understands the logic and reason behind it, but he hasn't seen his brother in years, and now he has to accept that his brother doesn't want to see him because he spent so many years of their time apart thinking that Saeyoung hated him?

That's not... that's not simple.

He would want to live with his brother again. He would want to be safe and sound with his brother because how can he trust his brother with anyone ever again? Even if he’s accepted that Jihyun failed, why should he trust his brother with Jihyun again? So, I... don't know how that would play out. But, it's something to think about when it comes to this question. 

MC's outcome depends on how YOU respond to the situation.

Here’s the thing. Saeran and Ray aren’t going to want to be close to their brother at first. This isn't something you can force overnight. It's one thing to spend two and a half years working on finding peace and acceptance, and it's another thing to be thrown back into the fray like that. Even if they thought they were ready to handle the situation, it's going to be different once they face it firsthand. No amount of trying to prepare yourself can help you here.

The one thing I can give Jihyun credit for here is trying help those two advocate their needs. Saeyoung and MC shouldn't pressure the two of them to come back readily. Give them time. Give them space. Please. You can't push people when they're not ready, and if they're somebody who will put the needs of other people ahead of their own, you need somebody there to make sure you advocate for this self in the way you said you would before you faced this situation knowing the weight of what could happen. 

Some people might say it's good to have exposure therapy, but I say it's better to take your time instead of trying to rip the Band-Aid off when it comes to something this traumatizing and overwhelming. It isn’t Saeyoung’s fault that Rika used his likeness to torture Saeran and Ray, but the damage was done and it’s going to take time to unravel that problem. I’d like to think Jihyun does the right thing by helping them take their time to reacclimate to being around their brother, even though he already messed up a lot by letting Saeyoung think his brother was dead. 

By all means, be angry with Jihyun about that part, but don't kick Jihyun if he helps Saeran or Ray say, "I want to learn how to be close to you again, but I need time and space to do that. I can't just jump in without thinking of my health, too."

[bluejay-writes]

MysticTober Day 10: Seven/MC & Robot

You can read this over on Ao3 if you’d prefer.

Rating: E for Everyone <3

Prompt: Seven/MC && Robot

WordCount: 1507

Summary: MC is keeping a secret from 707, and it's tearing him apart. But is it as earth-shattering a secret as he thinks?

Seven looked around the bunker, even going so far as to check the locked storage room. No MC.  This wasn’t the first time they’d gone somewhere, of course, but lately it had started to grate on him a little bit that she wouldn’t tell him anything.

She knew that secrets nearly tore about the entire RFA.  She knew he had abandonment issues. He was working on them.  But just disappearing was no good.  Sure, she’d leave a note telling him she was heading out to “work on something” or “take a class” but never about what, on what, for what.  Sometimes she took Saeran with her, sometimes he was moping around because she was busy.  As if one twin moping around wasn’t bad enough.

He flopped backwards onto the couch, fighting back the tears that were threatening.

“You could just ask her.” Vanderwood said, and Seven shouted in surprise.

“Where the hell did you come from?”

“I’ve been here for the last twenty minutes, watching you pace around like an angry kitten.”

“Yeah, well MC’s gone.”

“Yep. Note says she’s working on something. Why are you so out of sorts?”

“She’s been ‘working on something’ or ‘taking a class’ or ‘out with school friends’ almost every day.”

“You’re supposed to be working too, you know.  So she’s doing something with her summer break, what of it?”

Seven sighed. “I know I’m overreacting. I just. I’m nervous. What if she.. what if she’s bored with me? What if I’m just too much and she needs a break? What if she only thought she loved me because there was a bomb and things were scary and she was trapped in a bad situation and now she realizes she has so much future ahead of her that being with a nerd like me is holding her back, and --”

“Zero Seven. You’re spiraling. MC Loves You.”

Seven huffed but didn’t say anything else, and Vanderwood stood and left the room.

Great, now I’m making everyone else hate me too. Soon I’ll be all alone. Poor little Zero Seven who can’t even keep the people around him who are paid to be there.

He sighed as his eyes started leaking.  He wasn’t crying, they were doing this all on their own without his input, just like everything else in his life.

Seconds or hours later, perhaps millennia, (but what was probably like three minutes), Vanderwood appeared with a glass of PhD Pepper on ice, and a bottle.

“You should take one of these, brat.” Vanderwood said quietly, shaking the pill bottle at him gently. “You’re stuck.”

Seven knew they were right, and took the pill with the soda, not even arguing when Vanderwood set the soda aside in order to pull Seven into a hug.

“Why do you care so much now?” Seven said, once words seemed like something he could make again.

“I always cared. It was just… forbidden.  But you freed me from those rules, so now you’re stuck with my feelings, kid.”

“You’re not even that much older than me.”

“Really? Could have fooled me.”

“No one can fool you, Vandy.”

“Don’t call me that.”

The telltale beeps and clicks of the door opening woke Seven from the unexpected nap he’d been taking on the couch. At some point Vanderwood had disappeared, but a coaster had appeared under the (still cold) glass of PhD Pepper, so not all was lost.

Seven looked up to see MC walking in with her arms full of fast food fried chicken.

“Hey sweetie, I’m back from class, did you have a good nap?”

Seven shook his head, and MC set the food on the counter before coming over to crouch next to him.

“What happened?”

“You were gone.” he croaked, and wrapped his arms around her. “And you’re leaving again after dinner.”

MC hummed softly, hugging him back. “Yeah, I’m working on a project.”

“Are you going to leave me? Am I too much?”  He sniffed, trying not to cry. He’d gotten this far without crying about it, surely just another minute more…

MC pushed him out to arms length so she could look him in the eye. “Saeyoung Choi. I love you. More than my projects. More than school. More than the stars in the sky. More than life. More than PhD Pepper.”

He sniffed. “Now I know you’re exaggerating. It’s not possible to love something more than PhD Pepper.”

“See, that’s where you’re wrong. Our love defies the laws of physics.” She leaned her forehead against his, and he shut his eyes. He may be weird, but that was probably the strangest view you could have of another person. “Listen, Sevenny.” She said, softly. “I love you. I’m trying to surprise you with something for your birthday, but I think the secrecy of it is too much. Not worth the stress I’m causing you. Do you want to come with me tonight?”

He gasped. “Wait… really?”  He pulled back from her, confused. “You want me to… come with?”

“I mean, I wanted to surprise you. But this surprise will be enough. I’d rather have you happy and confident every day than overjoyed on one specific day and stressed out and sad the rest.”

Seven’s chest felt tight. She really… “God, I love you MC.”

“I love you too, babe.” She chuckled, and kissed his cheek. He really did have the best girlfriend. “Come on now, I brought chicken and if it gets cold I think Jaehee would come beat me on principle.”

“Ooooh, she would.” Seven said, considering how that woman felt about proper nutrition and food safety combined. “Let’s not invoke her wrath.”

“What is this place?” Seven said, turning circles as he looked around the big, loud warehouse full of people working on various crafts.

“This is our local Maker Space.  It’s got all the tools I could possibly need, and classes so I can learn how to do things, and I can reserve space so I can work on projects like my lovely boyfriend’s birthday present without him spoiling himself by trying to help.” MC said with a pointed look. 

Seven blushed. He did like helping, was the thing. He was already itching to try and see what some of the people were doing so that he could hold a nail or put down some glue, or god forbid saw something.

“This is amazing.” He said, feeling very much like a Gisnep Princess. “But what are you working on?”

MC chuckled, and pulled him along over to a space along the wall where there were welding torches and other heavier metal-working tools set up.

“Stay right here and don’t touch anything and I’ll be right back.”

Seven was vibrating. This place was awesome.  So much better than just building his robots on the floor of his office. No wonder Vanderwood had been trying to get him to make a workshop… Now he didn’t have to. He could just come here with MC!

“Okay, close your eyes and hold out your hands, Seven.” MC said, and he did as he was told, until something solid was put in his hands.

“Can I look yet?”

“Not quiiiite…. okay, look!”

Seven opened his eyes and a small little Calico Cat sat in his hands.  She wasn’t complete, there was etching to mark out where all of her different colors would go, but her eyes lit up, and her ears twitched.  He’d never seen anything more adorable in his life, and he’d both met Elly and had a girlfriend. 

“Oh my god.”

“Yeah, like the Elly-bot you made me. but calico!” She looked chagrined. “She’s not done yet, and the personality chip is way harder to program than I thought it was, even taking a class on it.”

“I can help with that!”

“I know you can, babe, but that’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want you to have to do all the work to make your own present. I wanted to do it for you.”

“Oh.”  She was right.  If he’d known she was working on this he would have made her a full step-by-step IKEA-level guide on how to do all of it, but then it would have been basically him doing it with her hands, and not her making it for him, and he’d even gone and spoiled the surprise by being a complete ball of garbage, and--

“But how about this… Now that you know, there’s no way I’m going to keep you from helping… what if we made her together? We can make one for Saeran too.”

Seven bounced on his toes. He loved doing things with MC. And making a gift for Saeran? That was ideal. “He wants a shark.” He said, thinking about his twin.

“A shark robot.” MC was dubious.

“Yes.”

“We can’t make it swim though.”

“No. But we can make it hover.” His glasses flashed.

“Oh god.”

“Say yes, MC. Tell me we’ll build robots together.”

“Yes, Saeyoung. Seven. My love. Of course. The answer was always yes.”

[brighteststar707]

Faye!!! Congrats on your two years 🎉 I'm so so incredibly happy that we met through good old Mysme I could CRY fr. You are so special to me!!

So I was thinking for a while but didn't want the slots to go, so I'm gonna come outta nowhere and SHOCK HORROR not pick either of my two husbands, Jumin or Zen.

But how about number 30, confiding in them, with Vanderwood. The little tease we got in V's route just made me smitten at the time. He literally is thrust into the RFA drama and I can't help but feel he'd connect with MC. Like lord help us Vandy, wtf is going on.

Lola! Thank you so much for your message! I'm so grateful to have met you, you mean so much to me and I wish only the best for you <3

I'm pleasantly surprised by your request! It's a good event when I can write more than one fic for Vandy.

Picture this: It's V's route, Seven has saved you from Mint Eye, now you, V Seven and Vandy are in the cabin. Your relationship with V is.... not really existent at this point so this fic could be romantic when you squint hehehe

Love ya <3

Confiding in Them

✦Vanderwood x Gn!Reader ✦ Words: 1553

Time in the cabin feels like it has slowed down to a crawl. It is dark outside, and eerily silent. Inside, there are only the sounds of footsteps back and forth across the floorboards, and V’s harsh breathing in the next room. The repetitive nature of the noises has only added to the liminal feeling.

You had reassured the others that you weren’t tired, and then promptly fallen asleep on the sofa, still sitting upright with your jacket draped over your shoulders. When your eyes opened again, you weren’t sure how long you’d been asleep for, or where your dreams ended and reality began. Your life lately has been so strange, it has been hard to keep track. You had dreamt of car chases and cult initiations, the faces and voices of your loved ones so close and yet out of reach. How was that any different to what you had experienced over the last week?

Someone had covered you with a spare blanket when you were asleep, as well as lit a fire in the fireplace opposite you. It was warm, and you were still disoriented from sleep, so you stayed put, wrapping the blanket tighter around yourself and watching the fire dance over the logs.

You allow yourself, maybe for the first time, to process the fact that you managed to get away from Mint Eye and everything they had planned for you. In the (relative) silence of the cabin, with everyone else occupied, it starts to sink in. Back there, with a part of you constantly in fight or flight, it was hard to process the reality of your situation. You were just trying to survive. Now that you’re safe, it all hits at once.

The isolated compound, the flowery pink room, the wardrobe full of clothes made to your measurements. Ray, monitoring your conversations with the RFA, his kindness that teetered on the brink of desperation. The minty blue of his eyes, too vibrant to be natural. The silence in the hallways, so unsettling for a building so full of people.

“Oh, you’re awake.”

You jump and turn your head towards the speaker. You were too caught up in your own thoughts to hear him approach you.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” Vanderwood says. To his credit, he does actually look apologetic.

His voice is quiet, deep, and still unfamiliar to you. You have grown used to the voices of the different RFA members, have even started to find a certain comfort in hearing them. On the other hand, he is still practically a stranger to you.

You had very briefly met Vanderwood when he first got to the cabin to help Seven, but you had said little to each other since.

“It’s okay. I’m just a bit jumpy, I guess.”

“From what I’ve seen tonight and what Seven told me – which isn’t much, mind you - that’s not surprising.”

Seven has been keeping an eye on Vanderwood since he entered with a vaguely threatening air you haven’t yet seen from him, reminiscent of someone keeping their attack dog on a short leash.

“What did Seven tell you?”

He joins you on the sofa, sighing deeply before answering. He has been at V’s bedside, tending to him in his terrible state, since arriving, and he has good reason to be tired.

“He has kept most of the story from me. I know that that guy back there has been fed more different drugs than I’ve ever seen before and that you’re his…?” He leaves it open-ended and throws you a meaningful look. He’s still trying to fill the holes in his story.

“Don’t look at me, I don’t even know what we are.” Thinking about V too much makes you scared all over again, so you change the subject. “What else do you know?”

“Nothing except that you were there with them. He’s smart enough to keep RFA stuff away from agency stuff most of the time. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures, though.”

“You can say that again.”

You sound wearier than you mean to. The longer you think about everything, the more ridiculous it all sounds. You watch as a log cracks in the fireplace with a satisfying pop and feel Vanderwood turn to assess you for a moment.

“And who are you in all of this?”

“That’s a long story.”

“And I am a very good listener. Literally, it’s part of my job.”

You laugh. He doesn’t.

“Really, I feel like I haven’t talked to a single person since I arrived - Seven doesn’t count. I need a change of scenery.”

It isn’t that his voice softens, but he sounds like he’s choosing his words more intentionally this time he speaks. It makes him sound more sincere. Maybe that’s what encourages you to indulge him. Or maybe, you just need someone to help ground you now that you feel like you’ve detached from reality.

“Well, I was sort of… kidnapped and held hostage in this cult?”

His eyebrows disappearing into his fringe is the only thing that gives away his surprise. He scans you once over, a well-practiced look. He’s looking for any obvious damage.

“I’m fine, you say quickly, “Seven managed to save me before anything really bad could happen.”

He nods. “You can trust him with these things.” He thinks for a moment, before quickly adding, like a sudden thought that came into his mind “were you with the hacker?”

“Yeah.”

“You met him? What was he like?”

The questions tumble out of his mouth faster than he can stop them. Is this what he sounds like when he’s excited? You had heard him discussing the hacker with Seven earlier, asking questions with his eyes wide. Turns out it’s rare for someone to give Seven this much trouble.

“Strange. Kind of sad. I wish there was something I could do for him.”

Vanderwood’s enthusiasm vanishes.

“Then he sounds just like the rest of us.”

In the silence that follows, you both turn your attention back to the fireplace. The flames seem to have a life of their own, and your cheeks feel warm from the heat of it. Somewhere, from another room, you hear Seven’s voice. You wonder who he’s talking to, or if it's just to himself.

“So, if that guy,” Vanderwood gestures back to the bedroom where V is sleeping, “was drugged to oblivion by that cult, how did you get out okay?”

“He has a bit of a personal history with their founder. The whole RFA does, actually, but his is more… delicate, from what I understand. See, I’m the stranger in this equation.”

“Huh. I don’t know why I expected this to be simple. Nothing Seven involves himself in ever is.”

“They used to all be like a family once apparently. I’m still trying to understand it all myself.”

He puts his head on his hands for a second in a show of exhaustion. “Maaaaan…. how are you staying sane through all of this? Just hearing the gist of things is making me tired.”

You’ve been asked this question a few times, but you’ve never given the real answer any thought before. Next to V, who could barely stand upright and was talking to the air last time you were at his bedside, you were always fine. It felt wrong to even imply otherwise.

But now, when you think about where you were a week ago and how much has changed since then, you aren’t so sure. You can’t remember the last time you felt rested and, even though you’ve been reassured that you’re safe here, you’re scared someone is watching you. You can’t even think of walking down the street by yourself before you break out in goosebumps.

"Oh. I guess you hadn’t gotten that far yet, had you?”

“No… I guess not. Is it that obvious?”

He holds out a gloved hand in front of your face and taps your forehead once, lightly.

“You’re easy to read. Or maybe it’s just me.”

With only the flickering firelight on his face, his expression is hard to make out, but you find some comfort in his gesture.

“I feel like none of it is real. At least if you can see it, it means that I’m not making any of this up.”

He nods and you lapse back into a comfortable silence.

“Hey, I know it may not be much coming from me, but I think you’ve got some good people on your side at the moment.”

You’re not sure what possesses you to ask, “Is that including you?”

He seems to be stunned for a moment before he smiles. It transforms him into a brand-new person, and you can imagine what a different life might have looked like on him. Your anxiety gets pushed down by a wave of pride at managing to elicit that expression from him. You have a feeling it’s quite rare.

“Yeah, I guess it does.”

Suddenly, V groans loudly, startling the both of you. Vanderwood jumps back to his feet and quickly follows the sound to the bedroom door. Before he disappears completely, he turns to you and says, “Listen, I need to go back to playing nurse, but can we talk more a bit later?”

You smile.

“I’d like that.”

[shxtodxroki]

Match-Up Exchange Guidelines

Because I’ve been more interested in doing match-up exchanges lately, I figured it would be smart to make a single concise post explaining everything important when it comes to doing match-up exchanges with me! Below are my guidelines for doing match-up exchanges, so if you’re interested in doing a match-up exchange please read this once I’ve sent it to you/if you’re interested in doing an exchange!

Fandoms I Do Match-Ups For:

These are all the fandoms I offer match-ups for! Feel free to choose any of the fandoms listed below if you’re interested in doing a match-up exchange or just requesting a match-up in general, and this list will be updated whenever necessary:

My Hero Academia, Haikyuu, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, Life Lessons With Uramichi Oniisan, Bungou Stray Dogs (though I am currently only on season 3, so as of now I would only be able to match you with characters established up to that point), Mystic Messenger, Obey Me, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K, Death Note, Stardew Valley, Sk8 The Infinity, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc.

Characters I Don’t Match With:

Among these fandoms, there are certain characters I won’t do matches with for various reasons. First of all, If a character is below high school age (I’d say generally they have to be 15 or above at least) then I will not be matching them with anyone. This includes characters like Luke from Obey Me, Muichiro from Demon Slayer and Kenji from BSD, among others. Additionally, any characters who are abusive/inappropriate, specially to children, will not be matched with anyone. This would include characters like Mei Mei from JJK and Mori from BSD, as well as characters like Endeavor from My Hero. I also just don’t really know much about Vanderwood from Mystic Messenger so I probably won’t match him for anyone just because I’m not sure if I would be able to make it accurate lol. This list may be changed/altered as needed.

Things I Need From You In a Match-Up Exchange:

If you’re interested in a match-up exchange, please feel free to DM me asking about it! Unless I’m on a hiatus or going through a tough time in my personal life, I will almost always say yes! Once we’ve agreed to an exchange, these are the things I will need from you:

Your preferred name/a nickname you’d like to go by, pronouns, age (or if you’re uncomfortable saying, just tell me if you’re under or over 18 instead), and if you have a gender preference when it comes to your match. If you do not indicate a gender preference for your match, I will match you with a character of any gender who fits you best, so please indicate if you’d only like to be matched with a certain gender and I will oblige! 

The fandom(s) you’d like your match-up to be in. You may request up to 5 different fandoms at a time, though you are free to request more or request the same fandom again at a different date. I only set the limit at 5 so that it doesn’t take me too long to post my part of the exchange! (You are also free to request, for example, to be matched with a man and a woman in a particular fandom, though this will count as 2 of your 5 match-ups) 

Any characters (if you have any) that you’d prefer not to be matched with, for any reason. I will avoid matching you with any characters you request not to be matched with! Also, if you have any preferences for which characters you're matched with (ex. only wanting to be matched with Class 1-A students) then please state that as well!

The rest of these are not required, but highly encouraged in order for me to give you your best possible match:

Personality types (like MBTI or zodiac sign, for example)

Notable physical features/appearance

Personality traits

Likes/Dislikes

Hobbies or interests

Qualities you find important/look for in a partner

Love languages

And anything else you’d like to add! This isn’t an exhaustive list, you’re welcome to add anything you’d like me to know about you to make your match–up better :)

Also, please don’t hold back or worry that you’re including “too much” because I promise, the more information you include, the more detailed and personalized I can make your match-up! 

When it comes to my match-up(s) for you in an exchange, this is usually what I offer:

Your match-up(s) will always include the reason why I matched you with a character, 8-10 headcanons about your relationship with them based on your personalized info, who my second choice for a match-up would be and a brief explanation of why, and a song that I think describes your relationship with your matched character! Unless stated otherwise (if I’m going through a difficult time or incredibly busy with school) my goal is generally always to get my end of the exchange posted/to you within a week of us agreeing to an exchange, though we can solidify a date together once we’ve decided on doing a match-up trade!

And when it comes to receiving my match-up(s), I’m totally willing to be patient and if things come up/you need more time than you thought or even if you need to cancel the exchange, please just let me know and I promise to be understanding :) All I ask is for communication! 

And that’s it! I’m currently open to and welcoming match-up exchanges with fellow writers for any of the fandoms listed above, so if you’re interested in doing one please just reach out/message me and I’d love to organize one! :D

[pastelsapphy]

A thought crossed my mind: between MC and Saeyoung, who proposes first? (I know SE 2.07 talks about Saeyoung proposing, but bear with me). I think if asked, they might say that, technically, it was Vanderwood.

Saeyoung probably isn't quite as confident as he seems. So MC bites the bullet the next time they get to rest. Curled up against each other in the dark of night, with no one and nothing but each other.

"So... they called me Saeran's sister-in-law, hm?"

And they feel Saeyoung tense up beside them. If any one trait describes Saeyoung, it's fear. He has always been afraid--of his mother, his father, the agency boss, of all the people he's pissed off coming for his head. He was afraid of anything bad happening to Saeran (seeing your worst fears come to life right before your eyes does wonders for anxiety, doesn't it?), of anything he's done coming back to hurt those he cares about.

He had been afraid of his friends seeing beyond the 707 mask, of them ever seeing the real him, because surely they would hate him. The real him was not someone to be loved. The real him was not someone to keep around. 707 could have friends (for a while), even Luciel could have friends (temporary as they were). But he had tried to bury Saeyoung, the scared little boy who was unloved by everyone except his other half.

But MC came along and held out a hand. With their help, Saeyoung dared to pull himself from his grave. They pushed through the masks that were 707 and Luciel to unearth Saeyoung, still lost and scared and desperate to protect everyone.

The thing is, those fears don't go away overnight--if they ever do. He knows MC says they love him, that they're in this for the long haul, but he's still half convinced he's going to wake up and find himself still at his desk, an imprint of his keyboard stamped into his face and nothing beside him but empty bags of chips.

So he falls back on his default defense mechanism: laugh it off. But the chuckle he forces out is strained, even to his ears. "Ah, yeah. Ha ha... sorry if that, uh, made you uncomfortable or anything."

MC just hums. Saeyoung feels the vibrations where their face is tucked against his neck. "What about you?"

Their breath is hot on his neck and god, he already can't think when he's around them. Yes, his brain screams. I love it. I want you to be his sister-in-law. I want you to be my spouse, my partner. I want to be your husband. I want it, I want it, I want it.

But, as he has always been, Saeyoung is afraid. What if this is what scares them off (and not, you know, his drugged and brainwashed brother or the agency that tried to kill them all)? What if they don't want to be tied to him that way? He still thinks MC deserves better than him, even if he's been selfish enough to accept them.

He must take too long to respond, because MC shifts back just enough to look up at him. Their eyes seem to sparkle in the darkness. "Saeyoung."

He looks away and they gently press a hand to his cheek. They're warm, so warm, melting him inside and out. Like a hot drink after coming in from the cold. "You're thinking too loud," they say.

"Haha, am I?" Is his voice shaking? He hopes not.

"Don't overthink this. How did you feel?"

He's afraid. He's so, so afraid. He knows how to push past fear; he knows how to turn it into a weapon for himself, but this isn't a battle. There's nothing to fight.

"It... umm..." he starts. Getting the words out of his mouth feels like wading through mud. "I... well... it uh..."

And then MC's lips are on his. Gentle, almost chaste. A means to redirect his attention more than anything.

"Do you want to know how it made me feel?" They whisper against him.

With all higher brain function having ceased, the only thing Saeyoung can do is nod.

He feels MC's lips curl into a smile. "A little dissapointed, because I'm not his in-law yet."

Saeyoung's head spins as he tries to process their words. "Oh... uh... you mean... you want...?"

MC chuckles and kisses him again. "I would love to be Saeran's in-law. Which means..."

Saeyoung swallows and finally meets MC's eyes. There's love in their gaze, but also a twinkle of mischief. Tease.

"You want to be my... wife?" He almost can't believe what he's saying might be true.

MC chuckles again. "Yes, Saeyoung. I want to be Saeran's sister-in-law; I want to be your wife; and I want you to be my husband."

And his head is spinning and MC kisses him again and he's falling. It's more than he's ever dreamed of and he's so scared to lose it but more than anything--he's excited. Saeyoung hasn't been excited in a long time. He's never looked forward to the future. It was never worth looking forward to.

When their lips part and he can think again, he says, "Does this count as a proposal? Because I can do better than that."

MC chuckles again. "You can give me a ring later, when this is all over."

He pauses, feeling unsure again. "Are you sure that's what you want?" He asks, barely above a whisper.

He yelps when MC gently nips his collarbone. "You're stuck with me, Saeyoung Choi. You're not getting rid of me so easily."

And he laughs, real this time. "Okay, okay! I won't let you go so easily, either. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Saeyoung."

("Technically, I proposed," Saeyoung will say.

"You certainly got down on one knee with a ring," MC will say. "But me and Vandy still beat you to the punch."

And Saeyoung will pout, but there's no sadness behind it. And MC will kiss him, because he's adorable when he pouts. And they will concede that, yes, Saeyoung is the one who offically proposed.

"But we still did it first," they will say, and Saeyoung will concede.)

[password-door-lock]

“I don’t want to be away from you,” you sob, tensing under Saeran’s gentle touch as he reaches out to rub your arm. 

“You won’t be,” he assures you, voice thickening with emotion even as he does his best to maintain a calm tone. “Not really.” 

He pulls you close. You’re turned away from him, which is strange— normally, he’s the little spoon. That only makes you feel guilty, of course— Saeran came here to rescue you because you were lured into a trap, and now, here he is, chained to the wall, laying on the floor, and inexplicably comforting you. “Please think again,” you urge, trying to twist around and look at Saeran. “There has to be another way. I’ll come back for you, I promise. I’m— I’m not leaving you.” But even as you say it, you know exactly what his response is going to be. As devastated as you are, your judgment isn’t clouded enough to convince you that Saeran is going to change his mind. He's already made his decision, after all.

“You won’t have time,” Saeran reminds you. He plants a soft kiss behind your ear. “You and Saeyoung have to finish this. I’m less important.” It hurts your heart to think that he actually believes that— in your opinion, Saeran’s safety is more of a priority than the security of a thousand worlds or whatever justice might be done against a million exploitative agencies and a billion corrupt Prime Ministers. 

“I’m not leaving you,” you repeat, perhaps a bit petulantly. It feels wrong to just go along with what he’s telling you, regardless of the stakes. 

“No,” Saeran agrees, “Of course not. Your heart will always be with me. And mine will stay with you, too, hm? Even if I’m not here, you’ll always be able to hold onto my love deep inside. That’s my promise to you, my love. Whenever you need me, I’ll always be there.” 

You grab his hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze. You still refuse to believe that you’re actually leaving Saeran— of course, you’ll go along with his plan until you know for sure that Saeyoung is safe. You know that Vanderwood will probably need help getting Saeyoung out of here in his condition, and Saeran is absolutely correct that Rika’s plans will all fall through if she isn’t able to produce both twins. But that doesn’t mean that you have any serious intention of leaving Saeran in this place. Though you lack the information and the mental clarity to make any kind of concrete plan, you can be certain that this will not be the last day that you spend with him. “I love you,” you breathe. 

“Mmm,” Saeran hums. “I love you, too. I’ll always love you, my MC. My angel, my miracle. Even if our bodies won’t be together in the same place, and even if I never get to hear your voice again, I’ll stay with you all the time. Even if my existence ends… I’ll be by your side until the end of the world.” 

You sniffle. He’s wrong. He has to be wrong— you will do everything in your power to see to it that his existence does not end, that you and he stay physically together for as long as the universe will allow it. You refuse to let some selfish couple, a team of phony hackers, and a disgraced politician tear you and Saeran apart. But either way, you need him to know that you love him just as much as he loves you. “But even when the world ends, we’ll still be together in our hearts,” you promise, “I’ll keep holding onto you as long as I can, and then after that, as long as I exist, as long as I have thoughts in my head, I’ll be loving you. No matter what happens, no matter what those bastards take from us, they won’t ever be able to stop us from loving each other, you know? When the world ends and there’s nothing left but empty space, when we go back to the stars that we came from, the space dust that is me will still try its best to drift beside the space dust that is you. I mean it, Saeran. I’m not giving up on you.” You’re beginning to ramble a bit now, but hopefully you got your message across. 

“I don’t think the world is ending any time soon,” Saeran replies, “You’ll get to live a long life full of fun experiences— you won't be giving up on me if you let yourself have fun. I’ll be happy knowing you got to live on ordinary life, free from all the trouble that I've caused you. But I’ll look forward to living in the stars together, my love. You can tell me all about everything that happened since the last time that we met.”

“Saeran, baby,” you address him over your shoulder, “I will never, ever make you wait that long.” You refuse to allow the universe to separate you from this man.

He laughs, squeezes your hand and pulls you impossibly close. “I want to savor this moment with you. I’ll cherish it in my mind for as long as I can.” You can hear the tears in his voice, the passion with which he says those words. You can feel his love in the way he holds you, in the tender feeling of his skin against your own.

“We’ll make new memories,” you assure him, “Better ones, where we’re safe and free— even as space dust.” But as you said— you will never, ever make him wait that long.