#well the entire classics group really

[starlightseraph]

“he’s my babygirl” *i point to the strangest little guy you’ve ever seen*

[victorluvsalice]

-->And then I looked at the party timer, and was like, “crap, no, I have to make sure that Smiler gets silver on this thing – where are the guests?” I quickly looked over the farmhouse, and found Cletus and Brian eating some leftovers from the fridge, and Myra upstairs – kindly fixing Smiler’s video creation station! Didn’t even know it was broken, thank you, Myra! (I mean, maybe SHE broke it, but at least she also fixed it!) Couldn’t find Cameron right away (I think he was eventually located just chilling in front of the house), so I resolved to have Smiler concentrate on the two in the kitchen, joining them and telling some jokes since that was one of the party goals. Though it didn’t actually complete until I had Smiler tell base game jokes, instead of vampire puns and special “let’s make fun of n00bs together because we both like video games” jokes. EAxis, you really gotta update some of these interactions... Anyway, the guests continued moving around seemingly at random, with Myra coming down for food while Brian wandered off somewhere (and Roxanne headed upstairs to use Victor and Alice’s computer for a bit – prooobably should lock it to just them), but Smiler persisted in making conversation with whoever was in the kitchen, and managed to complete the main goal of socializing with their guests by supporting Cletus’s facial hair. XD Bringing the party up to automatic gold! Yes!

Oh, and what were Victor and Alice doing during all of this? Chilling out alone in the party barn with Party Time the bot, dancing to the music and chatting with each other. XD I mean, that probably IS their ideal party situation, given they’re both supposed to be not that social. Alice eventually had to go outside and take a little nap to calm down her werewolf instincts, but she came back up to eat some hamburger cake provided by Party Time while Smiler wrangled their guests and got them all back in the party barn area. Mostly because there was one last thing that I wanted to do before the party ended –

-->Play a game! Specifically, Simbles, since I’d never played that game before! Smiler invited Alice, Brian, and Victor to play with them – Alice was a little late in joining as she was busy wolfing down her cake first, but she eventually found a seat and joined the others for a rousing game of Sim dominoes (where the “simbles” have geometric shapes on them instead of patterns of dots). Brian ended up leaving the game early, but Victor, Smiler, and Alice played past the end of the party, with Smiler winning. :) In fact, they won in multiple ways, because their party ALSO ended firmly on gold level (meaning they’ve won yet another stereo – I think I might just recycle that one straight of the inventory, why not), meaning they too managed to complete an aspirational milestone (FINALLY getting past the “Sir Gala Had” level of Party Animal) and thus fulfill their New Year’s resolution! :D Three for three, yaaay~

-->With both party and game over, though, it was time to do some clean-up around the house. Alice found some more spilled trash in the front yard (apparently a certain someone kicked over the trash can again while leaving >( ) and cleaned that up before emptying out the hamper, getting the clothes pile out of the yard, and starting a load of laundry (freshened by a daisy); Smiler washed all the plates their guests had left behind and cleared the spoiled food out of the fridge; and Victor fed Toothy after I stopped him trying to eat its cake. *shakehead* Victor, I already went through you getting nommed by a cowplant in my old save file – not interested in doing it again! Anyway, he and Alice then both proceeded to have leftover waffles while I stuck their various bits of produce and suchlike in the fridge – then got one of the giant oversized mushrooms OUT of the fridge so Victor could turn it into a seat. Because I just think that’s cool. XD The gang had a brief chat in the kitchen (with Victor and Smiler doing a little flirting as Alice cleaned up her plate), then Smiler went back upstairs for more video gaming time (on Victor and Alice’s computer again – REALLY gotta lock it) while Victor put the laundry in the dryer and Alice used the bathroom. I ended up leaving it on Victor Repairioing the downstairs bathroom sink after it broke while Alice was using it. XD

And there we are! One very satisfying day in Sims world! :D I’m so glad I was able to hit my goal of getting them all to hit theirs. :D And next time we visit, the gang will be celebrating Love Day! How will that go? We'll find out...

[idiopathicsmile]

School Gymnastics: A Tragicomedy

So one day when we were in third grade, our P.E. teacher divided us into girls and boys. (I don’t remember what the boys had to do. Wrestling? Tackle football? I don’t know, probably not at age nine, but that’s not the point. Gladiatorial combat? I still don’t really understand kids’ sports.)

What matters for this story is that all the girls had to do gymnastics. Now—and I suspect this won’t surprise you if you know literally anything about me—I was always terrible at any form of school athletics. I am intensely, almost impressively uncoordinated. This doesn’t affect my life much at 36, but it was often a miserable way to be a kid. The only playground game I liked was playing pretend, because when you are playing pretend, you don’t have a bunch of people ostensibly on your side screaming in your ear, “Pretend faster! Pretend over there! Pretend with greater accuracy!”

Anyway, gymnastics and my clumsy, doughy little body. I couldn’t do a cartwheel. I couldn’t do a backwards somersault. I couldn't do any of it. We had an entire unit on this business and I literally did not learn how to even safely attempt a single move besides the log roll (lie flat and roll sideways on your belly). In retrospect, this seems like maybe it was in part a teaching problem, not a me problem, but that’s actually not the point either.

The point is, at the end of the unit, we were told to divide ourselves into little teams and choreograph a group gymnastics routine. My group, faced with my long list of limitations (more limitation than girl, really) decide my role will be to just forwards-somersault around the rest of the group as they do their moves. (This is itself kind of embarrassing but trust me, it is but the appetizer.) My friend Ashley has the Lion King soundtrack and we all agree that it is a great choice. The movie has only come out a couple of years earlier, and it of course features some funny, peppy options. 'Hakuna Matata'? 'I Just Can't Wait to Be King'? It's all coming together.

Carried on a wave of youthful enthusiasm, none of us even think to double-check which track Ashley has picked. Foreshadowing!

So the day of the performance comes. Another group goes right before us. They had picked “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, which was a huge hit at the time. I mean, it still is because it’s a classic, but then it was big and new. They step onto the mat and immediately begin to do choreographed dance moves, which they have worked into their routine. We had not thought of this. Oops. Dance moves, of course! So they incorporate the necessary gymnastics, it goes over really well, the energy is high, and now it’s my group’s turn.

I take my place at the edge of the mat, the mat we are required to stay on for the length of the piece. Ashley cues up the track she’d chosen.

A song starts up. Instantly, I recognize it from the movie. It is the very slow instrumental music that plays when Simba realizes his dad is dead.

‘Well, this is not optimal,’ I think. I've been on this planet for nine years; I can see that much. But it’s too late to change the track, and so I tell myself, ‘It’s okay. I’m a performer. I can sell this.’ I put on an extremely solemn face and begin to execute a series of the world’s saddest somersaults.

Friends, when I say “sad” I mean it, in every possible sense of the word. Picture a nine year old with the gravest possible affect, determinedly doing somersaults to the slowest, most serious music she can imagine, in a careful ring around her friends who have actually learned any gymnastics whatsoever. Okay, now as the music starts to pick up and get more hopeful, imagine she gets real dizzy and in front of everyone, she rolls all the way directly off the mat, careening dangerously towards the assembled students.

Somehow, I roll myself back onto the mat, we survive what feels like hours of humiliation, we stagger away, and I blessedly avoid adding “puking my guts out in front of all of my peers” to my very short list of gymnastics tricks.

Later, I asked Ashley what in the world possessed her to choose that song.

“It didn’t have any words,” she said.

(There was absolutely no rule against using songs that had lyrics.)

Anyway, that’s why being an adult is better than being a kid.

I may have to do laundry and make my own dinner and wrestle with more complex existential angst, but you know what I haven’t been asked to do in like 26 years? Somersault for three minutes straight to the musical shorthand for “this cartoon lion cub has no choice but to process the weight of unimaginable grief for his dead dad.” And you know what? If I live another 50 years, I can be pretty confident nobody will ask me to do it then, either.

[alistorz]

FRAGMENT OF US

(Aespa x Male Reader Fanficiton)

Chapter 1 - A Harsh Welcome

10091 words

~"When a dream sound so nice, that you wish it become true."~ ---------------------------------------------------

The heat of summer weighed heavily on the world outside, where the streets were bustling with people enjoying their free time—some at the beach, others lounging at cafes, sipping iced drinks. Inside the training room, however, it felt worlds apart. The air conditioner hummed steadily, but the heavy atmosphere of sweat and exhaustion lingered, the sound of soft footfalls and the shuffle of shoes as Aespa continued their stretching exercises.

The room itself was dim, lit only by the soft overhead lights, with the faint scent of cold air and the occasional rustle of fabric as the girls adjusted their positions. They worked through their routines, stretching, warming up, and silently preparing for the next set of moves. Despite the heaviness in the air, a sense of camaraderie lingered between them, especially with the occasional sigh or grunt breaking the silence.

Winter, already looking a little tired, stretched her arms above her head, but then—unable to continue at full energy—she collapsed onto the floor with a dramatic thud, letting out an exaggerated groan.

"I swear, morning practices in summer are the worst," she grumbled, her voice tinged with playful annoyance. "I’d rather be lying outside, soaking up the sun, than being stuck in here at this hour."

Her complaint caught the attention of the others, who were moving about in their own little worlds. Ningning, who had been absorbed in a puzzle game on her phone, chuckled, glancing up with a teasing grin.

"You mean you'd rather turn into a chocolate bar?" she teased, voice light. "You’re already pale enough, Winter. Imagine how dark you'd get if you stayed in the sun too long. You wouldn't be Winter anymore—maybe 'Chocolate' or 'Burnt Chocolate' would suit you better."

The group laughed lightly at Ningning’s joke, the tension in the room breaking for a moment. Even Winter cracked a smile, though she rolled her eyes dramatically.

“I could pull off 'Chocolate,'” Winter muttered with a grin, her voice still full of playful sarcasm. “It sounds sweet, doesn’t it?”

Ningning snickered, pushing it further. “Oh, absolutely. I can see it now: you, lying on a beach somewhere, sunbathing, melting into the sand like a chocolate bar. Maybe a little drizzle of caramel on top, too. Yeah, that’s definitely the vibe you should go for.”

Winter let out an exaggerated gasp. “Caramel, huh? I thought I was more of a classic chocolate person, but now you’ve got me thinking... Maybe I’d be a whole sundae with whipped cream, sprinkles, and all that extra stuff. You know, to really complete the transformation."

Giselle, overhearing, chimed in with a sly grin. "Oh, no, Winter, don’t get too carried away. If you’re gonna be a chocolate sundae, I’ll be the cherry on top. You know, the one everyone fights over. People can't resist me."

Winter shot Giselle a teasing look. “Oh, so you’re the cherry, huh? Well, I guess that makes me the solid foundation—the one people rely on to hold it all together. Without the chocolate, there's no sundae.”

"True, true," Ningning nodded seriously, as if contemplating the matter. "But honestly, I’d probably be the sprinkles. I’m a bit extra, but I really make things pop, you know?"

"Extra?" Winter snorted. "Please, Ningning, you’re the whipped cream—fluffy, sweet, and light. You just float on top, barely there, but always making things better."

Ningning gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Whipped cream? How dare you! I’ll have you know, I’m the entire sundae, and not just the fluff! I’m the full dessert experience. You just wait—I'll be the one to steal the show.”

The playful banter continued, their voices filled with light-hearted teasing, as the once heavy atmosphere in the room shifted to a lighter, more relaxed vibe. Winter, still half-lying on the floor, glanced up at the clock. They were already running out of time for their practice, but it didn’t seem like anyone was in the mood to push through another hour of stretching and dancing.

Before anyone could comment further, the door creaked open, and Harin, their longest-serving main manager, stepped in with a tablet in hand. She was the one who usually kept them on track, even if she had the tendency to be a bit too serious sometimes. A slight frown marked her face as she entered.

"Alright, girls," she began, her voice steady but not exactly enthusiastic. "Here's your schedule for today and the rest of the month." She scanned the screen before looking up, gauging their energy—or rather, their lack of it.

"As you know, you have a photoshoot today for the new comeback, followed by video shoots for promotional content. Then practice in the afternoon to prep for stage performances. Tomorrow, you’ve got interviews and more filming. And then final rehearsals for the comeback showcase."

She paused.

The girls didn’t react at first.

Then, slowly, their expressions shifted—Winter blinked up at her, Giselle let out a short exhale, Ningning’s bouncing leg stilled, and Karina simply pressed her lips together.

It wasn’t shock.

It was exhaustion.

Ningning was the first to speak.

"Harin Unnie," she said, her voice edged with disbelief. "Is this schedule actually revised and reviewed? Or did someone just throw random tasks together and call it a day?"

Harin sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "That’s pretty much what happened," she admitted. "The higher-ups decided to handle the adjustments themselves because none of the assistant managers or other main managers were capable of restructuring it properly. They want this comeback to be the biggest one yet. With how much your reputation has skyrocketed this year, they don’t want to waste any momentum."

Silence.

Karina exhaled through her nose, arms tightening across her chest.

"And no one thought to ask us if we could handle this?"

Her voice wasn’t angry. Just tired.

Harin looked at them apologetically. "They assume you’ll just... push through."

Another pause.

Winter leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees, fingers laced together. "So, what you’re saying is... they expect us to work like machines. No adjustments. No breathing room. Just—" She gestured vaguely, "—go, go, go?"

Harin didn’t answer immediately. Because they were right.

"I tried to push back," she said finally. "I really did. But after the higher-ups finalized the schedule, it was like everyone just... gave up. No one wanted to take responsibility for fixing it, so they dumped it all onto you." Her voice grew quieter, frustration seeping into her tone. "The truth is, the staff are more loyal to the company than to you girls. And I don’t blame them—they have families to feed. The company pays their bills, not you."

Ningning scoffed under her breath. "Figures."

The weight of the words settled over the room.

It wasn’t like they hadn’t known this. They weren’t naïve. But hearing it so plainly—feeling it so plainly—made it harder to ignore.

Winter rubbed her temples. "So, we just keep going like this? No one to help us manage this mess?"

She wasn’t just asking Harin. She was asking the universe.

She was asking for a miracle.

Winter lifted her gaze, looking Harin dead in the eyes. "We need someone who actually sees us. Not just as 'Aespa'—but as Jimin, Minjeong, Aeri, and Yizhuo. We need someone who can handle this schedule without running us into the ground. Someone who gives a damn about us as people, not just idols."

Harin’s throat tightened.

"I know," she admitted softly. "Believe me, I know."

She looked down at her tablet, gripping it a little tighter. "But right now… we don’t have that person."

No one spoke.

No one needed to.

Because they all knew it was true.

Karina leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her voice laced with frustration. “It’s not like the staff doesn’t care. They’re kind, they’re fun, and we share good moments. We laugh, we joke, and in those times, it feels like they’re with us.” She exhaled, her fingers tightening slightly. “But when it comes to actually taking care of us—really managing us—it’s like no one truly sees us.”

The room fell into silence again.

Ningning, still absently tapping against her phone, let out a quiet sigh. “Yeah. We have assistant managers who handle photoshoots and music shows, and they do their jobs well enough. But when it comes to the big picture—keeping us balanced, making sure we don’t burn out, or even just making us feel like we have a say in our own lives—it’s a mess.”

She dropped her phone onto the couch beside her, rubbing her temples. “I don’t think they mean to treat us like this. But sometimes, it feels like we’re just… passengers in our own careers.”

Winter, who had been listening with an unreadable expression, finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. “I get that they’re all doing their best,” she admitted, “but we’re constantly running. From one thing to the next, with no real chance to breathe. No moment where we can just… be.”

Her gaze flickered downward for a second before lifting again. “It’s like we’re a checklist. Just another thing to cross off on the company’s to-do list.”

The weight of her words settled over them all.

It wasn’t that the staff wasn’t trying. But their job was to manage idols, not to care for people. And the difference between the two was suffocating.

Giselle shifted in her seat, her tone softer, almost hesitant. “Wouldn’t it be nice,” she murmured, “if we had someone who really understood us? Not just as ‘Aespa,’ but as us?”

No one responded right away, but the idea lingered, heavy in the air.

Karina was the first to nod. “Yeah,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “The staff we have now… they do their jobs, and we’ve had good times with them. But at the end of the day, they’re employees. We need someone who actually sees us. Someone who cares about more than just our schedules—someone who takes care of us.”

Winter exhaled, the corners of her lips tilting up just slightly—but it wasn’t a smile. More like the ghost of a thought. “Someone who makes sure we’re okay. Not just physically, but mentally, too.”

She paused, then added, “Someone who remembers that we’re human first, idols second.”

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was heavy. A shared longing that they all felt but had never voiced so plainly before.

Then, Giselle—always the one to soften the mood—leaned back, crossing her arms with a small smirk. “Well… maybe things will change soon,” she said, voice light but laced with something hopeful. “I mean, we’ve survived a lot. Maybe someone’s bound to show up and actually fit in with us.”

The others exchanged glances, their expressions wavering between hope and quiet skepticism.

“Maybe,” Karina murmured.

But deep down, none of them truly expected it.

Because wishing for someone like that had always felt like just that—a wish.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You step off the plane, your heart pounding in your chest as the cool rush of air from the terminal hits you. The hum of the airport and the faint echoes of distant announcements fill the air. Everything feels... so new. It’s your first time traveling, and there’s a strange mix of excitement and anxiety bubbling in your stomach. The airport is busy, much busier than you had imagined. People hustle by in every direction, some walking briskly, others chatting in languages you can’t quite follow. You feel like a small fish in an ocean of noise and movement, trying to find your way.

You follow the signs, taking in every detail—the high ceilings, the gleaming floors, and the steady stream of travelers. It’s all so different from the quiet, modest life you’ve known back home. Your mind keeps wandering back to the life you’ve left behind, the small town you grew up in, the simplicity of it all. Now, here you are, in a completely new world, and you can’t shake the feeling that you’re in over your head.

“Keep it together,” you mutter to yourself, trying to calm the nerves that are slowly creeping up on you. You have a plan. You have everything under control. At least, that’s what you keep telling yourself.

Then comes the first hurdle: the checkups. The security checks. The lines, the long wait, and all the little things you have to remember to do. You’ve read up on the procedures, but nothing quite prepares you for the chaos of it all. You’re directed through the first few steps, passport in hand, and try to keep pace with the flow of people. It isn’t as smooth as you’d hoped. You fumble with your documents, feeling a little out of place.

You stand in line for passport control, shifting from foot to foot. The person in front of you is holding up the line, which doesn’t help your nerves. When it’s finally your turn, you step up to the counter, forcing yourself to look confident. The customs officer gives you a curious glance as they scan your documents, and you swallow hard. Are you doing this right? Have you forgotten anything?

“Purpose of your visit?” the officer asks in English, their voice brisk but polite.

“Study,” you say, your voice coming out a little shaky, even though you try to sound sure of yourself. “I’m here to study at the university.”

They nod, flipping through your papers with practiced speed before handing everything back to you.

“Enjoy your stay,” they say, almost dismissively, and you step aside, trying to ignore the way your hands are shaking.

Next, you have to go through security checks, and this time, you find yourself slightly panicking. You’re not sure if you packed everything right, or if you missed something. Shoes off, jacket in the tray, and everything else has to be scanned. The security officer doesn’t seem to notice you at first, too busy with the person ahead of you, but you can’t shake the anxiety gnawing at you. You’re definitely out of your depth here.

“Everything okay?” a voice snaps you out of your thoughts, and you look up to find a security officer watching you expectantly.

“Uh, yeah, sorry,” you mumble, hurriedly placing your things on the conveyor belt.

As you pass through the body scanner and collect your belongings, you let out a quiet sigh of relief. You’re through it. You’re here.

You glance around the airport once more, feeling a mixture of awe and nervousness. The hustle and bustle of Incheon is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. People moving in every direction, the announcements echoing in different languages, the bright signs overhead in unfamiliar text—it’s all so overwhelming, yet exciting. Your heart is pounding, but not out of fear anymore. It’s the kind of nervous excitement you feel when you're standing on the edge of something huge, something life-changing.

Taking a deep breath, you remind yourself to stay calm. You’ve made it this far, so you can keep going. With all your paperwork in hand, you look around for a sign, any clue where you’re supposed to go next.

That’s when you notice the crowd gathering near one of the gates, on the other side of the terminal. People are whispering, their eyes glued to something or someone. Cameras flash from all angles, and you can hear the occasional scream of excitement, even from where you stand. It feels like a whole other world over there—loud, chaotic, filled with energy.

Meanwhile, on your side of the terminal, everything is eerily calm. The air feels still, almost too quiet. The only sounds are the soft hum of the overhead speakers, the distant rustle of suitcases, and the occasional voice calling out from the counters. It’s a stark contrast. The silence here makes you feel small, almost invisible, while the other side seems like a world you don’t belong to.

You watch for a moment, wondering if you’ve missed some kind of announcement or event, but you can’t make sense of it. You feel out of place, standing there, surrounded by the calm of the arrivals area, while on the other side, the excitement buzzes like electricity. It’s a reminder of the difference between the world you’ve come from and the one you’re about to enter..

It’s a world away from the quiet, humble life you left behind. The contrast hits you hard—the glamour, the flashing lights, the evident fame... it feels like something out of a movie. Your life has always been small, simple, filled with the quiet routine of your family and school. And here, surrounded by all of this, you feel almost invisible. Just another face in the calm of the arrivals area, distant from the world of excitement on the other side.

After a few moments, the crowd seems to shift, and you notice a bodyguard standing nearby, watching the scene closely. The flashing lights intensify for a moment, then everything seems to settle down, and the crowd begins to disperse.

You shake your head, refocusing. You’re not here to be part of that world, not yet. Not for you. You have your own path ahead of you.

Just as you’re starting to feel a little more grounded, you spot a man in a uniform holding a sign with your name on it. Relief floods through you. That must be your guide.

With a quick, nervous smile, you make your way over to him and are unsure of how to start, but he notices you before you can say anything.

"Ah, you must be Y/N!" he says, flashing a friendly smile. His English is clear, though his Korean accent still lingers, giving it a pleasant charm. "Welcome to Korea. My name is Ha-Joon, and I'm from the International Students Affairs Department."

You smile back, the nervousness starting to melt away. "Ah, yes. Y/N. It's nice to meet you," you reply in Korean, hoping you don’t sound too much like an outsider.

Ha-Joon blinks, surprised for a split second, then grins even wider. "Oh, you speak Korean?" His voice is warm, a bit of amusement in his eyes.

"Yeah," you say, scratching the back of your neck a little nervously. "I had to take a Korean language class for five months before coming here. I learned some basics and a bit of advanced stuff too—enough to get by, at least."

"That's impressive!" Ha-Joon chuckles, clearly impressed. "You must have worked hard. Most international students don't pick it up that quickly."

You shrug, trying to downplay it. "It wasn’t easy, but I thought it’d be better to understand the culture better. And, you know, make things smoother."

"Well, it certainly shows. You’ll be a step ahead here," he says with a nod of approval. "Now, come on. I’ll take you to the ride that'll take you to the university. We’ve got some paperwork to go through and a few other things to wrap up, but it won’t take too long."

"Thanks," you say, feeling more at ease now with Ha-Joon's easygoing nature.

He led you through the quieter part of the airport, out into the parking lot, where a car was waiting for you and the staff. As you slid into the backseat, you felt a flutter of nervous excitement. The car pulled away, and pressed your face against the window, staring out at the unfamiliar world outside. Everything was new—the towering buildings that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky, their modern glass facades gleaming in the sunlight. Bright billboards flashed in a language you could barely understand, their vibrant colors and flashing lights drawing my attention in every direction.

As we drove through the city, the streets felt alive, bustling with people, cars, and the hum of the city’s energy. The signs on every street corner, the store fronts, even the advertisements on the buses were all written in Korean, a language you had only just begun to grasp. You couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. It was all so different—so much bigger and more fast-paced than the small town you had left behind.

But along with the nervousness, there was a growing sense of excitement deep within you. This was it. The new chapter of your life has begun. The city you had always heard about in stories and seen in pictures was now unfolding right in front of your eyes. You were finally here, and despite the anxiety twisting in your stomach, there was no denying how exhilarating it felt. The buildings, the crowds, the sounds, it was all so different from anything you had known.

You shifted in your seat, trying to take it all in. The city felt like a whole new world—one you were about to dive into headfirst. The nerves were there, but so was the excitement. What would it be like to live here? To study here? To figure out how everything worked? Your heart beat faster with each passing second, and I couldn't help but smile at the thrill of it all.

Ha-Joon, noticing your silent awe, spoke up from the front. "So, as I mentioned earlier, once we get to the university, you’ll be heading to the International Student Affairs office. There, they’ll guide you through everything you’ll need to know—how to adjust to life here, the cultural differences, and everything in between."

You nodded, still absorbing the city around, and Ha-Joon continued.

"You’ll get an orientation on everything—shopping, transportation, finding your way around, and of course, some pointers on communicating in Korean. We understand the language barrier can be tough, but don't worry. You’ll have plenty of support from the staff and fellow students. We’ll be with you every step of the way." He smiled reassuringly. "I know it’s a lot to take in, but you’re in good hands."

His words gave you some comfort, but it was hard to ignore the feeling of stepping into the unknown. Everything outside the window was a new challenge waiting to be faced. Still, you couldn’t help but feel a spark of optimism. This was just the beginning, and you were ready to take it on.

After about twenty minutes on the road, you finally spotted it—the entrance to the university. Your eyes immediately widened at the sight, taking in the grand scale of the gates, the sleek modern architecture, and the buzz of activity that seemed to hum in the air. It was all so different from your small, familiar campus back home, and for a moment, you just sat there in awe, trying to take it all in.

The car smoothly turned onto a more expansive road, passing by various university buildings before slowing to a stop in front of a large, modern structure. It was the International Student Affairs building, you could tell by the sleek signage near the entrance.

You stepped out of the car, a rush of pride swelling inside as you looked up at the building, then around at your new surroundings. A sense of accomplishment washed over you. You had made it this far, across the world, to this very moment. There was still so much ahead, but just standing here felt like a small victory. A part of you almost wanted to pause and savor the feeling before moving forward.

"Y/N, over here," Ha-Joon called out, pulling you back to the present.

You turned and followed him up the short path leading to the building. The doors slid open smoothly as you entered. The inside was bright, polished, and bustling with activity, students coming and going. Ha-Joon led me to a desk where a woman in professional attire smiled at you.

"Everything will be taken care of here," Ha-Joon explained, nodding toward the woman. "She'll assist you with the rest of your registration and orientation. Once you're done here, they'll guide you through the next steps."

You nodded gratefully, feeling the weight of it all finally settling in.

You turned to Ha-Joon and gave him a grateful nod. "Thank you for all your help and guidance. I really appreciate it."

Ha-Joon smiled and waved off your gratitude. "No problem at all. I hope you settle in well. Good luck with everything, Y/N." With that, he gave a slight bow and made his way out of the building.

The woman at the desk turned her attention back to you, offering a warm smile. "Welcome to Seoul National University," she greeted. "Please, have a seat."

You nodded and took the chair in front of her. After a brief exchange of introductions, she began explaining everything you needed to know—your visa and registration card, campus regulations, class registration, and grading system. She also went over details about your dormitory, where to buy daily necessities, transportation options, food choices, internet access, and everything else I'd need to navigate my new life here.

As you took in all the information, you did your best to absorb every detail, nodding along as she spoke. But another part of your mind couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. There was so much to keep track of—documents, rules, schedules, places to go, things to remember. It was all important, yet it felt like it was stacking up too fast.

Still, you forced myself to focus. This was what you had prepared for. You had come all this way, and no matter how overwhelming it seemed, you weren't going to let it shake yourself.

Stepping out of the office building, you take a deep breath, feeling the crisp air of your new home for the next three years. The campus is quieter than expected—maybe because it’s not class hours—but the vastness of it still feels overwhelming. Tall buildings, wide pathways, signs in a language you’re still adjusting to… it’s a lot.

But you refuse to let it intimidate you.

Alright, you tell yourself. Let’s do this.

Determined to prove your independence, you decide to find the dormitory on your own, using the basic (and maybe slightly advanced) Korean skills you’ve picked up. With confidence, you stride forward.

.

.

.

After a few minutes, it becomes painfully clear that you have no idea where you’re going.

One scene cuts to you confidently walking past a library. 

Cut. 

Now you're standing at a dead-end, staring at a maintenance shed. 

Cut. 

Now you're circling back to the same building you started from. 

Cut. 

Now you’re staring at a map, squinting as if that’ll somehow make the unfamiliar words translate themselves.

This… is not going well.

Eventually, tired and slightly frustrated, you spot a vending machine near one of the pathways. Deciding that a drink might give you the boost you need, you approach it, blindly press a few buttons, and wait for your selection to drop. When you take a sip, the taste is… weird. Not bad, but definitely not what you were expecting.

You stare at the can in your hand, reading the unfamiliar name on the label. What even is this? After a few more sips, you just nod to yourself. Eh. Good enough.

Just as you’re about to move on, you suddenly stumble forward—right into someone.

Thud.

“Oh—! I’m sorry!” you blurt out, quickly stepping back.

The person, a young woman, looks just as startled. “Ah, no! It’s my fault, I wasn’t looking ahead,” she says in Korean, bowing slightly.

There’s an awkward pause before you both glance at each other, realizing you’re both apologizing at the same time. That somehow makes it less awkward.

You clear your throat. “Uh… excuse me, but do you know where the dorms are?”

Her eyes widen slightly before she smiles. “Oh! You’re a new student?”

You nod, and she hums in understanding. “I see. If you’d like, I can take you there. I was heading that way anyway.”

Relieved, you thank her and follow as she leads the way. Along the walk, she points out different buildings, explaining what they’re used for—lecture halls, the cafeteria, the student center. She even throws in some personal recommendations, like which convenience store has the best snacks and which library floors are the quietest.

The conversation is casual, but something about it feels comforting. Maybe it’s because, for the first time since landing here, you’re talking to someone around your age. Someone who isn’t a staff member, but just another student living their own life in this new place.

Before long, you arrive at the dormitory entrance.

The girl stops and gestures toward the building. “Here you are! This is the dorm for international students.”

Relieved, you nod and give her a grateful smile. “Thank you so much. I probably would’ve spent another hour getting lost if you didn’t help me.”

She laughs. “It happens to everyone. You’ll get used to it soon.”

With a final wave, she says goodbye and heads off, disappearing down the pathway. You stand there for a moment, watching her leave, a small feeling of warmth settling in your chest.

People here are really nice, you think to yourself. It’s comforting to believe that, to think that this journey will be nothing but a road of flowers and shining light.

Or so you thought.

Stepping inside the dorm building, you take a deep breath, letting your eyes wander around the place that will be your home for the next three years. The lobby is clean and modern, with bright lights and bulletin boards covered in various announcements. A few students sit around, chatting or working on laptops, while others move through the halls with their suitcases.

You glance down at the paper in your hand—your dorm room number is printed clearly, but finding it in this unfamiliar place is another challenge. As you move through the hallway, students pass by in every direction, some engaged in conversation, others focused on their own world. You spot a guy walking freely down the hallway, casually scrolling through his phone, looking like he’s been here long enough to know his way around.

Taking the chance, you step toward him. “Excuse me,” you say in Korean, offering a polite nod. “Do you know where this room is?” You show him the paper with your dorm assignment.

The student barely glances up, his eyes flicking over you before looking you up and down with a disinterested expression. “Don’t know,” he mutters before continuing past you without a second thought, his attention never leaving his phone.

You blink, watching as he disappears into the crowd. A sigh escapes your lips. Well… that could’ve gone better.

Shaking off the moment, you decide to keep going on your own. After wandering through a few hallways, checking room numbers, and occasionally backtracking when you realize you’ve taken a wrong turn, you finally find your assigned room. Letting out a small breath of relief, you swipe your keycard, push open the door, and step inside.

Your new home.

The room is simple but comfortable—a single bed pushed against the wall, a desk with a chair, a wardrobe, and a large window overlooking a part of the campus. The air inside carries that faint, sterile scent of a freshly cleaned space, untouched by personal belongings. For a moment, you just stand there, letting the reality sink in.

You’ve made it.

Dropping your bag onto the bed, you take a seat, exhaling deeply. The exhaustion from the long trip, the overwhelming flood of new information, and the strange interactions all pile up, but for now, you just let yourself breathe. There’s still a lot ahead of you.

But for now… you’re here.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ride back to the dorm was silent.

Karina leaned against the window, her forehead resting lightly against the glass, feeling the vibrations of the moving van. The city lights flickered outside, but she barely registered them. Her body ached, her eyes burned from exhaustion, and her thoughts felt sluggish.

Winter sat beside her, arms crossed, head tilted slightly downward. She wasn’t asleep, but she wasn’t really awake either—just caught in that in-between state, too drained to hold a conversation but too restless to fully shut down.

In the row behind them, Giselle scrolled through her phone mindlessly, thumb moving up and down the screen. It wasn’t that she was interested in anything—she just needed something, anything, to distract her from how heavy her body felt.

Next to her, Ningning had her eyes closed, earbuds in, but no music was playing. She just needed silence.

No one spoke. Not because they were mad at each other—there was just nothing left to say.

The day had been brutal. Dance practice in the morning. A long photoshoot. An exhausting interview where they had to force smiles and answer the same questions they’d heard a hundred times before. Then, another practice session right after. Their comeback was only weeks away, and every second was being squeezed out of them.

By the time they arrived at their dorm, the weight of the day fully settled on them.

Karina stepped out first, rolling her stiff shoulders. The hallway leading to their dorm felt longer than usual. When she finally punched in the passcode and opened the door, the familiar scent of home greeted them, but it didn’t bring comfort. It just reminded them of how little time they actually spent here.

One by one, they entered. Shoes were lazily kicked off, bags dropped to the floor. The air-conditioning was on, but it didn’t shake off the heaviness in the air.

Giselle made her way to the couch and sat down, phone still in her hands. A new message from her mom appeared on the screen.

‘Did you eat today?’

She stared at it for a moment. Then, without replying, she locked her phone and set it face-down on the armrest.

Karina walked to the kitchen, opening the fridge. Mostly drinks, a few leftover takeout boxes. Nothing fresh. She wasn’t even sure if anyone had eaten dinner. She closed the door, pressing her lips into a thin line.

Ningning sighed and rubbed her face. "I’ll make ramen," she muttered, not because she wanted to, but because someone had to.

Winter finally moved, heading straight to her room without a word. The door clicked shut behind her.

Karina grabbed a bottle of water and leaned against the counter, watching as Ningning filled the pot. The quiet bubbling of water filled the space.

“…What time do we start tomorrow?” Giselle finally spoke, her voice quiet.

"7.30," Karina answered.

A pause. Then a soft sigh.

"...It never ends, huh?"

No one answered.

The ramen finished cooking, and Ningning poured it into bowls. But when she turned around, she saw that Winter never came back out. Giselle was still staring at nothing. Karina hadn’t moved from her spot.

Ningning exhaled and sat down. "...Come eat," she said, voice softer this time.

Karina moved first, taking a seat. Then Giselle.

Winter’s door remained closed.

It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t a breakdown. It was just another night of exhaustion—one that no one would ever see.

After entering her room, Winter leaned against the door for a moment, letting her eyes close. The muffled sounds of the dorm faded behind her, replaced by the quiet hum of the air conditioner.

She exhaled slowly.

She wanted to shower, but the thought of standing under the water, of having to dry her hair afterward, of doing anything at all—it felt exhausting. She didn’t even have the energy to change her clothes.

Instead, she sat on the edge of her bed and stared at nothing.

Her phone buzzed beside her. Probably another schedule update, another reminder of how little time she had for herself. She didn’t check.

Minutes passed.

After lying down, Winter stared at the ceiling, her vision blurring slightly from exhaustion.

How did it become this hard?

She used to love this. The early days were tough, sure, but they were fun. The laughter on set, the small but meaningful wins, the warmth of a team that truly cared—back then, even the hardest schedules felt bearable.

But somewhere along the way, everything changed.

The smiles became forced, the moments of rest became rare, and the people who once cheered for them now only demanded more. What once felt like a dream now felt like survival. The world adored them, but at what cost?

She remembered something a senior once told her during their rookie days:

"To shine the brightest, you must burn the fastest."

At the time, she didn’t understand. She thought it was just another poetic way of describing hard work. But now? Now she knew exactly what it meant.

Her chest tightened as she exhaled, her fingers clutching the edge of her blanket.

"Will it ever change?"

The thought lingered, heavy and unanswered.

Winter exhaled slowly, her grip on the blanket loosening as exhaustion pulled at her limbs. Her eyelids fluttered, the weight of fatigue finally overpowering the storm in her mind.

Maybe tomorrow will be different.

Maybe it wouldn’t.

But at this moment, she was too tired to care.

With a quiet sigh, she let the darkness take her, slipping into sleep before she could think any further.

.

The dining area was eerily quiet.

Not the comfortable kind of silence that came after a good meal, but the kind that lingered too long, settling into the air like an invisible weight.

The three of them sat at the table, slurping at their ramen with little interest. The clinking of chopsticks against ceramic was the only sound, yet even that seemed distant—an absentminded action rather than a sign of actual hunger.

Ningning glanced at the others. Karina, seated across from her, was staring blankly at her bowl, the steam curling around her face. Beside her, Giselle was hunched over slightly, her elbow resting on the table as she stirred her soup without taking a bite.

None of them spoke.

It had been like this a lot lately.

After a few more silent slurps, Ningning finally broke.

“…Unnie.”

Her voice came out softer than she expected, almost hesitant.

Karina didn’t look up, but she responded with a quiet hum.

Ningning twirled her chopsticks between her fingers before finally voicing the thoughts that had been swirling in her head for days.

“Don’t you think this is all… just nonsense?”

She saw Karina’s fingers tighten slightly around her chopsticks, but her expression remained unreadable.

Ningning pressed on.

“The company, the managers, the staff… They have to know, right? How much they’re pushing us? How much they’re draining us?” Her voice wavered slightly. “They can’t just pretend not to see it.”

She let out a humorless chuckle, shaking her head. “I mean… they care about us, don’t they? Even just a little?”

Still, Karina said nothing.

Giselle, who had been staring off into space, finally glanced over but didn’t interject.

Ningning sighed, frustration creeping in.

“I’m tired, unnie. Not just my body—everything feels exhausted,” she admitted. “Even a ten-minute nap feels like ten days. And yet, when I wake up… it still doesn’t feel like enough.”

She turned to Karina, searching for a reaction, but her leader remained unmoving.

That silence only fueled Ningning’s frustration.

“…Jimin unnie.”

This time, her tone had more urgency.

Still nothing.

Ningning clenched her jaw, about to push again, but before she could—

“I don’t know!”

Karina’s voice cut through the room, sharper than anyone expected.

Giselle straightened in her seat, and even Ningning flinched slightly. They weren’t used to Karina raising her voice.

Karina exhaled, rubbing her temple before finally speaking again.

“I don’t know what the company is thinking. I don’t know why things are like this. I don’t know how it got this bad,” she muttered. “But this is just how it is.”

She reached for her spoon but didn’t lift it, instead just staring into the broth.

“This is the price we pay,” she murmured.

Ningning frowned. “What do you mean?”

Karina let out a dry laugh, finally looking up.

“This is the price we pay for everything we wanted,” she repeated. “For all the things we dreamed of when we were trainees. For the sold-out concerts, for the designer sponsorships, for being the face of brands, for standing on stage and hearing people chant our names.”

She scoffed under her breath.

“We wanted this. And this is the cost.”

She inhaled deeply, her fingers tightening around her chopsticks.

“And at the end of the day…” Her voice softened, her gaze distant. “We can’t do anything about it.”

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

“All we can do is smile, laugh, and act happy in front of the cameras and the crowd.”

The room fell silent again, but this time, it felt even heavier.

Ningning lowered her gaze, and Giselle ran a hand through her hair, looking visibly drained.

The three of them sat there for a while, their ramen growing cold in front of them.

None of them moved to finish it.

There wasn’t anything left to say.

..

The sound of chopsticks tapping against empty bowls echoed softly in the quiet dining area. The meal was finished, but none of them moved to clean up immediately. The air was still thick with the weight of Karina’s outburst, lingering like an unshaken storm cloud.

Giselle was the first to leave. Without a word, she stood up, picked up her bowl, and set it in the sink. She didn’t bother washing it—none of them had the energy for that tonight. She only paused for a second, glancing at Karina and Ningning, but whatever thoughts she had, she kept them to herself. Then, with slow steps, she disappeared into her room, shutting the door behind her.

Ningning remained seated, fingers curled loosely around her glass of water. She wasn’t drinking it—just holding onto it, as if grounding herself. Her gaze was unfocused, drifting between the table and the floor, her mind caught in the tangle of thoughts Karina’s words had stirred up.

She had always known that things were unfair. That they were being pushed beyond reason. But hearing Karina, their leader—their anchor—say it out loud made it feel real in a way she wasn’t prepared for.

A quiet sigh broke the silence. Karina stood up, picking up her bowl and setting it in the sink alongside Giselle’s. But instead of walking away, she lingered for a moment, her fingers gripping the edge of the counter as if gathering her thoughts.

Then, without a word, she turned back.

Her steps were slow, deliberate. She made her way to Ningning’s side and quietly pulled out the chair next to her, sitting down with a heaviness that mirrored the weight in her chest.

“Ning,” she called softly.

Ningning looked to her side, her grip tightening around her glass. The shift in Karina’s tone—so much gentler than before—caught her off guard.

Karina took a deep breath, eyes fixed on the table for a moment before she finally spoke. “…I’m sorry. For snapping earlier.”

Ningning blinked. “Unnie…”

Karina shook her head slightly. “I meant what I said, but I shouldn’t have said it like that.” She rested her forearms on the table, fingers loosely clasped together, her expression tired but sincere. “I just—” She exhaled sharply, as if struggling to find the right words. “I don’t have the answers. I don’t know when things will get better. But… we’ve made it this far together. We’ll get through this too. Like we always do.”

.

.

“…What if I don’t want to be strong all the time?” she whispered. Her voice was barely audible, but Karina heard it.

For a moment, Karina didn’t speak. Then, she took a step closer, placing a hand on Ningning’s head, her fingers gently brushing through her hair. “Then don’t be.”

That was all it took.

The tears spilled over before Ningning could stop them. A sharp breath hitched in her throat, and she barely had time to wipe at her face before she turned toward Karina. Without hesitation, she reached out, wrapping her arms tightly around her unnie, burying her face against her shoulder.

Karina froze for half a second before silently returning the embrace, her arms securing Ningning in a firm, steady hold. She could feel the younger girl trembling, her small frame shaking with the weight of exhaustion, frustration, and loneliness finally being released.

Ningning’s quiet sobs were muffled against Karina’s shirt, her grip tightening as if afraid to let go.

Karina didn’t rush her. She just stayed there, close and steady, one hand gently rubbing Ningning’s back, offering warmth in the only way she knew how.

After a while, Ningning’s sobs quieted, her breathing evening out. Karina gave her hair one last brush before pulling away slightly. “Feel a little better?” she asked.

Ningning sniffled and nodded weakly. “…Yeah.”

Karina smiled faintly. “Good. Now come on, let’s go rest.”

This time, Ningning followed without hesitation.

The dishes remained in the sink, forgotten.

But the weight in their chests felt just a little bit lighter.

..

The airport was as chaotic as ever. Fans crowded around the exit, their voices rising in excitement, cameras flashing in every direction. The security team did their best to control the situation, guiding Aespa through the crowd.

Karina kept her head slightly lowered, her sunglasses shielding the exhaustion in her eyes. To her left, Winter walked with sluggish steps, adjusting the strap of her bag with one hand while stifling a yawn with the other. Behind them, Giselle and Ningning followed closely, offering tired smiles to the fans who had been waiting for them.

It’s been 2 months. 2 months after they think that things will get better as time passes by. But life just slap them in the face and tell them it wasn't.

They had just returned from Japan—three days' worth of schedules compressed into two.

No proper sleep. Non-stop rehearsals.

And now, instead of heading home to rest, they were being ushered straight to another schedule.

Ningning tightened her grip on the handle of her suitcase as the voices of reporters and fans swirled around them.

“She looks exhausted,” someone murmured.

“Must be tough, but that’s idol life, huh?” another replied.

Ningning bit the inside of her cheek.

They made it sound so casual. Like this level of exhaustion was normal.

By the time they reached the van, none of them spoke. They simply settled into their seats, letting the silence fill the space between them.

Karina let out a slow exhale, tilting her head back against the headrest. Her body ached. Every part of her screamed for rest.

But there was no time for that.

Because the moment they got back to the company, they were called into a meeting.

The conference room was cold, the artificial lighting doing nothing to ease the weight pressing on their shoulders. Aespa sat at the long table, facing their managers and a few higher-ups. The air felt heavy.

Karina’s fingers tapped lightly against the table, her stomach twisting in discomfort. She already had a bad feeling.

The head manager cleared her throat. “We have an announcement regarding your upcoming schedules.”

Giselle sat up slightly, already bracing herself.

“We’ve finalized the details for your world tour.”

Silence.

Winter blinked. Ningning’s breath caught in her throat.

“…You’re serious?” Karina finally spoke.

The manager nodded, sliding a thick document across the table. It was the tour itinerary.

“Your first stop will be Seoul, then Japan, China, Thailand… followed by Europe, the U.S., and South America. The tour will span multiple months, with minimal breaks in between.”

Their eyes scanned the paper, the endless list of locations and dates blurring together.

This wasn’t just a tour.

This was the most extensive world tour they had ever seen.

“We understand it looks intense, but the company believes this will strengthen your global presence,” one of the executives added, his voice smooth, rehearsed.

Karina placed the document down carefully, her jaw tightening.

“…When does it start?”

“Two months from now.”

A long pause.

Winter leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples.

“This is… a lot,” she muttered.

The manager sighed. “We know. But we trust you can handle it. You’re professionals, after all.”

Professionals.

A polite way of saying, Just endure it.

Giselle’s hands curled into fists under the table. Ningning lowered her gaze, her fingers cold against her lap.

They didn’t argue.

What was the point?

The decision had already been made.

—

Across the city, far from the bright lights and roaring crowds, life carried on in its own quiet struggles.

The blinking cursor mocked him, his half-written assignment sitting untouched for the past twenty minutes.

Three assignments were due this week, and he hadn’t even managed to finish one.

The dull glow of the laptop screen reflected in his tired eyes, its brightness contrasting sharply with the dimly lit dorm room. It wasn’t even his laptop—he had borrowed it from the university faculty since he couldn’t afford one himself. The device was slow, outdated, and sometimes overheated after hours of use, but it was better than nothing.

Y/N leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as he ran a hand down his face. His mind was sluggish, weighed down by exhaustion and the endless cycle of stress. No matter how much he tried to focus, the words on the screen blurred together, his thoughts slipping away the moment he tried to grasp them.

He glanced at the time. If he stayed like this any longer, he’d just keep staring at the screen without getting anything done.

With a sigh, he shut the laptop and pushed himself up from the chair.

Maybe a short walk would help clear his head.

The cold bit at his fingers as Y/N stuffed his hands into the pockets of his worn-out jacket, shoulders hunched against the evening chill. The streets of Seoul were alive, even at this hour—bright neon signs flashing, people bustling in and out of convenience stores, the distant hum of car horns blending into the muffled chatter of pedestrians.

It had been two months since he arrived in Korea. Two months of balancing his studies, struggling to make ends meet, and pushing forward with nothing but sheer stubbornness. The initial excitement of living in a new country had long since faded, replaced by a gnawing exhaustion that settled deep in his bones.

Money was running low. His scholarship covered the dorm, but everything else—food, transportation, daily necessities—was a battle. Every won spent had to be stretched as far as possible. He’d gotten used to skipping meals, telling himself that a cup of instant ramen or a piece of bread would be enough to get through the day.

And his phone… it was a miracle the thing still worked. The cracked screen had deepened, a faint web-like fracture spreading across the corner, and sometimes the power button didn’t respond unless he pressed it just right. But it was his first and only phone, a gift from his father before he left. He wasn’t going to complain.

Not that there was anyone to complain to.

His parents didn’t know how much he was struggling. He made sure of that. Every time they called, he forced his voice to sound steady, his words to sound reassuring. He told them he was doing fine. That the scholarship was enough. That they didn’t have to worry. Even when his stomach twisted from hunger, even when his head pounded from exhaustion, he made sure his father and mother never heard a hint of his misery.

Because he couldn’t burden them. Not when his father was sick. Not when they already had enough to deal with.

His breath escaped in a quiet sigh as he turned into a familiar convenience store, the automatic doors sliding open with a soft chime. Warmth enveloped him, contrasting sharply with the freezing air outside. The bright fluorescent lights flickered slightly, and the smell of instant food, cheap coffee, and packaged snacks filled his nose.

He made his way to the instant ramen section, scanning the prices, calculating in his head. If he bought this, he’d have to cut back on something else later. Maybe he could skip lunch tomorrow.

As he reached for a cup, a pair of voices nearby caught his attention.

“Man, Aespa’s comeback is insane. Have you seen the teaser? The concept is crazy.”

“They’re seriously going all out for this one. And their world tour is happening soon too.”

Aespa.

The name sounded vaguely familiar, but only in passing. He didn’t follow idols or entertainment news—he had more important things to worry about. But hearing about their world tour, the sheer excitement in the strangers’ voices, it made something sink in his chest.

There were people out there, shining under the spotlight, adored by millions, living a life that seemed untouchable. And then there was him—standing in a convenience store, debating whether he could afford a cup of ramen.

But that was life.

Y/N exhaled, shaking his head slightly, and grabbed the cheapest ramen on the shelf. It didn’t matter what was happening in the entertainment world. It wasn’t his world.

Not yet, anyway.

Y/N’s fingers hovered over the row of bottled drinks, his eyes scanning the labels absentmindedly. A small carton of milk, a cheap coffee can, or just plain water—he wasn’t even sure what he wanted. His throat was dry, but after a moment, he sighed and reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet.

It was nearly empty.

The sight of it wasn’t surprising, but it still made something heavy settle in his chest. A few crumpled bills, barely enough to stretch through the rest of the week. He exhaled sharply, rubbing a tired hand over his face before shoving the wallet back into his pocket.

Not today.

With quiet steps, he turned away from the drink section and made his way out of the store. The automatic doors slid open, releasing him into the cold night air once more. He stood there for a moment, hands buried in his pockets, before his feet carried him forward. He didn’t feel like going back to his dorm just yet.

He needed air.

The streets were still busy, as expected. Even in the late hours, Seoul never truly slept. Bright lights flashed from storefronts, the smell of street food lingering in the air, distant laughter blending with the hum of traffic. It was all so full of life—yet it felt so far away from him.

After a short walk, he found himself at a small park tucked between the towering buildings. It wasn’t much, just a few benches, a couple of trees, and a small playground. But it was quiet. Peaceful.

Y/N sat down on one of the benches, his gaze drifting over the park. A few people were around—some strolling, some chatting, some simply enjoying the night. Their faces were calm, their smiles easy, like they had nothing weighing them down. No burdens clinging to their shoulders.

He let out a slow breath, his fingers tightening inside his pockets.

Must be nice.

To live without worry. To wake up without thinking about how to make it through the day. To have an umbrella when the rain comes pouring down.

His gaze flickered to a small family a few meters away—a father, a mother, and a little boy, no older than five. The child’s laughter rang through the quiet park as his father playfully lifted him into the air. The mother giggled, clapping her hands as the boy kicked his legs with pure delight. They looked so… happy. So carefree.

Y/N’s chest ached.

What a contrast.

That boy, laughing without a single worry, while he—at that same age—was already thinking of ways to help his family survive. That father, strong and healthy, while his own father was sick, fighting to keep going. That mother, smiling warmly, while his own mother shouldered endless burdens.

His vision blurred for a second. He blinked.

Would he ever have a moment like that with his family? Would he ever be able to give them that kind of happiness?

He wanted to believe it. That if he just worked hard enough, if he just kept pushing forward, he could change things.

That was why he studied so hard. Why he made sure he excelled in every exam, in every project. It was why he pushed himself to the point of exhaustion, why he left his home in the first place. He had believed—no, convinced himself—that if he was smart enough, determined enough, then one day, his family wouldn’t have to suffer anymore.

But maybe he had been too naive.

Too absorbed in his own dreams to see how cruel reality was.

A quiet breath shuddered past his lips. He reached into his pocket again, but this time, he didn’t pull out his wallet. Instead, his fingers found the edges of a small, worn-out photograph.

Carefully, he brought it out, holding it gently in his hands.

It was an old picture—one he had carried with him ever since he left home. It was a little faded, slightly creased from being tucked inside his pocket for so long, but it was still clear.

Him and his parents.

His father, standing tall despite the tiredness in his eyes. His mother, her smile soft but full of warmth. And him—years younger, standing between them, clutching their hands like he never wanted to let go.

He swallowed hard.

No matter how difficult things got… no matter how much it hurt…

This was the reason he couldn’t give up.

A single tear slipped down his cheek before he quickly wiped it away.

Because no matter how unfair reality was…

He had to keep going.

—

The days blurred together. Weeks of the same routine. Wake up, go to class, push through assignments, force down cheap convenience store meals, and try not to think too much. Try not to let the weight of everything crush him.

But today… today was different.

Y/N stood in front of the announcement board, his eyes scanning through the printed names. His chest tightened. His breath caught.

There it was.

His name. His score. His achievement.

A near-perfect result.

For a moment, the exhaustion, the hunger, the frustration—all of it faded. For once, he won.

He had spent endless nights battling fatigue, pouring over notes illuminated only by the dim glow of the faculty’s borrowed laptop. His efforts hadn’t been in vain.

He barely noticed the murmurs of students around him, whispering about his sudden rise in performance. The lecturers from other faculties even took notice, some impressed by his improvement, others curious about the student who barely spoke yet delivered results like this.

Then came the real moment of validation.

“Y/N, stay back after class,” his professor had said.

He did.

And that was when he heard the news.

“You’ve been shortlisted for a company collaboration program. It’s a rare opportunity. If you continue performing like this, you’ll get the chance to work on a real corporate project. This could open doors for you—internships, recommendations, even job placements in the future.”

A genuine opportunity. A path forward.

For the first time since coming to Korea, he felt like maybe—just maybe—things were turning around.

As he left campus, a rare smile lingered on his lips. A real, unforced smile.

The cold air no longer bit at his skin. The streets of Seoul no longer felt suffocating. He walked with lightness in his step, already picturing the call he’d make tonight.

His mother would be so proud.His father, even if he wouldn’t say much, would definitely feel proud too.

Y/N reached into his pocket, pulling out his cracked phone, fingers struggling a little to swipe across the shattered glass. I should call her now.

But before he could even press the dial button, his phone buzzed first.

His mother’s name flashed on the screen.

His smile widened. It’s like she knew.

He hurried to answer, his voice carrying the rare lightness of someone with good news to share.

“Mom! You won’t believe—”

Her voice cut through him like a blade.

“Y/N… listen to me.”

He froze. The tone—shaky, weak, not at all like his mother.

His fingers tightened around the phone.

“…What happened?” His voice came out quiet.

There was silence. Then, a shaky inhale.

“It’s your father.”

.

.

.

His stomach twisted.

“The hospital called. He—he collapsed this morning. They rushed him to the emergency ward.”

The city around him blurred. His feet felt frozen to the pavement.

“What…?”

“The doctor says… his kidneys…” A sharp inhale. She was struggling. Struggling to tell him what he already knew deep down. “They’re failing, Y/N. The disease… it’s getting worse. They need to operate soon, or… or he won’t make it.”

The distant sounds of cars honking, people chatting, neon signs buzzing—everything faded into white noise.

“…How long?” His voice barely came out.

Another silence.

“Six months… at most.”

And just like that, the world that had finally started to brighten around him crashed into darkness again.

The warmth in his chest from his achievement? Gone. The excitement he felt just minutes ago? Meaningless. The future he was beginning to believe in? Shattered.

His grip on his phone trembled.

How cruel.

Just when he thought he was pulling himself out of the abyss, the universe dragged him back down.

How could it always go so wrong?

His vision blurred. He didn’t even realize the single tear slipping down his face until the cold air stung against his skin.

He had fought so hard. Studied endlessly. Excelled in every exam. Pushed himself to the breaking point, all for the hope that one day, he could change everything.

And yet—

He was still powerless.

His breath hitched. His chest felt hollow. The weight of his mother’s words pressed down on him like an unseen force crushing his lungs.

He stood frozen. Then, his legs gave out.

It wasn’t dramatic—it wasn’t some loud, chaotic fall. No. His body just… stopped.

Like his legs no longer existed.

Y/N collapsed onto the sidewalk, sitting there as the world continued to move around him. People passing by gave him odd glances, some slowing down, others whispering, but he wasn’t even in the world anymore.

Everything blurred into the background.

The only thing he could hear was his mother’s breathing on the other end of the call.

And the sound of her holding back tears.

This was it.The moment he had always feared.

The moment where he lost one of the very reasons he breathed, ate, drank—lived.

A sharp pain twisted in his chest, but he didn’t know if it was from his heart or from his mind breaking apart.

His fingers trembled as he pressed the phone closer to his ear. He swallowed the lump in his throat, barely able to speak.

“H… How much?”

His mother hesitated. For a second, she didn’t answer. But then—

She told him.

And another boulder crashed onto him.

His body tensed. His grip on the phone tightened.

..

That number— That impossible number—

His already crumbling reality shattered into dust.

He said nothing. Because he couldn’t.

His mind was empty. No thoughts. No solutions. Just— Nothing.

In the distance, muffled through the receiver, he heard it.

His mother was crying.

Not just crying. Sobbing. The kind of broken sobs that come from a person completely losing hope.

And Y/N… felt the exact same.

A cold numbness spread through him.

For the first time, he wondered—what was even the point of all of this?

Everything he did, every sleepless night, every sacrifice—was it all meaningless?

Hope— Was there even any left?

…

To be continued...

[touchme-teezme]

I'm Sorry.

PAIRINGS | collegeboy!seonghwa x fab!reader

TAGS | plot with some porn, strangers to lovers, one night stand situationship, idk man he came over to build legos, there’s some attempted flirting and teasing, lots of making out, lots of tongue, unprotected vanilla sex, seonghwa lowkey a bop, bruh i am so bad at tagging bye i give up

RATING | NSFW 21+ (Minors pls DNI/if it makes you uncomfortable don’t read thx)

SUMMARY | Seonghwa needed a break. He also decided something had to change — and that led him to a few unexpected places in one night, including something dangerously close to his disaster feelings and while you were clearly the escape, he ran the other way.

AUTHOR’S NOTE | …hey…. how y’all doing?… sorry i was getting cheated on and also started a really important internship. It just ended (the internship and the relationship) so… we’re so…back? Thank you for being so sweet in the inboxes, this was a long one. i finished editing during valentine’s day i think? i was thinking about hwa’s slutty fingers after seeing that one concert video and ugh my mind went places oK omg i will shut up now. Bye, enjoy.

Inspired by 'Do You Like Me?" by Daniel Cesar. I have been listening to that NEVER ENOUGH album so much lately.

💌 click here to see my Love Interrupted series masterlist [ot8] — check out the other parts!

This was going to be the first and last time Seonghwa ever took advice from Jung Wooyoung.

In his defence, he’d hit a new low. Lower than rock bottom. Which is why the resident exemplary student, honour roll with a self-imposed 9 p.m. bedtime was standing outside the hottest nightclub in Itaewon, sporting a fresh haircut and an outfit entirely stolen from his roommate’s wardrobe.

His dating life chewed him up and spat him out, and now he was determined to do the absolute most to cope. He was hurt and hell-bent on distraction from whatever the fuck was even going on in that part of his life.

How he ended up getting ghosted by his situationship wasn’t nearly as baffling as how Wooyoung had somehow convinced over half their friend group to spend their Friday night here, of all places. They weren’t really party people — well, half of them weren’t. The ones who were into it had conveniently been excused from showing up.

Yunho, on the other hand, had been on the dance floor non-stop, while Wooyoung played hype man from the booth, cheering him on like it was a solo concert.

Wooyoung nudged Seonghwa’s shoulder with his knee from the top edge of the booth like a gremlin surveying chaos.

“Dude, she’s been staring at you all night.”

Seonghwa shot him a flat look. “And?”

“And,” Wooyoung slid down from his perch and dropped onto the seat beside him with a dramatic sigh, “Yunho and I are taken, and those two are a lost cause.”

Seonghwa glanced across the table. Hongjoong looked like he was losing a battle with sleep, while Yeosang scrolled through his phone, sipping from Hongjoong’s drink. He hadn’t smiled once all night — clearly here for the same reason Seonghwa was: moral support. But the chaos of the club made heart-to-hearts impossible.

“That leaves you,” Wooyoung said matter-of-factly. “Dude. She’s hot and interested. You’re hot and miserable. Classic rebound opportunity.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Maybe,” Wooyoung shrugged. “But I’m also right. Just look.”

He reached over, grabbed Seonghwa’s chin, and turned his head toward the bar.

And there you were — leaning back with easy confidence, swirling your drink, eyes locked on him with a smirk that stole the air right out of his lungs.

“Trust me,” Wooyoung grinned. “She’s perfect for helping you forget that loser.”

This would go down as the second and definitely the absolute last time Seonghwa ever took advice from Jung Wooyoung. Five minutes later, he’d been kicked out of the booth with one order: Don’t come back without her number.

That’s how he found himself now, seated next to you, drink in hand, trying to remember how to function like a normal human.

“Not a fan of clubs?” You asked, leaning slightly nearer to him to yell over the loud music.

“I hate it. I think I’m having an identity crisis,” He blurted out as he shook his head, the liquor loosening his lips faster than his brain could catch up.

You laughed, but not unkindly. “I'm sorry to hear that. Well… I don’t live far if you wanna have some peace and quiet.”

“Oh. Uh…”

“I…have a cat, too. She loves company if you like cats.”

Your invitation slipped past his defences smoother than the drink in his hand. One last sip, and he was already on his feet—jacket in one hand, your purse slung over the other shoulder.

That was all it took.  Seonghwa couldn't help but wish it was the way you were looking at him or how your skirt was riding up coincidentally the longer he sat next to you. But nope, it was the thought of being able to distract himself and pretend like this night out never even happened and getting him far away from whatever this hellscape was.

Clubs really weren’t his thing.

He barely registered the triumphant double thumbs-up from Wooyoung or the way Yunho covered his dropped jaw as he watched the two of you walk out together.

Seonghwa’s heart pounded so hard it echoed in his ears. Taking a cab to your place with a confident, effortlessly cool girl like you was far outside his usual playbook. For a second, he wasn’t even sure what to say.

Thankfully, conversation came easily to you.

The ride melted into light chatter about university — shared gripes about professors, mutual hatred for certain classes. You discovered you were in the same course but at rival schools, which only added to the banter. There was laughter, playful jabs, and an unexpected comfort that settled between you.

By the time the cab pulled up to your place, Seonghwa was far more at ease than when he’d left the booth.

Your apartment was warm and cosy, lit with soft golden light that cast slow-moving shadows across the walls. Seonghwa stepped inside and hesitated in the middle of the living room, awkwardly stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket, unsure of where to stand or sit.

You smiled as you hung up your coat, amused by his stiffness.

“Relax. Make yourself at home.”

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Right. Sorry.” He took in the space again, then gave you a sheepish look.

“So… is this the part where you admit you don’t actually have a cat?”

“Would you be mad if I did?” you teased, stepping a little closer.

His heart stuttered. He opened his mouth to respond, but then-

“Oh, shit!”

His eyes went wide as they landed on something across the room — a pristine box of a Lego orchid set sitting on the coffee table. He practically rushed over.

“I’ve wanted this for so long!”

You couldn’t help the laugh that escaped, his excitement too endearing to be upset over what the box represented.

“Oh, yeah. It was a birthday gift for someone… but I never got to give it to him. I was going to return it tomorrow or something.”

He glanced down at the box in his hands. “Have you ever built a set before?” he asked suddenly.

“I don’t have the patience for Lego,” you admitted.

He held out a hand, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. “This one’s easier than my last build. We’ll be done in no time. I promise.”

Somewhere between sorting bricks and swapping stories, Seonghwa realized he was actually getting to know you. What started as throwaway chatter had spiraled into a shared spiral; bad dates, worse decisions, and the Valentine’s Day disasters that landed you both at that club.

Now sitting cross-legged beside you, he was down to the last few pieces, fitting them together with ease —until your voice cut in again.

“I still think it’s insane how yours just ghosted you,” you voiced your opinion once his story was over as you laid on your stomach, “If I was in that position, I’d be running for a second chance, like that wouldn’t have even been a question.

Seonghwa’s hands faltered, fingers tightening around a tiny brick as he felt heat rush up to his cheeks. He let out a breathy laugh, snapping one of the last pieces into place. Then, a shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe it was my fault. I come on too strong sometimes and… it just didn’t work out.”

“Which is exactly why I think it’s crazy,” You clarified, with your chin resting in your hands, propped up on your elbows. “Like, if I had you chasing after me? Wow.”

You were only yapping away, if anything it was to keep yourself awake. You let out a quiet chuckle at the absurdity of saying something like that to someone you literally just met, but you caught the way he was looking at you. And maybe… the way you said it didn’t sound so hypothetical anymore.

His fingers tightened around the last brick in his hand, looking down at it.

“…What would you do?” he suddenly asked, the words slipping out before he could think them through. “If I was chasing you?”

You shrugged, still focused on finishing your flower, but there was something different in the air now. You could feel it. The way his voice had dropped, how his eyes lingered just a moment too long.

“I don’t know… anything you’d want. Like, come on.” You tried to brush it off with another laugh, but even you could notice the shift in the air between you both.

“Come on… what?”

He didn’t laugh back. Instead, he leaned in a little, just enough to close the space between you. His gaze was intense as it focused on you but the question still hung in the air.

You slowly looked up at him, you knew exactly what he was doing.

“Seonghwa,” you whispered, barely above a breath.

He huffed a quiet breath, trying to ground himself. “You didn’t invite me here for some peace and quiet, did you?”

You felt your carpet under the palms of your hands as you sat up, still watching him. “Technically… I invited you back for peace and quiet away from everyone else.”

“To do what?”

“You really want me to spell it out for you?” You couldn't bite back that smile. “Me inviting you is one thing, but why did you come?”

He didn’t respond, just held your gaze. You leaned in and your fingers found his jaw, light and slow. With that, you closed the gap, pressing your mouth firmly against his. Your hands roamed down his hard chest, tracing the contours and marvelling at how he flexed beneath your touch.

A low moan escapes his throat as he returns your kiss with equal fervour, his hands coming up to grip your waist, pulling you flush against him. Your tongues moved together, exploring every nook of each other's mouths.

The kiss momentarily broke for him to trail his lips along your jaw. You slowly rose up from your knees with his guidance. His hands firmly on your sides with no signs or intentions of letting you go just yet. His lowered eyes focused on you as you helped him out of his black tank top, throwing it off over the jacket he laid out neatly on your couch.

You took his hand straight to your bedroom door. Opening it, your tuxedo cat jumped out before making its way to the zip line for the kitchen where her bowl of water and food was waiting. You turned to Seonghwa who looked back at you, delightfully surprised.

“So you do have a cat.”

“I was lying about her being a fan of people though,” You shrugged. “Come on.”

He smiled as he looked down at you, his gaze locked on yours with a mix of curiosity and anticipation and as you both reached the edge of the bed, you gently pushed him down onto the mattress.

His lips pressing together nervously as his eyes drank the sight of you stripping down.

“Have you ever done anything like this?”

“Yeah… just not… it’s been a while…” Seonghwa was blabbering.

He was in the middle of an internal battle, wondering if this was a mistake. You were just nodding along to his words, finally slipping out your skirt before straddling him, hooking your arms behind his head to continue kissing those lips of his.

Seonghwa was without a doubt a kisser. He knew exactly how to do just how you like it, how to hold you and move his tongue – the way he moved with yours with practiced precision sent shivers down your spine.

It was no wonder you were already getting soaked between your legs, and he wasn’t even naked… but he was hard, and from how he was rubbing it up against you, you could tell he was more than eager.

His kisses felt tender yet intentional, and it was driving you insane. He was holding down the sides of your throat to kiss your neck and collarbones.

“Fuck, Seonghwa please—“ You reached down to the bulge clearly wanting to be freed, looking up at him when he had you pressed against the mattress on your back.

It felt good to be wanted and to be desired. He wasn’t lying when he said it had been a while, especially with someone like you, who carried yourself with such certainty.

“Shhh… let’s take our time.”

His hands found their way onto the mounds beneath the lace of your bra which he had pushed above your breasts teasing your left nipple with fingertips he had wet with his tongue. Your knees pressed together, as he showered the other one with feathery kisses.

He took your hand from behind his head, intertwining it with his fingers before planting it right above your head. When his skilled tongue found its way against yours again, you had to let out a deep moan in his mouth — especially with his fingers teasing your slick folds through your panties.

“Oh my god…” You rubbed up his arm in encouragement.

“Where do you want me, beautiful?”

You swear you could’ve melted from how gentle his voice was and how his eyes were glossing at you.

“Anywhere.” You unhooked your own bra out of sheer impatience, getting chills from how he smiled at your shamelessness. “Everywhere.”

“Let’s start… here.” His hands dipped in between your legs.

Seonghwa's hands moved with a confident grace, exploring every inch of your core with a precision that spoke of practiced skill. His thumb traced gentle circles over your clit, eliciting a soft grunt from you as the sensation washed over you. Your core tightened in response to his focused attention, and your hips began to move involuntarily, grinding against his fingers.

You were lost in a fit of absolute pleasure and enjoyment, your body arching off the bed as Seonghwa's fingers delved deeper into you. In a moment of pure instinct, you grabbed his chin, pulling him closer. His mouth was open, and before you could think twice, he sucked your fingers into his mouth, his lips and tongue working over them with a hunger that mirrored your own.

You noticed the glint in his eyes as he watched you, his gaze flickering between the action and your reactions with a possessiveness that lit up his eyes. "Are you just going to watch?" you asked, your voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and challenge.

Your fingertips brushed his smile, his lips brushing against yours as he leaned down. "But I like watching you," he murmured, leaving open-mouthed kisses down your neck. His fingers continued their tormenting, curling and twisting inside you in a way that had you squirming beneath him. He could feel your wetness coating his fingers, and it only spurred him on further.

"I n-need a little more," you whispered, but your words were swallowed by the intensity of another finger joining the first, and everything around you seemed to fade away.

Seonghwa groaned, quickly undoing his button and fly with one hand, while the other ensured your legs remained parted. Before you could compose yourself, he dropped his head and began lapping at your clit as if he were starving. At first, it was just his tongue and lips, but when you felt his fingers curl back in, you let out a loud moan of pure pleasure. You didn't even notice his growls of approval as he continued the motion, flicking his tongue faster and faster, as if you might run away at any moment.

The sight and feeling of having such a beautiful face devouring you distracted you from how he was advancing towards you, appearing in front of your face just to dip down and kiss your chest. Distracting you, he was getting ready to take out his hard-on, pumping it in his hands, coating it with your own slick.

“Do you have uh…” He started to ask, but you cut him off.

“Don’t worry about that, just… now… p-please,” you urged, your voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled a little at you, leaning down to hold you with one arm snaked around your waist and the other hooked under your knee as he laid you both on your side. Holding onto him by his broad shoulders, you braced yourself for what was to come.

“Ah, fuck..”

He took your lips between his as he finally had you around him. The way he teased your bottom lip with his teeth, the way his tongue had explored every crevice of your mouth — it reminded you just how much you personally missed the feeling of being this intimate with someone.

Seonghwa groaned into another kiss, his tongue dancing with yours as he rolled his hips, grinding his slightly curved cock deeper into your stretched folds.

"Mmm,” he murmured against your lips, nipping at them playfully before trailing his mouth down your neck. "Is this what you wanted?”

You bit back a grin, nodding aggressively as you continued to moan out all while his shaft slipped in and out at a steady pace with your hands clutched onto the back of his neck.

He caught a pert nipple between his teeth, tugging gently before soothing the sting with his tongue. “You smell incredible, I’ve wanted to tell you that all night.”

You scrunched your nose, “I smell like the club.” Cigarettes and liquor.

To emphasize his point, he buried his nose in the crook of your neck, inhaling deeply before placing an open-mouthed kiss there. “I mean your skin, babe. Fuck me…” He suckled lightly, intent on leaving a subtle mark.

"How does that feel?" He asked in a low, seductive rasp as he continued his sensual stroke a little quicker.

Your breathy silent approval ignited something primal in him.

“Yeah? Faster?” He complied, increasing the pace of his thrusts. The new rhythm had him driving into you harder, deeper, the thick ridge of his cockhead kissing your cervix with each powerful snap of his hips.

It was wild how he seemed to anticipate your every move before you could even react or give him instructions. The fluidity of his actions felt almost surreal, which sounds absurd when you consider how quickly everything unfolded. You had just met this stunning stranger, with hair flopping over his eyes – you were building brick flowers merely moments ago and now here you were focused on a different set of bricks.

One large hand gripped your hip, holding you steady as the other tangled in your hair, resting his forehead against yours intimately as he pounded into you. His lips brushed yours in fleeting, feverish kisses between ragged breaths.

"Yes, just like that," you grunted, feeling the sweat on his brow against your forehead. “Whatever you want, just take i-it.”

You felt Seonghwa's hands curve around your skin, to press down on your stomach. As his fingers dug in, it was as if they were anchoring you to the moment, making it impossible to escape from under him. Not that you even planned to.

He rocks into you with an increased urgency, driven by the overwhelming desire of how your body is responding instinctively. His eyes locked on yours, a mix of possessiveness and adoration that made your heart race. The way his muscles flexed with each thrust, sweat glistening on his skin, and his lips parting in a shameless moan.

"I-I’m…i’m almost there," He rasped, while his hot breath fanned over your skin.

Just as you're teetering on the brink, he slams into you one final time, burying himself to the hilt. With a guttural roar, he stills, his cock twitching as he fills you.

When the pulses gradually slowed, you couldn't help but marvel at the sheer intensity of you both unravelling at the same time. His lips sought yours in a tender, lingering kiss, pouring all your affection into the simple gesture.

"Oh my god…" he breathed, still reeling as he brushed a strand of sweaty hair from your forehead, his thumb tracing the delicate curve of your cheekbone.

“God…” You chuckled, feeling a blush creep up your neck. “I needed that so badly.”

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement with an eyebrow raised as your bluntness, “Glad I could’ve helped–”

You placed a finger to his lips, silencing him momentarily before you flipped him over to straddle his chest. Your eyes sparkled with mischief despite the exhaustion etched on your face. He knew exactly what you were thinking, and the sight of you climbing atop sent a thrill through his veins. His semi-hard cock twitched in anticipation as he idly watched you position yourself and slowly shift downwards, making sure to plant butterfly kisses all over his lower abdomen as you made your way down his happy trail.

You looked at him with a playful smile, your eyes glinting with excitement that you were going to taste yourself off him. Then you leaned in, capturing his cock in a deep mouth. Your tongue danced with the tip, exploring every inch of it as you savoured the taste of yourself and him. He groaned softly, his head falling back against the pillow as your warm, wet mouth enveloped his cock.

You took your time, lavishing attention on every inch, your tongue swirling and dancing along the sensitive underside. The sensation of tasting yourselves together was intensely arousing. He threaded his fingers through your hair, guiding your movements as you bobbed your head, taking him deeper with each pass.

"Mmm, shit, that feels incredible," he praised, his voice thick with pleasure. "You look so good with me around your mouth."

You hummed in agreement, the vibration sending shivers up his spine. You picked up speed, your cheeks hollowing as you sucked harder, your saliva coating his shaft.

"Don't stop," he gasped, his fingers threading through your hair, guiding your movements. You could feel the tension building in his body, the muscles in his legs and arms tensing as he neared his climax again.

With a final, powerful thrust of your throat, he let out a guttural roar, his cock pulsing in your mouth as he released once more. You swallowed eagerly, savoring the taste of him, and then pulled back, licking your lips clean. You looked up at him, your eyes sparkling with satisfaction and a hint of mischief. He was breathless, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

"You're something else.” he whispered, his voice filled with awe and admiration as he watched you clean after yourself so well.

You smiled, leaning into his parted lips.

The whole thing was deliciously reckless… Yet, easy. It started off as one of those nights where the music was too loud, the drinks too strong, and yet somehow it led you here – it led him here. Seonghwa didn’t plan on meeting anyone, let alone ending up tangled in someone’s sheets, laughing at your terrible jokes between kisses that felt way too good to stop for the rest of the night.

By the time the sun started creeping through the blinds, you were both wrecked in the best way. Not just tired, but happy-tired. Wrapped up in each other like it was the most natural thing in the world — just easy conversation, lazy kisses, and that warm, quiet buzz of maybe-this-could-actually-be-something.

“So, what do you think about dinner? My place this Saturday?” you asked, looking up at him.

“Isn’t it Saturday already?” he replied with a chuckle.

“Then I guess you’ll have to stay.” You muttered with a cheek pressed against his chest.

He let out a small laugh, pulling you closer. You drifted asleep first, his fingers lazily tracing patterns on your back as his chin pressed lightly down the top of your head. He wasn’t tired yet, but he had a few things on his mind until his phone started going off in the other room.

He carefully untangles himself from you. His movements were quiet, practiced. He slipped his boxers on and cracked the door open to quietly head over to shut that stupid thing off.

It had to be one of the guys. That’s what he told himself. It had to be them asking if he got your number, if last night was good, if he was even still alive after stumbling out of there with you.

That’s why it came as a shock when he finally registered what he was reading on his phone.

DO NOT ANSWER Missed call (2)

DO NOT ANSWER I know I’m probably the last person you want to talk to but Donghyuck said he saw you and your boys last night and… that you left that trash place with someone?

Did not know you were that kind of person…

Can we talk? I need to see you. I’m at your dorm.

It didn’t matter if it was inappropriate, offensive, or downright insane to come back after all the mental acrobatics Seonghwa was put through because his body was already moving, back to your room to quietly pull on the rest of his clothes. Every few seconds, he glanced back at you, at the way your hair fanned across the pillow, at the warmth still lingering in the sheets. With a quiet sigh, he grabbed a sticky note from your desk.

Seonghwa wasn’t sure what felt worse: leaving you, or running back to the person who only came back when he was one foot out the door, just to prove how wrapped around the finger he was. He didn’t know how to feel about any of it — but knew that he had to go. Because even if this could’ve been the start of something real, something he might’ve actually needed… he thought he needed to be there, chasing the comfort of old chains that he knew all too well.

By the time you woke up, the first thing you noticed was the emptiness beside you. The second was the way your lips still tingled from the night before, still smiling as it remembered what he tasted like and how he treated you, recalling everywhere his lips grazed, even though he had already left. He had been for a while, he could’ve woken you. He also could’ve taken the Lego orchid with him. The day was almost already gone by now, but a part of you was looking forward to seeing him again later.

It wasn’t until you reached for a glass of water that you noticed the note, neatly pressed under a fridge magnet in the kitchen that the hopeful smile you carried around your apartment dropped instantly.

"Thanks for last night. I don’t think I can stick around for that dinner. I’m sorry."

The words weren’t sloppy or rushed. He had taken his time. Like he meant it. Like that had made it better.

[marauder-misprint]

Slug Club

Series Masterlist

Sirius Black x Fem!Slytherin!reader

4.3k words

cw: fluff, drinking, smoking

“Did you have to take Regulus shopping with you?” Dorcas asks as you get ready for Slughorn’s party.

“You and Dory would have made me try on the entire store and then some.”

“Maybe so, but now he’s seen you in the dress.”

“So?”

“How are you going to have the moment when you walk down the stairs and he goes ‘Wow, you look dot dot dot beautiful’ if he’s already seen the dress?” Pandora asks.

You laugh and shake your head. “Someone has read too many romance novels. That doesn’t happen in real life and Regulus and I are just friends.”

“Did he not ask you to a formal party?” Pandora asks.

“He didn’t know it was formal when he asked,” you reply. “And he wanted to go with someone he could stand. I think the bar was set pretty low.”

“It’s Regulus,” Dorcas laughs. “That bar is high as hell.”

You and Pandora join her laughing. It wasn’t a secret that many people annoyed Regulus so he was picky with who he surrounded himself with. Well, as much as he could at this point. Barty had latched onto him during their first year and it was through Barty that Evan joined the group. You befriended Regulus during that year as well, bringing Pandora and Dorcas with you. So really, Regulus was friends with you and Barty, and you two came with baggage in the form of additional friends. 

With your hair and makeup down, you go behind the screen to change into your dress. In classic Slytherin fashion, you had chosen a dark green dress and are pairing it with silver jewelry. You step out and do a spin for the girls. They cheer and whistle at you. 

“He would so have a ‘You look beautiful’ moment if he hadn’t already seen the dress!” Pandora exclaims, standing up to fuss over you. “You look stunning, babygirl.” 

You roll your eyes, but you’re smiling. “Not to feed your delusions, but he’s only seen the dress. My hair wasn’t done, no makeup, no jewelry. He hasn’t seen the finished look.”

“He’ll be drooling when he does,” Dorcas says. 

You give the girls one last smile and leave your dorm. It was time to meet Regulus in the common room and then head to the party. The girls, however, follow you out of the dorm. They were nosy and wanted to see Regulus’ reaction. Sure enough, Regulus is waiting for you, although his back is to the stairs as he talks to Evan and Barty. The other two boys’ eyes go wide when they see you. Barty lets out a low whistle as Evan turns Regulus around by his shoulders. 

“Black is one lucky man,” Evan says, shaking Regulus’ shoulders. 

“Who knew our dove could clean up so nicely,” Barty adds. 

“Shut up, Junior,” you say as you approach them, although your words have no bite. You like a polite compliment, which, for once, these were. 

“Wait, Junior, how are you not in Slug Club?” you ask.

“You set one too many fires and suddenly Sluggy doesn’t care how brilliant you are,” Barty says with a sigh, despite sounding more amused at it than upset. 

You turn to Evan, “And you?”

“Apparently when a potion calls for frogs, he wants you to-”

“Ah,” you say, holding up your hand. “I remember that class now.”

Evan had cut open the frogs and was far more interested in its guts, muscles and other innards to finish his potion, earning him a zero for the day and detention. 

“You do look beautiful,” Regulus says, not at all stumbling over his words as Pandora would have liked him to. “Shall we get going?”

You nod, take his arm and leave the common room with him. 

---

“Prongs, come on!” Sirius says, annoyed that James hadn’t spoken to him all week and now was refusing to tell him which tie was better. 

“You dug yourself into this hole,” Remus mumbles, not looking up from his book.

“Oh my god, it’s not a date! I just need to get into the party and Lily is my way in!”

James glares at Sirius.

“He’s only been in love with her since we were first years,” Peter adds. 

“If you two had better taste, I’d be asking your opinions, but alas,” Sirius groans and turns back to James. “Please, James, I’m not trying to mack on your love.”

“What if she was going to ask me, huh?” James snaps.

“She said she didn’t want to ask anyone. That’s part of why she said yes.”

“All these years, I’ve been asking her and you ask once. Once! How the hell does that make sense?” 

“Logic would say she fancies Sirius,” Peter says before immediately ducking to avoid a pillow thrown his way.

“She does not fancy me. If she did, I wouldn’t’ve had to swear on James’ broom that I would be on my very best behavior.”

James jumps up and grabs Sirius by his shirt collar.

“You damn well best be a goddamn gentleman all night, Black.”

“I will if you tell me. Which. Tie.” He holds up two almost identical ties and waves them in front James’ face. 

James takes a slight step back and takes in the ties.

“This one.”

“Thank you. Was that so hard?”

“I swear, Padfoot, if you do anything-” James warns.

“She will be treated like the lady that she is, Prongsie. Don’t you worry one bit. I’m not making any moves on her.”

“So why are you so desperate for a Slug Club party?” Remus asks. 

The boys had been wondering this all week, but every time they asked, Sirius changed the subject or found a reason to excuse himself from the group. He’d have to tell them eventually.

“Tryin’ to suck up to Slughorn,” Sirius grumbles, not looking at any of them. He focuses on tying his tie. 

Peter snorts a laugh. “Yeah, right, sure you are.”

“I am.”

“No, you’re not. You’d be paying more attention in Potions if you were,” Remus says. “Try again.”

“I heard there’s going to be booze at this party?” 

“More believable,” James says. “But you don’t need my darling Evans for access to booze.” 

“Host, no. Drinks, no. Person?” Peter lists off.

“Person?” Sirius asks, turning towards Peter.

“Person,” he repeats with a smile. “You’re going for a person.”

“Oh, are you jealous, Padfoot?” James teases. “Some doll ask someone else and you’re trying to make her jealous with Lily?”

“Maybe I want an evening away from you bastards,” Sirius suggests as he finishes getting ready. 

He hurries out of the dorm before they can get another word in. If they were going off the idea that whoever he was interested in was in Slug Club, hence the needing to invite someone, he had time before they figured out it was you he was going to the party for. Of course, they’d come to that conclusion much faster as soon as word got back to them that you were at the party. 

Sirius was delighted to see that Lily was waiting for him in the common room.

“Evans!” he calls. “Sorry I kept you waiting. You look ravishing.”

Lily gives him a kind smile.

“Thank you, Sirius. You don’t look too shabby yourself.”

Sirius spins, giving her a full 360 view. Lily stifles a giggle. 

“So is James talking to you yet?”

Word had gotten out that James wasn’t talking to him fairly quickly, at least among the Gryffindors. It wasn’t hard to notice when the loudest of the Marauders were suddenly more quiet. 

“Only after repeatedly telling him I’m not making a move on you.”

“A means to a mysterious end, that’s all I am to you?” she asks with a playful nudge. 

Sirius shrugs. “The end is mysterious to me too.”

“Then why am I dragging you to this?” Lily asks more indignantly as they walk towards the portrait hole and out into the corridors. 

“You’re not dragging, remember? I asked you.”

“You informed me, and I’m gracefully indulging you.”

“Same difference.”

“It’s not but okay.”

Lily wouldn’t tell anyone, but she actually didn’t mind that Sirius had insisted on going with her to the party. Not only did she not have to worry about asking someone, she did consider Sirius a friend, albeit using the term loosely, and she didn’t have to worry about any unwanted advances from him. 

By the time they made it to the area Slughorn had reserved for the party, most of the Slug Club had congregated. The room itself was decorated to Slughorn’s taste, elegant with lots of greens in various hues. In Sirius’ opinion, it had a hint of old money flavor to it. And, to his delight, he spotted his reason for coming within a minute. 

You and Regulus are chatting with Professor Slughorn in the middle of the room. Of course, there were a handful of other students around him as well, as well as some distinguished alumni. Sirius hadn’t considered that graduated Slug Club members could be invited. Lily takes Sirius’ arm and leads him in the opposite direction of Slughorn.

“Shouldn’t we say hello to the professor?” he asks as she pulls him to stand around an empty hightop. 

“We will,” she says casually, looking around the room. “When there’s less people. Didn’t you see your brother’s over there?”

“Oh, is he?” Sirius asks, feigning having not noticed. “I didn’t notice. Suppose we can wait then.”

He had seen his brother. And, somehow more importantly, you. You in your dazzling green dress and silver jewelry that screamed Slytherin Royalty. He didn’t plan out all of tonight, but he knew he had to get close to you again, talk to you. The more he interacted with you, the more you’d have to like him. If you were going to claim to be a dog person, you had to like him. But until he could get close to you, he would chat with Lily. At least she was a decent conversationalist, given that in any other year, he’d rather die than be dragged to a Slug Club party.

After your initial greeting from Slughorn and the conversation turned more toward Regulus and the other Slytherins around you, you zone out. If anyone tries to get your attention, you already had planned to say you were admiring the decorations. Or that you were seeing which other guests you recognized. You cough to stop yourself from laughing when you see Sirius walk in with Lily. Regulus gives you a confused look so you gesture in their direction. His eyes go wide.

“Merlin…” he mutters.

You both quickly turn your attention back to Slughorn’s conversation, lest either of you be discovered staring at the Black sibling. You nod as the other Slytherins let out various words of agreement to something Slugborn said. 

“Regulus, how is the Quidditch team doing?” Slughorn asks, changing the subject unexpectedly.

“Oh, ah, I’d say we’re doing well. Training tough like usual,” Regulus answers. 

“Then you should meet Mr. Tradeswell. He manages the Magpies, as you know,” Slughorn says, draping an arm around Regulus’ shoulders and taking him to meet one of the older guests. 

You give the other Slytherins a polite smile and follow them. You did not plan on being separated from Regulus at this party. If that meant suffering through a conversation solely about Quidditch with someone with professional connections, so be it. You were more than happy to be quiet and listen. It doesn’t take you long to zone out of the conversation again, only picking up bits and pieces.

“Regulus here is Slytherin’s seeker. Quite a talent, he is,” Slughorn was saying. 

“Are you captain?”

“No, sir,” Regulus answers, his voice dripping with even politeness. You smile at how rehearsed his tone sounds to you. “We have a seventh year captain, and she’s brilliant on a broom. I have my fingers crossed for next year.” 

Regulus shoots Slughorn a smile. He knows he’s a shoo-in for the role, especially if this conversation goes well. 

“Ah, well, you know it’s more than luck to be captain,” Mr. Tradeswell says. “You have to know the game, your teammates, the positions, plays, everything.”

“Oh, sir, I do. I sub in for different positions during drills. I think that’s something a captain should be willing to do, have such a deep understanding of each position that they can fill in where they are needed most. While my specialty is seeker, I’m more than competent at chaser as well.”

“And your weakness?”

“Beater, sir.”

The man nods. “It’s good for a captain to be able to spot weaknesses. In yourself, in your team, in opponents.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.”

You scan the room. Sirius and Lily are off to the side of the room by themselves. He appears to be entertaining her, although she occasionally glances toward Slughorn. They hadn’t been to say hello to him yet and you knew that was required. It was why Regulus had dragged you up to him the moment you two arrived. 

“Let’s just get it over with,” he had muttered to you. 

And then you got stuck talking with him for what felt like forever. 

“Are you on the team as well?” Mr. Tradeswell asks you, bringing you back to the conversation.

“Oh, no. I’m no good on a broom.”

“She’s being modest, of course,” Regulus says, wrapping his arm around your waist. 

You flinch slightly at the unexpected touch, but you don’t pull away or remove his arm. It steadies you once you’re over your initial reaction. 

“I can fly, but not nearly well enough to be on a team,” you say, giving Regulus a damning look. “I’m much better suited for the stands.”

The man laughs and your eyes find Sirius as he follows Lily toward the professor.

“Every team needs their fans,” the man says, giving Regulus a wink. 

Lovely, he was assuming you were more than a friend. With his arm around you though, you couldn’t blame him. Mr. Tradeswell continues talking with Regulus and you’re allowed to let your attention drift. Why you kept going back to Sirius, you weren’t sure. Something about him being here was off putting. Even from a distance, you could see how uncomfortable talking to Slughorn was making him. He didn’t even try to hide it. He was looking everywhere around the room but at the professor and he kept shifting his weight. Unlike his brother, he didn’t have an arm around Lily, not even her shoulders or a linked arm. 

Then he made eye contact with you and gave you a wide smile. You give him a nod in response.

“Pardon me, but I’m going to get a drink,” you say and Regulus’ arm drops from your waist. 

He gives you a concerned look, but your relaxed smile calms his nerves about you leaving. He thought you were uncomfortable with the conversation, and while you weren’t enjoying it per se, you really just wanted something to hold in your hands.

You could have predicted that Sirius would excuse himself from Lily and Slughorn’s conversation as soon as he saw you leave his brother’s conversation. And that he did. He approaches the punch bowl at the same time as you.

“Darling, what a total surprise to find you here!” he exclaims, reaching for a cup.

“I literally told you I’d be here.”

“Did you?” He gives you his trademark lopsided smile. 

“You didn’t seem to know what it was then. So how’d you convince Lily to bring you?”

“She asked me.”

You snort a laugh and pour yourself a drink. “Yeah, I don’t believe that.” You pause and sniff your cup. “Do you think this is spiked?”

“Do you want it to be?” Sirius asks with a cocked eyebrow.

“Godric, please.”

Sirius pours his own and sniffs it as well.

“Sad to tell you that there’s nothing good in here.” He looks around the room and then smiles. “But I see someone who definitely can help us.”

You follow his gaze to one of the younger older guests. You recognized her as an older Slytherin but you didn’t know her name. Without thinking, you start to follow Sirius as he walks toward the woman.

“Andy!” he exclaims, arms outstretched as you get closer.

Her eyes nearly double in size when she recognizes who’s approaching her.

“Sirius? I thought you weren’t in Slug Club?” she asks with smile that looks uncannily like the one on Sirius’ face. “This your girlfriend?”

You and Sirius both laugh awkwardly before Sirius hugs the girl, Andy.

“I’m not and she’s not. In Slug Club or my girlfriend,” he says before turning to you. “This is my cousin, Andromeda.”

You hold out your hand to the girl. “I recognize your face. You were a Slytherin, right?”

“Yes. As were my sisters, Narcissa and Bellatrix. However, I’m like good ol’ Sirius here. Disowned and blown off the tree.”

You recoil slightly, not knowing what that meant.

“I’m, uh, actually here with Regulus,” you say, looking over your shoulder at the younger Black. He is still deep in conversation with Mr. Tradeswell. They moved their conversation to a table and if your eyes weren’t mistaking you, Regulus was taking notes. 

Andy laughs and you can’t help but hear the family resemblance. Regulus laughs like that. 

“So if you’re here with Reggie, who are you here with, Siri?”

You look over at Sirius at the nickname that you’d never heard anyone call him. You give him a curious yet amused look.

“Lily Evans. Brilliant witch but not my type,” he says, ending the sentence with a more hushed voice. “Anyways, do you have anything to make this party more tolerable?”

She was definitely a Black. As soon as Sirius asked, a mischievous look shone in her eyes and she reached into her purse. She pulls out a handful of small vials of clear liquid. She claps them gently into Sirius’ hand.

“Don’t get caught, Siri. I’m still on decent terms with Horace. I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Andy, you’re the best!” Sirius says, sliding the vials into his pocket but keeping two out. 

He hands one to you and simultaneously, you cap them and pour the contents into your drinks. 

“I’m not going to… wake up in Feldcroft or anywhere, am I?” you ask.

“They’re not that strong, darling,” Andy says with a smirk on her face. She was clearly enjoying this conversation as an unexpected delight to her evening. “But they’ll make the conversations feel less dull.”

“Okay then,” you say. You give Sirius a smile. “Bottoms up!”

You chug your drink. Sirius and Andy watch with semi-impressed looks on their faces. Once you finish, you hold out your hand to Sirius. An expectant look is etched across your face. He subtly shakes his head but hands you another vial nonetheless. You go back to the drink table to refill your cup. You don’t hear Sirius bid his cousin farewell and follow you. 

“Didn’t think you’d be chugging, love,” he says.

You jump at his proximity. You automatically roll your eyes as you turn toward him and pour the second vial into your cup.

“You didn’t just suffer through a conversation with Mr. Quidditch Manager over there,” you say with a jerk of your head toward Regulus. 

 “Quidditch Manager? James should really meet him.”

“Whatever he wants to know, he can get from Reg,” you say. “I think he’s taking notes.”

Sirius laughs, “Of course he is… They’re a bit the same in that sense.”

“And that’s where it ends.”

Sirius sips his drink. You’re still looking at Regulus so Sirius has a moment to take in how being near you makes him feel. On his toes? Challenged? Alive? 

You don’t seem phased when you turn back and catch Sirius staring. 

“You like my dress too?” you ask cheekily. “So does Regulus. And Evan. And Junior. And Pandora. And Dorcas.” You smirk at him. “So join the club.”

Sirius hums and regrets what he’s going to say before he says it. 

“It would look better on my dorm floor.”

You laugh. Loudly. Sirius certainly wasn’t expecting that and it draws the eyes of those immediately around you. It includes Lily and Regulus, although Mr. Tradeswell doesn’t seem to care. 

“Yeah, sure it would.” You pat Sirius on the shoulder. “You’re not even one drink in and you’re saying silly things.”

“Habit, darling,” he says, trying to cover his tracks. “A flirt’s going to flirt.”

You roll your eyes at him, but he just smiles now.

“Actually, though, how about we step out to finish these?” he asks as he pats his pocket enough for you to hear the soft tinkling of glass.

You shoot a brief look at Regulus who has returned to his conversation. You were supposed to be his date. What about Sirius’ date?

“Won’t Evans miss you?” you ask. 

“Don’t make me laugh,” Sirius says, already grinning. He could tell you want to say yes but are looking for a reason to say no. “As long as I… ugh, stay out of trouble, she doesn’t care.”

You purse your lips, giving Regulus one last look.

“Fine. You got any of those cigarettes?”

His grin gets wider, if that’s even possible.

“I thought you didn’t smoke.”

“Would you believe that I don’t drink either?”

You share a knowing look with him. Sirius throws an arm around your shoulder and guides you out the entrance of the room. You really hoped Regulus wouldn’t miss you too much, but he looked content when you left. You and Sirius don’t wander far. He turns into an alcove with a window. He cracks it open before leaning against the wall and fishing a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He hands you one and lights it for you. 

“Just so you know,” you say, taking a drag, “I’m only out here because Reg looked okay.”

“He can fend for himself. He’s a big boy.”

You shrug. “He was pretty strung out that Sluggy wanted everyone to have a date for this thing.”

“A big boy who focuses on the wrong things… Most of the time.”

“He’s set to be Quidditch captain and his grades are nothing to turn a nose at. I’d say he focuses just fine.”

“Sure, but he’s in Slug Club.”

“So is your Lily Evans.”

“And she was friends with Snivellus until last year. Everyone has their faults.”

“Our faults are abandoning our dates to split mystery shots and smokes,” you say with a laugh. You finish your second cup, place it on the window ledge and hold out your hand for a vial. “Come on now, Black. Don’t be stingy.”

“You’re already a shot ahead of me.”

“And I’m about to be two. Give it.”

He gives you a look you can’t quite read before handing you a vial. You uncap it and take the shot. 

“So,” you say after making a gagging noise, “Andy. What’s this tree she’s burned off of? You’re burned off of? Is Reg burned off it?”

“We, my parents have a family tree at home. They update it. And once you’re disowned, your face gets burned off. She’s engaged to a muggleborn so by family rules, off she goes. I ran away. Off I go.” He pauses and blows smoke out the window. “Your precious Regulus is still on the tree.”

“My precious…” you chuckle. 

Sirius takes a shot. “He is yours, isn’t he?” 

You immediately stop laughing.

“Regulus?”

“Yes.”

“No, Merlin, no.” You shake your head a little too fervently. “Friends. Just good friends.”

You hold out your hand for another vial. Sirius holds it out to you, but he doesn’t let go when you grab it.

“Are we friends?”

You narrow your eyes at him, trying to pull the vial from his grasp.

“Are we friends, darling?” he repeats.

“If it gets me this vial, yes,” you spit. 

He lets go and you almost throw the vial to the ground with the force you were pulling it with. Almost. You uncap it and take the shot. You were beginning to feel the effects of your drinks. 

“Why does it matter if we’re friends?” you ask curiously, although your face is wearing a cold expression.

“You’re supposed to like me,” Sirius says with a shrug. 

“What?”

“You claim to be a dog person.”

Your cold laugh echoes around Sirius. It wasn’t the warm laugh that made his stomach flip; this one made it sink.

“You’re still on about that? I don’t get it, Black.”

“If you just gave me a chance,” he says, taking a step toward you.

You take a step back. “I did. And I decided your brother is more my taste.” You tilt your head. “He still is.”

“Why?”

“For the person he is.”

You snuff out your cigarette before it burns your fingers. You give Sirius a polite smile before turning to return to the party. You barely hear Sirius speak as you walk away.

“But I am a dog person.”

---

“Sorry I was gone for so long,” you say when you find Regulus.

You’re grateful he isn’t talking to Mr. Tradeswell anymore. He’s just sitting with other students.

“Where did you get alcohol?” he hisses, leaning toward you.

“Oh, you can smell that?” you ask, briefly trying to smell yourself.

He brings up his hand to stop you. “Yes. Now where?”

“Met your cousin officially. Andy. She gave some to Sirius and, well, he likes to share.”

“I think he likes you more than he likes sharing.”

You roll your eyes. “He just wants to be friends for some reason.”

“Yeah… Some reason…”

tags: @2dloveshp, @yearninglustfully, @made-for-oliverwood, @ilovejamespottersomuch, @hisparentsgallerryy, @itsseaberri, @corawithfanfiction, @devilslittlehelper, @jllyunn, @barnes70stark, @crowleythesexydemon, @flow33didontsmoke

Can you tell I like ending chapters with little comments from Regulus? Also debating creating a series masterlist so I don't have to keep updating each chapter. Anyone got title ideas beyond "A dog person"?

[whichcouldmeannothing]

big big marvey fic rec list

marvey is currently my most bookmarked ship, so trust me when i say i've been around the bend for marvey content. i have dug through a lot of it the past few months, so trust that these fics have been highly rated!

fics are loosely grouped, with the summary and my thoughts under the cut :3 no spoilers ofc bc i love you

MY PERSONAL FAVOURITES

A Specter-Ross Affair by @frivoloussuits (15k+, au)

“You ordered an ‘extra-hot, extra-wet cappuccino, single-origin, properly layered, to-go and ready five minutes ago to make up for your service speed or lack thereof.’” In which Mike is a barista, Rachel is a lawyer, and Harvey is paid excessive amounts of money to plan their joyous Christmas wedding.

"Love is just a particularly socially accepted form of fraud. It's a series of increasingly complex and fragile deceptions between two or more people, and, more alarmingly, between each participant and their own deluded subconscious."

i literally cannot recommend this fic enough. this might be my favourite read of the entire year, dead serious. this sounds fluffy but trust me, the pining and the angst go well like salt on a chocolate chip cookie: extremely decadent. everything about this fic goes insane and this should be your gateway drug into marvey, im so serious about this. READ IT. (weddingplanner!harvey)

of all the gin joints by @frivoloussuits (10k+, au)

Hanging around a neighborhood bar one night, Harvey befriends a guy named Mike after realizing they can both quote The Princess Bride on demand. In the law offices of Rand, Kaldor, Zane and Pearson, senior partner Harvey Specter takes on an unusual case, representing his managing partner's daughter as she divorces a Michael James Ross. Harvey sees no connection until it's far too late.

"They’re playing a virtuosic duet with inhuman ease, as if the intoxication has broken their boundaries and blurred them into a single entity."

this. obsessed with fics that really use the law in their plots, and this is a prime example. a lot of chemistry in this one that is described in a way that makes you jealous of the bond they share and there are still lines in this fic that i think about almost everyday but honestly, such a top-tier read. PLEASE PLEASE IF YOU LIKE SUFFERING ANF REALLY REALLY GOOD CHEMISTRY PLEASE

5U175 by Closer (26k, canon-adjacent)

Harvey sometimes moonlights as a Star Trek BNF. Mike might have an attitude problem on the internet. TiberiusGhost is strangely compelling, for a recluse who never goes to meetups, and Harvey's finding this kid Photohead vaguely familiar…

i know that the terminology in this one is hella old-school but trust me. as someone who doesnt read a lot of fandom fics, this fic has changed it all for me (also bc the author replied to my comment hehehe) stick with this fic because the way fandom weaves with the character development is absolutely delicious, i remember saying this in my og comment but this fic was written with love for fandom and you should definitely read it too!!! you'd absolutely love it! (also ben stans rise up ^^)

fics to sink your teeth into (20k+)

needs must by @melthemagpie (98k+, au)

When Grammy needs an upgrade in care, Mike knows that the usual one-off gig as a paid submissive won't be enough. He takes a job he's been refusing for a while - a long-term, full-time contract. He expects his client to be a sadistic asshole. He expects not to like it. He's wrong on both counts.

this is a fandom classic, every fic rec has this on the list (cw for dom/sub and prostitution, so if you're uncomfy please dont read) but i swear there are so many romantic moments in this one that make me swoon and the smut is very good, i usually tap out in long fics really quickly but this hooked me the whole way through twice. thats my ringing endorsement, READ THIS

Lobster and Other Catastrophes by @andthetardis (21k, canon-compliant)

After months of silence, Mike starts texting Harvey again out of the blue. Funny thing to do on his honeymoon, really.

BRO PLEASE. this was so good. angsty and pining-y enough even though it's mostly a text fic. text fics to me are more like comedic, but this one had substance and heart (and funny and enjoyable btw). pulls you in and really makes you want to stick it out and get to the beautiful ending <333 (harvey being soft is probably a category on its own :3)

The Game by @frivoloussuits (27k, hunger games au)

Harvey Specter and Donna Paulsen are efficient and elegant killers. They have trained since childhood, mentored personally by Jessica Pearson and marked for years as District 1's Tributes for the Hunger Games. Mike Ross is an orphan from District 12, a drug dealer, and an underage gambler. After years of scrutinizing the Hunger Games on TV to make savvy bets, he finds himself on the wrong side of the camera, now playing the odds just to survive. Harvey and Mike cannot, should not trust each other. Still, they strike a backroom deal.

"Because he’s clever and quick-thinking and he’s learned her main lesson well– don’t love anyone you wouldn’t be willing to see dead. Ideally, don’t love anyone at all."

I READ THIS WHEN I WAS REVISITING HUNGER GAMES AND OHHHHH THIS HAS THE ANGST. absolutely riveting. ths is the third fic im reccing from them bc i love frivoloussuits. i would die for them HHFSHFHKSDGDHFG i love the angst and the life-threatening situations that the hunger games provide and harvey as a career is correct. its just correct. everything here grips my soul

Disaster Stories by agatestones (22k, canon-compliant)

"Hold on," Mike asked, "you made Donna come into work in the middle of a blizzard?" "I don't make Donna do anything. Haven't you learned by now?" Harvey gave Mike a mean little smile, but under that was relief for anyone to see. "You, I can make come into the office in a blizzard."

reads like a novella to me, and it's really good!!! very episodic and you really feel like these are things that have happened in universe. its very slice of lifey and i reread it a lot as a comfort read, its like a big hug to me

Pizza and a Movie by Closer (30k+, au)

In an alternate universe, Harvey's still a lawyer but Mike's not a pot runner -- he's a deliveryman for Rollo's Pizza and Ribs, which happens to be Harvey's favorite pizza place. Once Harvey finds out his pizza guy is a genius, Mike's life takes a few turns he would not have expected...

i swear this is the most rom-commy fic marvey has to offer. i like aus that slap me in the face more with the alternate universe, but this is such a rom-com plot. fandom classic as well and it really reads like a hugh grant 90s movie and if thats not enough to pull you in idk what will tbh

Imprimatur by Closer (22k, au)

Mike was raised to believe Imprint was a life-changing event for those few lucky enough to experience it. Harvey was raised to believe it was a form of mental illness. When it actually happened, neither of them noticed.

this goes absolutely crazy. one of those fics where you read it and you almost want to throw your phone at the wall because the characters could make it so easy if they werent so stupid (but in a good way of course) but the way it was written, you feel the depth of the soulmate bond and why its so important (which a lot of soulmate aus forget to do loll) but goes down like an expensive and delicious dinner :)

afternoon reads (10k+)

Sony SRF-39FP by @frivoloussuits (11k+, canon-adjacent)

Anita Gibbs won’t settle for Mike, not when there are name partners within her reach. She offers only one deal– two years, no other charges against anyone else in the firm, as long as Harvey Specter turns himself in. And even as Donna and Jessica and Louis and Mike beg him not to, he jumps on the grenade. “Time to get busy living or get busy dying,” he remarks, and Mike gives a small chuckle. Then Harvey smirks, straightens his suit jacket, and strides into FCI Danbury.

“I can’t believe they’re trying to lock you in a box and forget about you,” Mike sighs as he leaves.

“Well, as long as you don’t forget me, I figure I’ll survive.”

“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but forgetting’s never been my strong suit.

cw for depersonalization and desc of solitary confinement, very very heavy but the way mike is there throughout everything makes my heart twinge. i really dont know how to describe this fic at all but its really good. it makes me cry a lot. also made me start listening to jazz which- uh

Here at the end of all things by @tattooedsiren (10k, au)

When he arrives at the Pearson Hardman building the lights are dimmed and the floor is deserted. His feet carry him to Harvey's office even though he expects it to be empty. Because Harvey probably fled the city via helicopter or teleporter or sheer force of will. But when he approaches the office he can see that Harvey is there. He has moved the couch so that it now faces the floor to ceiling windows and Mike silently sits beside Harvey, joins him in looking down at the chaos engulfing the city below. [Apocalypse AU]

I LOVE APOCALYPSE FICS UP UP UP badass!harvey makes me bark, but im a really big fan of people who find happiness in the worst circumstances and this fic does it so so so well. reminds me a lot of tlou episode like 2? the one with the strawberries. please this is what i revisit when i miss marvey and i dont have a lot of time because the world and the characters are jsut so delicious!!!

quick reads (1k+)

This Love is Silent by kim47 (8k, canon-compliant)

She should have known. She had known, that something was off, at least. She knew he was hiding something. She just never imagined it could be this. Despite Harvey's warnings, Mike tells Rachel the truth about everything. She's shocked, naturally, and more than a little angry, but she agrees to keep his secret, and even to date him. So when they break up, Harvey goes into damage-control mode.

RACHEL!! HELLO RACHEL!! im always up for smart and discerning rachel (this shows up in of all the gin joints too btw!!!) this runs realistic to me because it shows that rachelxmike arent some hopelessly wrong for each other couple, they have good and bad times. this feels more real to me than other fics bc its not like the world conspires for marvey to be apart, its just life. i know this makes it sound so sad, and it is, but trust me: this is really really really good i love this so much

an archive of harvey specter's expressions by @frivoloussuits (2k, canon-compliant)

Five old expressions that Mike rediscovers in new contexts once he and Harvey are (finally) together, and one that he sees for the first time. Alternatively titled “An Ode to Gabriel Macht’s Face.”

this was written for me. this is literally me. writing fic because gabriel macht is too pretty, like this fic is literally for me. a lot of peering at him to get this fic as masterfully written as it is, and i thank you author everyday for it. to me, this reads like it's been written with love and care and true adoration (Truly, like Mike)

Coffee-Cart Client Privilege by @frivoloussuits (7k, au)

Mike runs a coffee cart. The coffee cart.

"Why not? They're too big and dense to be a snack." So are you, Mike thinks, and yet.

IM SORRY I KEEP RECCING FRIVOLOUS SUITS THEYRE MY FAVOURITE WRITER IN THIS FANDOM HFBKABFDKHFBHKDSA this has the hand-wavy logic the show has itself but mike's internal monologue in this one is one of the best ive ever read and the way mike's integrated in the offices is just so well-done ahhhh

Objection by yeah its frivoloussuits again i feel bad tagging them like 7 times (2k, canon-adjacent)

When Mike announces he’s leaving, Harvey plans to hide the jagged pieces of his broken heart deep inside, where no one will ever find them. His heart would like to object.

BIGG fan of physical hurt/comfort!!!! also big fan of people absolutely freaking out in the hospital in fics, it makes me bounce of the wall!! very short but the angst and love really hits you quick and leaves you on the floor gasping for air. very good (also cant prove this but im very sure this is a scrubs reference.t hanks)

Excerpts From The Gospel of Harvey Specter, edited by Michael "Forever Awesome" Ross, 2011, 1st Ed, by @rcmclachlan (7k, canon compliant)

Mike can totally read people. Well, most people. Some people. Or maybe just Harvey, who's pretty much an open book.

this one's really funny! it doesent follow direct prose and instead plays a lot with the setting its in (where mike's a documenter of harvey) and its just so funny and adorable. has a lot of heart too, it isn't just crack or anything but you really feel everything mike does as he writes all this, read this!!1

One More Sleepless Night by @sal_si_puedes (9k, au)

Soul Bonds are one-sided – there’s usually mutual affection, but only one party feels the crippling need to be together as often as possible. If separated at length from their love, that party becomes crushed by longing, panic, and sheer hopelessness, and so it is illegal to forcibly keep Soulmates apart. Some days, Harvey Specter hates the Bond that skews his judgement and weakens his resolve, and he fears what would happen if anyone in his world ever discovers he is so compromised. He certainly never planned to disclose the Bond for the first time in the middle of Anita Gibbs’ office, in a last-ditch attempt to invalidate the deal sending Mike to prison.

HSDGFHSDKGHRLKGHK THIS FIC. i love fics that use more than just prose to tell their stories (see above fic) and this does my favourite thing that soulmate aus do, which is where they integrate in-universe explanations for the phenomenon. the amount of work and dedication put into this fic makes it absolutely sing and was absolutely lovely!!

also pspspsps

golden like the daffodils by @mini-mart (2k, canon-compliant)

Poetry holds meaning, for anyone who reads it. It obscures and dances around the literal and metaphorical, because it’s imbued with so much of something that it overflows out of any definition. It can make someone mad, or lovesick, or aroused, and the reactions would be absolutely warranted. Mike is poetry, to Harvey. - Harvey Specter could be a good politician, as he believes in pragmatism over poetry. He won't let his progress fall apart, won't let someone knock it down. And then someone unceremoniously cracks open a suitcase at his feet. Or: Harvey, pretty boys and poetry.

yeah yeah i wrote this yeah yeah self promo smth smth

there's a lot more that isn't here but i'll probably write a new one when i go for a deep dive through the ship tags again :3

^^ ao3 etiqutte applies! if you like the fic, kudos and comment and bookmark!! show your love! happy reading marveys! my gift to u :3

[ashtheketchum]

NSFW alphabet Daryl Dixon

A/N: I don´t really have a smut right now, so I just post this- Maybe I will write such alphabets more often, but with other characters, let's see :D

Warnings: +18 CONTENT, GN.Reader

Masterlist!

_________________________

A(ftercare: How are they after the sex?):

Daryl actually always takes care of you after you two had sex. He cleans you up, kisses you, and gives your some of his clean clothes. Sometimes he even kisses your entire body from top to bottom again before forcing you to go to the bathroom. (He read somewhere that you should always go to the bathroom after having sex).

B(ody part: Their favourite body part):

If Daryl had to choose one body part that he finds most attractive, he would choose your thighs. He loves grabbing them, he loves massaging them, and he loves when you vage his head between your thighs.

Your favorite part of Daryl's body is either his arms or his slim waist. His arms are well-trained and it feels nice when he holds you in them. Even in public, you sometimes can't help but hug his upper arms or just put your hand on them. You just love that his waist is so slim. Broad shoulders, broad chest and slim hips. Sometimes when you hug each other, you wrap your arms around his waist instead of his neck.

C(um: Everything that has to do with cumming):

Daryl doesn't come inside you (whether you're a man or a woman). He knows the risks all too well and therefore only comes on your body or in a condom. At first he always pulled out before he came, but sometimes he stole condoms from Glenn.

D(irty Secret):

I'll go with the classics and say that Daryl has often imagined fucking you on his motorcycle. He would simply drive out with you, somewhere where you are alone and where it is safe, and then he would fuck you on the motorcycle. Daryl also sometimes felt more comfortable outside of the group, after all, he spent half of his childhood outside, in nature.

E(xperience: How much experience do they have?):

I don't think Daryl has no experience at all. After all, he had Merle as a brother and he either talked about sex or drugs. (Sometimes maybe some racist things too, I don't know-). So he knows the basics, but he's open to knowing more.

F(avourite position: In which position do they like to fuck you the most?):

Daryl actually likes almost any position, but he prefers the positions where he can see your face. He wants to see your face change, twist with pleasure. That just turns him on even more. So if he had to choose, it would be either missionary or cowgirl. Since Daryl also likes to touch you, he always wants to touch your thighs or ass, massage them, or sometimes even pinch them.

G(oofy: Are they humorous?):

Daryl isn't humorous in other situations, so why is he humorous during sex? He thinks that sex is something special between two people and he doesn't want to ruin it, especially with you. Besides, Daryl would be too caught up in the lust and the feeling that he wouldn't even think about being humorous.

H(air: Are they shaved?):

Pfff, please- Daryl doesn't cut his hair, so why should he shave his body? If it really bothers you that he has pubic hair, he'll trim his hair a little, but that's all he does. He doesn't understand the point of it. And of course, Daryl doesn't care if you´re shaved or not. You should do what you feel comfortable with. "Ya think a lil' hair can scare me awa'? I kill fuckin' walker, darlin´…"

I(ntimacy: Are they romantic during the sex?):

Unfortunately, Daryl doesn't know much about how to be really romantic during sex… He once asked Carol for advice, but he didn't really learn anything from it. But he tries to make you feel good and comfortable. He kisses you passionately, sometimes lights a few candles to make the atmosphere more romantic, and he also gives you flattering compliments.

J(erk off: Do they masturbate a lot?):

Daryl never saw sex and masturbation as necessary. Before he had you, he masturbated maybe once a month, and even since he had you, you haven't had sex very often. When you were just friends, however, he had put his hand on you more often (maybe once a week, or so-).

K(ink: What turns them on?):

Daryl loves getting compliments. He may not be good at taking them, but when you compliment him on how good he makes you feel or how good he looks- dude, this man goes crazy!

L(ocation: Where do they prefer to do it?):

Even though Daryl sometimes dreams of fucking you on his motorcycle, he prefers it when you two have sex in a private room. So his bedroom or your bedroom.

M(otivation: What puts them in the mood?):

Daryl gets a turn on when you can fight or defend yourself. I think everyone can agree with me when I say that Daryl likes people who are strong and can survive in the nature, so when he sees you hunting for food or killing a walker, he feels a little tingle in his lower abdomen.

N(o: What would they never do?):

Besides the fact that he would never hurt you, Daryl would never fuck you in public. He would love to do it with you in the deep woods, but not in Alexandria behind your house or on the walls. It would be far too uncomfortable and embarrassing for him if someone caught you two. In the deep woods, Daryl can at least see everything clearly and he also knows places that hardly anyone would pass by.

O(ral: Do they prefer to give or to receive?):

Daryl prefers to give it to you. Not that he doesn't enjoy it when you give him a blowjob, but your well-being is his number one priority.

P(ace: How fast do they like it?):

For Daryl, it depends on the mood. If you had a romantic evening and everything was relaxed, you have slow and passionate sex. But if you both really want to let off steam, you have hard and fast sex.

Q(uickie: Their opinion about quickies?)

Even if Daryl doesn't enjoy them, he accepts that you sometimes have to have them. He is an important part of the group and therefore doesn't always have time for sex. But he prefers it when you can take your time with sex.

R(isk: Do they sometimes take risks?):

No, no, no, no! Be it the risk of being caught by walkers or by humans, he wants to avoid both.

S(tamina: How is the stamina?):

Daryl has very good stamina, but he sticks to your stamina when it comes to sex. He could definitely last 4 rounds, maybe more. (Depending on his mood, sometimes more.)

T(oy: Do they use toys?):

Daryl doesn't understand the point of a toy. He also doesn't see the point in risking his life for a plastic dildo or vibrator. He can satisfy you just as well, if not even better.

U(nfair: Do they tease you sometimes?):

Daryl really wants to make you feel as good as he feels, but sometimes he changes his pace from fast and hard to slow and gentle. He enjoys the way your face twists in frustration, but he also quickly releases you by changing his pace from slow and gentle to fast and hard again.

V(olume: How loud are they?):

Daryl just growls and sighs quietly. On very rare occasions he whimpers loudly, but these moments are very rare. If you want him to be louder during sex, you will unfortunately have to talk to him about it.

W(ild card: A random headcanon about them):

Daryl loves it when you give him attention. But not too much and not in public. Play with his hair, massage his shoulders, kiss his face or just sit with him and hug him tightly. He then feels incredibly comfortable and loved and very often you end up having sex. Plus points if you hold him close to you during sex or gently pull on his hair.

X(x-rey: How long are they down there?):

Nah, now... let´s be serious... I have seen many, MANY pictures where you can clearly see that he is not small! His dick is probably 8 inches long (20 cm), very thick around the base and he also has some strong veins that you can see when there is a lot of blood flow through them.

Y(earining: How high is their sexual drive?):

Not very high. Daryl has a way of accumulating everything. He could survive several months without sex and have no problems, but as soon as you become sexually active again, he lets it all out.

Z(zzz: How fast do they fall asleep after it?):

Daryl never falls asleep after sex. He takes care of you, makes you comfortable, and then watches you sleep or goes back to work.

[touchtheinvisiblestars]

Imagine Bucky when he realises you were right there as he put on the winter soldier persona

The entire club felt like it was being held at the edge of a knife. All eyes trained on the small group of you at the bar.

Unprepared for what just happened, your gaze flickered around, avoiding Bucky. Nervous of just how many people were watching, and the hired security that were inching their way closer, fingers ghosting over their own triggers.

Sharing a side glance with Sam, who's only assurance was a visible clench in his jaw. You stepped closer to him and warily watched Zemo.

The only person you hadn't looked at was Bucky. Still too stunned by the events of the last few minutes, even though you could feel him staring.

As he released the man he was gripping onto, the movement drew your gaze to him. He was still looking only at you, a kind of half horrified, half defeated look in his eyes.

You felt like there was no air in the room, unable to catch your breath, you startled as the man crumpled to the floor.

"I can't do this Sam."

You backed away and made a beeline for the exit. Sam failing to grab you as you rushed out.

Busting out the emergency exit of the club, the cool night air hit you.

"Y/N." Sam called, having followed you.

"I'm sorry Sam. It's too much, seeing that side of him. It just looks so easy for him to slip back into it."

"I know. I get it. But it's just for show. He's safe."

Leaning against the railing, you looked at the stairs down. Knowing you could run if you wanted to.

Letting out a big sigh, "I know. It's funny we've been working so close with him and we've shared so much. But all it took was 30 seconds and I'm back on that highway again thinking I was going to die."

"And we've done really well to get this far. Don't doubt yourself. You've come so far."

"Sam." Buckys voice started from the doorway.

"She's alright. Here. I'll go keep an eye on Zemo." Sam squeezed your shoulder affectionately, before disappearing back into the club.

You turned to look at him. He had his classic lost puppy dog expression. One you had grown to be quite fond of.

"Y/N, I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry Bucky. It just took me back a bit."

"I didn't want to do that. I need you to know that. Especially with you there. That's not who I am. Please don't think it's just waiting to come out. I was in control the whole time."

"I know you didn't. I'm sorry you had to."

"It's why I hate places like this. You just get labelled as guard dog."

Feeling the tension wash out of you. You relaxed your posture fully turning to face him.

"We know that's not who you are anymore. Please don't feel guilty."

"Come on its like you don't know me at all. I'm a walking pin cushion of guilt" He laughed.

[shiyorin]

We all know Ultramar is space roman, so Guilliman will definitely have a (lot of) nude statues of him there ⁠(⁠ ͡⁠°⁠ ͜⁠ʖ⁠ ͡⁠°⁠). So how do you think he would react to that and what if he caught the Reader staring at it?

#Fast food

#Romcom 40K but of course com is more than rom

#If you squint, you'll see Guilliman x Reader. But yeah, it is Guilliman x Reader

#Crack fic? I don't know

The Fortress of Hera, Macragge - Central Plaza.

The morning sun casts long shadows across the newly unveiled plaza, where a massive statue of Primarch Roboute Guilliman stands in all its… glory. The statue, crafted from the finest marble, towers fifteen meters high, depicting the Primarch in a classical pose reminiscent of ancient Terran sculptures.

You have been standing in the same spot for nearly an hour, head tilted back, eyes fixed on the statue. Your expression is a mixture of fascination and something else entirely.

Guilliman stands beside you, growing increasingly uncomfortable with your sustained attention to his marble counterpart. The statue, while tastefully done, leaves little to the imagination, save for a strategically placed piece of cloth that preserves some modesty.

"Stop staring," Guilliman finally says, his voice strained.

You don't even blink. "I'm not staring."

"You're staring."

"You can't blame me." You tilt your head to the side, squinting slightly. "I mean, the craftsmanship is… impressive. Very impressive."

Guilliman pinches the bridge of his nose. "It's just a statue."

"Mhmm," you hum noncommittally, still not looking away. "Is it… anatomically accurate?"

"AGENT!"

"What? It's a legitimate artistic question!" You gestures dramatically at the statue. "I mean, look at those abs! And that cloth… it's very… strategic."

A group of Ultramarines passing by pretend not to hear the conversation, though their hurried pace suggests otherwise.

"The artist took some creative liberties," Guilliman mutters, his face turning a shade closer to Vulkan's.

You finally tears your eyes away from the statue to look at him, grinning mischievously. "Oh? So you're saying it's not accurate? Because I could always verify-"

"That will not be necessary," Guilliman cuts your off hastily.

"Are you sure? In the name of artistic integrity-"

"Absolutely not."

You turn back to the statue, tapping your chin thoughtfully. "You know, from this angle, it kind of looks like-"

"Don't."

"-the cloth might slip at any moment-"

"I swear by the Emperor-"

"-I mean, what's even holding it up?"

"Divine intervention," Guilliman deadpans.

A passing Chapter Serf nearly chokes at this exchange.

"Really though," You continue, undeterred, "who commissioned this? Because I need to shake their hand."

"Marneus thought it would boost morale," Guilliman sighs.

"Oh, it's boosting something alright." You mumbles under your breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" You says innocently. "Just admiring the… architectural integrity."

"Is that what we're calling it now?"

"Well, I could be more specific about what I'm admiring-"

"Please don't."

You pull out a pict-capture device. "Mind if I take a few shots? For… historical documentation?"

Guilliman snatches the device from your hands. "Absolutely not."

"Aw, come on! Think of future generations!"

"I am thinking of future generations. That's exactly why you're not getting any pictures."

You pout. "Fine. I'll just have to rely on my excellent memory then." You taps your temple. "And let me tell you, this is definitely getting filed away in the 'permanent records' section."

A group of visiting dignitaries approaches, and Guilliman straightens, trying to look appropriately primarch-like. You, however, has other ideas.

"Hey," you stage-whisper, loud enough for several people to hear, "does this mean there's a bathroom somewhere with a smaller version of this statue as a soap dispenser?"

The dignitaries quickly find somewhere else to be.

Guilliman looks skyward, as if seeking strength from the Emperor himself. "Why are you like this?"

"You love it," You grin. Then, after a pause, "Speaking of love, that cloth really doesn't leave much to the imagination about how much you love-"

"That's it." Guilliman grabs you by the shoulders and physically turns you away from the statue. "We're leaving."

"But I haven't finished my artistic analysis!" You protests as you are marched away. "I haven't even gotten to the back view yet!"

"There will be no back view."

"Spoilsport. At least tell me if the sculptor got your butt right-"

"AGENT!"

Extra:

Back in the plaza, you manage to break free from Guilliman's grasp long enough to shout, "You know, if you're worried about accuracy, we could always do a side-by-side comparison!"

The sound of Guilliman's exasperated groan echoes across the plaza, followed by your delighted laughter as you are once again dragged away.

Later that day, several Chapter Serfs notice that someone has placed a "Do Not Lick" sign at the base of the statue.

No one asks who put it there.

No one wants to know why it was necessary.

And if anyone notices an imperial agent sneaking back after dark with a measuring tape, well… some things are better left unreported in the official records of the Ultramarines.

[melwnst]

Could I please request Stanford Sam Winchester x Stanford, dancer reader fic?

The reader is typically sweet, thoughtful, and witty in their everyday personality, but when they dance they transform into something entirely different. Dancer reader is captivating, fierce and effortlessly smooth (plus a huge ass flirt). Their stage presence is electric, full of confidence and a stark contrast to their usual demeanor, which has Sam short circuiting in the best way possible.👀

────── ⋆⋅☆DANCING QUEEN, SAM WINCHESTER

⭑.ᐟhi omg this was so fun to write thank you so much for the request I hope you enjoy it! I would LOVE to make a part two so lmk if you’d want that :)

word count. 1k

supernatural masterlist/full masterlist/support my work!

──────────୨ৎ──────────

Sam sees you and his heart stops. He thinks that you’re the most beautiful creature to ever walk on earth- he sees you, and you’re a completely different person. He’d like to think that he knows you pretty well given that you’re in the same friend group, but when he sees you dance? You’re a stranger, just someone who wears the face of a person he knows.

He sees you move on that stage, and it’s like no one else is around- it’s just you and him, the whole world fades away.

You notice him. You try not to lose your balance, because you’re a dancer, you’re supposed to be focused, but with his eyes so hot on you, with him looking so- peaceful, you can’t wait for this show to be over.

So many people are here- but you only see him. The classical music is loud, the violins and the piano fit perfectly together, your legs move smoothly, your body looks like it’s done this a million times- because it has. Not everyone can say they got a full ride to Stanford- to become a professional dancer.

Sam wants to cry. He wants to cry because the way you dance, the way you move makes him feel things he’s never felt before- things he didn’t know he could feel.

It feels like the world ends when your performance does. He just wants to see you dance. He wants to see you- talk to you, tell you how beautiful you were on that stage. But he felt a sense of peace and calm washing over him when he watched you.

The moment you walk out of stage, your legs are sore, and you let out a big breath.

You’re not sure you’ve left stage 20 seconds ago, that Sam stands right in front of you.

Not your friends- it’s just him.

He holds his hands together in front of him, because he’s nervous.

‘You- you were incredible out there.’ Is all he manages to say before he chokes.

You give him your best smile, and he can’t tell that you’re nervous too.

‘Thanks.’ To distract yourself, you take your hair down, and massage your head.

‘I didn’t know you could dance like that.’ Sam sits down on a small bench left in the backstage from the previous show- so you join him.

‘Yeah well, I don’t exactly love breaking into dance when we hang out.’ You laugh a little- only to cringe. Sam laughs along, he thinks that was cute.

‘It was beautiful, seriously. I was like- captivated.’ He smiles at you.

He smiles at you and once again it’s just you and him- the outside world doesn’t exist.

‘You know, I saw you out there, you looked like you were about to cry.’ You tease him and bump your shoulder into his.

‘Yeah, right. I don’t cry.’ He’s embarrassed now- this is fun for you.

‘Whatever you say big guy.’ Once again he laughs, only for silence to fill the room, only the sound of faint music from the stage can be heard.

It’s a comfortable silence. The kind of silence that makes you question everything. He’s so close to you, you can almost feel him. His hand is right there on his thigh, you swear you could just reach it- but you don’t.

He does. And it feels so-normal. So normal that it’s almost scary, as if you’ve done this before.

‘I meant it, you know? You really were incredible. How do you separate yourself like that? You looked like a whole new person.’ You know he means it in a good way- so you accept the compliment.

‘I’m not sure.’ You start, staring at your intertwined hands.

‘I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, it didn’t matter what I felt- I danced. When I was sad, when I was angry or happy. My dad said it was a coping mechanism. I kinda feel invincible when I’m on a stage, you know?’

Sam listens- he looks at you. He looks at you and the world is still on pause. Everything around you moves in slow motion if not at all, you don’t hear the music anymore, you only hear his heart beat faster for you. You hear him take a breath, and you see him lean in.

‘I’ve been meaning to do this for a while.’ He gives you a smile, but because he’s taller than you, you look up to see him waiting for something- like he’s unsure, as if he wasn’t flirting one second ago.

‘Well, I’m waiting!’ You tell him with a sassy tone, and Sam laughs. He brings his hands to rest on each side of your face, and now he’s so close- he’s so close you can feel him. You can almost taste him. Your heart’s racing, your hands tremble as they go to rest on his shoulders.

Then he kisses you.

The world is still.

The world is yours.

He tastes like peppermint, he smells like vanilla. One of his hands grip your hair, lightly, because he wants you. He needs you- not in a sexual way. He needs you here with him. He needs to kiss you, to feel you. He needs to kiss you because he doesn’t ever want to forget the way you taste, or the way your mouth feels fighting against his.

‘Thank god for that, I can’t believe it took you this long.’ You break the kiss and lay your forehead against his.

‘Yeah, I probably should’ve done that before.’ He lets out a small laugh, only for you to hear.

You’re about to answer when you hear someone applaud. When you turn around, your friends are there. And they’re all wearing the biggest smile.

‘It’s about damn time.’ One tells you, and suddenly it’s not just you and Sam anymore.

But you’re okay with that.

Because you don’t just have Sam- you have a whole family.

A whole family who apparently couldn’t wait for this to happen- just as much as you did.

[faislittlewhiteraven]

Had another ISaT AU dream

This one was much less atmospheric and cool than my Tower of Dormont AU one but for anyone out there looking for fic ideas: Modern day 'urban fantasy AU' with the classic 'all the magic types are hidden' masquerade shenanigans going on but well the setup is: Isabeau, neighbourhood friendly vampire, trying to be as ethical as he can with his blood consumption, wanders areas like the outside of night clubs and the park late at night totally just 'out for a late night jog' with emergency fruit snacks and juice boxes on hand-

meets Siffrin, an exhausted, lonely, 'working far too many hours to barely break even on their rent' human on the way back from their 6 to 3am shift attempting to stargaze in the middle of the park, and the two get SO into talking Isa kinda forgets to even bite the little fella (oops!) before offering them a juice box. Cue Sif and Isa both deciding for '100% totally logical reasons' to keep frequenting the park, Isa having his first real 'help Mira, Ma'dam I'm biting someone I know on the regular, and I'm not sure if I LIKE-like them or if this just, idk, stupid vampire instincts going on' crisis combined with some secondary 'also I'm really worried about their living situation and maybe I could invite them to stay with me, introduce you all to them cuz they don't really seem to have any friends, etc' stuff, Sif slowly getting to meet everyone in 'the supernatural support group/family' (aka Mira, Odile, Bonnie and Nille), Isa and Sif's relationship progressing firmly into romantic territory with Isa stressing about how to explain the whole 'vampire' thing and how to apologise about all the hypnotising and get across that the only thing he's ever used it for was Sif's blood only (which btw is very tasty and sweet and also lets him daywalk sometimes which usually only happens when it's freely given, so Sif should probably not let any other vamp know about that) and- And-!

Annnnd it turns out that actually, Siffrin has known Isa was a vampire this entire time and that Isa's hypnosis never worked on them: Sif just accepted that getting bitten by the wonderful funny buff Isa-vamp was a small price to pay for free meals and good conversation on the regular, Isa's occasion 'red eye' thing was just attractive a tell for when he was getting hungry and as a 'Null'(1) -aka one of the Universe's designated monster killers who's constantly having to butcher and then hide the bodies of all the monsters that keep trying to pull off kills or worse right in front of them (when Sif's not being targeted himself. Late night solo shifts at the 7/11 / gas station are the worst)- this frankly has been the nicest, least stressful string of monster encounters they've had in a long time and they're really enjoying the reprieve.

TLDR: Isabeau is a vampire in the modern day who's hyper freaked out about confessing his (and his friends') monster status to his totally normal overworked human 'maybe partner' Sif, who actually knew Isa was a vamp the whole time, is actually THE primary monster hunter of the area, and is simply really happy that Isa and the other monsters he keeps introducing them to are actually good company as opposed to usual murderous eldritch horrors they usually run into. (1) My dream gave me a surprising amount of worldbuilding here (thank you dream Odile for trying to sus Sif out) but Nulls are sort of something akin to a Slayer in Buffy - Chosen ones selected by The Universe to slay evil. Nulls specifically 'ping' as 100% normal human to pretty much all supernatural senses (hence why they're called Nulls) but they're just flat out immune to mind manipulation and perception filters, they heal back from horrific levels of injury relatively quickly (though it's not quite at 'abusable in combat' levels), they instinctively know exactly how to hurt and kill any foe they deem in need of killing, and they tend to have major 'kill them all' issues towards most supernatural types since they often become Nulls as a result of their family's getting murdered or nearly being erased from existence by some sort of cosmic horror etc... Resulting in them being officially 'the ones monsters tell horror stories of'. Incidentally, one of the 'tells' of a Null is that they tend to be especially 'alluring' in various ways to most kinds of 'human hunting' monsters: Their blood, flesh, emotions etc all 'smell' and 'taste' especially delicious (and may grant 'special' properties such as giving Vampires sun immunity), they tend to work odd hours or 'do at one's own pace' jobs (aka being murder monster catnip tends to result in a lot of unscheduled and inexplainable emergences), and they tend to be perpetually exhausted (due to having to be near constantly hyper alert in case of Yet Another Monster after them, and all the monster slaying itself).

As for other stuff:

I vaguely picture Mira and the other Dormont Housemaidens as Angels for the Change God (think like bees to a hive - collecting the 'byproducts' of fresh hope and change in humans to make into food), Odile as some kind of primordial Eldritch Thing who's always lent towards benevolent observation of humanity (also one of the few supernaturals to ever have met more than one Null before and lived to tell about it. Probably the only supernatual being in setting who's likely to treat them as highly dangerous people first, murderous killers second), and Bonnie and Nille as Were Beasts of some kind (plz picture Sif being charmed over by Bonnie in an instant, being enthralled by their big gush/bragging about the 'once a month family camping trips' where they and Nille go to the countryside to hunt wild boar or deer which then Bonnie cooks up real nice for everyone except Za because he's a weenie who can't handle any good seasonings like garlic' and immediately offering to save Frin the best cut next time since it probably wouldn't be safe to bring him on the trip with them).

Also Isa totally works as a 'night only' beat cop or park ranger or something (gets away with just working the later hours since 'sun allergy' is accepted as a reasonably common disability in a human society full of secret monster folks trying to blend in) though he IS currently undertaking an online apprenticeship with a well known fashion designer who's been around forever.

Sif's Null awakening probably involved a 'history eating' eldritch horror (so um. Yep, sorry Sif, you still have memory loss, no ID and probably no education past middle school level) and The King's also a Null but of the 'genuinely murderous and terrible' kind - specifically in my dream, Sif's (2nd?) awakening involved killing The King (and mercy killing a whole bunch of innocent monsters The King was keeping as 'living trophies' or something because Sif had no idea how to free them from their various fate-worse-than-deaths otherwise) but like. I'm not writing this so do as you wish~ I do very much like the visual of Sif's 'Null' instincts including other Null who've 'gone wrong' though and hope that gets included. Makes for a nice 'and then Isa and the other friendly monsters had to process that cute, sweet Siffrin who's so gentle with Bonbon, stepped in to help Mira and Nille with babysitting near instantly, gets teased by Odile and throws everything into making Isa laugh and swoon, is in fact the rumored serial killer of serial killers who once dealt with a guy that had a rep akin to 'He Who Must Not Be Named' among the monster community, when he was around 14 years old and armed with a pencil sharpner.

Oh and before I forget again: Sif has absolutely zero knowledge of supernaturals other than 1) they exist, 2) most other people don't know they exist, and 3) Siffrin is supernatural catnip who's really really good at murdering things before they can murder him or other people. Also they do not get paid enough for this, monsters tend to carry less money on them than one might think, and the police start asking very awkward questions if you become known as 'that one fella who keeps finding and selling stuff suspected to belong to missing persons at the nearby pawn shop'.

Only reason Sif didn't start their 'three warnings before murder' thing with Isa is that they were just that damn tired when they met him that they didn't pick up on his vampy vibes until his teeth were in their neck, they didn't have the energy to 'bother' fighting him off (they were firmly at the 'this might as well happen, why not die at the teeth of someone who was at least nice about it' point) and well. Cue dull, confused happy surprise (much akin to someone just coming off a vamp's hypnosis) when Isa stopped them from tipping over, apologised for 'keeping them out so late they were fainting from low blood sugar' and gave them half a dozen snacks before offering to walk them home.

So yeah. There's another AU out for adoption if anyone wants in (do feel free to ask for help if you want more world building or whatever) and off I go back to typing away at my endless amount of ISaT Selkie AU notes instead~ XD

[peekofhistory]

Do you have a favourite c-drama, either historical, modern or fantasy? I really enjoyed watching Everlasting Longing

I absolutely have a favourite, along with 3 other that come really close 😃 These 4 shows I've watched for almost 30 years now and I still keep re-watching them because of how amazing they are.

a) 1994 Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义) b) 1986 Journey to the West (西游记) c) 1987 Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦) d) 1998 Water Margins (水浒传)

These 4 series were based off of the classical novels of the same names. They were produced by CCTV, the central broadcasting network in China, so we call them 央视版 (central broadcast version) because there are many other adaptations.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, out of these 4 series this one is my ABSOLUTE favourite. Not only for Chinese drama, this is my favourite show historical, modern, Chinese, English, the top spot in my heart.

This story is set in the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Out of all 4 classics, this one is the most historical, but the story DOES contain many fictional aspects. Many people say it's 70/30 (70% based on history, 30% made up/tweaked from history). The characters themselves ARE all real in history, and the general direction of the story follows history as well.

Near the end of the Han Dynasty, local warlords started gaining power, eventually splitting the country into 3 Kingdoms. That's pretty much the basis of the story. It goes into strategies used in warfare, psychology of using strategies, famous battles, etc. People also use it to discuss some philosophical questions like, honor, right vs wrong (kill an innocent person to calm an entire army, is that justified? etc.), what is acceptable as a leader, being faithful to your country, not giving up, etc.

I've watched this series no less than 20 times over the past 30 years and every time I still laugh and cry. I also know enough about the background when they were filming to know how difficult it was. The series is 84 eps long, they filmed in 5 groups for 3 years (so basically all 5 groups were filming at the same time to save time), even utilizing the military for some of the larger battles. Main character roles were paid 250 yuan/episode (about $34 USD today), which was fairly good for salary back then but nowhere near the outrageous amounts actors get today compared to average worker. The first few months before filming all actors went through training, horseback riding, fighting, going over the novel with experts, learning etiquette and mannerisms, etc.

This series also has my favourite historical figures, Emperor Liubei and his Prime Minister Zhuge Liang. After researching the actual history of this period, these two are my top historical Emperor/advisor pair. An Emperor who trusted his Prime Minister with his Kingdom, and a Prime Minister who fought to the last breath to fulfill the dream they had together T___T 为什么我的鱼水君臣要 BE...😭😭😭

If you're interested in watching this series, @hanchaozhilang is doing English subs for the whole series

Putting up 2 MVs for them here (combined into 1 video), 我家昭烈帝和武侯有排面！！

Srcs: 一知半解书 【悬溺一响，诸葛亮登场】 https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1nP411W7tA/

博文儿吖 【刘备|正史燃向】翻��翻译什么叫昭烈！ https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV14r4y1m7rs/

Journey to the West is based off of a true event in history, during the Tang Dynasty. A monk went on a journey from Chang'an (now Xi'an) to India for Buddhist scriptures. I'm not too familiar with the actual history, but I can imagine back then it would've been an incredibly difficult journey to make.

The novel took that journey and expanded it. They wrote in 3 disciples for the monk (technically 4...the horse who's the son of one of the Dragon Kings is also one), and put 81 "tests" along the way. The monk and his disciples had to overcome these attempts to thwart their journey to finally reach their goal.

The main character of this series isn't actually the monk but his eldest disciple, the Monkey King (top right). The Monkey King (named Sun Wukong) was birthed from a rock, and learned skills like how to transform into various objects, how to fly, etc. At one point he trashed the Jade Emperor (Emperor of the Heavens) palace and was sentenced by Buddha to be trapped under a mountain, but was tasked to assist the monk on his journey 500 years later.

When they filmed this series they were desperately short on funding, only had 1 video camera to use xD Every single main actor took on several roles (some of the smaller monster roles, once all the makeup was on you couldn't tell anyway). The actor who played the Monkey King, Liu Xiao Ling Tong, he came from a family of Peking Opera performers who specialized in the Monkey King role, so he excelled in it.

The novel Dream of the Red Chamber is originally called Story of the Stone (石头记). It centres around several large, rich, powerful families interconnected through marriage, with members serving in the court and one of the daughters even being a concubine to the Emperor. Although the story doesn't specify a dynasty, most people speculate it's likely set in Ming (the author was from the Qing Dynasty).

There are numerous storylines throughout the story, but the main one is between a young man, Baoyu, and his cousin, Daiyu (top left). This novel is incredibly complicated, with an entire profession dedicated to studying just this book (called "Redology" 红学). It can be viewed as telling the rise and fall of a family, but can also be viewed to describe a society and the rise and fall of dynasties. There are many, many characters in this book all with different story arcs. When I was a child, watching this show was just pretty clothes and hair, but as I grew, every time I re-watched the show I found reflections of life in this story. Family relationships, friendships, colleagues, bosses, this story touches on all of them, so whatever age you read this book/watch this show there's things to think about.

Many of the actors for this show were not actors by profession, literally plucked from the crowd. For two years prior to filming, all of them lived together, learning the script, reading the novel, going over it with experts, learning mannerisms, how to write calligraphy, poetry, etc. Their roles weren't immediately set, so during those two years they all tried out different roles, memorized lines, basically like living in a giant dormitory together, so once filming did start their "acting" was very natural.

Water Margins is set in the Song Dynasty. This story, to me, is darker than the other 3. The story depicts a court that is very corrupt and unjust, which forces a lot of otherwise good people to resort to criminal activity. Over 100 of them gather on a mountain in the middle of a lake, called Liangshan, where they essentially become a gang.

The traditional view of them tended to be kind of like Robinhood, raiding local cities and distributing the wealth to the people but if you actually read the book it's darker. Before joining the group, some of them would kidnap women and **** them, or one person had a restaurant where she murdered customers and made them into meat buns O.O;; So...yeah, dark stuff.

But anyway, the story goes into how this group take on the courts, lots of fighting, lots of bloodshed, the ending's really tragic T_T

[pompomchihuahua]

Sanemi Shinazugawa: A Man of the Pack

So, everyone has likely seen this image:

Wherein Muichirou likens all of the Hashira (most of the Hashira, poor Giyuu) to animals.

Today, I want to discuss why Sanemi being described as a wolf is particularly insightful and apt.

But first, let's take a look at wolves in nature, specifically on the nature of sibling relationships between wolves and how they relate back to Sanemi. In this analysis I'm gonna pull out a lot of terms like Alloparenting, kin selection, and cooperative breeding, but bear with me and I'll do my best to explain everything! (I may have abused my college library for fandom purposes, oopsies!)

You've probably heard by now that the classic "Alpha wolf" pack structure that was popularized in 1970's is very much a misrepresentation of actual wolf packs in the wild. Actual wolf packs are often made up of closely related individuals with one main breeding pair. This main breeding pair produces offspring, which then become members of the pack and participate in future hunts as well as future child rearing.

So! A "pack" is really just a family unit. Most are made up of the parents and all their offspring.

Now, you've probably heard the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child."

If you have, congratulations! You now know the concept of Cooperative Breeding in a nutshell! Basically, cooperative breeding is a social structure characterized by alloparental care. Alloparental care is any form of parental care performed by an individual towards young that are not its direct offspring. Such as...

...an older sibling raising their younger sibling.

Alloparenting is actually incredibly rare among mammals, with only about 3% of species exhibiting this behavior, the most famous of which being humans and wolves.

This is because it is a form of altruism, wherein an individual sacrifices something for the benefit of another individual. In the case of wolves, this may be food, time, or other resources as siblings will take up feeding, warming, and guarding duties while the alpha pair and other siblings are on a hunt.

Sanemi is a family-oriented man. His entire character is driven by family (and yes, this does include the likes of Masachika and Kanae, which I will discuss later).

His early life revolved around raising his siblings. When they passed and he was forced to kill his mother, his life shifted then to revolve solely around Genya, his remaining pack.

What I find interesting is the way Sanemi looks at the world through a lens of family orientation. Close friends are not simply "friends," they are family, and thus, pack. For example, Masachika became an older brother figure to him. In signs from the wind, when he was becoming Kanae, he looked at her the same way he would look at his mother. Even the way he views Tengen is through the lens of an older brother figure.

"He often acts like an older brother."

He talks to Shinobu "since she's Kanae's little sister." (thus, in a way, extended pack).

Hell, even his annoyance at Giyuu makes more sense when put into this light. Putting aside his glaring inferiority complex (and really, we shouldn't because it does play a huge role into why he hates Giyuu), we see that Giyuu very much plays into the "lone wolf" archetype. Something that very much goes against the pack-oriented nature of wolves.

Even calling Giyuu a lone wolf is a bit of a misnomer. Wolves leave the pack with the intention of starting a new pack. Thus, lone wolves are actively seeking companionship, something Giyuu is very much not doing (at least not consciously).

It clashes against Sanemi's very nature as a man of the pack. This "I'm not like the rest of you," shtick. It not only implies he's somehow above them in Sanemi's mind, but it also defies the natural order of how Sanemi perceives the world.

Despite his brash attitude, his openness is rated at 60% and he's often depicted within the inner group of the hashira.

He's not a social butterfly, but he is by no means a loner. Just look at how well he gets along with Obanai!

So, returning to the wolf analogy, we know that Sanemi is a pack-oriented man who places the survival of his family above all else. Let's talk about why wolves are so invested in their family members survival.

It's a concept known as Kin Selection.

Kin selection is where a trait is favored by the success of the individual's relatives that possess it and successfully pass it on.

Think of it like this: You share approximately 50% of your genes with your full sibling (with identical twins sharing 100%!). You also share 50% of your genes with your parent. You share just as much genetic material with a sibling as you would with your own child.

Theoretically, your sibling's success is also your success genetically.

This is, of course, a hotly debated topic, however.

Not every wolf is interested in starting their own pack. Let's talk about 0'6, the most famous wolf in Yellowstone. Specifically, let's talk about her mate's brother, 754M, who, instead of starting his own pack, followed his brother, 755M and joined his pack instead where he went on to help raise his pups as an uncle and served as a sort of third pack leader.

Which, is reminiscent of Sanemi's stance in the main story. His dreams are for Genya to find a "mate" and have "pups" of his own and build his own pack. And while Sanemi has no plans of being there physically, he plans to spend his life fiercely guarding Genya's pack, much like 754M.

Once again, however, the validity of kin selection among wolves is a a bit of a hot bed among animal behavioralists and evolutionary biologists, but it is applicable in this case to Sanemi.

Sanemi very much does not care for his own success. He says himself that if he should die, he would die with a sword in his teeth, taking out as many demons as he can while Genya has a bushel of kids.

Sanemi being described as one of the most family oriented and surprisingly altruistically loyal mammals is one of the most apt metaphors Muichirou could have chosen for him.

Everything from how Sanemi views the world to how he operates to even his appearance and tenacity can best be described as wolf-like.

Including, me thinks, the fandom's tendency to demonize him. Wolves are one of the most misunderstood animals out there and lately a lot of light has been shed on the beautiful creatures. With the Infinity castle movies so close to releasing, I think the same shift in perspective will be coming for Sanemi soon as well.

Now to link my sources! Hoo boy. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here.

[sunlightmurdock]

Older bf Bradley getting all protective/possessive when he brings you to the hard deck for the first time

He’s got his grip tight on your palm from the second that you’re out of his car. You don’t mind it though. As much as attention can make you nervous, being marched into the bar attached to Bradley is something that makes your stomach erupt in butterflies. There’s classic rock playing and the entire place smells like beer and cologne.

He pulls you in front of him the second that you’re inside, not planning on letting his girl trail behind him for a second. He walks you over to a pool table at the back and you’re met with a group of people that you’ve heard of before. You’ve only ever met one of them so far. Well, you hadn’t met him.

He had come over to Bradley’s place to give back something he had borrowed and seen you walking around in nothing but your underwear.

The grinning blonde is the first one to stretch his hand out towards you, “It’s so good to see you again.”

You press back against Bradley’s chest and he drapes one arm around your middle, a physical barrier between you and Jake. Still, you sheepishly shake Jake’s hand.

As much as they like to tease, Bradley’s friends do their best to be kind to you. It’s clear that they aren’t really sure how to connect with someone almost a decade younger than they are, but you aren’t what they were expecting, and they seem to like you.

Jake especially.

You’ve been steadily coming out of your shell all night and Bradley has let go of you long enough for you to be engaged in a round of pool with Hangman and Bob. Bradley’s eyes narrow as he watches you lean forwards, bending over the table to take your shot. He looks to his left and watches Jake watch you.

Jake’s eyes are on the way that you’re bent at the waist, and the way your ass fills out those shorts when you bend like that.

You sink the ball and spin to ask Bradley if he saw, gasping as you find him right in front of you and grabbing your hips now. He glances across at Jake as he curls his fingers around the nape of your neck, tilting your head back. Bradley returns his full attention to you, kissing you deeply, making sure that Jake can see the obedient way you part your lips for him to lick into your mouth.

“You want to go for a walk with me, baby girl?” Bradley whispers against your mouth, stroking his thumb along your nape. Your eyelids blink heavily at him, dizzied by his kiss, confused.

“But, I’m playing—“

Bradley leans down and presses his lips to your earlobe. Jake rolls his eyes as he leans against his pool cue. He can’t hear what Bradley says to you but whatever it is, it’s got you giggling up at him and handing off your cue to Bob.

Your boyfriend slips his palm into yours and guides you out the side door. The two of you are gone for a while, maybe thirty minutes. When the two of you do finally come back, you’re giggling and draping yourself all around him. Jake can’t help but notice the sand on your back, or the hickey on the left side of your neck.

[acottonsock]

ACottonSock's Sims 4 Mods Masterlist

I'm not well versed with The Sims 4, but after my recent video where I mentioned revisiting it after many years (like we're talking 2015/16), a few viewers asked me to put together my mods list because they want to enjoy Sims 4 too and had no idea where to start.

Last Updated: 12/17/24 - swapped out default eyes for the 'Atmospheric Eyes'. Added 'Auto Check Toddler & Infants Tweaks' by LittleMsSam.

Click "keep reading" to see the entire compiled list!

CAS and Default Replacements

Body Hair Replacement (Luumia Edition): Replaces EA's terrible body hair textures with Luumia's textures.

Default Replacement Cutlery: Replaces the EA fork and spoon textures with nicer ones.

CAS Room - Plant Lover: Really pretty CAS background room.

Atmospheric Eyes: Default replacement eyes.

Remove EA Lashes: Removes EA's chunky eyelashes so I can overlay my pretty ones.

Cumulus Clouds: Overrides the default clouds in the sky to be a lot high texture and prettier. I use 'Alfsi_clouds_cumulus02_mesh'.

Cherry Tree Override: Replaces the default cherry tree to a better texture.

Luumia's Body Hair: Body hair that appears in the 'tattoo' category. Looks very realistic.

Luumia's Vanilla Skin Default: A nice smooth default replacement skin.

Popcorn Ceiling Default: Changes the ceiling texture to be the classic popcorn ceiling.

Stand Still in CAS: Stops the stupid animations when Sims fidget around in CAS.

More Columns in CAS (4 columns ver.): Adds more columns in the CAS catalogue.

CAS Modifiers Bugfix: Supposedly fixes the receding chin issue that appears when Sims age up in CAS.

Gameplay Mods

MC Command Center: Adds greater control to your Sims 4 game experience and NPC story progression options.

MC Woohoo: Allows various common Woohoo options to be available as settings.

Small Vegetarian Overhaul: "Vegetarian" no longer has to take up a personality slot in Create a Sim. Your sims can have all three of their precious personality traits and still be a vegetarian if they want to be.

Enlist in War: Adds a new self-interaction to Sims to allow them to enlist in a war.

More Layoffs: Increases the chance of a layoff happening to your Sim.

More Names Variety (+Expanded Random Names): If your sims visit Sulani, San Myshuno and Mt. Komorebi often, the game will generate sims to populate festivals, streets and to take part in activities. These townies do not get their names from the same list you have in CAS (randomized) but have separate lists of culturally appropriate names. These lists are short (some only 10 names long) and you may have noticed some repetition or have grown tired of seeing the same names over and over again.

Better Elders Mod: Adds new social interactions, social events, and gameplay options for elders.

Dental Care: Sims can get cavities, have bad breath, need and receive braces, toddlers can teeth and teens can have wisdom teeth extracted.

Divergent Sims: Focuses on neurodiversity, self-esteem, mental health, addiction, evaluation, and treatments. This includes a detailed variety of 25 anxiety, developmental, learning, mood, neurological, personality, body, eating, and mental health conditions affecting infants to elders as well as 4 addictions affecting young adults and older.

Eye Care: Adds basic eye care to your game. Regular eye exams, contacts, and eyeglasses can help identify and then mitigate these issues. Laser Eye Surgery is also an option for some conditions.

Career Day Overhaul: Adds many new features to the existing in-game events. (REQUIRES: High School Years and XML Injector)

Magic School: Adds a magic school like Hogwarts! (REQUIRES: XML Injector)

Extreme Violence: Like the name suggests, adds violence and many more deaths.

The Hopes & Fears Mod: Overhaul of the Wants & Fears system. (REQUIRES: Lot 51 Core Library and The Custom Wants Mod)

Dynamic Teen Life: Adds to and enhances the teen experience, introducing popularity, social groups, more after school activities, as well as additional entertainment, social, and dating opportunities. (REQUIRES: General Pie Menus, Shared Tuning, and Mood Pack)

Foster Family: Become a part of the LMS Foster Family Network and take care of Toddler, Children, Teens or Pets who are in need of a Foster Family.

Live in Business: Adds Lot Traits to the Game which lets you run Businesses at Home like Live in Bar, Club, Cáfe, Daycare and more. (REQUIRES: XML Injector)

More Buyable Venues and New Venue Types: Lets you buy more Venues and adds new Venue Types to the Game. (REQUIRES: Universal Venue List and XML Injector)

Online Learning System: Learn up to 41 Skills (incl. Vet & Hidden Skills) online via the Online Learning System (OLS).

Social Activities (Visit Friends, Family and more): This Mod adds Social Activities for your Sims to go to! (REQUIRES: XML Injector)

Auto-Zodiacs: Your sims now have zodiacs! This mods adds the 12 western zodiac signs to the game, and automatically adds them to babies when they are born.

LGBTQIA+: Gender & orientation Overhaul: Adds a ton of nuance to Sims' sexual and gender identity.

Delinquent Teens: Adds opportunities for teens to rebel and consequences for if they do ranging from being grounded, to in-school suspension, to probation, and more. (REQUIRES: General Pie Menus, Shared Tuning, and Mood Pack)

The Personality Mod: Each Primary trait costs 0 Satisfaction Points, so you can add the traits to newly created sims, straight out of Create-A-Sim. Secondary Traits cost 50 satisfaction points. (REQUIRES: Lot 51 Core Library and The Custom Wants Mod)

More Deadly/Intense Fire: Makes fires more hazardous.

Chat Pack - More Social Interactions: Adds more social interactions between Sims. (REQUIRES: XML Injector)

New Random Names: Bored when you look to a townie name or try randomizing it and it have the same name and last name all the time? This mod will help you with that!

Preteens: Introduces a new life stage between children and teens and a new school, depending on which version is installed, Middle School or Junior High School. (REQUIRES: General Pie Menus, Shared Tuning, and Mood Pack)

Meaningful Stories: Redesigns the mood and emotions system. This collection of changes big and small aims to allow your sims to feel more human, to make the events in their lives feel more meaningful, and to turn managing their lives into a more interesting challenge.

Autonomous Vampires UPDATED!: Changes the ask to be turned and offer to be turned to autonomous.

Teen's Cupid Corner: Adds Cupid's Corner for teens.

First Crush Preteens: Adds the ability to have first crushes. (REQUIRES: General Pie Menus, Shared Tuning, Preteens, and Mood Pack)

Teen Jobs Collection: 12 new careers for teens.

Vampiric Bloodlines: Adds vampire bloodlines. (REQUIRES: Trait Tracker Injector and XML Injector)

sims4me Trait Overhaul: Tweaks the existing traits to make them more meaningful. Sims will do better or worse in certain/all careers, at school and/or at university based on their traits. Traits will also influence autonomy and skill gain. They will moreover affect how well two Sims will get along with other Sims, this will also be affected by the other Sims mood and/or age.

Spend Weekend With: Send your Kids away to visit their Grandparents or other parent, or send your Teens away to stay with a friend for the Weekend.

Can I Come Over?: Want to visit a Friend but you can’t remember where they live? Too lazy to search all worlds for their lot? Send them a text and you may will get a text back to go and visit them with just a click!

Pregnancy and Baby Mods

Cherished Moments - Pregnancy: Adds over 15+ different Moodlets that can occur during appropriate & realistic pregnancy trimesters. (REQUIRES: XML Injector)

Relationship & Pregnancy Overhaul Collection: Adds an astounding amount of pregnancy and relationship options.

Child Birth Mod: Adds a ton of new pregnancy events and outcomes.

New Realistic Life & Pregnancy: Adds more family interactions, morning interactions, mean interactions, kids interaction, and more.

Fixes

Adults Get Crushes FIX: Allows Sims older than teens to develop crushes.

Carry Napping Toddlers to Bed: Adds three new interactions to put toddlers to bed available when they are napping. (REQUIRES: XML Injector)

Better Autonomous Homework: A, B and C Students should make their Homework autonomously now.

More traits for kids: Unlocks more traits for kids.

Meeting new siblings will change relationship: Adds a relationship change (and notification) when a sim meeting their new little brother/sister.

Break Up Whim / Want Fix: Sims who do not have family oriented trait will soon or later get break up whim if they are in relationship for a long time, even when the couples are soulmates. With this mod, Sims will NOT get break up whim unless their romance score is less than -10.

Dine Out Reloaded: Fixes a ton of Dine Out related features.

Simulation Unclogger by TURBODRIVER: Script that detects when a Sim causes the simulation to get stuck, rendering the game unplayable, and attempts to fix it.

Less Musical Chairs: Reduces the amount of moving around from chair to chair or place to place when sims are socializing with other sims.

No Standing Up to Greet: Stops Sims from standing up to greet. When seated, Sims will only greet each other by waving. They will still greet each other normally (i.e. hug) when both of the interacting Sims are standing.

Various Seating Fixes/Additions: Sims will now sit while watching musical, comedy and karaoke performances.

Auto Check Toddler & Infants Tweaks by LittleMsSam: Changed the Cooldown from 5 minutes to 60. Sims will now check on Toddler & Infants regularly when Motives are low (Hunger, Hygiene, Energy), Diapers need to be changed or when the Cooldown is over (To play with them, talk, teach Flashcards etc.)

Camera Mods

Live Mode and Tab Mode Fix: Fixes the annoying drift in tab mode.

Sliders

Luumia Sliders: Ear Presets, Ear Up/Down, Face Asymmetry, Fingers.

Luumia Sliders: Height, Hip Shape, Neck Height.

Pouty Lip Slider: Adds the pouty slider to a Sim in CAS.

Presets

Northern Siberia Winds: Adds a collection of preset noses, lips, eyes, ears, cheeks, etc.

Miiko Lips: Adds a collection of presets and overlays of lips.

Obscurus Nose Presets: Adds a collection of presets and overlays for your Sims.

Lighting

Better In-Game Lighting (Dark Base): Changes lighting.

Sunblind: Realistic lighting overhaul.

Environment Replacements

Khippie 505 Terrain Replacements: Overrides EA's terrain textures, depth, contrast, and colours.

Khippie 202 Ground Replacements: Overrides EA's ground textures.

Khippie 707 Nature Replacements: Overrides trees.

Khippie 101 Builder Replacements: Overrides EAxis floors.

Adult mods (18+)

Basemental Drugs: Custom drugs, custom animations, altered walkstyles, altered moods, altered needs, come-ups, peaks, comedowns, hangovers, addiction, rehabilitation, and loads more.

Basemental Gangs: Adds gangs. Features rivalries between gangs, micromanaging your own gang members, use gang members as drug runners, run your operations through your own gang headquarters, exclusive new opportunities from your right hand man and much, much more.

Basemental Gambling: Functional casino venue and gambling.

WickedWhims: Adds realistic s3x and menstrual cycles. There's a SFW version called Wonderful Whims.