#what I would have given to see him perform that dance on a music show

[atinystraynstay]

I Don't Share - Jeon Jungkook

Synopsis: Jungkook was the one that proposed you should be friends with benefits. You both were single and had desires. Falling in love wasn't a part of the plan though.

Pairing: Idol!Jeon Jungkook x Back up Dancer!fem reader

Genre: Smuttttt! Jealous, posessive Jungkook, friends with benefits - Minors DNI

Contains: public sex, mentions of eating out (f. receiving), light spanking (f. receiving), no protection vaginal sex, slight degradation, creampie, hair pulling

Word Count: 2.6k

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You were given the opportunity of a lifetime. What started as a way to kill time during the pandemic quickly turned into you flying to South Korea to join BTS in their rehearsals for their Permission To Dance shows. A little over a year later, you were in rehearsals again for Jungkook's solo promotions with the release of his debut album, Golden. You didn't think your life could get better than this.

Never before would you think that your dance studio closing to meet shutdown requirements would grant you the opportunity of a lifetime. Or that you would meet the guy of your dreams.

Jungkook was around your age, so it was easy for you two to get along. You often would spend late nights going over and over the dance routine for performances and the filming of upcoming music videos. His manager would often ask if he wanted a ride home, but Jungkook would always come up with an excuse.

"No, I'm ok. I want to make sure my hyungs are proud of me when they can finally see this!" Which often made the staff smile that he wanted to make his members proud.

Another one often was along the lines of - "No, thank you though. I am just stuck on this one part of the choreography and I think I'm finally getting it down. I will call security to make sure I get home." He promised every single time to use the resources at the company, but he never did.

He always opted to take Uber rides with you. At first, it was because Jungkook liked being able to talk to someone around his age. He had a solid group of friends, but you were new. Coming from the United States, he wanted to know what it was like to be a 20-something-year-old making it work.

The two of you often shared after practices drinks and meals. "You know, we have to nourish our bodies well. Jin-hyung taught me that well."

Quickly though, his hunger turned into something else. Getting to know you, getting to watch how your hips moved with ease, he began to grow hungry for your pussy. Jungkook was a very competitive guy, and he was determined to be the best at fucking you until you see the stars. He wanted to make you cum and scream until you forgot your name, until you questioned your ability to walk after.

Meals quickly turned into eating you out at your apartment. To be fair, it was his favorite meal of the day. He loved getting down on his knees for you, spreading them wide, and exposing you to him. Only or him. He often liked to blow cool air on your pussy to watch you squirm underneath his touch.

Jungkook thrived on knowing the reaction he could pull out of you. He liked knowing you whimpered and begged for him to lick your pussy, to suck on your clit as if his life depended on it. And if you begged well, he would reward you by sliding two of his fingers into your pussy.

Dance practices weren't the only reason why he would come over. If a recording session didn't go well, you offered comfort by letting him bend you and pound into your pussy. Afterwards, you would always talk about how he was feeling but you quickly learned that Jungkook preferred letting his frustrations out physically rather than verbally at first.

There were just a few more performances left for the group. Everyone knew that Jungkook would be enlisting soon, so nobody was taking it for granted. Every dance, every member of the crew, and Jungkook himself were basically putting their all into every dance practice, dress rehearsal, and performance.

You were currently sitting criss-cross on the dance practice floor, your water bottle resting in your lap. Your thumb moved your TikTok FYP up every once in a while. There was a 30 minute break, allowing some people to go grab lunch while others were taking a minute to just relax.

"So, y/n, did you know someone here in Korea before you moved?"

There was often conversation floating among the dancers. Down time and hanging outside of practice were opportunities to get to know one another, and do a little networking. With the days narrowing down on this contract, you were beginning to consider your options. Part of you wanted to go back home, to reunite with family, but you also were having the time of your life here.

Hearing your name, you locked your phone and set it on the floor. There were a few others who joined you on the floor, in their own worlds until the current conversation started. You felt all eyes on you as the question was directed to you.

"No, I actually didn't," You laughed. A year ago, you never would have had the courage to move across the world by yourself. Being here now, you knew it was the best decision. "So a good dancer, a risk taker, beautiful," one of the male dancers began to list.

You blushed at the compliment. One thing that has changed is your struggle to accept compliments. You knew he meant well, but it didn't stop you feeling as if your face had gotten incredibly hot.

"You've got to have a partner, right? Meet someone here in Korea? I mean, Korean men know how to treat you right," he winked.

You heard one of the female dancers scuff. She rolled her eyes at his words, shaking her head towards the two of you. "Don't listen to him. Stay away from Korean men," she warned before going back to eat her salad.

"You're just upset still about your breakup," he muttered. Quickly, that was followed by a loud smack and laughter from the other members. You watched the one male rub his tender arm, apologizing to the woman to his right. Satisfied, she nodded in acknowledgement before going back to her lunch.

The male looked back at you, smiling sheepishly. "Anyways, are you single?" He asked. "You've never met up with us after practice for a quick drink."

Yeah, I normally can't go out because I'm getting railed by Jungkook after practice.

"Maybe she has a boyfriend back home?"

Decided to speak to yourself, you laughed as a way to break the conversation. Eager eyes were on you, wanting to know more about their American colleague.

"That's my bad for not showing face after practice. I normally get tired and want to go home. Sometimes I'm even here practicing a bit more just to make sure I'm as good as you all. I mean, you guys are professionals."

The group smiled wide at your kind words. You weren't sure how you'd fit in as an outsider, especially if you weren't sure if you were going to be staying or not. At the start of this job, you placed a huge amount of pressure to do well especially as you knew that so many people would do anything to be in your position. You wanted the company to be satisfied that they chose the right person.

"Well, now that it's known that we want you here. You are coming out with us tomorrow night." "Yes, you have to! We'll have to show you around the best parts of Seoul." "And hopefully get you with the best guy." "Or at least go home with the best guy."

Your cheeks turned pink again, which caused all the whole group to smile. How could life get any better?

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The sun had already set by the time you got done with practice. Most of the group had left for the evening whereas you were packing up your duffle bag with all your belongings. While you were very much looking forward to tomorrow night, you always loved a night-in to yourself.

You couldn't help but wonder if Jungkook would want to come over.

"You know, you really should be leaving here by yourself," a voice called out to you.

Startled, you looked over your shoulder to see Jungkook leaning against the practice room door. Speak of the devil. You placed one hand over your chest as your racing heart began to settle, very slowly that is.

"God, you fucking scared me."

He let out a laugh before coming into the room. You only could tell how he was moving by the sound of his laughter growing louder. "Sorry, doll, I couldn't help myself," he apologized. You hummed in amusement as you had your back turned towards him, trying to get the rest of your belongings together so you could leave. Because if he was ready to go, that meant that you were to.

You felt his hand ghost over your hip. Zipping up the duffle bag, you slowly stood up straighter to feel him right behind you. His lips hovered over the shell of your ear, feeling his hot breath against it. You shivered from the effect and with excitement.

"You seem to really be finding your place here," he said.

His voice was very smooth. He knew the effect he had on you, how you were basically wrapped around his finger. And he used it to his advantage. You were a bit confused as to where this was coming from.

"I mean, I overheard you making plans with the other dancers. I think that's good for you." His hand gently caressed your hip, the touch light as a feather. You were almost in a trance from it all. Just feeling his body heat radiate into your back sent a wave of warmth throughout you.

"But there is one thing I do not like." You were about to look over at him, but were cut off when his grip on you tightened. He yanked you back so you could feel his boner right up against his ass. You gasped in surprise which caused him to chuckle lightly. The laugh sending shivers done your spine. "I don't like sharing, angel."

Everything happened so suddenly. One minute, you were getting your duffle bag, the next you were being pinned against the mirrors of the dance studio. Jungkook's grip was tight enough to inform you he was in charge here, but loose enough to slip out if you felt uncomfortable. Yet, his gaze locked on you told you to stay put.

His breathing was a bit rigid, sensing emotions were coursing through his body. What was on his mind? You noticed his jaw was a bit clenched, almost as if he was contemplating what he was doing or his next move.

"Let me make it clear. You are not going home with anyone else besides me. You'll always come back to me."

Oh god, he overheard your conversation earlier. It was starting to make sense.

"I'll have to remind you if that's an issue." "Then mark me up and make me yours."

Jungkook's breathing hitched hearing you. He wasn't expecting such a response from you but it made him so damn weak. God, you were the death of him.

Not one to back down, he accepted your challenge.

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Smack.

You whimpered loudly at the feeling of Jungkook's hand meeting your left asscheek. It was like an electric jolt. A bit painful, considering he has spanked you repeatedly throughout the evening, but also pleasurable because it made you feel alive. It honestly made you feel powerful.

Jungkook had you on your hands and knees. You were at the dance studio. You knew everyone had left but the thrill of someone potentially catching the two of you turned you on.

With one hand staying on your hip, Jungkook's other hand ran up your spine gently. His touch was still a stark contrast to the feeling of his thick cock sliding in and out of your soaking pussy. Each smack against your ass caused your walls to squeeze around his cock, sending the two of you into a chorus of moans.

His hips rammed into you from behind. It created a rhythmic sound of skin slapping, the two of you moaning, and how wet you were. The last sound caused your cheeks to heat up, much to Jungkook's satisfaction.

The hand on your spine gathered your hair. You were grateful you put it in a low ponytail during practice earlier. Jungkook pulled your head, causing you to hiss in response. The sweet sting of your hair being pulled made you crave more. The sudden movement also caused your eyes to become a bit glossy. Your head tilted back as you met his in the reflection of the mirror.

"Look at you," Jungkook asked. His mouth was curled into a sinister smirk. "You're crying over my cock. Is it not enough for you, hmm? Is that why you wanna go out to meet other guys?"

"No, Jungkook, fuck," he panted out. "You're all I want, all I need." "Oh yeah? Prove it. Cum on my cock. Show me that I really am the only one that can make you feel so damn good."

If it were possible, Jungkook increased his pace. You cried out in pleasure as the intensity of his brutal thrusting caused your arms to give out. You upper half of your body rested against the cool wood floor, causing your ass to move a bit up. Jungkook groaned in appreciation for the change. He couldn't help himself. Smack.

Your mind was hazy. You couldn't comprehend anything besides Jungkook's cock filling and stretching you out. Your vision was getting blurry from the tears beginning to fall as you felt that familiar tingling, warm sensation in your stomach.

In a matter of moments, your vision went white and your toes curled. You screamed out his name. His grip on your hips could be burned into your skin. You never wanted him to stop touching you. Jungkook groaned as his thrusts got harder, determined to meet you at your high. The world around you seemed to stand still while your head was in the clouds.

After a few more thrusts, Jungkook let out a loud groan. You could feel his cum filling your pussy, which sent you into a whimpering mess at the feeling. You felt so content. He also felt content seeing some of his cum spilling out of your pussy once he began to pull out.

He swore you've never looked more beautiful. All his.

Lips were being pressed against your spine. You didn't even register that your body had sprawled out onto the wooden surface until Jungkook gently moved you. Your head rested on his chest, your back on the floor. His hand ran up and down your lower back. His other hand reached up to wipe away any of your remaining tears.

You were bringing brought down to reality. You could register the sound of you two heavy breathing, the slight tremors of your body starting to subside. With your head pressed into Jungkook's chest, you could hear his once racing heart beat begin to steady itself.

"You won't forget about me, right?" "How could I ever forget about you?"

There was a pause. Jungkook was the type to usually have a response, or do something in response to what was said to him. Not this time.

You looked up at him, concerned as you knew something was bothering him. Unfortunately, you got confirmation when you were met with his own glossy eyes.

"Look, I know a lot is going to change over 18 months. I don't care if you stay here in Korea or you go back home. I don't like sharing, y/n, so just promise not to forget about me because I'll come back to you. Every single damn time." "I could never forget about you, Jeon Jungkook. I'll be waiting for you, regardless of what happens next."

[celli-ohs]

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 TXT's Hello Baby!

. . . aka TXT as "fathers" starring in the variety show 'Hello Baby'

genre: headcanons, fluff, a lil bit of crack, a teeny bit of angst warnings: none! word count: 2.3k

author's note: I've been having baby fever, so I was rewatching Hello Baby, specifically SHINee's season (my fav!). it got me thinking of how TXT would be on this show. I spent way more time writing this than I should have, it's been in my drafts for so long with how much I added over weeks lmao. lmk if you guys like this! i might do other groups depending on how well this does lol

comments/reblogs appreciated!!✗♡✗♡

WHAT'S HELLO BABY?

Hello Baby is a variety show by KBS in which idols experience parenthood by caring for one or more babies or toddlers for a certain period of time, usually a couple of months. They also perform "missions" throughout the show to test their skills as parents. The show aired from 2009 to 2013 and starred popular idols like Girls' Generation and SHINee!

The idol groups are usually given letters from the families regarding the children's health, habits, and likes. The show also shines a light on how each child has a different personality, how they express their feelings, and how the idols themselves learn to raise children and help them grow as individuals. Their missions can consist of something small, like making the children snacks, or something larger, for example creating a musical with the kids (MBLAQ did this in their season!). Usually, every episode each group member will compete to see who is the best "parent" by having the children pick who they like the most.

For TXT, I imagine them having to care for two children. To make it fair in this headcanon, one boy and one girl, both between the ages 3-5. (All of my headcanons are based off of interactions TXT has had with children from various videos and media found off the internet!)

CHOI YEONJUN ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃

the type of “dad” that is extremely affectionate to the children, he’s a sucker for aegyo, smiles, kisses, etc.

he can't help but spoil them, he will buy them as many gifts as they want if that makes them happy, even if his wallet goes empty

he loves skinship the most: giving/receiving hugs and kisses, tickling, cuddling, and he'll even wrestle with the kids for fun

but sometimes this can feel suffocating for the kids, they’ll push him away at times

he is really good at playing with them, specifically in role-playing! he can be a monster, a patient, a superhero, whatever the kids want

he likes to dress up for them too, even if the kids costumes don't fit his long lanky body he will wear it with pride

is really dramatic when he plays, if he's a doctor's patient expect him to be howling in pain

will definitely make a fool of himself in hopes of making them laugh

he tries to impress them with his dance moves, but they don’t really care, this hurts his pride lol

he makes sure those kids eat good, and will make/order any food they want

while he’s really good with the children when they’re happy, he has a harder time when they’re upset, sad, or angry

when one or both of them cry, he will panic and try to make the situation better rather than comfort them

when they’re feeling down or upset, he will try to make them laugh, which works sometimes, others he will fail

when the kids are angry, whether at him or another member, he has a hard time trying to diffuse the situation

he doesn’t want to be too aggressive and scare them yet he also wants to be able to discipline them, usually it ends with the kids crying anyway

he's voted the 3rd most popular "dad", a position he excitedly accepts, he’s happy the children like him so much

at the end of the show, when giving his video letter to the kids, he will tear up and cry a little, he didn't expect to become so attached to them but he's happy and grateful to have met them

I think he'd keep in touch the most after the show, video calls, little dates, he'd even invite the children to showcases/fan meetings if the families allow

CHOI SOOBIN ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃

the type of "dad" who is responsible and reliant but he’s a worrywart

is always checking up on the kids: making sure they like the food, the clothes they wear, and how they’re feeling

he used to not like/really care for kids, but now has a soft spot for them

he’s absolutely baffled and in love with how tiny the kids are compared to him, he thinks it’s so cute how someone can be so tiny and not know

he’s probably the most gentle of the members around the children

he holds them like they're made of glass

he loves it when the children talk to him, whether it’s intelligible or not he likes their baby talk he finds it super cute

likes to imitate them because of this (he, Yeonjun, and Kai do this the most)

he doesn't ask for kisses or hugs bc he doesn't want to feel like he's forcing the kids to show him affection so he really cherishes when they do

when it comes to playing with the kids though he's lacking, mainly because he has difficulty immersing himself in their games

he will still try his best though, and because of that the kids still enjoy playing with him

will play video games with the kids! something family-friendly, like Mario kart, will have one of the kids sit in his lap and "help" them

soobin is really good at comforting the children though! If they cry he will gladly hold them, pet their hair, rock them back and forth, sing a little, anything to make them feel better

when the children become upset or angry, he panics bc he feels the need to fix the situation as fast as possible, he doesn't like to see the children upset or fighting each other

he's voted 4th best "dad" and honestly he's upset, but at least he's not in last place

still petty as hell though, so he's complaining that he's 4th despite all of his efforts to get along and close to the children

he cries in his video letter. 100%. He just loves the time he got to spend with the kids and he's going to miss them so much, he's really thankful

he keeps in touch, but not as often as Yeonjun. he will call once in a while and go visit with a couple of members every few months

CHOI BEOMGYU ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃

the type of "dad" to act silly and plays with the kids, he wants to relate to them so they like him more

yet bc of this he often embarrasses himself in front of the kids, his members, the audience...

except he's rough, and often goes overboard; he forgets how young they are

also has a tendency to make everything a competition?? will literally brag to the kids that he's better than them (like bro ur a grown-ass man??)

has definitely made the children cry more than once, proceeds to fake cry louder than them

he doesn't mind skinship or affection from the kids, he accepts it graciously

he just won't initiate it himself, he doesn't feel the need to(?) he'd rather have the children verbally tell him they like him or show it by choosing him over the other members

he really likes talking with the children he finds that their perspective on life and how the world works is a bit refreshing, it reminds him of simpler times

when the kids ask him questions, he gives them silly answers

for example: "will a watermelon grow in your tummy if you eat a seed?"

beomgyu will say that it's not true, then eat a watermelon seed in front of them and the next day stuff his shirt and show the children his watermelon tummy

and yes he will scream about how they need to be careful the next time they eat fruits (they started crying because they thought he was sick)

another one who freaks out when the kids cry or get upset he really doesn't know what to do!

he will be visibly panicked, trying to calm them down with promises of a new toy, looking around the room for a member who can help him

but like I said, he's the cause for half of the children's breakdowns, so most of the time when they cry, he gets put in time-out

is voted last place... I mean are we surprised...

will literally start arguing with the kids for picking him last

in his video letter, I don't imagine him crying, but you can tell he's very sentimental, so much so that you would not recognize him to be the naughty "dad" of the group, he seems so pure

surprisingly he will visit them the second most often after the show! the kids love to play with him so he likes to take them to the park or just hang with them at their homes (he still makes them cry though smh)

KANG TAEHYUN ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃

(im ngl i have the least info based on taehyun, there's like even fewer interactions of him with kids that I could find but these are my assumptions with what I could see)

the type of "dad" who is cool and knowledgeable, he's himself but like toned down for kids tbh

is incredibly sweet to them, will indulge in their questions, imagination, etc

knows that children's brains are like sponges, so he tries to turn everything into a fun learning experience!

the way he plays with the kids is through arts and crafts, reading/storytelling, and of course exercising

loves to take the kids to the park, he will most definitely teach them to stretch before running/playing to help their muscles

does magic for the kids! omg they eat it up!! once they know he can do magic they fall in love with him, they call him a wizard

similar to Soobin, he lets the children choose when they want to give kisses and hugs but he also will ask for them as well when he feels like it, just not as frequently as Yeonjun

is surprisingly good at mediating whenever the kids are upset or angry; sure he panics a little, but he's good at hiding it and talking to the kids through their feelings

his only downside is that he doesn't seem to realize the kids are not feeling happy until it's too late, one too many times he has been confused as to why they're crying (if beomgyu isn't the reason)

he has a really calming energy that the children like, it's like it transfers to them they're the best behaved with him

The kids listen to him the most, but no one can pinpoint the exact reason why (Yeonjun and Soobin think it’s because his voice is stern yet reassuring, while Kai and Beomgyu believe it’s because the kids think he's a real wizard and are scared of getting cursed)

is voted 2nd place! he's very proud of this! and yes he does make fun of every member who's below him!

his video letter is very heartfelt, he doesn't cry but you can really feel his sincerity through his message and you can tell he learned a lot about parenting

I like to think that he tends to visit the kids after the show sporadically, sometimes he's alone, sometimes with members, sometimes for hours, sometimes for minutes

HUENING KAI ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃

the "type" of dad who is like a best friend! he's so supportive and loving it's hard to not love him back

is not only kind, he's also very observant and understanding of the children, is the best of the members when it comes to communicating with the children

out of all members I'd say he's the most quipped to being the best "dad" (all thanks to Lea and Bahiyyih!)

they feel a lot of security with him, he's really reassuring and trustworthy

is the best at playing with the kids! no matter what the kids want to do that day, he will give his all and is really quick to adapt to the kids' quick thinking and rule-changing

will play harmless tricks on the other members with the children!

he takes a genuine interest in whatever the kids like, he wants to know why they like it even if he's unfamiliar or not good at it

likes to try and make even normal things fun for the kids, like brushing their teeth, grocery shopping, cleaning the room etc

like Soobin he plays video games with them but always lets the kids win (unlike Beomgyu)

this guy will pull out his guitar and play songs for the kids! actually, any instrument he can get a hold of he will play for them

forms his own lil band with them, teaches them to be gentle with the instruments

will learn to play nursery songs/any song they like so that the kids can sing along (Beomgyu tried this too but could not keep up with the amount of song requests)

again I think it's because he's the middle child, but he's the best at diffusing arguments/fights and mediating such

instead of yelling or getting upset he will try to find a way to comply with both parties

but he also understands that he can't always be friendly, and has moments where he needs to be a bit more serious with the children, he knows how to discipline without scaring the kids or making them feel worse

was voted 1st place! (if you think I'm biased, please watch him and soobin on return of superman on youtube he'd be a great dad!)

is so happy he will dance, sing, bro is having a concert for this immense win

his video letter is so sweet! Kai rarely cries, but I like to imagine he does think extremely fondly of the two children because they remind him of his own family with he was younger so he's a bit more sensitive than usual

but uh oh! bro ghosts them kids just like he ghosts everyone else lmao! the kids only see him when he tags along with the other members, someone is already on the call with them, or just randomly out of the blue (it's not that he doesn't care, he just has a hard time keeping up with people in general)

perm taglist (open): @ancnymcnzjy

kpop masterlist ˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

bookshelf ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅

[starryhyuck]

tiny dancer. (m) — PATREON EXCLUSIVE

pairing: balletmentor!hyuck x afab!ballerina!reader

words: 8.3k+

summary: your dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer lie in the hands of lee donghyuck.

genre: fluff, smut

warnings: public sex, fingering, blowjob, ballet horndogs, pussy eating, overstimulation, squirting, choking

this fic is exclusive to the $5 tier on my patreon, which you can access here! below is a tumblr preview

The best thing about the Academy is its ability to encourage the most timid of dancers to come out of their shell and bask in the spotlight. The worst thing about the Academy is its ability to pick apart every flaw that you weren’t even aware you had.

It all comes to a head in your last year, when the National Ballet Company is meant to evaluate your performance and decide whether or not you have the chops to become a professional dancer full time. You’re so desperate for their approval that you’ll do anything to succeed, even if it means putting up with the insufferable Lee Donghyuck.

“I would think there was a treasure map in that mirror from the way you keep staring at it.”

You huff, stumbling over your fouetté as you glare at him. He sits in the corner of the room, twirling the remote in his hands that’s used to play the music. He’s staring at his fingernails but you know he’s quietly observing you like a hawk. Nothing about your routine slips past this man, even on the nights you wish he wasn’t paying attention.

“I need to see myself to know if I’m doing well,” you reply defensively.

Donghyuck laughs. “Do you think you’ll have a mirror on stage when you’re in front of hundreds of people watching your every move? You have to trust yourself. It’s the only way the company will treat you with respect. They don’t hire dancers who need to see their fouetté to know that it’s working.”

You clench your jaw, holding back a few choice words that will surely land you in a punishment of pirouettes all night.

Donghyuck had been the star pupil of his year, shining brighter than any other dancer in the class and catching the eye of many choreographers on a global scale. You used to hear whispers about him constantly in the halls, with most of the girls squealing in excitement whenever he walked past. He was the hot shot on campus, which is why it came as such a devastating blow when he broke his ankle at his first show. The crack of his bone echoed throughout the theater, inciting gasps from everyone as they watched the talented Lee Donghyuck destroy his career before it could even begin.

It’s why he now has the time to coach you for your audition. His ankle is still taped up and he has to walk on crutches while a bored expression remains permanently on his face. He lost the spark he was so famous for possessing, being able to light up a room with his laugh.

You’re not certain why Donghyuck chose you out of all people to mentor. He had a line out the door of beautiful dancers who were far more graceful, and had much better chances of making it far in the industry. But he wanted to advise you, and you can’t say if it was for the better or worse considering how eager he is to make you feel like the worst ballerina in the world.

“Show it to me again without the mirror,” he instructs, getting ready to press play on the remote. “Make me feel what you’re supposed to be feeling. You’ve been given the ultimate test in this dance — ballet or love. I want to see the conflict stirring inside you.”

You exhale before getting into position, avoiding gazing at the mirror and allowing the dance to take over your body. You’ve picked the most emotionally-driven routine out of your back pocket, hoping you could make up for what you lack in technique. Your teachers have consistently praised you for being able to win over the room by dancing with your heart on your sleeve, and you’re counting on this advantage for your company audition.

You twirl until your feet grow blisters on top of blisters, wanting to prove to Donghyuck that you could do this. After all, he was staking his own reputation on the line for you. If you failed miserably, rumors would spread regarding his inability to dance for himself and his lack of good teaching.

By the time you finish, you’re exhausted and spent. Dancing used to feel like you were flying through the air, but lately, it’s been nothing but a means to an end.

Donghyuck doesn’t clap for you. He sits in his chair, musing to himself as he rubs two fingers over his chin. You place your hands over your hips, sighing to yourself as you blow stray hairs away from your face.

He comes to a conclusion, setting the remote down and grabbing his crutches. He balances himself until he’s standing, and he hobbles over to you. “No practice for the next week,” he says, startling you by his instruction.

“I’m sorry, what?” You clarify, taken aback. “This audition is in less than a month. I’m not taking a break.”

He shakes his head. “You have the technique and you have the emotion. The only thing you’re lacking right now is the love for the art. I can see it draining slowly from you with each passing day. You can’t become a principal dancer if you hate putting on your pointe shoes.”

Your bottom lip trembles. “Donghyuck, I can’t fuck this up.”

You think about your parents back home who have supported you devoutly. You think about the countless nights you’ve spent in the cold practice room. You think about the money you’ve shelled into a constant supply of pointe shoes and leotards. Every moment in your life has been leading up to this audition, and the thought of your dream crumbling around you is too much to bear.

“You won’t,” he says with confidence, resting his hands on your shoulders as his crutches dig into his underarms. You stare into his eyes, which hold the same determined look you used to identify in posters of him scattered across the city. “I know you won’t. I’ve never let a student’s potential fade under my training.”

“I’m your first and only student.”

He grins. “Exactly.”

want to read the rest? access the $5 tier on my patreon here!

[fancyfeathers]

Hi, im the anon who brought up a song by garbage. I was listening to Chicago, like any theater kid does, and I can’t do it alone came on. It reminded me of Ring leader! Villain! Dick, in a way that he would talk about his parents routine and showing reader each move in hopes that they can do it together. (If 🪱 anon isn’t taken, may I be that anon.)

have a nice rest of your night or day

Yandere!Batboys as Villains with Robin!Darlings AU Masterlist

Oh my god I love this idea, especially because as his darling’s day job I picture her as a ballerina/performer because of the parallels between them.

Like I can just imagine she is staying after rehearsal to use the stage to break in a new pair of pointe shoes, she was given the keys to lock up so she is the last one in the theater and she is all cozy in her sweatpants and hoodie over her leotard and has her headphones on, the noise canceling kind since she is alone, or so she thinks. She already called Bruce to let her know that she will be home late because she is locking up.

She pauses when she gets a call, the ringing intercepting her music is what gets her attention. So she huffs and goes back to her bag on the sight side of the stage where her phone is, it’s Bruce. When she answers she is slight annoyed until she actually hears the concern in her adoptive father’s voice…

“You need to get home know.”

“I already said I would be home late-“

“There was a break out from Arkham, the security systems were out.”

She was about to respond but there was a beeping from her end of the line, she looks down at her phone, no signal, but this was the center of Gotham, the phone line had to have been cut. She immediately starts grabbing her things, not even bothering to change out of her pointe shoes, normally she would not care about a break out, well it was nothing they could not handle, but their newest high security patient was in there because of her…

Or was in there…

She immediately feels a presence in the room in the room with her and she has the mind to just get out of there while she still can, or rather could…

“Look up, Sweet Pea.”

She nearly screams when she looks up and sees Dick hanging from the scaffolding that the stage lights hang from. He is smiling down at her like nothing is wrong, but the last time she saw him was when the GCPD finally found her and she was crying in Commissioner Gordon’s arms while he got cuffed by Detective Montoya, she looked just as horrified and now she did not have any of her gear to defend herself.

He jumps down, right in front of her and she looks horrified and shocked at the same time…

“Hey you don’t have to be so surprised, I did tell you I was an acrobat.”

“Get away from me.”

“Hey don’t be like that baby, we aren’t too different after all.”

“You kill people, Grayson. I keep this city safe from people exactly like you, but go on, how are we similar? Besides the dead parents part that is.”

Before she could even react, he grabs her leg and forces it up, pressing it up against her chest because of how flexible she is, pointing straight up in the air and it burns after hours after rehearsals. The way he looks at her makes her feel sick, it is as if he almost loves her, well he did say he loves her when he kidnapped her for over a month.

“Well we are both flexible…”

The only reason why he is able to mess with her in the moment is because she is tired and sore… and also the fact that she knows this was most certainly planned so at the very least she was locked in here with him, she could run and hide somewhere in the theater, she knows the building better than he does, or at least she thinks she does, and Batman would be here soon enough…

He starts dancing with her across the stage, her feet already hurt enough from her rehearsal on top of her breaking in her new pointe shoes…

Her feet stumble along as he dances with her, one of his hands squeezing onto her hand and the other unmoving from her waist. He hums a tune as he dances with her, she knows it well, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, it’s the tune that everyone knows even if they do not know ballet.

“You know my parents used to have this act together…”

“That’s nice, I am not an acrobat though.”

“Well you do have the build have the build of one.”

She does not like it when he moves the hand on her waist down to squeeze at her thigh, that is when she snaps and tries to kick at him, but instead he manages to grab that leg as well and force it over his shoulder along with the other leg.

“Here… let me show you the steps…”

It goes on and on, her trying to fight against him and him just moving her and contorting her body into several different poses and positions, each one hurting more than the last, and then when she finally tries pushing him back on last time, she gets him to let go but it is her falls and falls hard and there is an audible crack as she falls to the ground and sees her ankle is a position it should not be in, all red and starting to swell

“Oh no… that looks like it must have been painful… oh come here, don’t cry… a broken bone or two are bound to come at some point.”

[gx-gameon]

I’ve been thinking about a fantasy au.

What do you think the DM classes are

Atem

I feel he’d be a Sorcerer

Not just because of his relationship with Dark Magician (Mahad) and Dark Magician Girl (Mana) but because Sorcerers are born with their magic

They are either born with wild magic or have a sardonic blood line. This can play into the idea that the Egyptian royalty were gods/decedents of gods. As his Draconic Bloodline could be from The Winged Dragon of Ra.

He’s born into power and spends most of his young life learning how to control his powers.

Yugi

I would love to hear your opinions but I feel that Yugi is a Cleric.

This is because Yugi uplifts all of his friends. Acting as group healer and support fits him well.

He can still fight and pack a heavy punch but part of his job it to watch the battle field strategically and keep any eye on his friends. Making sure they are all good to continue the fight.

I think his patreon you can play with. They don’t technically need a god though you could use Ra or Slifer. All a cleric needs to be driven by their faith. You could have his power come from Atem has he has a spark of divinity but that also implies that Yugi has no power without Atem and I don’t like that thematically. But what does Yugi have the most faith in??

Yugi Muto Cleric of the Heart of the Cards

Or

Yugi Muto Cleric of Friendship.

Joey

Barbarian

Like I know Brooklyn Rage is a joke but it works to well.

He could just be a fighter but I feel like out of every one Joey deserves to rage out. Especially when his friends are in danger.

Tristian

Maybe a controversial but I see him as a Rouge.

Rouges aren’t just theirs but they are known for creative solutions.

Tristian is the one in Duelist Kingdom to lead the charge for how Pegasus is cheating. Goes off on his own to save Mokuba or Kaiba, he finds Mokuba but he was looking for both.

He might not be a duelist but he is thinking outside the box and you have to give that to him

Teá

I think Teá would also make a great Cleric. But I don’t want any repeats.

She loves Dancing though. And do you know what class is made to dance. The Bard

Bards (according to the official DnD site) are performers of Music, Dance, and Magic. They are made to inspire others sooth hurts, dishearten foes and cast illusions.

This fits Teá so well.

She loves to give inspiring speeches, but she also love reading people for filth. I’m rewatching the show and this girl has asked at least three people “how many friends do you even have?” I’m not even halfway through season 2! She’s out her politely calling people friendless freaks, like wow. She’d do great with vicious mockery if given half the chance.

Honestly I wish we got to see Kaiba as part of the actual friend group because if someone insulted Yugi in front of Teá and Seto that is a verbal attack like no other.

Seto Kaiba

Speaking of Kaiba…Wizard

Hear me out. Yes he hates mystic mumbo jumbo in the dub. Yes in the dub he doesn’t believe in mystic stuff. But in a world where magic is a thing, you think Kaiba’s passing up in that power? No

Wizards have to study to use magic. Unlike Sorcerers who are born with their powers Wizards spend years learning.

This plays in Seto’s studying ability and his genus.

Now wizards can become more powerful than sorcerers but they are kinda running different races. Sorcerer are training up their own power and have a power boost over wizards but they are locked into whatever sort of magic they are born into. They can’t learn different types of magic. Wizards in the other hand have to work really hard to get their magic power on par with sorcerers but they can learn all types of magic. Any spell books or scrolls they find they can keep and use. (If they are level enough for that spell)

I think this will keep the spirit of Atem and Kaiba’s rivalry the purest as they are both experts in their form of magic. Atem is blessed by divinity itself, his power is near limitless. Seto works endlessly to meet that power. Constantly looking for new forms or sources of power to keep up with Atem.

It also means Seto and Yugi are more aligned then they think since Clerics can also learn magic. His spells just focus more on healing and protection.

Mokuba

Mokuba is the only one I’m stuck on.

I can see him really admiring Seto and following his footsteps to become a wizard as well.

But wizards are also glass cannons. Extremely powerful but if they get hit they go down hard. I think Mokuba is a lot more practical than Seto. I think if Seto ever gets hurt in a fight it’s going to drive Mokuba to want to have his brothers back and become a tanker build.

I think Paladin would fit him well. He has a strong sense of justice. In season 2 when he is the Battle City commissioner he takes it very seriously. He wants to enforce the rules no matter what. The only times he doesn’t is when Seto tells him to ignore it. He even argues with Seto multiple times that it’s not right. He even gives Yugi Slifer after his duel, it’s in Mokuba’s hands and he even says he really wants to keep it. Seto might have, but Mokuba’s sense of justice is stronger

A paladin fits him well. Instead of having a god he follows I think he devotes himself to the ideal of Brotherhood much like Yugi is devoted to either the Heart of the Cards or Friendship.

Serenity

I like her as a Druid.

She seems to admire the beauty in the digital world, I feel like the girl who nearly lost her sight would love nature and being able to see the beauty of the world

They focus on healing magic, transformation into animals and welding natural elements.

Healing is a theme that I also feel could really suit Serenity.

Maybe in this world instead of Yugi giving Joey the money for the operation he learned the healing spell necessary to heal Serenity himself. Crafting a stronger bond between Yugi and Joey (and playing into Yugi’s theme as a healer) while also inspire Serenity to learn more healing magic.

Duke

Also a bard. Yess I said no repeats but this man lives off of high odds and performances.

He’s playing music while Teá dances

He’s sweet talking everyone around them.

Bakura

Either another sorcerer with innate magic but his bloodline is less divine and more demonic making his magic darker

Or a Warlock who made a pack for his magic.

I kinda like him being a sorcerer as well who’s magic or mind is being corrupted by his ancestry.

Mai

Ranger

It just fits her made to take and hunt targets she shows this ability as early as duelist kingdom by gather information on the other duelist around her. Absolutely comes into this in season 4.

Her companion (as Rangers get an animal companion) is a Harpy Eagle that she calls Lady.

What do y’all think? Any ideas?

I want to do the Gx crew

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

hiii I would like headcanons for the bedroom leaders (if there are many, then only riddle, azul, vil and malleus) reacting to the interpretation of their darling singing and acting the solo of noel's lament from the ride cyclone because for a long time mc wanted to interpret it and did her best~ (I'm obsessed with this musical especially with this solo aaa) thank you and have a good day <33

Rendition of Noel’s Lament | Yandere Twisted Wonderland

The situation has to be very very very specific for you to be able to pull this off. Maybe a talent show or the film club’s go at show production; either way they need you to perform. Of course you’re admirers are more than happy to hear what you’d like to sing even if you can’t sing at all. But they certainly weren’t expecting this:

Riddle Rosehearts

“I-I never-! W-what are they doing w-with their hips!?”

He’s horrified and turned on

Before he’s skeptical of the ballad likeness with vulgar lyrics

Taken off guard once you get to the chorus

But at least he got to witness it

When he finally becomes aware he’ll surely start collaring all those watching as well

If anyone’s going to reprimand your naughty behavior it will be him and only him

“I’ll have to see that performance again, I need to see that again! For punishment obviously!” 

Azul Ashengrotto

“Oh my–!”

He’s mostly just enamored with this sexy bizarre light that he’s taken you in

That or he already imagined this is exactly what you’d do when given the opportunity

But perhaps he can monetize this 

And secure more private showings

Tone down the performance a bit

And we’re in business

“Perhaps you’d be willing to sign your legs open and voice to me?”

Vil Schoenheit

“Of course they’re a performer…”

He’s torn between being entertained and upset

On one hand he’s just pleased your so much as gracing the stage

On the other he’s mad he’s not the only on to witness this

Without an obvious sign that you are his

No matter he can fix that easily 

As he makes himself your costume designer, makeup artist, and future husband stylist 

Dedicated to making sure the eyes of those rotten potatoes are well aware of his ownership

“Don’t I have my work cut out for me.”

Malleus Draconia

“Finally, a performance from my dearest!” 

He for one doesn’t find a problem with the lyrics because he doesn’t know what they mean+ 

To him its a story that is probably beautiful artistry from your world

Though he will not allow anyone but him to watch

It is his treasure to see you dance and sing your heart out 

As he fantasizes about your definite future

If the onlookers have a problem leaving he doesn’t mind giving them a taste of the prickly briars in their loathsome eyes

“Yes my jewel, keep dancing!”

[catch-me-hello]

No Mercy, Episode 1: Americans could not handle this.

Today, we begin our deep dive into K-pop band assembly shows. We are starting with No Mercy, which ran from December 2014 to February 2015 and brought us Monsta X, one of my favorite groups. The first episode is called “The Cruel Debut War Gets Started.” And right off the bat, after seeing just the first episode, I realized I needed an attitude adjustment when it comes to these shows.

I thought calling No Mercy a survival reality show was a bit overdramatic before I actually started watching it. I was seeing the concept through American eyes. While losing an American survival reality show can mean death in the wilderness, I now know that losing No Mercy means death of your dreams and your pride, not to mention the realization that you have sacrificed years of your life being a trainee in the K-pop system, only to be eliminated.

Honestly, if I had exceptional musical talent and was given the choice of competing on either Korea’s No Mercy or America’s Alone, I’d take my chances in the wilderness of Northern Mongolia for the American show. Being crushed by falling boulders is preferable to having my soul crushed and then being shown the door. Losing the American show means you only die once.

Yes, it is that serious.

Just to provide some context, K-pop idols spend years as trainees, hoping for a chance to debut. They train from morning until late at night, taking lessons in dancing, singing, rapping, and acting, as well as interviewing, songwriting, production, and other practical skills. They can spend up to ten years of their lives as trainees, getting very few days off and working themselves to exhaustion. In the end, only a very small percentage of them will debut. And even if they do debut, there’s no guarantee that they will catch fire with the public and become famous and successful.

Landing a spot on a Korean survival reality show is the chance of a lifetime for these trainees. On No Mercy, there are only twelve spots. Which is why the rankings are so important.  Making it on the show is just the first step. If you get ranked last on the very first episode, it’s considered a failure, even though you don’t get cut in the first rankings. Never mind the fact that it’s an incredible accomplishment to get on the show in the first place. The trainees don’t see that. All that matters is the debut.

If you rank dead last, even if you don’t get cut from the show right then, it means that there are eleven people between you and the debut, and only the top few will get chosen. In other words, you may as well be back in the dorms, still anonymous, getting ready for another 14-hour day of gruelingly relentless dance practice.

No Mercy only ran for one season, and I already know who the winners are. That does not spoil the show for me in the least. Just from the first episode, I’m seeing the band members in a whole different light, and I’m also learning way more about the K-pop machine and how cruel it can be to someone with a dream.

Take Shownu, for example. He’s currently the leader of Monsta X, so I know he’ll make it, but this first episode shows me what he’s been through just to compete on this show. The show focuses mostly on him for right now, and we open with the initial rankings. We only see a few seconds of their initial performances in a small room in front of the judges, and right away, Shownu gets the top spot.

If this were an American show, two things would happen here.

We wouldn’t be told the top spot first. They would start with the last spot and build up to the top two spots, with the remaining two trainees clutching each other and freaking out. In fact, naming the number one spot right away seems anticlimactic. But there’s a reason the first spot gets named first, and it’s spelled out in Shownu’s reaction. He is somber.  He quietly and calmly walks over to the judges’ table to accept his first-place badge and bows to them.  The reason for this reaction is Difference Number Two:

Getting ranked first isn’t just an honor for Shownu. It’s a weight on his shoulders. Out of all the trainees, he now has to spend the rest of the competition trying to prove that he’s worthy of that number one spot. He also has eleven other trainees now gunning for him. The man does not crack a smile once, not even the moment when the judges say his name. For us, the suspense isn’t finding out who got the first slot. It’s finding out the order of the other trainees, whose rankings now indicate how badly each one wants to trip Shownu on the stairs.

Knowing how this is all going to play out, I’m surprised to see how low some of the eventual winners rank in this first round. While Jooheon and Wonho rank #2 and #4, respectively, Kihyun, Hyungwon, and Minhyuk come in at #8, #9, and #10. Kihyun’s relatively low ranking really surprises me, because he is now known for having one of the most amazing singing voices in the industry. We don’t get to see him or the other singers audition for these rankings, so the competition must have been insane.

The trainees then split up to work with different industry experts, who are helping each one prepare a three-minute performance for the next round of rankings. Emotionally, the process is run like a military boot camp. From here on out, the trainees are referred to by their numbers, not their names. The trainee named Yoosu, who is ranked last, is called “Number Twelve” during this process, a constant reminder of his failure. It’s not much better for Shownu to be referred to by “Number One,” considering it’s a constant reminder to watch his back. They may as well call him “Target.”

The experts working with them can be worse than Simon Cowell with severe hemorrhoids. Here is a partial transcript of one expert’s rap lesson with four of the trainees:

Expert: I have to call you by your numbers. #7: Here, too? Expert: Yes, at all times. #2: So I’m Number Two, and not Jooheon? Expert: Yes, you’re Trainee Number Two. #5: I’m 5-Yoonho. (laughs) Expert: (stone faced) I want to call you Number Twelve. You have to do better from now on.

#7: I tried to think of it as Lucky Seven. Expert: Don’t give me that. You’re number twelve in rapping.

This is not friendly banter. The expert looks like a fed-up high school teacher who just caught four students cooking meth in the chem lab. If any of the contestants on The Voice or American Idol faced this expert, they would sue the network.

All four trainees now take turns rapping for the expert, and despite the show’s title, putting Jooheon last is an act of mercy. None of the other trainees should have to follow his performance. If Kihyun is known for his singing voice, Jooheon is arguably the best rapper in K-pop. His lyrics in the Monsta X song “Gambler” and the cocky way he delivers them is one of my favorite musical moments, period. (“ME? I’m a handsome sum of moNEY, I got a vesper marTINI...”)

So I am excited to see young trainee Jooheon perform, and he does not disappoint. At least for the few seconds we get to see. The expert cuts him off after just a few lines and begrudgingly says, “Okay, that wasn’t too bad,” and even though that is this expert’s verbal equivalent of giving Jooheon a Billboard Music Award, I still want to smack him upside the head with his own clipboard. YOU do not tell Jooheon when to stop rapping. HE decides when he’s done.

We then switch over to the vocalists in their session, and this expert is a bit more encouraging. Again, we only get snippets of each performance, but we do get to hear Kihyun. His singing takes my breath away. I don’t see how he’s ranked at Number Eight, unless he really bombed in the first round. I’d love to see him do a rock opera.

Now we get to a segment on Shownu alone, and this is the part that really made me see him and what he’s been through. We learn that he used to be a trainee in a different entertainment company called JYP Entertainment. (No Mercy is run by Starship Entertainment and features their own trainees.) During his two-year stint at JYP, he trained with a group called GOT7.  Instead of debuting with the group, Shownu was cut. He was twenty years old at the time. GOT7 went on to become very famous, touring several times and winning many worldwide music awards.

He's still friends with GOT7. No Mercy cuts away to follow him as he waits for them outside a venue. After their performance, they come out and embrace their old friend. They go to dinner, and right away, even though we feel their chemistry as friends, Shownu is still a million miles apart from them.

GOT7 talk about how surprised and upset they were when Shownu left JYP. Shownu looks sad. He says he’s used to seeing everyone around him go on to debut. The emotional gut punch actually brings tears to my eyes. In a confessional clip, Shownu says that the pressure got to him at JYP, and he couldn’t take it anymore. Later on, he says that every time he sees his GOT7 friends, he feels pathetic.

The show’s title isn’t just about what the trainees go through. This program shows no mercy for the viewers’ emotions.  This is heartbreaking.

GOT7 and Shownu leave the restaurant, and as they walk down the street, fans gather to take pictures. Shownu steps back a bit so he doesn’t get in the way of the cameras. In the confessional cutaways, he’s pragmatic about it, but he’s clearly uncomfortable in the actual situation.

As they part ways, he hugs his friends goodbye, and the fans temporarily stop taking pictures, waiting for the unknown guy to get out of the way. He stands alone in the street and watches them walk away, trailed by their adoring fans.

I hate this show for doing this to me. If I were still drinking, I’d be typing this from inside a bottle of Barcardi right now. My only consolation is knowing Shownu is going to make it. Most trainees don’t get a debut or any kind of happy ending. Shownu is going to be one of the lucky ones.

Back to the competition. I never thought I’d be so happy to see the grumpy experts from hell again. We have arrived at D-Day 1. Our trainees will perform on a concert stage for the original judges and some new ones who are actual K-pop idols. Jooheon is excited. He wants Shownu’s spot.

The trainees are driven to the venue. They are all nervous, except for Jooheon. He is confident. He is ready. I love him so much. Sorry. That was unprofessional. Where was I? Right. D-Day 1.

The trainees line up on the huge stage. Only the stage is lit up. The seats are shrouded in darkness. As the trainees stand there, trying to control the jitters, a spotlight suddenly beams onto the judges’ table. They have been sitting there in darkness, waiting to ambush these poor trainees like angry parents waiting for a teen who is way past his curfew.

But that’s not enough. Large cubes suddenly light up in front of the stage, showing the numbers one through twelve. The trainees have to go stand behind their numbers. I actually wrote “psychological warfare” in my notes. This show isn’t just trying to rattle these trainees. They want the weakest ones to just collapse and be dragged offstage to save the judges having to vote them off.

Honestly, they should just give each trainee a cyanide pill and a shot of tequila. Then they could at least go out with some dignity.

Except for Jooheon. He’s got his game face on. He looks ready to take a bite out of the stage and spit out the splinters.

Shownu is up first, and I can’t believe we’re only 26 minutes into this show. I have already been through the emotional wringer and taken six pages of notes. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.

Shownu takes the stage while the other trainees wait backstage, and right off the goddamn bat, one of the judges says, “When I first met you, I didn’t think you were Number One material, but look at you now.” He is not giving a compliment. His tone of voice implies that Shownu got away with something. And Shownu, to his enormous credit, simply says, “I must have gotten lucky at the first evaluation.” If that had been an American contestant, there would have been hands thrown.

The judges also bring up that Shownu was cut from JYP after two years, and I wrote in my notes, “WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS??!!”

But our guy pulls himself together and sings a lovely rendition of John Legend’s “All of Me.” Then he shows off his skills in a dance routine that foreshadows the incredible precision moves we’ll be seeing in a couple of years.

The judges clap. Their attitude is reserved, but they liked the performance. One of the judges who knew him when he was at JYP says she didn’t know he could sing so well.

Shownu bows in gratitude. I stress-eat an entire box of Belvita biscuits.

Next up: Jooheon. We get a confessional clip in which he says he wants to become such a good rapper, he will drive people crazy.  Again, I think of his performance in “Gambler” and get chills.

He begins, and the lighting crew does not let him down.

The song is mysterious, chilling, aggressive. Jooheon moves like the song has possessed him. The judges are mesmerized. The other trainees backstage are mesmerized. I’m mesmerized.

After the performance, the judges tell him that his performance is already at a professional level. All I can think is, wait until you see him in a couple of years.

Backstage, Shownu says Jooheon did well, and we can see he’s concerned. All the trainees are concerned. They can hear the judges showering praise on Jooheon. Considering that a few of these judges have a default setting of “you suck,” they have every reason to be worried.

After Jooheon leaves the stage, the female judge, who I think is a K-pop Idol herself, says, “He scares me when he raps. He’s scary. The way he looks at me.” Again, check him out when Monsta X is on tour. He can be dangerous.

We’re getting close to the end of the episode, and No Mercy knows how to end on a cliffhanger, although this is an even more effective one for viewers like me who already know the outcome. Our next trainee is Hyungwon, another eventual winner.

As a fan of the group that’s being formed, I’ve always found Hyungwon to be an enigma. He’s stunningly handsome and has a cool, quiet vibe about him, yet the fans also love him for his clumsy, adorkable personality and how he’s often the butt of the jokes in the band. For now, the handsome and cool vibe is on full display, and it’s having an obvious effect on the female judge.

I am on the edge of my seat for this. If you’ll remember, Hyungwon is currently one of the lowest ranked members, at Number 9. The reason for his low ranking is because the judges only remembered how handsome he is, but nothing about his singing or dancing stood out to them.

We the viewers didn’t get to see any part of his performance during the initial rankings. But fans like me know what Hyungwon is capable of. His solo stages during Monsta X concerts are some of my favorite moments of the shows, especially when he performed “Wildfire” on the band’s No Limit Tour in 2022.

“Wildfire” has always been a fan favorite from this tour, and it’s not just because of Hyungwon’s good looks. He could be wearing a paper bag over his head, and his dancing, combined with the set design, still would still have the audience enthralled. (His singing would be a bit muffled.) While I do understand the judges getting distracted by how handsome he is, I want them to see more.

The judges settle in. Hyungwon lifts his microphone. And then, No Mercy kicks us in the metaphorical balls by ending the episode.

Audiences at the time this show was being aired would have to wait another week. Because No Mercy is cruel. No Mercy is a bully. No Mercy is the Korean equivalent of Eric Carmen giving us amazing songs that lift our spirits while simultaneously calling us libtards on Twitter.

And I will be watching and recapping every single episode.

Stay tuned.

[mermaidgirl30]

✨Crimson Tango: A Dance of Diamonds and Revenge Part 1: Welcome to the Moulin Rouge✨

A/N: SO excited for me and @mountainsandmayhem to bring you a Moulin Rouge Joel Miller series ❤️ We are both so excited to be writing this and hope you love it as much as we do! Hang on tight for the ride of your life between these two on their angsty, beautiful love story 🥰 Comments and reblogs mean the world to us! Chapters are in both reader’s and Joel’s POV. No explicit smut in first chapter.

Word Count: 6.2k

Pairing: Joel Miller x fem! reader

Rating: Explicit (18+ ONLY MDNI)

Tags: Angst, unprotected p in v, oral, fingering, forbidden love, murder, fluff and smut, jealousy, moulin rouge au, soulmates being in love, protective Joel, no outbreak, reader is 20 and Joel is 29, tags will be updated each chapter

Summary: Joel Miller doesn’t know what awaits him as he takes on a maintenance job at the Moulin Rouge. He doesn’t know he’ll meet the absolute love of his life, the Sparkling Diamond, as his world comes crashing down around him fast. Will he be able to stay away when he’s warned not to touch the dancers? Will he listen or will he challenge that pull that draws him to the one thing that sets his soul on fire?

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

Welcome to the Moulin Rouge

Your whole childhood centered around death, but you never thought about the possibility of yourself dying, never thought about how you’d like to go. As your vision blurs and the world begins to silence, you realise that this is the ultimate way to go. For her. Saving her is all that matters, saving the person you love the most in the entire world, even if you’ve never met her.

Sarah, please Joel. Name her Sarah.

At times, your childhood may have seemed sad or tragic to the outside eye, but to you it has been nothing short of amazing. You don’t remember the incident that took both your parents, you were too young, so young that you can’t even picture their faces. You were brought to stay with the only family you had left - your mom’s much older brother.

Your uncle Edward was a quiet and kind man, he was also the owner of Moulin Rouge. A bright and colorful dance hall, filled with sparkling costumes and lively music. For the longest time you weren’t allowed outside of the living quarters, but you remember laughter and cheering filtering through the thin walls. This place was magic to you in your childhood naivety.

You remember begging the dancers to teach you the steps to the songs you overheard in the night. Occasionally, one of them would show you a kick or a twirl that you’d practice alone in your room until the muscles in your legs were stretched and sore, no longer able to support your tiny frame.

During the day, a tutor came in for a few hours to teach you and the few other children that lived there, meals were brought to your living quarters by an older woman who rarely spoke to you. Uncle Edward was alway home for those meals, but often had stacks of papers to go through. Most of the time it was just you and the broken guitar and pottery wheel your uncle had given you. But overall you were alone, far away music and laughter to keep you company.

For your thirteenth birthday your uncle surprised you with dance lessons. He knew how much you wanted to learn, and could practically feel the energy buzzing off you every time your eyes darted to the performing dancers. So he gave in, gifting you with something that might bring you a little joy in the isolated burlesque. A silent way of telling you he was sorry for not being around much and leaving you to delve in your loneliness inside your vacant room.

“Well, little petal,” your uncle says as you blow out the singular candle sitting on top of the small cake to celebrate you turning sixteen. “I think you’re old enough now to come up and watch my diamonds perform. What do you say? Would you like to come see the show?”

You practically jumped from your seat, mouthful of chocolate cake, “Yes, Uncle! Please. Nothing could make me happier.”

“Tomorrow night I will bring you up to see it. Perhaps when you turn eighteen you can join them.”

You’d seen the costumes and the women in their makeup before, you’ve even been out to the dance hall and on the stage. But that was only during the day, when the tables were only occupied by up-turned chairs, the overhead lights were off, and the band was nothing more than an empty pit in front of the stage.

The next night, your uncle brought you a new sparkly pink dress, and had the hair and make-up ladies get you all dolled up to watch. You looked at yourself in the mirror and had never felt more beautiful, seeing yourself as one of the famous diamonds of the Moulin Rouge. Perhaps when you turn eighteen you can join them.

The show was like nothing you’d ever seen before. You didn’t know so many varieties of reds and blues and purples existed. The women kicked their legs in unison, men cheering and clapping as they swooshed their large billowing skirts. The music filled your ears with joy and wonder, the sounds crisper than they were through the walls. Laughter and happiness held you like a tight hug. Perhaps when you turn eighteen you can join them.

As the show wound down, your Uncle leaned to you and said it was time to head to bed, “You’ve seen the show, little petal. Now the adults will indulge in wine and talk about things not for your ears.”

You didn’t argue, simply kissing your uncle on the cheek and saying, “Thank you, Uncle. I am going to practice harder so I can become a real diamond one day!”

You floated down the hallway. With your eyes still swarming with the bright colors of the show and your future dreams you hadn’t realised that you opened the door before the one to take you home, and this door led to something both sinister and unspeakable - it led to darkness. The room was only lit by candles sprawled across the wall, casting looming shadows of the acts happening before your very eyes.

You stood in the doorway taking in men and women completely naked, rubbing up against one another incessantly. Your tutor taught you that these areas of your body are not to be shared, they are only for you. Yet here they are, almost unashamed as they grind. The men all appear to be having a good time, but the women - they’re crying out.

Are they in pain? What are these men doing to them? Why are some men just watching? They should be helping. Your uncle, does he know that this is happening? Is this what his diamonds do?

Perhaps when you turn eighteen you can join them.

You nervously approached your Uncle about it a few days later. “Oh, my sweet little petal. I’m sorry that you had to witness that. I promise you, none of those women were in pain. Not all my diamonds dance like that, and you never will. I meant it when I offered you a spot to dance, fully clothed and on the stage only. I only hope that you do not think less of me now that you know what goes on behind closed doors of the Moulin Rouge.”

Four Years Later

Joel stumbles into the doors of the Moulin Rouge after seeing the maintenance worker needed sign displayed in bold letters outside the burlesque. This was the last place he wanted to end up, the last place he’d be caught dead in; but he needed something, and anything was better than the minimal income of selling his woodwork. He couldn’t get by anymore by only getting one or two customers every couple of weeks, if he was lucky. It wasn’t enough to pay the rent of his small, cramped apartment. Wasn’t enough to feed himself day and night. He needed more, and this was his shot.

He pushes the heavy black doors open, quickly tucking his red flannel button-up into his pressed pants, needing to look his best if he wants to get this job. He has to get it, has to impress whoever is the owner of this club.

He finds the first person he can spot, quickly getting the attention of a bartender as he washes crystal glasses with a thin rag behind the sleek bar top.

“Sorry to bother you, but I saw the sign out front that said you need some help with maintenance around here?” he asks briskly as he stares at the bartender with eyes that say he’s desperate. His hands come to rest on the bar top and he fights the urge to nervously drum his fingers along it.

The bartender looks him over as he sets down a glass, nodding his head. “Oh, yes. Let me go grab the owner real quick. Be right back, wait here,” he says as he runs in the opposite direction, disappearing behind a long hallway. Joel nervously pushes back his outgrown curls, silently cursing to himself for buying that loaf of bread instead of getting a haircut. His big brown eyes dart curiously around the club, trying to take it all in.

It’s light outside as the sun glistens in through the drawn crimson curtains, some dancers sauntering on stage as they practice their moves, swaying their hips to a nonexistent beat. Joel averts his eyes and takes in the rest of the large room - it’s filled with tables that are meant for the men to smoke cigars and drink their alcohol as they drool over the women of the burlesque. All lust and no love, the way the burlesque was set up to be. Joel was never into this scene, never fit in with any of those types of men, but he was desperate, he needed work and this may very well be the only way he can get any.

A tall, thin man walks into the room with slicked back sandy hair and green eyes that are as sharp as a snake’s. He eyes Joel carefully, one hand resting in his pocket, the other stretching to shake Joel’s. Joel wastes no time and reaches a hand out, feeling a firm grasp as the owner shakes his hand.

“The name’s Edward. And you are?” he asks with a gentle smile.

“I’m Joel. Joel Miller,” he says with nerves running through his body, the back of his neck slick with sweat. He’s nervous he won’t get it, nervous he’ll leave empty handed with no job. He’ll fight for it though because he’s a fighter, and he doesn’t give up easily.

“So, I hear you’re interested in the maintenance job. You got any experience?” Edward asks as he leans against the bar, crossing his arms over his chest as he examines Joel again, taking in his flannel and tan pants, his worn work boots.

“Yes, sir. Got years of experience with fixin’ things. Anything from sinks to building homes. Even have a little woodworking shop on the side,” he says proudly as he tries not to fidget with the buttons on his flannel.

“Hmmm,” Edward hums as he looks him over again carefully, those bright green eyes staring at Joel’s clothes like he’s judging him. Joel swallows down that dry lump of self doubt creeping in. “You seem capable. How old are you? Think you can handle working at nights, too? Gets pretty rowdy around here when the moon comes up, but that’s when we need someone the most,” he presses, eyes shifting over him as his brow raises in question again, waiting for Joel to respond.

“Just about to turn thirty and ‘course. Nights don’t bother me one bit. I can even start today, if I can,” Joel says with a determined smile as he shoves his left hand deep into his pocket, praying he’ll get the job.

“I see. Well then, looks like you got yourself a new gig. See you tonight at let’s say 7:00 pm,” he says, reaching a hand out to Joel. For most men that would be a question, but Edward is a very rich and powerful man, he doesn’t ask for things, he demands them. Joel doesn’t hesitate for a second and puts his grip in Edward’s, shaking in agreement.

“Thank you, thank you! You don’t know how much I appreciate this,” he says with tears almost filling his eyes. A job, he finally has a job that’ll get him by just fine. No more nights of going hungry. He can finally breathe a second, if not more.

Before he turns to leave, Edward puts a hand on his shoulder and turns him back around carefully. “Oh, forgot to mention something. There’s only one condition I ask of you. Don’t touch my dancers. They’re strictly for the guests that pay,” he says with furrowed brows, his eyes burning into him, as if to see if Joel will flinch at all.

“That’ll be no problem on my part. Promise,” Joel confirms with a nod of his head, his tousled curls moving with the motion.

“Good, good…” Edward hums out. “Alright, Joel. I’ll see you tonight,” he says with a wave as he turns around and heads back behind crimson curtains, disappearing into a dark hallway.

Joel can’t help but smile as he heads out the doors of the Moulin Rouge, stepping into the warm sunshine as it bathes across his tanned skin. He takes a breath of fresh air as it smells of autumn leaves and new hope.

Things start to feel like they’re looking up, like something nirvanic was right on the cusp. What Joel doesn’t know is just what waits around that heavy crimson curtain for him. He doesn’t know the beautiful disaster he’s about to step into. A Sparkling Diamond that will take over his life forever. Someone so precious, so special, so indescribably unique. Someone so very - you.

Joel makes sure to get to the Moulin Rouge fifteen minutes early, wanting nothing more than to give off a good impression. The burlesque is filling up quickly as the sun fades away, the bright full moon taking its place in the sky, stars scattering around it.

When he walks inside the double doors, he sees that the dance hall is filling up quickly with men who smoke expensive cigars and drink bottles of whiskey that he can only dream of affording. He makes his way further into the entrance, his eyes taking in his surroundings, noticing that the large room looks nothing like earlier when it was closed.

Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceilings as red curtains drape across the crimson wallpaper. The dance floor is littered with burlesque dancers that lift their skirts high and tease the men as they surround them, hoping to entice the wealthiest one. Money is what they’re after and selling themselves is their only shot at making any extra tips for the night.

Joel clenches his jaw at the sight and turns his head, waiting at the front until he finally spots Edward in a black pressed suit. His blonde hair slicked back tight, looking around to make sure his guests are happy and taken care of. When he sees Joel, he walks toward him and puts a hand on his shoulder in greeting.

“Ahh, there you are. Come along now. I’ll show you around,” he says gladly.

After that, he shows Joel the burlesque. He takes him to the maintenance closet and gives him a key to access it - metal tools and large shelves cover the entirety of the inside. Next he takes him down long, dark corridors, past rooms that are locked shut. Just when Joel thinks he's seen it all, they head up to the second story. Sweeping down wooden laden hallways, passed the balcony that overlooks the large city, and through winding rooms that seem to have no end. He had no idea it was so large and spacious here; didn’t even realise people lived here. Joel starts to think more softly towards Edward, sure these women put themselves in vulnerable positions night after night, but they have safe housing and a sense of family and community back here.

Edward takes Joel back down toward the main ballroom where the entertainment is held every night. Just as he latches on to the spiral staircase, he sees a man dragging a dancer with barely anything on into a dark room at the end of the luminescent hallway with red carpet sprawled across the floor. He shoves her in as he starts working his hands up her body, and Joel can see the mass of bodies already in the room as he closes the door, concealing moans and lust on the other side of the tarnished doorway.

Joel gulps and looks back toward the ground, keeping his eyes off the pleasure room. He knows what goes on in these walls, knows what filth lies in every corner. The stench of money and sex encompass the room, he can almost taste it on the tip of his rough tongue. He finds it revolting, men using these women's bodies. No love to be seen in these walls. Only perversions and sexual desire. He turns away sharply and descends the stairs, almost running into the back of Edward.

“I believe one of the wooden tables over by the stage needs some maintenance. The legs are collapsing, think you can do something about that?” he asks with a raised brow as he points at a dark wooden table with the legs barely hanging on.

“Sure. Probably just needs some tightening up. Easy fix,” Joel nods.

“Excellent. I have guests to greet, so fix that and then come find me,” just as he turns on his heel, he stops and looks back at Joel. Green eyes narrowing, a finger pointing in Joel’s direction. “Remember,” he says with venom in his voice, “Do not touch my dancers. They’re only for paying customers, and you cannot afford them.”

Joel only nods, letting Edward know he understands. With that, Edward turns and heads for the main doors, greeting more men as they pack in like sardines. Joel sighs and heads for the maintenance closest, trying to ignore the sinking feeling that shoots through his gut at the backhanded warning Edward gave.

Don’t touch the dancers…you cannot afford them.

Even if Joel could afford it, he would never do what these men are doing. The soft, beautiful women of this place deserve to be treasured, not pawed at and used. He wasn’t a rabid dog. He could control himself unlike all the other men that crowded the Moulin Rouge.

He grabs up a metal wrench and shoves some nuts and bolts deep into his pocket. When he makes his way back to the table he starts to assess the damage. This would be much easier to fix in his well lit workshop, but there’s no carrying this table away from the stage and through the crowd of hungry men.

Now that he’s thrust in the middle of the wooden dance floor, he can see the burlesque dancers seeking out the richest looking men, sitting on their laps and letting them put their dirty paws all over their bodies. The men laugh, carrying on conversations as they fondle their breasts, leaning down to trail kisses up their necks. Some get up and lead the women down the long, dark corridor. Back to the pleasure room. Back to their impending doom.

The three men at the table next to him have one girl propped up in front of them, all of their hands grabbing different areas of her body, asking her if she wants all three of them; the men are easily twenty years older than the petite and innocent looking blonde in front of them. Joel feels for the dancers, but there isn’t anything he can do. It’s business. It’s all about the fucking money and pleasure. Pleasure sells, and this is what most men desire. Sex.

The room grows louder as men cheer from the crowded tables. Some swarming the end of the lit up stage to get a peek at the next performer. Some start chanting, yelling in demand for the next poor soul to dance across that stage, right into the pit of vipers that are ready to spit venom at whatever girl walks out next.

The cigar smoke lingers in the air as crystal glasses clink in cheers, alcohol spilling over on the tabletops. Joel knows that’ll leave a huge mess for him and the other staff to clean up after closing. He tightens the bolts under the table, winding the wrench as he tries to turn his focus away from the lust filled crowd. They’re just a bunch of sick fucks who get off on ripping away the innocence and dignity of women. Nothing more than their play things. Theirs to possess and own for a few hours. It’s cruel and vile, disgusting in itself.

Joel was never the type of guy to use a woman. He’d never dream of hurting anyone. He was thoughtful and charming, a man who minds his manners and works hard for everything he has.

He digs harder into the leg of the table, trying to mute the hooting and hollering that is getting louder by the second. The sounds of the men start to overlap until it’s muffled and pressing on his eardrums, running along the nerves that wire his brain. He concentrates on the task at hand, shutting out the noise as he tries to fix the table.

“The Sparkling Diamond!”

“She’s coming on stage now!”

“Look, look!”

The men nearest him yell to each other, babbling about the Sparkling Diamond as the lights turn crimson and dark around the room, crystal chandeliers send glistening reflections across the expensive tailored suits that fill the crowded room.

“Here she comes, boys!”

Just then, the lights go out completely and a spotlight shines on the wide stage. Crimson curtains splay over the sides, exposing the long walkway where dancers show off for the men. The crowd goes quiet, a few whistles shrouding the silence as a slow, sensual song covers the room. The men pound on the stage, yelling for the Sparkling Diamond to come out. Joel thinks she must be something special if she has the entire room practically panting with anticipation. The wild men crawl towards the stage, pushing each other to get to the front so they can get the best view. Joel doesn’t know anything about a Sparkling Diamond, but he’s intrigued. Just what were they getting all worked up about?

Before he can comprehend what's happening, he hears the click of heels travel across the stage. He rises slowly, seeing the pretty figure that dances under the bright spotlight, the men now screaming and throwing their hands out, begging to get a touch of the enchantress that graces their presence. When she’s fully in view he freezes, dropping the wrench to the floor as it crashes with a loud thud against the spotless wood. It suddenly feels like all the oxygen has been sucked out of the room. Joel braces himself against the table, the sight before him nearly knocking him back down to his knees.

It’s you.

The most beautiful girl he’s ever seen in his entire life. Long, soft curls cascade past your shoulders and bounce around with every move you make on the lit up stage. Your short pink dress barely grazes the curve of your thighs as your arms raise overhead and you spin slowly. As you bring your arms back down, your red painted fingernails caress your curls, then tease the jawline of your flawless face. Your cheeks flush from the attention before you gently bite the tip of your finger, red lipstick sitting matted to your delicate lips.

Joel thinks they look soft to the touch, delicate even. Your lips call to him, almost scream his name. Joel, Joel, Joel. And he wants to answer it. God, does he want to answer that call.

He watches the way you twirl, fluttering your eyelashes as you look down at the men, seducing them effortlessly. Performing is what you were meant to do. When you finally look at Joel he falls completely apart, all his threads coming untied in a heap, and he lets out a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding.

He stands there frozen, sinking his nails into the hardwood table as he sucks in a shaky breath, almost unable to fully take in the vision that stands mere inches before him. He can’t hear the carnal men anymore, can’t smell the cigar smoke that encases the air, can’t focus on anything that even remotely takes his attention from the beauty that lights up the room. He can only focus on you. He feels a pull from his chest, like an invisible string, forcing him to look at nothing else but you. The Sparkling Diamond that draws men to the Moulin Rouge, and the one thing he knows will get him fired.

Your eyes sparkle and shine like a rare gemstone, pulling Joel in like a siren’s forbidden song, a lull that drags him under the dark depths of the sea. The smile you wear doesn’t quite reach your eyes, a sadness there that he can’t quite place. The men claw and reach for you like starving pigs, acting like you’re just a piece of meat to pass around to all the others to get a quick taste of.

It makes him sick the way they objectify your body, only caring about what’s underneath the short shimmery dress you wear. Joel doesn’t stare at your curves, doesn’t get sucked into whatever fantasy the rest of the men are in. He just stares at your eyes. Beautiful, sparkling. He’d cross oceans just to have a chance to memorize each fleck and color that maps out those starry eyes. Like roadmaps to his soul, leading him home to the deep depths of those glistening irises. And that’s when something snaps, he can’t - no, he won’t let any of these men put one grimy finger on you. Whatever it takes he’ll do it. He makes a silent vow to keep you safe, protect you at all cost.

There’s only one condition, don’t touch the dancers.

Edward’s voice plays through Joel’s mind on repeat, warning him to not tempt fate. But fate had already been tempted when he saw you up on that stage. He’d quit, starve, be homeless on the street if it meant he could have a chance to be with you. He’d give it all just to be able to touch you, to know you, to have you. He’d leave it all for you. His sweet, Sparkling Diamond.

You spin and turn, kicking your feet up to show off your smooth, long legs that all the men drool over. You turn to the right, drifting your eyes in the direction of a man you’ve never seen before. You almost freeze as he stares right back at you, big beautiful brown eyes gazing into yours as he gawks at you reverently. But his eyes don’t travel down your body like the other men’s do. His eyes stay fixed on your face alone, staring up into the pits of your soul as you suck in a breath and try to focus on the beat of the song.

His long tousled curls drape over his forehead, almost falling into his brown doe eyes that seem to suck you in. He’s tall, broad shouldered with thick biceps that cling to his rolled up button-up flannel. Spidery veins cascade down his arms and end in massive hands that stay clenched by his sides. His tanned skin seems to glow as he stares at you with brown eyes that melt into your own like a candle stick, wax flowing down slowly, sticky and new. It’s captivating. He is captivating.

It's like you’re stuck in a haze, thick clouds that cover you and wrap their fog around so you can’t see, can’t hear anything anymore. You try to focus on the men that praise your body, try to avert your eyes from the handsome stranger, but that organ in your chest you force yourself to ignore is almost screaming at you to run to him. Two souls colliding into each other that were destined to meet. Just like twin flames.

Soulmates.

You blink once, twice, peeling your gaze away from him, turning the other direction, forcing yourself to stay bright eyed, hoping your smile doesn’t lower. You come face to face with a gentleman with a large top hat that screams your name and reaches his arms out, desperate to get just a single touch from you that he hopes will become more.

You turn back around and find that heated gaze again with the dark brown eyes, your own eyes going wide as they draw you to him. He looks a lot like your saving grace. Someone that wants to come in and sweep you off your feet.

Again, he just watches you silently, eyes searching yours as he seems to clock into your mind, reading your thoughts like a book from front to back. He won’t find anything there except a longing for something more. An escape. Happiness. And maybe he could be that for you. Maybe, just maybe he was destined to find you. You can feel it in your chest, that ache and pull that draws you to him.

Your uncle won’t like this. Not one bit…

Joel watches your entire routine, never once letting his eyes drop from you. He watches as you disappear into the crowd of men, narrowing his eyes when he sees the way they grab at you and beg to have a dance with the Sparkling Diamond. It makes him want to strangle every single one of them slowly.

Please, just one dance?

Sparkling Diamond! Care to have a drink with me?

How about a little fun in the red room?

You politely decline each offer and just smile as you pass the men by, trying your best to not meet the stranger with the pretty brown eyes’ gaze. He’s so handsome, so very easy on the eyes. You try your best to look at the men with money, knowing this is what you’re here for, to give them a show so they’ll pay to come back. Try as you might, that thin string snapped the second you saw his brown flecked honey eyes. You don’t want to do this anymore.

You turn where you stand and look back towards the stage. You search as men cram around you and over the top of an older man’s shoulder you can see him, clear as day, still staring at you with a trance-like expression on his face. You hold his gaze for a few seconds, curling your lips into a shy smile and you swear you see his pretty caramel eyes light up like fireflies in the night.

Just when you’re about to walk over to him, you feel your uncle pull you away in the opposite direction. “Come on, little petal, got some nice men that’d like to meet you.”

You follow him helplessly past some drawn crimson curtains, already over the drunk men that will press their chapped lips to your face and place their grimy hands all over you. You’re finished though, over all the fake smiles and laughter you are forced to sell these men night after night. When you look back over your shoulder you can’t see him anymore. No more pretty brown eyes that make you feel somehow safe. You don’t know him, his backstory, his name, or even his age, but you’ll find out. You have to, you just have to.

After finishing fixing the two broken tables and putting them back into order, Joel gets another visit from Edward as he saunters over with a big smile and a glass of scotch in his hand.

“Everything going alright?” Edward asks as he pulls on his black tie and straightens out his long tailed coat.

“Yes, sir. Finished fixin’ those tables for you. They should be good to go now,” Joel answers as he stands up straight with his hands deep in his pockets.

“Excellent!” Edward goes over to the wooden tables and knocks on the top, inspecting Joel’s work as he looks them over carefully. Once he’s satisfied he gives Joel a strong pat on the back and nods. “Did good work, boy. Think we’ll keep you around.”

Joel smiles at the compliment, thanking him for the opportunity. “Oh, there’s actually something else that needs to be done. You remember that room we passed on the second floor? The very back room by the balcony? The one that says Sparkling Diamond?”

Joel’s eyes go wide as he recalls passing a big red door with the letters spelled out in fake diamonds. That has to be your room. He should’ve noticed it sooner, maybe asked about it. But he didn’t know that room would belong to the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He didn’t know it until now.

“Uh-yeah. What about it?” he asks cautiously, eyebrow slightly raised in anticipation of what Edward would say next.

“The sink in her kitchen is dripping and some of the lightbulbs are burnt out. There should be some in the supply closet. Think you can handle taking care of that now?”

He doesn’t hesitate a second. “Absolutely. I’ll get right on it,” Joel says urgently.

As he turns to leave, Edward calls his name. “Oh, Joel. Before you leave tonight, go ahead and have a beer. It’s on me.”

Joel doesn’t know what to say. He’s never been offered a free one before, always had to pay money that he didn’t have to get one. “Oh, thank you. I… I appreciate it.”

“You earned it, kid. I’ll see you tomorrow night?” Edward asks with his eyebrows knitted together and gaze heavy on Joel.

“I’ll be here,” he promises.

“Alright, take care now. I’ve got some business to attend to so see you tomorrow.” Edward turns and walks back into a sea of rich men.

Joel pushes his way past men in black suits and black ties, cigars hanging from their open mouths and drinks spilling over their glass cups as they talk about money, sex, stocks, and women. He tunes them out and keeps walking, ignoring the nasty stares he gets from not being in a suit himself.

As soon as he grabs the bag of lightbulbs and a few plumbing tools, he heads up the grand staircase with red carpet sprawled across each step. He makes his way up the stairs, down the narrow dark hallway and stops before he turns the corner. He stands just a few feet from the pleasure room. The red room as they call it here.

He can hear the moans and cries coming from the room, can smell the stench of sex that whisks through the air. He wonders if you go into that room night after night, letting the men with dirty claws sink their nails into you, feasting on you like blood sucking vampires.

His jaw clenches up as his nails sink into the meat of his palm, his face becoming hot with heat as he imagines you splayed out on an open bed while the men take and take from you until you have nothing left to give. Until you’re just a used up rag doll for them to toy with. He snarls and turns the corner sharply, putting those dark thoughts out of his mind. If he had his way he’d make damn sure you’d never set foot in that room again. He’d slaughter a whole fucking mass of men if he had to. No one should lay their filthy hands on you as far as he’s concerned.

He walks through the long corridor, passing door after door until he finally gets to yours. He takes a deep breath and turns the golden doorknob slowly entering the dimly lit room with pale pink wallpaper. He gently shuts the door and when he turns around he stops in his tracks, hand sliding off the doorknob as he sees you standing in the middle of the room. Naked.

Your skin is soft, probably as soft as the back of a rose petal. Your legs are long, smooth, and enticing. He wonders what it’d feel like to run his long fingers over your creamy thighs. You’re bent over, ass in the air, as you unbuckle the straps of the high heels you wore on stage. Your hips are curvy, shaping your round ass into mere perfection. Your full breasts peek out from the corner as your long waves spill over your shoulders. You’re absolutely perfect, stunning, a work of pure art.

Joel knows he’s fucked now. He knows. After seeing how beautiful you are, he can’t turn away. He shouldn’t be standing here gawking at you while you change, but he can’t move. He’s stuck like glue, an immovable object that can’t be pushed. He’s in trouble, so much trouble.

He loses his balance when you bend over again, exposing a different view of you that nearly takes him to his knees. The bag of bulbs falls to the ground with a large crash, and you turn with a quaint gasp as you take in the man that stands before you. It’s him, the man with the dark eyes.

Your eyes go wide, quickly reaching for a thin, sheer robe as you wrap it around you and cover the parts of you that are completely exposed. You breathe hard, your breath coming out rushed and fast. He does the same as he just stands there staring, no air left in his lungs as he stands in front of the beauty that takes his breath away. And then it’s silence, only rushed breaths and pining eyes.

The longer he stares into your captivating eyes, the more he knows he’s fucked. There was no way he was getting out of this now, no way to back down. He was going to make you his one way or another. You would be his. Period.

[atinystraynstay]

Play Nicely - Lee Chan

Synopsis: "I got a preview of what it would be like not to be yours, and I hated it so much."

Pairing: Idol! Dino x fem reader

Genre: PG-13 - slight angst, slightttttt smutttt if you squint, jealousy ft. The8, established relationship, possession

Word Count: 2.1k

Dino wasn't used to sitting on the dance floor, being in charge of the music. He was normally the one in front of the mirror, learning the choreography. This time around though, Dino had to take the backseat in order for Minghao to practice the choreography for his upcoming music video.

He was in the midst of preparing for his newest solo single. It was a bit sexier of a concept compared to Hai Cheng released last year. This time around, it had a heavy influence compared to the group's Light A Flame number. Minghao wanted to step out of his comfort zone, to show off his full range of dancing capabilities especially now that his collarbone has fully healed.

Being the good friend that you are, you volunteered to help Minghao with the choreography. By no means were you a professional like the rest of the group, or really like any extra the company could have hired. However, you wanted to take a challenge. You've always been curious about the world of dance, especially after watching Dino command the stage with his capabilities.

Minghao was ecstatic about the opportunity. Not only because he could take his time since you were helping as a friend, but he felt more comfortable doing the dance with someone he knew. This style of dance was newer to him as a solo performer, so being able to do it without feeling like he was going to waste someone's time really benefitted his learning process.

Dino was also very blessed to see you step up to help one of his friends. The maknae was a bit hesitant to introduce you to his friend group. He knew his members could be intimidating but also knew he was often subject to most of the teasing. Not always, but most of it when Mingyu was MIA. He just didn't want to give them anymore ammunition or have you dragged into it.

It brought him great joy to see how easily you were accepted by the group. Sure, there was some teasing here and there. However, his 12 brothers were just pleased to see their youngest happy. That is all they wanted for him anyway.

You were wearing a blank tank top, your hair pulled back into a high ponytail. You were also wearing a pair of black leggings. Your facial expression showed you were relaxed. Maybe the two of you should take dance classes together? He was intrigued by the opportunity to see you dance, wondering what you were capable of.

"I'm just afraid of making a fool out of myself," Minghao explained. He ran his hand through his hair as he stood before you.

Being the comforting friend that you, you placed your hands on Minghao's shoulders. Staring into his eyes, you smiled gently. "You're not going to make a fool of yourself. You're one of the best dancers I know, Hao. We'll practice for however long you need so you can feel confident." Minghao smiled at you, nodding at your words

While Dino knew the interaction was innocent, he couldn't help but feel the sting in his heart. One of the best dancers you knew? What about him? He bit his lip as he stood up straighter. He could out dance Minghao if given the chance.

The rehearsal started lighthearted. Minghao was showing you the basic dance moves and keeping enough distance, so you could learn through trial and error. The three of you would laugh at the moments of awkwardness. it helped you feel at ease to be out of your element. It was such a lighthearted environment.

"Why don't we try it this time with the music? I think you got the basics of the dance down now, y/n!" "I can also pause it if you need to go over the steps again," Dino reminded.

You looked excited to try it with the music, and Dino and Minghao wanted to help you keep that enthusiasm. They were honestly grateful you were willing to help out, but wanted to keep it fun for you as this was a new experience.

However, once the music began to play, the mood shifted. it went from innocent and playful to seductive and intense. The track was a bit deeper than Seventeen's more lighthearted, poppy sounds they've been doing over the past few months. Quite frankly, it screamed sex appeal.

Dino has never wanted so desperately to pause the music, pause the intensity between the two of you. But he didn't want to be selfish.

Realizing where he was, he let out a sharp breath through his nostrils. He did his best to compose himself, not wanting to make a scene especially when he was with you and one of his best friends. He had to control himself. Neither of you were doing anything malicious, nor would you ever. You loved Dino too much to ever do something so careless whereas Minghao had too much respect for your relationship and the two of you as people.

Dino was just starting to realize maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.

His blood boiled as Minghao's eyes were trained on you. You were able to capture the attention of everyone in the room. And honestly, Dino loved watching you thrive and flourish in anything you did. You could just be cooking up lunch for the two of you, and he was always left speechless.

Internally, he knew he should be grateful that his best friend was looking out for you. You meant the world to each member, especially since they knew how happy you made their maknae. And Minghao was doing everything he could to make sure you didn't get hurt while dancing.

It just wasn't far that Minghao got to be this close to you when that's all Dino was craving. He was craving the feeling of your body heat against his. He wanted to stare into your eyes until the world stopped spinning. And honestly, he wanted to be the first and only dance partner you had.

As the song played, Dino's jealousy just grew. Minghao guided you in where to place your hands, how to move your hips. It made Dino's mind fuzzy as he remembered all the things your body was capable of, how good you could make him feel. But he was seeing red as he watched Minghao maneuver you around, how your hands trailed his body.

The ending post is what drove Dino feral. Your back was fully pressed up against Minghao's chest. Your head was tilted back to face him thanks to the light hold Minghao had on your neck, his thumb on your jawline. His other hand rested on your hip, close to your upper thigh to keep you close.

The only sound that filled the air as the music died out was the sound of you two breathing heavily, your chests rising and falling. Dino was only used to that sound when it was the two of you in his bed.

Sensing eyes burning through him, Minghao looked over. He was about to ask for Dino's opinion but froze when he saw the glare Dino held. It was so unlike his younger member, so he was a bit surprised. Yet, he was intrigued to see how else he could push his buttons.

Leaning in close to you, Minghao whispered in your hear. He made sure he kept a bit of distance as to not overwhelm you, but give the impression Minghao was kissing your ear. Anything to drive Dino up the wall.

"Why don't we take a five? Give your lover boy a chance to breathe?"

You tilted your head in confusion before taking a look over at Dino. You've never seen him with his jaw clenched so tightly. You were afraid he was going to break his teeth with that kind of hold on his jaw.

Untangling your bodies, Minghao and you stepped away from with each other. Even though you were aching to know what was bothering your boyfriend, you were overjoyed with how well that first run-through went.

"I'm going to get us some water. Be right back," Minghao announced almost too happily.

I should have nothing to worry about. It's my best friend fulfilling his goal, but it just happens to be with my girlfriend. With his hands all over MY girlfriend. Fuck this.

Once you two were the only ones in the room, you turned towards your boyfriend. You couldn't help the gentle smile that tugged onto your lips at the sight of your pouty boy. Dino has always been seen as far more mature for his age, probably because he wanted to fit in with his hyungs since Seventeen's debut days. Yet, in this moment, he resembled a little boy who was not getting his way.

You were taking tiny steps towards Dino. You were convinced he hasn't moved an inch since rehearsals started. He was sitting up straight with his back against the glass.

"Have I ever told you I hate sharing?" He grumbled.

You giggled and shook your head. Your reaction caused Dino's scowl to deepen as his head shot up towards you. "Sorry," you whispered, apologizing for your reaction. You didn't want to just cast his feelings to the side. This was just a side of Dino you've never experienced before.

"Baby boy, you're not sharing me with anyone." "Damn right I'm not," he muttered.

Before you could even respond, Dino leaned forward to grab your wrists. You gasped lightly at the movement but allowed Dino to guide you in the direction he desired. He gently pulled you down so you straddled his lap. His knees propped up so you could lean back and rest against them.

Once you got situated in the new position, his hands let go of your wrists. Instead, they perched themselves on your hips to keep you secured on his lap. Your arms wrapped around Dino's neck. One hand resting on the base of his neck, the other on the back of his head.

"You only go home with me at the end of the day."

Dino didn't know what took over him. He leaned forward and pressed his lips gently at first against your neck. Your fingers gently running through his hair now, gripping slightly. The action caused him to growl against your skin, causing butterflies to erupt in the pit of your stomach. His lips were like a magnet to your neck.

"Don't ever think I'm willing to let anyone get that close to you again. You hear me?" The kisses were no longer soft pecks. They were open-mouth kisses that traveled up and down your neck, as if he was searching for it.

As his lips were right by where your jaw and neck connect, you felt your breathing hitch. You pulled yourself closer, unaware that the movement had caused you to rub against Dino's hardening boner. His teeth sink into your neck before he began sucking on it to ease the temporary ache.

He needed to get you home. Or at least somewhere where nobody could walk in on you two.

"You drive me absolutely mad, baby girl. I'm so lucky." "And I'm all yours," you reminded him again.

His mind got fuzzy at the softness of your voice. He squeezed your hips lovingly before letting his tongue glide over the reddish-purple hickey forming on your neck. Just one mark that would remind everyone who you belonged to.

"I guess I'm not filming dance rehearsal today," Minghao announced.

Hearing Minghao's voice, you blushed hard. You were going to move off of Dino, wanting to apologize for the PDA. Yet, Dino didn't let you move. If anything, his grip tightened on you to keep you planted on his lap.

Also so Minghao didn't see the boner that was becoming more and more prominent.

Dino slowly pulled away before looking over at his older member. His body was a bit relaxed even though he still wished he could swap places with Minghao in a few minutes. Minghao looked amused, not knowing that his younger brother could get jealous so easily.

"Sorry, Minghao," Dino chuckled. 'I just couldn't help myself." "You could have at least waited until rehearsal was done. At least you didn't make my dance partner too sore she couldn't move. I'd like to just finish and get one ore run-through down."

The two of you nodded, understanding Minghao's request. You were here to help him after all. Turning towards your boyfriend, you kissed his cheek lingeringly. You could feel his smile grow beneath the kiss. "We'll pick up later," you promised him.

His heart skipped a beat at the thought.

As you pushed yourself up off of his lap, there was a loud gasp behind you. "Dude, you have a boner?! In our dance studio?! I'm going to have to bleach my eyes after this!"

And there's the normal dynamic Dino was used to.

[brights-place]

Trollex X Rapper! S/O

Pairing: Trollex X S/O

Warnings: Lots of Fluff

A/N: Okay my first ever thought today to get me distracted was listening to music so I just shuffled some songs form one of my playlists and a rap song was playing while I was writing and I was like ‘Oh shit I gotta write this!’ Now here we are!

- Trollex with a Rapper! S/O YIPPEEE it was so fun to write this

- When you first met Trollex asked you all about your genre listening to how you explained everything and told him that a rapper is a musical poet technically your job was blending rhythm and rhyme to express stories, emotions, and ideas. They craft lyrics, hone their flow, and perform with energy that captivates audiences. Rappers often reflect on personal experiences or societal issues, becoming voices for their communities like what you did

- He couldn’t stop being interested in you after that and get pulled in more when you rapped into the microphone to show him an example with an random beat he gave

- He can’t help but raise a brow at you sometimes when you rock up to the studio and wait for creativity to strike, usually spending all night to work on your music he gets worried sometimes and tells you to relax and have some fun with him at the Techno reef Parties

- He would definitely make beats for your song and let you freestyle your way with the music he had given you.

- He love sit when you rap especially when you insult someone in an rap battle he finds it funny to see your smirk or smile

- He loves when you write and perform some of your rap songs or hip-hop music.

- He hates how your genre was criticised though sometimes… scratch that he hates when anybody discriminates and insults someone’s genre or music (it’s technically their race in Trolls)

- He loves you with all his heart but can’t help but notice how you and Prince D would vibe to hip hop together and rap he’s jealous of your bond since your technically in the same music genre even if your appearance was different your genre was the same

- Trollex though loves when you share your earbuds/headphones with him to show him some New rap songs or hip hop music you enjoy fucking falls in love with you all over again

- He had tried rapping once since you begged him to do it he was good like REALLY GOOD

- That mother fucker was good at it… not as good as Bruce though that man could go off (Bruce is VA is the guy who played my favourite character in Hamilton Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. NEHGEHE)

- He glows and has an bigger smile when you praise him as he quickly tackles you into an hug and snuggle into you which leads up to you holding him close to your chest and rubbing his back as he sleeps on your peacefully

- Trollex can’t help but admire how you hold your mic and go off at anybody or just have fun with it

- He loves how you send out messages through your rap speaking up and talking about issues and your own experiences while on stage.

- You know how I said he makes your beats? Well you also come by to his place and surprise him with an rap you wrote out of boredom without realising and asked if he could help make an beat for it

- he did and it was sold so fast 😭

- Trollex loves when you sing normally though even if you rap all the time he loves when you just sing in an slow pace and wants to dance with you slowly even if both of you were used to the loud techno and hip hop music

reblogs + comments are appreciated ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

©brights-place 2023 — do not repost on another platform, copy, translate or edit my works! if you fit my DNI list please don't interact

[ts1m1kas]

Original Ask: here's one for jude 😁 they're childhood friends, have known one another for so long, everyone says they are a perfect fit but jude brushes off the idea because deep down he doesn't want to admit he's in love with her, she on the other hand doesn't have time for relationships cause of her career as a ballerina. they stop talking for about three years until they meet again in madrid, she's dragged by her girlfriends to see real madrid play, that's when she sees jude, they reconnect with jude finally ready to confess his feelings, however one of his teammates tries to jump in the way. (@findingnemosworld)

Word Count: 761 words

(author's note: everyone thank @findingnemosworld for her amazing requests !! i did change the ending a little so i hope thats okay 🫶)

Jude always thought that Y/N was the most beautiful girl in the world. Her smile could light up a room, and her laugh was like music to his ears. They had been friends since he could remember, spending most of their childhood years as an inseparable pair.

What Jude didn’t realise is that Y/N felt exactly the same about him. His happy-go-lucky personality made her enjoy being around him, and the side of him that was ever-so caring made her fall head over heels for the boy.

But through Jude’s move to Real Madrid and Y/N’s gruelling career as a ballerina, the pair had fallen apart. This shocked everyone around them, as anyone who looked their way would assume they were a couple. There was no one else in the world who would've been more of a perfect fit together than Jude and Y/N.

Jude Bellingham wasn’t scared of most things. He’d played professional football for years. Suffered online abuse and gone through many hardships throughout his life. But the idea of telling Y/N how he felt about her had him shaking with fear. He valued her friendship more than anything else, so when he had to let his best friend know he was moving away, it broke his heart.

Y/N was devastated. Jude’s departure had made her lose her drive and motivation and her ballet career was suffering because of it. Her coach was pushing her to her limits to distract her from the gaping hole that Jude had left behind in her life with his departure.

Time passed, and the pair hadn’t spoken in months. But that didn’t mean that they didn’t think of one another every passing minute, of every passing day.  

Y/N had a break in ballet performances, and it just so happened that her dance group’s next show was in Madrid. Her friends had been given tickets to a football game, and she blindly agreed to go. Her friend, who had been given the tickets, was married to a player from one of the teams playing, and Y/N desperately needed a chance to relax.

Jude was sat in the changing rooms. He was listening to Vinicius Jr. give them a pep talk before their game against Sevilla. He had a strange feeling his his stomach but he couldn’t place it. 

"Jude, are you okay?" Luka asked him, noticing the look on his Jude's face.

“Yeah man, I’m fine”, Jude responded, brushing off his friend’s concerns.

And so the game began. Y/N and her friends sat, immersed in the game. She always used to watch Jude play, and the interest in football had stuck, even after he moved away. However, when the line-ups were announced and the players walked out, Y/N felt sick. She hadn’t seen Jude in three years since his move to Madrid, and the painful memories rocketed to the forefront of her mind.

Jude ran onto the pitch. As he stood through the pre-game formalities, his eyes wandered over the masses of spectators that had turned up to watch their teams play. However, his eyes widened when they connected with those belonging to a familiar face.

Y/N’s mouth dropped open. The look she shared with Jude was one full of shock and pain. Jude mouthed ‘meet me after the game’ and she understood immediately.

It was an interesting game that resulted in a draw. Each side fought hard, but neither of them could grasp the winning goal. Jude had never been so eager to leave the pitch as he rushed over to where Y/N was waiting for him.

As he stood in front of the girl he had loved his whole life, he faltered. Jude knew he couldn’t hold his feelings back any longer.

“Y/N, I love you. I have for so many years and I-”

“Jude, I love you too.”

Jude stopped talking. He had been waiting to hear those three words come out of her mouth since he had learned what they meant. He couldn’t stop himself anymore. He stepped forward, cupped her face with his hand, and kissed her. 

Jude poured every ounce of love he had for Y/N into that kiss. The fondness he felt for her was unbeaten, the years he spent hiding it, filled with regret.

Once they broke away, the looked at eachother. The look was not filled with pain this time, it had been replaced with love and tenderness.

The pair left the stadium, reunited and ready to spend their days together.

[official-wonho]

[INTERVIEW] K-pop Star Wonho Marks Return to Music After Military Enlistment

The Korean singer released his new English-language single "What Would You Do" ahead of his American fan tour this December.

In September, a little more than a week after completing his mandatory military enlistment, K-pop star Wonho returned to the stage — and to Wenee, his collective fanbase.

“I was so nervous that I wondered if I had ever been so nervous on stage,” says Wonho in November, two months after hosting his first “Welcome Back Wenee” fan event. “I think it was the most nervous I ever felt before, kind of where I felt my mind go blank. But I was really excited about meeting my fans — and by meeting them, I felt more alive after.”

Wonho is getting ready to reconnect with even more of his fanbase. The 31-year-old singer is coming Stateside in December for a multicity U.S. fan tour, which coincides with several performances as part of the annual holiday-season concert series “Jingle Ball.” “I haven’t seen them in a very long time,” he says of his American fans. “So I thought if not now, then when?”

It’s 10 p.m. on Friday night in Korea, and the singer is working late, discussing his upcoming projects over Zoom. He was one week out from releasing his first single and music video since going on hiatus in late 2022, the English-language ballad “What Would You Do.” “This single was kind of a surprise for my fans, and I’ve been watching and seeing their reactions every day,” says Wonho, who references his gratitude for his fans in response to almost every question about his career and time away from the industry.

The singer has given fans a behind-the-scenes look at his return to music this fall through a series of videos, showcasing moments like him getting fitted for his first fan event, attending dance rehearsals, and attending Seoul Fashion Week in October. 

“I didn’t have to show my good looks to anyone during military service,” says Wonho, who has distinguished his visual identity through a muscular physique. “To be honest, I gained a little bit of weight and I didn’t really care that much about my style. But as we saw in the outfit-fitting video, after I tried on different outfits, I [realized] that I needed to get back into working out more.” 

While he concedes fashion choices to his stylists when it comes to his public appearances, Wonho adds that he tends to personally gravitate toward Japanese brands and silhouettes that are easy to move in. “These days, I really like outfits that are oversized and comfortable, but I can wear the same outfit to dance practice or to work out or to a fancier event. I like having an outfit that encompasses all of these different styles,” he says.

Read full article on wwd.com

[ur-boyfiend]

hai , here's some chan x reader fluffy domestic stuff, if anyone wants to see a continuation lemme know ^^

you’re lying in bed on your back, eyes closed and earbuds in.  your skills at zoning out are strong, so you’re not very aware of your surroundings. you don’t have any plans for today, but your friends and boyfriend like to stop by unannounced, so you don’t particularly expect to be left alone all day. 

that’s why you’re not that surprised when you feel someone's weight drop on top of you. you pause your music and pull out your earbuds, looking up slightly to see a mop of curly blond hair. laughing quietly, you gently run your fingers through your boyfriend’s hair, and he leans into your touch. 

“what’s goin’ on channie?” he seems more tired than usual, which is saying something. he mumbles something in response, but his face is still buried in your chest so you can’t actually tell what he’s saying. 

“love, i can’t hear you.” 

he lifts his head up to look at you, and his expression almost reminds you of an upset puppy, “people don’t know how to do their jobs. i came in and nobody had finished their part of the project, you could tell they all expected me to finish it for them. so now i’m doing the entire project myself.”

you frown, knowing that being one of the best students in the music department meant people assumed chan would do their work for them if they asked. you’ve given plenty of students deadly side-eye when they tried to bother chan, but most of them just try again when you’re not there. 

“can you tell your professor?” 

chan just shakes his head, “i don’t wanna tell the professor because that’d give them the chance to get their shit together. i’ll just do the project myself and leave their names off of it, their loss.”

you laugh quietly, appreciating the pettiness. you were probably a bad influence, but because of chan’s default sweetheart personality, you were glad he wasn’t letting people take advantage of him anymore. 

“if there’s any way i can help let me know, alright?” 

“you have your own classes to work on, i don’t wanna use up your work time.” 

you shake your head, “the biggest assignment i have right now is my end of semester project for my visual arts class, my team for the year end fashion show is actually ahead of where we need to be since we’re all prone to hyperfocusing on the work.” 

chan grumbled slightly, “imagine having a team that do their work, what a concept.” 

you gently scratch at his scalp, still running your fingers through his hair, “is there anyone else in your class you could team up with? maybe not for this project, but for future ones?” 

chan shrugs, “i try not to interact with people unless they interact with me first, i don’t need to prompt people to bug me.” 

you snort, knowing how he feels. people used to treat you the same way, the difference is you’re just a lot more intimidating than him, and people figured out pretty quickly that you weren’t gonna do their work for them. 

“i think one of my friends was talking about his boyfriend needing a new team for his assignment, i’m pretty sure another one of our friends is in a similar situation… lemme ask real quick.” 

he hums in confirmation and you grab your phone from where it sat abandoned on the low shelf next to your bed, quickly putting in your passcode and opening the ‘dance hoes’ groupchat. you know each other because of how often the performance and fashion departments work together, everyone in the chat had done modeling for you at some point. 

you send a quick text, ‘hey can the catboys get online?’

quickly you get responses from two of the other chat members, both asking what was going on, one much more kindly than the other. you’re pretty sure chan has fallen asleep on you, but you keep playing with his hair as you ask the pair about what they’d mentioned earlier. 

they both give quick confirmation, and you explain your idea. both disappear for a second, before confirming that their boyfriends were down to meet up with everyone. you decide to work out a meeting time later, so you set aside your phone and curl up with chan, tugging a blanket over both of you and closing your eyes, falling asleep in your boyfriend’s arms.

[kittyball23]

Memory (a Trolls fanfic)

Summary: JD, Spruce, and Clay come to terms with their Grandmother Rosiepuff’s fate

A/N: Requested by JoltJackalope on Wattpad :)

__________________________________________

“I can’t believe she’s… gone.”

Spruce said the words slowly, like he was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that his Grandma had died. John Dory and Clay peered at him with similar looks of disbelief.

“I mean, I guess I can believe it,” Clay spoke up in response, “but just… not the way Branch said it happened…” He thought about how their youngest brother had described it, picturing a Bergen swiping her away to a terrible fate. His stomach churned in an unpleasant manner.

John Dory’s imagination wasn’t too different, and it made him feel guilty. Being the oldest, he had the most memories of their Grandmother. How she’d supported the five of them, encouraged them to follow their dreams and cheered them on as they did so. One particular moment stuck out to John Dory. And, unbeknownst to him, the moment he was thinking of was a significant one in Spruce and Clay’s memories too…

“Let me take you to a better plaaaace,

I’m gonna make you kiss the sky tonight

Yeah if you let me show the waaay,

I’m so excited, to see you excited!”

John Dory just couldn’t seem to quit singing. He was proud of their song - it was catchy, and a hit among everybody in the crowd who’d come to see their band. Singing it twice didn’t seem to be cutting it, but the show had to come to an end. Thankfully, he could rest at ease knowing that he and his brothers would perform again.

While JD was more focused on the performance part of it, Spruce couldn’t help but recall how many girls he’d made faint after they’d caught a glimpse of his exquisitely toned body. Clay on the other hand was a bit sore, having given it his all when it came to the dancing, but he knew it was completely worth the grand applause the audience had given afterwards.

“They loved us!” their younger brother Floyd exclaimed, looking absolutely touched by the prospect of so many Trolls supporting their music as he made his way backstage with the others.

“Of course they loved you, sweetie,” a gentle voice responded. The boys grinned a tad wider when their Grandma approached them, with Baby Branch inside of a little carrier at her front. The youngest BroZone brother was only a couple months old, still not able to join his older bros up on the stage to dance and sing just yet, but it didn’t mean that he couldn’t cheer them on. He clapped his hands enthusiastically and blurbled happily.

“You were ALL wonderful,” Grandma Rosiepuff continued, gently leaning over to caress Floyd’s cheek. He blushed a little and she chuckled fondly. “Do you know why?”

The magenta Trolling looked up at her. “Why?” he asked in a small, curious voice.

“Because each of you is special,” she responded. She looked over at JD first and smiled.

“John Dory, you had a dream and you made it come true. You created an amazing band that you love being a part of.  Just remember that with the right determination, and with your brothers by your side, you CAN achieve anything that your heart desires.”

JD beamed. He liked the sound of that! Grandma was right. His brothers believed in him. And he believed in his brothers. They could accomplish TONS of things if they just continued to work together as a team!

Their Grandma addressed Spruce next. “Spruce, you have a passion burning inside of you unlike anybody else I’ve seen. You'll succeed on what you set your mind to, so long as you never let it burn out."

Spruce smiled at her. “I won’t, Grandma,” he promised.

“Ooo, ooo, me next!” Clay called out, jumping up and down, and raising his hand up in a playful manner.

Rosiepuff giggled. “Clay, being able to make anybody laugh is a fantastic gift. You’re a fun little guy, and I don’t think you’ll have a problem knowing how to keep things real when they matter.”

“Nope, I don’t think so either!” Clay chimed back in reply, living up to his jokey personality and doing a goofy little dance.

Rosiepuff had to laugh again, and then spoke to Floyd. “Floyd. Your talent to write songs is beyond incredible. You don’t have to be afraid to sing or dance in front of a lot of people - you have great friends by your side.” She gestured behind him at John Dory, Spruce, and Clay. “If you ever feel like you’re in trouble, just know that they’ll be there for you. Always.”

Floyd responded by giving his Grandma a hug.

In the baby carrier, Branch giggled.

“And I can’t forget about you, Branch!” Rosiepuff said, nuzzling the top of his rich blue hair. “You, my little boy, are so lucky. You have the best big brothers in the world!”

Branch babbled something babyish that they knew meant he was so grateful for it.

Rosepuff smiled down at him, and then opened up her arms to the others. “Come here, boys!”

John Dory, Spruce, and Clay crowded around to join their Grandma, Floyd, and Branch, all warm and happy in her embrace...

... And feeling nothing like that now.

John Dory sure wished his Grandma could hug him right there and then and provide the comfort he needed. Her hugs always felt like they could cure anything, including the guilt he felt for not upholding to her words.

Just remember that with the right determination, and with your brothers by your side, you CAN achieve anything that your heart desires.

Well, he hadn’t had his brothers by his side, and he hadn’t achieved his goal of having BroZone be together forever.

Spruce hadn’t let his passion die down… in some respects. Of those did not include performing though, which he felt bad for. His Grandmother would’ve perhaps been happy that he was able to start and raise his very own family, but a little sad to see that he didn’t have that desire to get up on a stage and sing anymore like he’d used to. He had tried to bury his boyband days behind him, going as far as to even change his name.

For Clay, it was very rare for a joke to slip past his lips nowadays. Grandma had told him to keep things real when they mattered, though he’d taken it to a much farther level. In fact, his humorous side had almost gone away completely. He no longer chuckled or snickered as often as he used to, and he'd believed that being serious was the way he should continue about his life. But, if he was being truthful, he really did miss that side of him that Grandma said could make anybody laugh. Snubbing it felt like snubbing his Grandmother.

Regardless of their individual reasonings, all three brothers felt as though they'd let her down.

John Dory hadn't realized that the one person he might've wanted to speak to again - aside from the brothers he'd silently hoped he'd make up with one day - was his Grandma. There was so much he wanted to tell her about his adventures out with his caterbus Rhonda, seeing the world.

Spruce would've liked to have told her much about his newfound understanding about relationships, and the true love he'd found with his wife that was so much better than any meaningless fling he'd previously had in his youth.

Clay ached to hear her sweet little laugh again, seeing the smile spread on her face that was because of a joke he'd cracked, and wanting to show her the cool tuck-and-roll trick he'd learned in Putt Putt Village.

A simultaneous sigh heaved from the three brothers.

"I mean, we could see her again one day... right?" Spruce asked.

John Dory didn't understand. "Bro, Branch said she died, though!"

"No, dude, he meant, like, somewhere else," Clay clarified, gesturing an arm up and out, the direction towards the sky.

JD cocked his head, not sure what exactly he was supposed to be looking at, until it came to him. His brothers were talking about a better place, one that was not their world full of troubles and regrets. One where Grandma Rosiepuff was free of her suffering, and where they may go one day when they grew old themselves and passed on.

"Ohhh," he said, nodding once and answering honestly.

"Yes. I think so."

__________________________________________ A/N: I guess this could take place when the brothers are waiting for Branch to return after my oneshot "By Your Side"? (and for that matter, before the oneshot "Reconciled")

[elainsgirl]

why do people deny what elriel has? It baffles me that people actually try to make their scenes they have together into something else and saying its not romantic. we elriel's get called delusional for believing our couple could be endgame even when they have multiple scenes together that backs up our opinions and not one bonus scene that people just nitpicked and did everything they could possibly do to see if their ship could be endgame?!?

sorry, but, no. Im going to keep believing in elriel because I actually read the books and I don't just stick to a bonus chapter and believe a ship could possibly be endgame. thats like with cassian and emerie, when people thought they would end up together, and guess what? they didnt! like we are going down the same road again people!

Also. The fact that people are trying to make gwyn into a main character is laughable. why can't we see that she's just a side character with potential? why are people trying to replace elain with her??? "rhys will love gwyn and be besties" "auntie gwyn" "gwyn will be the savior". im actually sick and tired of acting like I actually cared about gwyn (I liked her character obviously) but she was just there to me, just like emerie. This fandom is just something else.

Hey Anon, I hope you’re having a great day 🫶

I totally get the frustration & annoyance, trust me, it gives you a headache trying to wrap your head around how people are genuinely doubting elriel over a ship that doesn’t even have any romantic scenes. I mean, elriel - a couple which goes back 3-4 books, is genuinely being rivaled with Gwynriel? Two characters that canonically don’t even want each other? They’re being so forecefully shipped over the silliest things. “Gwyn glanced at Azriel in Ch43? Omg its soooo clear she has feelings for him 🤭”

“Did you notice the way Azriel half turned when Gwyn squeaked? AHHHH HE LITERALLY CAN’T HELP NOTICING HER ITS SOOO ROMANTIC!”

Yet when it comes to elriel?

“Elain blushed bcs Az smiled at her? Pffft Sjm was just trying to show us how uncomfortable and awkward Azriel makes Elain” (no joke this was something an anti actually argued once)

You know what happened w that bonus chapter? It was over-exaggerated and over-romanticised.

Imagine this. You absolutely hate elriel and when you first read the bonus, your worst nightmares have come true. Azriel is in fact wanting Elain. There is a mutual attraction and want between them. Your hope that Elain secretly wanted Lucien has gone up in flames or the hope that Azriel didn’t actually want the blandest character in the series has also gone up in flames. Your distraught. Disappointed but then comes along another fmc in the bonus. A female character you actually like, over elain. Ofc you’re going to use that as a way to ship her w Az instead of accepting the obvious. Elain & Az are endgame. Poor Gwyn is simply a self-insert as well as the “better” option for Azriel as she is more widely liked. Her whole interaction w Azriel has been so inflated that when you look at it with unbiased lens, you just find it silly.

How many times have we been told that the shadows love gwyn? That they’re so playful with her? That they performed an entire salsa with Gwyn? Going off this alone, it seems so romantic right? Yet when you actually read the scene,

“Her breath curled in front of her mouth, one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. As thought it had heard some silent music”

How disappointing is that scene compared to the way Gwynriels promote it? The shadows aren’t given any emotions. There is no way to tell they’re being playful. Its not even plural, it was one shadow that danced with gwyns breath. It can’t just be me finding this so unbelievably plain.

Then you get told by gwynriels that Gwyn and Az bantered! They had a simple conversation in which Gwyn herself couldnt care less + Azriel actively was trying to be polite. “Gwyn allows Az to open up so much! We find out he sings” im being honest- if you made it this far not knowing Azriel is a singer despite it being in the literal name, shadowsinger, thats just you being odd. Can’t forget the kicker - “The image sparkkng in his chest, where it glowed quietly”.

But you know what? This could have just been an amusing crackship. Yet, its when antis come for elriel with their stupid takes that get you annoyed especially when its just mischaracterising Elain and Az purposely. THAT becomes bothersome. EL and GA stans have turned Azriel into a toxic, possessive incel that needs to be isolated in therapy away from all women - excluding Gwyn, ofc, gwynnie is the ONLY one that can help him through his disturbing issues bcs Gwynnie is just the best. She will make him realise how foolish he was being over Elain. How his feelings - Az questioning his belief, religion and system, being ready to fight a BD for her, wanting to beg on his knees for Elain were simply a front bcs he didn’t want to admit he’s falling in love w his little gwynnie poo.

Elain? She’s just confused. She doesn’t know what she wants. She’s in denial, Elain can’t handle how badly she wants Lucien, she’s trying to push it all down. You know whats the funniest? Eluciens yap day and night about how toxic Az & the IC are for infantilizing Elain yet the little hypocrites do the exact same thing when it comes to Elains character. Or they apparently need her pov to know how she truly feels about Lucien bcs Elain losing her boldness and saying verbally - she doesn’t want a mate, is not enough.

. They have to make elriel toxic bcs thats the only way their ships can happen. Its not possible otherwise.

As you said, elriels dont need the bonus. The ship is more then canon within the books, the bonus simply gives more insight into Azriels character in acosf, but gwynriel? The bonus is their entire foundation. Without it they have nothing aside some out of context scenes. For eluciens? They need the bonus to back up their whole “elriel is toxic agenda”.

Keep on shipping elriel, anon. You’re shipping a couple that have had genuine interest in each other, that have had multiple scenes developing them from Azriel figuring out elain is a seer when only her her mate was suppose to figure it out, too Nesta noticing a charged glance. From Azriel staying up late at night talking to Elain too Elain gifting him a personalised headache powder. Elucien & gwynriel have absolutely nothing when compared too elriel. Im sorry, but Az chuckling bcs of Gwyn isn’t compared too when Elain made him laugh so joyously it cleared the shadows from his eyes. Elain, who mentioned nothing when Lucien showed up hurt - went out of her way to make Azriel a headache powder to help him feel better.

people would ship Az with anyone. They’re that desperate for another Li aside from Elain. I can guarantee you, if there was another fmc Az had interacted with, gwynriels would split so damn fast - kind of like what happened when Bryce and Az interacted. Antis were so desperate - they shipped Az and emerie in acofas calling Elriels toxic for not succumbing to the likeliness of that ship. Its a cycle. Fandom hates certain character in a ship, looks for alternative ship, ships them, ship sinks and fails then they have to accept the ship they hated sm. Cycle continues.

Didn’t you know anon? Since Gwyn has a second name and her heritage is known- it immediately means she is now THE most important character especially over Elain. Whose an archeron. The family the spinoffs are about. But that doesn’t matter. Gwyn does not follow the typical fmc pattern sjm has laid out, she isn’t a main character anytime soon. Her stans love saying she is due to her appearance in the bonus but elain also appeared in Azriels AND Feysands bonus. Going by their own logic, Elain is the next fmc. Gwyn was a lovely character in acosf, but she isn’t set to be a main character. Elain was. Gwyn was created for Nesta, she’s Nesta’s bestie. Almost eveything about Gwyn, is linked to Nesta. We have now had Nesta’s story,therefore Gwyn has served her main purpose.

Even gwynriels know that gwyn isn’t an important character as of now bcs she has no ties to the IC. She hasn’t met Feyre, the Main character and sjms biggest voice in the series. Gwyn and Rhys aren’t buddies. He will be a Hl to her. She is simply Nestas friend. Nothing more.

I used to like her character but gwynriels and her stans kept on shoving her down my throat yapping about how awesome & great she is compared to Elain, who was boring. Her stans hated elain so much, bringing her down whilst uplifting Gwyn that I now just can’t stand Gwyn. I haven’t reread acosf bcs I don’t want to go through any gwyn scenes. I dont interact w Gwyn content either. I viewed Gwyn the same way you did. She was a side character to Nestas story. She was great, but didnt stick out to me.

As sad as it sounds, the only reason so many people are obsessed with Gwyn is Bcs they’ve potrayed her as another Li for Azriel. Otherwise, she would have been treated the same way Emerie has been treated. As a side character.

Just to end off: Anon, Gwynriels and Eluciens make themselves look foolish when they claim elriel aren’t romantic or obvious. How am I suppose to take their ships seriously when they can’t even acknowledge elriels’ foreshadowing and romance clearly displayed in the books? If you’re claiming you saw absolutely nothing going on between elriel - but gwynriel were so obvious to you - then thats just embarrassing for you. It’s clear that there’s some denial going on.

[storkmuffin]

Hi!! I just wanted to ask if you think they had Mingi run the show on the second day on purpose. Like, did they single him out or did it just happen by chance? Because I would think, if it was something they sat around to discuss, it would be San (since he's the popular member and also a sweetheart) or maybe even Hongjoong (captain)

This is purely speculation based only on common sense deduction and bits of chatter I saw on k-atiny Twitter.

I don't think Mingi being mc on day 2 could've happened by chance. They all had too much riding on these two nights being successful. On day 1 they were filming for the cinema and on day 2 it was being livestreamed (worldwide I think? ) for a fee. KQ made a huge Korean media push about how Ateez sold out KSPO DOME ever since tickets went on sale weeks ago. And they had 15,000 people coming from literally all over the world to see them. You can't just leave things to chance in this sort of situation.

Ateez members are really great at what they do - as entertainers and as musical and dance performers. And part of being great at any demanding job requires the ability to be coldly critical of what went wrong and what you can and can't do.

What Ateez seem to have wanted was for people to participate- cheer and scream and jump around and visibly RESPOND. But in Korean manners, you don't want to be in other people's way. You don't want the person next to you to end up with your voice in their video of Ateez performing live if they didn't explicitly tell you they were OK with that. You don't want to stand and get in someone's view line and be a nuisance. Plus we kept getting sent the words to the chants that were the correct ones to say in response to many many songs that had the net effect of silencing people like me who don't know and will never know all that. So on day 1, there wasn't as much audience response as perhaps they were now used to, given their long tours abroad.

The 2 members who were comfortable yelling at people to STAND UP at all were Mingi and Hongjoong, and actually HJ wasn't that comfortable doing that. He seems very analytical and on the spot noticed and understood the careful hesitation that his mostly female audience was exhibiting and switched into Understanding and Compassion Mode. That leaves only Mingi - he wasn't nervous, he was fine and even had fun with yelling at people to get up and shout and make noise. It had to be him and he volunteered as tribute! He cued people to JUST YELL at the points when there was supposed to be a lot of pre-set fan chanting, which worked really well on day 2. And everything about him fits this role - his big masculine stage presence, his big voice, the fact that his rap style includes shouting, his musical intelligence in knowing each song inside out, his joie de vivre and not caring much about not being perfect and perfectly controlled on stage. MVP absolutely.

San I think COULD do this too except he doesn't really yell AT fans. He has more a "caring boyfriend" approach and his role in these performances was to give women something to scream about - he had so many key close ups. I don't know if there would've been time to be in place to do all those AND be MC, kind of like how Jongho can't dance all out because he has to hit the high notes and be the mood setting vocal booster.