#⋆ this isn’t the worst ⋮ hyeon ∘

[dreamingsushi]

The Villain of Romance - Episode 2

It’s a nice change of pace to watch something as light as this is so far. It’s probably not going to earn drama of the year in my opinion, but at least it’s funny. I am looking forward what’s next.

I think I actually like the format of the show, with the two anchors of a love consulting show. It kid of brings on the topic of the episode to come which is really nice. So far, in both episodes, they are using two frequent tropes, the first one being friendship between a man and woman, this time a guy hanging too much with his friends.

I mean, I think I understand where Yoo Jin comes from. If whenever she’s spending time with Hee Jae he’s always talking or waiting to play with Hyeon, then it’s not a very healthy relationship in the sense that he doesn’t value her time which is as important as his. It comes up to the point where he takes her out to play with his friend without even realizing how he’s not been acting like a good partner.

Until Yoo Jin finally speaks up and tells him to reduce the time he’s spending with his roommate and to focus on her when they’re together. She also tells him he should spend less time gaming instead of getting ready for the future.

So when I think it’s going more on the side of parody, I’m probably right. When Hee Jae tells Hyeon he has to reduce the time they spend together, they both act like it’s the end of the world. It’s a little over the top as it is not that dramatic.

Hee Jae ends up lying to Yoo Jin saying he’s taking extra classes to go play with Heyon, but she’s not fooled that easily. So she decides that Hyeon needs someone else to spend time with and tries to set him up with one of her friends, but he ends ups creeping out all of his blind dates. So they come up to the conclusion that they each bring the worst of each other and Hee Jae moves out of the dorm they share together. They mope around a little and decide to come up with a presentation about their friendship to Yoo Jin. It’s not very nice to tell your partner who they can be friends with. And it’s even worse when you force them to choose between you and a friend. Before Hee Jae even gets to choose, Hyeon receives a call from a girl he met at the library and he rushes out to go meet her and she asks him to go eat it something together and he agrees in the hopes he can start dating too. On the other end, Hee Jae almost broke up with his girlfriend because he was not quick enough to chose her.

I would say that so far, it’s not hilarious, but it’s quite light and funny, at least to me. I’m not bored watching it and enjoy it. The format isn’t too long, nor too short, I’m glad I started watching this.

[daldeoksu]

this isn’t the worst

of all the places, of all the things deoksu could have been doing, this was definitely not at the top of that list. banding together with men of equal ( or to put it frankly, of more ) caliber than he, was definitely not a day made in deoksu’s book. neither would books be involved but he soon realizes, coming back home, everything returns back to the way it was: like the way that nothing in his life is in his control but in the hands of one self-righteous left minister who would rather see his son bloodied and haggard than safe at home, resting. 

oh family, you got to love them!

a thought that clings to his mind half-heartedly as hands take the reins of his stead haphazardly. the bow is slung across his chest, arrows untouched as he feigns interest in today’s game. sure, competition was something to be enjoyed -- especially if it was friendly but having just returned from a field that was a little less friendly and all the more hostile, and if it had been any other time, deoksu would have been all for tossing back the reigns and celebrating camaraderie but alas, it is what it is. 

he’s unsuspecting, practically a sitting duck in the middle of the forest -- with little hopes, deoksu prays, as he’s lost in his thoughts, an arrow doesn’t come straight through his thick skull. ( dying outside of war would only add salt to his metaphorical wounds )

⋆ ⋆ ⋆  ━━     @dalhyeonn​    、   of all the stupid things  ⋆

[v1r4l]

“Do you ever get nervous before a match?” He certainly did, it probably didn't help that he didn't even want to be involved in these death games, not that any of that mattered to anyone but himself. (Jean-Paul Valley)

Tae Joon gets it, he really does, because he’s been there before: the pathetic slouch of his back and those petrified eyes shuttered behind coke-bottle thick spectacles. Coming from a place where blue screens and kernel panics are the worst thing imaginable, joining the Games, both being the one on the run and the one chasing, certainly is a pretty damn big career step to make.

Tae Joon knows this much; he’d walked the same path before, and then he stopped being Park Tae Joon to become Hyeon Kim. Making small talk before the Games is just the tip of the iceberg.

Hyeon doesn’t need to know what he’s done between his programming stint at Gotham U to where he stands now to get it. He’d seen the bottom of the barrel, once. And for once, Hyeon warms with empathy for the man. Sees him not as the terrifying crimson assassin, but the former shell of a man getting caught up in the wrong things trying to make things right. In some way, looking at Jean-Paul feels like looking into a mirror. 

“Sometimes, yes,” This much Hyeon offers him, and then, “What are you feeling nervous about?” because fighting to your death on the daily does take some getting used to, and no amount of psyching himself up can will away the tremor in his hands. It’s why he likes keeping his hands tucked away so much.

But this anxiety, Hyeon learns, has many flavours. His is a kind of dread which burrows deep into his gut like a parasite that never really leaves, but it’s something he can’t openly talk about. Hyeon isn’t exactly so concerned about dying, because he has invincibility as a safety net. They all have.  

Months pass, and Hyeon’s hide grows a little thicker, he gets a little more wiser. He gets used to the sting of bullets and the sear of lava feels no more intense than touching a boiling kettle. 

So he isn’t too sure what it is that he fears, and maybe that’s what it is. The unknown.  He still can’t shake the feeling that he’s being watched from the inside, that someday this boogeyman will catch up with him. 

@playedbetter​

[worldburnrp]

“It was a maddening image —

Little by little, the rooftop space filled up with guests. It’s impossible for a rum-sponsored party not to turn lively; and certainly, it has. While some are happy with their drinks and stay in the venue, drinking and dancing their spirits away — others choose to venture out, either returning to their rooms or getting lost in the maze that are the corridors of The Mark hotel.

In either case, the night is light and young, and there’s not a worry in their minds.

Little do they know however, that in the shadows, the Syndicate awaits.

— and the only way to whip it was to hang on until dusk —

Although the night had been planned to exhaustion, it’d been all but a coincidence that the operation had fallen on the same date as the party launch. It’s a blessing, at the same time that it’s a curse; more people circulating the area isn’t ideal — but a sea of potential issues isn’t so much so, if they’re impaired to begin with.

130 million dollars, gone up in flames. But they ought to make their money back, somehow.

So here the Syndicate hides, and at around 10:30, they strike. Swift and professional as ever, they go completely unnoticed — and they will take all that they can.

A highly effective heist, right under their noses. Those 130 million earned back in just a night.

No wild cards, no action that isn’t necessary, were the instructions given. Money, jewelry, art, anything of true value — that’s what they’re after. Designed as a victimless crime as far as bloodshed goes, the Syndicate still accounts for all. No issue, lest you get in their way.

— and banish the ghosts with rum.”

Unfortunately however, some unlucky few have. As instructed, should anyone be a concern, be it that they’re found in their rooms or other areas in the midst of the operation — they should be neutralized, by whatever means necessary. All with still keeping their anonymity, and succeeding at their tasks.

The pairs that have crossed paths are:

Ludovica Malatesta and Rus Ralston

Nora Vidal and Lee Malkovich

Zafar and Mathias Cain

Vir Zafar and Ibrahim Ziani

Abel Rousseau and Nik Erykssen

Oliver Wright and Jin Yoo

Tima El-Masri and Audra Smythe-Priestley

Avi Grover and Samar Burman

Max Szczesny and Enzo Principe

Karolina Erykssen and Samar Burman

OOC Info:

Part Two out of Three.

Part two will run for a few days, to allow for everyone to comfortably write their interactions in time; an update will be made both on the blog and discord for subsequent parts.  

There is no requirement that people drop previous event threads set during Part 1 — but we encourage everyone to prioritize Part 2. This can be either through new fresh threads, or shifting your Part 1 thread into Part 2.

For characters not involved in the conflict, there are no restrictions to replying to starters (or continuing things) from Part 1, unless they were posted by someone, or are written with someone involved in the conflict. In that case, those starters may no longer be replied to. You’re also free to start any new things with other non-conflict characters as you wish.

If you wish to have any injuries (be them major or minor) or heavy impacting plots happen involving your character, please contact the admins so we can include it into the narrative.

Those in the conflict are encouraged to come up with scenarios where, mid-robbery, one would have the other held hostage. Be it at a hotel room, in some hidden office, or anywhere that is far from view and where there would be plenty to steal. They’re on a mission, after all. As always, if you have trouble coming up with ideas, the admins are always willing to help.

At the end of this post, we offer challenges to the guests. However, those are simply suggested interactions — and even if you choose to write it, your character is not limited to just writing those.

SYNDICATE CHARACTERS:

[ ALL SYNDICATE MEMBERS ARE WEARING NEUTRAL BLACK CLOTHING AND MASKS. IF THEIR CLOTHES WEREN’T NEUTRAL AT THE PARTY, THEN AT THIS POINT THEY WOULD HAVE CHANGED. NOTHING ABOUT THEIR APPEARANCE (THAT THEY CAN CONTROL) SHOULD BE RECOGNIZABLE. EVEN IF ENCOUNTERING SOMEONE THEY HAVE MET BEFORE, THEY ARE TOLD TO KEEP THEIR IDENTITIES SECRET TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES. ]

For Syndicate members especially, Part 2 should be prioritized so that plots can flow easily.

If you have Part 1 threads, we won’t ask that you drop them, but that you work your way into finishing them — with your characters, above all, keeping in mind that they have a job to do. It might be a night of fun for everyone else, but not them.

From now on, you can only interact with other Syndicate members, or the character you were paired with.

You can write as many mid-robbery threads with your fellow Syndicate members as your heart desires. Interactions amongst them are allowed, and absolutely encouraged!

As far as the rest of the party goes, you may only interact with the character yours was paired with, as one is the other’s hostage.

Your character should be focused in the robbery itself and collecting valuable goods. Anyone they’ve encountered is damage control.

Important: this is meant to be an incredibly secretive and smooth operation. Get in, get out, without causing disturbance. The main party should not have any inkling or knowledge that this is happening.

POINTS AND CHALLENGES:

Syndicate members and conflict volunteers will each earn 20 points for writing their paired threads. (It doesn’t matter if one character ‘wrote’ the starter; both members will be awarded points.)

All remaining characters will earn 20 points for completing the challenges prompted below. They are not mandatory, but we will reward you if you choose to go forth with them.

The points above will be awarded at the end of the event, to account for any starters going unanswered or quickly dropped, as we wish to be as fair as possible.

Surprise! We’re also rewarding conflict volunteers with 30 points for being wonderful team players and allowing us to use their characters for this plot. We adore you and appreciate you, so here’s a small gesture to reflect that!

CHALLENGES:

Jennifer Callaghan recognizes Izaak Walker from his internet presence, and attempts to strike an interview, or even a comment. Izaak knows it’s unadvisable to go forth with it, given all the rum ingested tonight.

Andrea Galán has been avoiding Aaron Keaton, until they cross paths. There’s an inkling or knowledge of her involvement with crime, and tensions rise.

Gideon Hayes is spotted by an off duty Joaquim Borges whilst trying to deal — be it to a random guest, or worst yet, the very detective himself.

Danvir Persaud thinks he recognizes Laith Hassan, from briefly crossing paths in the law-and-lawful world. There’s no reason for a sketch artist and a lawyer to engage however, until now — that they’re both trying to get a vending machine to work.

Renata Cervantes-Müller and Úrsula Villa are both powerful women in their own right — except that they share far different ideals, and defend different people. It’s been easy to avoid one another thus far, until the elevator doors fail, locking them in.

A dentist and the state’s most prominent politician walk into a... bathroom. It’s a classic, slightly awkward, run-in. Except this time, it involves Nicholas Bergeron — and Julian Berkeley.

Jakob Cervantes-Müller is a busy man, and the things keeping him busy aren’t the kindest. For prevention (and future endeavors), he needs a lawyer — and he’s heard Adam Starke is one of the best. What a coincidence, that their drinks just got mixed up at the bar.

Constance Romero, the Cartel’s informant manager, is always on the lookout for future contacts. Like some other select people, she’d heard of Lev Movska’s defection from The Brotherhood — and hell if she isn’t going to try and get all of that knowledge into archive for them. The enemy of my enemy, as they say.

With too much rum in their system, Lola Villarin and Diego Romero end up wandering — testing every other room for unlocked doors. Eventually, they make it into a suite; it’s all fun and games, until the lock won’t allow them back out.

Hazel Arthur and Ryan Fitzgerald barely look at each other, when touching up their make-up in the lobby’s bathroom. But they have to acknowledge each other’s presence when they realize they’re locked in — and Hazel hasn’t heard back from her partner in far too long.

They’d both had the same idea — the hotel’s fire escape as the perfect spot for a smoke break. Hans Starke and Zuleika Sandoval are now forced to share the space (that both claim to have found first).

Bob Bekker and Aera Paek, different positions at different publications. One man with success in his horizon, and a woman who can grant anyone it. It’s a throw-away conversation until the words fact checker come to rise. The best paper, after all, is the most accurate one — would this man do her the favor of failing, in exchange for a brighter future?

Araceli Aguilar suddenly stops Heather Hyeon Seo in the middle of the lobby, with an unwarranted prediction of her future. Even if Heather doesn’t believe in it, it’s intriguing enough that she must hear more.

Rahi Kumar is well known for his love of the sky, preferring to gaze upwards towards the heavens; it is this exact preference, that sends him careening into Andel Kenza, who scurries away from a main party room, clutching what appears to be an empty bottle of rum, a strange substance congealed on its base. The pair stare at another another - a stalemate. 

Erin Katz was never a woman to wait for opportunity to simply knock on her door - she prefers to kick it in herself, a stiletto crashing through wooden panels. JJ Baptiste is a man who can make or break you in this city, and with the intriguing wallet she’s just found on the floor, she thinks she’s got enough leverage to earn his ear as he lords over a table in the back of the bar.

Moon Subin is currently scouting the media world, looking for new voices to either support his agenda in the press — or to simply gain insight. It’s unclear which Maureen Keaton could be, yet... but it’s worth a try.

FINAL NOTES

1 — If by any chance your pairing partner, or your challenge partner doesn’t get back to you — please contact the main page and we will rearrange things so that you may still write it! No one will be left without some event fun, we promise.

2 — If you’ve missed the window to volunteer your character for conflict, or you have joined recently and didn’t know about it, you can shoot the main page a message and we will do our very best to include you into the action. Only main page messages, please — as Discord will be hard to keep track of.

3 — As always, the admins are only a message away should you have any questions.

Part 2 interactions are now open. Have fun!

[untaemedqueen]

The Lions Den

Mafia!Jiminx Wife!Reader

Genre: Mafia!AU, Smut, Fluff, Angst

Chapter 15.

Warnings: Smut, Blood, Guns, Knives, Excessive Cursing, Excessive Alcohol Intake, Smoking (Cigarettes and Cigars), Mental Health Issues

Warnings In This Chapter: Fighting, A Health Scare

A/N: Listen to me when I say, please DO NOT HATE ME! NO BABIES OR CHILDREN WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS CHAPTER! Shout out to my forever squad @ppersonna​, @xjoonchildx, @ladyartemesia.The champs!

TagList- @ayyyocee​​, @mysugabear03, @wisebtsgot7prune​​, @imaforeigner​​​, @yeonkiminnie​​​, @stories1907​​​, @ppersonna​​​, @brilee64​​​, @gooplibrary​​​, @vivpurple7​​​, @xjoonchildx​​​, @brightwingr5​​​, @yaniposts22​​​, @rjsmochii​​​, @taeslittletiger​​​, @pjmcth​​​, @bts-chub​​​, @kpoppingthempills, @kim-ji-hyeons-world​​​, @jikooksgirl19​​​, @yoong-i​​​, @ruinsofangels​​​, @absolutefantrash​​​, @chiminies-noona​​​, @eclectically-esoteric​​, @simplybree​

There's something soothing about the sound of crickets. 

It usually brings one peace and calm. 

Tonight, the sound is like grating nails against a chalkboard. It sets you on edge. To distract yourself you’ve taken to digging non-existent dirt out from underneath your fingernails. You don’t want to look up, to look at anyone because to do that you would have to truly take in the reality.

And, the reality is that you’re all fucked. Not a single one of you was safe. This family you’ve grown into, became a part of something with this amazing man who saved you from the treacherous slave circle you were sold into- you are all doomed. 

For the first time, the meeting is taking place outside of the room you all convene in on the third floor. 

All seven mafia men, their women- apart from your sister, and you were sitting in the sitting room.

You can hear the wooden boards of the floor creaking behind you as your husband paces back and forth. His hand is tucked beneath his chin as he stares off into the far distance. 

Digging your toes into the Persian rug you bought not too long ago, you tilt your head back to the lip of the couch to watch him in his constant struggle. It’s heartbreaking to watch, to see him so stressed and know there is nothing you can do.

Even if you could do something, he wouldn’t want you to.

“What are you moping about?” Jeongguk slurs as he looks everyone over. 

Your eyes flicker to him as he leans back against the base of the couch.

“What do you mean moping? We’re all in fucking danger.” You hear Taehyung mutter as he rubs his wife's stomach. 

���Oh boo hoo. Danger. This is nothing. Like ducks off a water's back or whatever.” Jeongguk scoffs as he lifts his hood up. 

You cringe at his words and cringe even harder as Tae sits up straighter. 

“Yes. Jeongguk, danger. My pregnant wife is in fucking danger. Jimin’s pregnant wife is in danger. We all have someone we fucking care about who is in danger.” Taehyung says loudly, his hands turning into fists as he tilts his head to the younger man sat on the floor.

“Come talk to me when they die.” Jeongguk says, his voice uncaring and distant.

“What did you say?” Tae asks quickly as he stands up.

You press your hand hard to the youngest’s shoulder as he goes to stand up. He falters with a groan as the men around the room begin to creep closer to the action.

“I said come talk to me when they die.” Jeongguk says before chuckling to himself and looking over at you.

You grit your teeth before slapping the back of his head.

“I’ll fucking kill you. You hear me? Don’t you dare ever-” Taehyung barks out as he steps onto the coffee table.

“Oh, big man coming over here. Look at him. Y/N do you think he’ll really do it, noona? Will Kim Taehyung kill me?” Guk asks, cutting off his older brother. 

Pulling out his knife, Taehyung begins to advance on Guk before being pulled back by Jin and Namjoon.

“That’s enough, don’t listen to him.” Jin tells the younger man before narrowing his eyes at Guk and pointing his finger at him. Jeongguk covers his face with his hood before snorting. A noise only you could hear and it infuriates you to no end.

“Shut the fuck up.” You seethe quietly through your teeth as he throws his arm over your thigh.

“Whatever.” He mumbles.

Although the silence is terrible, fighting amongst the family is worse.

“We just all need to think of someone who would do this an-” Namjoon begins to say before being cut off by Jin.

“But it doesn’t matter, does it? Because, whoever it is still has the upper hand. Sure we can think of a person who would do this to us but there are still a million questions. Why would it be us? What have we done to piss off another family? What the fuck does Kyul being on our payroll have to do with them?” He rambles and you stare at the polished glass of the coffee table as he speaks.

You look at your family as they begin to fight with one another. Watching them dog at each other like it was one of them that’s done it. 

All the women are silent, visibly nervous and you can’t do anything. You are physically at a loss. Nothing you can say will help the situation, nothing that you do will help either. 

As for your husband, he’s still pacing in lalaland. He could give a pacemaker a run for its money. 

Eyeing Hyejin, you take in the way her hands are balled up into fists. The way she takes deep breaths as she looks at the ceiling. She’s about to pop a gasket.

“Hye.” You call to her as Taehyung fights with Yoongi.

Her eyes snap to yours and you can see them becoming glassy as the seconds tick on. 

It makes you snap. Your best friend, in emotional turmoil and all this screaming isn’t helping.

“HEY!” You bellow at the top of your lungs. 

Hyunah looks over, pursing her lips impressed before lighting her cigarette. 

“That’s enough! You’re fighting amongst your family, don’t you realize that?!” You yell as everyone gets quiet.

Jimin’s head whips over to your screams before putting his head back to look at the ceiling. 

“We are not the enemy! You yelling at one another, making small little digs and comments against your brothers is the absolute worst thing you could be doing right now. We need fucking solidarity! Not bitching and fucking fighting like you’ve stolen each others toys!” You tell them as they slowly sit back into their chairs. 

Hyejin busts out into tears and her husband shuts his eyes before hugging her tightly to his body. With a thick swallow, you look them all over before standing. 

“It could be a bunch of fucking families. It could be the Im’s. It could be the Kim’s. The Bangs. The fucking Yakuza from Japan- I don’t care. I need you all to get it the fuck together. Immediately.” You say as you slam your hand on the coffee table.

Yoongi clears his throat before wrapping his arm around his wife's shoulder. 

“Hyejin, Jenny and Three. Go in the kitchen.” You point to the open door and without a second glance they’re off.

Pressing your hands together, you press them to your lips before turning to your husband. 

He’s still contemplating, still muddling over what must be done. And, in the meantime, you need to get everyone on the same page.

“Are you all here? Mentally? Are we able to carry on without throwing toys out the fucking pram?” You ask them all. 

Hyunah gives a gentle snort as she pulls from her cigarette.

“We received body parts of someone who was on our payroll. Now that’s a message. They could have come to the front door and written ‘You’re Next’ in lions blood and it still would have been as clear. Someone is against us and this isn’t the time to be yelling and screaming at each other. In fact, they’d probably like that. They’d love to see us fall apart. Whoever it is, they know about us. They know that we have families that we care about, people that we adore and they’re targeting us. We cannot- I’ll repeat that in case you’ve fallen deaf. We CANNOT fall apart.” You tell them as you pull your hands away from your face.

“Do we all understand?” Hyunah asks the boys as they all hum in agreement.

You walk over to the golden caddy, feeling all eyes on your back as you pour a glass of whisky.

“Well what do you want us to d-” Hoseok’s voice goes silent as Namjoon shakes his index finger wildly in his direction. 

Your feet pad gently over your husband before extending the glass of liquor in his face. His eyes slowly move to you and in his irises you can see every stunted and wild emotion in them. He runs his hand lovingly over your cheek as he grabs the glass of whisky. You both stare at one another for a minute, his back deliberately to the guys as he bites his bottom lip nervously.

Your face never changes. You know they can see you and even if you have all these feelings fluttering inside of you, you have to stay strong. But, you let him go through his emotions freely. 

He wants to cry. To scream. To run. But, you’re here. Keeping him tethered to this earth. 

He takes a large gulp of the liquor as he stares at you, his thumb constantly caressing the apple of his cheek. 

There’s this non-verbal conversation you’ve gotten into as you look upon one another. You’re drinking in his dread, pulling his fears from his heart. Just the sight of you calms him, brings him this gumption and drive to do what’s right.

Family is family. 

You fight for it.

He finishes off his whisky before kissing your forehead. 

Turning around to the guys, he takes in their hunched backs and their forms that are wrought with nerves. 

Jimin holds his hand out to you and you take it willingly as he walks you both over to the couch. With a huff, he sits himself down on the couch before pulling you into his lap. His lips traipse over your bare shoulder for a minute before he leans back.

“We’re going to have Casino Night.” He finally says.

Not the first sentence that you thought you’d hear out of his mouth but, you’re intrigued to know where he’s going with this.

Everyone gives him their full attention as his hand lands on your flat stomach. 

“We’re not giving in. We’re not showing weakness. And, I bet you that at Casino Night, we will see the family who is holding Kyul over our heads. It has to be someone in the Seoul circuit, they knew Kyul was working under our pay band- we will find them. And, we will make them pay. We live under the same roof, same neighborhood. We’ll call in some lions to come and stay at the house to make sure we’re feeling very safe. We will get through this, like everything- with guns and knives and give hell to pay.” Your husband says, his hand caressing at your stomach as he looks around at the other members of his group that he holds dear.

“No one is going to get the best of us because we are the best. We’re not going to let some small time pricks come into our house and tell us how to fucking cook. We’re going to do what we always do- Win.” He says as the front door opens. 

Your sister and three little munchkins come waltzing in and it’s a sight for sore eyes. 

You take in your daughter, chocolate ice cream smudged around her lips and cheeks. You melt at the sheer sight. 

Wrinkling your nose, you stand up as she runs over to you.

“Watch the baby.” Jimin calls to her as she hugs you tightly. 

“Did you have fun, buddy?” Jin asks his son as he pulls him onto his lap.

Jisuk nods happily as he hugs his father around the neck.

“What do you have in your hand there, Won?” Hoseok asks sweetly to your daughter as you wipe her face of the ice cream remnants.

Your sister tilts her head seemingly confused as she sets Minseok down on his feet. He takes small steps towards his father, earning bright smiles from Jimin and the others.

“Man gave me a paper, said it was for mommy and daddy!” Hawon cheers as you stop wiping her face.

Your eyes land on your sister who widens her eyes, “I didn’t- I didn’t see anyone give her anything!” She says.

Taehyung stands up before kneeling in front of Hawon. 

“Give Uncle Tae the letter.” He says calmly.

She smiles wider before shaking her head and clutching her fist tighter.

“Oh Jesus.” Jimin mumbles as he hands Minseok over to Namjoon.

He darts over to his daughter before kneeling beside his best friend.

“Give daddy the letter please, Hawon.” She giggles loudly before shaking her head and running around the room.

“Hawon, this isn’t a game baby, please give daddy the letter!” You call to her, your voice peaking with nervousness as she opens the letter.

White powder falls onto her as Jimin grabs the letter from her hand. 

The gasp inside of the room is audible, everyone scrambles to stand up and the two kids are out of the room with your sister in a flash.

“Oh my God!” You cry out as Jimin tugs off your daughters clothes.

“Is it anthrax?!” Hyunah calls as she stands up.

Your heart is beating so voraciously, you can barely hear her. 

Like time is moving in slow motion, you pull your powder covered daughter into your arms knocking your husband out of the wag before dashing into the kitchen and turning the water on.

Tears brim in your eyes as you sit Hawon down into the sink. She can feel your nervousness, see your tears and she begins to get frightened herself. 

“Mommy?” She whimpers as you douse her in the lukewarm water.

“It’s baby powder.” Yoongi calls from the living room as Jimin runs his hands over her small limbs. You can't even remember him following behind you.

He breathes a sigh of relief and you crumple to your knees before wailing loudly. 

You feel arms wrapping around your body in an instant and you know it’s Hyejin from the feeling of her skinny arms.

“Shhhh.” She shushes you as she combs your hair behind your ear. 

“I’m going to fucking kill them.” You cry out feebly as you press your hand to your heart.

Hawon begins to cry as Jimin kisses the top of her head multiple times.

“It’s okay. Mommy was just scared.” He whispers, his voice cracking as he holds her tightly. 

Burying your face in your knees, your nails begin to dig into the flesh of your palms. No one would be getting away with this. 

No one.

[noctuascion]

Ooh I’ve got a cryptage prompt if you feel like writing c: I really love ur writing btw it’s so freaking good 💖: Mirage wants to try and impress and further understand his bf by learning some Korean, but he’s obviously not the best at it and is embarrassed by how bad he is. Crypto finds his efforts really endearing regardless, and falls even more in love with the old man 🥺

YESSSSS!!!!! This is so cute and reminds me of another one-shot I should write. *i rub my hands together like little fly* However!!! I'll focus on this ask first!!! And tysm!!!! That's so sweet of you!!!

--

Elliott isn't a linguist. He's never bothered to learn any other languages, despite being around so many people with foreign tongues. Hell, he's barely good at English—why would he want to work on learning an entirely new language?

Well, that was his mindset before he met Tae Joon Park (or, as he's better known, Hyeon Kim), the beautiful, enamoring, absolutely wonderful Korean-speaking man he's devoted every thought to, every moment to adoring and appreciating. Park had spoken a single word to him (well, technically two, but his statement still stands) and he had fallen for the language.

Every word was so effortlessly said, like Park's very tongue was graceful. At times, he'd hesitantly whisper some phrase in his mother tongue (something like "saran kayo," he thinks? He always says that phrase quickly and he can never quite get a read on what's exactly being said) and Elliott would ask him to say it again, receiving a fond roll of the eyes, before he gets a kiss to shut him up.

Park seemed to prefer speaking Korean at times. No one else on the drop ship spoke it, so he could mutter to himself in the language to avoid inquiry. It was where he was more comfortable speaking fondly to Elliott, too (and Elliott had to learn that by picking up the fondness in his voice and the softness in his eyes). Receiving compliments in that soft voice in that beautiful language was enough to brighten the man's day after any nightmarish event.

And now, concerning that pesky language barrier, Elliott was studying the language a bit. He couldn't learn it in a few days, but he'd definitely try to learn as much as he could and totally impress his boyfriend, make him swoon, as he usually does (because Park isn't the easiest to impress with his usual nonsense, but he's learned that showing off that beautiful brain of his was the way to his heart).

Plenty of research was put into this, hours spent on just learning little terms of endearment that could bring out those cute apple cheeks he adores so much.

At the moment, said boyfriend was seated in his lap, working on improving the performance of his drone, the little guy currently in sleep mode and plugged into his laptop. Elliott was scrolling through the page he was currently reading over. The hacker's intent focus on his programming eventually switched over to the trickster's screen, raising a brow as to what he was currently reading.

"Why are you looking up 'terms of endearment'?" he asked, relaxing against the other's chest. A "comfortable pillow," apparently. "I could have sworn you had a endless supply of pet names."

Elliott chuckled, pressing a kiss to the back of Park's head, nose buried in soft hair. "Mm. No reason… ae-in."

Park's eyes widened momentarily, pulling away from where he was resting against his chest and, instead, moving to look at the other incredulously, head tilted. "Did you just… You pronounced it wrong."

"I pronounce English wrong. You can't expect any better." Elliott chuckled, dropping his phone on his bed and arms moving to slip around Park's waist. "I'm trying to learn."

"Why?"

"'Cause I wanna know what you're saying whenever you say that one word—s-saran… saran-something."

"Saranghaeyo," Park corrected in that beautiful voice of his.

"Yeah! That! Reveal your secrets."

"Neoui kkum-e. You'll have to learn it yourself, old man."

"Oh? That so, kid?" Elliott's fingers were dancing along the smaller's hips now, slowly rising, nimble fingers sliding beneath the hoodie he wore. "Must I use other methods?"

And, easily, those hands were slapped away. "Do that and I'll break your hand."

"Mm. Charming." A chuckle left him before his arms returned to lazily wrapping around Park's waist, non-threateningly. "I'm sorry, my sweet, uh… yeo-bo."

Immediately, Park's cheeks colored, and a shy smile curled his lips. "Elliott, do you know what that means exactly?"

"I'd hope 'darling.' I didn't just call you fat, did I?"

Park snorted softly, shaking his head. "No. You're right. But… it's… usually meant for married couples." He paused momentarily, looking away, before smirking. "And you said it wrong."

"Worst. You're the worst. Only you'd drop an embarrassing bombshell and then insult me." Elliott huffed, sporting that famous pout he seemed to be trademarking—and he's not sure he's happy with that. "Uh… Sorry, though, if—if that's overwhelming—or bad."

"It's… nothing bad." Park shrugged, eyes unable to focus on Elliott now, simply browsing the merchandise held in the trickster's room. "I need to teach you how to pronounce it, though. Your attempts offend me."

"Ha ha. Worst boyfriend ever. I want a refund."

"The store I came from has a strict no return policy. Apologies."

"Here, I'll just give you to Renee. She'd like a buddy to bully."

"You're such a jerk."

"That may be so, but I'm also your pabo."

At that, Park snorted, falling into a laughing fit, a seldom occurrence for the other, and Elliott, frankly, nearly fell off the bed.

Park's laugh wasn't exactly the most listened to song Elliott's ever heard. His laughter always starts shy, quiet, and it usually stays that way. Park doesn't throw his head back and let loose, doesn't echo off the walls, and always has a hand covering his mouth, trying to hide that breathtaking smile of his. It was disheartening, seeing him hide something so unmistakably glorious, but he still got to see it, even if it was just harder to.

Everything about him was absolute perfection, smile included.

"You—You just called yourself an idiot," the hacker managed, voice a bit higher in pitch due to the laughter still shaking his frame.

"Oh! No! I didn't mean that! Shit! I take it back!"

"Ah. I think that's my new nickname for you. My dearest pabo."

"I finally get a pet name from you and it's an insult."

"And you still didn't pronounce it right."

"Oh, bite me, Kim."

The smaller released another bit of laughter before he returned to leaning against Elliott, feeling strong hands cup the back of his head and play with his hair. The action always helped relax him, and the smile painted upon his visage only widened.

Frankly, he thought it was sweet that Elliott had made such an effort to understand him when he spoke in his mother tongue. The man never ceased to make him fall in love all over again, make him remember why he called Elliott Witt his love, why he was willing to do everything in his power to keep that smile shining as bright as the sun.

"Thank you for trying, wang-ji-nim."

"Aw. You're welcome, tong-tong-hae."

"… And now you called me fat."

"FUCK!"

[mmseonchan]

♡  written w love for @mmdaehyun.

ju jak commons energy was off the charts. it rapidly became a colloquy in anarchism when the number of first through third years started to outnumber sunbaes who just wanted peace and quiet for their YSAT studies. throw in the random garnish of other houses who had snuck in yet looked right at home here and it’s a damn party. of usual, chan enjoys room reading. hey, nothing feeds the cards like utter chaos. flip a card look up and find a fortune, it’s fools gold. but reading the cards to the sound of chaos when his arithmancy was screaming at him from the back of his mind ? that’s when being a divinist becomes the worst imaginable thing ever and he wouldn’t wish it on anyone. when you’re enjoy yourself. reading some poor kid’s relationships drama energy through the cards. and all of a sudden things get passive aggressive. flip a card and he double takes because oh. that one was for him. KNIGHT OF SWORDS reversed + unfocused and he stares down offended. PAGE OF PENTACLES, also reversed + awareness that you’re off track, + procrastination . well he’s fucking trying to. it only takes one more flip before he sighs into the open air and scoops up his cards like an angry kid called home from a party early. stupid responsibilities, stupid divination. can’t even procrastinate in peace without realizing the consequences and being self aware.

but apparating out and into the open air is good for him, he has to admit. the expanse of vivid, sultry blue and undying orange from the peeking horizon that the buildings of yosul and seoul block, turned down to dim in late evening. the fresh air helps too, he strolls and thinks, ju jak commons was too loud for the kind of constructive thinking that’s good for convergence. but then he thinks on it. stews it, turns it and over like pulling glass noodles until something digestible comes out of his recollections and mental churning. the commons was bustling, even hyeon mu and baek ho there. against regulation and all that. but there was one person missing. at this point, he isn’t surprised. but he is centered again. a wand wave and the useless thing sends him to just outside the field. the quidditch pitch seems more distinctive beneath the blazing glow of evening tide washing it in blood orange and blue. his shoulder propping against the metal of a bleacher as sure enough, lo and behold, daehyun the nearly permanent fixture here.

he’s a quidditch training infomercial, on loop even when no one watches, selling something that makes chan sigh. a gripping acknowledgement of hard work and dedication? the potential of burn out. probably. chan doesn’t know, all these years he’s known daehyun, daily discussions, even different intonations in the buckle of their banter and chime of daehyun’s laughter when it doesn’t fill the room. six years and he’s fully aware of the hair pulling frustration he’s about to go through in the event he tries to pull daehyun down from that training. yet, he approaches. it’s unyieldly really, this spirit of his. what entitty of fate took a look and thought: yes him, give that one the ability to read energy and the probabilities of the universe. he’s going to handle that just fine. chan encroaches the field with a loud yell of nondescript greeting and then plops himself right down into the grass. not sidelined as usual during games, but right in the middle, in what is likely danger zone. throwing his bag around to extract his arithmancy homework and start it up.

he waits until daehyun strays low and close enough that he doesn't have to yell this time. ❝come here often ? ❞ his smile and voice are a lilt of friendly informality,  ❝more importantly. wanna do math with me ? ❞ he wiggles his brows, turns the sentence into a pick up line but his expectations are in the gutter. doesn’t even need to ask the cards this time.

[irvinenewshq]

South Koreas lethal Halloween crush was avoidable specialists say By Reuters

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Rescue groups and firefighters work on the scene the place individuals have been killed and injured in a crush throughout Halloween festivities in Seoul, South Korea, October 30, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-ji/File Photograph By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) – Correct crowd and site visitors management by South Korean authorities might have prevented or not less than decreased the surge of Halloween party-goers in alleys that led to a crush and the deaths of 154 individuals, security specialists mentioned on Monday. The annual festivities within the in style nightlife space of Itaewon in Seoul additionally didn’t have a central organising entity, which meant authorities authorities weren’t required to determine or implement security protocols. District authorities for Yongsan, the place Itaewon is situated, mentioned measures to stop unlawful drug use and the unfold of COVID-19 throughout the Halloween weekend, in response to a district press launch. There was, nonetheless, no point out of crowd management. On Saturday when the tragedy occurred, roughly 100,000 individuals have been estimated to be in Itaewon, an space recognized for its hills and slim alleys. In keeping with Seoul Metro, some 81,573 individuals disembarked at Itaewon subway station on the day, up from round 23,800 per week earlier and about 35,950 on Friday. However there have been solely 137 cops in Itaewon on the time, the town of Seoul mentioned. In distinction, at rallies by labour unions and by supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol that drew tens of hundreds in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, on the identical Saturday, as much as 4,000 police have been deployed, a police official mentioned. “Police at the moment are engaged on an intensive evaluation of the incident’s trigger,” Minister of the Inside and Security Lee Sang-min mentioned on Monday. “It is not acceptable to make hasty conclusions earlier than the precise trigger is set – whether or not it was brought on by an absence of police or whether or not there’s something that we must always essentially change for rallies and gatherings.” President Yoon has known as for an intensive investigation into the reason for the crush in addition to enhancements in security measures that can be utilized for giant gatherings the place there isn’t a set organiser. Whereas South Korea has a security handbook for festivals anticipated to draw greater than 1,000 individuals, the handbook presupposes an organising physique in control of security planning and requesting authorities sources. Simply two weeks earlier, the Itaewon World Village Competition organised by a tourism affiliation and sponsored by the town of Seoul and Yongsan district, had individuals sporting yellow vests directing the move of motion and the primary highway was closed to automotive site visitors. However on Saturday, there have been simply hundreds of retailers open for enterprise, regular automotive site visitors guidelines and tens of hundreds of younger individuals desirous to have a good time Halloween with out main COVID restrictions for the primary time because the pandemic. “Simply because it isn’t named a ‘competition’ doesn’t suggest there ought to be any distinction by way of catastrophe administration,” mentioned Paek Seung-joo, a professor of fireside & catastrophe safety at Open Cyber College of Korea. “As there was no central authority, every authorities arm simply did what they often do – the fireplace division ready for fires and the police ready for crime. There must be a system the place an area authorities takes the reins and cooperates with different authorities to organize for the worst,” he mentioned. Moon Hyeon-cheol, a professor on the Graduate Faculty of Catastrophe Security Administration at Soongsil College, mentioned the sort of crush had the potential to occur in any populous metropolis. “We have to take this tragedy and study to organize for the danger of catastrophe,” he mentioned. Originally published at Irvine News HQ

[gainsbourg17-blog]

The Success and Failure of "Peanut", and a New Challenge

In February of 2015, a young player from Najin e-mFire showed up. He boasted his debut along with 8 months of being a practice member, and solo rank no.1. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to show his full potential on the team. His official record was 7 wins and 10 losses. This was considerably good, for a rookie. Soon, this rookie joined ROX Tigers. He was reunited with Kim “Ssong” Sang-soo, who first led him to Najin e-mFire. That year, he became the champion of the LCK and KeSPA cup, and went up to the semifinals in that year’s Worlds, solidifying his name in the memory of LoL fans; that name is Han “Peanut” Wang-ho. However, his stay at ROX Tigers ended at just 1 year, and he went to the world’s best team, SKT T1. All LoL fans’ were watching Peanut. If he could grasp the Summoner's Cup, there would be no doubt of him being the world’s best jungler. Unfortunately, reality was cruel. Although he won the spring season and MSI, criticizing voices rose as he was cut off, leaving him as the runner-up at the summer season and Worlds. Being 2nd place in the world isn’t a title easily earned, but the expectations for SKT T1 were higher than that. This was simply too much for this young 20-year-old to handle; he had too much pressure on him, an amount he hadn’t experienced in previous teams. As a result, he left SKT T1 as his contract expired. Peanut looked back at his career and talked about why he left the team.

“I took some time to rest after Worlds, and coach Kang Dong-hun called me after my contract expired with SKT T1. I could have looked for foreign teams, but I wanted to play in Korea so I refused before even hearing any offers [from foreign teams]. I think I wanted to win at Worlds, since I lost at the finals. As soon as I entered the team house, I got the impression that the atmosphere was very lively. I already knew Beom-hyeon (GorillA) and Jong-in (PraY), and the other teammates were overly friendly so I was able to fit in quickly. It really hasn’t been long, but my teammates were impressive. When we had scrimmages, I found  ways I could help Dong-ha (Khan), Bo-seong (Bdd) and Kwang-hee (Rascal). These teammates had certain areas that they didn’t know as much about. It was surprising that they made such good results without being thoroughly prepared. Of course, I was worried about hurting their pride, since this is the first time we’re playing together. But everyone had the will to perform better, so we talked about each others’ problems very bluntly and frankly. We tried to develop [our skills] through the feedback.”

Just as Peanut said, Longzhu reached out for him first. As Longzhu realized the lack of experience at this year’s Worlds, they needed a player with a lot of experience, and head coach Kang Dong-hun moved quickly and took in Peanut. Fans were thrilled with the news of the transfer. The fans who still missed ROX Tigers cheered for the reunion of the PrillA duo and Peanut. Soon after, some unpleasant rumors began following Peanut like a shadow; people were saying that he didn’t leave and was actually released by SKT T1 due to a feud. “We ended the discussion on the contract in good terms. During the 5 days when I was looking for a new team, there was so much gossip on community websites. I thought that I would get tortured with insults whether I win or lose. The important thing was that SKT T1 made up most of my career, and I learned many things there. The results weren’t too good. We were good at the spring season and MSI so we won, but we weren’t good enough afterwards. It was my fault. Especially round 2 of the summer season; that was the worst.”

Since he carried the high expectations of being SKT T1’s jungler, criticism against Peanut didn’t loosen up. The critics went further and started scorning his previous career, and pointed out that he didn’t have what was needed to win. Peanut showed confidence by saying “Being 2nd place means that there’s a high possibility of winning.” “There were only two mistakes I made at the KeSPA Cup. One was dying in the 5th set trying to penetrate with Lee Sin, but this didn’t affect the game much. But we lost the 2nd set because I lost my cool, and started making mistakes. I wasn’t able to sleep after losing like that (Laughs).  4 competitions in a row in 2nd place…. But I’m still confident since I got to the finals in all of this year’s competitions, and being 2nd place means that there’s a high possibility of winning. So I don’t mind all the harsh words directed at me. I will definitely make improvements, and I have a lot up my sleeve to help out Longzhu Gaming. It was a bit regretful not being able to win the KeSPA Cup, which closed the door to this year, but I have a more intense desire to learn, so I’m happy enough.”

Peanut briefly looked back at his career. Reflecting his year, he seemed to be thinking of Najin e-mFire and ROX Tigers as well as SKT T1. He started talking about ‘learning’ after that moment of thought. We were able to hear about the life of a professional gamer, and the life of Han Wang-ho.

“While I was in Najin e-mFire, I didn’t have much time to play in competitions, so I was busy learning. As I joined ROX Tigers, it felt like I knew everything to this world. I think I had the thing that people said I needed to ‘win’. And since my other teammates had more experience, the environment was set for me to become better. Back then, I was good all year, and I thought that ‘It’s simple, I can be good all the time just like now.’ Thinking back on that, what the elders said was all true. Coach Park Jung-seok always said that nothing in life is certain. I felt that to the bone this year. Next year will be my 4th year already as a professional, and everybody is surprised when they hear that. Now that there are a lot of younger players, I start to tease them by starting sentences with “When I was your age-“(Laughs). Of course, I’m still young too, but looking at myself playing in a new team for just a bit and yet adapting quickly to the environment made me feel like a veteran. And…. What do I want to say? I think I was blessed to meet good people. Coach Park Jung-seok, Jeong No-chul (NoFe), Kim Sang-soo (Ssong), Choi Byeong-hun (cCarter) and Kim Jeong-gyun (kkOma). The coaching staff always looked after me even outside of matches. And I think that there’s a lot to learn from the current coaches since all of them have so much experience. The most impressive player I’ve ever met was Sang-hyeok (Faker). Everybody probably wonders ‘what is that man like when he plays games’. I had the chance to learn from him being together in SKT T1, he has some kind of aura that makes him different from others.”

What he said wasn’t long, but we were able to see that Peanut felt and learned many things from his past, and he was thankful. Now the only thing left for him to do is be recognized as one of the best by all. To do so, he wants to grab hold of that Summoner’s Cup, and Longzhu Gaming is one of the best contenders to make that desire a reality. “When I first went to the team house, Dong-ha (Khan) called me ‘master’. After I died to a jungle monster, he warned me that if I still want to be called master, I can’t do stuff like that. He always said that it’s the jungler’s fault if the top laner doesn’t perform well. There’s no reason for the jungler to perform badly (Laughs). I actually thought Dong-ha (Khan) would have a strong personality, but he actually is very mild and easygoing. He respects his teammates’ advice and tries hard to fix his weaknesses. And Kwang-hee (Rascal) is really close with Dong-ha, so there’s great synergy between them. I’ve never seen such competition in a position in my career. And Bo-seong (Bdd) is just really good. It’s hard to express why he is good; there are still many things that he doesn’t know, but he’s good. I took a long time to fix my flaws to become good, but Bo-seong improves almost instantly after getting feedback. Lastly, there’s something I want to say to the fans. Normally I always say ‘Thank you’. I do feel sorry for always saying the same thing over and over again, but this is what I really feel towards you, and that’s why I express it. I was thankful for the support of the fans while I was having a hard time, and I thought that I should be good, thinking of all those fans that cheer me on. I want to make fans out of the people who don’t like me as well. I really will do my best to accomplish that. I thought a lot about my career and the past through this interview. I’m thankful for everyone that gave me advice; that became the blood and flesh of the man named Han Wang-ho. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them, and I wouldn’t even have had the chance to say so. I am a really lucky man.”  ◆

[gray-morality]

The Phoenix stirs... [part 3]

Part 3 - 2018.03.12

This interior garden was coming along quite nicely and Sun Hyeon looked at his work with pride. Wiping the sweat from his brow with a sleeve, he took a seat on one of the benches for a well deserved break. Bending down, he retrieved the metal container on the ground and twisted the cap open; the subtle scent of tea brought a smile to the old man’s lips. His gaze shifted to the door when it opened, revealing a dark skinned Au ra with eyes ablaze, so ardent was their orange limbals. Sun Hyeon didn’t say a word as the visitor stepped in the garden, looking around for a few moments, before taking a seat right next to the him. “This place is quite beautiful. All your work I imagine?” The Aura shifted his gaze toward Sun Hyeon, his voice low and suave.

“Mmhmm. Indeed, many days of labor but I can now see the fruits of my hard work. Obviously, you’ll be welcome to meditate here any time you wish. This place belongs to you, after all…” Sun Hyeon replied, his voice as casual as always, as he brought the canister to his lips for a sip of tea. The Au ra was visibly surprised and, for a brief moment, he simply stared the other man. “So it is true that you have a sixth sense…” Sun Hyeon merely chuckled. “No, nothing like that. But I have a good memory and a sharp sense of observation.” With a smile, he turned his attention back on the Au ra. “Ujitoshi Hagane. The fearsome leader of the Fèng Huáng Yǐng syndicate. Many years have passed for you as well, but some details never change. Katsuro spoke of you often, at least when we were newly arrived in Ul’dah. Leaving the Phoenix had always been one of his biggest regret, even if he had little choice in the matter. He tried to replace you, on many occasions, but alas it was never to last.” Another, long drink of his tea. “I’m glad both your paths have crossed again.”

“I’m surprised you’d say that, as I’m certain you are aware of my line of work.” Ujitoshi let out a low grunt at being identified so quickly. “Of course, child. But you, above all else, know that Katsuro can’t function in a ‘normal’ environment. You were there when he was at his worst. He could be a good man, would it not for his ill mind. Thus I truly believe he needs you, to keep him controlled, to give him purpose. Maybe one day he’ll have to answer for his crimes but, until then, I wish for him to have a good life. He’s married now you know, and she’s with child. He has a future to look forward.” Ujitoshi merely blinked at the old man, especially at being called a child, but studying him made him realized that if anyone had the right to call him so, it would be that man. That brought a smile to his lips and he relaxed his pose. “I don’t believe I could ever surpass him in skills. If he follows me now it’s merely because he thinks he’s inferior. What will happen when he’ll learn the truth? Will he seek a new master? You know him best and I wish to keep him by my side, if at all possible.”

Again, Sun Hyeon let out a chuckle. “Do you truly believe Katsuro isn’t aware of that fact? He knows he’s more skilled than you. But a person’s strength and worth is not merely attributed by their battle prowess. I’ve known Katsuro for more than a decade, literally breathing the same air as him. He has changed considerably since the day he left your syndicate, but some parts of him simply can’t. I know he‘s a man who can control his own life, who can take decisions, be a leader. Unfortunately, he’ll always need someone above him. It’s his safety net, what keeps his mind at peace. For some reason or another, you have the necessary qualities to hold a position of master in his eyes. Do not ever abuse that power, and you’ll have his undying loyalty.” Another long drink of tea as the old man casted a glance towards his garden.

Uji was silent for a moment, pondering Sun Hyeon’s words. Not merely about what the old man had to say about him, but also all the pieces of information he was giving him, likely on purpose. “I see… I must say, talking with you is quite enlightening. But tell me… how should I call you?” By now, his canister of tea was empty and the old man slowly rose to his feet. He stretched a bit before turning to the Au ra with a soft smile. “Sun Hyeon. A former man of letter from Doma, who had the chance to become a father, even if very late in his life.” Giving Uji a respectful bow as per Far-Eastern custom, he then left the room, closing the door behind him with the softest of sound.

[untaemedqueen]

The Lions Den

Mafia!Yoongi x Wife!Hyunah

Genre: Mafia!AU, Smut, Fluff, Angst

Chapter 12.

Warnings: Smut, Blood, Guns, Knives, Excessive Cursing, Excessive Alcohol Intake, Smoking (Cigarettes and Cigars), Mental Health Issues

Warnings In This Chapter: Sub!Yoongi, Dom!Hyunah, Mistress Kink, Pain Kink, Degradation, Cigarette Ashing, Begging, Use Of A Cock Ring, Edging, Mentions Of A Safeword, Fellatio, Riding, Dry Orgasm, Impreg Kink (Sorta), Multiple Orgasms, Blood, Gorey Descriptions, Cut Body Parts

A/N: Shout out to @xjoonchildx​ and @ladyartemesia​ for beta-ing this and rooting me on

TagList- @ayyyocee​, @mysugabear03, @wisebtsgot7prune​, @imaforeigner​​, @yeonkiminnie​​, @stories1907​​, @ppersonna​​, @brilee64​​, @gooplibrary​​, @vivpurple7​​, @xjoonchildx​​, @brightwingr5​​, @yaniposts22​​, @rjsmochii​​, @taeslittletiger​​, @pjmcth​​, @bts-chub​​, @kpoppingthempills, @kim-ji-hyeons-world​​, @jikooksgirl19​​, @yoong-i​​, @ruinsofangels​​, @absolutefantrash​​, @chiminies-noona​​, @eclectically-esoteric​, @simplybree​

Sequel to The Bird Cage

Mirrors are a good way of reflecting. A good way to stare deep inside yourself and see who you really are. See what has made you become the person you are. 

Yoongi stares at the mirror for hours at a time. Just like today. 

His fingers traipse up and down the long scar on his face as he stares at his reflection. 

He can barely remember how he got it, he feels like he's had it for as long as he can remember. 

He can barely feel through the gnarled skin as he touches it. It's been a long time since he's seen his unmarred face. When this happened to him he was still living in Daegu with Taehyung by his side. 

They roamed the street. The worst of their kind. When Jimin found them it seemed to just make sense. For Yoongi, anyway.

A brotherhood. A family. God, he had gone his whole life without knowing what that was. He used to believe he was the devil incarnate. Thinking everything he had done was due to something wrong inside of him. 

But Jimin helped him. Helped him to change his anger into something more constructive. 

He had been given responsibilities then. The heavy load of moving illegal guns and shipments all on him. And, he found pride in that. He was worth something because of Jimin. He owed him his everything. 

He found camaraderie. He found his place in a world so dark that it no longer begged the question when would light ever come?

Finding himself meant finding his heart. Somewhere along the lines they became blurred. He had countless bodies drifting in and out of the large mansion he once lived in with his brothers.

As he touches his scar, he lets out a gentle snort. He remembers when he saw Y/N for the first time. He had been sleeping with Hyunah every so often even back then but Y/N now she was something new.

He can remember how appealing he found her. He wanted her. He wondered if he could ask Jimin for her, quite like Taehyung did with Hyejin. But, it wasn't in the cards. Literally.

He and Hyunah were together one night and she read him his fortune. Y/N was not for him, but Hyunah was.

There lied the problem then. This gorgeously fierce married woman was his destiny and he had to patiently wait for her husband to die. It was harrowing.

Gut wrenching even. But, in the end he had her. And oh, how he adores her. 

Truly destiny was shining upon him. 

She taught him and continues to teach him.

Teaches him to free himself from all of his burdens. All of his chains. And, his own mind. 

Lighting a cigarette his fingers trail to the back of his neck. Inhaling deeply, his eyes flutter shut as he feels the scarred skin. He can feel the olive branches and the incredible detail.

Exhaling the toxic smoke, he can hear the sound of heels behind him. The noise was once off putting but now it turns his bones to jello.

"Yoongi?" Hyunah's voice is gentle as her hands wrap around his bare torso. 

Her lips glide over his scar and he lets out a small sigh at the feeling. 

"Hmm." He whispers as a hand trails lower. She gropes his crotch roughly earning a groan from him as his cigarette dangles from his lips. 

"Do you need to be distracted? Are you caught up in your demons again?" Her voice is filled with taunting notions riddling him useless.

He gives a small nod with a whine, his head lolling back onto her shoulder. Taking the cigarette from his lips, she puts it in her own parted lips before squeezing his balls harder. 

“Let me hear you say it, darling. Let me hear it.” 

His body goes stiff as his mouth opens. Adoring the painful pleasure his wife gives to him so freely. 

“Yes, Mistress. I need it. I need to be distracted, please.” 

She hums into his ear, tugging him by the belt towards their large bed. Dripping with power and allure, he finds his cock hardening at the thought of being dominated by his wife. 

It takes a big man to admit he needs distracting. And, it takes an even bigger man to give his pride away in times of sexual need to his woman who transports him onto a different plane. 

She steps in front of him. His eyes on her low cut gown before being shoved backwards onto the bed. Hitting the pillows, he watches her inhale from his cigarette. His mouth opens slightly as she narrows her eyes down at him. 

God, she was so good at making him feel feeble and small. So good at taking away his thoughts and bringing him to a state of complete need. 

She starts to undress in front of him. Slowly dragging down the expensive fabric of her gown and he finds himself enraptured by the sections of skin she begins to show. His hand reaches up to touch her and the sharp breath she takes between her teeth has him recoiling in seconds. 

“Did I say you could touch?” The sharpness of her voice makes it difficult for him to swallow.

“No, Mistress. I’m sorry. I’ll behave.” She scoffs at his words gently before raising her heeled foot and pressing it into his chest.

Groaning at the sharp twinge of pain as her pointed heel digs into his sternum, he can’t help but feel his cock twitch and grow with need in his briefs. 

“Looks like you, young man, need to learn some manners.” She whispers before discarding her dress from her body.

The black lace bodice she adorns hugs her body perfectly, thrusting her large breasts up to the heavens as she ashes her cigarette on the floor. 

“Yes. Fuck yes.” Yoongi gasps as she digs her heel deeper into his chest. 

Laying back fully he submits himself willingly to her. Anything and everything she wants, he would more than happily provide. 

“What should I do for you today? Hmm? Should I make you ravage me till you’re crying to cum? Should I fuck your tight little hole until you beg for release?” She teases before ashing on his briefs. 

His eyes roll back as she replaces her foot on his chest with her hand. She gives soothing strokes before burning out the cigarette on the floor. 

“Anything Mistress. Please.” Yoongi can barely recognize his own voice, so needy and whimpering. But, that’s when he’s the best. When he no longer feels like himself. 

She turns her nose up at his words before walking away and he can feel his need for her growing as he stares at the globes of her ass as they jiggle. She leans against the bureau of bedroom treasures before opening the double doors wide. 

“I think you need some good old fashioned edging.” She says as she grabs the tightest cock ring from the loop on the wall.

He would normally protest but with all this Im business lately, all this stress, he wants to be so frustrated. 

Licking his lips, he nods to her as he leans up on his elbows. She watches him stew and fester for a few minutes, letting his eyes roam over her body. She feels powerful off of his love. If there was one thing about Lee Hyunah, she loves the human body and the power you can have by taking others' power away. 

She prowls over slowly, relishing in the way he palms at his fully erect cock. She relishes in the whine he gives as she straddles him. 

“Baby.” She whispers in his ear and his eyes are trained on her breasts as she bends down.

“Y-Yes Mistress.” He mewls as she tugs his hair roughly. 

“Mistress loves you.” He sighs gratefully, eyes squeezing shut at the pain as his tongue licks at his lips. 

“Thank you, Mistress. Thank you for loving me. I don’t deserve it.” He mumbles as she kisses down his face. Stopping at the gnarled scar before licking it.  

He shivers beneath her, hands gripping at the bedsheets knowing better than to touch without being told to. 

“Down, baby.” She instructs and his elbows cave in on the mattress within seconds of her instruction.

She kisses down his chest, taking it slow where his cigarette burns and his large scar is that Y/N so dutifully stitched up many years ago. His gasps and groans make her smirk against his skin. 

It’s powerful, isn’t it? The bond between two people when you truly just let things be. He trusts her completely, and in turn she is his biggest failsafe. 

“Tell me your safeword and we can play.” She says as she hooks two fingers into the band of his briefs. 

He clears his throat, ripping his eyes away from her breasts to look at her. 

“Feather.” He whispers. 

Snapping the band back to him, he grits his teeth as her lips explore his lower half. Her teeth nip gently at the skin above his underwear and he finds it difficult to keep his ass planted on the bed. 

She tugs down his briefs roughly, raising an eyebrow at how angry red the mushroom tip is today. He must really need to be distracted. 

His cock is bigger than her late husband, slightly curved with pretty rose veins that litter the long length. He was the perfect thickness. He was perfect, in all truthfulness. Everything about him was made for her. Destiny smiled upon them in this lifetime. 

She kisses down his long length earnings gasps and whimpers. His eyes fall shut once more, adoring her plush lips against his heated member. 

“Thank you Mistress. Thank you for touching me.” He gasps out as her sharp nails dig into the taut skin of his thighs. 

Precum beads mercilessly at the bulbous tip, Hyunah watches with patient eyes as it slowly begins to glide down the considerable length. 

“Look at how much of a fucking baby you are. I haven’t even really touched you and you’re begging to release.” Her finger picks up the precum before entering the single digit into her mouth.

 Yoongi’s hips thrust upward at her sensual action, watching how her tongue swirls around her finger with precision. 

“Jesus. Please, Mistress. I’m so fucking hard. Please touch me more.” She clicks her teeth at his words before grasping his face in her hand. Smushing his cheeks as her nails dig into his skin.

“You get what I give and you’ll appreciate it. Do you understand me?” With a feeble whimper he nods to her. 

She was painfully good at the long game. She has gone hours with him, teasing and turning his cock purple before even letting him orgasm once. And, if he kept it up today, it would be a repeat if he didn’t get his head on straight.

Sliding the cock ring on, he takes in a sharp breath at the tightness. She strokes his cock once, twice, three times just to hear her name tumble from his perfect lips before stopping. 

“You had bad thoughts today, didn’t you Yoongi? That’s why you want to be punished?” His wife asks as she points to the headboard. 

Scrambling up to the top of the bed, he curses beneath his breath. Of course, she would know. 

“Yes.” He admits as he situates himself as she wants. 

“And what did you think of that got you in this mournful mood?” She asks, straddling his thigh.

In the short amount of time it took for him to get to the top of the bed, her pussy was already unsheathed from her lace panties. Gleaming wet in the daylit master bedroom. She begins to ride his thigh, bottom lip purchasing between her teeth. 

God, she’s a fucking masterpiece. He can feel his cock throbbing harsher with the cock ring. Begging to be touched, to find any relief at all.

“I saw Y/N this morning.” He whispers nervously. 

She hums to him as she brushes her hair over her shoulders. His eyes fall to her arousal on his thigh and he flexes his muscles just to hear a wanton gasp of approval from his wife.

“You did?” She asks as she closes her eyes, losing herself in the pleasure. 

“Yeah. She had on that nightgown. The one I like. With the- fuck.” He groans out as his wife strips himself of her corset. 

Her breasts bounce out, free from the leather and he whines as her nipples begin to harden in the chilly air of their home. 

“Mistress, may I? Please? Your tits are so beautiful.” He begs her, his eyes turning as big as saucers as he looks up at her.

“Go ahead, baby.” 

His arms wrap around her back quickly, tugging her roughly to his body. Snaking his tongue out, he runs circles around her areola before encasing her stiff peaked nipple with his lips. He groans loudly as his hands grip at her flesh. 

Her scent is vanilla and lavender and it brings him comfort smelling it. She was his home and he knew it all too well.

“Good boy.” She moans gently as he abandons one breast for the other. She rocks quicker against his thigh, chasing her own high as his cock leaks more precum in its forsaken state. Her nails run down his chest, leaving bright red lines in their wake.

“You’re so gorgeous Mistress. Thank you for using me.” He whispers out.

“Why am I using you, baby? Tell Mistress.”

“Because I don’t deserve to be touched or pleased. I don’t deserve to feel your beautiful cunt around me for having such thoughts today.” He chokes out as she shoves him back against the headboard. His mouth gives an audible pop as he is ripped away from her breast.

He curses gently as he watches her reach the peak of her pleasure. Adoring the small simpers and whines she gives out before her hips stutter. He pulls her hips roughly, earning a loud moan as she orgasms. Her body undulates in his grasp as she rides out her pleasure. 

He grits his teeth as his cock throbs. The pain becoming almost unbearable. 

“So you saw Y/N today.” Hyunah says as she hops off of his thigh and he sighs. 

He was always truthful with his wife. He didn’t love Y/N, of course. His wife had his heart and more, but yet there was still this pressing attraction to the woman who he has known for years. 

“Yes. And she was wearing that nightgown.” Hyunah hums as she inhales from her cigarette. 

“So your prick got hard because the pretty girl was wearing a nice dress? Hmm?” She mocks and his cheeks blush pink at her degradation.

“I’m sorry Mistress.” He murmurs as she spits on his cock.

“It’s because you love power. You love a woman that can hold their own and you’re just a simpering little man that needs to be punished. Isn’t that right?” He nods fervently to his wife as she presses the cigarette to his lips. 

She lets the cigarette dangle as she bows down. Her tongue licks a circle around the head of his cock and his back smacks into the headboard at her action. 

“Oh, fuck. You suck my cock so well. Thank you Mistress.” He whines before inhaling. 

“Tell me why you like to see the powerful woman you work for.” She taunts as she bows her head down on him. Working assiduously on his cock, she smacks his inner thigh as he finds it difficult to concentrate on any words.

“She just...fuck, baby.” He whines as he cards his fingers through her long hair. 

Smacking his hand away from her head, he closes his eyes before pulling the cigarette from his lips. Her mouth was so wet and warm on him, tears pool in her eyes as she deepthroats his large cock. 

“You know me. You know I only love you baby.” He murmurs and he knows it’s the wrong answer as she pulls off of him. He groans loudly in frustration as his pleasure is ebbed away. 

“I know you do. I don’t want those words. Tell me or I’ll leave you here like this.” He scoffs gently before nodding as his wife bends back down.

“She just looked pretty and soft in the nightgown. She’s pregnant again and I-” Hyunah lets her teeth graze the long length of his cock and he shivers mid sentence. 

Pulling off of him, she straddles him fully before slowly sliding down on his cock. “God, your pussy feels so fucking good Mistress. Thank you for fucking me.” He groans out as she stills on top of him.

“That's what it is? You like to see your boss all pregnant and still so powerful?” His cock throbs within her and she raises her eyebrows impressed. 

“Can we stop talking about it? You know I’m faithful to you and only you. I’m sorry I had those thoughts… I need to be punished, baby.” He whines out as he ashes out the cigarette. His hands find their place on her hips as she begins to bounce on his cock.

He watches her breasts sway with each bounce. Watching how her mouth opens at the pleasure of being filled so nicely with his large cock. 

He could feel his pleasure coming too. Feeling his cock thickening and throbbing as he throws his head back with a loud moan. 

“I know you’re faithful, baby. Or else you wouldn't have a cock or balls left. But, you shouldn’t be ashamed of finding your boss attractive. The human body is so beautiful. Like now, I’m going to make you cum and you’re going to cry. And, it's going to be beautiful. ” She whispers in his ear as she presses her breasts to his chest. 

His fingers grip harder at her skin as she rides his cock. His eyes wander to the place where they’re joined and he bites his bottom lip at how much of his wifes arousal is on his cock. How slick and messy she was for him. His neck veins jut out as he swallows thicky, savoring this pleasurable pain. 

His cock was so relentlessly hard, begging to cum. She nips at the skin of his neck, adoring the way he holds her closer as he moans her name. He becomes lost in the sensual act, forgetting his role as submissive and just teetering on the edge of pleasure. 

“I’m going to cum. Fuck. Baby, please let me. I’m dying.” He begs of her and she pulls off of him. He sobs loudly at the loss, his head tilting and eyes shutting as his orgasm slips away from him. 

“You find her so attractive when she’s pregnant because you can’t help but think about how Jimin drilled that child into her cunt, don’t you? You would love to have the balls to be that confident.” He wipes at his cheeks before clearing his throat.

It’s true. He knows it. His wife certainly knows it.

She slaps his cock, earning his eyes on hers as he stares into her black irises. 

“Yes.” He whispers.

“But you're not that confident. What are you?” She asks as she slides back down on his cock. 

With a stunted gasp, his hands reach up for her breasts and she allows it. She coos gently as she wipes his cheeks as more tears fall.

“I’m just your weak baby. Just want my Mistress to fuck me good and make me beg for it.” He whispers and she hums to him.

Kissing him hard, she begins to bounce on his cock again. Their tongues sliding over one anothers and he can taste alcohol on her tongue. Biting his bottom lip harshly, she whimpers as he pinches and rolls her nipples between his fingertips. 

“You’re such a good boy. Your cock fills me so nicely.” She moans out as her head lolls back. 

His hips lift meeting her every bounce and he takes pleasure in the way her thighs quiver. She was close to her next orgasm and he wants nothing but to please her. He fucks up into her faster, adoring her gasps and hearing his name from her lips.

“Please Mistress, please say my name again. Let me hear you say my name.” He begs as he pulls her close. Her arms wrap around his neck and his cock shudders within her as her ragged breath fans over his ear.

“Yoongi.” She whispers before biting down on his earlobe. 

Without warning he orgasms. Groaning loudly in her ear as his hips still. It doesn’t confuse him anymore but it still hurts. Dry orgasms were his worst form of punishment and his eyes well up with tears as the short pleasure turns into sharp shooting pain.

“Fuck. Your cock is so amazing. Just a pretty little toy for your Mistress to get off on.” 

“Y-Yes Mistress. Just your little sextoy.” He chokes out as tears streak over his cheeks. 

Rolling her hips, his cock fills every part of her and she sighs wantonly as her pleasure builds. Even in his pain, he adores her. Adores how her chest heaves towards him as she lets out small squeaks and moans. 

“I’m going to cum on your big cock, baby. Wouldn’t that be so nice? To have your Mistress cum all over you?” He nods fervently as she tugs at his hair. 

“Yes. Please, please cum on my cock. Show me how much you love your toy.”

“Such a good boy.” She praises and his heart swells at the compliment. 

She orgasms again, her cunt tightening and milking his cock as she whines out his name. 

She caresses his face as she goes through her pleasure. Ears ringing with white noise as she watches him bite down on his bottom lip. 

“Would you let me give you a baby, Mistress? Would you?” He asks as she hops off of him. 

Taking off the cock ring, he chokes on a gasp as the blood rushes back into his cock. He preens as she strokes him, the sensitivity almost making him scream out his safeword. 

“Of course I would, baby.” They both knew that Hyunah couldn’t- and wouldn’t have anymore kids. But it wasn’t about really wanting a baby for Yoongi. It was about “wanting to be man enough to do it.” He envied Jimin sometimes. He always found it easy to get what he wants and being man enough to take it. 

Although his persona was one to be rivaled with, Yoongi was just feeble. Needing to be controlled and begging to be distracted.

“You know your Mistress would let you put a baby inside of her. Let you get me knocked up and rely on you to take care of me.” He nods at her words as she lays back. Her legs spread for him and he jumps at the chance to situate himself inside them. 

He prods at her entrance, tongue licking over her neck as he inched his way inside. He gasps at her tightness, burying his face in her neck as he bucks into her with all of his strength. 

“Yeah? You’d let me get you real big with my baby and make me take care of you? I’d wait on you hand and foot. Make you know how great of a man I am.” He mumbles through gritted teeth.

Her nails rake down his back as she moans his name. He fucks her with force, almost sending her body down the bed if he didn’t have a good grasp on her.

“I’m your little bitch with a big, fat cock but if I got you pregnant you’d need me to take care of you. You’d beg me to help you.” He seethes out and she screams in pleasure as he presses her knees to her chest.

“You let my cock get so hard that it’s painful Mistress. Fuck, your pussy feels so good!” He whines as she kisses over his scar.

“You’re such a good boy for me, you deserve to cum a big load in my pussy.”

“Yeah, shit. I love pleasing you, Mistress. I love being so good for you.” His cock thickens and throbs with each thrust and he finds himself sobbing again. He pleases her? If that’s the case it’s tenfold for him. 

His body wracks with pleasure. White hot and nerve tingling pleasure courses through him as he finds himself close to his release. 

“Hyunah. Fuck. I love you. I love you so much baby. Christ!” He sobs out as he feels his balls tighten. 

“I love you too, baby.” She whispers before running her fingers through his hair. 

With a loud groan, he orgasms. He hugs her tightly to his body as ropes of cum paint her inner walls. 

“Yes.” He whines loudly before sighing. It seems to be never ending, the amount of cum he lets out. 

Finally, he lifts off of his wife before pulling out of her gently. With a hum, she closes her legs and he smirks at her as she grabs two cigarettes off of the bedside table. 

He lights them for them before leaning back against the headboard. “Thanks, baby. I needed that.” He murmurs as he slings his arm over her shoulder. Her fingers glide over the large scar on his stomach and he looks down before putting his head back. 

“You know how much I love you, right?” He asks as his thumb rubs comforting circles on her shoulder. She smiles before nodding and pressing her bare body into his side.

“I know. I love you too.” He closes his eyes as he pulls from his cigarette. 

“You’ve been having a rough week. With all of the Im stuff and everything and I know you need to be distracted.” His wife says as she ties her hair up into a bun. 

He clears his throat before looking out the large windows of their shared home. 

“Something is looming around here. A dark spirit. An aura black as coal. And, we need to be ready when it wants to come and shroud us all.” Hyunah whispers as she stares off into the distance. Her voice was her own and yet completely disembodied. 

He’s gotten used to it by now. Everything that she predicts, everything she sees always rings true. With a sigh, he buries his face into her neck.

“Something is coming.” She whispers.

He wasn’t sure when he drifted off to sleep. When he awoke from his nap, he was groggy and more tired than when he fell out. His wife wasn’t in the bed with him and it was dark outside already. 

“Mr. Min, sir.” That voice, the voice of death. 

Rolling his eyes, he leans across the bed before grabbing a cigarette and packing it against the table.

“What Jeeves?” He mocks Hyunah’s loyal butler.

“It’s Ohshin, sir.” He always has to tell Yoongi his real name as if he hasn’t learned it by now. He was too old and decrepit to understand his humor, or so he thinks.

“Yeah. I’m aware. What do you want?” He asks, lighting his cigarette and watching the white smoke lazily rise towards the ceiling. 

“You have a package. Someone left it on the doorstep for you. No return to sender.”  The old man says and Yoongi nods before waving him out of the room.

Entering the grand kitchen, he takes in his older wife as she stares at the large box on the granite countertop. 

“What’s the matter, babe?” He questions before yawning loudly. 

She doesn’t acknowledge him as she stares at the white cardboard. 

“This box is filled with pain and misery. I can hear...screaming, can feel blood splattering.” He takes in her shaking hand as she lifts it to pull from her cigarette.

“Hey...Hey.” He whispers comfortingly as he walks around the counter to hold her.

“I can feel the sorrow. The confusion. Something horrible is in this box.” She seethes through her teeth and Yoongi can sense her nerves. 

He rubs comforting circles on her bare back as he kisses her cheek. He can feel her body trembling. His eyes flit to the box before tilting his head. 

“Jeeves!” He calls loudly to the empty kitchen and he waits patiently as he coddles his wife to his side.

“Sir.” 

“Get my wife a glass of wine and bring it out to the patio.” He says before kissing her temple. She looks over at him as her eyes become glassy.

“I can feel the pain.” She whispers, tapering off and broken at the end.

“Okay, baby… Alright.” He whispers gently. 

Taking her hand, he leads her to the back patio before opening the door. “Just smoke a cigarette. Drink the wine and relax. Alright? I’ll get rid of the box.” He tells her before pecking her lips gently. 

She gives a shell shocked nod. Her legs are trembling as she takes small steps to the chaise lounge beneath the beige canopy. He waits for her butler to hand her the glass of wine and he nods to Ohshin to stay outside with her.

He shoves the box, pulling his gun out from the back of his waistband. It makes no movement. There’s no smell. It’s just a white cardboard box. 

He lights a cigarette before opening the flaps of the box. He shivers in the eerie quietness of the house before peaking into the box. 

“Oh Christ!” He yells as he backs up. 

A hand with no fingers and a scalp of hair sit prettily inside the box. 

Yoongi’s stomach rolls and he closes the box quickly. Pressing both of his hands to the counter, his body heaves forward. He tucks his head between his arms as he takes a deep breath.

“Jesus fucking Christ.” He mumbles before cracking his neck.

“What is it?” He hears from the patio. His head lifts quickly before grabbing the box off of the counter and angling his face away from it.

“Just stay inside and don’t go out. Do you hear me?” He asks his wife as he takes off towards the entryway of their home. 

“Baby?” His wife calls confused.

“I have to speak with Jimin. Stay inside, babe.” He repeats before ripping open the door and heading towards the other mansion.

[junaeneous]

Jeffrey’s Hill (M) Part Seventeen

SUMMARY: “Don’t go to Jeffrey’s Hill,” he warned. “A lot of shit goes on there. Even the police ignore crime reports that surface from there.” You rolled your eyes. “What is everyone so afraid of?”  

Your brother sounded grave. “The power of the Chimera.”

GENRE: violence, angst, a little bit of humour (because it’s me) and the occasional tonsil-hockey.

MEMBER/GROUP: EXO + BTS

PARTS:  intro | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7 | 8  | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19

A/N: helloooo! it’s been 84 years, I know, I know, and I’m sorry! the recap is below for those who don’t want to read the entirety of the previous chapter. :D

RECAP: OC’s mother, Reina, has been killed by Jae Hyeon. Yoongi has been critically injured and is yet to wake, while all units of the gang abroad have been dismantled, awaiting further orders. OC + Junmyeon got a lot closer, as did Desiree and Namjoon. They want to end the fight with Ava before they proceed to transition from a gang into a video-technology business. Kris, Tao and Luhan have made their appearances and are helping with the transition. 

YOONGI WOKE TO THE SOUND OF HIS OWN HEARTBEAT.

He gasped, head falling back onto the pillow as the heartbeat monitor beside him settled back into its monotonous beeping. Seconds later, a nurse stumbled in, eyes wide in shock. “Mr. Min, you’re--you’re awake!”

Yoongi nodded. “Could you--get me a glass of--” He coughs, struggling to swallow the dryness away. The nurse caught on and grabbed the glass on the table, filling it and handing it to him. The water cools his throat and chases away the dryness, enabling him to speak. “Is everyone okay?”

“We’ve had a lot of losses,” the nurse spoke softly, lowering her head, “and few recoveries. Most are still fighting for their lives. We’re told to expect the worst at the moment.”

The older’s jaw clenched. “How many losses?”

“I’m not sure, sir, but the number is large.”

Innocent lives that had nothing to do with the personal battle between the members, you and Jae Hyeon. They’d paid a price not cashed in their names. Yoongi dismissed the nurse, waiting until she left to grab the his phone from the table closer to his reach. He dialled Jimin’s number, smiling slightly when the younger answered on the first ring.

“Yoongi?”

“Yes, hello.”

“You’re awake? Holy shit. You’re actually--oh my god I’ll be right there--”

“No, Jimin, wait. You don’t need to come here, I’m on my way there.” Jimin immediately whined in protest, saying it would be better for him to rest. To that, Yoongi countered, “Jimin, I’m sure I’ve been resting for longer than necessary. They’ve reduced the size of my bandages, it’s clearly been a while. Stay put, I’m on my way.”

“You’re so goddamn stubborn,” the younger grumbled, making him chuckle. “But hey, should I update you as you make your way here?”

“That’d be wonderful.”

And so Yoongi learned of all that he’d missed. The successful dismantling of the units. The cheesy name of the new company, and its sleek logo. Desiree and Namjoon finally taking the step into a relationship, you and Junmyeon following closely behind. The subtle hunt for Jae Hyeon. Finding a body near the west border that later identified to be Marcus, who had shot by one of Jae Hyeon’s men. His daughter was being watched over by Jongin. They’d relocate her to Canada soon.

“And lastly, how everyone’s been worried sick about you.” The younger’s voice grew soft. “Do you know how terrified we’ve been? Every time the doctor called, we feared the worst. You were dead for ten fucking minutes. Dead.”

“I tried to reverse his shot, but I was sloppy.” Yoongi admitted defeatedly. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s not what I care about. Take better care of yourself, do you honestly want to die a bitter, single, loner?”

“Did you just call me bitter?”

“I also called you a loner,” Jimin added, chuckling. “But I’m serious. You need to watch out when you head on into missions. Treating them nonchalantly may be your way of handling the seriousness of it, but this is a good example of why you should have, at the very least, a little bit of caution.”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” Yoongi rolled his eyes. “I’ll be careful, happy? I mean, it’s not like we’ll ever have to do missions again if this goes successfully.”

“Not if,” Jimin corrected. “When. It’s already been put into motion.”

Yoongi managed a genuine smile at that. No more missions. No more fearing that one day he’d be burying one of his brothers. No more recruiting and selling things that repulsed him. Despite everything, they were going to begin anew.

That was the only thing he could offer to the ones who’d given their lives for it.

“Y/N!”

You spun around to face Namjoon. “Junmyeon’s stuck in a meeting, so he can’t drive you back home. I’m your designated driver once again.”

 “He texted me.” You confirmed, smiling. “Hey, before I go home, can we drop by my old house by any chance? I just want to get one last look at it before it’s cleared out and sold to someone else.”

 He nodded. “Sure. Come on.”

 The drive to your old house was filled with minimum chatting. You teased Namjoon about Desiree and he, in turn, backhanded by bring up Junmyeon. It felt nice to indulge in normality, despite everything around you.

 Once Namjoon pulled to a stop, you exited the car, doing your best to block out the emotions that were slowly rising to the surface. Without thinking too much, you entered, Namjoon following closely behind.

The living room was empty. All of the pictures that hung on the walls were gone. The furniture had been taken out. No sign of you or your family remained. You sucked in a breath to help with the overwhelming sadness that you felt. This was going to be harder than you’d imagined.

You made your way to your parents’ bedroom, remembering what Junmyeon had told you. Namjoon chose to stay in the living room, giving you the space you needed. The room was almost empty, save for the bed, which had no mattress. You walked towards it, remembering how angry your mother would get when you’d place your hands on the sides of the bed. Upon closer inspection, you noticed something odd about the base of the bed. A portion of it seemed strange in comparison to the entire base. You placed your hands on it, freezing with realisation.

 A false base.

Your fingers were quick to search for an entry, prying the wood away when they did so. Underneath, in a secret compartment, was a box.

This was what your mother had meant.

You pulled out the box, seating yourself on the floor so you could uncover what was inside.

Several letters addressed to your brother, father and you were placed neatly inside. You frowned. What could she have possibly written in there that she hadn’t already said?

You left the letters addressed to your brother and father alone, only pulling out the envelopes that had your name scribbled onto the front.

Hesitantly, you slid your finger under the lip of the envelope, tearing it open to get to the papers inside. Hands trembling, you smoothed out the papers, taking a deep breath before reading.

To my sweet, sweet daughter,

If you’re reading this, then I’m dead. Or maybe this is someone else holding this. I sincerely hope it isn’t.

I would like to start off by saying I’m sorry.

I wasn’t meant to be a mother. That, in no way, excuses what I’ve done and continue to do, but it’s just the one fact that no one is willing to accept. I’m not someone who can give herself up for others. I’m selfish and cruel, I ran a gang with a man who ruined me.

People like us can’t love, sweetheart.

But somehow, I loved you. I loved your brother. I loved your father. Your father’s love for me was pure but it wasn’t enough. Nothing could have ever fixed me.

However, for the briefest moments, it felt like we were going to be okay.

I remember your twelfth birthday, when you cried because I’d remembered. You looked so happy and you reached out to hug me. When I held you, I felt like I could finally be at peace. I could try to be the mother you two wanted, I could try to fix everything and forget my past.

Clearly I failed.

There was just too much I was running away from. It drove me insane and I took it out on my undeserving family. I’m sorry.

I understand if you choose not to forgive me.

It feels nice to get this all out somewhere. I hope you do read this.

Love,

Mom

Even then, you found yourself reaching for the next envelope.

As you read on, you found that the letters were getting less and less apologetic, and more instructive. Your mother had known you were going to be recruited by the gangs someday. She knew your aunt would come to the field too. She had seen it coming all along. She knew you’d fall for the leader’s son, a sick twist of history repeating itself, but perhaps for the better.

The only thing she couldn’t predict was the winning side.

But, she had left you vital information on being one step ahead of your aunt. Something that would be useful to taking them all down and walking away to start off fresh. Your mother proved to be of no use or comfort while she’d been alive, but with these letters, you grew to understand that perhaps she’d offered a lot that you’d missed.

When you got the last portion of the final letter, your eyes widened. A tactic move, the checkmate you’d all been looking for.

“Namjoon!”

You stuffed all of the other letters back into the box, lifting it quickly as you rushed out of the room to meet the startled leader.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes.” You handed him the letter. “It’s better than okay. My mom just told me how to take Ava down.”

Namjoon’s eyes slid over the words on the letter, eyes widening as he got to the end. He lowered the paper and met your gaze, looking incredibly stunned.

“Holy shit, Y/N,” his voice was full of disbelief. “Your mother just gave us our checkmate move.”

previous  // next

[write-this-way-please]

Reunion

Reunion [Professor!Verbal Jint│Going with him to his high school reunion]

“Come with me…” Jintae purred against the shell of your ear. “Come on…Please?” he kissed your soft skin.

You sighed glancing at him and shaking your head. “Oh no, you don’t. You don’t get to seduce me into agreeing with you” you smirked, wrapping your arms around his neck. “Who do you think you are? Me”

He chuckled cupping your bottom through your dress. “Come now...It won’t be that bad.” He brushed his lips against yours softly, tugging on your lower lip teasingly. “We’ll have plenty of time to be alone...It’ll be romantic.”

“It’s a high school reunion. It’s not that romantic. Besides...We can’t exactly hide this…” you vaguely gestured between the two of you.

“I don’t wanna hide this” he grinned. “And you’re graduating too. You’re not going to be my student any longer.”

You raked your hand through his hair. “Mmm… You have a point...But it’ll still be weird. Like what are you going to say? Hey guys, this is my much too young girlfriend? Oh, better-This is my former student that I slept with.”

“What do you want to be called?” he laughed at your outrageous introductions. “Girlfriend?”

“...Hmmm sounds too midlife crisis-y” you huffed. “I don’t need your former lady classmates thinking you’re just sowing your wild oats.” you rolled your eyes. “I can feel it now….”

“Is that bad?”

“Yes! Because if they think I’m an oat, they’re going to think you just need someone you’re own age to take care of you after you get tired of your little toy.” you huffed. “And I’ll be damned if I lose you to some judgy old lady”

He chuckled “Don’t get too scrappy over hypotheticals” he smoothed down your hair. “Well, you’re not a toy. How about Lover?” he pecked your forehead as his hands moved up to rest on the small of your back.

“Even worst. Doesn’t even sound like we’re dating” your pout deepened as he kissed the side of your mouth.

“Partner?”

“Too vague”

“Companion?” he pressed a kiss against your nose bridge.

“Don’t like it” you pouted. “Makes it sound like you’re on a quest and I’m just your little helper.”

“Hmmm, I’ve got one.” He grabbed your hand and kissed the ring. “Fiance’...” It was from his little proposal months ago from your pregnancy scare. You never really considered it a real engagement, just a promise ring. The circumstances changed but you didn’t think it felt right to take it off.

You blushed looking down at the ring. “Jintae…You don’t think that’s too much…?”

“I don’t like that I’m wasting time trying to find a label just to introduce you to people that barely mean anything to me.” he lifted you up, setting you on the bed. “You’re my everything...my entire world...my stars and my air… Whatever you want me to call you I’ll do it...I just want you by my side.”

“Fine… I’ll go.” you pressed your lips against his hungrily, smiling into him. He laid you down onto the mattress and released a relieved sigh.

“God, I love you.” he laughed, running his hands up your thighs.

The first time the two of you traveled together you were hyper aware of the looks you’d get. Younger couples judging you, elders staring at you like you were a floozy and he was some sort of pervert. And you weren’t sure if you just became numb to the looks or if they stopped altogether but it was the farthest thing from your mind.

“Oppa, if you went to school in Seoul do you care to explain to me why we’re up in the mountains?” Yongpyong was almost a twelve-hour drive away from the city.

He chuckled, wrapping his arm around your shoulders and kissing the top of your head. “Well since this is our second reunion the class president wanted something a little more exciting.”

“Well your class president is pretty damn extra”

That weekend you two found yourself in Yongpyong at the ski resort. You shivered, holding onto Jintae’s arm as he checked inside the lodge. “I’m freezing.”

“It’s a ski resort Jagi” he smiled kissing the top of your forehead.

“I get that, I just didn’t think it was all that cold” you looked up at him and grinned “Since your first thing with your class isn’t until tonight…” you chewed on your bottom lip. “Wanna go to the hot spring?”

He looked down at you with hooded eyes seeing that playful glint. “Mmm… you know it’s an open hot spring right?”

“I know… I’ll behave”

“I doubt that somehow” as he traced your lower lip with his ring finger, your tongue lashed out against him, taking his finger into your mouth. “Behave” he whispered, eyes darkening. You grinned lacing your fingers with his.

“I’ll try”

It didn’t take too long to get settled into the hotel room, and you two were immediately off to the hot spring. On your way down, you smiled happily, leaning against his arm. “You know you were right. This does feel like a vacation.”

“See~ You should trust me more.”

“I’ll think about it” you laughed, hooking your arm with his. On your way to the hot spring you, two passed a few women, one of them stopping and staring. A smile graced her lips as she called Jintae’s name.

He stopped and gave her a bright smile “Mi Hyeon? Is that you?”

“I can’t believe it, you actually came” she walked over to hug him, and you tried to not and pout over the fact that he had to let go of his arm to hug her.

“Of course I did, Jiwon would’ve killed me if I didn’t” he chuckled “You look good. How’ve you been?”

She laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear “You look good yourself” Her hand brushed against his shoulder and you couldn’t help but scoff. How can she not even acknowledge you yet? More importantly, how can he not introduce you? For the first time, it felt like you got a glimpse of what Jintae was back in high school. He actually looked embarrassed.

Rolling your eyes you just slipped away. You were kind of conflicted as to what you were supposed to do? Did you have the right to stake your claim? You were his girlfriend...weren’t you? This was exactly why you didn’t want to go.

You set your robe and towel down before sinking into the steaming hot water. A pout prominent on your face. Placing a damp, cool washcloth on your head you closed your eyes; Basking in the warmth.

“There you are” Jintae took a seat beside you, wrapping his arm around your shoulder “Mmmm...How come you wandered off?”

“I’m surprised you noticed” you huffed, turning away from him.

“Are you mad?”

“No” you grumbled.

“Don’t be mad.” he moved to kiss your hair but you moved across the hot spring. “Jagi-”

“Don’t you Jagi me.” you crossed your arms over your chest.

“Are you mad I didn’t introduce you?” seeing your frown deepen, he moved closer to you. “I wanted to do it tonight. In front of everyone” he nuzzled your hair.

“You two seemed close….She your ex?”

He laughed shaking his head. “Not quite...She’s a…”

“The one who got away?” your voice was barely a whisper.

“Not in so many words...But…”

“She’s pretty…”

“You’re prettier…” he pecked your lips.

“Maybe you two will rekindle your relationship.” you whispered spitefully.

“I’m spoken for.” he deepened his kiss, his lips molding against yours lovingly. His teeth biting down and your lower lip, enticing a moan. The moment your mouth opened, his tongue made his way inside, rolling against yours, leaving you breathless. “Very spoken for…”

“You’re distracting me…”

“Mhmm…” he tucked your hair behind your ear, brushing his lips against your jaw. “You liked my distractions…”

“I do…But you’re not being fair...” As you leaned against him, your hand began to wander down his body, teasingly brushing against his swim trunks.

He cleared his throat as you got dangerously close. “I thought I told you to behave” he growl against your ear.

“Mmm… I thought about it and decided against it.”

“What am I going to do with you…?” he licked his lips, letting his hand drift down your back.

“I could think of a couple things….”

To be continued…

It’s part one of twoooooooo~ Let me know if you liked it :3

[yhwonjun]

chahyeonyh​:

⤮ renegade

{ ... }

wonjun? her eyes roam, taking in his outfit and his chest and fuck her, he looks like ardour incarnate, sweaty sin and spirit. her heart pulsates relentlessly against her chest – she’d like to attribute it to the drugs and alcohol but hyeon knows, for a fact, the cause is standing right in front of her right now. “came all the way to ask if i’m having fun?” she replies, cocking an eyebrow at him. “i’m having a fucking blast, thank you for asking.” she lets out a short burst of tipsy laughter, “you’re a cop as well? goddamn, wonjun, if you like me, you could’ve just told me.”

with liquid courage burning through her skin, she trails her free hand across his exposed chest, giving him a coy smile. (tonight, hyeon is invincible, so, not even chae wonjun and his stupidly attractive smile can ruin it.)  fingers toying with the handcuffs he’d put on her, she leans in to whisper into the space a bit below wonjun’s ear, her lips deliberately brushing against his neck in a way she just knows will leave a lipstick mark. “why do you have this with you?” she teases, “what have you been doing?” 

he’s always had a penchant for trouble. like a moth to a flame, one might say. the funny thing about it all is that he really doesn’t even try all that hard to get into trouble. certainly not in the first decade and a half of his life, when he tried his very best to not get into any trouble (yet somehow did anyway...). it’s a different story now, where his entire life seems to be one giant knot of trouble – but even now, it’s not like he’s actively trying to sabotage himself. why would he want to make his life harder than it already is?

but when it comes to cha hyeon, who just might just be the finest human embodiment of trouble there is, his claim of passivity stops being all that valid. he doesn’t believe in fate (not in the happy, fairytale sense of the word, that is), but he does believe that there are some higher beings out there cheering on his demise. why else would they keep presenting her to him like this? at the worst times, at the worst places, and in the worst ways – which all sums together as perfect. perfect in the way he wants to throw himself into her flames and has very little intent or desire of making it back out.

there’s a split moment after he pulls his stupid handcuff gimmick where he thinks he might just get punched. hey, with her, you never know. there’s no physical blow that connects, but he’s feels the breath get knocked out of him regardless. not surprising with the way she looks tonight, the way she looks at him. he’s not shy as he checks her out, admiring the costume of course. it’s halloween! though that doesn’t explain why he keeps inching closer, brushing tantalizing against her body as the crowd inundates around them, just often enough for her to start questioning if it’s a coincidence or not – which he supposes seems to be the question top of mind for a multitude of reasons now. “why? does it bother you that we’re ‘matching’?” he goads back, narrowing his eyes at her slightly. “consider it serendipity,” he shrugs her challenge aside with a slick grin. 

it gets significantly harder to maintain his air of indifference when she comes in closer, and he squirms ever so slightly in place when she whispers as she does. he’s always had a sensitive ear, for music and for other purposes alike – and there’s a light layer of goosebumps that breaks over his heated skin. his breath hitches slightly, and he takes a half-step back and away from her, which honestly takes every last ounce of discipline in his body. 

but disengagement isn’t the plan. it never was. his head cocks slightly to the side as he responds. “you mean these?” he reaches out, hooks the other ring of the handcuffs with his fingers and gives a series of light tugs. “just for... cop things, you know.” there’s a knowing glint in his eyes as he speaks now, despite all the innocence he feigns. “i’ve just been doing the usual. just... messing around. nothing the birthday girl should be concerned about.” god, he was starting to frustrate himself with how vague he was being. but his face lights up as if he’s having an epiphany. “it is your birthday, right?” his face curves into an ingenuinely apologetic pout before he continues. “don’t be too disappointed. but i can’t say i prepared any presents.” 

[callmebaeseo-blog]

▹ not coffee time | ch.1 | open

The first thought that occurs to the long boarder, is- it could be worst.

To start with, they could have all been dead. It was easy enough to seemingly knock out whole group of superheroes, if what the person who held them captive here was true to their word. To terminate a solid number of 16 heroes in the span of time they seemed to be out, it was easier than baking a cake. Yet, here they were, alive. However, it did seem more punishing to even keep them alive through this and force them to kill each other for escape or even- find out everyone’s identities for immunity.

Better alive than dead, she thinks. Their circumstances are unfortunate, and she can’t say she’s been through worse, but they could be dead. It was easy to think on the brighter side of things. She was feeling a little worn out and gloomy afterwards, so she didn’t want to stick around for the aftermath.

Seo-hyeon blows a hair out of her face, she isn’t one for animals. Dogs, are cute, but she’s not the type to mess with one or pet one on instinct. She has no reason to interact with Dash. He’s a good dog though, he was just doing his job. When she bypasses the door that was recently opened, she gently rests a hand on his head. Pat pat. 

She keeps on walking, she has no certain stop or destination she would like to go to. This place- it’s no longer a secret it was unknown to her. She was a superhero too, like the others. Even if with her blatant honesty, she was smarter than to out herself in front of the others. 

Her feet lead her to the Lounge, and she takes a peek and scans it. The room was nice for relaxing, and seeing how her nerves were on the high-end, it wouldn’t hurt to relax. Or even, clean the place up a little. No, that would take way too much effort. 

She walks to a flipped over couch and gently kicks it. She wishes she was out in the wind and wild, feeling the soft breeze and sun’s light beaming down on her while she long boarded all throughout town. Part of her likeness for long boarding were the brisk outdoors, and she wasn’t even one day in without missing it. 

She sighed, and dug around in her bag again for something- anything. Seo-hyeon highly doubted it seeing how they even set up a force field for their powers. Blowing another strand of hair away from her face, she turns to meet the eyes of a stranger- even if she talked to them before.

“..Greetings. Upon further inspection, I find that our current situation translates to: completely hopeless.” 

She digs her hand around in her bag some more.

“Just for your information, I’m not looking for a gun. I’m unsure if that reassures you or not, if you’re the nervous kind of person.” Seo-hyeon pauses. “I’m looking for my calendar. I don’t think it’s here.” She ought to be polite about suddenly talking as well.

“How are you feeling? Ill? I’d have to agree with you, then.”

[numberxiii-roxas]

Kingdom of Ice;

The first moment my skate touches the ice. The gliding over the smooth surface that makes it feel like you’re flying. This is it. This is what I love about ice skating. If only my idol, Axel Yeong-Hyeon, could see this. Could see me imitating his famed performance which made him win last year’s Grand Prix finals. Usually, I would mess it up. If only Sora was here… Sora would root for me. I know he would support me… If only he could…

And even if the song isn’t fast, it’s hard. There are many jumps, and the step-sequence is intense. Jump But I can do this. I have to. For Axel. Jump I want to follow him. I want to be close to him. If I could only feel a tiny fragment of his radiance, then that would be enough. Jump I will practice like now again and again. So I can eventually try to win the Grand Prix, and fulfill the promise Sora and I made to each other.

But this is good. Focus. Breathe. Feel the music. I can do this. JumpTo break free from the chains holding me in this tiny town. I know my family means well, but I can’t do this much longer. Jump I can’t stay much longer. I want to fly like Axel does. Jump and jump again And show him how he has changed my life after what happened to Sora. I can’t let anything bring me down again. Like Yuko told me. How Axel showed me. Ju-

The second my body touches the ice after screwing up the same jump again and again, tears fill my eyes. The realization hits me. I can’t do this… I can’t be as good as Axel. I will never be able to enter the Grand Prix, let alone win it. But I have to try. Again. From the start. This is why I haven’t gone to Yuko’s rink to practice. Because she can’t see this until I perfected it.

So I simply crawl back up, get my feet beneath me, and try again. And this time, it goes better. It feels more natural. What would Axel say if he saw me? If he saw me skate this? Would he laugh? Would he be angry? Saying I am unworthy to skate this program. That I am the worst skater he has seen? Tears start to fill my eyes again at the thought of his angry face. But no. I don’t think he would be angry. As far as I’m concerned, as far as I know , Axel is kind. Sweet. Tender. I shake my head to get rid of the thoughts of how it would be to kiss him. I can’t let that distract me. Not now.

And when the music ends and I take the final stance, I am panting my lungs out. Sweating like crazy. But I did it. I have perfected it. And now, I will make Yuko see and have her help me get into the Grand Prix for real.

Now, three days later, I’m back in my home town after being abroad for a year. I’ve took the time to relax my muscles, soak in my family’s hot springs and eat mom’s beef ramen. While making my way to Yuko’s rink, I play with the crown-pendant on my necklace. It was my brother’s. Sora loved to skate. Until he…

I shake my head to get rid of the thoughts starting to wander across my mind while my eyes get watery. When I get to the finals, I’ll perform to the song I made for him. Maybe Yuko has an idea for a program. But I shouldn’t think about that now. Let’s focus on Axel’s performance first. To skate the best I ever have.

Before I know, or notice, I nearly walk into the entrance-door of the rink. My eyes wander up to the sign, a smile pulls at my lips as I take a deep breath. And then I walk in. Not realizing she spotted me, someone flies around my neck and hugs me close, screaming in my ear how I should’ve called her and asking me when I came back.

I gently pry her off, and smile softly at her. “Jeez, Yuko… It’s not like we never called when I was gone. I’m alive, right?” She shakes her head and holds me at arm’s length, closely inspecting me. “Rox… Have you been eating and sleeping properly? You look tired, and have you lost weight?”

I sigh deeply, and shrug. “Yuko, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Look, I want to show you something. Is it okay if I use the rink, or is it booked?” A bright smile comes to my friend’s face, and she shakes her head again. “No, of course it’s okay! You know you can always come here at night. Get ready, then. I’ll wait for you.”

I nod, make my way to a bench, and pull out my skates. I stare at them for a while, getting more nervous by the second. But I shouldn’t. I should just relax, breathe, and I’ll be fine. I stretch my muscles like I always do, pull on my skates, and make my way to the rink.

I smile at Yuko, before stepping onto the ice. I glide around a bit, getting my feel back of this rink, before gliding to the center. There, I take the starting pose, and without any music, I begin to perform. I don’t think of anything. The music plays in my head, I’ve memorized every move, every jump, every pause.

Because of that, I don’t even notice Yuko’s crying, or that her triplets are filming me. And what if they did? It’s not like I’m good. They are just obsessed with everything and anything that has to do with figure-skating. I just get swallowed up by the music in my head and the program. My heart starts to beat faster, but I don’t pant, since my condition has always been above average. My eyes are closed, and occasionally open at just the right moment.

What surprises me, is that I land every jump flawlessly. This has never happened. I always make mistakes. Either I fall, or there aren’t enough rotations… But not now… Not now that Axel’s own performance comes to mind. It’s like the video I’ve watched so many times. It feels like he’s guiding me. Holding me while I flow through the program.

And when the last note hits in my mind, and the final pose is taken, a couple of seconds pass before I dare to look up. My blue eyes meet Yuko’s teary, brown ones. She has her hands clasped over her mouth to stifle any sobs, and whispers with a weak voice: “R-rox… That was amazing…”

I smile weakly, and shrug again. I slowly make my way over to Yuko, while she wipes the tears from her face. The triplets run off as soon as I approach, snickering amongst themselves. “So? What do you think, Yuko? I mean, it’s not like how Axel did it, but let’s be honest, I could never be as good as him…” Another sigh escapes my lips.

A yelp comes from my throat when she smacks the back of my head, and scolds me. “Don’t you dare , Roxas Chiavetta! That was amazing, and I don’t think anyone could’ve done it the way you just did.” I sigh again, while I run my hand through my perpetually messy hair. “Yuko. I need your help. I want to get into the Grand Prix. And I want to win it…. For Sora…”