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mysteriousgeminizone · 2 months ago

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MAYA [BTS x F] Chapter 1

<-Prologue MAYA Masterlist Next->

Y/n POV

If you ask me what I hate the most about this city, I will say the traffic. Getting stuck in the traffic of Seoul is something only for patient people, and that’s not me. It’s 10 am and I’m already late for the start of my shift at the place I volunteer at. The Azalea Hybrid Center, a complex of two adjoining buildings housing a hospital on one side and a rescue center and a shelter on the other.

This morning I’m assigned to the rescue center, where there is a dearly friend of mine with her brightest smile to welcome me, Theresa. We met 3 years ago, during the first lesson of our bachelor’s degree, psychology, and became inseparable.

“Y/n !!! My sweet cutie pie!! … You know you are late of like… 20 minutes?” Her ability to go from being the most cheerful person to the most serious, and I dare say intimidating, person always surprise me.

“Yeah I know, I got stuck in the traffic… a horrible experience if you ask me”

“Never mind, go swipe your tag, hurry!! I can’t wait to bring her home!” aaand the cheerful Theresa is back.

We’re heading to the shelter’s floor when she brings back that subject again. “Y/n… you should do it too. Since when your grandpa died, you couldn’t be able to see your grandma often, and I’m literally your only connection to the social world. It will be beneficial for both of you: you will have always company and a one more friend and the hybrid you will adopt will have a fabulous home and a caring friend and roommate.”

I wish she wasn’t, but she’s right; after my grandpa death 3 years ago, my grandma wasn’t able to leave their villa in the woods and come visit me in Seoul, and me, being now a volunteer and a third-year university student, I’m able to visit her only during holidays. Excluding my shifts at Azalea and the lessons at college, I’m always alone at a home too big for me. So, probably, adopting a hybrid isn’t a bad idea, but… “I know, you’re right, but the mere idea that I’ll own a person disgust me”

Her reply came fast: “I totally relate to you, you know it. But this is the world we live in, we should do our best despite it. The law say you own them, but the most important thing is what you think and how you behave towards them. So talk with them, maybe you will feel a sudden connection with someone”

Reaching the lobby’s shelter’s floor, I’ve made my mind: I’ll at least talk to some hybrid.

“Good morning! Theresa are you ready? Dae is a little bit anxious at the moment, because of the delay, so I’ll like to bring her here right away. In the meantime, you can sign these final papers” says Ruby, another volunteer assigned to the shelter. I feel guiltier seeing the look that Theresa sends me, but I get it, I deserved it.

“Yeah I’m absolutely ready, I just want to take her home with me and cuddle together all week!”. Ruby is nearly at the elevator for the prey floor when my best friend speak again “Oh Ruby, y/n is going to come with you, she wants to meet some hybrid!”

“Oh really?! Finally! Come with me, you’ll see they are so cute and they’ll be happy to meet a new person and make a new friend!” Catching up with Ruby, I start to feel anxious, but I can’t also stop the giddiness that take over me.

After we reached the prey floor, Ruby head me to a big room with large windows along the entire outer wall, where there are at least a dozens of hybrids intent in various activities, some reading, some drawing, some simply enjoying what little warmth the January sunshine can provide.

And it is at that exact moment that I see him for the first time. The most handsome man I ever seen. He is sitting cross-legged on a desk on the opposite side of the room, his back resting against the wall, facing the horizon so absorbed, and the sun kissing his beautiful face. Has anyone ever existed with such an aura of sweetness, elegance and purity?!

“Y/nnn!! You came to pick me up?! Where’s Theresa? I can smell her on you, she didn’t change her mind, didn’t she?” The high-pitched little scream of Dae pulled me back to reality. I met her a couple of times and she’s literally one of the sweetest and loving girl I ever met. Theresa and Dae clicked immediately, and after a long week my best friend can give this cutie a loving home and family.

“Dae, sweetie, of course she didn’t change her mind, she is so excited to take you home! It’s my fault if she’s late, sorry Dae. Currently Theresa is downstairs finalizing your adoption, Ruby is taking you there right away”

“Aren’t you coming with us?” Dae ask. Unconsciously I take a quick look towards the man… and I’m met with two deep hazel eyes, he is looking directly into my soul, and I can’t look away when I reply “No… actually I want to try and make a new friend here” and to my words I would swear I saw hope in his eyes.

At this the guinea pig hybrid squeals in happiness “Oh Y/n, finally you will adopt too?! I bet it was Theresa that convinced you! Well, then I take my leave, we will see each other later and have fun!”

Her high tone of voice drew the attention of all the hybrids in the room, and seeing that, the hope I had seen in his eyes was gone as quickly as it had come.

WAIT! They’re gonna leave me alone?!

I’m watching them leave, completely caught off guard and with a rising anxiety. There’s a dead silence in the room, the only noise coming from the door closing behind the girls.

For a moment everything is quiet, and then I freeze on the spot: a deep male voice speaks right behind me.

“Hi baby, I’m Satyrus, I’m sure it’s me what you are looking for”. Duh… maybe a little too overbearing.

I turn around and found myself in front of a man’s man, he has a slightly deformed jaw. Probably has been an underground club fighter for a long time, that would also explain the deep cut over his left eye. I’m scared and intimidated from this hippopotamus hybrid, and he can smell it: that grin tugging at his lips lets me know. I’m petrified when he comes near my ear and whispers “You smell like the sweetest snack babygirl”

It’s only the reaction of the man at the back of the room that makes me regain the strength to move away. “N-nice to meet you Satyrus, but I’m not looking for anything, I’m here just to make conversation, so if you’ll excuse me...”

To get away as quickly as possible, I approach a group of hybrids in close proximity, who are painting in the warmest colors there are. “Hi there, what are you painting?” It’s a fantastic sunset, one that you wish to see every day, one that make you grateful of be alive. I’ll have a sunset like this when the time come?

My eyes move to the unknown man still sitting on the same desk, but he has brought his legs to his chest now, he looks so small like this… He is looking again at the horizon with a sad gaze.

I can’t help myself but go to him. And softly, to not scare him “Hi, I’m Y/n. What’s your name?”

The surprise is written all over his face. Why shouldn’t I have talked to him as well? “I saw you were a lot absorbed… can I ask you what were you thinking about?” The second question seems to bring him back to his senses “Oh nothing in particular, the sunrise is pretty. I’m Seok-Jin, nice to meet you too, Y/n”

Even his voice is fine and sweet. Seok-Jin… there’s something not sweet in you Seok-Jin? I like his name a lot, I want to taste it on my tongue.

“Can I seat with you Seok-Jin?”, he doesn’t speak again, just motion me to take a seat. I’m about half a meter from him: there are a lot of hybrids with traumatic backgrounds, most of them actually, and not knowing his past I don’t want to make him uncomfortable.

“If I don’t bother asking… why are you here?” Seok-Jin asks me after a minute or so of comfortable silence.

“Like I said before, I just want to talk with some of you, maybe make new friends.”

“You want to adopt one of them?”. I don’t fail to realize that by saying “them” he consciously self-excluded. He doesn’t want to be adopted? Or there’s something else under those words?

“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe, if I really am comfortable and if a beautiful friendship borns.”

“I prefer the sunset” I state suddenly. HE IS SO CUTE THAT I CAN’T FUNCTION PROPERLY!!

“Oh?!” Obviously he is perplexed. You can’t come up with questions without a logical connection… stupid brain of mine.

I giggle out of nervousness “You said you think the sunrise is pretty. I prefer the sunset, the ones with warm shades of orange, pink and red. Like the one they're painting over there. Now that I think about it, those sunset skies are like an Azalea’s meadow”

Seok-Jin POV

I’m only capable of mumble a “Pretty”.

She thinks I’m talking about the sunset, and I don’t even think about pointing out that pretty was her giggling, the clear love for these kind of landscape reflected in her y/e/c eyes. Not that any of it interests me…

Her sweet smell, like the sweetest peach. I just don’t have to think about how well it marries to my cream scent, mine and th… No, no Jin. There isn’t hope, there will never be a future like that.

“Do you like to paint too?” She brings me away from my thoughts.

“No, I’m horrible at it… I like to cook and try new dishes”

Why I told her?! Now she’ll try to use me like her personal chef, like every other humans.

“Really?! I like it a lot too, my grandma was always teaching me new recipes, I’m fairly good at it… even though I’m not as good as she is. Her dishes are the best. She always puts me on the fattener every time I visit her, but I don’t find it fair to complain about it… I mean, I’m literally a born eater.” She looks a little embarrassed, her cheeks have turned slightly red… so cute.

“Sorry, I’m rambling. But tell me about you, why do you like cooking?”

Her question makes my heart squeeze painfully. But it’s short-lived, I’m starting to get irritated… Huh, this one thinks that I’m really going to believe she is interested in knowing a little bit about me?! I want to tell her exactly this, but I can’t find it in myself seeing the authenticity in her eyes… Am I hallucinating it? Yes, of course, I can’t afford to feel this sense of hope, however small it is.

“I’m not comfortable telling you” I respond sharply. I’m a little surprised at my tone, but I’m even more after her reaction.

“Oh, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. It’s your right to refuse to say anything. I’m sorry again, I overstepped” and she bowed…

She didn’t get angry, didn’t insist on get an answer from me and. She. Bowed. To me. She BOWED to me.

This girl is strange, she’ll be troubles.

Y/n POV

When I face him again, there’s a look of astonishment on his face. I definitely ridiculed myself, it seems I can’t do anything better than this in life.

Thankfully this awkward moment is broken by Ruby “Y/n, you’ve been here for thirty minutes already, Mr. Dong is looking for you.”

Oh shit, thirty?! “I’m going, thank you Ruby”.

I’m on my way to the door when something came to my mind: “Seok-Jin, I didn’t ask you... how old are you?”

“I’m 28” … this is unexpected…

“Really?! Well, then I’ll be careful to always pay respect to you. I’m 23”

There’s sadness in his eyes, but a small smile forms on his plump lips. I smile too, bow, go my own way and start my daily Monday’s routine with mixed emotions, but a heart warmer than before him happened.

<-Prologue MAYA Masterlist Next->

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rachetmath · 1 year ago

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Everything that could've gone right

Jaune: Okay, so from all the information you all have shown me, again thank you all, I think we should discuss some things.

Winter: Indeed.

Ruby: We need to do something.

Jaune: Okay, first let's discuss the Crown. As Coco told me they were a horrible organization. They target people, especially with valuable semblances. Not to mention they are now partner with Tyrian. A wild card that we may not be able to predict.

Qrow: Yeah he is a slipper guy.

Jaune: We have no idea what their next move will be so we need to be prepared. So I think we send Emerald Sustrai in to infiltrate and spy on them.

Ruby: What- No!

Jaune: I’m sorry, what's wrong, Ruby?

Nora: Emerald is still a villain, we can't trust her.

Jaune: What? But she helped in the evacuation, I think -

Winter: I agree. Especially considering her past crimes.

Jaune: Fair point but she's the only one who gets in and out while filling us in on what our enemies can do. Plus, if that's the case she can prove herself by helping us.

Ruby: No Jaune that's too risky.

Winter: I agree.

Qrow: Same.

Raven: Yep.

Jaune: Okay. Next is the Grimm attacks. They are skyrocketing. This may be due to our mistake of bringing too many people to Vacuo. Not to mention Vale citizens. So… I am afraid we need to escort some of them out.

Robyn: What?! Objection!

Obleck: I agree, Mr.Arc. That is cruel.

Jaune: Huh. Cruel? Some of these people want to leave this city and kingdom altogether. Some of the people don't get along with each other as well. Not to mention food and other resources.

Robyn: We'll find another way to provide. Plus how would get them out?

Jaune: I mean we have ships. We have hunters ready to fight. I mean, yeah, they’ll still have the Grimm to deal with but still. They should spread instead of being cramped up like animals.

Winter: Jaune, these people are our responsibility. We must protect them. Plus if we send hunters around on escort missions our numbers will thin.

Jaune: I mean we have students who are being trained to fight. Let them go along and shadow the pros. Or stay and help us.

Ren: Jaune that won't help.

Jaune: They will gain experience and probably survive. I think we need to consider our resources.

Ruby: No Jaune. We need a different approach.

Winter: Agreed.

Obleck: Well said, Ms.Rose.

Jaune: Alright. Mm. Okay, so about the tribes. Some of them aren't willing to offer assistance. So, what do we do about them?

Ruby: We try to reason with all of them.

Robyn: Yes!

Jaune: What-?

Obleck: Indeed. We ask for assistance and if they don't provide it-

Raven: We crush them.

Jaune: Shouldn't we be careful though? I mean, we can do that but doesn't that give us more enemies than allies? We can't simply side with anyone and crush those who oppose us. Especially with no research or information on what they could have that we could use.

Raven: This is Vacuo, kid. It's all about dominance.

Jaune: Are you- oh my- okay, okay, breath. Breath. Guys… look. I know this is hard. But… l do need to remind all of you of what's up. First off Tyrian is still on the loose. And he has new allies. Allies who know this kingdom and its people more than we do. Due to the amount of problems many requests for hunters have been skyrocketing. We have children with no parents. Parents who lost their children. Families whom we can’t feed or provide for. A war could happen at any time and you wish to start one before a greater threat arrives.

Ruby: Jaune we need hunters. We need to tighten security.

Jaune: No. What we need is resources so we can help people and stop them from killing each other. And even after that, we need to get some of these people out of the kingdom. Do you not know what’s happening with them? Violence. Kidnapping. Rape. Extortion. We are having too many victims. And with more victims, MORE NEGATIVITY.

Oobleck: We understand but we can’t involve the students.

Jaune: My team. Team RWBY. We were first years. We’re still first years. We have been involved in this for months. And remember, these kids are here for the same reason we’re here. To be hunters. And what is needed when being a hunter? Experience. We have missions on the board, too many for us to work with. If we research every or as many teams as we can, we can divide the work among them. And it’s not like they’ll be alone. We have pros who aren’t doing anything. Let them work.

Raven: Then how do we handle the tribes?

Jaune: Not all tribes need to be dealt with. Some we can leave alone. Some might need help. Or we can talk with them. Who knows they may be willing to take some of the citizens off our hands.

Winter: I understand.

Jaune: I highly doubt that.

Winter: But need our people here.

Jaune: Again some of them don’t want to be here. We might as well be imprisoning them.

Theodore: It seems we are in conclusion. Very well done everyone. Meet achured.

Jaune: We are so f****.

After weeks

Theodore: Oh my god the relic is gone.

Jaune: Probably because we had no guardian it.

Ruby: Theirs too many Grimm to fight.

Jaune: Maybe because of so many people fighting, stealing and hating each other.

Raven: Too many tribes are against us. They sided with the Crown.

Jaune: Maybe if we negotiated and made compromises with them we could have turn some of them into allies.

Qrow: Tyrian just killed a Summer maiden. Now Gillian has the maiden powers.

Jaune: If only we had someone to hide among them who could have fed us information so we had a counterattack. Or maybe save our maiden.

Emerald: Merury, please.

Mercury: It’s too late Emerald. Maybe if you found me and tried to help me earlier, I would have teamed up with you.

Jaune: Wow.

Mercury: In fact, I don’t know why they didn’t send you. Probably they didn’t trust you enough. I don’t know why you’re still working with them. Join us.

Jaune: You might be right.

Ruby: Jaune, com on, help us.

Jaune: What’s the point? We already lost.

After the battle

Ruby: A lot of people died.

Theodore: The relic is gone.

Oobleck: Our numbers are thin.

Winter: The people have abandoned us.

Jaune: Really?

Raven: Okay kid, you were-

Jaune: The proof is in the pudding. I know I was right.

#rwby #jaune arc #ruby rose #yang xiao long #winter schnee #robyn hill #qrow branwen #tyrian callows #mercuria black #emerald sustrai

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biscuits-of-bagend · 1 year ago

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DnDoc #3 - Tales in the TARDIS

Part #1 Part #2

"I was sort of pessimistic at first? But at the same time determined. It was like, this is hopeless - but also I have to get back to some sort of civilisation or at least somewhere with running water or I will die. I followed the forest trying to figure out if the trees were lined up in any sort of shape, anything that might indicate where I could find a pond. If I could find a pond I could find a stream, a river, a city, if there was one to be found."

Rogue stopped as Ruby came in with an enormous jug of water. Maybe she'd been outside listening this whole time and knew he really needed it now that he had started this.

"Stay if you want, Ruby," said Rogue. "It's good to see you too."

Ruby was no longer dressed like a Regency duchess and instead wore a tartan pattern pinafore over a white t-shirt. She seemed even younger than Rogue remembered and he was glad all over again that his trap hadn't got her killed.

The Doctor nodded to Ruby and patted the space next to him on his futon. "Come sit, so far it sounds like it's not going to be a super sexy story."

"Well," said Rogue.

"Oh?" The Doctor's eyebrows shot up in what Rogue assumed at first was jealousy but that may actually have been deep intrigue, the Doctor's curiosity perhaps turning a little Chuldur-like.

"There was a queen who really needed an heir," said Rogue.

Ruby's eyes bugged out of her head and the Doctor put his hand to his breast and said, "You didn't."

Rogue grinned and took a drink of water. Then he said, "No, I didn't. But it turns out I am a master match-maker. I am the Emma Woodhouse of my generation."

"So you did eventually find a civilisation then?" said the Doctor, still shaking his head.

"Yeah, took a long time, and I sort of turned up on their doorstep just like I did yours," said Rogue. "But they were in the middle of their own problems, away up on this hill above the wasteland. They nearly dispatched me on sight until I could convince them I was not infected with some sort of bacteria they were scared of. I mean, I was scared of it too for a moment there, until their doctor was convinced I was fine. But then they said they'd give me food and water and somewhere to sleep as long as I could complete a quest for them."

"Aw," said the Doctor, "Just a Rogue all by himself, no tank, no face."

"Yeah," agreed Rogue. "A face would not have gone amiss. Because what they wanted me to do was go to the one other oasis of green grass and flowering trees in the known world, see if anyone was alive there - which they couldn't tell on their telescopes - and if there was, I was to bring any eligible young males back."

"That is a lot less romantic than Emma Woodhouse," said Ruby.

"You're not wrong. There were three eligible young males as it turned out, and they all shared your view. I had to beg one of them and tell him all about how beautiful the queen was and how delicious the fruit away off there at the palace was - I hadn't tasted a bit of it, and wouldn't unless I could get the guy to agree to come back with me. But I'm no slouch on the deception check. So I got this one guy to come with me, eventually, after a truly horrible journey that was like the opposite of a bonding experience and he definitely hates me now."

Rogue took another breath, wondering how he was coming across. The Doctor and Ruby would understand needs-must kinds of situations, right? He paused for a moment to focus on the burnt orange of the Doctor's jacket, his striped v-neck t-shirt underneath. Once he had his bearings back, he continued.

"Turned out they were basically long-lost soulmates, or at least, they were willing to see each other that way in the name of speeding things along. But they wouldn't let me go until the baby was born and that took… Oh damn, I forgot to mention. Have you ever heard of Loxodons?"

"The elephant folk?" said the Doctor.

"Yeah, all these people were Loxodons. I should have said that at the start." Rogue waved his hand as if to brush away the confusion. He was pleased to note that this caused pain in zero muscles.

"Wait, but elephants are pregnant for like, almost two years," said Ruby. "I swear on QI Sandi Toksvig said something like twenty-two months! Was it the same for the Loxodon people?"

Rogue nodded, mouth closed as he watched the Doctor take this in.

"Yeah," said Rogue. "They wouldn't help me until after the birth in case there was a problem and they needed me to go fetch another male."

The Doctor took his hand and held it loosely, carefully. "Rogue, that is horrible. I am so sorry you had to go through all this."

Rogue shook his head, which did cause a slight twinge in his neck but it was fading. He said, "I made my choice. No regrets. We keep moving forward, right?"

The Doctor relaxed slightly and nodded. "Always on to the next thing."

"Anyway," said Rogue. "Their library was amazing."

---

Part #4

@off-traveling-in-the-stars @casavanse @monster-donut (let me know at any point if you no longer wish to be tagged in each post)

#doctor who #doctor who spoilers #fanfic #fanfiction #dw spoilers #doctor who rogue

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wintermoth · 1 year ago

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I hated Dot & Bubble.... but like a good hate, which I think was the whole point. We're not meant to be happy or satisfied with the way things turned out for anyone.

Lindy, we knew from the start, was a spoiled brat and, yes, as the protagonist, the story gave us reason to care for her and want her to survive...but a single traumatic experience doesn't change who you are as a person. And Lindy was still very much a spoiled, selfish, privileged brat. And, y'know, racist. Very much a product of her time and culture. That wasn't going to suddenly change just because of an apocalypse and a little crush.

It reminds me of Voyage of the Damned. Of the original group of survivors, only two make it out alive, and one of them was The Actual Worst. Surviving did nothing to make him any less The Actual Worst.

We're so used to stories of people undergoing dramatic character shifts due to harrowing situations that we forget that, in reality, people are who they are. Real, positive change takes time and effort on behalf of the individual. Lindy was not that kind of person. But as someone we were made to care for and root for, it's horrible for us, the audience, to realize that all of the Doctor, Ruby, and Ricky's efforts (and our emotional investment) were wasted on someone who, in the end, just plain sucked.

And we, as viewers of Doctor Who, are so used to the people the Doctor saves being grateful for it....so used to a single experience with the Doctor being utterly life-changing for the better... that seeing the literal opposite happen leaves us uncomfortable and disappointed.

But that was the point.

It's not a happy story, it's not a happy ending. An entire planet was wiped out, the city was almost entirely wiped out, and now Lindy and the others will probably die out in the woods. And, yeah, I'll be the one to say it - they deserve whatever becomes of them.

#Doctor Who #Doctor Who spoilers #dw spoilers #Dot & Bubble

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howlingday · 2 years ago

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Jaune Arc Mandalorian Armor AU: Jaune starts his day at beacon like he dose showing off his new full gear of mandolorian armor he was given by his father. Many watching and staring at him along with his team and Team RWBY and with Blake and Yang staring and ogling at the mysterious guy thinking he was a new student until he takes off his helmet and tells everyone about the armor.

armor look by me @vanossfan10

"Yeesh, look at that guy." Ruby followed her sister's gaze to the armored figure staring out the window with a gloved hand on the wall. "Overkill much?"

"I can't remember the last time I saw a huntsman in full armor." Ruby commented.

The figure made no movement to the sister's gossip. If there was any movement, which there was, it was unseen by the two. The movement in question was the flexing of the gloved fingers against the wall. As the airship began its descent into Beacon, the figure swiftly turned away and made his way to the exit. As the doors came open, they were the first to exit, right into the nearest bathroom.

"Huh." Ren blinked at the impatient suit of armor.

"Guess when you gotta go, you gotta go." Nora said with a chuckle.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Need a hand?" Ruby looked up to the gloved hand extending to her. Reaching up, she felt herself rocketing to her feet. This armored guy was way stronger than he looked, and that's WITH the armor he was wearing!

"Thanks." Ruby said, giving a sigh. "Sorry, I was just-"

"You're pretty tough."

"Huh?"

"When I first learned about dust, I didn't have aura to protect me." He looked away. "Spent a couple months coughing up ice."

"Wow, that's..." Ruby gave a chuckle. "That's pretty bad."

"Not as bad as what was coming out the other end." Ruby guffawed at the story, memories of her horrible experience with that girl in white long gone and away. "My name's Jaune. Jaune Arc."

"Ruby Rose." She smiled at her new best friend.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So, who's your new friend?" Yang gave a playful smirk to her sister.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Word on the street is my little sister was saved by a knight in shining armor." Yang snickered. "Or at least, he's only wearing armor."

Ruby and Yang looked to a distant wall where the topic of their conversation was, once again, standing against the wall. This time, however, his back was to it. To Yang, it seemed like he was glaring at everyone in the room. To Ruby, Jaune looked like he was trying to pull off the cool loner look.

"So, what's he like?" Yang prodded. "Is he cute? Is he nice? You guys kiss yet?"

"No, Yang!" She shoved her sister away. "We just met!"

"Well, that's good to hear. Last thing I'd want is somebody taking advantage of my baby sister."

"I'm not a baby, Yang!"

"Aw, but you sure to act like one!" At this the two began to wrestle, rolling off their sleeping bags and into-

"What are you idiots doing?!" The two looked up to see the infamous dust girl from before glaring down at them. "You're rolling all over my night bag!"

"Really~?" Yang raised a brow. "I thought I felt something long and hard poking my-"

"IT'S LOTION, YOU PERVERT!" She said with a flushed face.

"Oh, I'm sure it is~."

"Could you keep it down?" They all turned to see a girl in a black nightgown glaring at them with yellow eyes.

"I'm so sorry." A girl standing next to the white-haired girl said with a bow. She had long, red hair and wore a long-sleeve button shirt. Was that Pyrrha Nikos? Like, THE Pyrrha Nikos?

"Yeah, my bad." Yang let go of Ruby and stood up. "I was teasing my little sister about her new friend." She jabbed a thumb towards the armored figure.

"Is that a Mandalorian?" Pyrrha(?) gasped.

"Why is he attending Beacon?" The black nightgown girl asked.

"He said it's so he can get his license." All eyes fell on Ruby. "At least, that's what he told me."

"Bounty hunters." The girl in white scoffed. "Another gun for hire from a bygone age, or worse..." She huffed. "A look-a-like."

"If he's a look-a-like, then he's got quite the collection." Yang said. "Closest I've seen a Mandalorian is in pictures."

"That's the only time you should see one." The girl in the black nightgown said with a grim tone. "They're trained since childhood to become masters of war, and any poor village they happen to enter, they leave alone."

"Oh, well, that doesn't sound so bad." Ruby said.

"Alone meaning no survivors."

"Oh." Ruby squeaked.

"And you said you're friends with him?"

"W-Well, I mean, Yang said I was, but um... Yes. Yes, he's my friend."

"Have... Have you seen his face?"

"Huh?"

"W-Well, it's just..." The girl stared at the armored figure, her voice giving away a different tone. She clutched her book to her chest, carrying a dreamlike gaze towards him. "I've also read that they're some of the gentlest souls in the world. They're willing to help even the smallest creatures for little more than their gratitude, and the only time you'll ever see their true face is on their death, or when you're..." Her voice trailed off with a blush.

"Ugh..." The girl in white groaned. "It's getting late, so can we all forget about the walking death machine who would sell us to the highest bidder looming across the room and go sleep in our own separate spaces."

Shortly thereafter, the girls parted, though they all cast glances at the armored elephant in the room. Some with baneful scorn, others with fantastical admiration, but all with curiosity. As Ruby nestled into her slumber, she had one thought racing through her mind.

'He's not really dangerous... is he?'

#rwby #the mandalorian #mandalorian arc au #rwby au #jaune arc #ruby rose #weiss schnee #blake belladonna #yang xiao long #lie ren #pyrrha nikos #star wars #nora valkyrie #mando jaune #mando jaune au

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bestworstcase · 2 years ago

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Hello! I’ve enjoyed reading your rwby analysis posts, especially the things you’ve had to say about Penny. The amount of care you put into thinking and writing about her is great. I’m curious what you thought about Penny getting turned into a human, because… I personally really didn’t like it. It just really hurt me that after she was attacked repeatedly because she was built differently, that the solution to that was to remove everything which was different/unique about her and make her “normal.” And then have the actual physical representation of her differences violently die and then be obliterated like they were some horrible, hideous thing.

A good chunk of her story seemed to revolve around being just as much a person as anyone else even though she had a body that worked differently. And I sure did relate to that irl! But then turning Penny human seemed to send the message that Penny could only actually be a full and happy person (such as immediately discovering how wonderful hugs feel) if she was normal. I want to believe I’m taking that scene the wrong way, but… I’m not sure how else I can interpret what happened. So yeah, I’m curious what you think! I’ll be interested to read your thoughts, whatever they may be.

ooh, well, i’m not keen on the way the fandom writ large interprets the scene (as ‘penny became human’/‘penny became real’) and i like how it was done because imo it is really NOT framed as a positive transformation?

there’s an element of relief and joy to it of course—because everyone’s glad that penny survived this ordeal with the virus—but, as you say, the self-destruction of her robotic body is a big focal point of the scene and it is done in a very horrifying way, with the camera moving between penny’s POV as she watches it happen and her robotic body’s POV as it desperately tries to reach her before succumbing to the virus. and penny herself is profoundly disturbed by the experience—she’s not happy to be ‘free’ of that body at all, and ruby hesitantly asks if she’s alright because penny clearly isn’t.

so while penny does then find a small thing to appreciate about her new flesh body and that momentarily alleviates the horror… the tone is very much set by the amount of focus given to penny watching a part of herself die and, after that small burst of joyous relief, watching her old body crumble into ash and flinching away with horror again.

to me, this reads as a rebuke of how flippant yang was about the loss—“the mechanical parts are just extra,” except penny’s body isn’t truly equivalent to a prosthetic, right? that’s just her body.

it’s not all she is, but it’s also a lot more like the arm yang lost than it is like the prosthetic yang got afterwards. penny loses a core part of her identity…

…which is reinforced later, inside the portal, when penny is taken off guard by the abrupt realization that she no longer has floating array. weapons are a fundamental part of huntsmen identity, seen and understood as “extensions of our selves,” and penny’s is literally destroyed by her involuntary transformation—involuntary in the sense that it’s a choice she was forced to make under extreme duress thanks to watts—and she has to recreate that piece of herself with magic.

and there’s smaller, subtler things wrong, too. i think the amount of focus put on her bare feet is meant to highlight that she does not have thrusters any more—an essential aspect of her natural mobility is just gone, again leaving her dependent on the maiden powers to do something she used to be able to just DO.

or consider how disoriented she seems right before cinder gets her. in her original body, penny had sophisticated tactical software built into her sensory array which among other things made her virtually immune to emerald’s semblance. she could see infrared light and aura and the tactical analysis program worked much, much faster than any human could keep up with—because her physical brain was a computer! and then she loses that and spends the entire fight mainly getting clobbered and then struggles to keep track of what’s even happening when cinder gates her off from her allies!

her new body is healthy and whole by human standards, but measured against what penny had before… the narrative gives, like, a LOT of attention to signaling that penny has been measurably disabled in a multitude of ways. if she wasn’t also the winter maiden—& bear in mind that penny only became the winter maiden BECAUSE of what her original robotic body could do!—penny would have been rendered utterly helpless by this transformation. no weapon, no flying, in a much more fragile and vulnerable body that could feel pain. (think about how much screaming she does during that final fight, compared to the time she gets flung several blocks by a grimm so hard there’s an impact crater and she’s like “ouch! :)” about it)

and obv, that fragile new body is the only reason cinder was able to kill her at all. i think that’s sort of the point: penny did the equivalent of *barely* surviving a debilitating illness, went from her sickbed to a battlefield, tried to fight like that, and died because she in a state of extreme physical vulnerability due to recent illness. that’s why all of her friends were so insistent that she not participate in the fight—she wasn’t ready to be fighting! if she’d lived, she would have needed to spend quite a long time recovering, learning and accepting her new limitations, and training within those new limits.

so, to me? the narrative framing of the transformation feels somber, with “she lived! it worked!” being the silver lining on what is otherwise a tragic outcome. watts infected her with this brutal, horrific virus and the only way to save her life was to sacrifice a fundamental part of her self, in this acutely traumatizing way. i think the fandom collectively sort of tunnel visioned on the pinocchio narrative of ‘becoming a real girl’* to such a degree that the bittersweet framing and the underlying horror of what happened to her gets widely overlooked. and i don’t think those tragic/horrific notes are there by accident—the narrative puts quite a lot of emphasis on them, and deliberately bookends the joy of “do hugs always make you feel this warm?” with those moments of intense horror with the violent death and then destruction of her robotic body.

(*something that… really isn’t a prominent theme with penny?, because her struggle with personhood is centered on how *other people* treat her like an object and i would argue her pinocchio ‘becoming a real boy’ moment is actually her acceptance of the maiden power—not because that ‘proves’ she’s a person or whatever, but because it’s a moment of emotional self-actualization where she chooses to do the right thing according to her own judgment instead of mindlessly following orders like the puppet ironwood expects her to be. it’s symbolic! & that gets called back to explicitly by winter, later, with “you were *always* the real maiden, i was the machine,” the ‘realness’ in the pinocchio narrative here is about emotional authenticity and refusal to sacrifice conscience or heart in the name of following orders.

rwby is… pretty profoundly uninterested in the question of ‘does the robot girl count as a person?’ because it answers that within literal seconds after revealing that she is a robot with an emphatic ‘yes, obviously, she has a soul, zero ambiguity here’ lmao. what it does do is leverage pinocchio to explore themes of dehumanization and personhood within an authoritarian military regime.)

so yeah, that’s how i read that. it’s joyous because she lives but it’s also not a victory earned without grievous loss, and the tragedy is exacerbated because she *does not have time* to catch her breath / process / learn how to live in her new, disabled body before cinder… cinders.

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itsclydebitches · 2 years ago

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If Ruby is still depressed in v10 (if it, yknow, happens) but just being communicative and healthy about it, I'll forgive v9.

If she's back to normal and they really did resolve depression on the level of a suicide attempt with 'she's ok now because the afterlife gave her a pep talk' I will tear and bite

Yeah what even (if anything) is going on with Volume 10 nowadays? I've been out of the loop for a while and yet it simultaneously feels like I haven't missed anything...

I personally will not be retroactively absolving Volume 9, even if Volume 10 knocks it out of the water. I've been playing that game for years: "Well, maybe if they finally do this, that, and the other thing we'll have a cohesive narrative!" Yeah, that ship has sailed. They needed to start that work back in Volume 6, Volume 7 at the latest, and things have just consistently gotten worse instead. In this age of full season drops and crazy fast release dates, I'm continually reminded that RWBY is an episode-by-episode show that, whether for creative purposes or commercial, has always taken its time. That produces a very different viewing experience and, for me at least, it means that what we get feels like it has more weight, simply by virtue of existing as the only new RWBY content for a significant, set amount of time. Just like it can be frustrating to hear fans dismiss literal years of worry over bumbleby because they finally kissed in Volume 9, dismissing the horribly handled suicide allegory after 9-ish month of sitting with it because our hypothetical Volume 10 might make something of it doesn't work for me. Yes, there's always something to be said for giving stories time to capitalize on ideas, but we're still left with the impact of those choices now. Far more significantly, I feel like I have a good sense of when a story simply needs more time to flesh out a complex idea (the 2nd season of Good Omens immediately comes to mind) as well as when the issue is indeed a matter of "This is a complex, as of yet unresolved conflict that viewers may not personally like, but that doesn't make it badly written" (again, Good Omens). RWBY, unfortunately, is neither of those things. The first half is a writing disaster and they've consistently shown that they can't pull it together in the second half.

#rwde #rwby #mymetas

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triviareads · 2 years ago

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have you seen this article? Figures netflix and shondaland wouldn't care when Ruby was going through mental health issues.

https://deadline.com/2023/10/bridgerton-ruby-barker-calls-out-netflix-shondaland-psychotic-breaks-1235587834/

I've attached the link below for anyone who wants to read. I had not seen this; obviously I'd been following along when Ruby talked about her mental health issues stemming from the show and not being on season 3 but I feel like this confirms a lot of what I was wondering, namely, Ruby connects the circumstances her character Marina goes through (she says Marina is "very alienated, very ostracized, on her own under these horrible circumstances" which.... yeah, who the hell thought this was a good idea in terms of plot or sensitivity?) to her own mental health struggles and says she was deteriorating as a result. I think it's horrific that despite this, no one from Shondaland or Netflix reached out and checked in on her when she suffered two psychotic breaks, and Ruby was put in the shitty position of having to keep quiet about the entire situation to avoid losing out on future jobs or interfere with Bridgerton promotion.

Honestly... between what we know of the people in charge of this show and this fandom which heaped loads of abuse on Ruby and other people of color (the number of blithe posts I STILL see on this website about waiting for Marina to kill herself... is insane, and the comments sections in the couple articles I read about this were similarly brutal; like, just because a workplace isn't "legally obligated" to reach out to someone struggling with mental health issues, it doesn't mean they shouldn't, and instead of people going "if I didn't get support, neither should you", we should be all be asking for better support), I'm not surprised in the least, and that just feels disappointing because three years ago there was so much hope for this show being the "new frontier" in racially diverse casting and bringing historical romances on television but all that's basically shot to pieces now.

#bridgerton #ruby barker

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dottie-writes-tmnt · 1 year ago

Text

Settled In

This is part five of my story A New Kind of Familiar. Tags and other chapters can be found here!

No summary this time we ballin; Ruby gets his own room tho

Ruby woke up to quiet commotion going on around the couch he was sleeping on. Leo, Mikey, Casey Sr., and Donnie were all begging Red for something.

“Raph, cmon, please?”

“You’ve been saying ‘next year’ for the past 3 years!”

“Red, we should all go. It will be a bonding experience for all of us,” Casey said, oddly formal.

“I concur. Unless Ruby’s straight and/or homophobic, in which case it’ll be horrible.”

“Oh, shit. I forgot those exist. But Ruby’s literally Raph from another dimension. Isn’t he queer by default?”

“There’s always a possibility, Leon.”

“ Ouch,” Ruby snarked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “It was already offensive enough when ya said I was straight, but the jump to homophobic was just evil. You guys really need to work on not talkin’ about a guy when he’s in the room with ya, by the way.”

He watched with mild amusement as everyone in the room looked at him in either shock or guilt.

“Anyway, where are you guys tryin’ to convince Red to let ya go?”

In his sleepy haze, it took him awhile to process what he’d heard.

“A pr—“

“Wait a damn minute, Leo’s— you’re all— holy crap, this dimension is so backwards oh my god.”

“Language.”

“You don’t mean to tell me I’m straight in your dimension!?”

“It’s not the end of the world, Leon.”

“You’re not straight all of a sudden?!”

“I’ve known I was gay since I was 6!”

“That’s fuckin’ crazy.”

“Language,” Raph warned, just slightly louder, overlapping once again with the Leonardo ingrained in his mind.

“Ah, right, I haven’t asked any questions about your dimension yet! I have been trying to let you settle in first, but my curiosity is slowly getting the better of me. And what better time to do it than while ‘buying’ more pride things for all of our ever-growing collections?”

“That’s a Donatello way of saying ‘be prepared, bitch, I’m gonna interrogate the fuck outta you’, ain’t it?”

“Third strike, yer out,” Red growled playfully, grabbing Ruby by the top of his shell and lifting him until he dangled in the air.

The turtle swallowed his immediate panic, recalling Raph doing similar things to Leo, Mikey, and Donnie.

“Donnie, you can interrogate ‘im next week. Ruby, ya get air jail for 10 minutes.”

“Haha you got air jail,” Leo taunted, sticking his tongue out at him.

Mikey gasped beside them.

“Guys, we have to go! It’ll be Casey Jr.’s first one, since Raph didn’t let us go last year! Ruby, have you ever been to a pride parade?”

“I’ve been nocturnal for most of my life and spent the rest of it fearing humans for all I’m worth. So no.”

“That’s why your sleep schedule sucks,” the box turtle said like he’d cracked some magic code to the secret of life.

Raph finally sighed.

“Fine, we can go. We’re going shoppin’ today, we’ll go to a parade tomorrow, and we’ll watch old gay movies the next day, and maybe if y’all behave, Raph and Leo’ll make ya some extra clothes, mm?”

The others rejoiced, waking up Casey Jr., who shuffled into the living room and leaned against the doorway, rubbing his eyes to try to wake up. His hair was a mess and he looked like he was back asleep already. Raph set Ruby back on the couch.

“Wha’s hap’nin?” the boy slurred, humming happily when Raph scooped him up and nuzzled the side of his head.

“Mornin’, Casey.”

“Mmmm.”

“I think he’s already asleep again,” Leo murmured.

“No, he’s not.”

The snapper set him down on the couch near Ruby and the teen immediately latched onto him, nuzzling his face into the turtle’s shoulder. He stiffened immediately, eyes going to the teen on him.

“You’re gonna be there awhile,” Donnie informed.

“Sooo…we call April, Barry, maybe Dad and leave around ten-ish?”

“Yeah, we do need to update Dad’s collection, don’t we?”

That was the craziest shit he’d heard all night. Apparently, during summer, the family was nocturnal.

“Now y’all are just lying to me.”

“About?”

“Splinter is a homophobic conservative. Anything else and you’re lying.”

“Sorry to break it to you, amigo, but Dad is very much a bisexual.”

“You’re lying. Casey drools in his sleep.”

“I know. We’ll get him in a bit.”

“Everybody’s eating before we leave,” Raph growled, glowering at Donnie. Suddenly, music started blaring from Leo’s phone.

“You already know you’re dealing with this shit all month,” the slider said simply as I Like Boys by Todrick Hall played. “Anyway, just lemme know when we’re leaving.”

Donnie rolled his eyes. “Leon, we depart in close to an hour.”

“Yeah, whatever, I’ll see you guys then!”

“He’s going to see Usagi,” Donnie said at the same time Red said “he’s goin’ visit Usagi.”

They both sighed, rolling their eyes.

“Who?”

“You’ll see. Anyway, have fun with Jr.”

“Wait a damn minute!”

“Language.”

“I’m gonna go work on cooking, so we can all actually eat something before we leave.”

“SHELLDON is in need of his routine scrubbing. And I need to continue working on his body.”

“What?”

“SHELLDON is our nephew, only the best little AI in the world,” Mikey chirped. (What.)

“With villain tendencies,” chimed Cassandra, before getting up. “Yeah, I’m gonna get a workout in before we leave.”

“What am I supposed to do about Casey Jr.?”

“Someone’ll swing by to get him or his body clock will wake him up. Good luck. You also look like ya need more sleep,” Raph said, glancing Ruby’s way.

“I can’t fall back asleep once I wake up. Trust me, I’ve got all the sleep I’m gonna get.”

“Alright. I’m gonna watch some Lou Jitsu,” the snapper said simply, turning on the projector and sitting near the couch.

Ruby turned to watch the screen, Casey inhaling deeply, shifting in his sleep as he sighed before he tightened his hold on the turtle and huffed.

“Jr.’s a very clingy sleeper. He lost a lot of people.”

“This’s worse than Chompy,” he muttered, sighing as he rubbed the human’s back. It was a subconscious gesture, his mind drifting to the last time he’d taken a nap with his child.

“Chompy?”

“Turtle alien from the time we went to space.”

“Space?!”

“Yeah. To stop murderous aliens from killing everyone ‘n destroying the planet. Ya know, the usual.”

“That…how old’re you, again?”

“Eh, I dunno anymore. With the whole Dimension X thing, and the whole time travel thing, none of us know how old we are. But I’m the second oldest. I could be anywhere from 15 to fuckin’, what, 17?”

“When did you guys go to space?”

“Well, that was the time travel thing. I think I was 15? We count Leo as being a year older than me, so uh… I think. Why?”

“No reason. Just, y’all were kids.”

“I know. What does that hafta do with anything?”

“Nothin’! It’s great you guys did so much for the world.”

“Yeah, somethin’ like that.”

The two settled to watch the man on the TV scream hot soup and take out enemies courageously.

Some time passed with Ruby watching blurry colors and hearing static instead of the actual movie, the weight on top of him the only thing that kept him from completely being lost. That happened to him a lot.

“—by? Ruby? Hey, Ruby?”

He clocked in enough to hear Red’s voice gain more concern as he still didn’t respond. He couldn’t force noise from his mouth, unsure why he was having such trouble. He grunted, shifting to try to get some life back into himself. Jr. woke immediately, sitting up.

“Raph?”

Mikey.

“It’s time to go,” the box turtle continued, walking over. “Ruby?”

He really wished people would just shut the fuck up and leave him alone.

“Blink if you’re hearing what I’m saying.”

Blink once or blink twice? He didn’t think it mattered, simply blinking anyway.

“Okay. Casey, lay back down.”

The ravenette obeyed without question, one of the turtle’s rumored “Doctor Personas” close to surfacing from the looks of it.

The human drummed nonsense patterns on his shoulder, and Ruby counted each impact for fun. What did they all need, anyway? There had to be a reason they were trying to get a response from him.

“Because it’s time to go shopping like we planned earlier. Of course, we don’t have to if you’re not up for it. We all were going to eat before we leave, though?”

Had he said that out loud?

“Yeah, big guy, ya did. Think you can get up?”

Casey got up again easily, hopping over the back of the couch. The red banded turtle sat up, wishing distantly they’d quit looking at him like that.

“We’ll be in the kitchen.”

He simply nodded. Now he wondered how long he’d been out of it. He shrugged it off in favor of getting his ass up and going to the kitchen. He had shopping to do later.

Malls were a lot bigger than he remembered. Leo immediately ran off, screaming about getting a Harry Styles poster. Draxum simply followed everyone to Hot Topic, then going off to buy his own stuff. Ruby stood looking at everything until Casey Jr. mumbled something next to him.

“I’ve never been in one of these stores either. I think we can just get whatever.”

Raph was pondering squishmallows while Cassandra gazed at jackets. Mikey was with Raph and Donnie was looking at pins. The teen beside him nudged him further into the store.

“Just see what you find.”

After looking for a while, he did find a nice looking leather jacket that he could modify later. And a few nice looking pins. And if Red caught him staring at a few Hello Kitty plushies and picked them up for him, nobody had to know.

After Leo returned, he shoved a trans pin at everyone.

“Renewing my gender like I do every year,” he drawled, putting it on his sash and brandishing his Harry Styles poster.

Ruby rolled his eyes, and they all went back to the lair. Splinter hadn’t come along but nobody seemed to be even remotely phased. April had been asleep and they didn’t disturb her further.

“We actually have a surprise for you, Ruby!”

He quirked a brow ridge.

“What if I hated surprises?”

“Well, it’s kinda too late now. Cover your eyes.”

He did so reluctantly, Red guiding him somewhere.

“Open!”

He uncovered his eyes and felt his jaw drop. A subway car, just like the other bedrooms, but the walls were a dark red, and the stool he’d helped Mikey paint was at a desk with sewing supplies.

There was a mattress he recognized pushed into a corner, a bookshelf with books he’d rescued from the scrap yard hanging nearby. There were little bird skulls all over the room, and suddenly everything made sense.

Donnie dragging him into his lab to ask him questions about what shows and movies he liked explained the Corpse Bride poster on the wall, Mikey asking what colors he thought went with which, Leo annoyingly taunting him about the most random things until he could get sewing tips, Red just being Red—

“Holy shit, what the fuck.”

They’d pulled this straight under his beak.

“Do you like it?”

“How did I not notice?”

“Because we’re just that good.”

“That just ain’t true.”

“Soo…?”

“You guys did a nice job.”

“Wooo! He likes it!”

Everyone around him rejoiced and Draxum set a hand on his shoulder.

“This is just how they incorporate others into the family. If you think they were bad before, it only gets worse. I would run while I could, child,” the yokai said, clearly joking.

Mikey’s affronted scoff signed the baron’s death wish.

Distantly, Raph wondered how his brothers were doing. Quietly, he wondered if they cared.

Previous Chapter | Next chapter

#Ruby definitely cried after everyone left/pos #Draxum had an appointment with Dr Delicate Touch #raph tmnt #2012 raph #ankof au #fanfic #rottmnt raph #tmnt fanfiction #tmnt au #tmnt #rottmnt #dottie writes

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lavender-twilight23 · 4 months ago

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Get to know your mutuals: tag game

IDK who to tag so I shall tag @amethystgoldenwind

Thank you @alien--cookie for tagging me! It took me sooooo long to respond lollll but that was because there were so many questions and I immediately got super overwhelmed 🤣 BUT HERE I AM!!! And it’s funny because some of your answers matched mine and I was like omg twinninggggg 😝

What's the origin of your blog title?

My childhood nickname was/is Lavender Twilight! That came about when me and my cousin/best friend would play outdoor roleplaying games and we didn’t want to be named ourselves when we played as characters, so we made up our own names and mine was originally Ruby Scarletsun, but after a few years, I changed it to Lavender Twilight, and that has been my nickname ever since! And 23 is a number that I just have taken and put in a lot of username stuff over the years :P

OTP(s) + Shipname:

CHERIK! CHERIK CHERIK CHERIK CHERIK (CharlesxErik, X-Men)

And Fitzsimmons (Fitz and Simmons, Agents of SHIELD) in the back of my mind, but I’m into X-Men right now 🤣

Favorite colour:

RAINBOW! Even as a kid, I could never pick, so I always said all of them, rainbow. Ironically, I am both ace and bi and found that out last christmas/fall soooooo 🤣🏳️‍🌈

Favorite game:

Game??? Liiiike what, video game? Board game?

Okay, uhhh, I like Taboo, Heads Up, Scattergories, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Oh, and lots of old Mario games like Mario 64, Mario Kart Wii, and New Super Mario Bros Wii because NOSTALGIA

Song stuck in your head:

Two:

BYE BYE BYE

and

Chopin Waltz Op. 69 No. 2 🤣 (banger)

Hobbies:

Lots of things! Mainly writing, watching movies, hanging out with my friends, and slowly making my way through the multiple books I’m in the middle of 🤣

If you work, what's your profession?

I’m unemployed lolllll but I’m in college for film and I want to get an on-campus job when I’m off spring break, and then also find a job over the summer because college tuition is makin my bank account look real sad right about now 😅

Something you're good at:

I like to think I’m decent at writing! 😅

Something you're bad at:

Self-love, sometimes 🤣 When my anxiety gets in the way of shit, I’m immediately like ‘yeah anxiety, you’re right’ 😅

Something you love:

SO MANY THINGS!!!! Movies and writing mainly, I mean there’s a reason why I want to be a director/screenwriter! Most music (except rap and rock, sorry), and fun clothes!

Something you could talk about for hours off the cuff:

Why the How To Train Your Dragon live action remake is a horrible mistake that makes me want to flip a table. 😅

Oh, and why Charles and Erik from X-Men are completely in love and NOT platonic.

Something you hate:

Disloyalty and being ignored.

Something you collect:

I collect bookmarks! Not as much anymore, but I used to love going to libraries for the simple fact of getting a few free bookmarks!

Something you forget:

Math stuff. As soon as numbers start getting involved, my brain just checks out, and I never remember anything.

What's your love language?

Physical touch all the way! I’m a big hug person 😁

Favorite movie/show:

Right now? Probably X-Men: Days of Future Past! But HTTYD also is up there too :)

I also love Agents of SHIELD and the Heartstopper show!

Favorite food:

Chicken parmesan!! I’m an Italian girl 😋

Favorite animal:

WOLVES ALL THE WAY. I did my senior pictures with ambassador wolves (yes real wolves) and it was an amazing experience!

And yes, that's me 🫡

And dragons as a fav too, if they count.

What were you like as a child?

A CHATTERBOX. Way too friendly for my own good, my parents were worried that I would get kidnapped because I would just talk to EVERYBODY.

Favorite subject at school?

English!

Least favorite subject:

MATH OH MY GOD

What's your best character trait?

Maybe my empathy and my ability to be compassionate toward people? I’m an empath so I can to some extent take on other people’s emotions, which sometimes can be really hard on me since sometimes I get emotionally overstimulated and then have breakdowns from feeling others’ emotions, but when I can manage it, it allows me to be a really good listener and give good advice or just sit with someone if they need it.

What's your worst character trait?

Probably my habit of being WAY too hard on myself 😅

If you could change any detail of your life right now, what would it be?

I would want to NOT be as hard on myself lol

If you could travel in time, who would you like to meet?

J.R.R. Tolkien, probably! I love love love Lord of the Rings! Although I’m more of a fan of the movies than the books for obvious reasons (aspiring filmmaker lol), I would still love to meet him! Fun fact, out of all the LOTR cast, Christopher Lee (Saruman) was the only member of the entire cast and crew to have actually met Tolkien!

Thanks again for the tag, and sorry it took me so long, haha! 😂

#tag game #tumblr tag game #thanks for the tag alien cookie!!

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mysteriousgeminizone · 2 months ago

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MAYA [BTS x M] Chapter 1

<- Prologue MAYA Masterlist Next ->

Y/n POV

If you ask me what I hate the most about this city, I will say the traffic. Getting stuck in the traffic of Seoul is something only for patient people, and that’s not me.

It’s 10 am and I’m already late for the start of my shift at the place I volunteer at. The Azalea Hybrid Center, a complex of two adjoining buildings housing a hospital on one side and a rescue center and a shelter on the other.

“Yeah I know, I got stuck in the traffic… a horrible experience if you ask me”

“Never mind, go swipe your tag, hurry!! I can’t wait to bring her home!” aaand the cheerful Theresa is back.

We’re heading to the shelter’s floor, when she brings back that subject again. “Y/n… you should do it too. Since when your grandpa died, you couldn’t be able to see your grandma often, and I’m literally your only connection to the social world. It will be beneficial for both of you: you will have always company and a one more friend; and the hybrid you will adopt will have a fabulous home and a caring friend and roommate.”

Excluding my shifts at Azalea and the lessons at college, I’m always alone in a home too big for me. So, probably, adopting a hybrid isn’t a bad idea, but… “I know, you’re right, but the mere idea that I’ll own a person disgust me”

Reaching the lobby’s shelter’s floor, I’ve made my mind: I’ll at least talk to some hybrid.

“Yeah I’m absolutely ready, I just want to take her home with me and cuddle together all week!”. Ruby is nearly at the elevator for the prey floor, when my best friend speaks again “Oh Ruby, Y/n is going to come with you, he wants to meet some hybrid!”

And it is in that exact moment, that I see him for the first time.

The most handsome man I ever seen.

He is sitting cross-legged on a desk on the opposite side of the room, his back resting against the wall, facing the horizon, so absorbed, the sun kissing his beautiful face.

Has anyone ever existed with such an aura of sweetness, elegance and purity?!

“Y/nnn!! You came to pick me up?! Where’s Theresa? I can smell her on you, she didn’t change her mind, didn’t she?” The high pitch little scream of Dae pulled me back to reality.

I met her a couple of times and she’s literally one of the sweetest and loving girl I ever met, Theresa and Dae clicked immediately, and after a long week my best friend can give this cutie a loving home and family.

“Aren’t you coming with us?” Dae ask. Unconsciously I take a quick look towards the man… and I’m met with two deep hazel eyes.

He is looking directly into my soul, and I can’t look away when I reply “No… actually I want to try and make a new friend here” and to my words, I would swear I saw hope in his eyes.

At these the guinea pig hybrid squeals in happiness “Oh Y/n, finally you will adopt too?! I bet it was Theresa that convinced you! Well, then I take my leave, we will see later. Have fun!”

Her high tone of voice drew the attention of all the hybrids in the room. Noticing that, the hope I had seen in his eyes was gone as quickly as it had come.

WAIT! They’re gonna leave me alone?!

I’m watching them leave, completely caught off guard and with a rising anxiety. There’s a dead silence in the room, the only noise coming from the door closing behind the girls.

For a moment everything is quiet, and then I freeze on the spot: a deep male voice speaks right behind me.

“Hi baby, I’m Satyrus, I’m sure it’s me what you are looking for”. Duh… maybe a little too overbearing.

I’m petrified when he come near my ear and whispers “You smell like the sweetest snack baby boy”

To get away as quickly as possible, I approach a group of hybrids in close proximity, who are painting in the warmest colors there are.

“Hi there, what are you painting?” It’s a fantastic sunset, one that you wish to see every day, one that make you grateful to be alive.

Will I have a sunset like this when the time comes?

My eyes move to the unknown man still sitting on the same desk, but, now, he has brought his legs to his chest, he looks so small like this… He is looking again at the horizon with a sad gaze.

I can’t help myself but go to him. And softly, to not scare him “Hi, I’m Y/n. What’s your name?”

The surprise is written all over his face. Why shouldn’t I have talked to him as well?

“I saw you were a lot absorbed… can I ask you what were you thinking about?”

The second question seems to bring him back to his senses.

“Oh nothing in particular, the sunrise is pretty. I’m Seok-Jin, nice to meet you too, Y/n”

Seok-Jin… there’s something not sweet in you Seok-Jin? I like his name a lot, I want to taste it on my tongue so badly. Even his voice is fine and sweet.

“Can I seat with you Seok-Jin?”

He doesn’t speak again, just motion me to take a seat.

I’m about half a meter from him: there are a lot of hybrids with traumatic backgrounds, most of them actually, and not knowing his history, I don’t want to make him uncomfortable.

“If I don’t bother asking… why are you here?” Seok-Jin asks me after a minute or so of comfortable silence.

“Like I said before, I just want to talk with some of you, maybe make new friends.”

“You want to adopt one of them?”

I don’t fail to realize that by saying “them” he consciously self-excluded.

He doesn’t want to be adopted? Or there’s something else under those words?

“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe. If I really am comfortable and if a beautiful friendship borns.”

“I prefer the sunset” I state suddenly. HE IS SO CUTE THAT I CAN’T FUNCTION PROPERLY!!

“Oh?!” Obviously he is perplexed, you can’t come up with questions without a logical connection… stupid brain of mine.

I giggle out of nervousness “You said you think the sunrise is pretty. I prefer the sunset. The ones with warm shades of orange, pink and red. Like the one they’re painting over there. Now that I think about it, those sunset skies are like an Azalea’s meadow”

Seok-Jin POV

I’m only capable of mumble a “Pretty”.

He thinks I’m talking about the sunset, and I don’t even think about pointing out that pretty was his giggling, the clear love for these kind of landscape reflected in his y/e/c eyes.

Not that any of it interests me…

His sweet smell, like the sweetest peach… I just don’t have to think about how well it marries to my cream scent, mine and th… No, no Jin. There isn’t hope, there will never be a future like that.

“Do you like to paint too?” He brings me away from my thoughts.

“No, I’m horrible at it… I like to cook and try new dishes”

Why I told him?! Now he’ll try to use me like his personal chef, like every other human.

“Really?! I like it a lot too, my grandma was always teaching me new recipes, I’m fairly good at it… even though I’m not as good as she is. Her dishes are the best. She always puts me on the fattener every time I visit her, but I don’t find it fair to complain about it… I mean, I’m literally a born eater.” He looks a little embarrassed, his cheeks have turned slightly red… so cute.

“Sorry, I’m rambling. But tell me about you, why do you like cooking?”

His question makes my heart squeeze painfully. But it’s short-lived, I’m starting to get irritated…

Huh, this one thinks that I’m really going to believe he is interested in knowing a little bit about me?!

I want to tell him exactly this, but I can’t find it in myself seeing the authenticity in his eyes…

I’m hallucinating it? Yes, of course I am. I can’t afford to feel this sense of hope; however small it is.

“I’m not comfortable telling you” I respond sharply. I’m a little surprised at my tone, but I’m even more after his reaction.

“Oh, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. It’s your right to refuse to anything. I’m sorry again, I overstepped” and he bowed…

He didn’t get angry, didn’t insist on get an answer from me and. He. Bowed. To me. He BOWED to me.

This guy is strange, he’ll be troubles.

Y/n POV

When I face him again, there’s a look of astonishment on his face. I definitely ridiculed myself, it seems I can’t do anything better than this in life.

Thankfully this awkward moment is broken by Ruby.

“Y/n, you’ve been here for thirty minutes already, Mr. Dong is looking for you.” Oh shit, thirty?!

“I’m going! Thank you Ruby”.

I’m on my way to the door when something came to my mind: “Seok-Jin, I didn’t ask you, how old are you?”

“I’m 28” … this is unexpected… “Really?! Well, then I’ll be careful to always be respectful to you. I’m 23”

There’s sadness in his eyes, but a small smile forms on his plump lips.

I smile too, bow, go my own way and start my daily Monday’s routine with mixed emotions, but a heart warmer than before him happened.

Mr. Dong is the head of the rescue section of the Azalea Center. Since I was assigned to this team, he is my boss, and after two years of volunteering, to me he became also a paternal reference figure. And he doesn’t miss to point out how much he considers me like a son.

Mr. Dong would become a great friend of grandpa, they’re so alike. The love they share to wear shirts under wool sweaters, strictly on blue shades; the love for the turntable, because “music otherwise doesn’t acquire depth”; and the way they showed and show me affection, the sweets words, the way they try to protect me, both of them trying to make me do my own experiences, but fail and eventually give me always some not requested advices.

I dearly miss my grandpa. I had a really great reaction from his death, and I don’t think I have overcome the grief yet, but thanks to Mr. Dong, that chasm in my heart is no longer so painful.

When I arrive to Mr. Dong office, he has a pleased smile on his face. “Has been brought to my attention that you are finally convinced to adopt a hybrid”

“I was not convinced on adopt one.” I point out. “I made my mind only on meet some of them. I stayed at the prey’s floor for thirty minutes and maybe, if he will want to, at the end of the week I’ll not going home alone. I talked essentially only to Seok-Jin, but I would like to know him better, see where things will go with him.”

“Hmm, I know about Seok-Jin. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you nothing about him and his past, I know what you think about it, and I too think it’s in his place to tell his story or not. But, Y/n, please be careful.” This is what I was talking about, he tries but eventually gives in and warns me.

“Sure old man. I’m always careful”. I say, rolling my eyes.

“Y/n I’m serious, you may both suffer from it” I can feel his deep concern, maybe I’m making a mistake with Seok-Jin, but I can’t found it in myself to do not try, I think we can become really good friends.

“Okay, I’ll pay attention, thank you. I’m going to start my work now; we will see each other at lunch?”

“I’m afraid we won’t. We are starting to look for information about an underground fight club in the Gangnam district. We assume it’s one of the largest in the city. This means also that we have approximately zero information, as well as informants”

“This means it could take as long as two years or more before saving the hybrids there…” I state thoughtful.

“Exactly. Now go, you are dismissed. Oh and Y/n, here we incite relationship with hybrids, that’s not a problem, you can spend part of your shift in the upper floors, but today you’ll be deducted twenty minutes from your lunch break” He say in a light tone, while I catch flies with my mouth gaping wide open.

Then in a whiny tone I defend myself “It’s the traffic’s fault!”

Sullenly I head to the first floor, dedicated to the officials.

When I was a newbie, I just used to carry documents and coffees around the buildings. A daily routine of mine, back in old days, was to run from a department to another to fill any staff gap; the work amount was slightly less, but we had also a great lack of volunteers as well as employees.

Nowadays, thankfully, there are more and more people that understand that hybrid are people too, and not objects. So at the Azalea Center are coming more and more people that wish to be hired or work here as volunteers.

The awareness of the increase in people advocating for the rights of hybrids, encouraged to report all kinds of crimes against them: people now know there are others that feel in the same way, so they don’t feel alone. As a result, they don’t feel afraid to speak up anymore.

This also means we have to work more to ensure a safe place and hope for the future to any hybrid that needs it.

Last year I was definitely assigned to the rescue department. Here are people, like me, that help select the more imminent operations and participate in the saving planning, there are times we also are assigned to find information about someone or some organization; there are also various trained officers that actively intervene on rescue missions.

Is about a month that I’m trying to find enough information about a 50-years-old lady, Ms. Lee.

We received a call pleading to investigate on this person by an anonymous informer, so here I’m. Since when we received the tip, I found out that she actually adopted three hybrids 11 years ago, one of them died 6 years ago because of an illness, he had 19 years old at the time.

Personally I find a little strange that a young boy, hybrid, adopted by a healthy woman, have high chance to get so sick to die. The problem, however, is that Ms. Lee doesn’t have any criminal record and any complaint about a thing, so our legal, from the Lawyers Department, can’t do anything to discover more about her behavior towards the hybrids she adopted.

I think that the anonymous informer is, in fact, one of her two hybrids, so I want to find valid informations to act against Ms. Lee as fast as possible. This woman is really hard to expose.

After a 20-minutes-deprived lunch break, I had a meeting about the illegal shelter that our lawyers managed to shut down two days ago, and from where our officers will pick up the hybrids kept there.

Finished my volunteering hours, I headed to the university.

This is my daily routine. Most days I have classes in the afternoon, so I go to the Center in the morning, I have lunch and then go to university; then there are Thursday and Friday, on which I volunteer in the afternoon, because, in the first case, I have lessons in the morning, and on Friday I don’t have any.

At the entrance of the campus’ psychology building, there’s Theresa, who as soon as sees me coming, starts to wave her arms like a mad woman and makes a light jog to reach me.

“So, Y/n-ie, I want to know everything, tell me every little details. Every. Smallest. Detail.” She demands with eyes wide open. She’s always so curios that sometimes I ask myself if she is an imperial raven hybrid instead.

I smile thinking about that little conversation I had with Seok-Jin this morning. “I talked in particular with one of them. He is really sweet and he like to cook and eat, ahah. That was so sweet. I rambled a little bit about my cooking and eating enjoyment too. And I discovered that he likes sunrises.” I feel my heartbeat slightly increasing remembering his beautiful deep hazel eyes, his melodious and sweet voice.

“Let me see if I understand correctly. You stayed there for thirty minutes, and you two just talked about cooking, eating and sunrises?!” Theresa deadpan.

I cast her an unamused glance before retort “It was a really, really enjoyable conversation. I think we’re going to get along very well; I just know it. And, regardless, I had a really uncomfortable word exchange with a hippo hybrid too, I think his name is Satyrus, if my memory serves me right. He was intimidating and very creepy.”

At that she becomes serious “Did you tell this to Ruby? Or Mr. Dong? You need to do it. There could be other reactions like this in the future, or worse, and it could happen to other hybrids as well, not only to you. He certainly has been through a lot, but that doesn’t mean that other people should feel unsafe. Besides, the Center has to provide help and security to this Satyrus guy too, if he needs it. If you felt that way, then I think he does.”

“No, it didn’t cross my mind till now. But you are right, I’ll do it first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Good. So you forgot about that creepy guy, why? You were too caught up in thinking about this mysterious boy, right?” she smirked.

Her question makes me sheepish. I look at her like a deer caught in the headlights. I don’t know how to escape this, so I just “I… I-It isn’t so!” and start to walk to my first lesson’s class.

Theresa right behind me “You were! You are so flushed! … Y/n wait for me!”

I stop and all in one breath “I was really comfortable and we talked a lot considering that I am how I am so yeah I was caught up thinking about the interaction we had”

“Cutie, I’m just so happy that you met someone else you get along with.” She smiles honestly and hug me tight.

“Thank you Tea” I smile back at her and return the hug just as tight. After which we head to our four hours’ class.

The next morning I’m up at the crack of dawn. I plan on going to see Seok-Jin during lunch break, so I want to make lunch myself for both of us: a bunch of Onighiri with salmon is perfect, simple but yummy.

The forenoon was irritating, I worked all morning to find something on Ms. Lee, but that woman is totally untouchable; it seems also that she doesn’t even leave the house, except for that single time a week that she goes grocery shopping. I have to change approach.

But that’s for later, now I’m on break and I’m heading to the prey’s floor for leisure activities.

When the elevator’s doors open, I found myself right in front of him, and I can’t help the giant smile, great happiness and fast beating heart.

“Y/n…” He is surprised. Is he happy to see me too?

“Hi Seok-Jin-ssi, how is going your day?” I say coming out of the elevator. But he didn’t move. And now we are only a breath away from having our chests touch.

Like this I can smell his scent. It’s sweet, it reminds me of my grandma birthday-cake, but I can’t sense some particular strong characteristic, maybe it’s really slight.

I have a more sensitive sense of smell than human average, perfumes and flower’s smell, for example, are too strong for me and made my head ache. Although I don’t sense it like hybrids do.

I think I really like his scent, I would just like to sense it a little stronger… closer.

Ohh, c’mon Y/n, what the fuck are you thinking about! I’m so weird and creepy sometimes… I turn red from embarrassment and shame; I hope he didn’t understand my current emotions by my scent. It’s just that I can recognize others by their scent, and I find comfort in the ones of people I’m strongly attached to, it makes me feel safe. Sometimes I wish I have an even better sense of smell, like hybrids have.

“What are you doing here?” He whispers. The deep voice, completely different from yesterday, brings me back to my senses. I look up at him, aren’t his eyes darker than yesterday too? Am I imagining things?

They take my breath away regardless.

I gasp a little, the best I could do to put some oxygen back into my lungs, before reply in a small voice “Actually, I’m here because I wanted to meet with you again, if you want too. So I thought it could be a good idea to bring lunch for both of us. It’s always more comfortable to talk over some good food. Hoping it will be good, that’s it.”

“Did you make lunch for me?” He asks, sounding a little confused. Neither of us has yet taken a step, neither of us has yet moved away from the other. He is still slightly towering over me. I feel like I’m starting to blush, it’s just really hot in here.

“Y-yeah, I did. It’s n-nothing much, sorry. Shall we go and sit down?” I don’t know how it was possible for me to keep a steady voice, thankfully I didn’t do a too bad job at it.

Seok-Jin POV

This man. It’s just the second time I see him, and he just keeps surprising me.

Why was he in that elevator? Why does he want to have lunch with me? Why do I find him so damn cute in this extremely large green sweatshirt? And, damn, why am I not moving away from him?

I can smell his sweet peach so strong now, I could smell his embarrassment: is it embarrassing for him to be around me? If so, then why is he here?

I was so surprised hearing that he cooked lunch for me too.

Maybe we’ll cook our breakfast together one day, and then go back to our bed and stay there all day long, in our perfect nest filled with the perfect mix of our scents…

Oh, Jin… What a stupid thing for you to think about. He’s human, that’s something that will never happen. Humans don’t like to mix, even less with someone plain and boring as me. The only thing I have to offer is my beauty, but I have learned that it’s something so ephemeral. Eventually someone else comes along, with more to offer than just beauty. And I would be sidelined, again, as countless times before.

His small voice brings me back from my toxic thoughts. I should have anything to do with him. I should not feel the smallest hope when I look at him, but I’m weak, and his eyes deceive honesty.

Maybe they aren’t deceiving…

“Okay, I’m going to have lunch with you” I lead the way for him to the nearest room.

There are just the both of us, everyone else are two floors above, having lunch in the shelter’s cafeteria.

I decide to seat in front of him, to be as far away as possible and not risk his smell clouding my mind. I have to stay clear-headed and make objectively intelligent choices.

He puts his baby pink lunch box on the table in front of us. It has a little bunny sticker on it… so cute… like him.

I like baby pink, I really like his lunch box.

There are five balls of rice with a seaweed leaflet that wraps them around the base. What are these?

“They’re called Onighiri, it’s a Japanese snack.” He reads minds now?! “Since the rice swells, I made more so they can make a great lunch. Please taste and tell me how they are, there’s salmon in them, I hope you like it. I didn’t have a lot at home, I need to go grocery shopping soon. Sorry”

It’s the second time he apologizes to me, what’s wrong with this dude, does he know that I’m a hybrid?

“I’m a sugar glider hybrid” I point out to him.

I see that he’s taken aback from my sudden statement. But then he smiles.

God, please stop smile like this; I know you, boy, are troubles for me and my already broken heart. Please don’t put together its pieces to destroy it again.

“So cute! I thought you could be, given your ears and your fluffy tail. But I didn’t want to be prying. Since now I’m sure, tomorrow I’ll bring a sweet treat too. There’s something you prefer?”

At his words, I can feel my pupils widen instantly. He thinks I’m cute! He likes my fluffy tail! I made a good job on cure it, it’s fluffy! Sweet treat! I want sweets treats!

“Gummy bears!” I say putting so much embellishment.

That’s makes him laugh, he has a so beautiful laugh. “Ahaha. Okay, then I’ll bring you tons of gummy bears!”

Suddenly gummy bears don’t feel right “No! Strawberry cake… or no, maybe, yeah I definitely wish to eat peaches in syrup with cream and chocolate. Yeah I’m sure. Peaches in syrup with cream and chocolate.”

By now he’s laughing so hard, to tears. It’s such a beautiful vision, it makes me feel at peace, happy and safe at the same time. They’re scary and dangerous emotions to feel.

“You’re so cute! Don’t worry there will be plenty of time to eat all of them. For tomorrow I’ll prepare the peaches.”

Plenty of time?

“C’mon now, try your lunch, I want to know if you like it” He tells me.

The first bite is just rice, but the second bite also has salmon, it’s so simple, but so good. I want to learn how to do it. This salmon makes me think of something…

“Y/n, did you hear about the salmon who was in a plane crash?” I say seriously.

“Oh, no I don’t think so. It was on the news this morning? What happened? Is everyone okay?” I could burst out laughing just at his reply.

“He was the sole survivor. At least that was somefin.”

A moment… Two.

Then he burst out laughing, so much so that he bends back his head while doing it. Does he really thinks it’s funny?

“OMG Jin! I really thought something happened! Omg, I laughed so hard that my tummy still hurts!”

“I suppose that it was a way to let me know that you liked it?” he asks me.

“Yeah it’s really good, I wish I can learn cooking it. Do you want to hear another joke?”

“If it’s even remotely as entertaining as the first, yes. Please!” He answers without a veil of doubt.

“Have you ever tried mixing salmon with Nutella?”

“Don’t ever do it. You’ll get salmonella!” I say smiling

His melodious laughter echoes again, and again, and again within the walls of this room, every time I tell him a joke. I feel its vibrations through my whole body, making me all giddy inside.

We spend lunch like this: between jokes and laughter. When was the last time I had a so nice moment?

I know when it was, and I know with who I had it, but my already broken heart hurts at the thought. It’s better don’t think about it.

Eventually our lunch comes to an end, and I can feel the post-lunch drowsiness get the better of me. He offers to accompany me upstairs, where the prey hybrids dormitory is located. I accept his company; I want him near some more. I just can’t help it.

Y/n POV

We head to his dorm room in a comfortable silence.

I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun, or been so comfortable with anyone. Surely I’m always so happy to spend time with Theresa, but this was different.

I was happy.

The kind of happiness that is also of the soul.

The kind of happiness that fills you completely.

The kind of happiness that is scary to feel, because the moment it vanishes, or is taken away from you, that is the moment that will hurt the most, that will be the moment when you will be broken behind repair.

“That’s it, this is my room” he announces, distracting me from my thoughts.

I look at him, ready to say goodbye, and notice that he has an unruly strand of hair covering his human ear. Then, I don’t know what takes over me.

As in trans I reach out my hand and gently move the strand behind his ear, which turns red.

All of sudden I see what’s happening as if in slow motion.

His eyes are blown wide and shiny when he leans his head on my hand. He strokes his cheek on it, scenting me while doing so.

He has so soft cheeks, so smooth, so cute, so handsome.

I don’t know how much time we spend like this. It seems infinite.

He looks at me during all of that, and I see it when he realizes what he is doing.

All his face instantly blushes and franticly excuses himself “I’m sorry, I don’t know what took over me. I’m really sorry Y/n-ssi, I’m really sorry.”

He looks at me on the verge of tears.

“Hey, nothing of that. I am the one sorry, I should have asked permission to touch you. You didn’t do anything wrong.” I say instantly. “Also, if you want, you can ask me to pet you every time you want, I’ll be happy to do it, you are really soft. I liked it.”

I can see uncertainty in his eyes, but he eventually calms down and whispers “Okay. I would like to. I liked it too… Have a good day Y/n.”

“Have a good day Seok-Jin” I wish him, just before watching him close the door of his room.

I’m walking to reach the elevator with a happy and satisfied heart, when I feel like I’m being watched. I turn around, but the only thing I see are others’ door.

Am I imagining things?

I’m sitting on my desk, trying to understand what could be other ways to investigate on Ms. Lee.

Exactly: trying. I can’t concentrate, I’m a turmoil of emotions.

I feel warm, happy and in peace thinking of the time I had with Seok-Jin, my heart doesn’t want to stop jump every time I think of him.

His, oh, so expressive hazel eyes. His beautiful voice, his funny laugh, and gorgeous smile. His incredibly smooth skin and soft cheeks. His fluffy black hair. The way he leaned on my hand.

How it will be, if we can lay on my couch, in front of an unwatched film, him laying between my legs, his head on my stomach, me looking at him in fondness with my hand deep in his hair, scratching his cute furry ears…

Oh stupid, stupid me. How idiotic of me thinking about it. Maybe he is just touch starved, like me; probably he didn’t react that way because it was me, he would have done it with anyone. Why should I be that special?

Anyways, we’ll be just friend… if he wants, that’s it.

There’s also that uncomfortable feeling that stays no matter what. Were we being watched?

A message on my phone distracts me.

Tea: “Did you tell Mr. Dong about the creepy guy?”

Damn… I forgot…

What would become of me without her?!

I thank my best friend and go straight to my boss office. I’m nearing the end of my shift anyway, so after that I’ll go to college.

I hear a faint “come in” at my knocking, so I go in.

“Oh, Y/n, is your day going well? You finished already right? Are you going to classes now?” He welcomes me

“Good Afternoon boss. I had a fantastic day, not counting that I’m losing my shit ‘cause of that Ms. Lee”

“You didn’t found anything compromising yet? I don’t think that she mistreats the hybrids she adopted. I mean, if that was the case, at this point you would have found something against her.”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to change approach first. I don’t trust her, it’s a gut feeling that I can’t let go. Anyway I came here for another thing. A little delicate.”

“Oh, sure, sit and tell me”

“Yesterday, when I went on the prey floor, the first one that talked to me was a hyppo hybrid, Satyrus. He made me really uncomfortable and afraid, he came really near and smelled me, saying, literally, “you smell like the sweetest snack baby boy”, he was a little bit imposing and overbearing. I’m afraid he will do the same thing or worse to another staff member or hybrid. And probably he need help too.”

“Okay. Firstly, I don’t know what were you thinking about not telling me all this when we saw each other, but I’m going to go over it. Satyrus came here two months ago, he was really aggressive towards the staff, but eventually calmed down enough to be transferred on the floor together with the others. This is a new thing he put up. I’m going to tell the staff there to pay attention to him and I’ll talk with the psychologist that sees him. Thank you Y/n, and please, next time, don’t wait to tell me this kind of things.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m going to my classes now. Have a good day old man!”

“Bye son!”

This man is just so precious.

I don’t even know what was said during lessons. I was just so happy that Seok-Jin liked my Onighiri, that I thought about what I could cook him for tomorrow lunch during all classes. Then started the daydreams too: the two of us cooking together, making flour wars, enjoying our homemade hot Choco in a winter day…

And now here I am, at the grocery store, buying things to prepare Japanese Chicken Curry, flour and ingredients for hot Choco… Am I crazy? Yeah! I’m, but what can I do about it?!

At home the first thing I do is have a shower, wear my comfy oversized sweatshirt, sweatpants and furry white socks. Lastly, before go to bed, I cook lunches for me and Seok-Jin and put them in two different-colored lunch-boxes.

Sleep takes time to come; my brain is still working no stop.

Maybe I can start preparing his room. So far I’ve used it as a storage.

Tomorrow I’ll take the afternoon off from college, empty it and order some furniture, the bed and the comfiest mattress. On Thursday I’ll take the morning off instead, I’ll go buy something to fill it up and fix it all. Thursday afternoon I’m going to ask Seok-Jin if he wants to come home with me.

It seems that I have already made up my mind.

I’m so elated!

When I arrive at Azalea Center the next morning, I find Mr. Dong at my desk. He has a really serious face.

“Y/n, come in my office, now.” He doesn’t give me even the time to reply that he is already gone.

Okay, I’m seriously concerned. Did I do something wrong? Is it something about Satyrus?

I place my things on the chair, quickly head to his office and enter without hesitation.

“What happened? Did I do something wrong?” I’m really starting to get agitated.

He looks at me, there’s silence for a moment, and then he speaks

“Yesterday, just after dinner, Satyrus attacked Seok-Jin.”

I’m shocked, I can’t move. What happened? Why? How is Seok-Jin?

“Satyrus pushed him hard, Seok-Jin fell down. When the staff arrived Satyrus had just jumped on him, he managed to give a few punches before being taken away. Fortunately, the injuries weren’t serious, Seok-Jin is currently still in his room at the shelter, but Y/n…”

I don’t give him time to finish talking that I’m already out the door, heading to the stairs, running toward the sugar-glider hybrid.

Without even knocking I burst into his room, startling him. I don’t realize his reaction; I’m too focused on my task: making sure he’s okay.

My heart clenches painfully seeing him there, on the small bed, huddled in the corner, trying to hide.

He has a blanket hugging him and covering his head. This way I can’t see his face. I need to see him clearly; I have to be sure he isn’t badly injured.

I slowly approach the side of the bed and kneel down near him.

“Jin…can I look at your beautiful face? Please” I whisper

“I’m not pretty anymore. This is what he wanted.” He whines.

“Please Jin, I want to make sure you are okay. Regardless, I’m sure you are still the most handsome”

There’s silence for a while, then he slowly he reveals himself.

Oh boy… what has Satyrus done?! Seok-Jin has a fully swollen purple eye, a cut on his right cheek and his beautiful rosy plump lips now are deep red and purple near a deep side cut.

“Can I sit near you?”

He is unsure, but eventually agrees with a faint nod of his head. He has his eye wide open, waiting for a reaction from me.

Unhurriedly I sit in front of him, and cup his face gently. “They treated your injuries? Do they hurt you still? Later I’ll bring a cream so they can heal faster.”

“Oh Jin-ie. What happened? Why you said he didn’t want you to be pretty?” I ask him while caressing him softly.

“I-I was having d-dinner, when he approached me, saying that y-you are his, and I was ruining everything. That he’ll show how u-ugly I really am.” He says shaking a little.

“I didn’t say anything, I promise. I just finished my dinner and then I was coming back here when he pushed me and beat me up”

He looks at me then “Y/n, why are you crying?”

I touch my eyes. I am indeed. I didn’t even realize it.

He is like this because of me. I should keep and make him feel safe… instead I put him in danger.

“I’m so sorry…”

“Seok-Jin-ssi, I-I’m so s-sorry that I put you in danger. A-After that exchange in the room we first m-met, I should have t-told my boss about Satyrus immediately, but I…I didn’t… a-and b-because of me y-you are hurting. I’m so sorry, I’m s-so fucking sorry.” I can’t help but sob.

I’m always a problem to people around me.

I shouldn’t have come that day.

I shouldn’t have spoken to Seok-Jin.

I always bring pain and troubles.

“Don’t cry… It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.” He assures me, bringing my hand from his cheek to his furry ears.

He wants to comfort me, he wants to be comforted, he wants me to do it. And who am I to deny? I need his closeness so much. I need to know that he is okay, that he forgives me.

I scratch him softly at the base of his ear, he is so soft. The chatters noise that fill the tiny room makes my heart swell in cuteness.

He is looking at me when his still useful eye fill with tears and says “I’m the one sorry”

“I’m sorry I’m not pretty anymore”

I’m astonished. What?! Why is he apologizing?!

“None of that! First of all, you didn’t do anything wrong, anything. Second, you are still pretty, the most handsome, those injuries are going to disappear fast, I promise you there won’t be anything left behind. Last but not least, you are the most handsome also here” I touch his heart with my other hand “and this is the most important beauty that a parson can have, Seok-Jin-ssi”

“I’m still pretty? You promise me?” he asks me in a whine. The cutest pout plastered on his face.

“The prettiest, promise.” I assure him with a smile.

“I prefer when you call me Jin, just Jin.”

I smile, but inside I still feel guilty about what happened to him. So it was Satyrus the one who was looking at us yesterday…

I should have done things differently; I should have paid more attention. Now I have to do better, I have to keep him safe, always.

Scratching his ear a last time, I say “I’m going to go get some ice and an ointment for your wounds from the hospital and be right back, okay? Promise”

“But the staff already give me those yesterday…”

“And they did well, but since your eye and lip are still swollen, it’s better put other ice; and if we use some more cream, we can be totally sure that those cuts will leave no scars” I reply standing up.

Oh another thing… “Jin… take this, it’s my staff member badge, it’s electronic. With this you can close your door when I go out and no one can open it from outside. When I can come back I’ll tell you that it’s me, okay?”

He looks at me with big eyes… eye. “Thank you”

I can see the relief. Those doors cannot be locked by anyone other than the staff, that rarely close them. So it’s really easy for anyone to come inside. It never happened, but he was beaten, he is afraid, now he need this comfort. Now he can feel a little safer here.

Here, in this room, that I only now notice has only a bed, a small coat rack (where Jin put just two sweatshirts and a tee) and a, thankfully, big window that cannot be opened, for safety reasons. How is it possible for someone to be comfortable here?!

I’m going to set up the best, the most beautiful and the most comfortable bedroom that one can ever have.

It took me almost a quarter of an hour to retrieve everything from the other building; not having the badge made the route much longer. On my way back I stopped by my desk to pick up the lunch-boxes. Just enough time to treat his wounds and it will be lunchtime.

“Jin, it’s me, y/n”

After a few seconds of silence, I hear the beep of the door opening. Jin is already sitting in the same position he was before. I sit down in front of him and place everything on the bed between us.

“Sorry, it took me longer than I had anticipated” I say before taking the pack of ice and wrap it in a cloth.

“Okay, now keep this on your eye, meanwhile I’ll put the cream on the cut on your cheek”

He hisses a little at the contact with the cloth and then with my finger too, but eventually gets used to it. From the corner of my eye I can see his big eye staring at me, with some emotion inside that I can’t understand, maybe is just curiosity?

Then while he keeps the ice on his lip, I smear another kind of cream, for hematoma, on his eye. Finally, I put it also on his lip.

He stared at me during all the process. At this point, to say my heart is running a speed race is an understatement.

I catch him by surprise when I look into his eyes. He looks away quickly, his human ears turning a deep red.

Hhh…This man is unbelievably cute. How can my poor weak heart survive him?!

“We are done. I’ll come back for dinner to help you do this same process again.”

He doesn’t say anything, so I continue “Are you hungry? It’s lunch time already, I cooked us another Japanese dish yesterday” I notice that he is looking intensely at the pink box “Do you like the pink one?”

“I think this is my favorite color, I like it, it’s cute” he mumble

He likes baby pink. Noted.

“Here, take this then. You have very good taste; this is also my favorite lunch-box.” I say, smiling when I see a smile tugging at his lips softly, to not tear the bruised part too much.

“This is called Japanese Chicken Curry, c’mon try it” I encourage him.

He lights up like a Christmas tree after the first bite! Jin starts eating it as if it was his first meal in weeks.

“Ahaha, slow down, otherwise you will get a stomachache!”

“It’s really so good. I would like to learn how to cook this as well. Y/n, you’re a fabulous cook, really it’s so yummy!” I’m so happy seeing Jin so pleased for something I made.

Listening to him, I suddenly get an idea… It will make him so happy, I’m just so sure of it.

“You flatter me, Jin. I’m sure you are better than me, I really would like to try something you prepared.”

Eventually, our time together comes to an end.

After bringing back the ointments and ice pack, and after organizing tomorrow’s surprise, I decide, differently from what I originally planned, that I’m going to go shopping.

It’s really a long way to get there, but I took advantage of the traffic to order some new furniture for his future bedroom. A desk with a small bookcase, a bed with a giant, super-soft bed and a closet. I ordered them from a shop in the mall I’m heading too, and they are going to deliver all tomorrow morning.

Once I arrive at the mall I enter in a shop that sell decorating stuff, there I fill the trolley with pillows, fluffy blankets and sheets, all in white, baby pink and cream colors.

I enter in a clothing store to buy him comfy clothes, underwear, a couple of jeans and two pajama sets.

When I pass a bookstore, I stop to buy the two new cooking book from the first hybrid chef of the country. I want to show him that he can do anything he want if he commits; that this is the only limit he has, his commitment, because he doesn’t have to ask me permission to do it. If he wants to do something, I’ll give it to him. I want him to feel as if he is his only limit.

I was going to exit the mall, when I see something that capture my attention in a shop’s window that sell hybrids’ stuff. This is the perfect welcome gift. It takes ten minutes to personalize it.

Now I’m really going home, with full bags and heart.

I cleaned up Jin’s future room just in time to get to the Azalea Center by dinnertime. I only need to place the furniture, as soon as they arrive, and decorate the room with all the things I bought earlier, and it will be finished and ready. The coziest bedroom for the cutest hybrid.

Jin is probably at the shelter cafeteria for dinner, so I’m heading there.

And in fact it’s right there…

In the company of a beautiful cat hybrid sitting beside him. Attached to him like an octopus, to be exact.

She has beautiful raven-black hair pulled back in a messy bun. Instead of wearing the shelter’s jumpsuit, she wears a white blouse open enough to show collarbones, and a black mini skirt. Which lets her long, perfect legs show.

I try not to think about the fact that he seems comfortable with her in that position.

I try not to think about the fact that he seems pretty straight.

I try not to think about the fact that she might be a reason for Jin to decide not to come home with me.

Being adopted would take him away from her.

Her, that is holding his hand tenderly.

Her, that now is looking at me with peering, really annoyed eyes…

Jin is looking at me too, as caught with hand in the cookie jar.

He hurriedly moved his hand away from the cat girl. That’s why she’s looking at me like she wants to claw at my face.

I don’t know what to do with myself, here in the middle of the hall. So I go to them and sit in front of Jin.

“Hi, I’m sorry I didn’t know you were going to have company. I can go away, if you prefer?”

“Yes, we prefer”

“No”

They reply simultaneously.

The girl looks at Jin a little annoyed, but eventually roll her eyes and looking at me with arrogance, she kisses him on the cheek.

“By, baby we’ll see tomorrow” She doesn’t give him the time to respond that she is already gone.

What’s her problem?! What am I going to do now? I just want to cry…

I don’t want to think that one of the causes is the fact that I’m jealous, I’m more heartbroken for the fact that she is the reason why he will reject my offer.

Mr. Dong was clearly referring to this, when he warned me…What am I going to do?

“She seems… sweet. What’s her name?”

“Hana” He says without adding any other information. He doesn’t seem comfortable talking about her. And, frankly, I don’t want to too.

“I came here to treat your injuries, like I said before. I thought it would be a good idea to come for dinner too. But I really can wait for you downstairs.”

I am about to get up, that Jin immediately grabs my wrist, stopping me.

“Please, stay” he says with a big pleading eye.

“I’m happy you came for dinner. Here, let’s share this”

Maybe I still have a chance to adopt him… Maybe she is just a friend. I’m just happy that he doesn’t want me to go away.

“Thank you, Jin.” I smile and dig in. It’s so heartwarming to share a meal with him.

“Did you notice that your bruises are much better, and your eye isn’t too swollen like this morning?” I say while we walk to his dorm room.

“Yeah, you were right, thank you. They don’t even hurt anymore, so I don’t have to take others painkillers.”

“You don’t have to thank me, it was all my fault, it really shouldn’t have happened. This is the least I could have done.”

“Y/n, look at me” he asks me seriously. I do so, he stares at me whit the same look from the first time I crossed his gaze, the one that can read my soul and pins me right on the spot.

“That. Wasn’t. Your. Fault. If he is an aggressive, angry and rancorous hybrid, it has nothing to do with you. You were his victim as well. And telling your boss the same day, instead of a day later, would not have changed things. It’s better to say things right away, no doubt, and you will do better from now on. Right? But it wouldn’t have stopped him from assaulting me. Do you understand me?”

I’m only able to nod. I know that it is not the time, and I shouldn’t think that… But he is so fucking hot right now.

“Good boy” He pat my head.

And my face is set on fire… Who. The Fuck. Is. This. Man?!?!

I look at him walking away, hands in his pants’ pockets.

And when he stops. Turns partially toward me. Smirk and amused ask “Aren’t you coming?”

I can only continue to stare wide eyed; flush more, if it’s even possible; give an incomprehensible affirmative answer and, as in trans, reach him.

There’s no way he didn’t smell my arousal… It’s better not to think about it. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe Satyrus also hit him on the nose and for now he can’t smell well…

God… I’m such a lost cause…

At his room entrance, he keeps the door open for me.

Towering over me, Jin keeps staring with the hottest seriousness expressed on his face.

And I feel like I’m entering in the lion’s mouth. Like I’m about to die the sweetest and most exciting death.

“Are you feeling okay, Y/n?” he smirks…

Look at this little shit… He knows Exactly what he is doing…

“Yeah, sure. Why shouldn’t I? C’mon, let treat you. Do you remember what you need to do?” I say trying to be nonchalant.

Jin giggles “I remember”

We work in silence. Me, because I’m still trying not to die of heart attack. Jin, because HE IS STILL STARING! Have I something on my face?!

“Stop staring at me, I can’t treat you well otherwise” I mumble pouting

“You are too cute not to be looked at” he responds without difficulty.

But when I suddenly look at him, caught off guard, I can see that it wasn’t his intention to say it.

We look at each other for some seconds.

“I mean… I…”

“I’m done here. It’s late already, I’ll let you sleep. See you tomorrow.” I cut him in a hurry and quickly leave his room, without giving him the chance to say anything.

I just entered the car, still trying to catch my breath, when Theresa calls me. I connect the call to the car’s Bluethoot. Safety first guys!

“Hey cutie pie!! It’s been tooooo long!! How are you doing? How are things going with that mysterious guy of your?”

“Hi Tea, I’m okay. That guy has a name, is Seok-Jin. And he is one of a kind. We just said goodbye. Or rather, I just ran away from his sexiness. Today I really had a rollercoaster of emotions, I’m exhausted”

“Sexiness?! Wasn’t he the Cutest man you ever met?! What happened to you?”

“When I arrived at the Center I discovered he was beaten up from the creepy guy. You know me, so you can imagine the guilt that possessed me. I treated him, and he was still the completely cute guy I met. Then, during afternoon, I went shopping for his bedroom; and when I came back to treat his injuries again, the most beautiful girl I ever seen was sitting and holding hand with him.”

“I tell you now, I’m not jealous, I’m just afraid that he will deny my offer to adopt him to stay with her. I already prepared everything at home…”

“Anyway… when we went to his room… he was the hottest, sexiest, most handsome man I ever seen. He made an incredibly cool, honest and turning-on speech about why I shouldn’t feel guilty. Then he just looked at me with those deep hazel eyes of his, like I was the most delicious meal, and kept smirking, and I swear I just burst into flames” I vent as I drive home.

“Damn bro. You really had a unique day…” She is left speechless

“Firstly, I was hoping to say why you shouldn’t feel guilty, but I’m pretty sure he did it better than I ever could. Secondly, I’m sure you aren’t jealous, I can’t see how you could be.” The irony is clear in her tone. “But don’t worry, probably she’s just a friend. AND, considering how he acted five minutes ago, he is at least bi.”

I roll my eyes. I’m not jealous. I Am Not.

“Lastly, I’m sure he will accept your offer. I don’t know him, and I don’t know your relationship. But I know you, and he will be the most stupid man in the world if he refuses.”

“I hope you are right… Thank you Tea. How are things with Dae?”

We talk some more, until I got home.

This night I just threw myself on the bed and fall asleep right away. Tomorrow will be the D-Day.

Furniture arrive at first light. A wonderful service, the delivery men carried them up all the stairs to my apartment. But, frankly, I would have been happier, if I hadn’t been forced to wake up this early and to open my door to strangers in pajamas and with a bird’s nest on my head…

I do my morning routine and wear comfy clothes before start unpacking and fix everything in Jin bedroom.

It took me two full hours to set all the furniture, and another half an hour to decorate it.

I eventually finish the job. I’m, so satisfied.

Jin's bedroom vibes

I bought only the necessities, this way he has plenty of space to put in the things he prefers.

All that’s left to do is for me to have really late breakfast and get ready for this day.

I decide to head to Azalea to help prepare the set for the activity I planned for Jin.

I meet with a shelter staff in the same room I met Jin for the first time. It is already lunchtime when we set up well the tables and bring all the necessary.

Slowly, hybrids start to arrive after their lunch break. Then he arrives too.

He didn’t expect to see me, the surprise is clear on his face, as well as a partially hidden sadness. Something happened?

I don’t have time to worry, that another staff member enters the room.

“Good evening everyone, I’m Mr. Kim, the chef of the Azalea Center. Yesterday, Miss Y/n L/n here, asked me to teach a cooking class. He convinced me because to know how to take care for yourself cooking is an important part of be independent. But if you are not interested you are free to leave, without worry”

No one moves a muscle.

“I’m happy to see we are all intelligent people here” Mr. Kim says with an easy smile

“So, today I’m going to teach you how to cook two japanese dishes: Onighiri and Japanese Chicken Curry.”

Jin looks at me, amazed. His eyes, now almost fully healed, shiny from unshed tears.

I quickly smile at him, before the chef calls my attention back. “Since it was Y/n that requested this dishes, he will be my assistant, and he will go around the tables to give advices and answer any questions you may have. Ok! Let’s begin”

While Mr. Kim prepares, I discreetly approach Jin. “Do you like it?”

“Did you do this for me?”

“Yeah… you just seem to want to learn do them so much… and I thought it could be a cool experience for all of them too. Are you happy?”

“This is the most beautiful thing someone did for me… Thank you, Y/n” he finally says, with so much truthfulness to make me emotional.

“Jin, I want to ask you a thing after the lesson end, will you wait here for me?”

He seems agitated, but nonetheless nod his head.

I smile at him again, a smile so big I can feel my face hurting.

Mr. Kim is such a great teacher, he is capable and knows how to keep attention high, without boring anyone. He explained both practical techniques and the theory and history behind the flavors of these dishes.

I did my best, between helping those who had fallen behind, and those who were failing in some step.

It was such a great and funny experience, that eventually came to an end.

When Mr. Kim starts to thank anyone for the great and hard work, I start to feel anxious more and more.

I take my sweet time to clean up and put everything back in its place.

Until there is nothing more to clean. Nothing more to put in its place.

Until there’s only me and Jin left. And I can’t put it off any longer.

I’m literally a bundle of nerves, standing here, in front of him, trying to get some courage to ask him That question…

“J-Jin… The think I wanted to say… I-I m-mean… I-it’s a question in r-reality.” Oh, c’mon Y/n! You can do it, man!

“J-Jin…D-do you want t-to come home with m-me?”

“What do you mean?” he asks me…I can see he is already thinking hard…

“I… I mean… Can I adopt you? Do you want to be adopted and come home with me?”

His conflicted face and the seconds of silence that follows, are like a slow and painful death. Until he replies.

“I…I can’t… No, sorry”

Until he replies and give the final stub… and goes away, like nothing happened.

Like he didn’t just breake my heart.

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