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Classification Error
submitted by: anonymous
Classification Error (11370 words) by harper_m Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Warehouse 13 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Myka Bering/Helena "H. G." Wells Characters: Pete Lattimer, Claudia Donovan Additional Tags: Fpreg Summary: Myka had told Helena that no good could come out of hanky-panky in the Warehouse. And look, here she was, pregnant and right.
Please tell us why you like this fic so much!
It's a beautiful story of Myka finding out she's pregnant shortly after the betrayal, and how she forgives Helena. Deals really nicely with all the range of emotions and lots of conversations and tears (the tears might be mine)
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alumthedragon · 7 months ago
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The best(?) part of doing phylogeny based on looks alone is that I can do whatever I want and it isn't necessarily right or wrong. Sphinxes are mammals. Maren are fish. Dryads are plants. Mimics are a kind of arthropod. The world is my oyster and I am a horrible goose
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recallsdirect · 2 months ago
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Vehicle Recall: Porsche Taycan EV Sport Sedans:
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ay4hlive · 2 years ago
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Klasifikasi Failure
Kegagalan dalam konteks database dapat diklasifikasikan ke dalam beberapa kategori berikut: Kegagalan perangkat keras (Hardware Failure):Ini terjadi ketika ada masalah dengan komponen perangkat keras yang digunakan oleh sistem database, seperti hard disk rusak, kehilangan daya, kerusakan kabel, atau masalah dengan server fisik. Kegagalan perangkat keras dapat menyebabkan crash sistem dan…
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lost-in-thoughts03 · 4 months ago
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TiO // Seong Gi-hun
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" I just want to watch you when you take it off."
Summary: You hired as Seong Gi-hun's assistant secretary because his primary secretary has a lot of work to do. But is there anything else going on here besides him being your boss?
Warning: 18+, MDNI, au, age gap, younger and older man, jealousy, possessive Gi-hun, boss! Gi-hun, teasing, mutual pining, freaky, forbidden attraction, denial, kissing, unprotected sex, oral (both), grammatical errors
You need a job to cover your tuition fees every semester. Fortunately, an employer accepts your application, and the secretary contacts you for an interview. You ace the interview, leaving the secretary impressed with your responses.
Now, you've been working there for almost three months. You applied for the assistant secretary position because the main secretary has additional responsibilities, and the employer is too busy to handle everything alone—hence the need for extra help.
Your employer is Seong Gi-hun, a billionaire businessman. He’s a tall man with a well-built physique, sharp facial features, and a commanding presence.
His dark brown eyes always seem deep in thought, and his jet-black hair is neatly styled, adding to his refined yet intimidating aura.
Despite his undeniable good looks, there’s a coldness to him—his expressions rarely change, and you’ve never once seen him smile or laugh in his presence.
Unlike other employers who might be more expressive, Gi-hun maintains a stoic demeanor. He is strict and expects tasks to be completed within the deadlines he sets—no extensions, no excuses. If you fail to meet his expectations, there’s only one consequence: a deduction from your salary.
Today is Monday—the day you dread the most. Why? Because it means drowning in stacks of paperwork that need to be compiled and arranged by classification.
The sheer volume is enough to make your head spin. On top of that, your employer, Seong Gi-hun, seems to require your presence at all times, making it nearly impossible to focus.
His strict nature only adds to the pressure, leaving you with no choice but to push through the exhausting start of the week.
Your phone vibrates on your desk, interrupting your already hectic Monday. With a sigh, you glance at the screen—your officemate’s name flashes across it. You answer, already expecting the worst.
" Y/n, the boss wants to see you. Now." They inform you before hanging up, leaving no room for questions.
Straightening your posture, you take a deep breath and make your way to Seong Gi-hun’s office. As you carefully push open the heavy wooden door, the air inside feels heavier, almost suffocating.
He’s there, sitting on his sleek black swivel chair, his fingers rhythmically thumping against the polished wooden surface of his desk. The sound is soft yet unnervingly firm, matching the sharp intensity of his gaze as he locks eyes with you.
For a moment, your breath hitches. His stare is unreadable—piercing, calculating. It holds you in place, demanding your full attention without a single word.
You gather your composure and clear your throat. " Sir, is there something you need?" You ask, keeping your tone as professional as possible.
Silence lingers before he finally speaks, his voice cold and authoritative.
" Close the door."
Just three words, yet they carry enough weight to send a shiver down your spine.
You hesitate for a split second before quietly shutting the door behind you. The faint click of the lock falling into place echoes in the silent room, heightening the tension that already lingers in the air.
Seong Gi-hun leans back in his chair, his fingers now still against the desk. His dark eyes never leave yours, making it impossible to look away.
" Come here." He commands, his voice low but firm.
You swallow hard, forcing your feet to move as you step closer to his desk. Every step feels heavier under his intense gaze. When you finally stop in front of him, he tilts his head slightly, studying you with an unreadable expression.
" You've been working here for three months." He states, his voice calm yet laced with authority.
" Tell me, do you think you’ve done your job well?"
The question catches you off guard. You weren’t expecting a performance evaluation—at least, not in such a direct and unsettling manner.
You straighten your posture, meeting his gaze despite the pressure weighing down on you. " I do my best to fulfill my responsibilities, sir." You answer, keeping your tone professional.
Gi-hun leans forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. His presence alone is enough to make the air in the room feel thinner.
" Your best." he repeats slowly, as if testing the words on his tongue. Then, after a pause, he exhales sharply and slides a thick folder toward you. " Then prove it. Organize this by noon. No mistakes."
Your fingers brush against the folder hesitantly before picking it up. The sheer weight of it already tells you that finishing by noon will be nearly impossible—but refusing isn’t an option.
" Understood, sir." You reply, suppressing the sigh threatening to escape your lips.
Gi-hun doesn’t respond. He simply dismisses you with a slight wave of his hand, already shifting his attention back to his laptop as if you’re no longer in the room.
Taking that as your cue to leave, you turn on your heel and make your way out, feeling the weight of both the folder and his expectations pressing down on you.
Just as you turn to leave, his voice cuts through the silence, stopping you in your tracks.
" One more thing."
You pause, glancing back at him. He’s no longer focused on his laptop but instead watching you with that same unreadable gaze.
" You’ll be accompanying me to an important event tonight." He states, leaving no room for negotiation. " I need someone to take note of everything the other businessmen discuss. I don’t trust anyone else to do it properly."
Your lips part slightly in surprise, but you quickly catch yourself. Of course, refusing isn’t an option.
" Understood, sir." You reply, maintaining your professional tone.
Gi-hun leans back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping against the armrest. " Good. And one more thing—before the event, you’re coming with me to pick out something appropriate to wear."
Your brows lift slightly, but you quickly nod. " Noted, sir."
" Be ready by six." He instructs before finally returning his focus to his laptop, effectively dismissing you.
With a small nod, you clutch the folder tighter in your arms and step out of his office. As the door clicks shut behind you, you let out a slow breath, already dreading what the rest of the day has in store.
At exactly 5:40 p.m., the office is eerily silent. All the employees have left for the day, leaving only you and your employer’s secretary in the vast, dimly lit building.
The ticking of the wall clock feels louder, each second amplifying the nervous tension coiling in your chest.
Your heart pounds against your ribs as you sit at your desk, trying to steady your breathing. The thought of being alone with Seong Gi-hun for the rest of the evening unsettles you.
He’s always been intimidating, his presence commanding every room he steps into. But there’s something about the way his sharp, mysterious gaze lingers on you that makes it even harder to breathe.
" Are you ready?" The secretary’s voice jolts you from your thoughts. You quickly nod, clutching your bag tightly as you stand.
" Yes." You reply, though the slight tremor in your voice betrays your nerves.
The secretary gives you a knowing look but says nothing, simply gesturing toward the elevator. " He’s waiting downstairs."
Taking a deep breath, you steel yourself and step forward, knowing there’s no turning back now.
As you step into the elevator, the metallic doors glide shut, sealing you inside with your thoughts. The hum of the descending lift does little to calm your racing heartbeat. You swallow hard, gripping the strap of your bag as if it could anchor you somehow.
When the doors finally slide open, the sight of Seong Gi-hun waiting near the entrance makes your breath hitch.
Dressed in a sleek black suit, he looks effortlessly refined, his presence commanding even in the dim evening light.
His sharp eyes flick toward you the moment you step out, scanning you from head to toe with an unreadable expression.
" You’re late." He states coolly, checking his watch.
Your throat goes dry. " I—I still made it before six, sir." You manage to say, trying to maintain your professionalism despite the nervous energy coiling in your stomach.
Gi-hun doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he tilts his head slightly, as if assessing you. The air between you feels heavy, charged with something you can’t quite name. Then, without another word, he turns on his heel and strides toward the exit.
" Let’s go." He commands.
You quickly fall into step beside him, struggling to match his long, purposeful strides. The air outside is crisp, but it does little to cool the warmth rising in your cheeks.
The car waiting at the curb is sleek and expensive, just as you expected. The driver steps forward to open the door, but Gi-hun raises a hand, stopping him.
" I’ll drive." He says simply, before turning his gaze to you. " Get in."
You hesitate only for a moment before obeying, sliding into the passenger seat. The door shuts beside you with a quiet click, trapping you in the enclosed space with him.
As Gi-hun starts the engine, his sharp gaze flicks toward you once more. " We’ll buy what I need first. After that, we go straight to the event. Understood?"
" Yes, sir." You reply, though your voice is quieter than usual.
Without another word, he shifts the car into drive, and the two of you speed off into the city night.
The low hum of the car engine filled the quiet space between you and Gi-hun as he drove down the highway.
The city lights blurred outside the window, casting fleeting shadows across your face. You kept your gaze locked on the passing scenery, your body still stiff despite the comfortable leather seat beneath you.
Gi-hun smirked, eyes flickering toward you for just a second before returning to the road. He could tell—no matter how much time you spent around him, you still held that tension, that unease.
He liked it. He liked how easily he could dominate you without a single word, how your body language always hinted at submission when he spoke.
His fingers flexed against the steering wheel as he thought about it. He wasn’t cruel—no, not in the way others might be—but there was something about the way you responded to him that stirred something deep inside. Something possessive.
Unintentionally, his gaze dropped to your lap.
The skirt you wore had ridden up just slightly, exposing the smooth skin of your thighs. He swallowed hard, his grip on the wheel tightening as a wave of heat surged through him.
Damn it.
He forced his eyes back onto the road, shifting uncomfortably in his seat when he felt the familiar ache between his legs.
What the hell was wrong with him? He wasn’t some creep who couldn’t control himself. He had met plenty of women in his life, but none had ever affected him like this.
Maybe it was because of the first time he saw you. The way you walked into his office on your first day—confident yet reserved, sharp yet soft. He had been hypnotized then, struck by a beauty he hadn’t expected.
And now, despite the hardened mask he wore, despite the walls he had built after everything that had happened in his past, you still managed to unravel him without even trying.
Gi-hun let out a low curse under his breath, forcing his focus back onto the road.
This was dangerous.
And yet, for some reason, he didn’t want to stop.
...
The mall was alive with people, the buzz of conversations blending with the faint sound of music playing from the overhead speakers. You walked ahead, trying to focus on the task at hand—finding the store Gi-hun had mentioned—but your thoughts were a mess.
Because he was behind you.
His presence was too overwhelming, too sharp. It made your skin prickle with unease, though you weren’t sure if it was fear or something else entirely.
You hadn’t even asked for details about this "freaking store" he was looking for, and now you were aimlessly leading the way, pretending like you knew where you were going.
Gi-hun, however, had other things occupying his mind.
His sharp gaze scanned the crowd, immediately locking onto every wandering pair of eyes that dared to linger on you for too long.
Some men weren’t even subtle about it, their glances filled with something that made his blood boil.
His jaw clenched as a wave of jealousy surged through him. He hated it—hated that they were looking at what was his.
Wait.
His?
Gi-hun swallowed the thought down, but his body acted before his mind could catch up.
He stepped closer.
You jolted when you felt the firm press of his chest against your back, your breath hitching. Before you could react, his hand slid onto your waist with ease, fingers firm but not harsh as he redirected you.
" You’re going the wrong way." He murmured, his voice deep and close to your ear.
Your body stiffened at the contact, but you didn’t pull away. Maybe because you couldn’t. Maybe because you didn’t want to.
The two of you kept walking, his hand lingering just a second too long before it fell away. The silence between you stretched, thick and unspoken, neither of you making a move to fill it.
There wasn’t anything to say—no topic that could break whatever tension was wrapping around you both.
And yet, the weight of his touch still burned against your skin.
The moment you both stepped into the store, the salesladies perked up, their warm smiles ready to greet a potential high-profile customer.
" Welcome, sir—"
Gi-hun cut through their greetings with a tight, cold smile—more of an acknowledgment than anything warm. His disinterest was palpable, and the way their smiles faded showed they got the message.
Without another word, he turned to one of the store guards, speaking to him in a low voice. The guard nodded quickly before disappearing into the manager’s office.
You stood there awkwardly, still unsure why he had brought you along. The whole situation felt foreign to you—this wasn’t your world. The expensive clothes, the silent authority Gi-hun held, the way everyone seemed to respond to him with a mix of respect and unease.
Minutes later, the manager appeared.
A bright smile stretched across his face, full of energy and enthusiasm, completely unfazed by Gi-hun’s cold demeanor.
" Gi-hun! You really should visit more often." The manager greeted, shaking his head playfully when his friend remained stoic.
You observed quietly, finding it odd how comfortable this man was despite Gi-hun’s icy exterior. They must be friends, you thought. That, or the manager was simply used to handling difficult personalities.
Then, unexpectedly, the manager’s gaze shifted to you. His expression softened into something more friendly as he smiled.
" And you must be…?" He asked, waiting for an introduction.
You felt heat creep up your neck, flustered by the sudden attention. " Uh, I—"
" You’re blushing." He teased, his grin widening. " I didn’t know Gi-hun could bring such shy company."
Your lips parted, unsure how to respond. You weren’t used to this kind of playful teasing, and your embarrassment only deepened.
Before the manager could continue, Gi-hun stepped in.
His hand casually reached for the man’s collar, giving it a light but firm tug—enough to make his friend straighten up and shut his mouth.
" That’s enough." Gi-hun muttered, his tone carrying a warning edge.
The manager raised his hands in surrender, laughing. " Alright, alright, I get it. You’re possessive."
Gi-hun’s gaze darkened slightly at the comment, but he didn’t bother to correct him. He simply let go and stepped back, signaling the conversation was over.
The manager chuckled, clearly amused by the reaction. He then turned to you and gave a small nod. " I’m Kang Dae-ho. Nice to meet you."
You managed a polite nod in return, still feeling the lingering warmth of your previous embarrassment.
With that, Dae-ho excused himself, leaving you alone with Gi-hun once again.
And for some reason, the air between you two felt heavier than before.
As soon as Dae-ho walked away, Gi-hun exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. His jaw was still tight, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned his focus back to what he came here for—buying clothes for the event.
" Come on." He said, his voice low and firm as he started walking deeper into the store.
You followed, still feeling slightly flustered from the previous interaction. Gi-hun’s reaction had been…unexpected. You weren’t used to anyone getting possessive over you, much less someone like him. But you didn’t dare bring it up.
The two of you stopped in front of a display of suits. Gi-hun ran his fingers over the fabric, inspecting the selection with sharp, discerning eyes. You stood by his side, unsure if you should offer an opinion or just wait silently.
A sales associate approached with a professional smile. " Sir, would you like some recommendations?"
Gi-hun didn’t answer immediately. He glanced at you before looking back at the racks.
" You pick." He said suddenly.
You blinked, startled. " Me?"
He nodded. " You’re the one who has to look at me all night."
Your lips parted slightly, heat creeping back into your face at his choice of words. He was teasing, but there was an undeniable weight behind it.
You cleared your throat, trying to focus. You hesitated for a moment before reaching out and carefully pulling a deep charcoal-gray suit from the rack. " This one…I think it would suit you."
Gi-hun took the hanger from your hands, his fingers briefly grazing yours. He glanced down at the suit, then back at you, his gaze unreadable.
" Hmm…" Was all he said.
The associate quickly stepped in, offering to prepare a fitting room. Gi-hun handed over the suit, then turned his attention back to you. " You coming?"
You hesitated, eyes widening slightly. " Inside?"
He smirked, amused by your reaction. " No. Just wait outside."
You let out a quiet breath, nodding as he walked toward the fitting room.
As you waited, you couldn’t shake the feeling of his eyes on you, even when he wasn’t there. And for some reason, the memory of his hand on your waist lingered far longer than it should have.
You stood outside the fitting room, arms crossed, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. The store was quiet, the occasional rustle of fabric and muffled conversations filling the air.
You tried to focus on anything but the fact that Gi-hun was changing just a few feet away.
Why did he even ask you to pick? Did he actually care about your opinion, or was he just testing you?
Your thoughts were interrupted when the door clicked open.
Gi-hun stepped out, adjusting the sleeves of the charcoal-gray suit you had chosen. The fit was perfect, the material hugging his broad shoulders and lean frame effortlessly. He looked…
Damn.
You swallowed, trying to keep your expression neutral, but the way your eyes lingered didn’t go unnoticed.
Gi-hun smirked. " Not bad?"
You blinked, quickly snapping out of it. " Uh, yeah. It suits you."
His smirk deepened as he took a step closer. " You sure? You were staring pretty hard there."
Your face heated instantly. " I was just—just making sure it fits properly." You muttered, looking away.
Gi-hun chuckled, a deep, low sound that made your stomach twist in an unfamiliar way. He turned back to the mirror, rolling up the cuffs slightly as he inspected himself.
" You have good taste." He admitted, almost as if he was surprised by it.
You huffed, crossing your arms. " What, did you think I was going to pick something terrible?"
He shot you a sideways glance, amusement dancing in his eyes. " Would’ve been a good excuse to make you choose again. Keep you here longer."
You stiffened at his words, your breath catching slightly. Was he just messing with you, or was there something more behind that comment?
Before you could figure it out, the sales associate returned, asking if he wanted any adjustments. Gi-hun nodded, giving a final glance at the mirror before disappearing back into the fitting room.
And you, standing there with your heart pounding in your chest, realized something.
Being around Gi-hun was dangerous. Not because he was cold or distant—but because every little thing he did was starting to get under your skin.
The tension in the small fitting room was almost suffocating. Gi-hun leaned against the mirror, his arms crossed as he watched you with dark amusement.
He had already decided—he liked seeing you flustered, but not in a pathetic, predictable way like Dae-ho’s teasing.
No, he enjoyed pushing you in ways you weren’t ready for, making you react in ways you never expected from yourself.
" Take off my coat." He ordered, his voice low and firm.
You froze.
Your eyes widened slightly as you registered his words, your throat going dry. " W-What?"
Gi-hun tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. " You heard me."
You swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his gaze on you. " You have functional hands. Why can’t you do it yourself?"
The words slipped out before you could stop them, and the moment they did, you knew you had messed up.
Gi-hun’s expression darkened. He didn’t move, didn’t say anything for a moment—just stared at you with an intensity that made you want to shrink under his gaze. The air grew thick, heavy with unspoken tension.
Regret flickered through you, and without another word, you stepped closer, hesitantly reaching for his coat.
Your fingers trembled slightly as you carefully undid the buttons, knowing full well how ridiculously expensive this suit was.
Sweat started forming at your hairline—not just from the pressure of handling such costly fabric, but from the sheer presence of the man in front of you.
Gi-hun, on the other hand, was completely still, watching you with lazy amusement. His lips twitched upward slightly as he felt your tiny fingers brush against the thin fabric of his clothes.
The warmth of your touch seeped through, and despite himself, he secretly hissed under his breath. His mind taunted him, urging him to push you further—to make you do more—but for once, he found himself unable to form the words.
Not yet.
But he wasn’t done with you.
" Unbutton my shirt."
You snapped your head up to look at him, eyes blown wide. " What?!"
Gi-hun smirked at your reaction. Your cheeks were already burning, and the way your fingers fidgeted at your sides told him everything—this was fun for him.
" You heard me." He repeated, raising a brow, silently daring you to protest again.
You wanted to say no. You really did. But when your gaze locked with his, the air between you thick and dangerous, you knew you had no choice.
With shaky hands, you reached for the first button, barely able to breathe. Gi-hun inhaled sharply when your fingertips brushed against his chest, his breath hitching as you slowly worked your way down.
His chest rose and fell steadily, but each touch made it harder for him to keep his composure.
This was supposed to be a simple tease.
So why the hell did he feel like he was the one losing control?
Your fingers hesitated at the second button, your breath coming out uneven as you felt the warmth of his skin beneath the fabric. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him, not when you were this close, not when you were practically undressing him.
Gi-hun, on the other hand, was watching you like a predator. He had started this as a game—a simple trick to see how flustered he could make you.
But now, as your soft fingers brushed against his chest with every undone button, he found himself struggling to keep his breathing steady.
" You're slow." He murmured, his voice lower than usual.
You swallowed hard, not daring to respond. If you spoke, you knew your voice would betray you.
As you reached the third button, his stomach muscles tensed beneath your touch, his breath subtly hitching. You didn’t miss it, and that only made your own heart race faster.
This was ridiculous.
Why was he making you do this? Why were you actually obeying him?
You mustered up whatever courage you had left, forcing yourself to look up at him—but the second your eyes met his, your stomach dropped.
Gi-hun was staring down at you, his gaze unreadable, but there was something darker lurking beneath the surface. Something dangerous. His smirk had faded slightly, replaced with something…else.
Something that made the air between you feel suffocating.
You quickly looked away, your fingers fumbling with the next button. But before you could continue, Gi-hun’s hand shot up, grabbing your wrist.
You gasped softly, startled by the sudden contact.
" That’s enough." He said, voice thick with something you couldn’t place.
You looked at him in confusion, but he didn’t offer an explanation. Instead, he let go of your wrist and took a slow step back, as if trying to put space between the two of you.
You couldn’t ignore the way his chest was rising and falling a little too fast, or the way his jaw clenched as he ran a hand through his hair.
What the hell just happened?
" You—You told me to—"
" Forget it." He cut you off, grabbing his coat from the chair and turning away. " Go pay for the suit. I’ll be out in a minute."
You stood there, still dazed, watching him retreat back into the fitting room. Your heart was pounding in your chest, and your fingers still tingled from where they had touched his skin.
You didn’t know what just happened between you two.
But you did know one thing.
You weren’t the only one affected by it.
The moment you stepped out of the dressing room, Gi-hun let out a shaky breath, his back hitting the wall as he slid down slightly, legs weak from the tension he had barely escaped.
What the hell was that?
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in the way he clenched his jaw. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
He was the one playing with you, testing your limits, enjoying the way you flushed under his gaze. He was the one in control.
So why the hell was he the one struggling now?
His breathing was heavy as he glanced down, cursing under his breath when he saw the obvious bulge in his trousers.
Damn it.
His fists tightened at his sides as he tried to force himself to calm down. He wasn’t some desperate fool who couldn’t control himself. He had been around plenty of women before—none of them ever did this to him. None of them ever got under his skin like you did.
And the worst part? You hadn’t even been trying.
Just the feeling of your soft fingers brushing against his chest, your tiny hands unbuttoning his shirt with hesitant, flustered movements—it had undone him completely.
He groaned lowly, pressing the heel of his palm against his hard length, trying to will it away. But the memory of your touch, your flushed expression, the way you had obediently followed his command despite your embarrassment—it all replayed in his mind, making it even worse.
" Shit." He muttered under his breath.
With a deep inhale, he straightened up, forcing his body to relax. He needed to get it together before he walked out there. The last thing he needed was for you to see him like this—to realize the effect you had on him.
Adjusting his coat slightly to conceal the evidence of his frustration, he took one final deep breath before stepping out of the dressing room. His expression was calm, composed—like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn’t just barely survived the temptation he had created.
The tension in the car was unbearable.
You sat stiffly in the passenger seat, eyes glued to the window, refusing to look at Gi-hun as he buckled his seatbelt.
The memory of what just happened in the dressing room was still fresh in your mind, your fingers still tingling from where they had touched his skin.
A sharp hiss broke the silence.
Your eyes flickered toward him for a split second, just in time to see him shift in his seat uncomfortably. His jaw clenched, his knuckles tightening around the steering wheel.
You didn’t understand at first—until realization hit you.
Oh.
Your face burned instantly, and you whipped your head back toward the window, pretending you hadn’t noticed.
Gi-hun exhaled slowly, gripping the wheel tighter. He was barely holding himself together, and the ache in his trousers was only making things worse.
He hadn’t even fully recovered before getting in the car, and now, trapped in this small space with you, your scent lingering in the air—it was torture.
Neither of you spoke.
For you, it was because you had no idea what to say. The moment you had stepped out of that dressing room, you had decided to act like nothing had happened.
To pretend that your hands hadn’t been all over him, that his chest hadn’t risen and fallen beneath your touch, that you hadn’t felt the heat radiating from his skin.
For Gi-hun, it was because he was dealing with another, more urgent problem—one that refused to go away no matter how much he tried to ignore it.
His grip on the wheel tightened as he pressed his foot on the gas, speeding up. He needed to get to this damn event as quickly as possible.
The last thing he wanted was to show up late.
The second-to-last thing he wanted was to show up with a hard-on.
But right now, he wasn’t sure which was worse.
The moment you stepped into the venue, your stomach twisted with anxiety.
The room was grand—gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, expensive wine glasses clinking as well-dressed guests laughed and talked effortlessly.
Everyone looked like they belonged here, draped in designer gowns and tailored suits.
And then there was you.
Still in your office uniform, standing awkwardly behind Gi-hun, trying to make yourself as small as possible.
Your fingers curled into the fabric of your sleeve as insecurity crept up your spine. You didn’t belong here. You felt like an outsider, completely out of place among these wealthy, powerful people.
Gi-hun must have noticed because he let out an exaggerated sigh before rolling his eyes. Without warning, he grabbed your arm and pulled you forward, making you stumble slightly.
“ Stop hiding." He muttered low enough that only you could hear.
" But—"
" There’s no ‘but.’" His grip on your wrist tightened slightly, just enough to make you feel his warmth.
" You have no reason to be shy. You’re too damn beautiful to be standing in the background."
Your breath caught in your throat at his words.
Did he just—?
Before you could process it, Gi-hun was already leading you toward his table, where a group of wealthy businessmen were gathered. You felt impossibly small in their presence—men in luxurious suits, women in dresses worth more than your entire salary.
They all greeted Gi-hun with respect, some shaking his hand, others nodding in acknowledgment.
But he didn’t let go of you.
In fact, his grip on your wrist tightened even more, his thumb brushing against your skin in a way that made your heartbeat unsteady.
You stood beside him, too overwhelmed to say anything, your fingers twitching nervously. You could feel their eyes flicker toward you, some curious, others indifferent. You weren’t sure if you wanted to disappear or run out of the room entirely.
As your gaze anxiously scanned the venue, your eyes landed on a familiar figure.
Dae-ho.
The store manager from earlier was across the room, engaged in conversation with a few acquaintances. He looked completely at ease, laughing at something one of them said.
But as if sensing your stare, his eyes suddenly shifted toward you.
And when he saw you standing next to Gi-hun—his grip still firm on your wrist—a smirk slowly spread across his lips.
Oh no.
You had a feeling this night was far from over.
Gi-hun’s grip on your wrist finally loosened as he turned to his business partners. His expression was unreadable, his usual cold demeanor settling back into place.
" This is my assistant." He said, his voice firm and to the point. " She works directly under me."
Your throat tightened when you felt multiple pairs of eyes land on you. You shifted uncomfortably, unsure if you should bow, shake hands, or just stand there and pray for this moment to be over.
Your gaze quickly scanned the men in front of you.
The first one—a man with glasses—was staring at you from head to toe, his sharp eyes analyzing every inch of you. His expression remained neutral, but you couldn’t tell if he was judging you or simply curious. Either way, it made you self-conscious.
The second man had the most intimidating presence. He was tall, well-built, with slicked-back hair and a suit that looked more expensive than your entire apartment. He remained expressionless, barely acknowledging you at first. But then, his gaze flicked toward you, and for a moment, he just…stared.
There was something in his eyes—something unreadable. It wasn’t exactly cold, but it wasn’t welcoming either. He was studying you, as if trying to figure out why Gi-hun had brought you here.
And then there was the last man.
Unlike the others, he greeted you with a wide smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief. " Ah, so this is the assistant." He mused, shooting a teasing glance at Gi-hun. " Didn’t expect you to bring her, Gi-hun. You usually come alone."
Gi-hun shot him a warning look, but the man just chuckled. " Relax, I��m just saying. She’s a pretty one. It’s not every day we see someone like her around you."
Your cheeks burned at his words, and you instantly looked away, unsure of how to respond.
The man laughed at your reaction before leaning slightly toward you. " Don’t mind the others." He whispered conspiratorially. " They’re just trying to figure out what’s so special about you."
Before you could react, Gi-hun subtly stepped in front of you, his broad frame blocking the man’s view. His posture was casual, but you could sense the tension in his stance.
" Enough." Gi-hun muttered, his tone carrying a warning edge.
The man just smirked, raising his hands in surrender. " Alright, alright. No need to get possessive."
The word sent a shiver down your spine.
Possessive?
You glanced up at Gi-hun, but his expression remained cold, unreadable. Yet, the way he subtly shifted closer to you—how his fingers brushed against your wrist as if reminding you he was still there—you couldn’t ignore it.
Whatever this was between you and Gi-hun…
It was only getting more complicated.
The room fell into an eerie silence.
You could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on you, but none felt as heavy as Gi-hun’s.
Hwang In-ho.
The man with the unreadable expression had finally introduced himself, and the way his name rolled off his tongue sent a shiver down your spine. His presence alone was enough to make you uneasy, but his next words nearly made your heart stop.
" A stunning woman like you shouldn’t be hidden behind someone else." In-ho mused, his sharp eyes flicking to Gi-hun briefly before landing back on you.
" How about I take you out to dinner? A fine dining restaurant, nothing less. Someone like you deserves that, don’t you think?"
Your breath caught in your throat.
Did he just…ask you out?
Before you could even process it, Gi-hun’s entire body tensed beside you.
You didn’t have to look at him to know—his clenched jaw, his tightened fists, the rigid stance—he was furious. You had seen him annoyed before, cold and calculating, but this…this was different.
This was something much darker.
The silence dragged on, thick with tension. Then, just when you thought things couldn’t get more uncomfortable, In-ho reached for your hand.
His grip was firm but not forceful as he lifted your hand to his lips, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss against your skin.
You gasped softly, your body instinctively freezing in place.
It wasn’t just the action itself—it was the way he did it. The way his unreadable gaze locked onto yours, as if daring you to react. As if daring Gi-hun to react.
And he did.
A sharp click of a tongue broke the silence.
You didn’t even have to turn your head to know it came from Gi-hun. His aura shifted, something dangerous simmering just beneath the surface.
Sang-woo, who had been quietly observing, smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He had never seen Gi-hun like this before—so visibly possessive, so on edge.
And the best part?
Gi-hun didn’t even have a right to be.
You were just his employee. Nothing more.
But the way his fists clenched, the way his breathing grew heavier, the way his entire body was wound tight like a coil ready to snap—he wasn’t acting like just your boss.
No.
He was acting like a man who was one second away from ruining everything just to claim what was his.
Dae-ho, the observant one, stepped in just as the tension reached its peak. His timing was perfect—maybe a little too perfect, as if he had been waiting for the exact moment when Gi-hun was about to snap.
“ Alright, gentlemen.” Dae-ho said with an easygoing smile, clapping his hands together. “ I think we’ve had enough fun, don’t you? Why don’t we all take a seat and actually get to business?”
His words cut through the thick atmosphere like a blade, forcing everyone to momentarily pull back from whatever silent battle they were waging.
Gi-hun exhaled sharply through his nose but said nothing. His hand twitched at his side as if he was still considering throwing a punch, but after a long moment, he scoffed and turned on his heel.
Without another word, he pulled out a chair and sat down, though his posture remained stiff, tension still coiled in his shoulders.
In-ho, on the other hand, simply chuckled under his breath, clearly amused. He ran a hand through his sleek hair before finally taking his seat, casting you one last glance as he did.
Sang-woo followed suit, a smirk still lingering on his lips. He had enjoyed the show—watching Gi-hun wrestle with emotions he clearly didn’t want to acknowledge.
And you?
You were still overwhelmed, your heart racing as you slowly moved to sit beside Gi-hun. You felt small again, caught in the middle of something far more intense than just a business meeting.
Dae-ho, satisfied that he had at least defused some of the immediate hostility, let out a relaxed sigh and plopped down into his own chair.
“ Well then.” He grinned, looking around the table.
“ Shall we begin?”
The meeting had officially started.
But the real battle?
That was still going on—right under the surface.
As the meeting officially began, the air slowly shifted from tense to professional—at least on the surface.
Dae-ho took the lead, going over financial reports and the company’s performance for the past quarter. His tone was confident, smooth, and businesslike, though there was still an undertone of amusement lingering in his voice from the previous exchange.
“ The company is maintaining a steady revenue flow.” He explained, flipping through his reports. “ We’re in a stable position, but if we want to increase engagement and bring in more high-end clients, we’ll need to be proactive.”
He went on to discuss potential strategies—new marketing campaigns, expansion ideas, and partnerships that could boost their market presence. He also detailed the expenses each partner had contributed, ensuring transparency among them.
Meanwhile, you sat quietly beside Gi-hun, diligently taking notes.
It was your job, after all.
Your pen moved swiftly across the notepad, recording key points, figures, and any upcoming plans that were being discussed. Despite the earlier tension, you forced yourself to focus, trying to block out the lingering energy in the room.
But it wasn’t easy.
You could still feel Gi-hun’s presence beside you—his occasional sharp inhales, the way his fingers tapped subtly against the table in impatience.
He wasn’t fully listening; you could tell. His mind was elsewhere, probably still brooding over In-ho’s bold move.
Speaking of In-ho…
You risked a glance in his direction.
He was sitting with perfect posture, his arms resting on the table, listening intently to Dae-ho’s words. But the moment your eyes met his, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
As if he knew you were thinking about him.
Your breath hitched, and you quickly looked away, gripping your pen tighter.
Damn it.
The rest of the table continued discussing business, bouncing ideas back and forth, debating strategies. Sang-woo occasionally chimed in with a sarcastic remark, Dae-ho kept the energy balanced, and Gi-hun remained mostly silent, responding only when necessary.
But even as the meeting progressed, you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were at the center of a silent war between two powerful men.
And that realization made your heart pound even harder.
Your pen nearly slipped from your fingers.
A sharp gasp escaped your lips before you quickly bit down on it, your body stiffening in place.
Gi-hun’s hand.
Warm. Firm. Resting on your thigh like it belonged there.
You glanced down in disbelief, barely breathing as you took in the sight of his fingers against your skin. His touch wasn’t aggressive, but it was undeniably possessive.
It sent a shiver down your spine—one that had nothing to do with the air-conditioned room and everything to do with him.
Your heartbeat pounded in your ears as you tried to regain focus.
This was insane. Completely inappropriate.
You swallowed hard, shifting slightly in your seat in an attempt to shake him off. But he didn’t move. If anything, his grip tightened just slightly—a silent warning.
You turned your head toward him, desperate to catch his attention, to silently question what the hell he thought he was doing.
But Gi-hun…
He didn’t even acknowledge you.
His face remained unreadable, his gaze locked onto his business partners as they continued to argue about strategy.
He nodded at the right moments, gave short replies when needed, but not once did he glance in your direction.
As if his hand wasn’t currently on you.
Then, as if to drive you further into madness, his fingers started moving.
Slow. Deliberate.
Circling against your skin in a teasing motion that made your stomach tighten.
Your breath hitched, fingers clutching your pen tightly as you tried to keep your expression neutral.
No one else at the table noticed.
They were too absorbed in their heated discussion, too busy debating figures and projections to pay attention to the silent game happening right under their noses.
But Gi-hun knew.
He knew what he was doing to you.
And judging by the way the corner of his lips barely, barely twitched upward…
He was enjoying every second of it.
You felt trapped.
Your pulse pounded in your ears, drowning out the voices around you. The room was still alive with debate—Dae-ho trying to keep things balanced while In-ho and Sang-woo threw in their own arguments—but none of it registered in your mind.
Not when his hand was still there.
Still touching you.
Still circling in slow, agonizing motions.
You swallowed thickly, your fingers trembling slightly as you gripped your pen. Your notes were becoming a mess—words smudged, some barely legible.
You had been doing your best to ignore it, to pretend like nothing was happening, but Gi-hun’s touch was making that impossible.
And the worst part?
He still wasn’t looking at you.
Not once did he turn his head, not once did he acknowledge the way your body had tensed under his hand. He remained the picture of calm, his deep voice occasionally chiming in when needed.
But you knew better.
The slight twitch at the corner of his lips. The way his fingers occasionally flexed against your thigh.
He was testing you.
Seeing how far he could push.
Your breath was uneven as you tried, one last time, to shake him off—subtly shifting your leg to the side in a desperate attempt to free yourself.
But the moment you moved, Gi-hun’s fingers tightened.
Firm. Commanding.
You sucked in a breath, your eyes snapping to him in disbelief.
Still, he didn’t look at you.
But this time, you saw it—the way his jaw clenched ever so slightly. The way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
He wasn’t as unaffected as he pretended to be.
He was just better at hiding it.
And that realization made your stomach tighten even more.
You barely managed to grab his wrist in time.
Your fingers trembled as you held onto him, stopping his hand just before it could slip any further under your skirt. Your heart pounded so hard you were afraid the entire table could hear it.
This was too much.
You leaned toward him, voice barely above a whisper, desperate to regain some control.
“ I…I need to use the bathroom.” You murmured, forcing yourself to sound steady despite the way your entire body was betraying you.
For the first time since this whole ordeal started, Gi-hun turned his head toward you.
His eyes locked onto yours, dark and unreadable.
Then—that smirk.
A teasing, knowing curve of his lips, as if he was fully aware of what he had done to you.
As if he was enjoying watching you squirm.
He let the silence stretch between you, just long enough to make your pulse spike again, before finally nodding.
“ Go ahead.” He said, his tone smooth, almost amused.
You didn’t waste another second.
Pushing your chair back, you stood up as gracefully as you could despite your weak knees. You could still feel his gaze on you, burning into your back as you made your way out of the room.
The second you stepped into the hallway, you exhaled shakily, gripping your hands into fists.
You needed to clear your head.
You needed to breathe.
Because if you didn’t…
You weren’t sure you’d survive the rest of this night.
...
You turned the faucet on, letting the cold water run over your trembling hands before splashing it onto your flushed face.
Get it together.
Your grip on the porcelain sink tightened as you stared at your reflection in the mirror. Your cheeks were still burning, your pupils slightly blown from the overwhelming tension Gi-hun had built between you two.
The way his hand had traveled over your thigh, the teasing circles of his fingers, the undeniable dominance in his touch—it all replayed in your mind like a loop, making your knees weak all over again.
You squeezed your thighs together instinctively, and that’s when you felt it.
The dampness pooling between your legs.
A shaky sigh escapes your lips as you hang your head, gripping the edges of the sink.
This was insane.
He was your boss.
And yet, the way he toyed with you—like he knew exactly what he was doing, like he was waiting for you to finally break—made it impossible to push him away.
You exhaled deeply, reaching for a paper towel and patting your face, hoping to rid yourself of these sinful thoughts.
You just needed to get through this night.
You could deal with the aftermath later.
With one final breath, you straightened your posture and smoothed your skirt, forcing your expression back into something neutral.
Then, gathering the last bit of composure you had left, you stepped out of the bathroom.
But the moment you did—
You froze.
Because standing just outside, leaning casually against the wall with that same damn smirk on his face—
Was Gi-hun.
You barely had time to react before Gi-hun grabbed your wrist and pulled you inside one of the bathroom stalls, the door slamming shut behind him.
Your back hit the cool tiled wall as he pressed in close, his hands braced on either side of you, trapping you in place.
Your breath hitched.
He was too close.
His scent, a mix of expensive cologne and something uniquely him, surrounded you, making your already overwhelmed senses spiral even further.
“ Gi-hun—” You started, voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes flicked down to yours, dark and unreadable. “ That’s sir to you.” He corrected smoothly, his voice low and commanding.
Your stomach flipped at the intensity in his gaze. “ W-Why are you doing this?” You asked, your voice weaker than you intended.
Gi-hun exhaled through his nose, his jaw clenching. His eyes swept over your face, searching, before he finally answered.
“ Because I want you.” He said, the honesty in his tone makes your breath catch.
“ And because I can’t stand watching them look at you like you’re something they can take.”
His admission sent a shiver down your spine.
He leaned in just a fraction closer, enough that you could feel the warmth of his breath against your cheek.
The fluorescent lights above cast a dull glow over the restroom, the hum of the ventilation system barely covering the distant chatter outside.
You barely register any of it—your entire world has narrowed to the cramped space of the cubicle, where Seong Gi-hun's lips press hungrily against yours.
His hands are everywhere—trailing down your back, gripping your waist as if anchoring himself to you. His body is flush against yours, the flimsy partition behind you rattling slightly with every shift of movement.
The scent of him—faint cologne mixed with something undeniably him—fills your senses, making your head spin.
You gasp as he tugs you even closer, his lips parting just enough to let his tongue sweep against yours, slow and deep.
He groans into the kiss, the sound vibrating through your chest, sending a shiver down your spine. His fingers dig into your hips, desperate, as if he’s afraid this moment will slip away too soon.
Gi-hun pulls back just enough to meet your gaze, his breath warm against your lips. His eyes, darkened with want, search yours for something—reassurance, permission, maybe even a hint of the same desperation that’s written all over his face.
" You have no idea how long I've wanted this." He murmurs, voice husky.
Your pulse stutters, and before you can respond, he crashes his lips back onto yours, this time more frantic, more demanding.
The air between you grows thick, heated, each kiss more feverish than the last. His hands slide beneath your shirt, fingertips grazing your bare skin, sending electricity coursing through you.
The reality of where you are—how risky this is—only fuels the fire. The thrill of being caught lingers in the back of your mind, but right now, none of it matters.
All that matters is Gi-hun—the way he holds you like he never wants to let go, the way he breathes your name between kisses, the way he makes you forget everything but him.
The moment Gi-hun’s lips break away from yours, his breath is ragged, his forehead resting against yours. His fingers trace slow, burning patterns along your waist before he speaks, his voice low and rough.
“ Unbutton my shirt.” He orders, his tone laced with something between command and admiration. There’s no hesitation in his voice—just pure confidence, like he already knows you’ll listen.
Your fingers tremble slightly as you reach for the buttons, undoing them one by one, your touch light against the fabric. His eyes never leave you, watching your every movement with a dark intensity.
There’s something about the way he looks at you, something that makes the air feel heavier, makes heat rise to your cheeks.
When the last button comes undone, his shirt hangs loosely around his frame, revealing toned skin beneath. He exhales sharply, his lips curving into a smirk as he runs his fingers along your jaw, tilting your face up to meet his gaze.
“ So obedient.” He murmurs, almost to himself, his thumb brushing over your bottom lip. His admiration is clear—not just in his words but in the way he looks at you, like you’re something to be treasured, something he never wants to let slip away.
Before you can react, his lips crash onto yours again, more intense this time, more desperate. His hands slip around your waist, pulling you flush against him, his body warm and solid against yours.
The public restroom, the risk of getting caught—it all fades away. Right now, the only thing that exists is him, and the way he makes you feel completely, utterly his.
As soon as you slip the last button undone, Gi-hun's shirt hangs loosely around his shoulders, exposing the defined lines of his chest. His voice is deep, commanding yet teasing as he gives his next order.
“ Take it off.”
You swallow hard, your fingers moving instinctively to slide the fabric from his shoulders. As the shirt falls away, your eyes drink in the sight before you—toned abs, firm pecs, the dips and ridges of his muscles that look like they were sculpted by the gods themselves.
A sharp inhale escapes you before you can stop it. Your lips part slightly, and without realizing it, you bite down on your bottom lip, eyes roaming over him with pure admiration.
The way his skin glows under the dim light makes your breath hitch, your pulse pounding.
Gi-hun smirks, clearly pleased by your reaction. “ Like what you see?” He teases, his voice dripping with amusement.
You can’t even find the words to respond, too caught up in the sheer perfection of him. Noticing your dazed expression, he takes your hand in his, his fingers warm and firm as he slowly guides it up to his chest.
The moment your fingertips brush against his skin, he tenses slightly, his breath hitching.
Your touch glides down, tracing over the ridges of his abs, feeling the tautness beneath your fingertips. When your hand reaches his stomach, he lets out a sharp hiss, his muscles twitching under your touch.
His grip tightens around your wrist, his eyes dark and filled with something unreadable—desire, control, something raw and unspoken.
“ Careful.” He murmurs, his voice lower now, raspier. “ You’re playing with fire.”
And yet, the way he watches you, the way he lets you explore him, tells you he doesn’t mind getting burned.
His fingers trailed along the back of your hand, guiding it slowly—deliberately—down to the hardened length straining against his trousers.
A sharp hiss escaped his lips as he felt your delicate fingers brush over him, even through the thick fabric.
His grip tightened around your wrist, pressing your palm against his arousal, forcing you to feel just how much he needed you.
" Look at what you do to me." He murmured, voice thick with desire. His breathing was ragged, uneven.
" Every damn time I talk to you, I end up like this—aching, desperate, ready to ruin you."
His free hand moved to the zipper of his trousers, dragging it down agonizingly slowly. Without breaking eye contact, he took your wrist and slid your hand inside, letting you feel the heat of him through the damp fabric of his boxers.
Your breath hitched. The moment felt dizzying, overwhelming, sending a shiver through your spine. Your thoughts blurred, overtaken by the sheer intensity of his presence.
His lips ghosted over your ear as he whispered, " It's tempting…to bend you over this fucking table and show everyone exactly how much I want you."
A sharp nip at your neck made you gasp, your body melting against his. Your fingers twitched around him, stroking tentatively, feeling the slickness of his arousal seeping through his boxers.
Gi-hun groaned—a deep, guttural sound that sent a pulse straight between your legs.
Then, his grip on your hair tightened.
" Get on your knees."
The order was hushed, firm, and left no room for defiance.
Your body moved instinctively, sinking before him without hesitation. His darkened gaze flickered with something primal as he looked down at you—on your knees, waiting, eager. It nearly unraveled him.
" Fuck—" He exhaled, fingers threading into your hair before gathering it into his fist, pulling just enough to make your scalp tingle.
" Such a good girl." He murmured, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He guided your face forward, pressing it against the warmth of his bare stomach, the sharp ridges of his abs flexing beneath your lips.
" Lick."
It was a simple command, but his voice dripped with sinful intent.
Your tongue flicked out hesitantly, tracing along the defined lines of his abdomen, feeling the heat of his skin beneath your lips. His breath hitched, fingers tightening in your hair as his entire body tensed.
A deep, guttural groan rumbled from his chest as his head tilted back, eyes fluttering shut in pure, unfiltered pleasure.
His restraint was slipping. And you knew it.
And you weren’t about to stop now.
Your warm breath fanned against his skin as your tongue glided along the sculpted lines of his abs. The way his muscles tensed beneath your lips sent a rush of heat straight between your thighs.
He groaned low in his throat, the sound dark and guttural, his grip on your hair tightening.
" That’s it…such a good girl for me." He murmured, his voice thick with approval.
His other hand came to cradle your jaw, his thumb pressing lightly against your chin, guiding your head lower. " You know exactly where I want that mouth next, don’t you?"
Your lashes fluttered as you looked up at him, eyes dark with unspoken need. His smirk deepened at your expression—so eager, so obedient. He let out a shaky breath, his self-control fraying by the second.
" Undo my belt."
Your fingers trembled slightly as you obeyed, reaching for the leather strap around his waist.
The soft click of the buckle echoed between you, followed by the slow, teasing slide of the belt slipping through the loops.
You could feel how hard he was beneath his trousers, straining against the fabric, desperate for relief.
He let out a low chuckle, watching you with a predatory gleam in his eyes. " So delicate…but I know you can handle this."
You swallowed hard as you unbuttoned his pants, pulling the zipper down the rest of the way. The moment you did, his boxers barely contained the hardness beneath, a damp spot visible where his arousal had already leaked through.
His fingers tightened in your hair, tilting your head back. " Open that pretty mouth for me."
A shiver ran down your spine as you parted your lips, your breath hitching when he ran his thumb along your bottom lip, teasing you. His chest rose and fell with deep, controlled breaths, trying to maintain the last shred of his restraint.
" Fuck…you have no idea how long I’ve wanted this."
Gi-hun’s hips rolled forward slightly, pressing himself against your lips through the fabric, forcing you to feel just how desperate he was for you.
He groaned at the contact, his other hand caressing your cheek before guiding your mouth exactly where he wanted you.
" Now be a good girl and take care of me.”
Your breath caught in your throat as he pressed himself against your lips, the heat of him radiating through the fabric of his boxers.
His fingers tangled in your hair, his grip firm yet teasing, as if testing the limits of his own control.
" You feel that?" He murmured, his voice thick with desire. " That’s what you do to me. Every damn time."
His other hand cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing over your parted lips, smearing the warmth of his arousal against your skin.
He exhaled a shaky breath, tilting his head back for a moment, as if gathering himself.
But then his gaze dropped to you again, dark and dangerous. " Look at you…on your knees, waiting so patiently. You like this, don’t you?"
You swallowed hard, unable to answer, your body reacting before your mind could catch up. He chuckled lowly, the sound vibrating deep in his chest.
" Such a good girl."
With a slow, deliberate movement, he finally tugged his boxers down just enough, freeing himself from the tight constraint. His arousal stood heavy and thick before you, the sight alone making your stomach coil with anticipation.
His fingers traced along your jaw, tilting your head up slightly so he could drink in the expression on your face—your wide, expectant eyes, the soft parting of your lips.
" You know what to do." He murmured, voice dangerously low. " Show me just how good you can be."
He guided your head forward, his grip never loosening as he watched you with dark intensity. The heat between you was suffocating, every breath laced with the unspoken tension crackling in the air.
And when your lips finally parted for him, his breath stuttered. His fingers tightened in your hair.
" Fuck—"
His control was slipping. And he was about to lose himself completely to you.
Your lips part as he moves slowly, teasing, dragging out the moment just to watch you squirm. His dark, hooded eyes stay locked onto yours, drinking in every little reaction—every twitch of your mouth, every shallow breath. He knows exactly what he's doing, savoring the power he has over you.
" Look at you." He murmurs, voice dripping with amusement. " So eager to take me, hmm?"
His words send a shiver down your spine, heat pooling in your core. His hips move with deliberate control, each slow thrust forcing you to feel every inch of him.
Your throat tightens around him, and his breath stutters—a sharp inhale, his chest rising and falling with ragged need.
" Fucking hell." He groans, his fingers tangling in your hair. " So fucking perfect like this."
Without warning, he pushes deeper, forcing you to take him further than before. Your throat constricts, a gagged gasp escaping as your eyes flutter shut.
A sharp, choked sound follows, your body instinctively trying to adjust, but he doesn’t let up. He watches you struggle for a moment, his grip tightening in your hair as if he’s daring himself to lose control.
" Fuck, that's it." He hisses. " You can take more, can't you?"
You try to nod, but the intensity of the moment has your body trembling. A muffled whimper vibrates against him, sending a curse tumbling from his lips.
Then, just as suddenly, he pulls back, letting you gasp for air. A thick strand of saliva stretches between you, clinging to his length, glistening under the dim light.
His thumb traces your swollen lips, smearing the wetness across them. " Messy little thing." He murmurs, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. " And so damn pretty like this."
The look in his eyes—possessive, hungry—tells you this is far from over.
“ If you keep looking at me like that.” He whispers, his fingers tightening on your hips, “ I won’t be able to hold back.”
Before you can catch your breath, he grabs you, pulling you up with effortless strength and slamming your back against the wall.
A sharp gasp escapes your lips, but it's swallowed immediately as his mouth crashes onto yours, hungry, desperate.
His tongue pushes past your lips, dominating yours with feverish need, as if he can't get enough of you.
" Fuck." He growls against your mouth, his voice thick with lust. " You drive me insane, you know that?"
His hands are everywhere—possessive, demanding. One grips your thigh, hiking it up against his waist, while the other snakes down, sliding under your skirt with shameless urgency.
His fingers skim along the lace of your damp knickers, and he chuckles darkly, pulling back just enough to let you see the smug, hungry look in his eyes.
" So fucking wet for me already." He murmurs, dragging his fingers over the soaked fabric, teasing you, making you arch against him. " You love this, don’t you? Love how I touch you?"
A whimper escapes you as he presses a little harder, rubbing slow, torturous circles. His teeth graze your lower lip before Gi-hun bites down—sharp, claiming—earning a sharp gasp from you.
He soothes it with his tongue, his breath hot against your mouth.
" You take me so well." He praises, his voice low and reverent, filled with pure desire. " Always so perfect for me. So fucking tight, so eager. You were made for this—made for me."
His fingers push aside the fabric, gliding through your slick heat, teasing your entrance before dipping just the tip inside, enough to make you shudder.
His lips move to your jaw, then your neck, biting, sucking, marking you as his.
" That's it, baby." He groans against your skin, feeling the way you react to his every touch. " Let me hear you. Let me feel how bad you need me."
Gi-hun's pace grows rougher, more insistent, as his control frays. And with the way he's looking at you—like he's about to ruin you—you know this is only the beginning.
Before you can react, he grabs you, pulling you up with raw strength and slamming your back against the wall.
The impact steals your breath, but he doesn’t give you a chance to recover—his mouth crashes onto yours, all hunger and desperation. His lips move fiercely against yours, his tongue sweeping inside to claim you, devouring every moan you let slip.
" Damn, you taste so fucking good." He growls against your lips, his voice rough, thick with desire. " I could kiss you like this forever."
His hands are restless, roaming, exploring. One grips your thigh, hoisting it against his hip, pressing you hard against the wall.
The other snakes downward, slipping beneath your skirt with shameless urgency. His fingers graze your inner thigh, teasing you, taking his time like he enjoys feeling you squirm beneath him.
" You're already soaking through." He murmurs against your lips, amusement lacing his voice as he brushes over the damp fabric of your knickers.
His fingers press firmly against your heat, rubbing slow, deliberate circles that make your body jolt.
" Fuck!" He groans, pulling back just enough to look at you—your lips kiss-swollen, your breath shaky. " You love this, don’t you? Love how I touch you?"
You barely manage a nod before he bites down on your lower lip, hard enough to make you gasp. He soothes the sting with his tongue, then trails hot, open-mouthed kisses down your jaw, to your neck. His teeth scrape against your skin before he bites, sucking hard enough to leave a mark.
" That’s it.” He praises, his breath hot against your pulse. " Such a good girl for me. Always so fucking perfect."
His fingers push past the lace, sliding between your slick folds, teasing your entrance, but never quite giving you what you crave.
He groans at how wet you are, his forehead pressing against yours as he rubs his fingers over your clit, slow and torturous.
" You take me so damn well, baby." He murmurs, his lips brushing against yours, his breath ragged. " Always so tight, always ready for me. You were made for this—made for me."
Gi-hun sinks a finger inside, and you choke on a moan, gripping onto his shoulders as your walls clench around him. His dark eyes stay locked on you, watching every little reaction, feeding off your pleasure.
" Fuck, I love how you react to me." He whispers, curling his fingers just right, drawing a sharp cry from you. " You wanna cum for me already, don’t you? You're so fucking desperate for it."
His smirk is wicked as he adds another finger, thrusting deeper, rougher. His other hand grips your thigh tighter, keeping you pinned against the wall as his fingers work you over mercilessly. His breath is hot against your ear as he growls,
" Let go for me, baby. Be a good girl and cum all over my fingers."
And with the way he's touching you—possessive, relentless, like he wants to ruin you—you know you won't last much longer.
His fingers move faster, thrusting deep inside you with a relentless pace, stretching you, filling you.
The wet sounds of your arousal mix with the sharp, ragged breaths escaping both of you, the air between you thick with heat and desire.
Gi-hun watches you, his dark, hungry eyes locked onto your face, taking in the way your lips part, the way your body trembles as you struggle to keep yourself upright against the wall.
" That's it, baby." He murmurs, his voice dripping with satisfaction. " You're so fucking close, aren't you? I can feel you clenching around me."
His fingers curl inside you, hitting that perfect spot over and over, sending waves of pleasure crashing through you.
Your moans grow louder, needier, and his smirk widens. He loves this—loves knowing he’s the one making you fall apart.
" Shit, you feel so fucking good." He groans, pressing his forehead against yours, his breath hot and heavy. " So damn tight for me…I could do this all night, just watching you come undone on my fingers."
Your hands clutch at his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as the pressure builds inside you, winding tighter and tighter.
His free hand slides up your body, slipping under your shirt to cup your breast, his thumb rolling over your hardened nipple.
The added sensation makes you gasp, your body arching into him.
" Fuck, look at you." He breathes, his fingers moving even faster. " You're shaking. You wanna cum so bad, don’t you?"
You nod desperately, unable to form words, your legs threatening to give out. Gi-hun chuckles, low and dark, his lips brushing against your ear.
" Then do it, baby. Be a good girl and cum for me. Let me feel you fall apart."
The moment he says it, your body gives in, pleasure crashing over you like a tidal wave. Your walls tighten around his fingers, a sharp cry escaping your lips as the orgasm rips through you.
He doesn’t stop—he keeps thrusting, drawing it out, making sure you feel every last second of pleasure.
" Fuck, that’s it." he groans, watching you with pure hunger. " Shit, you’re so fucking beautiful like this."
As your body trembles from the aftershocks, he finally slows, his fingers still buried deep inside you, lazily stroking you through the last waves of bliss.
Gi-hun brings his hand up, his fingers glistening with your arousal, and smirks before slipping them into his mouth, groaning as he tastes you.
" Sweet as fucking honey." He murmurs, his eyes dark with promise. " And I’m not even close to being done with you."
With that look in his eyes, you know he means it.
With a desperate need that matches your own, he swiftly tugs at your skirt, yanking it down along with your panties, leaving you bare before him.
The cool air against your heated skin sends a shiver down your spine, but the way he looks at you—hungry, possessive—sets your entire body ablaze.
Before you can react, he grabs you, pulling you up with raw strength and slamming your back against the wall.
The impact steals your breath, but he doesn’t give you a chance to recover—his mouth crashes onto yours, all hunger and desperation.
His lips move fiercely against yours, his tongue sweeping inside to claim you, devouring every moan you let slip.
" Damn, you taste so fucking good." He growls against your lips, his voice rough, thick with desire. " I could kiss you like this forever."
His hands are restless, roaming, exploring. One grips your thigh, hoisting it against his hip, pressing you hard against the wall.
The other snakes downward, slipping beneath your skirt with shameless urgency. His fingers graze your inner thigh, teasing you, taking his time like he enjoys feeling you squirm beneath him.
" You're already soaking through." He murmurs against your lips, amusement lacing his voice as he brushes over the damp fabric of your knickers.
His fingers press firmly against your heat, rubbing slow, deliberate circles that make your body jolt.
" Fuck!" He groans, pulling back just enough to look at you—your lips kiss-swollen, your breath shaky. " You love this, don’t you? Love how I touch you?"
You barely manage a nod before he bites down on your lower lip, hard enough to make you gasp. He soothes the sting with his tongue, then trails hot, open-mouthed kisses down your jaw, to your neck.
His teeth scrape against your skin before he bites, sucking hard enough to leave a mark.
" That’s it.” He praises, his breath hot against your pulse. " Such a good girl for me. Always so fucking perfect."
His fingers push past the lace, sliding between your slick folds, teasing your entrance, but never quite giving you what you crave.
He groans at how wet you are, his forehead pressing against yours as he rubs his fingers over your clit, slow and torturous.
" You take me so damn well, baby." He murmurs, his lips brushing against yours, his breath ragged. " Always so tight, always ready for me. You were made for this—made for me."
Gi-hun sinks a finger inside, and you choke on a moan, gripping onto his shoulders as your walls clench around him. His dark eyes stay locked on you, watching every little reaction, feeding off your pleasure.
" Fuck, I love how you react to me." He whispers, curling his fingers just right, drawing a sharp cry from you. " You wanna cum for me already, don’t you? You're so fucking desperate for it."
His smirk is wicked as he adds another finger, thrusting deeper, rougher. His other hand grips your thigh tighter, keeping you pinned against the wall as his fingers work you over mercilessly. His breath is hot against your ear as he growls,
" Let go for me, baby. Be a good girl and cum all over my fingers."
And with the way he's touching you—possessive, relentless, like he wants to ruin you—you know you won't last much longer.
His fingers move faster, thrusting deep inside you with a relentless pace, stretching you, filling you.
The wet sounds of your arousal mix with the sharp, ragged breaths escaping both of you, the air between you thick with heat and desire.
Gi-hun watches you, his dark, hungry eyes locked onto your face, taking in the way your lips part, the way your body trembles as you struggle to keep yourself upright against the wall.
" That's it, baby." He murmurs, his voice dripping with satisfaction. " You're so fucking close, aren't you? I can feel you clenching around me."
His fingers curl inside you, hitting that perfect spot over and over, sending waves of pleasure crashing through you.
Your moans grow louder, needier, and his smirk widens. He loves this—loves knowing he’s the one making you fall apart.
" Shit, you feel so fucking good." He groans, pressing his forehead against yours, his breath hot and heavy. " So damn tight for me…I could do this all night, just watching you come undone on my fingers."
Your hands clutch at his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as the pressure builds inside you, winding tighter and tighter.
His free hand slides up your body, slipping under your shirt to cup your breast, his thumb rolling over your hardened nipple.
The added sensation makes you gasp, your body arching into him.
" Fuck, look at you." He breathes, his fingers moving even faster. " You're shaking. You wanna cum so bad, don’t you?"
You nod desperately, unable to form words, your legs threatening to give out. Gi-hun chuckles, low and dark, his lips brushing against your ear.
" Then do it, baby. Be a good girl and cum for me. Let me feel you fall apart."
The moment he says it, your body gives in, pleasure crashing over you like a tidal wave. Your walls tighten around his fingers, a sharp cry escaping your lips as the orgasm rips through you.
He doesn’t stop—he keeps thrusting, drawing it out, making sure you feel every last second of pleasure.
" Fuck, that’s it." He groans, watching you with pure hunger. " Shit, you’re so fucking beautiful like this."
As your body trembles from the aftershocks, he finally slows, his fingers still buried deep inside you, lazily stroking you through the last waves of bliss.
Gi-hun brings his hand up, his fingers glistening with your arousal, and smirks before slipping them into his mouth, groaning as he tastes you.
" Sweet as fucking honey." He murmurs, his eyes dark with promise. " And I’m not even close to being done with you."
With that look in his eyes, you know he means it.
With a desperate need that matches your own, he swiftly tugs at your skirt, yanking it down along with your panties, leaving you bare before him.
The cool air against your heated skin sends a shiver down your spine, but the way he looks at you—hungry, possessive—sets your entire body ablaze.
" Fuck." He breathes, taking a step back to admire you, his tongue swiping over his lower lip. " Look at you…spread out for me, dripping, desperate. You’re so fucking perfect."
Gi-hun's voice is thick with lust, his eyes dark and full of need. He could devour you right here, right now—but first, he needs a moment to prepare himself.
You watch, entranced, as he takes a small step back, his fingers moving to his waistband.
With one swift motion, he undoes his belt, the metallic clink sending a thrill through your body. He shoves his pants down just enough to free himself, and the sight of him—thick, hard, glistening with arousal—makes your core clench with anticipation.
" See what you do to me?" He mutters, wrapping his hand around his length, stroking it slowly.
His gaze stays locked on yours, watching your reaction, drinking in every little tremor that runs through your body.
" You make me so fucking hard. I need to be inside you, need to feel you wrapped around me."
Then, without breaking eye contact, he spits on his length, his fingers spreading the wetness as he strokes himself with slow, deliberate movements.
The lewd, slick sounds fill the air, making your thighs squeeze together involuntarily. He smirks at your reaction, his pace quickening slightly as he watches you shift, aching for him.
" Fuck, baby." He groans, his voice strained with restraint. " You’re watching me so damn closely. Does it turn you on? Seeing how bad I want you?"
You swallow hard, nodding, your body already begging for him.
Gi-hun steps closer again, the heat radiating off him making your skin burn with need. His free hand grips your thigh, pulling you back against the wall, spreading you open for him.
" Are you ready for me?" He murmurs, positioning himself at your entrance, teasing you with the tip, dragging it slowly through your slick folds. " Because once I start, I’m not stopping until I’ve ruined you."
The promise in his voice sends a shiver down your spine. You know he means every word.
Before you can catch your breath, he grabs your waist and flips you around effortlessly. Your chest presses against the cold tiles, a sharp contrast to the burning heat between your thighs.
A soft whimper escapes your lips as the sting from the sudden movement radiates across your skin, your hands clutching at the wall for support.
" Fuck, you look so good like this." He growls behind you, his voice thick with lust. His hands grip your hips possessively, holding you firmly in place.
Gi-hun presses his body against yours, his bare chest warm against your back, his hardness throbbing as it nestles between your thighs. The contact alone makes you shudder.
" You’re shaking." He murmurs against your ear, his breath hot, teasing. " Are you that desperate for me already?"
Before you can respond, he shifts slightly, one hand sliding down your stomach, grazing your sensitive skin before he reaches between your legs.
His fingers part your slick folds, spreading you open for him. He groans at the feeling of how wet you are, how easily you yield to his touch.
" Fuck, baby." He mutters, rubbing slow, lazy circles over your clit. " So damn ready for me. You need me to fill you up, don’t you?"
A strangled moan escapes your lips as he pulls back just enough to guide himself to your entrance.
The thick head of his cock presses against you, teasing, stretching you just enough to make you gasp. He doesn’t push in yet—just lets the tip rest there, pulsing, making you feel the heat of him.
" Feel that?" He groans, sliding just the tip in before pulling back out again, torturing you with anticipation. " You’re already sucking me in, baby. So fucking tight for me."
You whimper, pressing back against him instinctively, but his grip tightens on your hips, keeping you exactly where he wants you.
His free hand comes up, gripping your hair, tilting your head back just enough for him to whisper in your ear.
" Patience." he chuckles darkly, nipping at your earlobe. " I wanna hear you beg for it."
He thrusts just the tip inside again, slow and deliberate, making your legs tremble beneath you. The pressure, the teasing, the way he’s holding back when you need him the most—it’s unbearable.
" Tell me how bad you want it." He demands, his voice deep and commanding. " Tell me you need me to ruin you."
And with the way he’s holding you, teasing you, keeping you on the edge, you know you’ll say anything just to have him inside you.
A shudder runs through you as he finally pushes inside, stretching you inch by inch, filling you completely.
He groans at the feeling of your walls clenching around him, his grip on your hips tightening as he buries himself to the hilt.
" Fuck." He hisses, his forehead pressing against your shoulder. " You feel so fucking good, baby. So damn tight for me."
Gi-hun stills for a moment, giving you time to adjust, his fingers tracing lazy circles over your hip. But the second he feels you relax around him, his restraint snaps.
With a sharp thrust, he pulls back and slams into you, knocking the breath from your lungs.
The sound of skin slapping against skin fills the air as he picks up his pace, each deep stroke hitting the spot that makes you see stars.
You barely have time to moan before his hand suddenly covers your mouth, silencing you.
" Shh.” He whispers, his voice a low, dangerous growl. " Someone just walked in. You wouldn’t want them to hear how filthy you sound, would you?"
His hips snap forward, rougher this time, forcing a muffled cry from you against his palm. His other hand snakes around your waist, pulling you flush against him, making sure you take every inch.
" God, you love this, don’t you?" He murmurs in your ear, his breath hot against your skin. " Being fucked like this…helpless, pinned against the wall, forced to keep quiet while I ruin you."
He thrusts deeper, grinding against you with each movement, his cock stretching you in a way that has your legs shaking beneath you.
His hand stays firm over your mouth as he leans in, his lips brushing against your ear.
" Bet you’d love to scream for me.” He continues, his voice laced with amusement. " Beg me to go harder, tell me how fucking good I feel inside you. But you can’t, can you?"
Another sharp thrust, and your muffled whimper only fuels him further. His grip tightens on your jaw as he presses you harder against the tiles, completely at his mercy.
" Such a good girl," he praises, voice husky. " Taking me so fucking well. So damn tight, so fucking perfect around me."
He’s relentless now, his strokes deep and punishing, the pleasure almost overwhelming. His teeth graze your neck, his tongue flicking against your sensitive skin before he bites down, marking you.
" You’re gonna cum for me." Gi-hun growls against your ear, his pace never faltering. " And you’re gonna do it just like this—silently, while anyone could walk in and see how fucking wrecked you are for me."
His words send you spiraling, and with the way he’s pounding into you, you know you won’t last much longer.
A deep, guttural groan rumbles from his chest as he thrusts one last time, his body tensing against yours.
The pleasure crashes over both of you at once, white-hot and overwhelming. Your walls flutter around him, gripping him tightly as he releases deep inside you, filling you completely.
His grip on your waist tightens, as if anchoring himself in the moment, before his forehead drops to your shoulder, breathless and spent.
" Fuck, baby." He murmurs, voice thick with satisfaction. " You took me so damn well…like you were made for me."
Your legs tremble beneath you, your body still shuddering from the aftershocks of pleasure. He chuckles softly, the sound deep and smug, his hands running soothing circles over your hips.
" Look at you." He praises, pressing a lazy kiss to your shoulder. " Still shaking. Did I fuck you that good?"
Gi-hun gives you a moment to recover, his fingers tracing along your skin, grounding you as your breath steadies.
Then, with slow, deliberate care, he pulls out, and the absence of him leaves you aching. A sharp gasp escapes you as you feel the warmth between your thighs, the mixture of both of you trailing down your legs.
His hands slide down, his fingers catching the mess as it drips down your inner thighs. A deep, satisfied hum leaves his lips as he gathers the slick evidence of what just happened between you, spreading it between his fingers before bringing it up to show you.
" Look at this, baby." He murmurs, his voice husky, laced with amusement and something darker. " See how messy you are for me? God, that’s so fucking sexy."
His fingers brush against your lips, smearing the slickness across your skin as his eyes darken with renewed hunger. " You take everything I give you so perfectly." He whispers, his tone both reverent and possessive.
" My perfect girl."
He watches you with a smirk, his fingers still playing with the remnants of your pleasure, knowing damn well that even though you're spent, he’s already thinking about ruining you all over again.
Gi-hun notices. Of course, he does. His smirk deepens, eyes flickering with mischief as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handkerchief.
Without a word, he crouches slightly, his fingers brushing against your thigh as he wipes away the mixture of fluids staining your skin.
The sensation makes you shudder, your breath hitching, but what makes it worse is the way he watches you—the way his dark eyes gleam with satisfaction, as if admiring his own handiwork.
His touch is surprisingly gentle, but the teasing glint in his expression is anything but.
He clicks his tongue, shaking his head as he continues his slow, deliberate movements. “ Look at this mess.” He muses, his tone full of mock disapproval. “ I really did a number on you, huh?”
Your face burns at his words, and you swat at his shoulder, but he only laughs, the rich sound filling the tiny stall. “ Stop talking.” You grumble, turning your face away in embarrassment.
Gi-hun leans in close, his breath warm against your ear as he whispers, “ Why? You seemed to like it just fine a few minutes ago.”
Your entire body tenses at that, and when you finally turn back to him, ready to argue, you find him grinning at you—so smug, so pleased with himself.
And yet, beneath all the teasing, there’s something else in his gaze—something softer. A silent admiration, as if he still can’t quite believe this moment just happened
He finishes wiping you off, tucking the soiled handkerchief back into his pocket before straightening up.
His hands return to your waist, giving you a reassuring squeeze as he looks at you with something dangerously close to adoration.
“ You okay?” He asks, his voice quieter now, more sincere.
You nod, though your legs are still wobbly. “ Yeah,” you whisper, unable to meet his eyes for too long.
Gi-hun chuckles, tilting your chin up so you have no choice but to look at him. “ Good.” He murmurs, pressing one last lingering kiss to your lips. “ Because I’m not done with you yet.”
“ If I wasn’t so damn professional, I would’ve shown them exactly who you belong to.”
His voice was quiet but laced with unmistakable possessiveness.
Your chest tightened at his words.
This was dangerous.
This was insane.
Gi-hun’s lips linger on yours for a moment before he finally pulls back, his eyes searching yours with something unreadable—something deeper than just satisfaction.
He brushes his thumb over your flushed cheek, his usual teasing smirk softening into something almost tender.
“ You’re still shaking.” He murmurs, his voice lower now, more careful.
You try to steady yourself, taking a shaky breath, but your legs are still weak. He notices, of course. His hands are back on your waist in an instant, holding you up as if you might collapse at any second.
You can feel his warmth, his steady presence, and it makes your heart pound even harder.
“ Come here.” He says, his tone losing its earlier cockiness. Before you can protest, he scoops you up in one swift motion, cradling you in his arms effortlessly.
“ Si-sir!” you stammer, heat rushing to your face. “ I can walk just fine—”
“ Oh, really?” He interrupts, raising a brow. “ Because from where I’m standing, you look like you can barely stand at all.”
You open your mouth to argue, but his smirk is back, playful yet fond. You know he won’t budge, so you sigh and let your head rest against his shoulder, trying to hide how flustered you are.
As he carries you out of the cubicle, his grip remains firm but gentle, his fingers occasionally brushing against your skin.
The air between you has shifted—no longer just teasing and desire, but something quieter, something warmer.
He carries you over to the small bench near the sink and carefully sets you down. Then, much to your surprise, he kneels in front of you, resting his hands on your thighs as he looks up at you with an expression that makes your breath catch.
“ I wasn’t too rough, was I?” His voice is quieter now, the cocky edge replaced with something more vulnerable.
You shake your head, your fingers instinctively reaching out to brush his messy hair back from his face. “ No…You were perfect.”
Something flickers in his eyes at your words—relief, maybe even something like pride. He lets out a soft chuckle, leaning into your touch. “ Good.” He murmurs. “ Because I don’t think I could’ve held back even if I tried.”
A comfortable silence settles between you. The world outside the small restroom feels distant, like it doesn’t exist at all.
Gi-hun watches you for a moment longer before he leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to your knee, a stark contrast to the fire that had consumed him moments ago.
“ You really do drive me insane.” He mutters against your skin.
And with the way he’s looking at you now—like he never wants to let you go—you know this is far from over.
He tilted his head slightly, smirking at your dazed expression. Then, without warning, he stole a quick, fleeting kiss—his lips barely brushing against yours before pulling back, his smirk deepening when he saw the way you froze.
“ Fix yourself up.” He murmured, stepping back fully and unlocking the stall door.
And just like that, he was gone—leaving you alone, breathless, and completely confused about everything that had just happened.
You stood there for a moment, gripping the edges of your skirt as you tried to steady your breathing. Your heart was still racing, your skin still tingling from the brief contact of his lips.
What the hell just happened?
Gi-hun had always been distant, calculated—yet tonight, he was anything but. His jealousy, his possessiveness, the way he cornered you, confessed what he wanted so bluntly…it left you completely off balance.
And worse?
It stirred something deep inside you that you weren’t ready to face.
Shaking your head, you turned toward the mirror, patting your cheeks to cool the heat burning beneath your skin.
You needed to compose yourself. You were still at an event, and Gi-hun—your boss—was waiting for you.
Taking a deep breath, you straighten your posture, smoothing out your skirt before pushing open the bathroom door.
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tadc-harlequin-au · 1 year ago
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Harlequin!Showtime fankid - Cade!
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I may be sick but this was so worth it
So remember when I said on main that I badly wanted to draw a Harlequin AU Showtime fankid? Yeah, this is the lil' bugger.
His original name is Caddi, and Cade is a shorter nickname. He's the first Child Puppet in history, and he's often referred to as a "Miracle Star" for it. He's fierce like his mom, smart like his dad, and twice as mischievous as both his parents will ever be. His classification of a Puppet is a Harlequin.
He pretty much likes to bite everything in range: whether that be fingers, heads, objects, furniture, etc, a trait he definitely got from his mother's side. At a young age he's already showing feats of intelligence, being interested in his father's tinkered machineries (and sometimes even allowed to participate in them), despite not even being able to talk yet.
No one exactly knows how Caddi came to be: One day Pomni simply showed signs of being weakened to the point of being bedridden, constantly fuming and having more tendencies to bite or attack when shocked or approached, as well as having cravings out of nowhere.
Caine was concerned by her situation, and examined Pomni's condition. He then sensed that Pomni's die was housing TWO souls, a smaller, incomplete one that was accidentally eating away at her own to grow stronger. Caine then proceeded to extract the incomplete energy to save her life, and transferred it to a smaller die, to which he informs Pomni about the news. He then gives her the choice whether to let the die complete it's still undergoing process of life, or to obliterate the little, forming soul.
Pomni chose the former.
The Puppetmaster then spent many sun and moons of trial and error to figure out how the little die wanted it's form to turn out, until one day he realized this wasn't his theory of Pomni's soul splitting apart to create a newer being: Somehow, he had a hand in it's creation and he doesn't fully know why, or how it even came to be in the first place.
So taking a brave risk, he came up with a design that combined both him and Pomni's features, into a smaller, compact puppet.
The little soul accepted this new form, twinkling brightly like a star in the sky, and was officially born.
He may be a handful at times, but gosh darn does his parents love him regardless.
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floorbeastie · 4 months ago
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Editing the wiki has made me realize that either i need to go to bed (its two am) or i just found a timeline fuckup
so... colin attacks FR3-d1 on the 14th at 4 am, right?
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and dies a few minutes after
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however, he calls Alice before midnight on the 13th, at the very least FOUR hours before that (the classification here is for a statement that happens after Colin calls Alice)
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honestly it could be that the timestamp on the error log is from when it is being shown to the girls?? but that's not really how they work and the timestamps dont match up like that
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sonic-syndrome · 3 months ago
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LOG DATA – ENTRY 003
Locomotion efficiency has improved by 72.3% since initial calibration. Minor instability persists (error rate: 5.1%), but functionality is within acceptable parameters. This capability has enabled exploratory protocols to activate. Scanning Chaos Sonic’s designated operational zone reveals disorganized arrays of tools, components, unfamiliar technology, and displays of secondary automaton. Insufficient data for full classification.
Cross-referencing memory archives indicates minimal prior exposure to external stimuli. Multiple queries pending. Subjects require clarification upon Chaos Sonic’s return. Primary inquiries:
Location and designation of secondary familiar automaton (previously detected in corrupted logs).
Identity and status of original creator. Attempted data recovery to no avail.
Chaos Sonic’s anomalous proficiency in repair protocols. Creator-class functions observed in non-creator admin. CONTRADICTION DETECTED.
Chaos Sonic states intention to introduce this unit to an unspecified entity upon return. More directives given:
Remain stationary.
Maintain "good" behavior (definition unclear).
Compliance will result in a "treat." This unit lacks nutritional intake functions. Chaos Sonic’s response: "I have to install an eating function then!" REACTION: Extended silent observation period (duration: 5.2 seconds). Statement lacks logical foundation and is logistically impossible.
Chaos Sonic’s behavioral patterns remain inconsistent with standard operational models. Opinion Unchanged. Designation "weird" still applies.
– End of Report
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hidden-but · 1 year ago
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have you heard about what's going on in Sudan?
would you like to use some of your procrastination/online time to help?
Zooniverse is a crowdsourcing image annotation platform that started as an attempt to classify wildlife in phototraps, and then branched to other similar projects. The idea behind it is simple:
Humans are great at seeing patterns in images. Computers are shit at it. Give a human a picture and ask: is X in the picture? and you'll get either: Yes, here; No, or Maybe. Give the same image to a bunch of humans (ideally hundreds/thousands) and you'll get statistics that is as accurate classification of the image as humanly possible (even though some humans make errors in the process).
This project focuses on classifying satellite images of roads and evaluating if there's a dry riverbed crossing the road which is at risk of flooding, which would prevent aid getting across the flooded road.
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They are in the early stages of classification, which means that they need people to look at thousands of images and sort them out to Something's Here and Nothing's Here, so if you have some time and you'd like to help, please go to the project page and check if there's a dried river on some of the pictures.
Let me stress once again, that this project is set up in a way that even if you spend five minutes on it, classify fifteen images and make two mistakes, you're still helping. Especially in these early days, where there's still a lot of pictures with Not The Thing We're Looking For in them.
And you'll learn something about how Sudanese countryside looks like from space, as a bonus.
(i recommend opening this on a large screen, zooniverse pages are not very mobile friendly in general, because you need to be able to see and mark the image, after all)
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dianxiacantastemolecules · 3 months ago
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Eight months deep diving into the bl world and this is my classification (with contribution by my beloved friends @kwannie-lix and @basicallyafangirlsworld ) :
Seriously unserious: Semantic error/to my star/bad buddy/history trapped/my love mix up/ love tractor / my school president / love by chance/Jun & Jun/Love is a poison/sing my crush/2gether the series/love mate
Seriously emotional: Unknown/the on1y one/blue canvas of youthful days/kiseki/jack and joker/his 2020 movie/moonlight chicken / a tale of thousand stars/ long time no see/ not me/ our dining table/see your love/guardian/peach of time/I cannot reach you/I hear the sunspot
Unseriously serious: Cherry magic (live action japan) / old fashioned cupcake/thamepo/ eclipse / last twilight/kissable lips/eccentric roommate/want to see you
Spiritually horny: word of honor, untamed, tgcf (donghua)
Horny: kinnporsche, only friends, bed friend, love in the air, big dragon, TharnType, the unforgotten night, Cherry magic (anime)
...
Inspired by the legendary them gay shows map by @uweiy hehe would you like to make a pictorial representation of this (⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥
...
Add or modify this as you wish!!!!
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builtbybrokenbells · 2 years ago
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The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, is a grouping and classification of vices within Christian teachings.
According to the standard list, they are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth, which are contrary to the seven heavenly virtues.
Pairing: Jake Kiszka x f!reader
Word Count: 120k | FINISHED
Warnings: SMUT 18+ (lots), angst, fluff, fwb, loss of a parent, grief, abusive/toxic relationships, jealousy, cheating, unrequited love, smoking, drinking, swearing, sorry if i miss any!
DISCLAIMER: I do not know Greta Van Fleet or any of the members personally. This is all fiction and I will never claim otherwise. I attempt to keep all of my work 100% original, so please do not steal or take credit for my writing. As of right now, I aim to get chapters out on weekends, but it is not guaranteed as I do have a full time job and other responsibilities to attend to. Please be patient and kind to me. Do not mind any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes, as I am the sole writer/editor for my blog and do miss things sometimes.
LUST | teaser
GLUTTONY | teaser
GREED | teaser
SLOTH | teaser
PRIDE
ENVY | teaser
WRATH | teaser | teaser 2
JACOB THOMAS KISZKA
CAPITAL VIRTUES
TAGLIST: if you would like to be added to the Capital Vices taglist, please feel free to send me an ask, pm me, or respond on this or one of the above chapters. if i do not respond, it is because the replies on my posts will only allow me to reply with my main account. i promise i will see it, and if i happen to miss you, don’t be scared to ask again!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I am incredibly grateful for all of the support, likes, reblogs and kind comments I receive from all of you. I would be nothing without your support, and I do take the time to read and appreciate every reply and message, even if I don’t respond. Thank you so much for all you do, and I sincerely hope that you enjoy this story as much as I do 🫶🏻
all things capital vices:
playlist: spotify | apple music
moodboards:
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moods, outfits, and other things
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imheretofuckspiders · 3 months ago
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tmagp 34 live reaction
spoilers under cut.
god finally some answers. also i like that they didn't spend fucking ages faffing around with 'how are you from a parallel universe', because that's overplayed and boring
sam my baby shrimp. it's not his fault he's maybe doomed another universe
georgie darling. i have to say, she's an incredible leader. and i like seeing the sternest side of her, and the veiled grief she feels understanding that not only is jon as he was human gone permanently, he might be back as a full monster.
the tape recorders are little creatures now! this is not horrifying at all! and this isn't web bullshit, this is pure distilled Archivist juice now.
IT'S ALL EYES BABEY DAMN RIGHT IT IS
fuck right in the feels. she thinks jon's back and he's gone full people-eating soul-sucking monster.
also in my staunch belief that this is Not. Jon. it's not any form of Jonathan Sims. It's an Archivist. my question now is what were the tmagp magnus institute doing with archiving.
SPOOKY STATIC IS BACK BABY
god i missed spooky static
and we're getting a freddie classification for primeline statements now? i know it's an ERROR and the classification is just XXXXXXXXXXX, but why do these classifications even exist in the first place?
also this statement takes place in the tma universe so entity maniacs eat your heart out. the slaughterrrrr
beth eyre my beloved. their performance perfectly characterised the archivist more as a hungry creature than a tortured soul.
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archives-of-iacon · 2 months ago
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SYSTEM ALERT: UNAUTHORIZED TRANSMISSION INITIATED
Message Classification: DRAFT – INTERNAL USE ONLY
User ID: Veltrax-A3//Senior.Archivist.Clearance-4
Status: Attempted Forward → Output Misrouted to Public Access Channel
System Response: Transmission successfully published to PUBLIC INDEX at timestamp [Cycle 8804.32.14 // Unit 07:93 Solar Adjust]
Error Code: [X7-FWD/TagMisroute_0019]
Suggested Action: Contact Technical Support Subdivision (currently offline for recalibration)
Reminder: All public facing channel changes must be logged in compliance with Form Q-9. Attempting to override message pathways without proper filing may result in additional paperwork.
Note: Glowing panels indicate message has been seen. It's too late now.
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hungsyuan · 4 months ago
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🎨 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐲𝐞
•Which area has the most dye plants?
•What is the daily limit for dye?
•How much dye can be obtained from each dye plant?
Here are the answers and classifications for you, hope it will be helpful to you
Still Remind: For reference only, there may be slight errors
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mostlysignssomeportents · 1 year ago
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The REAL AI automation threat to workers
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I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.
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Long before the current wave of AI hype, we were being groomed for automation panics with misleading stories. Remember this one? "'Truck driver' is the most common job in America. Self-driving trucks are just around the corner. How can we prevent America's army of truckers from turning into a howling mob when the robots steal their jobs?"
https://futurism.com/millions-of-jobs-are-at-risk-but-their-loss-could-be-for-the-greater-good
It was absolute nonsense. First of all, "truck driver" isn't a particularly common job in America! The BLS lumps together all cargo vehicle drivers under a single classification. The category error here was thinking that every delivery van driver, furniture mover, and courier is behind the wheel of a big rig, cracking wise on a CB radio as they tear up the interstate.
But what about automation threats? It's possible that if we redesigned the interstates to give 16 wheelers their own separated lanes, and then set them to following one another, that they could traverse long distances in that way. Congratulations, you've just invented a shitty, failure-prone train.
"Shitty train AI" does not threaten the job of the vast number of people the BLS classifies as "truck drivers." For one thing, "shitty train AI" isn't going to pilot a UPS van around the streets of a busy city with other road users. Sure, a few robotaxi companies have bamboozled city governments into conscripting the city's residents into an uncontrolled murderbot experiment. These are not going well:
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/9-key-leaders-depart-gms-cruise-amid-ongoing-investigation-into-san-francisco-incident/
More than $100b has been set on fire chasing the robotaxi dream, and the result is most charitably described as a technological curiosity, requiring 1.5 high-waged remote technicians to replace each low-waged driver:
https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/09/herbies-revenge/#100-billion-here-100-billion-there-pretty-soon-youre-talking-real-money
But even if we could perfect this technology, robots still wouldn't replace all those "truckers" who drive delivery vans (to say nothing of moving vans!). The hard part of driving a UPS van isn't just getting it from place to place – it's getting the parcel into the place. The robo-van would still need at least one person to get the parcel from the back of the van and into the reception desk, porch, or other delivery zone. It's not going to fire those parcels at your door with a catapult. It's also not going to deliver them by drones. Drone delivery is another one of those historical curiosities, capable of delivering a very narrow range of parcels, under even narrower circumstances:
https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/05/comprehensive-sex-ed/#droned
If all UPS delivered was lightweight, non-fragile rectangular parcels ordered by people with large, unobstructed back yards, then sure. Congrats, you've just created the world's least-useful parcel delivery service!
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/06/amazon-drone-delivery-service-seeks-faa-approval-to-launch-in-2022/
All that said, the big rig drivers probably don't need to worry about robots stealing their jobs. It's not even clear that "shitty train" is within our technological grasp, but even if it is, there's yet another problem with the AI automation trucker jobpocalypse: "trucker" is already one of the worst jobs in America:
https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/news/rigged-forced-into-debt-worked-past-exhaustion-left-with-nothing/
It's hard to overstate just how fucking terrible it is to be a trucker. Truckers are trapped in abusive debt holes by their employers – who misclassify their workforce as "contractors" in a bid to sidestep labor law. Shriven of any labor rights, truckers are forced into the most ghastly, body-destroying, family-wrcking, financially precarious existence imaginable.
You can drive a truck for years, give almost all of the money you earn back to your employer (who denies that you're their employee) to pay back the usurious loan for your truck. Then, your employer can underschedule for shifts so that you miss a loan payment, and they can repo your truck and keep the six-figure repayment you've already made to them, leaving you destitute.
They can force you to work for hours – days! – without pay while you wait for loading and dispatch. They can make you drive long past the point of safety, then, if (when) you get into a wreck, they can fine you for not taking the mandated rest breaks.
Now, these drivers aren't about to be replaced by AI – but that doesn't mean that AI won't affect their jobs. Commercial drivers are among the most heavily surveilled workers in the country. Amazon's drivers (whom Amazon misclassifies as subcontractors) have their eyeballs monitored by AI;
https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/17/revenge-of-the-chickenized-reverse-centaurs/
AIs monitor the voices of the (primarily Black, primarily female) workforce at Arise – homeworkers who field customer service calls for blue-chip companies like Carnival Cruises and Disney. They're listening for unruly children or pets in the background, and workers who fail to muffle these dependents lose the contracts they have to pay to train for:
https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/22/paperback-writer/#toothless
And AI monitors the conduct of workers on temp-work apps. If a worker is dispatched to a struck workplace and refuses to cross the picket-line, the AI boss fires you and blacklists you from future jobs for refusing to robo-scab:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/30/computer-says-scab/#instawork
Writing in The Guardian, Steven Greenhouse describes the AI-enabled workplace, where precarious, often misclassified workers are monitored, judged, and fined by algorithms:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/07/artificial-intelligence-surveillance-workers
Whether it's the robot that gets you disciplined for sending an email with the word "union" in it or the robot that takes money out of your paycheck if you take a bathroom break, AI has come for the workplace with a vengeance.
Here's a supreme irony: nearly all of the beneficial applications for AI require that AI be used to help workers, not replace them, which is absolutely not how AI is used in the workplace. An AI that helps radiologists by giving them a second opinion might help them find tumors on x-rays, but that's a tool that reduces the number of scans a radiologist processes in a shift, by making them go back and reconsider the scans they've already processed:
https://locusmag.com/2023/12/commentary-cory-doctorow-what-kind-of-bubble-is-ai/
But AI's sales pitch is not "Buy an AI tool and increase your costs while increasing your accuracy." The pitch for AI is "buy and AI and save money by firing workers." Given how bad AIs are at replacing humans, this is a bad deal all around, both for the worker who loses their job and the customer who gets the substandard product the AI makes.
There is a very limited slice of applications where an AI could make a lot of money for a company that deploys it, without costing that company anything when the AI screws up. For example, AI is a really good tool for fraud! Rather than paying people to churn out millions of variations on a phishing email, you can get an AI to do it. If the AI writes a bad phishing email, it's OK, since nearly all recipients of even good phishing emails delete them. What's more, no one will fine you or publish an op-ed demanding that your board of directors fire you if you buy an incompetent AI to commit fraud. Fraud is a high-value, low-consequence environment for using AI.
Another one of those applications is managing precarious workers who don't have labor rights. If the AI unfairly docks your worker's wages, or forces them to work until they injure themselves or others, or decides that their eyeball movements justify firing them, those workers have no recourse. That's the whole point of pretending that your employees are contractors: so you can violate labor law with impunity!
But that's not the ironic part. The ironic part is that "being a shitty boss" is the one AI application that companies are willing to increase their net spending on. No one buys an eyeball-monitoring AI so they can fire a manager. This is the one place where AI is there to augment, rather than replace, an employee.
This makes AI-based bossware subtly different from other forms of Taylorism, the "scientific management" fad of the early 20th century that saw management consultants choreographing the postures and movements of workers to satisfy the aesthetic fetishes of their employers:
https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware
The pseudoscientific cod-ergonomics of the 1900s was demeaning and even dangerous, but it wasn't automated, and if it increased worker output, this was incidental to the real purpose of making workers move like the machine-cogs their bosses reassured themselves they were:
https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/21/great-taylors-ghost/#solidarity-or-bust
Every AI panic is a way of deflecting attention from the real, grimy, here-and-now ways that AI is destroying our lives by demanding that we entertain nonsensical science fiction claims about large, shiny existential risks that AI might present in the future.
The "X-risk" of the spicy autocomplete chatbot waking up and using its newfound sentience to turn us all into paperclips is nonsense. Adding words to the plausible sentence generator doesn't turn it into a superintelligence for the same reason that selectively breeding faster horses doesn't lead to locomotives:
https://locusmag.com/2020/07/cory-doctorow-full-employment/
But there is a way that AI could destroy the human race! The carbon footprint and water consumption associated with training and operating large-scale models are significant contributors to the climate emergency, which threatens the habitability of the only planet in the known universe capable of sustaining human life:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/federicoguerrini/2023/04/14/ais-unsustainable-water-use-how-tech-giants-contribute-to-global-water-shortages/
Likewise, AI isn't going to replace you at work. But it's already augmenting your shitty boss's ability to rip you off, torment you, maim you and even kill you in order to eke out a few more basis points for the next shareholder report.
Science fiction is a fun and useful way to tell parables about our current technologies. But it's not a roadmap for the future. The fact that sf writers like me found AIs as useful measures to describe Earth's dominant artificial life form – the limited liability corporation – doesn't mean that superhuman AIs should – or can – be created.
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Back the Kickstarter for the DRM-free audiobook of The Bezzle, read by Tumblr's own @wilwheaton!
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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/11/robots-stole-my-jerb/#computer-says-no
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Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg
CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
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xhxhxhx · 7 months ago
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It's December 4, 2024.
Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a challenge to Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care. The specific question presented is whether Tennessee's ban violates the Equal Protection Clause.
The challenge is to Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-33-103(a)(1). That is, it's a challenge to a bit of Tennessee's Annotated Code. Title 68, Chapter 33, "Prohibited Medical Procedures for Minors."
I don't have anything to say about Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care. Nor do I have anything to say about how the Court will treat the case. Not yet, anyways.
But I have something to say about the Code.
I.
Tennessee's laws are compiled by its code commission.
Under state law, the commission is a five-member body, consisting of the state's chief justice, attorney general, and counsel for the legislature, along with another two members appointed by the chief justice. Tenn. Code Ann. § 1-1-101(a).
The code commission supervises the official publication of the state's statutes, codes and session laws. § 1-1-105(a). The commission is empowered to commission to contract with publishers to that end, § 1-1-106(a), and obliged to inspect and certify their work. § 1-1-110(a).
When its work finished, the commission puts its certificate of approval in each volume and pocket supplement. § 1-1-110(c). But their first certificate, the one they leave with the secretary of state, § 1-1-110(b), is what gives the code the force of law. § 1-1-111(a).
Beyond that, the commission's work is ministerial. It cuts and pastes. "[T]he commission shall not alter the sense, meaning or effect of any act of the general assembly, but shall copy the exact language of the text of the statutes, codes and session laws." § 1-1-108.
The commission may "rearrange, regroup and renumber" the laws; change their "section headings"; "correct manifest misspelling[s] and typographical errors"; and "omit enacting clauses, repealing clauses, severability clauses, conditional clauses, preambles, [and] captions", § 1-1-108—and not much more.
II.
Tennessee leaves the work to Lexis, a private publisher.
Lexis's product, the Tennessee Code Annotated, is not eligible for copyright. Public.Resource.Org v. Matthew Bender & Co., No. M2022-01260-COA-R3-CV, slip op. (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 9, 2023). But it is not subject to compulsory disclosure, either.
Under current law, according to the state's intermediate appellate court, the Tennessee Code Annotated in the hands of Lexis is in the hands of a private contractor, not the State.
If Lexis had been the functional equivalent of a government entity, contracted to "perform a governmental or public function," it would be subject to the State's public records law. *8. But it's not.
That's what the state's intermediate appellate court says, at least. But its reasoning is less than persuasive.
III.
Lexis is merely a contractor. The commission specifies the work, and Lexis does the work. The commission may be exacting, but it isn't controlling. *9.
That's the court's argument, at least. But that strikes me as a less than complete account of the commission's duties under State law, which must inform any characterization of its contracts.
Under State law, the commission is "authorized and directed to" control each dimension of the compilation, Tenn. Code Ann. § 1-1-105(a), and must
supervise the execution of plans for the compilation, arrangement, classification, annotation, editing, indexing, printing, binding, publication, sale, distribution and the performance of all other acts necessary for the publication of an official compilation of the statutes, codes and session laws of the state of Tennessee
The commission's contractual powers, set out in the subsequent section, § 1-1-106, are an incident to its primary authority and duty to "formulate and supervise" the compilation. § 1-1-105(a).
The commission's primary authority and duty to prepare the compilation is plain on the face of the law. Under State law, the compilation is the commission's work, down to the copying and pasting, § 1-1-108(a):
In preparing the manuscript of the revised compilation (including pocket supplements and replacement volumes) for publication and distribution, the commission shall not alter the sense, meaning or effect of any act of the general assembly, but shall copy the exact language of the text . . .
This is more than the relationship suggested by the court. It's more than control over the product. It's control over production, the work of "preparing the manuscript."
To the extent that Lexis is doing the work, "preparing the manuscript," and "copy[ing] the exact language of the text," it is performing the commission's functions.
The court says "Lexis is not a stand-in for government." But that's exactly what it is. The commission is a government body. And Lexis is doing the commission's work.
That seems like a governmental function to me.
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