#ot3: did you say girlfriend

[blackbird-brewster]

My current obsession is this OT3. Tara has two hands, she deserves two girlfriends 🙏😌

Cut to the Feeling || Company

(Shhh I know these are BTS shots but when my OT3 is two rare pairs smooshed into one, I will take what I can get)

[three-blogs-in-a-trenchcoat]

Okay but think of the comedic potential of the Leverage OT3 having been together for years by the time of Redemption, and at one point the others find out.

Breanna would be like "oh my god how did I not see that". Sophie would go "oh that explains a lot of things". (And yeah, it would also be on board for her to know, but one, it's been established that unconventional relationships are kind of a blind spot for her, and two, Parker is weird enough and Eliot's act is good enough that it would help throw her off the scent.)

(Harry wouldn't care much probably.)

And the possibilities of how it could happen. Like. Hardison is up in space, Eliot and Parker are doing something for a con, they see someone coming, Parker is like "quick, let's make out", and throws herself on Eliot. Eliot is like "no, not the lips", but he goes along with it, and then when they're in the clear, he's like "why do you always bite my lips? you didn't have to bite my lips", to which Parker replies "I was playing a character. Clara is a lip biter", and Eliot goes on an angry rant about the whole thing, but also the others overhear it, and Breanna checks in like "Eliot always says it? how often do you guys make out on cons?" and Parker goes "Eliot's not talking about the cons."

OR Parker is upset by something, and leaves the room, and Eliot goes after her, and when he doesn't resurface for a while Breanna goes after him, and they're kissing, and Eliot shouts at her to get out, but she's like "Okay. This is not cool. Eliot, you're super scary and I can see you're pissed at me right now, but I gotta call Hardison," and they're both like no, you don't have to do that, but he's already on call, and Breanna tells him everything. Eliot is facepalming and sighing the whole time. Parker is just like "what? they had to find out eventually." And then Breanna finishes, everyone is dead silent, waiting for his reaction, and Hardison is like "So y'all wasted my time with this? [five-minute rant about how busy he is]" Breanna is flabbergasted. "So Eliot makes out with your girlfriend and that's your reaction?" So Hardison just goes "Damn sis I better damn hope that when my girlfriend is upset our boyfriend would go and comfort him. Get yo act together." He hangs up, camera cuts to Breana, her face frozen while trying to process the information. Then she just goes "HOLY SH-" [commercial break]

[magicshopaholic]

Interlude: Hyung Line

Or

The one where the three oldest members of the group find themselves in deep shit

Summary: Namjoon returns to see everyone in a crisis. Seokjin has a conversation with his girlfriend, while Hoseok wonders if he's going to lose his best friend. Meanwhile, Yoongi ruminates on an impulsive decision.

Pairing: OT3 x OC (different OCs)

Genre: Humour, fluff, angst

Word count: 11.2 K

Rating: 18+

Warnings: language

A/N: It's been forever since I posted and I bring you... *an aftermath fic*!! Takes place the morning after A Stormy Night.

Tagging: @bbl32 @quarter-life-crisis2 @dreaming-with-happiness @faearchives @margopinkerton @purpleseoul7 @confessionsofamarshlily @jiminjhang @xjoonchildx @tarahardcore @infinitehobi @handfullofcandids @whoisbts @jihopesjoint @kflixnet (drop a message if you want to be added)

Listen to: "dope lovers" by dpr ian

seokjin masterlist | yoongi masterlist | hoseok masterlist | main masterlist

When Hoseok wakes up the next morning, it’s to slivers of sunlight through a soft mesh sort of thing on his face. He blinks and shifts slightly; it’s Chaeyoung’s hair, where his face was buried, and he squints towards the window where an apologetic looking sun has reared its head in the sky after a night of torrential rain.

He relaxes slightly; next to him, Chaeyoung hasn’t moved, her shoulders rising and falling peacefully with every breath she takes. His phone buzzes and he turns to reach for it.

Taehyung [08:45] Anyone need a ride to HQ? I’m leaving in a bit Although no one apart from Jungkookie seems to be in the dorm right now

Namjoon [08:48] I’ll reach on my own. I just got off a flight so I came to my apartment to take a shower.

Seokjin [09:00] I’ll reach on my own too.

Taehyung [09:01] Okay. Where were you last night?

Seokjin [09:01] Never you mind. I have my car.

Yoongi [09:02] Me too.

Hoseok stares at the screen, slowly licking his lips.

Hoseok [09:03] Me too.

Taehyung [09:04] This is not suspicious at all.

Jimin [09:04] I’m at my place with Sooah :D:D:D I’ll be there soon - but everybody don’t forget to be at the restaurant for her birthday lunch! No latecomers!

Taehyung [09:05] I take it your night turned out well after all?

Jimin [09:05] Yessss it did, god bless. I have the best girlfriend in the world - but I’ll tell you about it later. I mean it though - don’t be late for the lunch. Hobi hyung - you can bring Chaeyoung.

Hoseok stomach jolts.

Hoseok [09:06] That’s super random. She’s totally capable of coming on her own, you know? She’s not a kid anymore and I’m not responsible for her anyway.

Jimin [09:08] Errrr I meant because the roads are still a bit flooded so she may not want to walk to the bus stop. But I guess she can come on her own too.

Jungkook [09:09] I can pick her up on my way to the restaurant if you want, hyung. 

Taehyung [09:09] You’re alive??? I knocked on your door at least twice last night but I heard nothing. I thought you died in there or something.

Jungkook [09:10] Oh yeah. I was really tired.

Taehyung [09:10] Lol, I’m sure.

Jungkook [09:10] @Namjoon How was your trip hyung?

Namjoon [09:11] Amazing Didn’t want to come back tbh

Jimin [09:11] That feels great to hear But I have a girlfriend now so I get it

Jungkook [09:12] Gross

Jimin [09:12] Don’t be bitter just because you’re single

Yoongi [09:13] Yeah go get laid instead

Taehyung [09:13] I still don’t know where half of you are though. How was everyone out last night despite that horrendous storm?

Namjoon [09:14] Yoongi hyung corrupting the children since 2013

Yoongi [09:14] Me? I think Hobi is doing enough of that for all of us

Hoseok [19:15] What!  Of course not.  Why even would you say that?  What are you talking about

Yoongi [09:16] Sorry, I meant Seokjin

Seokjin [09:16] Errrrrrrr

Taehyung [09:16] I mean, is it me? Am I the lame one for having stayed home last night?

Yoongi [09:17] You were on your way to HQ last night, weren’t you?

Taehyung [09:17] No?

Yoongi [09:17] Not you

Namjoon [09:18] Did I leave my charger at the dorm?

Taehyung [09:18] No idea Speaking of which, you owe me a lock for my door

Namjoon [09:19] Excuse me?

Jungkook [09:19] Taehyung

Yoongi [09:20] Yeah and you need to return my aux cable. It’s still in your car. I couldn’t charge my phone last night and had to fight Miso to borrow hers

Hoseok [09:20] Wait you were with Miso last night?

Seokjin [09:21] @Namjoon I called you to check about the company HQ sleeping quarters too but you didn’t answer

Jimin [09:21] Oh yeah, Namjoon hyung - you weren’t here to give me a pep talk when my night for Sooah was going up in flames either. I had to call Taehyungie and Jungkook instead and they were no help at all!

Jungkook [09:22] Hey!

Taehyung [09:22] Hey!

Namjoon [09:22] One ridiculous problem at a time, please!

Hoseok frowns, already losing interest. He navigates away from the chat and scrolls through his messages, answering some and ignoring others, his eyes now somewhat getting used to the light of the screen. Just as he’s about to close the app, another message pops up.

Chanyeol [09:15] Up?

Hoseok [09:15] Just about

Chanyeol [09:16] Kk. Listen, are you going home anytime soon?

Hoseok [09:17] To Gwangju? Not part of the plan right now, no. Maybe Christmas? Why?

Chanyeol [09:17] We were planning when to go next. Hayoung’s parents are probably travelling end of the year so we’re trying to plan a trip when everyone we want to meet will be there at the same time.

Hoseok [09:18] And I’m part of that list? Chan, you honour me

Chanyeol [09:18] You’d think you wouldn’t be after 20 years of being friends but hey

Hoseok [09:18] You know Seoul is like a train ride away right? Why do you want to wait to hang out in Gwangju?

Chanyeol [09:19] Home and stuff

Hoseok [09:19] Hella senti, I have to say

Chanyeol [09:19] There’s the added bonus of Hayoung and I having to stay with our respective parents when we go home though

Hoseok [09:20] That’s what I’m saying! Come to Seoul

Chanyeol [09:21] I will… I just have to do a Gwangju trip soon. Hopefully when you’re there too

Hoseok [09:21] Why?

Chanyeol [09:22] Okay don’t say a word to ANYONE But I kinda want to ask Hayoung to move in

Chanyeol [09:23] Hoseok?

Chanyeol [09:24] Dude you’re freaking me out. Is that a terrible idea?

Hoseok [09:25] Nope Just recovering from MY MIND BEING BLOWN My boy’s growing up!!!

Chanyeol [09:25] Jesus You scared the shit out of me for a couple minutes there

Hoseok [09:26] I’m gonna dance my ass off at your wedding

Chanyeol [09:26] Whoaaa. Slow down there pop star

Chanyeol [09:27] Anyway, that’s why I want to go back. I want to do this thing where she’s at her parents’ house and I’m at mine and then I bring up all these rules that we used to have at home when we were kids and then just casually wonder what it would be like if we could make our own rules - in our own home.

Hoseok [09:28] Adorable Just adorable Still waiting for how my Gwangju plans fit into this though

Chanyeol [09:29] Are you kidding? I need you there for moral support!

Hoseok [09:29] So, like… hiding outside in the bushes while you’re talking to Hayoung?

Chanyeol [09:30] No, that would be creepy. But this might be the second most important question I ever ask in my life so I need you there. In town. In the vicinity. So I can plan and maybe make some kind of a grand gesture? Unless it’s stupid

Hoseok [09:30] No! Of course I’ll be there. Just let me know when

Chanyeol [09:31] I will. In any case, it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to go back until at least January so that gives me some time to prep.

Chanyeol [09:32] Thanks though. You’re a good friend. The best actually.

Hoseok stares at the screen, the smile on his face fading. The faint flowery perfume and the scent of skin on skin suddenly seems stronger. Something shifts next to him and he turns on his back with dread, faced with the sleeping form of his best friend’s half-naked younger sister.

—

“Everything okay?”

Seokjin looks up, instinctively locking his phone as Nari walks into the living room, stopping just shy of the edge of the carpet.

“Yeah. Just… the usual.” He shrugs, placing his phone next to him. He bites his lip, suddenly at a loss for words. “Did you sleep okay?”

“Mhm.” She nods, running her fingers through the top of her hair and letting it fall down one shoulder. “You? Was the sofa comfortable?”

“Oh. Yeah, totally.” He tries to suppress the urge to stretch his back. “How about you? Oh -“ He clears his throat when she frowns slightly. “Right. We just did you.”

Nari nods again, this time slower. “Listen, Seokjin, about last night -“

“Nari, about what happened -“

They pause at the same time and Seokjin feels his ears turn red, the same time as she chuckles awkwardly and looks away.

“You go,” offers Seokjin, regretting it almost immediately.

“No, no, please, you can go first.”

“No, I insist -“

Nari stares for a few seconds, looking hesitant. “I just wanted to say… don’t worry about it. We can just forget it.”

Seokjin processes this, his pulse slightly uneven. “Okay,” he says lightly. “Thanks for, uh… letting me sleep over.”

“I think I kind of forced you,” she reminds him. “I couldn’t quite have your hypothermia on my hands. They’d take away my medical license if I let you go back out in that rain. Oh, and take your time returning the clothes,” she adds suddenly. “Although I think that sweatshirt is yours, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Um -“ He looks down at the faded blue sweatshirt and grey joggers she’d lent him last night. “Oh, yeah. I stopped looking for this, like, three years ago. I thought I left it in some hotel in America.”

“Well, it would’ve been on eBay selling for a million dollars if that were the case,” she says teasingly.

Seokjin cracks a smile. Unlike last night when, for a glorious portion of an hour, things had felt almost normal, he feels more uncomfortable than ever. Part of him feels like screaming into a pillow, for it’s occurring to him now what a terrible position he’s put himself and Nari in, not to mention Seulgi, stranded in Big Hit.

“Oh.” The word escapes his lips before he realises. He scrambles off the sofa, running a hand through his messy hair. “I have to go… I need to pick up -“ He looks up at Nari.

“Yeah, no. That’s fine.” She nods. “I hope you don’t feel weird about last night, though.”

“I don’t.” He pauses. “I don’t feel weird about it,” he says clearly, but this isn’t the time to have this discussion. Not while his girlfriend is elsewhere, not until he’s done the right thing by her.

Nari looks like she’s about to say something but shakes her head at the last moment. “That’s good. I guess I’ll see you around?”

Seokjin observes her, bare face and slightly puffy eyes. She's biting her lip - he’d kissed those lips last night, he remembers and waits for his face to get hot again.

But it doesn’t. He nods. “Yeah. See you around, Nari.” He trudges out, squinting slightly at the sun and needing a coffee so, so badly.

“Seokjin.” She’s standing at the door when he turns and her eyes twinkle slightly in a way that makes his stomach leap hopefully. “Thanks for coming last night, though.”

It takes him a moment. “Of course. Happy half-birthday, Nari.”

The roads are unforgiving. Despite a lot of the water having been drained, the streets are still flowing with ankle deep water, leaves and debris strewn around everywhere, and entire roads blocked for repairs. 

Seokjin reaches Big Hit almost thirty minutes later than he’d intended. Just as he’s about to drive into the basement parking, he spots Seulgi walking out of the front doors, one hand on the strap of her bag and the other holding her phone.

He immediately pulls into the front of the building and skids to a stop, accidentally splashing water from a puddle on her ankles.

“What the -“

“Sorry!” he exclaims apologetically, turning off the car and stepping out.

“Seokjin?” Her shoulders relax when she notices him - but she doesn’t smile. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, the roads are crap. Figured you might need a ride home?” he ventures.

“Oh.” She seems hesitant. Even after spending a whole night at the company sleeping quarters, she looks like she’s stepped out a shower and spent thirty minutes getting ready; there isn’t a hair out of place or a single crease in her clothing. Dressed in an ancient sweatshirt - and what he suddenly remembers with a shock are Nari’s joggers - he feels like a complete slob.

“Unless… you don’t want one.”

Seulgi stares at him. For a second, he thinks she might throw her phone at his face. But a moment later she shrugs.

“That would be nice. Thank you.”

It’s formal and slightly awkward, but Seokjin takes it as a good sign when she opens the passenger door and gets in. He drives mostly in silence; he isn’t sure what to say to her and figures he at least owes her a ride to her doorstep before they have this discussion.

This route is shorter, fortunately, and fifteen minutes later when he pulls up in front of her building, he takes a deep breath. Before he can get a word out, though, she speaks.

“We’re done, Seokjin.”

His heart jolts harder than he expected it would. “What?”

She continues looking out of the windshield, but her voice is calm yet steely. “I spent more time yesterday worrying about our relationship than on my presentation. And that’s not me. Neither is getting in the middle of a situation as messy as yours and Nari’s, but -“ She scoffs without humour.

Seokjin isn’t sure what hurts more: the fact that he wasn’t expecting this right now, or the fact that he can’t help but agree with her.

“Seulgi… I know I haven’t been a good partner lately. I know that and you deserve -“

“Don’t tell me what I deserve. Please,” she says, still calm, but this time he thinks he can hear her voice tremble slightly. “I think you tried. Trying to call me the last few weeks, checking up on me last night, picking me up right now… you’ve been raised to be a decent guy.” She shakes her head and looks out her window. “But it really loses its charm when there’s another woman in the picture.”

Shame trickles down Seokjin’s spine but he forces himself to listen to her and absorb every single word. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what I felt for Nari - and I still don’t, but I never meant to -“

“Really? Is that why you’re wearing a pair of pants with her name printed on them?”

His heart stops.

“What?”

Seulgi scoffs again, but it’s followed by the smallest of sniffs. “God, I was such an idiot.”

Seokjin looks down at the joggers, frowning deeply and scanning his leg to see what Seulgi might have until he spots it: right by the edge of the pocket, in faded Hangul… Choi Nari. 

“No. No, no, this - no. No.” Seokjin shakes his head vigorously, for she's got it all wrong. But for some reason, his mouth seems incapable of saying anything other than no, no, no. 

“Spare me. You're literally in her pants,” she says icily. “God - I'm that girl. The one who started dating a guy with a girl best friend that stopped being just a friend somewhere along the way. Talk about a B-grade k-drama.” She begins gathering her bag and unstrapping her seatbelt.

“Seulgi,” he says hurriedly, “I did not - I swear to you, it's nothing like you're imagining.”

She turns to him and tilts her head, but her eyes are shuttered - apart from being wet. “Really? You weren't with her last night?”

“No! I mean, I was at her house but I wasn't with -”

“Goodbye, Seokjin,” she interrupts him, opening the car door and climbing out. “Thanks for the ride,” she mutters, just before slamming the door shut and walking away. 

Seokjin watches her leave in shock. His heart is beating uncomfortably and he feels sick in his stomach, for as much of a right Seulgi had to do this and as much as he even expected her to, hurting her this way was not something he had ever intended.

He isn’t sure how long he sits out there; it isn’t until his phone rings that he’s jerked out of his trance.

“Hello?” He clears his throat and presses his fingers into his eyes, feeling them get wet as he lowers them.

“Seokjin hyung?” There’s a minor commotion in the back. “The meeting has been pushed back by half an hour.”

It’s Jungkook. Seokjin nods, the meeting seeming like a distant problem right now. “Okay.”

“Yeah, meaning we can probably grab breakfast before it. Do you want the staff to order something for you?”

As if on cue, his stomach churns at the thought of food. “Uh, no.”

“No?”

“Yeah. I’m not hungry.” Before Jungkook can argue further, Seokjin continues. “I have to go. I’ll be there soon.”

Hanging up, he finally pulls out from in front of Seulgi’s building, beginning his drive back home.

—

Sooah’s birthday lunch has been organised in a fancy, chic restaurant in central Seoul, on the top floor with added security and an exclusive invitation list. The sun is mild and there’s a gentle breeze in the air, making the balcony area a popular spot for many of the guests to enjoy the newly improved weather with cocktails and appetizers being served by well-dressed waiters.

Hoseok provides his name at the entrance and enters the party, hoping furtively that the group of girls just outside the building haven't spotted his face. He looks around; evidently, the birthday girl hasn't arrived yet. He declines a passing waiter's offer of a prawn tempura and makes a beeline for the first member he sees.

“Hey, hyung,” he says, slightly breathless as he reaches Yoongi. The older member had ended up bringing Jungkook, Namjoon and Taehyung from the company HQ, especially after the latter two had decided they wanted to drink freely at the party and not drive after that, leaving their cars still parked in the company basement.

Now, Yoongi, who’s been quiet all morning and is holding a glass of what looks like gin, nods in acknowledgement even though his gaze is fixed somewhere on the ground.

However, Hoseok can't begin to wonder what his problem is right now. “Okay, look,” he begins, looking around to make sure there's no one around. “I did something horrible. Well, no, not horrible,” he amends quickly. “It wasn't at all - okay, here's what it is, alright?” He swallows and takes a deep breath. “I hooked up with Chaeyoung,” he confesses in a single breath.

Yoongi, who'd been listening with his gaze still burning into the ground, finally looks at him. “Wow,” he says, raising his eyebrows. “Really? Isn't she, like, fifteen or something?”

“What? No!” Hoseok cries. “She's twenty-three! She's an adult - she’s as old as Jungkook! Well, slightly younger,” he admits.

“How much younger?”

“… eighteen months.”

Yoongi nods, then frowns. “Okay, well… it’s not that bad then. She’s old enough.”

“Yeah, but she’s -“ My childhood neighbour, a family friend, and Chanyeol’s baby sister. “… Chaeyoung,” he finishes uneasily. “Her brother is going to kill me,” he groans, dropping his face into his hands.

“Really? Why?” Yoongi shrugs. “It’s her life, right?”

“I mean, sure. But Chan is really protective of her, especially after their mother passed.” Hoseok doesn’t know how exactly to word it to someone who hasn't been there through it all, watching Chanyeol constantly keep an eye on the most important person in his life. Until she moved to Seoul and he asked me to take over.

“So?” Yoongi shrugs, then takes a sip of his drink. “It's her life,” she repeats. “He can't look out for her forever.”

Hoseok exhales, sensing that Yoongi isn't quite getting the point. “Okay, just imagine that I hooked up with your younger sister.” 

Yoongi grimaces slightly. “Okay?”

“And imagine that I was your best friend, that we grew up together and I saw her grow up and I was… kind of a douche to her back then,” he mutters. “But then everyone grows up and suddenly I’m in the same city as her, you trusted me to look out for her - and instead I ended up in bed with her,” he finishes with a flourish. “What would you do?”

Yoongi squints, clearly trying to process this. “I… I don’t know, that’s a lot to keep track of. And you know what, I don’t have sisters so I really - I mean, I’m not the best person to ask. But you know who is?” he adds quickly, gesturing with his chin at something behind Hoseok.

Hoseok turns to see Namjoon finishing up a conversation with someone, clinking his glass with theirs cheerfully before they part ways.

“He’s your best friend, you kind of grew up together and he has a younger sister.” Yoongi counts them off one by one. “One he’s fairly protective of.”

“Is he?” Hoseok frowns. “Protective of his sister? Like he is with Kaya?”

“Well, it’s not the same situation but he’s protective by nature. And you’re just getting an opinion, not recreating it to the T,” Yoongi reminds him, nudging his shoulder. “He’s your guy.”

Hoseok considers this and nods, making his way over to Namjoon. Namjoon notices him approaching and smiles, which Hoseok returns with a slightly confused one of his own.

“Hoba!” Namjoon exclaims, clapping him on the back and almost knocking the wind out of him. “How’ve you been? Can I get you a drink?”

“Oh, uh… no, thanks.” Hoseok shakes his head but agrees to a wonton on the spread in front of them. Chewing, he observes Namjoon, who looks far happier than he can remember seeing him in recent times. It’s not unexpected, given how long he and Kaya spent apart.

Suddenly deciding he doesn’t want to think about why Namjoon looks so happy, he hurries to speak.

“So, uh… say I hooked up with your sister,” he begins quickly, only for Namjoon’s smile to disappear in an instant.

“You… what?” he exclaims, and his height suddenly seems looming.

Hoseok frowns before rolling his eyes. “Say,” he repeats, “that I hooked up with your sister.”

“Oh. Why?” When Hoseok doesn’t answer immediately, Namjoon raises his eyebrows. “Dude, did you sleep with someone’s sister?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Hoseok takes a step back and raises his hands. “I did not sleep with her. We didn’t have sex - like, it was so not like that. Because sex is… we didn’t… I mean, no sex was had,” he finishes, his throat feeling dry.

“So I take it you didn’t have sex?”

“No, we didn’t.” But I may as well have, he thinks, flashes of last night surfacing in his mind. Her hair, her skin, her voice like he’d never heard it before… Hoseok sighs. “I went over to Chaeyoung’s last night and we… fooled around,” he confesses, hoping he won’t be asked to elaborate.

Namjoon is far too sensible to do that, fortunately. “Right. And… that’s a bad thing,” he states, as though waiting for Hoseok to confirm it.

He opens his mouth, knowing what he should say. “No,” he admits after a moment. “That’s the worst part, that nothing about it was bad at all.” He shakes his head even as his chest feels lighter for the first time all day. “It was incredible. And not just the - the hooking up, but being with her, laughing and talking… God, we talked all night,” he remembers, his eyes dropping to the floor.

Namjoon raises his eyebrows again, this time looking somewhat impressed. “Sounds like the dream,” he remarks deliberately. 

“Yeah?”

“Totally. And clearly you know that because you’re getting that same little smile the thought of it,” he points out. “The one you guys used to tease me about?”

Hoseok immediately straightens his face, not even realising he’d been smiling. “Shut up.”

Namjoon shrugs serenely, finishing his drink and helping himself to a second. “You’re worried about her brother, though,” he guesses.

“More than worried.” He shakes his head and drops his face into his hands. “He’s going to think I totally betrayed him.”

“Did you, though?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you,” he says urgently. “If I hooked up with your sister - your younger sister - while I’m your friend… what would you do?”

Namjoon frowns uncertainly, apparently thinking about it, then exhales. “I wouldn’t be thrilled,” he admits. “It would feel a little like you were going behind my back? Especially since… well, it’s my sister.” He winces, apparently realising he’s not doing a very good job at explaining this. “No guy ever wants to think about his little sister doing that, least of all with one of his friends.”

“That’s perfect,” mutters Hoseok.

“No, but you know - it’s a little different in Chanyeol’s case,” muses Namjoon, now leaning backwards against the table and pointing at the air, as though it’s an interesting problem he’s solving on an invisible whiteboard. “You actually grew up with him.”

“Isn’t that worse? Because not only did I grow up with him, I grew up with her. And Chan is…” He exhales tiredly. “She won’t believe me, but he’s always been extremely protective of her. Especially since their mom died. Emotionally, physically… I know him - there’s nothing in this world he would prioritise over his sister.”

Namjoon is quiet for a moment. “Is it because their mom died?”

“I don’t know. Probably,” he admits. “He was kind of like the golden child when they were young and she was always a little left out and overlooked… he never admitted it but I know he felt guilty about it. He always tried to make up for it and look after her more - even now, when she moved to Seoul.”

“Well, I can see that,” says Namjoon reasonably. “It’s difficult to see your younger sibling as anything other than a kid, especially when they’re that much younger. You thought of her as a kid, too, if I remember correctly,” he reminds him, irritatingly logical.

“But she’s not a kid anymore,” argues Hoseok. “I did think that at first but… she’s really not. She’s smart and insightful and - and she’s focused on her career. And she’s pragmatic - you know last night during the storm, she had hot water and instant ramen stocked up in case the power went out?” His eyes widen and he shrugs hugely. “Six of us in the dorm and not one of us thought to stock up on food. If I’m not wrong, Jungkook ate a bowl of cold kimchi for dinner while Taehyung ate half a block of cheese. And that was with the power on!”

Namjoon grimaces. “What was happening while I was gone?”

“And she made brownies!” Hoseok exclaims, ignoring his friend. “And they were good. And she was crocheting - she…” He takes a deep breath. “She gave me a crocheted bear,” he tells Namjoon in a low voice. “And I don’t know if she put some kind of spell on it, but for some reason, it won’t leave my pocket.” 

Namjoon raises his eyebrows but Hoseok can’t seem to stop talking - not now that he’s finally saying out loud things that have been swimming in his brain for months.

“She’s cute and she’s funny - and she’s got this killer confidence. Where did that even come from?” he demands. “She used to be all shy and awkward before but now she’s… oh, and she’s started giving advice now? Good advice, incidentally, and I just want to… I just want to talk to her all the time because sometimes it really feels like she can solve every single one of my problems. And honestly, after last night…” Hoseok runs a hand through his hair, glancing at Namjoon’s expression and hating it, “Namjoon, believe me… she’s a grown woman.”

There’s a few seconds of silence where Hoseok fights the urge to yell incomprehensibly into the abyss.

“So… I know you guys don’t really like it when I do this,” begins Namjoon slowly, “but if I understand it correctly, your problem isn’t so much that you slept with Chaeyoung -“

“I didn’t sleep with -“

“- it’s that you’re falling in love with Chaeyoung,” he finishes, nodding as though explaining a rather simple maths problem without wanting to hurt his feelings.

“I’m - I’m not,” murmurs Hoseok, even as his heart sinks for more often than not, Namjoon is right.

“But that changes things,” says Namjoon. “If you actually had feelings for my sister - real feelings, and I was convinced that you weren’t just messing around with her… I would actually be kind of okay with it. It would be weird,” he admits, shuddering a little, “but it wouldn’t be the worst thing. I’m sure it would be the same with Chanyeol. No?”

Hoseok shakes his head. It isn’t as if the thought hasn’t occurred to him, but if there’s one person who knows Chanyeol, it’s him.

“You know, it might? Except, when we were growing up, I was a dick to Chaeyoung,” he admits in a low voice, the shame and guilt bubbling deep in his stomach. “He was protecting her from his parents and his step-mom and other kids… but he was also protecting her from me.” 

He doesn’t say it out loud - he can’t, because it’s too shameful, that the one and only time that Chanyeol ever snapped at him, the only time Hoseok ever felt that he could lose his best friend was when he’d warned him to stop making fun of his little sister.

It had been when they were in high school. Hoseok had taken it way down after that, choosing only to tease her in a more playful way or ignore her altogether, usually when Chanyeol wasn’t around. But it was undeniable that even though they’d moved past it, Hoseok had crossed a line.

Until now.

“I’m the last person Chanyeol will be okay with, being with his sister,” he states, knowing it’s true.

Namjoon doesn’t say anything for a few seconds. “Look, Hobi… that was years ago. You were a kid.” He seems to spot something behind Hoseok’s shoulder. “What’s more important is how she feels about your past.”

Hoseok is about to open his mouth when his phone pings at the same time as Namjoon’s. Similar pings are heard throughout the room and when he checks his phone, it’s to see a message on a group chat.

Jimin [13:04] We’re on our way up. Everyone get ready!

As promised, less than a minute later, they hear the lift open and Jimin’s voice sing-song as he speaks. A moment later, he appears at the doorway with Sooah, his face breaking into a cherubic smile as he gestures to the room with a flourish.

“Surprise!”

All the guests chorus together and Sooah, after gasping and seemingly suffering a mild heart attack, begins greeting people who come forward to hug her. Hoseok and Namjoon hang back, allowing her school friends to greet her first, including Taehyung, while Jimin stands beside her proudly, evidently satisfied with her reaction. It’s then that Hoseok sees her.

“Oh, my God, she’s here,” he breathes, instantly turning away but unable to do so for long. He chances a glance at her as he half-hides behind Namjoon’s broad frame; in an oversized striped pink sweater, a short denim skirt, sheer pink stockings and black combat boots, she looks like an ice cream - a cute, pink, irresistible ice cream with slightly flushed cheeks and long wavy hair. Bubblegum punk, he’d said to her once and here she is, clearly embracing it.

“Okay, the worst thing you can do is be dramatic about this,” warns Namjoon. “Just go and talk to her like everything’s - wait,” he says suddenly. “What did you say to her this morning?”

“Oh. Well, I didn’t want to wake her up, so -”

Namjoon turns around with his eyebrows high on his forehead. “You snuck out?” he whispers loudly.

“No! I mean, technically - but I needed to leave for that meeting and my phone was dead so I couldn’t text her. And I didn’t want to wake her up,” he adds defensively, anticipating the question. “Don’t worry, I left her a note.”

“A note?”

“Yeah, and it was a nice note,” he says shortly. “Whatever I do, I’m not going to screw her over like that.”

They go over to greet the birthday girl after that, once the crowd thins out. Hoseok catches Chaeyoung’s eye for the briefest of moments, feeling his heart skip an enormous beat. But she moves away and he follows her slender figure going to place her present on the gift table.

“... thought it was going to be just a small lunch, you and me. You didn’t have to go through all this…”

“I wanted to give you a surprise… don’t you like it?”

“Oh, of course I do, Chim…” 

Sooah leans up to press a kiss to Jimin’s cheek, who looks mollified when he spots them, followed by Sooah. “Hey, guys,” she says, leaning up to hug them in turn as they chorus their own happy birthdays to her. “Thank you for coming, I know how busy you all are.”

“Where’s Seokjin hyung?” Jimin asks, scanning the room.

“He said he wasn’t feeling up to it. He says sorry,” adds Hoseok apologetically, while Sooah waves a hand. “He did look quite off even during the meeting this morning.”

Jimin murmurs something noncommittal but shrugs, evidently deciding to let it go when Taehyung and Jungkook join them as well, deep in discussion that abruptly stops when they come into earshot.

“Namjoon oppa, Jimin told me you just got back from New Zealand,” says Sooah. “How was it?”

“Oh, yeah, you never told us,” adds Jungkook. “Did you do the ziplining thing this time?” he asks excitedly

Namjoon takes a sip of his drink and shakes his head. “No, no, we didn’t,” he answers, chuckling.

“Oh. Well, you must have gone to Milford Sound - he was obsessed with that place the last time we were there,” remembers Hoseok. “Remember? You wanted to stay there longer but the staff made us leave. That’s the kind of place Kaya would like, too.”

“Oh, yeah. It was really nice - but I don’t know, we never really got around to doing that,” he admits.

“Okay.” Jungkook frowns. “What about that Lord of the Rings hike? That’s right up your alley.”

“Er… no. Didn’t end up doing that either.”

Hoseok frowns. “So what did you do for three weeks?”

There’s a few moments where no one speaks and Namjoon doesn’t answer, opting instead to take a long, slow sip of wine and ending it with a soft smack of his lips, all the while when Hoseok finds himself slowly regretting his question.

“Oh. Oh, God.” He swallows before groaning. Jungkook’s ears go red while Sooah and Jimin snort, and Taehyung claps him on the shoulder as they all disperse, clicking his tongue and winking at him.

“Don’t prolong it,” murmurs Namjoon to Hoseok before he leaves, his eyes clearly on Chaeyoung. “Just be normal with her.”

“Right. Normal.” It’s easier said than done, for Hoseok discovers that he’s barely able to look at Chaeyoung without thinking about last night. His feelings for her were tending towards a problematic region long before this, but something had changed irreversibly last night. There was no scope for denial anymore, he realises, not about his attraction to her or deeper emotions that make his stomach flip.

Worst of all, it’s the looming thought of Chanyeol following him every time she enters his mind. He would lose Chanyeol over this, he knows it. Hoseok didn’t think losing Chanyeol would ever even be worthy of consideration in his mind - until Chaeyoung, looking like a cute, pretty, sensitive ice cream.

He drifts towards the table of hors d'oeuvres, trying to force an appetite. Nothing looks appealing, though, not now, but he scans it anyway hopefully. Someone else arrives at the table, and he smells her before he sees her.

“Hi,” says Chaeyoung, giving him a small smile and picking up a small chocolate at the edge of the table.

It’s too much: her summery perfume, her shiny hair, the memory of her naked rib cage underneath his palms while she sighed his name in a way that would make Chanyeol punch him in the face if he knew. He exhales shakily as she takes a step closer to him; even though they aren’t even slightly touching, the proximity makes his heart race and to his horror, he can feel his jeans tighten.

“What are you doing?” he asks in a low voice, dropping all pretense and turning to her.

She raises her eyebrows. “I’m saying hi,” she answers, not sounding even a fraction as frazzled as he feels. She does look… happy to see him, though. The thought makes his heart leap and hurt at the same time.

“Listen, Chae,” he begins, because he just can’t do this. She nods, looking casual and breezy, her cheeks with a hint of pink still on them. 

“Yeah?”

“Look, last night was… amazing,” he admits, noting how, despite the casual demeanour she’s displaying, a smile begins creeping up on her face as well. Her lips are pink, too, and glossy… “It was amazing and - and you’re amazing.” Her smile widens slightly and her cheeks flush a little brighter and Hoseok feels his strength start to leave him bit by bit. “But it can’t happen again. No matter how I feel… Chanyeol is still my best friend and you’re still his sister and… you are so off limits.”

Chaeyoung doesn’t seem fazed. Her smile fades slightly but not completely and she licks her lips, as though able to see right through him. “It’s a little late for that, I think,” she says lightly, brushing a lock of hair off her neck.

Be still, my heart. “No, it’s not. I mean, it… yeah. Maybe.” He looks at the floor and exhales deliberately, trying to gather his thoughts. “But it can’t go further. I - I really hope you understand, Chae,” he implores, meeting her eyes, wide and doe-like. “You’re amazing,” he repeats, meaning it, “but…”

She doesn’t say anything for a moment, then nods. “Okay.” Giving him that same small, nonchalant smile, she pops the piece of chocolate in her mouth and walks away.

—

Seokjin wakes up from the worst sleep he’s encountered in a while - and that includes the tour they’ve just wrapped up.

It had taken him a long time to fall asleep. Once he’d finally managed to somewhat numb himself to the fact that he’d just been dumped because his girlfriend thought he’d cheated on her, he’d tried to close his eyes and get just a little while of nothingness. But he felt wrung out; he was emotionally so exhausted that it was hard to even sleep, especially because he knew, he knew, that while his break-up with Seulgi was affecting him, it was the fact that he didn't even know how Nari fit into all this.

Well, he knew. He had an idea and he was aware of the general area in which Nari was involved, but all his strength was going into not thinking about that right now because it was a Pandora’s box he didn't want to rifle through at the moment.

Then, of course, the moment he’d tried to catch a few winks, his phone had started buzzing with updates from Sooah's birthday lunch. Jimin hadn't taken it too well when Seokjin had told him after the meeting that he wouldn't be able to make it and while he hadn't been able to bring himself to explain why, something in his expression must have done it for him, for Jimin had abruptly stopped pestering him and told him to stop by if he felt better.

He checks his phone now, realising he's slept through lunch. The late afternoon sun is already dimming, as though warning the city of an early sunset. He sits up on the couch, his back hurting and head pounding and heart racing from the vague dream he'd had of Seulgi imprisoning him in an underground jail while Namjoon appeared as a hologram and read a list of his crimes.

You're a decent guy, but it loses its charm when there's another woman in the picture. 

It was like a sick twist of fate, the momentary relief that Seulgi was breaking up with him until it turned to dread when he realised why she was breaking up with him. And the other woman in the picture… Seokjin runs a hand across his face, knowing that it wouldn't have made anything better if he'd try to explain why he was wearing Nari's joggers in the first place. 

No, I wasn't sleeping with her - not at all. I went to her place in the storm to wish her a happy half-birthday in line with a decades-old tradition, we splashed around in the rain for a while where an accidental kiss took place, and then she offered me dry clothes and her couch for the night because she's a doctor and she was worried about hypothermia.

It sounds ridiculous - not to mention like a rather trite story. He'd taken off the joggers the moment he'd entered the dorm, throwing on the first pair of trousers he'd found in his room before driving away for his meeting. He'd chucked it in the washing machine after getting back and then the dryer, and in the absence of anything else to do except overthink his ended relationship, Seokjin stalks over to the dryer and retrieves the washed joggers. Without sitting back down, he collects his keys and prepares to drive over to Nari's.

It will be therapeutic, he supposes, to get rid of the immediate cause of his break-up. Plus, he would get the opportunity to apologise to Nari again - for staying over last night, for accidentally kissing her, maybe for showing up at all.

As he nears her building, he slows down. The street is still empty, although the water guns are no longer where they were last night. It’s almost as though the evidence of what transpired has been wiped away clean; Seokjin can’t decide whether that’s supposed to be a good thing.

There’s a good chance she won’t be home right now, he realises. But he still parks the car where he had last night and steps out, folded joggers in hand, looking up at the corridor window that had blown away her notes last night. It’s open and gives him a direct view of her front door.

Just then, as if on cue, the door opens. Seokjin’s stomach leaps without warning - for she’s home - and despite the bad day he’s had so far, a ghost of a smile graces his face. 

Nari appears at the door, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. Seokjin takes a step forward but halts immediately in his tracks when she breaks into a relieved sort of smile and she opens the door wider - and someone else appears into view.

It’s a man. It’s him - Jason or whoever - who she’d brought to dinner at his place. She’d maintained that they were simply colleagues but either she’d been lying or the situation had changed since then, but Seokjin is motionless as he watches Jason kiss her casually on the cheek as she moves aside to let him in.

Maybe it’s the culmination of an already dismal day or it’s the unexpected nature of this discovery, but nothing that’s happened so far has crushed his chest quite so viscerally. Seokjin almost hopes he’s mistaking someone else for Nari or it’s a friendly, platonic, even brotherly situation - he’s grasping at straws mentally, even as Jason steps inside and the door closes behind him.

—

Near the late afternoon, when the sunlight starts to become sparse, the party starts to wrap up. Guests begin saying goodbye, passing by the table piled high with gifts on their way to the lift, many people happily day drunk and stumbling out.

“Did you know Sooah had this many friends?” Yoongi mutters, sidling up to Hoseok. He looks longingly at the drinks table next to them, now with far more empty bottles than when they'd first arrived.

“I didn't know someone could have this many friends,” he admits, somewhat admiringly. Across the hall, she looks appropriately engaged, swaying to the Justin Bieber track playing on the speaker and talking to two people as she sipped on a cocktail with a straw. A little way away, Jimin, Taehyung and two other guys he'd never seen before were aggressively popping to the song while simultaneously filming each other and guffawing.

“Sounds like a lot of work.” Yoongi sighs and shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “When do you want to head out? Because I could use a drink.”

“Oh, is that why you've been sober all day?” Hoseok chuckles. “That’s adorable, hyung. You're like the mother hen trying to get her chickens to walk in a straight line before doing anything else.”

“That's me. Do you see the other chickens around? Namjoon and Jungkook are sharing a cigarette on the balcony,” he notes.

“Jimin and Taehyung are over there, although I’m guessing Jimin will be with Sooah. I don't think they're all Sooah's friends,” he says after a moment. “They aren't close friends at least. I think they're mostly old classmates and stuff that she's kind of in touch with. Jimin just goes all out.”

“He told you that?”

“Not exactly,” he mutters, his gaze moving to the one figure he's been glancing at continuously. Chaeyoung is by the appetiser station again, a clear drink in her hand as she fingers the edge of one of the food cards. Her bottom lip is between her teeth and she's frowning. 

As he watches, a friend of Sooah's joins her and says something, to which she nods and laughs politely. He responds and she shrugs, a bit uncertainly, before picking up a single French fry and popping it in her mouth.

“Did you talk to her?”

Hoseok doesn't bother beating around the bush and inquiring who Yoongi is referring to. “Kind of. Went better than I anticipated, actually.”

“Really?” Yoongi raises his eyebrows. “What did you say to her?”

“Told her last night was fun and all but it can't happen again.” Hoseok turns away from her. “She seemed fine with it.”

“You don't sound fine with it.”

“What do you mean? I'm the one who suggested it.”

“You don't sound fine with the fact that she was fine with it.”

Hoseok glares at Yoongi but doesn’t argue. He turns to Chaeyoung again, this time a bit more alert when he notices her grabbing her sling bag, clearly ready to leave. He follows her pink, wavy-haired figure as she floats over to Sooah and presumably wishes her again before giving her a hug.

He frowns as their interaction continues: Chaeyoung asks her something and Sooah responds easily, tilting her head and giggling as she points to Jimin. Chaeyoung’s face falls for a fraction of a second before it’s replaced with a smile and a nod. They hug again and this time, Chaeyoung starts to leave. 

As she does, she meets Hoseok’s eyes. His heart stops briefly but she simply gives him a casual wave and a small smile, before stepping into the lift and waiting for the doors to close.

Hoseok swallows, his mind going a mile a minute for the next few seconds. “Hyung,” he says, “you’re taking the rest of the chickens back to HQ?”

“You know it.” Yoongi follows Hoseok’s gaze. “You have your car?”

Hoseok nods before clapping him on the back and dashing off in the same direction as Chaeyoung. He takes the stairs two at a time and spills out into the lobby of the building, head darting around and spotting a telltale pair of pink stockinged legs disappearing around the corner outside the glass doors.

He follows her, jogging a bit until he’s within earshot. He calls her name and she turns, looking surprised but not altogether disappointed at his presence. 

“Hey,” she says, as though they’ve coincidentally run into each other on a normal day. Behind her, the sun is far away at the horizon, a bright spot peeking through the clouds as it prepares to set. Right now, though, it’s difficult to pay attention to it.

“Leaving already?” he asks, a little uselessly, but it’s just occurred to him that he has no idea why he followed her out.

“Yeah, I guess. Most people are gone,” she says. “Plus… I don’t really know anybody there apart from Sooah herself. And you,” she adds with a smile when he raises his eyebrows. She doesn’t say anything else but Hoseok suddenly feels guilty, for three hours at a party not knowing anyone can’t be easy.

“You know the other guys, though,” he says after a moment. “Jimin and, uh…”

“Yeah, I was hanging out with Jungkook for a while.” She nods, fingering the strap of her bag. “It’s getting late, though.”

The decent thing to do would be to offer her a ride. He’s on the verge of doing it; now that he’s here in front of her, everything he’d told her earlier today seems vague and blurry and, frankly, unimportant.

“I’m sorry, Chae.”

She frowns. “Oh, don’t be. It wasn’t that bad - like, the food was good and I got a few nice pictures -“

“No, not about that.”

“Oh.” She licks her lips and nods once. “About that… don’t be sorry about that either. I get it - it’s weird. We’re practically family and you and my brother especially are -“

“Nope. Not that either.”

She stares at him blankly. “I’m out of guesses.”

“I'm sorry for…” What’s more important is how she feels about your past. Namjoon, ever the wise one, had touched upon the only element in this mess that could bring Hoseok out of his pit of guilt about Chanyeol: Chaeyoung.

“Yeah?”

He takes a deep breath. “I'm sorry for everything. Everything I did when we were kids, everything I said…” He bites his lip as she processes this, her eyes flickering slightly before they fall to the ground. “I was a huge jerk to you. And I know I was a kid, too, and so were you… but that doesn't mean that it all just disappears when we grow up. I know over the last year we've… gotten closer -” 

Her lips twitch and his cheeks grow warm. He hurries his next words.

“- but I still want to say, explicitly, that I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Chae.”

Something massive seems to have been lifted off his chest but a dull pressure still lingers, pulsating in rhythm with his heart beat. Chaeyoung nods again, slowly, and meets his eyes.]]

“Apology accepted,” she says softly.

The pressure recedes; she feels more within reach than ever. It seems unbelievable that not twenty-four hours ago, she'd been on his lap in a state of undress, kissing him while it poured outside, making every other thought in his mind disappear. 

“And I'm sorry, too,” she says after a moment, jerking him out of his dangerous train of thought. “I wasn't mean but I was… pretty clingy. Kids get teased mercilessly at that age over a haircut so I'm sure a kid who acted like… well, like me wouldn't have been easy,” she admits, two pink spots appearing on her pale cheeks. 

Hoseok wants to kiss her, so desperately. It takes everything in him to stay rooted to the spot, even though there isn't a single part of him that wants to stay away from her. He should, but for the life of him, he can't quite remember why right now.

Chaeyoung exhales, looking slightly awkward but somewhat relieved - or maybe Hoseok is and he's projecting. Either way, she rocks backwards on the heels of her shoes and shrugs. “Well, I'm going to head,” she says abruptly, the pink tinge on her cheeks still visible. “And… thanks.”

“You're walking?”

“Yeah. After the rain last night it's actually kind of nice. And not totally dark yet,” she adds, looking up at the sky.

He should offer her a ride. 

“Can I walk you home?” he blurts, pausing internally as he thinks about his car in the parking lot.

She looks surprised, too. “Um, are you sure? Don't you have to get back to the party?”

“Oh, no, the party is almost dead, anyway,” he says, waving a hand dismissively. “Even Sooah and Jimin seem to be almost done. I'm sure they'll leave in a bit.”

“And to no one's surprise, she's going back to his place.” Chaeyoung shakes her head. “Wow, I've clearly had one too many mojitos.”

Hoseok snickers. “Don't worry about it. With what I think their plans are tonight, you don't want them in the room next to you.”

She wrinkles her nose and then laughs. “True. But you don't have to walk me home. I'm fine.”

“I don't mind. Really.”

“It's, like, a thirty minute walk.”

“Fortunately, I’m kind of good when it comes to stamina.”

Chaeyoung narrows her eyes and folds her arms across her chest. Ice cream, he thinks instantly, and begins to smile without meaning to.

“Why did you apologise?”

“What do you mean?” He shrugs. “It's the right thing to do.”

“Sure, but why today?” 

His heart starts to race - or skip, and he simply shrugs. “Seemed like as good a day as any.”

Chaeyoung doesn’t change her stance. “Are you sure?” 

The way she asks it, she seems to have caught onto something. It’s too knowing and Hoseok feels his smile getting wider.

“You’re a pain in my ass, caterpillar.”

That makes her laugh - an open, confident laugh and Hoseok’s heart soars.

“Have been, since two thousand four,” she agrees. “Except, obviously, you apologised for all that.”

“You’re going to be a handful.” The words are out of his mouth before he can control them but he finds he doesn’t mind. Chaeyoung’s smile fades slightly and she bites her lip, the sun starting to set behind her.

“You can walk me home,” she says after a moment, turning around but not moving. Hoseok hesitates for the briefest of moments but joins her as she starts walking, their fingers only inches apart.

—

Yoongi drives in silence, while Namjoon, Jungkook and Taehyung sing along to an old song from a TV show. For members of a world famous band, they all sound terrible - but he supposes that is a talent in itself. In the shotgun seat, Jungkook bounces to the song in the passenger seat while Taehyung adds his own ad-libs throughout, but Yoongi has no energy to tell them to stop.

They near the building and he drives into the basement parking, somewhat dreading going up to his studio. He parks and everybody climbs out; Jungkook mumbles something about the gym while Taehyung makes a phone call and they drift away. Namjoon hangs back, waiting for the younger members to leave their earshot before turning to Yoongi.

“Are you alright, hyung?”

“Bitchin’.” He catches Namjoon’s eye and sighs. “Yeah, I’m fine. Had a rough night, that’s all.”

“Because of the rain?”

That, too. “Yeah. The good news is, I get to go edit debut tracks for a rookie group for the next eight hours.” He clicks his tongue.

Namjoon nods. “You want some company?”

“Maybe later. Once you sober up,” he adds, cracking a smile. Namjoon chuckles good-naturedly before clearing his throat. 

“I, uh, didn’t want to say anything in front of the others, but… I found this in the back seat.” He fishes something out of his pocket and hands it to Yoongi. Yoongi opens his hand automatically, his stomach turning weakly when a small, bright green earring falls into his palm.

The hook of the earring digs into his palm when he enters the top floor of the building. Yoongi takes a seat at an empty table in the open floor pantry and pulls out his phone, scrolling through his emails. The floor is busier than usual; some team seems to be celebrating a colleague’s birthday at another table, a cake with white icing and a couple of slices messily cut out sitting in the centre of the circle; one producer sits alone at a table with noise cancelling headphones on and typing aggressively on his laptop. 

Yoongi looks around absently when his eyes land on the coffee station where - something pounds into his chest - he locks eyes with Miso. She holds his gaze for a couple of seconds before turning her back on him and dealing with her coffee. 

The earring feels heavy in his hand and all of a sudden, he feels the urge to hurl it out of the window. There is next to no way it’s making it back to its owner in any case. After Miso had icily got into her car outside the motel this morning and Seungwan had driven her away, Yoongi had walked out of the room and watched her leave, proceeding to smoke two full cigarettes in the chilly morning.

The receptionist from last night had also appeared and he’d offered her a cigarette voluntarily, for she looked rather drained as well. Something about how quiet and isolated the place was, not a sound anywhere or even a breath except for the person next to him, made Yoongi feel so disconnected from everything that he felt numb. It was too early, too cold and too unfair. Next to him, the receptionist had chucked her half-smoked cigarette on the ground.

“You didn’t finish that,” stated Yoongi, not really caring.

She’d glanced at him before turning to look ahead, and Yoongi noticed for the first time the carnage from the storm in front of the motel: tree trucks, piles of scattered branches and leaves, water accumulated and overflowing from a ridge in the ground. 

“Fuck it,” she’d said.

Maybe it was the aftermath of a terrible night or some sort of shared dissatisfaction with the world but fifteen minutes later, they were in the backseat of Yoongi’s car. It was quick, casual and ended almost as abruptly as it began, with both of them adjusting their clothes and going their separate ways with a brief, formal goodbye. 

It seems like ages ago now, with Miso across the room from him, getting coffee outside her studio. Yoongi lowers his head and stares at his phone screen, not reading anything. From the corner of his eye, he sees her turn around and walk in his direction; she would have to pass him to return to her studio.

He can’t think about their argument last night any longer. It’s been rattling around in his mind all day: the rage, the guilt, the desperate desire to sit her down in front of him and read her damn mind. Most of all, there’s an inkling of shame somewhere, deep down, in knowing that his reaction last night had been exactly what she’d expected. 

That’s what it had looked like, at least; her eyes had shuttered over at some point and she’d reverted to the old Miso, the one who seemed to live to annoy him and gave nothing, no indication of who she was or what she was thinking. Her walls that he’d worked so hard to make a crack in had gone up instantly, except this time there was a disappointment there he’d never encountered before.

A flash in front of him jerks him away from the table: a hand appears momentarily, placing a cup of iced coffee in front of him with a small thud, before disappearing. Heart racing in mild shock, he turns to see Miso walking away without a second glance, her fingers wrapped around another cup as she turns the corner of the corridor.

He stares at the cup. Sip it first, he’d say ordinarily, straight-faced with only a hint of irony. You’re just going to have to trust me, Min Suga, she’d say, shrugging and settling into her chair, giving him a challenging raise of the eyebrows.

Yoongi takes a sip of the cold liquid, feeling it coat his throat and savouring the hit of caffeine. After a moment, he gets up and heads down the corridor, stopping at Donghyuk’s studio and pausing before he knocks. 

“Come in,” comes Miso’s voice, dry and uninterested.

Yoongi pushes open the door slowly to see her alone at the console, a laptop open in front of her and a singular lamp at the other end of the room being the only source of light. She looks at him very briefly before going back to her work. It almost seems as though she expected him to follow her; he can’t tell if she’s happy about it, though.

“Thanks for the coffee,” he says.

She simply nods in response, scrolling through something on the laptop.

“Listen,” he says again, placing the coffee on a table next to him and running a hand tiredly through his hair. “I need to tell you something.”

“Okay.”

“Last night…” He trails off for a moment, wishing he’d rehearsed this a bit before coming in here. “Well, firstly, I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have… anyway. Sorry.”

Miso finally turns to him, looks him up and down, and then turns back around. “‘Kay. Is that it?”

“No.” He exhales. “I hooked up with someone this morning. After you left, the receptionist and I… we had sex.” He cringes inwardly at his own words but he can’t fathom how else to say it without mincing words. She’s still looking at her laptop; he isn’t sure if he’s imagining it, but her shoulders  stiffen slightly. “Anyway. I just wanted to let you know.”

There’s a beat of silence. Then -

“So?”

“So?”

“Why are you telling me?” she asks, shrugging and turning around briefly. “I’m not your girlfriend.”

“I know you’re not. But…” He frowns, trying to suppress the annoyance in his stomach that’s already threatening to bubble up. “I’m just letting you know. Transparency and all that.”

“But it’s none of my business.”

Yoongi closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, counts to three and slowly exhales. “Right. Well. It’s just something normal people do, I guess. Talk to each other and communicate when they’re…”

She turns around properly this time, her legs folded and her elbows resting on her thighs. “When they’re…” She raises her eyebrows. “When they’re hooking up? We made out a few times… are you telling me because of that?”

He doesn’t respond; he can barely look at her right now, anger and embarrassment creeping into his chest now.

“This is exactly what I was afraid of, Yoongi,” she says knowingly, as though she’s pointing out an unsatisfactory edit to a track. “I told you to stay away. But you didn’t listen. You stayed, you got attached, and you’re telling me about a one-night stand you had. And now you have some kind of… expectation of me when what you really should have done was stay away right from the start.”

“You know what? I’m starting to think the same thing,” he snaps, shaking his head and going to grab his coffee. “I guess forming an attachment with an ice queen is my lesson.”

“You got me attached, too.” It’s the only thing that makes him stop in his tracks. “And that’s the problem with getting attached - you start to care. And then when you find out something that you can’t help, something that’s out of your control and doesn’t fit the image of me you have in your mind - the damsel that needs saving because, admit it, that’s what I am to you right now - it shatters everything.”

Yoongi grits his teeth, but somewhere his throat starts to hurt. He grips the cup and turns around slowly to see her still sitting in the same position, face and voice unnaturally calm.

He needs to choose his words carefully, he knows, but she makes it impossible to think. “I do care,” he begins slowly in a low voice, staring at the floor. “You can make it out to be whatever saviour complex you want but I do care and I do want to help you and be there for you. What is wrong with you that you won’t let me?” he demands tightly, clenching his fist at his side.

“Because it won’t work,” she continues in that same state of forced calm. “This - this challenge? You can spend weeks and months and do all-nighters and collaborate with whoever you want but it’s not going to work. It’s beyond you now. And once you realise that, it’s just going to be an abandoned project. A file somewhere in your computer you just couldn’t crack. I don’t need to be saved,” she says after a moment. “So it’s better for you that you stop trying. And maybe you won’t be so disappointed anymore.”

Yoongi stares at her, her impassive eyes and slouched figure. It’s exhausting; he’s tired and drained and helpless and she simply moves farther and farther away each time.

“You got it, Kang Chanel,” he mutters. “I’ll stay away.” Not wanting to spend a second longer in here, he turns around and walks out of the studio.

Miso watches him leave, using every bit of strength in her to keep her mind blank, to push every single thought and emotion out and, for just a few hours, focus on something that isn’t her clusterfuck of a life. She spends the next few hours alone in the studio, eating take-out from a box and going on a Zoom meeting with Donghyuk.

When it’s nearly midnight, hours longer than she’d thought she’d stay (but wishing she could for longer), she begins to wrap up, saving and closing demo files and packing up her notebook, when her inbox pings.

“Damn it, Donghyuk,” she sighs, bending over to squint at the screen in the dark. Her heart skips a beat when she sees an instant message from Min, Yoongi. Index finger hovering over the mouse, she takes a deep breath and opens it. It’s a screenshot of what looks like a folder on a Mac laptop, but empty. She frowns when her laptop pings again.

[Prod Suga] [00:02] [screenshot] This is all the abandoned projects I’ve had in ten years. Happy to stay away, but don’t you dare call yourself a project ever again.

—

Thanks for reading. Don't forget to leave a review :)

[come-on-eileenie]

Superman 2025 Sequel Lex/Clark/Lois OT3 Headcanon:

Brainiac lands a ship on Earth and basically lets everyone know he's taking over to gain their knowledge, etc. In order to defeat him, Superman needs someone who is *also* a calculated genius with a careless disregard for the little people, Lex Luthor.

Lex is already out of Belle Reve, having effectively bought his freedom since the world is corrupt in ways Clark can't always fight. But he's nursing his wounds.

He joins the fight as saving Earth will rehabilitate his image and also how can he be in charge if Brainiac already is?

They sneak into the ship with Clark creating a distraction and Lex smuggling in needed equipment. Once inside, it's revealed that Lois has stowed away. She's not going to let the biggest news story happen without getting the scoop (and also is kind of worried about Clark).

Clark is like, "I can't believe you did this. MISS LANE. Do you know how dangerous this is? If I had known--"

And Lex is like "oh I knew she was there. I just don't care if she dies."

And they go on this adventure through Brainiac's ship and the whole time Superman and Lois have a vibe and Lex is like, does your boyfriend know you're cheating on him with an ALIEN?

And Lois is like, why, are you JEALOUS because you don't have the boy scout to yourself?

And Lex is like, well, actually, I do love to be the center of attention.

And Clark goes, you guys don't have to stand that close together.

So Lois says, well maybe Lex should move.

And he just smiles because God knows Lex is not going to blink first.

And that's how the Lex/Clark/Lois OT3 begins.

There's also something about Brainiac trying to recruit Lex to his side and promising he can kind of be Brainiac's stand in when he has to dip to other planets and for a while we don't know if Lex is going to accept the offer but ultimately he chooses to help Superman.

There's something like:

"Kal-El is nothing but the lost child of a fallen world. It's time he died with the rest of Krypton."

"Uh, sorry. This is awkward. I've called dibs on killing Superman. Soo..."

And also a moment where Clark is like, "even though you've done really, really, horrible, terrible, awful, terrible things I think there's some good in you. You can change for the better."

And Lex is like, "why would I change. I'm already flawless. My evil plans are brilliant."

"You're helping me save the world."

"That's just business, Clark. I've never surrendered to a hostile takeover before, I'm not going to start now."

And at the end Lois is like, "Ok, I need quotes from both of you."

And Lex's quote is, Clark Kent, your girlfriend and Superman are getting it on. Call me up and we'll close the loop.

[blackbird-brewster]

I'm really loving reading people's episode reactions. And this made me giggle, thank you!!!

This episode was SO polycule coded. My polyam, multi-shipper, heart was in heaven. SO many good moments.

I really gotta find a way to bring Penelope into the fold. Turn that OT4 into an OT5 👀

live episode reaction: "tara" (cme 18x08)

spoilers below the cut!

IT'S ALREADY OVER FOR ME IN THE FIRST TWO MINUTES SHE'S SO SOFT AND VULNERABLE TELLING REBECCA ABOUT HER NIGHTMARE

“THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE JUST HAD A NIGHTMARE” I LOVE YOU TARA I'M SORRY YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HARD HOUR

“I COULD USE A CUDDLE, HON” SCREAMING

her little tshirt no pants i love

oh tara

her voiceover!! yes to this!!

“i don't need the light or whatever this is” ADDING THIS TO THE GIRLIES WHO DIED REACTION/VISION LINE-UP IS CRAZY

oh the denial

oh Honey

but her response and emotional reaction are so true to her as a character!

damn this quote

penelope better be okay

“how are you holding up?” “i'm not. i'm heading home too.” classic emily non-answer

oh please we're not framing ochoa

WHOA the trust penelope has in voit to sleep with him is Wild

oh good em gets to help pg

“let me take care of this first” pg being prioritized over the possibility of a mole is 1000% correct, my girl comes first

omggg finally getting something with tara’s mommm

okay is she in melgren in her mind or is it just sort of sloppy set reuse

“don't get much of it in real life, and then right before you die, bonus round” 😂😂😂

“you're not being honest” OOF

wait do we know the tara mom beef did i miss something?

OH NO TARA

oh shit her aorta??

bro when did they become huggers? but also fun! people usually gravitate toward garcia for comfort it's fun to see em put in that role. even if she is not immediately as good at it. maybe because of that.

paget’s voice keeps doing weird stuff the last couple episodes

i know i know this is serious just gimme a sec GLASSES ARE BACK GLASSES ARE BACK GLASSES ARE BACK

“question, who’s tired?”

oh i can feel her gearing up i love a cunty leader emily rally speech

gotta bring by my emily morality meta this monologue is feeding the worms in my brain ughhhh

god i love when jj locks in

evan you better fucking not

“you're a high-functioning overachiever who became a fixer to avoid grief” GODDAMN MAMA LEWIS PUT ME ON BLAST

wait doesn't it take face to face contact for voit to remember, do we need to worry about him remembering the lonelyheart bullets?

im so glad they're finally doing something with rebecca!!!

oh come the fuck on evan

and not to derail, this episode goes crazy after reading @blackbird-brewster’s rebecca/tara/emily/jj polycule fics

oh my tara

oooh goood one tear

BABY TARA

feel bad for saying this, but this mom-daughter chemistry isn't really working for me

aisha is so good and it could just be the left-field nature of it, but her mom just isn't holding up to me

all emily's little wrap tops

garcia outfit is SO CUTE

awww they love her

is she fuckin with them?

wait is she taking a sabbatical??

wait is this gonna be a PROPOSAL????????????????

GAY PEOPLE I LOVE GAY PEOPLE HAPPY PRIDE

THIS ACTUALLY MAKES UP FOR THE JEMILY QUEERBAITING

OH MY GOD

END THE SEASON WITH A WEDDING???

LOOK AT ALL THEIR FACES THEY LOVE HER SO MUCH

DAVE HELPING TARA KNEEL

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE A SAPPHIC CRIMINAL MINDS ENJOYER

overall: pacing kind of insane but has the flavor of the later seasons of classic in a joyful way. loved FINALLY getting some good tara-centric material even if some of the writing was whack. did kind of feel like a different show than the rest of the season, really all of evolution tbh. particularly loved the beginning and end of this episode. fun! the finale two-parter is going to be insane, i’m sure, so i’m glad they got a little sweet reprieve.

[siderealdei]

Auctions As Threatened Masterpost

I wrote TWENTY-TWO things for Auctions, As Threatened! Here's a quick little roundup of them, so you can try to find something you like rather than sorting through the whole kit and caboodle:

who loves, lives - Dragonriders of Pern, transfemme-OC Impresses a Gold Dragon; mostly fluffy character development

things you can't forget - The Old Guard x MCU, Andy/Natasha; different meetings between the two set between their respective films.

Kaitou Saint Tail: A Primer - exactly what it says on the tin. My love letter to Saint Tail/Kaitou Saint Tail, a manga I loved in middle school, to the point I still have all of the original Tokyopop English releases.

both boldly and subtly - Classroom of the Elite, Kiyotaka/Kakeru; sideways verse where Kiyotaka is a little bit eldritch on top of whatever else the White Room did to him and Kakeru is here for that.

the devil is a gentleman - MCU x DCU, Remy LeBeau/Tim Drake (pre-relationship); post-Trial of Gambit, Remy falls through a dimensional tear in time to interrupt Tim on his BruceQuest.

Kiss Me, Kill Me (which do you prefer?) - Batfam, Jason Todd/Tim Drake; Tim's wooing methods leave a lot to be desired. Comedy.

sometimes good guys make the best bad guys - Star Wars The Clone Wars, CodyWan; Cody has a lot of thoughts about Obi-Wan's portrayal of Rako Hardeen.

the boy in the mirror - Tortall, Thom of Trebond/George Cooper; Thom survives the Coronation Day Battle and George makes that his problem.

oh, i can't turn my back on him - Tortall, Buri/Raoul; a look at their relationship and how it developed.

the one thing which is not up for debate - Leverage, pre-Sophie/Harry, post-Sophie/Sterling/Nate, sort of Sophie/Sterling; Olivia Livingston comes to Leverage for assistance, and Sterling follows after.

Team Up - Leverage, gen; Sterling comes to Leverage International for help in the years between the two series.

collared and leashed - Leverage, post-season 5 pre-OT3; someone refers to Eliot as Hardison's dog during a con.

coming out swinging (i won't back down) - Leverage x MCU, gen; the man who was The Winter Soldier and Bucky Barnes runs into one of Team Leverage's cons between the two series.

the first worship was born of (love) - OFic, gen; a baby is abandoned on the altar of a forgotten god. They decide to raise her.

Growing Garden - OFic, gen; a teenage would-be witch summons a demon to help with what amounts to household chores.

At First Sight - OFic, F/M; a lax bro falls in love at first sight with a butch sports manager.

trust(fall) - OFic, F/M; an adventurer captures a drow and then can't get rid of him before she gets attached.

A Bride for the Commander - OFic, F/M; romance novel; a Jewish woman serving in an imperial draft marries a dying man only for him to survive, and now they both have to learn to live with their new normal.

splendid language, full of subtle meanings - OFic, M/F/F; the emperor's wise consort brings another concubine to his attention.

it must be love - OFic, femslash; an adventurer comes to surprise her librarian girlfriend at work.

i hear your voice (i have no choice) - OFic, femslash; a goddess and her most devoted worshipper. NSFW

kiss or kill (kiss or kill) - OFic, femslash; a bloodthirsty knight and the immortal witch who loves watching her murder her way across the land. NSFW

[therealtsk]

What Your Favorite Worm Ship Says About You

some people have found my crusty, old ass tumblr post on this very topic, so im making a new one with my updated opinions! Cause those are, in fact, allowed to change. Enjoy! Taylor x Lisa: you recognize the obvious fact that these two have more natural chemistry then any of the actual relationships in Worm, and you're into relationships that could be dysfunctional or healthy with one push in either direction. also something something sun lesbian moon lesbian. Taylor x Rachel: You love dogs, and you want a girlfriend who can kick your ass. You're also into bomber jackets. I respect you. Taylor x Alec: Sadly, you do exist, and you did make it weird. Go away! Taylor x Amy: You read altpowers on the daily and complain about canon worm being too grimdark. Solid odds on you having never read worm. To be clear, it's worse if you have. also something something FBI OPEN UP Taylor x Victoria: You like the vibes of Lisa and Taylor's dynamic, but you want them to be a little more heroic and a little less dysfunctional. But only a little. Taylor x Clockblocker: You're straight and liked that one joke that cropped up. I also haven't seen any of you in a hot minute, thank god. No offense but this ship is mad boring.

Taylor x Sophia: You've come to realize that Sophia is a great character who gets done extremely dirty by the rest of the fandom. Also, rivals to lovers. Taylor x Emma: This can go one of two ways. Either you adore childhood friends to lovers, or you love enemies to lovers. Either way, you're obsessed with hurt and/or comfort fics. Taylor x Theo: You actually read Worm and recognize that Theo is criminally underrated in the fandom. Now just stop shipping him with Taylor and you'll complete the next step on your journey to enlightenment.

Taylor x Simurgh: I can't say for sure you're a anime fan, but you're definitely at least a little bit of a monsterfucker. also something something inherent eroticism of being world-destroying power couple. Taylor x Greg. You read Worm SI's unironically and get really defensive when people say that Greg is an incel. Completely unrelated, you haven't spoken to a woman other then your mother in five years. Taylor x Cherie: I've been informed this is a ship. I've yet to be informed as of a reason why I should like it. Cherie likers stay mad!

Lisa x Rachel: I don't remember the last time I saw this ship that wasn't also tagged as a polycule with Taylor, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're an OT3 enjoyer.

Lisa x Victoria: You’re into the “enemies to lovers” trope, but more of the "Spiderman x Black Cat" type then the "you murdered my entire home town but i can't help but find you sexy" type. Also you have a thing for blondes

Lisa x Faultline: Your ideal relationship dynamic is bickering married couple. You're also into heist movies.

Lisa x Simurgh: You have a thing for smart girls... who hate you. Also, you really liked Part of the Whole.  Contessa x Alexandria: You're fucking based. Also something something inherent eroticism of girlbosses winning. Contessa x Numberman: you're friends with Peri and enjoy memes about pants and math. Numberman x Jack Slash: You think serial killers are hot and are starved for m/m ships. Danny x Eidolon: You're losersexual and are starved for m/m ships. Also you frequent r/wormemes. Danny x Miss Militia: Honestly, i think you all died out. I couldn't be happier, this ship is fucking dumb. Amy x Literally Anyone Besides Taylor: listen, there's like a hundred different jokes i could make here, but all of them boil down to amy fans always defending the rapist for some reason so let's just agree amy defenders are fucking cringe and move on Dragon x Defiant: You understand that this is unironically the only healthy relationship in worm with some of the best character growth and romance in the entire story, and a majority of all of it happens off screen. You're extremely bitter that so many fanfics do both of them so dirty they get beaten into different characters. Alec x Aisha: You like the idea of this ship, cause two pranksters making everyone miserable is the kinda vibe you enjoy, but constantly run into the issue that Alec is...well. Alec. That or you're into Alec's brand of shit, in which case, FBI OPEN UP Aisha x Missy: You read It's Cold Out There Every Day. I did too. Fuck, this fic is so good. I'm going to go cry about the ending again. Lily x Sabah: Yes, you know the age gap is a little problematic, you just want to be happy with your relatively healthy canon lesbians goddamn it Purity x Literally Anyone: You don't understand why people keep calling you racist. You're not! You're just weirdly defensive of the hot milf who murders people of color and seem to constantly bring up that Kaiser didn't actually believe the nazi propaganda he was peddling. You are racist btw Taylor x Brian: You...are Wildbow

[vinnymauro]

13 and 25!

hi tj!! thank you!!

13. worst blorboficiation

steve harrington and evan buckley come to mind first. it's just, people see himbo character and go "oh this is a wittle baby, baby does no wrong" and it's like. these characters have done some serious crimes. (that's sarcasm. they're not literal crimes but they are crimes against women!!!!!!) like steve did fuck all to stop his friends from calling nancy a slut on a fucking marquee for everyone to see. evan buckley trapped his girlfriend by having her move in because he was too much of a child to tell her he kissed someone else. and you know what? i still love these characters bc they're so fucking messy they make mistakes, but they also try to do better. or at least, you fucking hope but sometimes the writing of the show is disappointing. see, the problem that lies with the fans of these two is that you have some fans who are like "hey they did this shitty things. but i like that they've tried to fix it or try to do better going forward" we love fans of growth. and then we have the fans that try to say that these characters haven't done any wrong, or they're perfect, or (god forbid) everyone else around them are so mean to them bc of 1 altercation. like i genuinely do not know where people get "chimney hates buck" narrative. like even if i've missed it and don't know that chimney still hates him/haven't forgiven him, i don't necessarily blame chim. i'd punch buck in that same scenario bc you know love does shit to you. and i'm not going to touch the steve fan specific nancy hate. bc well unfortunately i once fell into that trap and then i watched stranger things 8 times in one year and somehow i gained knowledge. (my sarcasm is so high to say i'm sorry) anyway i'm gonna shut up now. bc i feel myself spiraling and this is why i'm not really in these fandoms. bc i guess i don't watch the same show?

25. common fandom complaint that you're sick of hearing

that your special ship isn't canon? harassing the writers and the actors and anyone on staff over a fucking ship is weirdo behavior. offense intended. like what happened to sitting in your corner and shipping whatever bc it made you happy? the minute y'all started going to actors and showrunners is the day that shipping became horrendous. like there are so many popular fandom ships that i cannot stand. and i would be mean and i would be like "well this isn't going to happen" and i could probably say that x actor is homophobic. but i won't. bc you're allowed to feel what you feel about a ship. canon literally doesn't mean shit if the writing fucking sucks. and i've stopped watching a lot of shows bc of the writing and the story got stupid. (or they killed off a woman and i felt murderous. looking at you teen wolf. and the vampire diaries season 5. supernatural.) but does that stop me from shipping things from that show? no. to this day i still love my favorite ot3, scallisaac. scott, allison and isaac from teen wolf you would have been famous. i love ships that will never be canon. the rarer the better. learn to add a little fun and whimsy in your life and maybe you'll understand how f/f shippers feel.

make me choose violence

[blackbird-brewster]

Literally just realised I have now written every possible ship combination of JJ, Tara, Emily and Rebecca - - EXCEPT for an OT4 scenario 🤔😉

[5sosfanfictioncatalogue]

Michael/Luke/Calum Masterlist

A Dirty Girl with a Lot of Passion (ao3) - FayeHunter E, 4k

Summary: Michael's got a tongue piercing and Luke really wants to try it out. He ends up biting off more than he can handle in the best way.

Attachment - @daydadahlias (cornflowerblue (daydadahlias)) E, 3k

Summary: Michael has created a group with Luke and Calum called I Hate It Here Michael (3:23): Be honest are either of you paying attention rn

good girls (ao3) - no_clue_who E, 8k

Summary: Calum is failing her classes, Michael is her girlfriend and they want to fuck Luke.

Green Light (ao3) - SpencerKnight E, 181k

Summary: Class is an age old concept–almost as old as the concept of human slavery, and in a world where buying humans is a standard behavior by those who can afford it, Luke’s only hope as a member of the lower class is that he falls into the hands of a decent buyer–the hands of Ashton Irwin and his partners. Luke knows he has one chance to please his buyers or he risks getting put back on the market, but he’s thrown for a loop when Ashton admits that Luke is the one that gets to call the shots. In an attempt to find security with the trio, Luke braces himself and gives them the green light to do whatever they want with him.

He had no idea they would refuse.

Ham And Eggs (ao3) - im_just_a_sucker_for_bromance E, 4k

Summary: Calum was jealous because Luke was apparently having too much sex with Michael. Luke was jealous because he thought Calum and Michael were having sex. And Michael just rolls with everything; thus, ended up having sex with both Luke and Calum when Luke simply asked.

Hearts On Fire (ao3) - orphan_account N/R, 15k

Summary: "So, this is all incentive? I can get behind that." Calum kisses him again, but then lets him go. His eyes don't stop roaming Michael's body, though, making him feel regarded in the best way. Smirking, and reaching for his uniform, Calum continues, "What do we get if we win?"

"Yeah, Mikes," Luke says, wrapping his arms around Michael's waist from behind. "What's in it for us?"

"Oh, I have plans for that possibility," Michael teases, covering Luke's arms with his own.

Or the OT3 college au literally everyone is probably sick of, but here's another one, anyway, because i like spoiling my friends x

I'm Wrapped Around Your Finger (ao3) - mariawritesstuff (orphan_account) G, 5k

Summary: Calum goes to Brazil for a football thing. Michael and Luke miss him lots.

Or, a fic based on Wrapped Around Your Finger.

Meatballs (ao3) - im_just_a_sucker_for_bromance E, 3k

Summary: An idea popped into Luke's head when he saw Calum and Michael sharing food, right before Calum made a statement about balls. That, combined with something Michael had said weeks ago, led Luke's brain to work faster and thus, the birth of that plan. All he had to do was get to Michael and convince Calum.

or did I dream that we were perfectly entwined? (ao3) - galacticsugar T, 2k

Summary: Michael doesn’t say it often. Or ever, really. He might say “I love this band,” or he might even tell the other guys he loves them, in a casual “love you, bro!” kind of way. But he doesn’t get sentimental. He doesn’t let on to the depth of how much he cares about his boys.

Sunshine and Petal (ao3) - VCCV T, 66k

Summary: “And just like that, Michael became a dad.”

Only it wasn’t anywhere close to that easy. Michael adopts two little girls in desperate need of a family, and in turn, realizes just how much he needed one as well. Luke and Calum are there every step of the way to love and support him, but really…this is a love story between Michael and his girls.

two's a crowd, three's a party (ao3) - orphan_account E, 10k

Summary: Luke starts fluffing for Calum, Michael gets jealous, and maybe they have a threesome.

You Have The Sun, I Have The Moon (ao3) - fourdrunksluts E, 53k

Summary: Michael Clifford has always wanted a soulmate.

He’s yet to meet them, but he knows when he does, nobody will compare in his eyes, and nobody will captivate him like his soulmate does. His biggest dream in life is to have someone, someone bound to him through a divine, cosmic destiny, and to give them all of the love he possibly can. It’s the one thing in life he knows, without a doubt, he’ll be great at.

-

When Michael finds his soulmate in the clumsy boy from the deli, he thinks it's going to be smooth sailing from there. Fate, on the other hand, has a far bumpier road in store for them. 

[hils79]

Hils Watches Strong Woman Do Bong Soon - Ep 2

What kind of games do you play, my dude?

Look, I know you are (badly) trying to woo her but telling her when to eat is a bit much

Haha! That is literally her new boss

I mean he would probably be okay with that

Uh, I'm pretty sure he did not say that. OH! Is that what he whispered to her when she asked why he didn't want a male bodyguard?

I'm assuming at some point it's going to turn out that the man threatening CEO dude (I should really learn his name) and the serial killer are connected somehow

Haha! She threatened to crush the dicks of a bunch of school bullies

I think I'd rather have a broken bone tbh

I do like that they haven't made her stupid in this. One annoying thing about a lot of dramas is they tend to dumb down the female characters so that their 'growth' is them no longer being silly and immature.

Aww he means well

Okay, he's pretty smart and not a himbo

That's because she has a crush on him and thinks you're a brat

Oh my god I forgot he's pretending to be gay. Now he's pretending to have a crush on the same guy as her.

Oh no his girlfriend is a pretty cellist. I fear she's going to be fridged.

I'm a little confused about why he's pretending to be gay. Is it so she won't think he's hitting on her? What's his plan? To get her comfortable around him and then say 'surprise I'm actually straight'? I'm sure that won't lead to trust issues.

She thinks you're gay and she thinks you're a brat. Why would she flirt with you?

Oh my god this has suddenly got very complicated. Pretend to date your gay boss who isn't actually gay and has a crush on you, to make your actual crush who already has a girlfriend jealous.

Boys, please. We all know the solution to any love triangle is an OT3.

[innytoes]

My roommate is sick and all they could talk about was how much they miss that one soup you always made them so I drove four hours to come and get some + OT3 of your choosing

When Ray opened the door at 11PM on a Thursday night, he was a little surprised.

"Hi, Mister Molina?" the young man said, fidgeting his fingers together. "We spoke on the phone?"

Because yes, he had spoken with Julie's boyfriend on the phone. It was just that he was pretty sure Julie's boyfriend was Luke. He had been since they got together in high school. She'd been so excited to join Luke to get her music degree at the same top-notch university. (And yes, they had a long conversation about picking the best university for her, not just the one her boyfriend was at.)

But this young man was not Luke. He'd thought he sounded different on the phone, and strangely formal, but he thought it was just because they hadn't spoken as much since Luke went away to school.

His poor little nena, first she broke up with her high school sweetheart and now she had the flu? Why hadn't she told them about Luke? Was she worried they'd be disappointed?

"Yes, of course, come in," he said, waving the boy inside. He had messy hair, ripped jeans and a leather jacket, but Ray knew that looks didn't say anything. Any boy who was willing to drive four hours just to pick up soup for his sick girlfriend had to be a good egg.

"The soup is just about done, Rose was just letting it simmer until you got here," he explained as he lead him to the kitchen. The way the young man was trying to subtly sniff the air was rather endearing. "Would you like to try some?"

"Oh, I couldn't," the boy said, but he looked longingly at the big pot simmering on the stove. "It's Julie's soup."

"There's more than enough," Rose said, already grabbing a bowl and ladling some soup into it. If she was surprised at this Not Luke Boyfriend, she didn't show it. Behind the boy's back, he made a confused shrugging motion at his wife, and she just quirked an eyebrow at him. I don't know what's going on either, it said.

"Oh, well, if it's no trouble," the young man said, all but collapsing into one of the stools at the kitchen island. Rose handed him the bowl and a spoon, and when he took a deep whiff, his eyes fell closed in what appeared to be bliss. When he took a bite, he actually whimpered a little. When was the last time this poor kid had some homemade food? Ray remembered his own college years, and if he were to guess, that boy lived off ramen and grilled cheeses.

"This is really good, Mrs Molina," the boy said earnestly in between big bites. "No wonder Julie was craving it. This would make anyone feel better."

"How is she?" Rose asked.

"She was feeling pretty crummy when I left," the boy said. "But her fever was down and she was craving food again, so that's a good sign." He looked up, concerned. "I didn't just leave her alone! Luke's with her, and Alex and Willie are on standby to drive them to the emergency room if either of their fevers spike."

So Luke was still with her? Was the break-up amicable?

"I just felt so bad, I mean, I was the one who got sick first, and then I gave it to Luke, and Luke gave it to Julie, and they were both so miserable, and when she said she wanted her Mami's special soup I just thought, if that would make her feel better..." He trailed off when he realised he was rambling, flushing.

"You were sick too?" Rose asked, concerned. "You poor thing."

"I'm fine now," the boy reassured her, even though on closer inspection, he did still look kind of exhausted. He had dark circles under his eyes, and the way he was slumped over the bowl of soup told Ray he wasn't exactly fit as a fiddle yet. Maybe the soup would help, though. "And I can be out of your hair as soon as we pack the soup up. I'm so sorry to spring this on you."

"Anything for our Julie," Ray said, and the boy whirled around, eyes wide, like he'd forgotten Ray was there. Yeah, definitely not one hundred per cent yet. "You look tired, though. Are you sure you're okay to drive all the way back?"

"Yeah, totally," the boy said, before knocking back the last of the soup, holding the bowl up to his face to get it all. "I don't want to be a bother."

"You're not," Rose insisted. "And Ray's right, you look tired. If you just got over the flu yourself, you shouldn't be driving eight hours straight. Why don't you go take a nap for a few hours?"

"But Julie..."

"Won't want to be woken up at three in the morning anyway," Rose pointed out. The boy's face turned into a thoughtful pout. "Just sleep for a few hours, and you can get up bright and early tomorrow and bring her the soup. It'll do none of you any good if you fall asleep behind the wheel."

"I guess," he finally acquiesced.

"Great!" Rose said, beaming. "Do you want some more soup?"

Of course he did, and she gave him another bowl, sending Ray upstairs to prep the guest room and find Reggie something he could sleep in. Ray just let it happen. He knew better than to get in Rose's way when she'd made up her mind, and just watched on in amusement as she ushered a confused young punk in a leather jackets up the stairs and off to bed.

When she came back down, Ray had finished putting most of the soup into tupperware (and maybe stealing a few bites for himself. It was really good soup).

"Julie never told me she and Luke broke up," he said. "Had she told you?"

"No," Rose said, thoughtfully, even as she wrapped herself around him, on her toes so she could hook her chin over his shoulder. "Maybe they haven't."

Ray turned as far as he could, catching a glimpse of her face.

"Reggie said he gave his flu to Luke," Rose pointed out. "And on the phone he said he was Julie's boyfriend. I think they're both dating him."

Oh, so his name was Reggie? That was good to know. Ray tried to wrap his head around it. He was just glad his daughter hadn't gotten her heart broken.

"He seems like a good kid," he said finally. "Driving all this way just to get Julie's comfort food."

Rose hummed in agreement. "Well," she said. "We'll have plenty of time to get to know him tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" He would have thought Reggie would be anxious to get back home to his... partners, he guessed.

"Well, of course we're driving him back!" Rose said. "He's in no shape to drive!"

And Ray just nodded, and smiled, because when Rose made up her mind, it was best to just go along with it.

[lunar-years]

i think i remember you mentioned how jamie’s love confession to keeley had nothing to do with how he felt about her romantically and i’d love to hear more of your thoughts on it. jamie’s so strange throughout the ep, and considering it’s right after the man city confrontation with his father, it’s probably not too far of a stretch to say he’s thinking about his own father’s death and having a bit of an existential crisis himself. i think jamiekeeley is cute btw and i’m all for ot3 roykeeleyjamie! just wanted to pick your brain about this. and apologies if you’ve never posted about this and i’m remembering the wrong user

Hi! I’m pretty sure this wasn’t me who said it (but never say never because I sure say a lot on here, lol). However you might have still seen it on my blog, because I think I responded to an ask recently with the same opinion!

Regardless, my personal view on it is that Jamie was definitely speaking romantically, BUT I’ve seen a bunch of people think otherwise and it’s fun to explore different viewpoints so I'm gonna talk about my opinions on the funeral episode anyway lmao :)

I think the funeral is soooo interesting because Jamie AND Roy AND Keeley are all acting kind of strangely. Even when we figure how why Roy is being so odd (Grandad Emotions), but there's still whatever is going on between Jamie and Keeley. Because like, yeah, Jamie definitely should’ve 1) realized his boss' father's funeral wasn’t the time nor place for love confessions and 2) probably not done it regardless because, yes, it is kind of out of pocket to tell your ex-girlfriend you’re still in love with her when she’s currently dating someone else (who just so happens to be your current football coach who just helped you during a very traumatic experience)…like ohhh Jamie. Messy!! But I love mess. So therefore I did love this. 🤷‍♀️ However…the topic is not necessarily as ~coming up out of nowhere~ as it first seems, I think. Importantly, Keeley is also acting weirdly!!

I was staring at this gifset recently and thinking many a Keeley thought, and to be honest I think feelings and big emotions were being stirred up again on BOTH sides at that event. It’s interesting (and I think rings true to other insights we've gotten into her character) that as soon as things get a little dicey with Roy, Keeley starts looking outside her relationship, either for people to confide in (as she does when she tells everyone but Roy about the problems she’s having with Roy in Headspace) or to reflect on what she no longer has but is suddenly wondering if she might miss and possibly still want (her contemplative looks at Jamie at the funeral, “you look nice Jamie” etc…. Maybe this is an unpopular take, but I think Keeley is also feeling some type of way that day, about Jamie in particular. And yeah I definitely think that has an impact on why Jamie chooses then to confess to her. He's sensing a different vibe between them suddenly and is reminded, I need to do this.

The other reasons in Jamie’s head imo are 1) Jamie is just generally very open about most of his feelings and I think he’s coming at it from, a 'you should tell the people you love that you love them!' place, right or wrong 2) as he later tells Roy, the funeral made him uncomfy!! and AS YOU SAY yeah i do think there's definitely an connection between that and his dad abusing him in front of the whole team, which has just happened very recently. PERHAPS he is already Not Doing Great, and watching his boss who he doesn't really know act Weird during the eulogy for her Dead Father has him extra off-kilter. 3) as we learn in s3... his dad disappeared after Wembley. No calls, no texts. Nothing. Now, we don't have categoric evidence that this is unusual, but to ME James Sr. doesn't seem like someone who typically leaves well enough alone. I can definitely see Jamie still being freaked out over this very big thing that happened that his dad has got to be incredibly angry about. Perhaps there is still a part of him very much waiting for the other shoe to drop! Which is to say, I do think you're right that there's an element of existential crisis going on here.

Also, while I do personally think Jamie's confession is romantic in nature, I do not think it is conditional in intent. Jamie isn't telling her with the expectation that she's going to dump Roy immediately and tell him that oh yeah, she loves him too. Like, Jamie isn't an idiot. I think he does at the heart of it just want to thank her and he's been meaning to thank her for a while because she means SO MUCH TO HIM that it all has to come spilling out as some point. And a part of that love is romantic, yes, but he also loves her in so many ways. I think Jamie is perfectly content to put it out there and let her set the terms of their future friendship/relationship. Most important to him is that she knows.

So anyway, sorry this got so long and that it isn't really what your original question was about (for anyone who thinks the confession wasn't about Jamie loving her romantically, please feel free to chime in/reblog and add your thoughts!) but in summation, I think: Roy being upset about other things (Grandad) causes him to stir a fight with Keeley -> The fight with Roy causes Keeley to re-evaluate some things and part of her focus undeniably lands on Jamie -> Jamie senses something has changed between him and Keeley and because of that, in addition to the lingering aftershocks of a recent very traumatic experience, confesses he's still in love with her at a funeral.

Which is to say, as I DO always say here at lunar-years, these three's stories have always been irrevocably intertwined since the beginning (regardless of the ot3 as a ship) and the funeral is another example of that. Also it is totally crazy that we never get an explicit follow-up to Man City until episode 11 of the NEXT SEASON and that is one of my biggest grievances on season 2.

[mana-sputachu]

I want to say all the questions, but:

I. 3, 4, 6

II. 1, 4, 14, 15

III. 2, 12, 15

IV. 2, 3, 9, 13

Hey nonny!

Are these for IoriChi or the OT3? Or both?

I'll go with IoriChi or the post will be ENDLESS, but if you want it for the OT3 too/whanted just them just let me know!

I. PRE-RELATIONSHIP

3 - Who felt romantic feelings first?

Theirs has been a slowburn, but I'd say Iori, despite trying his best to NOT falling for her, since he had been already burned by previous relationships.

4 - Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

As said earlier, Iori tried to resist because his previous relationship ended up badly for different reasons (his first fianceé, picked by his clan, had died trying to stop him from going Riot for the first time and clan members didn't warn her; despite all that, Iori ended up having a few flings in high school, included his first boyfriend, but their relationship wasn't the healthiest). Also, the fear of going Riot on the people he loves is always there, in the back of his mind, torturing him.

6 - What was their "flirting stage" like?

There wasn't acutal "flirting", not in the way one would think, at least. They mostly started to care for each other since the beginning, starting from very "common courtesy" things to realcare: Chizuru stumbled upon Iori after his girlfriend died, and kept him company because she didn't want him to be alone in such a horrible moment; Iori then did the same for her when Maki died, showing up at the funeral and let Chizuru cry and scream and let all her pain out. After that, Iori started visiting the Kagura Shrine often, at first just to check on her, only to find himself more at ease with her as the time passed; Chizuru enjoyed his company and appreciated that he started to lower his defenses around her, showing sides of his personality he would usually keep behind a wall.

II. GENERAL

1 - Who initiated the relationship, and how did they go about it?

None of them, technically. They had developed the habit of spending time together just talking, hanging around, enjoy each other's company and also scouring Chizuru's family archive in the hope to find clues about the Orochi curse. And one night, thanks to a couple beers, they just kissed. When I wrote my first English fic about them I wrote this moment from Iori's PoV so it would be easy to say he felt the need to kiss her… but I think Chizuru had the same idea or else she would have refused, lol.

4 - Were they each other's first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

No. Iori had a fianceé picked by his father and clan who died because of the Riot of Blood (Iori still feels responsible for it, despite not being himself during it and the clan not stepping up and trying to stop him), and his first boyfriend when he was 17 in highschool (but as said it wasn't a great relationship, and left him a bit wary of relationships with men), plus some other minor flings. Chizuru also had a few flirts but nothing that lasted more than a few months: I've explained it better in this post but long story short, not only she's busy running the Shrine and the Kagura Enterprise, but also Japanese men like quiet women who obey their desires, and… well, Chizuru isn't anything like that. She's a fighter, her fights are broadcasted live during the Tournament every year, as well as her keeping Firebois in their place. Something the average Japanese man wouldn't like in a woman at all.

14 - What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise?

Dreams - The Cranberries

And now I tell you opendly/You have my heart so don't hurt me

This line here yells Iori so much, imho. And we'll ignore the fact that I used it for other ships of mine, not my fault I'm attracted by the tragic disasters

15 - What is their most common argument about?

The Orochi Curse. Iori is pretty much resigned to die within his 30th birthday (despite still being terrified of dying), while Chizuru is determined to find a solution for it (and in one of my fanfics, she did). So they often argues about scouring the archives of her family hoping to find a solution, and doing the same in the Yagami/Yasakani archives since Iori refuses to go back home just for this (but since in my verses he has a twin sister, Chizuru asks her to bring some documents everytime she comes to see her brother). Even worse when the idea of asking the Kusanagi to see their archives: Chizuru is sure Saisyu would accept, but Iori refuses still hiding behind the feud and also because of Kyo (who would complain because KYO).

Minor arguments are usually about Chizuru's love for spicy food, because it happened that she didn't brushed her teeth after a meal, and when she kissed him not only on his lips Iori didn't appreciate the sensation XD

III. LOVE

2 - What are their primary love languages?

Mostly small gestures, and look out for each other: during the Years Chizuru learned Iori always finds himself at ease when he's at the estate and around her, thanks to her Yata powers keeping Orochi sealed, so she lets him falling asleep and take naps at her place knowing he'll finally have a good rest without nightmares; she would usually hug him and brush his hair until he's fully relaxed.

Iori on the other hand loves to cook, so he's always the one cooking meals when they're together, keeping in mind what she likes more and stocking on her favorite spicy snacks and spices. He's also in generally very protective.

12 - Who remembers the little things?

Both, mostly because being both rich picking gifts for each other is a challenge (they can easily buy any pricey stuff they want/need), but it's mostly Iori's love language: he despises the spicy food Chizuru adores, but always stocks on spices, spicy noodles and everything she might enjoy for when she sleeps at his place (or to buy if he spends the night at her estate, since he usually cooks); he'd also would buy those spicy chocolate bars because he know Chi would like them, the vodka she prefers (my beloved couple of functioning alcoholics), the wax she uses to take care of her bike or new leather gloves if the ones she uses are too worn out.

15 - What gifts do they typically give each other?

As said in the previous questions, they mostly gift each other small things that would mean a lot to the other: spicy snacks for Chizuru (Iori travels a lot with his band, so he always looks out for something she might like), books she might enjoy, etc; Chizuru knows Iori loves music, books and cats, so small trinkets with cats on it or cat-shaped, bands t-shirts or nerdy ones (my Iori collects both, along with bi-pride shirts), etc. Small gifts, but that are 100% guaranteed to be loved.

IV. DOMESTIC LIFE

2 - If they get married, who proposes, and how do they do it? Would they change their surnames?

No real proposal (not in the classic trope way), I always imagined it happening while they're talking something vaguely related (like, Mai finally having the wedding of her dreams or something, or just talking about Iori moving to the Yata estate). I don't think any of them would change their last name, to keep both clans still "alive".

3 - What is the wedding like? Who attends?

No wedding, they elope. At first Chizuru wanted to have a ceremony with all her friends, mostly because everyone (Mai especially, but also her clan) seemed to have expectations… but she ended up getting incredibly stressed by the whole ordeal, so Iori just proposed her to elope, go away somewhere nice just the two of them and then, if she still wants it, have a party once they're back in Osaka.

9 - How do they celebrate holidays?

It really depends by what kind of holiday it is and if one of them (or both) are busy with their jobs - mikus are busy daily running the Shrine, and Iori might be out of Japan with his band or busy recordings new song/a show/a concert/etc. But when possible, they enjoy spend their free time together relaxing, or booking a trip when possible (like during the Golden Week).

13 - Do they have any "couple traditions", or family traditions?

Not really. A tradition they had, born after Ash stole their treasures, was to meet up weekly at a bar to drink and… complain about it, or complain about Kyo being always uncooperative when it comes to their duties as 3ST, or Iori finally admitting he'd like to befriend him, but knowing that after years of fighting and death threats it won't happen, not easily anyway. They had broken up at that point (Iori broke up with Chi because the fear of going Riot on her and repeating the same terrible mistake never truly left him), so this tradition ended up turning into a way to get close again…

Thank you for your ask!

[ultraviolet-ink]

12, 24, 25, 35, 39,

12. Who would you want to defend you in court? (assuming everyone had a badge) ohhh this is a really interesting one! I think it's a tossup between Ryuunosuke and Susato! Ryuu's my favorite attorney in the series, and I really do love just how he figures out a case and all of its intricacies! The same for Susato, but with the added bonus that she DOES have knowledge of the law and it was HER idea to pursue the summation examination. I think she gets the edge on this one! 24. Your OT3?

BaroRyuuSusa!! I just think they're neat <3 25. Favourite rare pair?

MikoJigo! They are my toxic yaoi blorbos! 35. Smartest murder plan?

So this is technically not a case, but I would have to say the way that Ashley Graydon managed to murder McGilded! He used the fear of the Reaper's curse to his advantage, snuck in as a guard to lull McGilded into a false sense of security and managed to get away with it for a few months! He honestly could have gotten away with it had he not been caught selling information 39. Honest opinion on Larry Butz?

I honestly really do enjoy him, especially in the first game and AAI2! In the first game, he seems like any other early 20 year old, a bit of a mess, going between girlfriends and jobs, he seems like such an every man and I really do enjoy him there (AND his testimony was one of, if not the most, important ones in turnabout goodbyes) I feel like he got majorly flanderized when he came back in subsequent games to become an even more pathetic loser, but I really did find that I had a lot of fun with him again in the third AAI2 case! Mans is legitimately talented, not just with sculpting but also with watercolor! Feel free to send me some more asks! :D

[beautifulsnake2162020]

Show them who you really are (Erik x Original Female Character oneshot - preview for "Even when the night changes")

(image owned by MaddisonRocks who sells this bouquet in their etsy store. It's called the Bridesmaid skull wedding bouquet. And honestly if I had the money I would buy it for myself.)

DISCLAIMER: This one-shot/preview is a work of fanfiction. Phantom of the Opera belongs to Leroux, and its subsequent adaptations that have influenced this work are owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Susan Kay.

PREMISE: Set in the modern day, Erik's girlfriend Kassandra "Kassie" Dela Vega finally graduates from law school. In the days leading up to her graduation she confides to him her insecurities since she feels that she's not making any progress in her review for the upcoming bar exam.

Erik never hesitates to offer comfort and reassurance.

AO3 link

Rated T

Tag: @britishchick09 (Tagging you since this is another preview to the main fic)

AN: I'll be honest this is a self-indulgent congratulations to myself since I want to celebrate finally graduating law school. Unlike in "A debt to be paid." I cannot guarantee that this will make it into the actual fic. But I am also not entirely ruling it out because this shows how the dynamics between Kassie and Erik play out.

For those of you who don't know - "Even when the night changes" is an upcoming fanfic that I have outlined and partially written. It was born out of my frustration of Erik having moments of being left out in polyamorous phanfics which have the OT3 trio of Erik/Christine/Raoul. And I know that it's meant to be for his character development but I can't help but feel that Raoulstine always have it easier. So I basically wrote a self-insert version of myself in Kassie who would serve as Erik's soulmate. I want to give Raoulstine the challenge of courting Erik when a.) He is no longer deprived of love and affection and was raised in a healthy and loving family; and b.) He is now in a romantic relationship with someone who is his soulmate.

"Shouldn't you be relaxing now?" Erik asks teasingly over the phone. Alone in his hotel room near Kassie's school and home he lays out his semi-formal attire for tomorrow's celebration.

"I just finished an impromptu coaching session from my review school. Pointing out the flaws in my answers and all the more giving doubt if I'm prepared at all for the September bar exam."

"You are."

"Easy for you to say."

"And I'll say it again and again if you can't believe it yourself." He hears the sound of high heels clacking around wooden floors. The same high heels that she'll be using to walk down the aisle in her graduation tomorrow.

A graduation that in his opinion was long overdue.

"Just because your flaws are being pointed out doesn't mean you aren't ready. Even if it doesn't feel otherwise." He hears her take a few deep breaths. Her shoes no longer on her feet since he couldn't hear her steps anymore.

"...Thank you, I needed that. Can you tell me more?"

"You need only ask. What would you like to hear?"

"I would like to hear your plans for our date after the last day of the bar exam. When we can finally physically see each other." He did his best not to chuckle.

"Are you sure you want the surprise to be spoiled?"

"Well if you are so concerned if I will lose interest in you it's too late now." He couldn't help but chuckle loudly at her sarcastic tone. He didn't need to see her face to know that she's teasing him back. In the early days of their relationship he thought her sarcasm was a sign of her frank nature. Only to then realize that in many parts of her family life she has to play by the unspoken rules of the elders of her family. A constructed facade that she needs to abide by because of her financial dependency on them.

Her frankness and sarcasm around her closest friends is one of her few hidden signs of her trust. Her trust to be her actual self that her conservative Catholic family will not always allow.

"It will involve a bookstore. One of the few things that I can assure you of."

"Oh thank goodness, I miss pleasure reading."

"You never stopped. You just became sneaky."

"Lying to my parents is easy. And I don't regret any of it. How else will you finally discover the wonderful romances of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu?"

"Ah yes, your response to my love for Faust. Need I remind you my dearest Kassie, Faust is meant to be a Christian morality play meant to encourage being a good person in the eyes of God."

"I never disputed that. I didn't even say that it wasn't a good story. It's just that the Faustian trope of making the deal with the devil has been so overused in western media that my mind has gone tired of it."

"You liked it when it was used in the Hearts of Stone story of the Witcher."

"Because it was much more interesting than all the other 'I made a deal with the devil to save the person I love' trope. What we normally see is the horror of the beloved whom they made the devil's deal for and it is either because they leave them or they die that makes the Faustian figure become the anti-hero. Or sometimes he takes the place of the devil himself."

"I agree, which is why I'm surprised that you find the execution of the Faustian deal in Hearts of Stone to be refreshing when Faust and Olgierd are the same with different packages. In Gounod's opera it is even made clear that Mephistopholees tempts Faust with the image of Margaurite. This is what leads Faust to finally agree to the devil's contract. Olgierd did the same with Iris. The only difference is that Olgierd and Iris were already a couple before Gaunter O'Dimm interfered."

"No - they are not the same. Faust, especially after Goethe's version became popular - is inherently dissatisfied because no knowledge of whatever material he studied could give him the satisfaction he so craved which is why he turned to magic and the contract with the devil. In Gounod, Margaurite may have been the reason for Faust to go through with the deal with the devil but even before she was presented as a temptation Faust was already dissatisfied with his life despite his achievements. Olgierd only became dissatisfied when he wasn't allowed to marry Iris because he was poorer than her family. He wasn't dissatisfied with life in general, he was dissatisfied by the very human circumstances that did not allow him to be with Iris. And it was only after Gaunter O'Dimm granted his wish did he start to have a heart of stone and began to want all of what life has to offer. If the player chooses to help Olgierd by lifting his curse and successfully beating O'Dimm in his game, we see a substantial shift in personality from Olgierd. His heart is once again mortal and he could feel again. And it is clear that he regrets the things that caused him to lose Iris and who he really is. Olgierd is an example of how to excellently show how even if a good person takes the deal with the devil with good intentions, the wishes the devil grants could be the very source of why that good person becomes horrible - so horrible that up until now people are still debating whether or not Olgierd is worth saving. Faust while also an averagely dissatisfied person, seeks out the devil's deal for the sake of knowledge of something that could transcend everything he has experienced. But even if he says that it is for the pursuit of knowledge, all of his actions before the deal show that Faust's dissatisfaction is from a place of selfishness without a care for how his actions might be consequential to the lives of others."

"Mmhmm I will concede that the writers of CD Projekt-Red made an excellent story with the Faustian deal. But I will not concede on how Heaven Official's Blessing is a proper response to Faust."

"It doesn't have to be a response per se. It's a matter of preference! Maybe it's just the hopeless romantic in me but I find the Faustian deal to be much more satisfying in Heaven Official's Blessing. Hua Cheng becomes the equivalent of the devil just so Xie Lian would not have to be alone anymore. All because Xie Lian did not hesitate to do what is right by saving him when he was still alive. The first time when he was mortal he saved Hua Cheng from dying as he fell from a tower as a little boy. The second time as a God who was helping him see that life is still worth living even if times are hard. And now that Hua Cheng terrifies the Celestial Heavens as a Supreme Ghost King who has killed 33 of their Gods, he continues to fight to live even in his afterlife. As long as Xie Lian exists, as long as Xie Lian needs help he will be there. Meanwhile Xie Lian who has learned not to trust the gossip of heaven or on earth and to judge based on his own instincts - he doesn't care if Hua Cheng is the bane of the heavens. All he cares about is Hua Cheng liking him for who he is, which is why throughout the story Xie Lian gradually learns to overcome his insecurities when it comes to love. And even though we the readers know what is actually happening, having Xie Lian realize and have an epiphany of who Hua Cheng is by the end of the story...I will never stop crying whenever I read that scene."

"...And I wholeheartedly agree."

"Agree to what?"

"That it is a story that has moved you."

"...You are never going to let that go aren't you."

"Just because I also like it doesn't mean it has usurped the place of Faust in my heart. But I'm not going to try to attempt to dissuade you from loving it. While I remain firm that Faust is one of the few morality plays that I love, I will concede that Heaven Official's Blessing is the better romance with elements from tragedy to make it more effective."

He hears a yawn which she tries to suppress. It's almost 10 pm now, and she needs to sleep even if they are both insomniacs who work better in the night.

"Better?"

"Yes, much better now. Thank you for that."

"You're welcome. Now try to sleep, you have a big day tomorrow. You need to get up early for your hair and makeup."

"Playing director now are we? Hehehe."

"Kassie, try to sleep. If you can't sleep play one of my pieces in your playlist. I made those to try to help fellow night owls."

"I'm not a night owl I'm a vampire queen."

"And I love you, not the state of you."

"Erik! How could you use one of Hualian's most romantic lines at me? I thought you were trying to help me relax."

"Bonne nuit ma bien-aimée. And remember," he lies back in his bead and allows himself to relax and deepen his voice. A voice that he knows will help lead her to dreams even if she stays awake.

"I will forever be your most devoted believer." He ends the call with an excitement that he suppresses. His beloved is not the only one who needs to sleep. A part of him knows it is a little bit cruel to end on one of Hua Cheng's most iconic sayings. The very thesis and encapsulation of his own relationship to the Flower Crowned Martial God, Xie Lian. But he couldn't help but use it to assure her of his own feelings for her.

Even back in the early days after first meeting her in a panel discussion with the professor they share, there was something about her that lit his heart aflame. His initial insecurity of having yet another person he fancied potentially using him to get to his adopted brother and best friend, Seph somehow wasn't present. On paper it might have made more sense for them to be the ones to become lovers. Both were passionate in causes they believed in and both wanted to use their jobs to ignite such change little by little.

But Seph was sometimes a little too idealistic. While admirable in how he takes a call to action, Erik couldn't help but sometimes think that he viewed the world in rose colored glasses. Erik was pleasantly surprised at how pragmatic Kassie was.

"I'm currently in a school whose environmental advocacy paints nuclear energy as all evil. Why? I don't know. But I did some research on my own not all nuclear energy power plants are bad."

"So you support it?"

"Yes, I do. But having said that I don't think our people are ready for it. There's too much corruption in our government held by the few who benefit from it. The parts of the world that benefit massively from nuclear are the ones with a stable enough system to operate it and I don't trust our government yet. I don't mind our professors pushing for traditional ways of renewable energy. But what I am upset is that there is no nuance to the discussion of all possibilities. I asked them if they would change their mind if the nuclear plant model is a thorium based one instead of a uranium based one. After all their main argument is that uranium makes nuclear waste which could damage the environment and the U.S. favored it to make nuclear weapons. None of them know what thorium even is!"

"Then what renewable energy would you like to see heavily implemented if you could have a genie grant it for you?"

"Okay, this is going to sound gross."

"Hmph, try me."

"Shit."

"I'm not going to judge."

"That's what I said - shit, human feces, poop -"

"What?" Kassie laughs at his expression of disbelief.

"The more promising green technology that would make life better would be using our feces to generate the energy that we need. It solves the issues of managing human waste, providing for energy needs, and once thoroughly processed to kill all possible diseases and superbugs - fertilizer to replenish soil. As long as humans exist, human waste will exist. So why not use it?"

"How does it work?" Dispite his initial reaction she had peaked his curiosity.

"Essentially the same with how you get energy from food waste. Collect the methane from the waste. On it's own methane is already an efficient chemical that everyone uses for cooking, and heating up. But because it is a greenhouse gas, you need to burn it anyway to make sure that it turns into carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants, coral reefs, and mangroves among others and is then turned into oxygen. And unlike nuclear energy, you don't need much to harvest methane from feces or human waste. A rural area in the African continent was able to use it to literally have feces fuel the school kitchen. The bigger investment would be in purifying the resulting sludge to make sure that there are no diseases that may be transferred."

"I'm impressed. And it I don't say that lightly."

"Oh trust me there's more where that came from but I don't want to bore you."

"Somehow if it is you discussing it, boredom would be the last thing in my mind."

She raised an eyebrow at him with a slight upward turn at the edge of her lips.

"Is that so?"

"I may have a biased preference for solar energy but now that you've brought up how extracting energy from shit is something a lot more practical - you've gained my interest mademoiselle."

And that was the start of what he would like to call his first real romantic relationship. It is still stunning looking back several years now that the very thing he thought he would never have just came so effortlessly when he met Kassie.

"I was traumatized back in high school. There was a girl whom I was interested in. She was pretty, was one of the best actors among the theater kids, was a passable mezzo-soprano. Sephus - when he saw I was interested. Like the best friend and brother he was he encouraged me to confess that I was interested."

"What happened?" He sees her lie down on her side on her phone camera. Her beautiful black frizzy wavy hair was in a braid and her round face was glistening from her evening moisturizer as she placed her glasses back on. She had just returned from having dinner and anticipated Sunday mass with her family. Because of her priorities in her law studies prevented them from physically being together, their dates involve video calls late nights on Saturdays when she was free and didn't have a heavy backlog of school assignments to study for. They were informally dating because of their agreement with her parents that they would begin their formal courtship when she graduates. As much as she dislikes it, she is still dependent on them and have to agree to their terms.

"She was a great actress and decieved me into thinking that my feelings were returned. It turns out she was using me to get closer with Seph."

"Oh no."

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"I broke things off with her and Seph blocked her everywhere on the internet."

"Oh thank God."

"Ever since then Seph made it clear that anyone who would use me or anyone else to get to him would automatically be disqualified from being with him."

"Considering that this is Seph we are talking about -"

"Credit where credit is due, he has some standards."

"Okay I know you two are close and grew up together but we are talking about the man who sleeps around with whomever he matches up with in his dating app."

"That's not his only standard but I get your sentiment."

"He's not ready for commitment yet."

"He's committed to being hedonistic. It's his work-life balance in his journey to becoming an eye surgeon."

"I thought he was working towards general surgery?"

"He changed his mind after working with eye doctors."

"How did your parents feel?"

"Probably thankful that I'm already working." They laugh for awhile as he hears the clock in his room ticks away.

"Growing up - I never told my friends this because I love them - but I was always jealous of them having had romance before we even graduated high school. I sometimes think that maybe it's the universe's sense of humor to play my life like this."

"All of your high school friends are queer. Law school is the first school in your entire life that actually had men in it. And your college friends all still don't have partners."

"I mean I'm not ruling out a possible woman for me. But so far it is only fictional women that have caught my attention."

"My point still stands."

"Before we kissed the weekend before my college graduation, I have never been kissed in my life. Artemisia - who is asexual mind you - got to be kissed first before me, a hopeless romantic."

"In my defense we didn't meet yet."

"Why did we have to meet only in our final year in college?"

"I don't know - but I'm glad it did happen the way that it did." He hears her whine.

"You flatterer."

"You know I'm anything but - especially when it comes to you." She sighs heavily as she sits on her bed. Her face a little more serious.

"...I'm so sorry it's taking me too long. You're probably tired of hearing this but - are you sure you still want to be with me?"

"I have never been more certain of anything."

"It's just that - I won't blame you if you decide to break up with me. I thought I could finish this in four years but it turns out to be a lot longer than I expected."

"You're too hard on yourself. The lucky ones who have finished in four years are the ideal anomaly, not reality."

"You could be with someone whom you could be intimate with. Not stuck in a long distance relationship with me. You could be with someone more beautiful, more musically talented..."

"And will those same people be as smart as you? Be as resilient as you? Will they have the same heart as you?"

"Erik."

"I dream of one day marrying you. Whether that is the moment you finally pass the bar and take your lawyer's oath, or if that day is somewhere in the distant future in our fifties. As long as it is you that I'm marrying. It could be a traditional Catholic wedding -"

She snorts out a sound that is in between a cry and a laugh as tears begin appearing in her eyes.

"- or a semi-traditional Chinese wedding with you arriving in a sedan and the two of us bowing to the heavens, your ancestors, and to each other...as long as I die being married to you, the journey would have been worth it."

"How is it that you have so much faith in me when sometimes I don't have faith in myself?"

"Because I love you. Even if last week we argued on what is the best place to move in together and when." He moves the phone closer to his unmasked face as he lays in his own bed.

"If you have trouble believing in yourself, trust that I believe in you. Just as you believed in me when I wanted to take a risk in doing my masters in Curtis."

"That's different. I may not thoroughly know the technicalities of music but I know enough to know that you of all people deserve that full scholarship to Curtis."

"How so? I don't know a lot about law but I know that you are the right person who should be a lawyer. Someone who genuinely cares and someone who seeks to bring a more just and fair world." He takes a peripheral glance at his clock and notices that the time is a quarter before midnight.

"Rest my beloved, for now that I have found you I won't leave you."

And he didn't. He had never stopped believing. She may not have been physically present in his graduation in Curtis but she called the moment she was able to.

And now he awaits in the table her parents have reserved to celebrate her graduation. His own parents are there, Sephus couldn't make it because of his shift in the hospital and his younger sister Jazzy was sick. It broke her heart because she loves Kassie and would have wanted to be with them.

Then he sees the Dela Vegas arrive and Kassie in her beautiful navy blue and silver gown. Her eyes widen in shock before running into his arms.

"ERIK!" He catches her and gives her a warm embrace. He wants to kiss her but as far as their families were concerned they were just beginning their courtship. He settles for their foreheads touching as he smiles at her.

"Congratulations my beloved. You've made it."

"You're here! I can't believe you're here!"

"Surprise! Oh Kassie! Congratulations my daughter-in-law." His mother excitedly embracing Kassie as he steps away to warmly shake hands with Mr. and Mrs. Dela Vega.

"Thank you Mrs. Destler!"

"Good job attorney Kassie Dela Vega!"

"Mr. Destler I still have to take the bar exam." Kassie laughs as the six of them settle in their table. He and Kassie seated across each other. The next time they will be physically together will be after the bar exam. But tonight is a night to celebrate a much anticipated achievement.

"I'll see you again after the bar."

"Around my birthday perhaps?"

"We'll see." He teases back as they stroll to the parking lot. Their parents went ahead to give them some privacy.

"Thank you for this Erik. Sometimes it seems I'm the one getting more out of this relationship than actually contributing anything."

"That's not true. If we had time I could spend the rest of the night countering that. But we don't and you need to focus."

"Of course."

"So just remember..." he leans in close as he rests his forehead against hers. His eyes filled with love and pride for her.

"To me, the one basking in infinite glory is you. The one fallen from grace is also you. What matters is you, and not the state of you."

Kassie laughs as tears of joy threaten to escape her eyes.

"Quoting Hualian."

"Mo Xiang Tong Xiu gave Hualian excellent words as a couple. Why change what's already perfect?" He presses a kiss to her hand. For now this will have to suffice. A compromise between politeness and passion.

"Now focus. Show them who you really are."

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AN:

Thank you so much for reading. I hope this gives insight more or less on what the EriKass dynamics are. This scene might be edited or might just serve as a bonus scene in the actual story. But the framing devices of Hualian (Hua Cheng/Xie Lian)'s romance from Tian Guan Ci Fu aka Heaven Official's Blessing (abbreviated to TGCF) and contrasting it with Erik's fondness for Faust will play a heavy theme in the main story "Even when the night changes." I'll be back in both tumblr and AO3 (in terms of writing) after my bar exam 😁😂❤️