jindallaebe

[jindallaebe]

dude's response takes jindallae aback. 'don't worry, i'm not here to haunt you. unless you're into that...' what the fuck is that supposed to mean? is he trying to be flirtatious? if so, he could learn a thing or two about how to brush up his game. typical of jindallae, he keeps his guard up; the combination of a mars-ruled scorpio sun and a cancer rising coming in handy during moments like these.

"what?" he asks plainly, his brows furrowing and his mouth angling into a soft scowl. he's not trying to start any fights, he just doesn't want to be fucked around with. besides, now that he's getting a good look at this person under new lighting, it hits him that he's, in fact, not actually mindeulle. thank god. this stranger is nowhere near as attractive as his twin, even in vibe and spirit.

though, more information is unveiled when myungsoo exposes that he knows mindeulle, making this encounter all the more confusing. jindallae regrets saying no to the psychedelics he was offered earlier. maybe they'd help make all of this make sense. "i'm going nowhere with you until you tell me what you're talkin' about, man. you tell me your name, but that doesn't tell me shit about you... like how you seem to know who i'm talking about, for one thing."

he doesn't cross his arms over his torso. he's not feeling insecure, nor does he want to give the impression that he's shrinking. if anything, he's saying all of this with his whole chest; his chin held high to further drive home the point that he's not interested in whatever game the other man is playing. "you know my brother. how? why?" if myungsoo wants to continue pussyfooting around the question, then jindallae will pretend like he doesn't exist and that'll be that, but he hopes that there'll be some authenticity and honesty from him.

"oh, and frankly..." pausing, he gives myungsoo a once-over, then grimaces. "you're not someone i'd want to dance with."

myungsoo's already halfway to the dancefloor when he sees him. tall, tense, like he doesn't belong but forgot how to leave. the lights catch on jindallae's skin, make the sharp lines of his arms look like sculpture, like fucking trouble. he's standing like someone dared him to show up and then ghosted, and myungsoo's into that. he's into the kind of guy who looks like he could break your heart and throw you over his shoulder, depending on the hour. and he sorta' looks like him and— wait?!

he’s close enough to speak, chest warm with gin and the way the bass is crawling up his spine, when the guy turns and says it, mindeulle’s name, all wrong. it stalls him, just for a second.

"fuck," myungsoo says, smile curling lazy at the corners like he knows a secret. he tips his head, lets the sweat at his temple glint under the light. leans in, "don't worry, i'm not here to haunt you. unless you're into that."

he doesn't touch him yet, just lets the space between them thrum. god, he's cute. like mindeulle, but rougher around the edges.

"name's myungsoo. he didn't tell me he had a twin? rude.” his tongue clicks against his teeth, "and here i am starting a family drama." he lets the silence stretch for a beat, eyes dragging slowly down jindallae's frame, then back up again. "so." he breathes, shifting forward just enough to make it a challenge, "you gonna keep looking at me like that, or are we dancing?”

[jindallaebe]

GAINS 진달래 → 민들레

at long last, mindeulle's been going to the gym with him. as fucked up as it is, all it took was another health-scare for his twin to finally understand the importance of physical fitness, and while jindallae's always been mindful of his brother's condition and would never push him far past his limits, he's glad that he's getting his act together. this also means that they're getting in more bonding time, too. it's been nice to reconnect with him like this. they're busy living vastly different lives, so whenever they can spend a couple hours in one another's presence, he cherishes it. it's healing to him, somehow. reminds him of when they were younger and their worlds were intertwined more.

giving his arms a break, he wanders over to mindeulle and watches over him; ensuring that his form is strong. "lookin' good..." jindallae encourages, noticing the definition that his sibling's body has taken on. all jin can hope is that min sees how much his hard work is paying off. "you're not getting lightheaded or anything, are you?" this is a habit of his that he's trying to break, but it's hard not to check up on him often. he's done that since they were toddlers, but now, he's much more aware of how annoying it is. he'd hate for mindeulle to feel smothered by him.

"it's june. might be a scandal knowing the type o' douche-bags who skulk around hongdae, but i think we should piss 'em off and put up some pride flags at the restaurant." he laughs, snickering at the thought of it. "if anyone's got anything to say about it, they can deal with me and leave with their tail between their legs. i'd rather us be known as a chill spot for everyone than cater to wrong crowd." if he's given literally any opportunity to be rebellious, he'll take it. to him, there's nothing sweeter than ruffling the feathers. "we'll probably have to order them online, huh?"

[jindallaebe]

it's overindulgent (and grossly cheesy), but whenever the two of them have moments like this, jindallae genuinely believes that he'd be content if time were to freeze around them and they'd remain like this forever. this relationship has shown him that peaceful romance is possible for him, and now, he never wants to take any steps backwards. thankfully, he won't really have to. as far as he's aware, the both of them are in this for the long haul. no matter how far stevie travels, or how chaotic his career becomes, jindallae is hopeful that they'll be able to keep things alive regardless of distance.

he hopes that stevie feels that way, too. loyalty is huge for him. it always has been. as he intends to extend a herculean level of devotion to his boyfriend, all he can hope is that he receives it back. it's a pretty big ask, but he's never been able to understand why people can't come at romantic unions with as much passion as he does. if he can do it, why can't they? jindallae knows it's not that simple, everyone has baggage, but his point still stands.

the way stevie touches him, leans against him, and amplifies their physical affection elicits a deep, content sigh from jindallae. he feels every muscle in his body release any tension they were holding onto, which is a shocking feat for him. this sensation is so foreign, but he's learning to call it home little-by-little. "you know how they say that, when people are really cute, it makes you want to eat them?" he asks, then pauses, rhetorical. "well, i wanna eat you." he teases, then motions over to stamp a kiss onto stevie's cheek, then 'bites' it with his lips, kind of as if he's 'biting' into some ice cream, so he doesn't hurt him at all.

"i'm the best chef in korea and you're my favorite food. a mighty high honor, if i do say so myself..." jindallae laughs, then is overjoyed to see how stevie alights whenever he mentions showing him secret recipes and cooking some for him. the fact that his boyfriend wants to be involved in his craft means the world to him. he can never say no to him either, so when stevie asks if he can help, jindallae shrugs and nods his head. "yeah, you can be my sous-chef. we'll get you an apron and a hat; whatever you need. i've been told i'm a decent teacher, too, so who knows? maybe you'll become a chef someday too."

hearing how stevie wants the rest of their day to go, jindallae nods; happy to make it happen. "why don't we finish up here, go take our nap, then we can start prepping for dinner? i'll try not to get too handsy while we nap, but i also... can't make any promises." scrunching his nose, he knows that he's weak to how cuddly his sweetheart is... not to mention how sexy and attractive he finds him, too. "that sound cool to you, baby?"

jindallae's so good with words, stevie's beginning to find. or at least wording them in a way that has stevie's insides feeling like goop, practically. the surfer laughs, the last bit of it higher in pitch as his cheeks flush with nerves. "i guess i am pretty squishy," he pokes his cheek for good measure.

"good!" stevie beams. "i always want you to be comfortable with me! i like chill vibes, nice vibes. life's too short to not spend every moment enjoying it, y'know?" he leans back comfortably into the older, humming. even now-- it's so nice. stevie does love having confirmation that jindallae likes it too, which makes him bask in the moment even more. to just exist in this space and time with someone he cherishes; it's not often they get these moments.

"thank you," he says after a moment of silence, reaching up to place his hand on jindallae's nape, thumb rubbing against the skin there affectionately. stevie still feels a bit clumsy, the tenderness and appreciation in his motions coming in the form of instinct rather than thought. his hand stays there for a moment, in a weird half-hug before he drops his arm with a happy hum.

"you got that right." the grin that pulls at his mouth is proud. he knows that his boyfriend puts great attention and detail in his cooking, his own personal artistry stevie would never have the patience or the skill for. "that's what i'm talking about! be confident! own it. when you're that good at what you do, you've gotta let the whole world know."

stevie lets out a long hmmmm of contemplation, thinking about what he does want to do for the rest of the day. truth be told, stevie would be content here to lay in the park with jindallae. maybe take a nap under the sunrays peeking through the trees; even more so, he's just happy to be with his boyfriend. stevie does perk up considerably at the idea of getting to look through jindallae's recipe books, head twisting to look up at him with near stars in his eyes. "really?" the english slips out of him in his surprise. "really? i'd love that! i'm so curious what else you're hiding in that genius chef brain of yours." his smile grows even wider, if possible. "can i help you cook too?" stevie follows up, blinking up at the older. "or at least help with something?"

stevie hums, huffing out a laugh as he nuzzles his head absentmindedly into jindallae's chest. "s'fine with me." if he ends the night cuddling with his boyfriend, stevie isn't going to put up a fight. he'll welcome it gladly; happy, pliant and pleased with how the day is turning out. "honestly could squeeze in a nap too, at any point. i'm so comfortable it's making me kind of sleepy."

[jindallaebe]

CHEERS 진달래 → 주미

Jindallae just got back from Shanghai. A close friend of his has been living out there for awhile, opened up his own BBQ restaurant that's been seeing a lot of success amongst both locals and tourists. The two of them have been thick as thieves since elementary school, which is a rarity for him knowing the type of kid he was. Once in awhile, in order to keep their friendship alive, he'll pay him a visit to hangout just like old times, but while he's there, he also makes it a point to enjoy as much of the local cuisine as he can. Not only out of enjoyment, but also to learn new techniques and gain inspiration, all in hopes of bettering himself as a chef.

He's never been formally trained or anything, an he has no plans on entering a culinary program in the future, but he doesn't let that stop him from teaching himself all he needs to know. He spends hours of his downtime cooking, even if that's what he does all day at work. It's always been a passion of his, one bordering on complete obsession at that. Food has always been important to him. It's not only what sustains people, but it's often what brings them together, too.

He may not look it, but Jindallae's a big family man. There's nothing he loves more than providing a hearth for his loved ones to convene at, which is why he not only takes so much pride in serving them delicious meals, but also in ensuring that they know his restaurant (and to some of them, his own home) is open to them if they need a place to go. Lately, Joomi has been making himself comfortable here, which he loves to see. They maybe haven't always had the smoothest relationship, but above all, Jindallae's glad that they're able to be friends nowadays. It means a lot to him that Joomi would even accept that from him, given their past.

It's been slow tonight, so he's out of the kitchen early and partaking in his nightly cocktail. He's been on his feet all day, so his posture is extremely languid in his seat; his massive frame spilling out of it and maybe taking up a little too much space, but since there's not really anyone around right now, he's decided not to care. Looking over to Joomi, he nods toward him to catch his attention. "I've got the guys packaging up more food for you," he begins, then takes a long sip of his scotch and soda. "It's good to freeze if you can't eat it right away, so I don't want any lip from you. You're taking it."

His tone is demanding, but not in an aggressive way. He just knows Joomi will likely reject his offerings and he simply wants it to be known that that's not acceptable. "Share it with Stevie, or Jay, even Ren, if you want to. There's... probably going to be a lot of it. As you know, it's been pretty dead tonight and I don't wanna waste all that we prepped." It's then when he yawns, feeling rude for interrupting himself with one, but it is what it is. "You want another drink? If you want, I can mix you up another one while Yinuo closes up."

[jindallaebe]

[jindallaebe]

it's been awhile since jindallae treated himself to a night out. usually he's stuck in the kitchen until well past midnight, and when he's not, he's carving out any extra time he has to spend with his boyfriend. their schedules don't exactly align all of the time, so soaking up stevie's energy is always his top priority, but tonight, he's on his own, and being that he had no plans, he thought getting in touch with who he was in the past sounded like a damn good time.

when he was single, parties like this were a weekly occurrence. he loved the almost uncomfortably warm atmosphere, the smoke that's painted by neon, and the uninhibited partygoers seeking pleasure after a week of selling their souls to 'the man'; unwinding with the help of substances, or sex, or whatever they're yearning for.

however, he's been here for quite sometime now, and he's finding that, unlike before, he's not enjoying it as much as he once did. instead, he's being kind of a wallflower. though, he's not exactly unnoticeable. his height alone has always made him stand out, and now that he's gained a lot more muscle, his presence is even more obvious than before. pair his visual with his mysterious aura, one that he's learned to weaponize if need be, and it creates a magnetic pull, so when a man approaches him, he's not exactly shocked.

what does shock him though is the fact that this man looks almost identical to his twin brother, so much so that jindallae physically takes a step back and narrows his sights on him. "mindeulle?" he asks, dumbfounded. "wait, is that you? what the fuck is going on..." he could've sworn that he didn't take any drugs, but at parties like these, one can never be sure if something was slipped into their drink without their knowledge. it's disgusting, but a very sad reality.

"are you mindeulle, or am i just... fuckin' crazy?" he asks again, his tone mildly aggressive, but more out of confusion than anger. hopefully that comes across.

𝟑𝟔𝟎 —

written as 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 ♡

The pounding bass ripples through the air like a heartbeat, lights flash in erratic patterns across the sea of writhing bodies. Myungsoo wipes the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, his white shirt clinging to his muscles and back as he looks around. He spots a familiar face leaning against the bar, illuminated by the glow of the neon lights overhead. He can’t quite read him yet, unsure whether the boy is enjoying himself or just enduring the chaos.

Myungsoo pushes through the crowd, brushing his damp hair back from his forehead as he approaches. “Hey!” he calls out, raising his voice to compete with the music. “Everything okay? This wasn’t exactly my idea of a Saturday night either, by the way. I was... invited last minute, too.”

He pauses, his gaze drifting toward the door leading to the smoking area. “But, hey, if you want to step outside, I wouldn’t mind tagging along.”

[jindallaebe]

"that isn't true. more than anything, you give me a soft place to land." jindallae reassures, hating that stevie thinks he's not doing enough in the context of their relationship. "i'm not really used to that, really. it's nice." the thing is, other than that, jindallae vies for control. whether it be in his place of work, within the friendships and relationships he has, or whatever else, he feels much more comfortable when he can oversee how everything functions; when he's the one behind the steering wheel. sure, a part of it is lacking trust in others, but for the most part, he believes that being in the lead, being dominant in that way, is a strength of his. it's an asset as opposed to an impediment.

ultimately, the fact that stevie seems to trust him to take the lead means a lot to him. he knows it isn't easy to do that, or rather, he knows that it wouldn't easy for someone like him to do that, and he appreciates stevie's willingness to be on the receiving end. "you are a healing person. even before we officially got together, i loved chillin' with you because i always felt relaxed. i'm not someone who relaxes easily like that, m'always on guard, but i calm down around you."

it's also not like him to open up like this so much and yet, here he is, heart on his sleeve and feeling perfectly comfortable being real. the way stevie laughs, and coos, and melts into his touch only tells him, albeit nonverbally, that he's perfectly content how they are, too. the quiet returned reassurance has a strong impact on him, and so does his boyfriend's reaction to the kimbap that jindallae worked on all day. the sheer pleasure in knowing that what he does, and what he makes, satisfies stevie is better than any high he's ever felt. being the one to give his lover sustenance is huge for him. it's an honor.

though, when his hand is redirected toward himself, he takes a healthy bite of the food himself; humming at the flavor. "yeah... this is the best bulgogi in the city," he laughs, rolling his eyes at himself. "i'll trust your review, too. maybe i'll start marketing it that way online." it's a bit risky to advertise his food like that, as it means he needs to make sure it's perfect every single time it's served to someone, but he's up for the challenge. being somewhat greedy, he pops the remaining bit of kimbap into his mouth and chews, really loving how the sweetness, spiciness, and savory elements mingle together to create such a complex, delicious sensation. "you know what, fuck it, i'll be a tool. i'm a damn good chef."

with that, he laughs, then returns his attention back to stevie; admiring him, keeping him close. "what do you wanna do with the rest of our day? i figure we can camp out here for awhile, ride back, but i wanna know what you wanna do, too. we have the entire evening to play around with after all this... if you want, i can show you my book of secret recipes and you can pick one that i can make us for dinner?" jindallae took the reins for their picnic, but being that stevie had to work earlier, if all he wants to do is go home and rest up before training tomorrow, jindallae gets it. they've both got busy schedules, so some r&r is never a bad idea.

"whatever we do, i know i wanna end the night with you on my lap, but you know. when don't i want that?"

stevie grins, the butterflies in his stomach feeling like they're doing somersaults at the kiss on his head. he swallows, straightening up-- the smile hasn't left his face, and his face has blossomed a cherry red. it certainly does feel special, and with the attention and affection that jindallae is giving him, stevie basks in the feeling tenfold. "thanks." stevie hums, leaning comfortably into the older. "you take care of me so well already. i don't really do much, though..."

or maybe he really does, even if he can't quite comprehend how it helps jindallae. his vibes? positivity? how laidback he is? his charming wit? "am i just a healing person?" he asks in jest, tacking on a laugh.

despite him initiating the affection this time, stevie still lets out a shy noise akin to a squawk when his boyfriend leans in to kiss him, laughing into it. "hey," he gives a half-hearted protest, giving a happy hum at the kiss on his forehead. this is awesome, stevie thinks, content and comfortable next to jindallae. he chuffs out a laugh, shaking his head at the older's comment.

stevie leans back a bit, going cross-eyed for a moment, staring at the kimbap that jindallae presents to him. his cheeks turn an even more red of a color, shooting the taller an exasperated expression. "hey now, we're in public," he says, but he acquises easily and takes a bite.

as jindallae explains, and stevie lets his tastebuds process-- he gives a happy nod, savoring the bite. his facial features shift into something pleased, his happy hum the only answer for a moment. "how can you be a tool if it's like, kinda true though...? this is--" stevie lifts his hand to his mouth and makes a kissing noise with the notion. "delicious! magnifique!"

once he swallows back the bite, stevie tosses jindallae a shocked look. "what?" he asks, brows pinched and furrowed as he pouts. "i don't even get boyfriend priveleges for the knowledge? c'mon..." jindallae will tell him eventually, right? or stevie guesses he can peer in one day when he's cooking, catch him in the act.

"it is really good though. i mean that." stevie reassures, reaching up with his hand to direct the kimbap closer so he can take another bite. it really is good, not that stevie was expecting anything less. he's always been more than satisfied with jindallae's cooking-- taken care of in that department splendidly so.

once he swallows his bite, stevie directs jindallae's arm towards his boyfriend's own mouth. "okay, your turn. you need to eat, too." the surfer points out. "if you're hogging the secret recipe, then you know how good it is!"

[jindallaebe]

despite the fact that both of them stand upright as grown men today, jindallae wonders if stevie was sent into his life to help him heal his inner child. there's such a sweet, undiluted whimsy that comes attached to his boyfriend that he doesn't think he's ever possessed. as a kid, he spent so much time worrying about his brother, and fighting with his mother, and existing in such a deep state of survival mode that it darkened his worldview, even while still in single-digit ages. whenever he can't sleep at night, he dwells on his past and is seldom able to latch onto memories that don a dulcet glimmer.

for some reason, it seems like he's always taken everything rather seriously; the expressions on his face etched by broody angles and scowling glares instead of made gold by smiles and laughter. he's ashamed of having been such an angry boy. he also thinks that the circumstances of his life made it all too easy to fall down that pit of despair, too, and instead of rising above it or clawing his way out, he chose to stay there. now, here with stevie, he's finally able to make up for the lost time.

jindallae hears him talking about his home, and crawling out of the sea, and showing him around to new places, and grins fondly at all their dreams for plans. in truth, neither of them know when these things will happen, but he knows that they will. he'll make them a reality himself, if he must. for now, he's overjoyed (even if he doesn't show it physically or obviously) that stevie is so pleased with their picnic; the spread is certainly hearty, but he wanted to make sure that, even if they didn't finish everything in one go, they can still pack it up and snack on it later.

wrapping an arm around him, he pulls stevie in even closer after he's lean on and gives him a kiss on his temple; letting his hand settle on the other's hip somewhat possessively. "i wanted to make it special for you. for us." he reconfirms, so glad to see that his efforts are appreciated. "it's important to me that you eat well and are in good health. i wanna take care of you." the admission makes him cringe at himself a little, but it's his truth. "you may not realize it, but you take care of me in your own way, too. it's only fair i return the favor."

in that moment, he's taken by surprise when the strength of his jawline is cradled so tenderly by stevie's hand, and when his face is kissed, he lets out a content breath; relaxed. before answering his boyfriend's question, jindallae leans in and gives him a proper kiss on the lips, then one on his forehead; always eager for more. "hm, well, i think it's proper to save the dessert for last, so..." with that, he reaches forward and grabs one of the triangle-shaped kimbap, then guides it over to stevie's mouth, rubbing one of the pointed edges along his pouty lips for fun.

maybe it's lewd, even crude, of him to mess around in that way, but he hopes that it's obvious that his intentions are playful. he drives that point home by scrunching his nose at him, then laughing. "sorry..." he utters, shaking his head. "i'll get my mind outta the gutter, i promise."

though he's not taunting him anymore, he still hovers the food over stevie's mouth in anticipation of him taking a bite of it. "like i said, it's filled with bulgogi and kimchi, and well... maybe i sound like a tool, but i make the best bulgogi in the entire city." he laughs, waiting for the other to bite into it. "this marinade of mine is top-secret, but if you're lucky, i'll share it with you someday... you just have to promise not to tell anyone." winking, he's waiting patiently to witness stevie's reaction to its powerful flavor; packed with perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and savory goodness.

stevie nods his head, pleased with how the day's been turning out so far. the smile on his face hasn't budged, soft and sweet as he takes in the setting for their date. "thanks for all this," he reaches out to jindallae to grab his hand and squeeze it, swinging it between them childishly. "i can tell today's gonna be one for the memory book." it'll be a nice thing to lock up in his mind and remember forever. it's so romantic in a way stevie isn't used to, wouldn't even dream of having for himself.

jindallae talking about going to stevie's hometown makes him feel fuzzy inside, his smile taking on a dopey, almost dreamy twist to it. "yeah," he hums softly, thinking about it. bringing jindallae to all of his favorite hangout spots-- even the secret ones he only told one or two people about. surfing back home with him. "i do look best when it looks like i've just crawled out of the sea. you're so right." stevie laughs, tilting his head back up to grin up at his boyfriend. it's a bit unrealistic, sure, and probably a far off dream. but one day, maybe. and stevie will hope for it to happen sooner rather than later. "i'll show you around to all the best places too. i know home like the back of hand. you'll become like a local in no time with me." home. because at the core, it always will be, for stevie.

stevie follows jindallae through setting up, letting out interested little ooh and aahs as he sees everything the older has prepared. his facial expressions shift more and more into surprise and awe, then to excitement as he gets himself comfortable next to the taller. his eyes dart over the food, already feeling his stomach start to grumble as he looks over it. "wah..." stevie comments, awed. "this looks so good. you really outdid yourself, jin." he leans over to knock his shoulder into the other, then proceeds to stay there, looking over the spread.

"it is a lot, but it's okay! we're big eaters, aren't we?" stevie hums, non-plussed, leaning back over for the thermos jindallae pointed out. he can eat, and it's true-- anything they don't finish they can save for later. stevie resists the urge to kick out his feet in glee, and instead returns back to his very comfortable position leaning up against his boyfriend.

you mean a lot to me, he says, and stevie pauses, looking up at the older with eyebrows raised. a slow, steady flush begins to cross his cheeks, then his ears, but the smile on his face is bashful. his stomach does a little flip and a dive-- oof, are these what butterflies are like?

for once, stevie doesn't have a quip or something to say. but he does act, reaching up with a steady hand to cup the side of jindallae's neck. he's clumsy though, pushing himself up so he can plant a kiss on the underside of jindallae's jaw sweetly. "you mean a lot to me, too." stevie murmurs against his skin, another chaste peck following before he begins to pull away. "it all looks really good. do you have a recommendation, chef?" he asks, playful.

[jindallaebe]

jindallae's glad that he can make stevie blush, too. at least the feeling is mutual between them. he'd feel like a little bit of a fool if he was the only one to lose his cool here-and-there, which is already a foreign sensation to him in and of itself. prior to stevie, he could probably count on one hand the amount of times he's blushed. more often than not, it's his job to elicit that reaction out of someone, and he remains chillingly composed. however, as it seems, someone with the level of delicateness as stevie does the trick. no one melts him like stevie does, and it happens during moments that aren't obvious either. that's how he knows his reactions are honest, not forced.

a deep, content sigh escapes him; his intimidating frame loosening any tension that once existed in it as they pump the brakes, post their bike up, and start taking in the vibe around them. "yeah, we can leave it wherever, i think, as long as it's not in anyone's way," he reassures, wanting to quell any worries stevie might have. "i agree, though. m'glad we get our spot to ourselves, for the most part. there's some bushes and trees for coverage, too." he realizes that they're in a public space, so it's natural for others to be hanging around, too. all he can hope is that they mind their fuckin' business. if they don't, though, he's still not worried.

"someday soon, we'll have to pay a visit to huntington beach. check out the waves, grab some tacos from the taco truck, get a tan. it'll be nice to see you with some sea mist in your hair again." he knows how much stevie loves the beach, and he's already planning on how to make his beach-bum dreams come true. it'd be hard to relocate from south korea, but if it meant that stevie gets to live his ideal life, then it'll all be worth it. he can open up a small restaurant on the coast, maybe a cart or truck of his own, slinging traditional korean eats the locals become obsessed with to keep them housed and happy.

honestly speaking, the longer he thinks about it, the more he wants to make that a reality for himself, too. it sounds peaceful. grinning at the could-be's, he sets their picnic basket down, straightens out their blanket, spreads everything out, ensures that everything is where it ought to be, and when he's happy with the display, he takes a seat and pats the spot beside him. "so, as you can see, we've got quite the spread..." to be specific, it's bulgogi kimbap in two shapes; a fruit-charcuterie tray of seasonal varieties, adorned with petals of edible flowers and squares of chocolate; a box of a dozen glazed donuts; and a spicy cucumber and kimchi salad. he made everything himself, except the donuts.

"oh, and in that thermos over there is green tea lemonade. you're probably thirsty after the ride. i... know it's kind of a lot, but i had the time, and i enjoyed putting it all together for us. we can always pack up what we didn't eat and have it later." with that, he looks over to stevie and smiles; sweet, especially for him.

"you mean a lot to me."

a pfft leaves his mouth at jindallae's words, grin tugging further up on his mouth. if he weren't so focused on the ground in front of him, stevie would have turned and given jindallae a cheeky look. it's both weird and really nice to be a center of someone's attention, their affection. stevie's beginning to understand why people really like being in relationships. he's grateful he's lucked out with jindallae, who's shown him nothing but patience and support throughout the months.

stevie's head swivels to see where the older is gesturing, squinting as if that would help him see better. "oh! yeah," he nods his head, but blinks in surprise at jindallae's follow-up. another snort leaves him, this time with the flushing of his cheeks. "jeez," stevie laughs, properly steering the bike towards that area. "we haven't even been biking that long!"

he doesn't mind it, though. to know jindallae just wants to hold him. stevie loves the easy and constant affection the other is all too willing to give him. he thrives off the contact, the doting.

as the bike settles to a stop, stevie's rapid peddling slowing down as he makes sure he doesn't topple over trying to get to a stopping point. his excitement is only growing and growing-- the spot jindallae has picked is movie-esque, set up in a way that he's only seen in film. part of him wonders if jindallae has arms and hands working behind the scenes, setting all of this up so stevie can have a perfect date.

"i like it," stevie assures nodding his head as he begins to get off the bike. "parking the bike here is probably fine, yeah?" he asks, taking a glance around. he doesn't seen any signs saying no, so stevie shrugs-- stretching out his limbs as he moves his attention to their decided spot.

"this is nice." stevie nods towards the area around him. "especially for a date-- and there's not a lot of people around either." he hasn't been on a picnic before, not that he can remember, at least. maybe as a kid, playing in the grass before his parent's marriage hit the fan. "back home, you really had to travel to get this kind of vibe. you'd have to go more north, but here it's really...beautiful. and we didn't have to go that far at all."

[jindallaebe]

when stevie mentions the sun coming back with a vengeance, jindallae grimaces; recalling how awful last summer was, and how, if he remembers correctly, this upcoming one is meant to be much, much harsher as far as uv exposure is concerned. south korea has always had rather oppressive summers, but with how the world is changing, he can't help but wonder what the future is going to look like, or, rather, what it's going to feel like just wandering around outside when the weather is genuinely unbearable.

not wanting to get too distracted by negative wonderings, he shakes his head free of thoughts and narrows his sights in on stevie. now, he is the only 'sunshine' that jindallae needs, as cheesy as that is. he'll gladly handle the heat, so long as it's coming from him. he'll suffer through any burns if they happen, he doesn't care. he'll fully embrace the sun, in this case. no questions asked, no hesitation whatsoever.

then, stevie mentions the fact that they're starting to collect "things" together. inside-jokes are being created, shared-favorite restaurants are being selected, jindallae is learning how stevie likes all of his food prepared so he can ensure that everything he makes him is as close to perfection as possible, and the longer they remain in one another's orbit, the more their world will start filling out. it's been fun to witness, and he can't wait to see what else comes up along the way.

honestly, this is the first time he's ever felt this level of peace in a relationship. it's still crazy to him that he feels so at ease. even now, he's coasting behind stevie, keeping the bike anchored and balanced, helping him steer. it's so simple, but it brings him so much joy. it's as if he's finally figured out what relationships are supposed to be, and feel, like and he couldn't be more thankful. smiling like a dope, his thoughts are interrupted when stevie asks him if he's taken this route before, and after a breath, he shrugs his shoulders.

"maybe once or twice, but this is definitely the best time... i'm sure you can guess why," he teases, licking over his lips. it's then when he eyes a vacant spot in the grass, one surrounded by local flowers and in partial shade from a nearby fruit tree. "that look good to you?" he asks, stretching one of his arms out to point at it; its length long enough to reach past stevie's head. "not gonna lie, seems like the perfect spot to cuddle up in... and i kind of can't wait any longer to have you pressed up against me."

the admission is bold, but honest. he's been thinking about it all day.

"if you approve, i say we post up there."

i can anchor you. it's nice-- to feel grounded. stevie hasn't felt that way in a long time, and he's not quite sure if he feels all that grounded. stevie knows he has a long way to go-- reverting back to easy ways of dealing with things now that he has such little time to spare.

but it's a nice hope. a promise even. a bigger smile curves and blooms on stevie's face, and he's unable to help himself to nudge his shoulder into the other. "i like the sound of that." his voice is softer this time, and the pleased twist to his grin stays on his face even in the silence after.

he thinks about it. tilts his head to the side and imagines it. "the spring would be nice. oh man, the breeze would be so refreshing. before the sun starts to come back with a vengeance. oof." stevie can still remember how unbearable the last summer was-- the heat terrible. he grimaces at the thought of it, shaking his head.

stevie's shoulders shake with mirth, smiling to himself as he settles himself in the seat. "we're starting to have a lot of those. our things. a whole collection soon." stevie comments. it's nice though. he looks forward to them. stevie kicks his feet around in idle wait, humming as jindallae sets everything up.

once they're settled, stevie's grin widens-- his body straightening up as he gears himself to start pedaling. once they're going, stevie focuses his attention on in front of him, glancing around as he navigates them forward.

"oh man...i bet that looks incredible." it's always pretty, beautiful even; but on a bike ride, it's likely to elevate it. living in the moment-- it's picturesque, romantic in thought. it makes his gut flip and his smile to widen. "sounds like a date."

"oookay! i'll keep my eyes peeled." he leans forward a bit more, like the motion will help him in the long run. "it's nice out." the weather is chilled, sure. but the action of pedaling pushes enough energy and adrenaline in his body, it's comfortable. "have you taken this route before?" he asks, tilting his head back a bit but remembering eyes forward, dummy! and returns his head back in previous position.

[jindallaebe]

when yinuo finally strikes him, jindallae laughs and shakes his head. "trust me, that won't be necessary..." he replies, taking another sip of his drink. "all the guys are terrified of you. in a good way though, like, you keep them their best behavior. you're basically the bouncer, but for the staff." he knows this will stroke her ego, smoothing over any actual annoyance she may have felt because of his teasing. though, he's positive that she takes whatever he says in stride. the two of them have a great rapport, and he appreciates it immensely.

it's because of this that he begins to internally question why she seems so adamant on celebrating christmas at the restaurant. yinuo is often this headstrong as it is, but the fact that she simply won't let this go, especially since he's told her 'no' in many ways, makes him curious. he doesn't want to psychoanalyze her, but his mind naturally tries to search for hidden meanings. it's a personal belief of his that there's always a codded message written between the lines.

now, does this make him a rather suspicious person? yes, but he likes to think that it's for good reason. so far, most of his suspicions have been correct, so it can't be that much of a flaw. "yinuo..." he starts, his voice low and tired, but still warm. "look, if you want to do all of the work, then i won't say no, and because our budget is limited, you can't get too crazy. okay?" jindallae relents, hoping that he's pleased. yet again he strokes her ego, but he can't help it.

in some ways, she's like the little sister he never had.

"i'll give you the restaurant's credit card before you head out tonight. remember though—i'm trusting you." he knows he can, which is why he feels comfortable caving. "you should also ask people if they want to help you. i'm willing to pay you by the hour for however long you stay decorating, just don't milk it."

jindallae expects a punch in the arm and yinuo would be a fool not to oblige. she's pretty sure she could use her full strength and still not so much a bruise the man, so she's not exactly holding back as she smacks her fist into a firm bicep. "who's soft?" she challenges jokingly, "don't let the rest of the bar staff hear you. i might have to beat them all up one by one to get their respect back!" another jest; she's more than earned the regard of her peers thanks to a short lifetime of experience in this industry.

ah, she'll admit to a bit of homesickness though. she doesn't think about it often, she's content with her life here after all, but especially as family holidays approach she can't help but think about all the fond memories of home, the special events they'd put on and decorations they'd hang up at the bar and brewery, the staff who were just as much her aunts and uncles as those who actually share her blood. and yes, the homemade meals. korean food isn't that much different in a lot of ways, but no one here knows how to capture the sentimentality of stewed vegetables cooked just a minute too long so grandmother can chew more easily when taking meals with the family. she's not sure how to describe the heat level her father liked, enough to 'make his mouth happy' without burning for hours afterwards.

she's not one to wallow in negativity, to let the weight of the world push her down. so yinuo tries to shove the homesickness away, back down in the box where it came from, and put a convincing smile on her face. even as close of a friend as she considers jindallae, it's not something she wants to talk about with him. ah, but if only she had the time and money for a trip back home, just for a week or two... no, it's just not in the cards right now, and yinuo can accept that.

the woman doesn't remark further on the topic, but she knows jin will make the dish for her when he has the time. nothing more needs to be said. instead, she hones in on the upcoming holidays. "no budget as in i can do whatever i want and you'll cover it all?" her eyes gleam, anticipation showing through even though she knows, realistically, what her boss means is 'no budget as in you have a handful of change and a dream.' "we can do all out for both, you know. there's no rule about that. and i'll do all the work, you and everyone else can just rest. c'mon, please? it'll be fun."

will she admit that she wants to keep busy to keep from missing home during the holidays? not aloud. but she suspects that jindallae is wise enough to pick up on it anyway.

[jindallaebe]

jay reacts in a very "jay" fashion, much to jindallae's delight. that's one thing he always, always enjoyed about him. without ever trying to be, jay is fun. plain and simple. there's a certain chaos that swathes him, one that jindallae didn't really know what to do with some of the time during their tryst, and he's forever ashamed of that because, in retrospect, time spent with jay was never dull. ever. sometimes the excessive stimuli was hard to keep up with, but jindallae wonders if he'll have an easier time doing that now that he, himself, has grown up as a person.

maybe instead of meeting the strokes of lightning with further sparks, he needs to work as a rod that anchors it; electrified in the best way.

at jay's quick, he rolls his eyes and grins; finding it amusing that his suspicions of sticking out like a sore thumb at the christmas concert are now confirmed. "you know..." he begins, watching as his comrade works hard to form the perfect snowball. "while you're busy with all that, i could just..." jindallae pauses, then quickly clutches onto more snow himself; launching it jay's way with swiftness, hitting him in the shoulder before he's able to throw his first one.

when that eventually happens though, he moves his face out of the way, then charges at him; careful not to ram into anyone else in their vicinity. when he reaches him, he's quick to lift him off the ground and tackle him into the huge pile of snow behind him; getting them both covered in the fresh powder now. jindallae laughed all the while, and it only continues as he lifts himself up only to stare down at jay.

"i'm sorry... that was a little much," he admits, shaking himself off. "you okay? need me to kiss any of your boo-boos?" with the question comes his extended hand, offering the other an opportunity to grab it for ease of standing up. "promise i won't fuck around with you again... unless you like it." it's a teasing remark, one he hopes jay takes in jest. "i was just excited to see you. that's all. chucking a snowball your way felt like the most appropriate way to say 'hey'."

the holidays is all about family, the warmth of one unit, a gentle embrace in the face of harsh, cold winter. last christmas, jay found himself alone for the most part, wandering the streets with nothing to accompany him but the dangerous thoughts that often whirls inside his head. his sister, ever the constant presence in his life, stayed by his side whenever she could. however, the two of the lead separate lives, it isn't fair that he expects her to be around 24/7, so he doesn't. he'd brace the winter on his own, like he often does.

a year before, jay strolled through the snow thinking he's seeing and listening to hallucinations of his past beyond. as if it haunts him, follows him wherever he goes, comes to him when jay is vulnerable in solitude. headphones covering his ears, his only viable shield in those horrible moments. coming into 2024, he believed that lonely december would repeat itself. to his surprise, this december shows no sign of being drowned out by colorless white. it's different now, his chest doesn't ache with the need to lose himself in his imaginations and the melodies he'd fill up in his head. for once, reality is nice, kinder, warmer.

unfortunately, the natural responses to everything getting better is to wonder whether everything that he had received would eventually be ripped away from him. still, there's a lot going on that he doesn't even have time to think about that. with the christmas concert finally coming to a close, he can finally kickstart his holiday properly. it feels long overdue, he'd gotten used to the concept of training day in and day out with little to no breaks. now though, as he's walking through the christmas market, he doesn't feel that sense of dread that he felt last year. it's comfortable, it's nice.

that only lasts for what felt like a swift moment, when jay feels something soft colliding with the back of his head. he blinks—once, then twice—before he finally registers what had just transpired. he turns around rather dramatically, knowing that the culprit isn't a one hit wonder after what was pulled. his eyes meet jindallae's, causing a grin to spread across his face. "what the hell, it's you!" jay exclaims, shaking his head a little to get rid of the remaining snow stuck to his hair. most of them had probably melted.

"saw you the other day too, since you were sticking out like a sore thumb in the audience! was seeing the line-up eye-opening to you?" he quickly reaches to the mountain of snow behind him, sticking his tongue out in an act of defiance and to annoy jindallae, gathering enough snow to fit into his balled fists. bigger, grander. it has to be a proper circle too. "is that how you wanna greet me? fine!"

he aims at jindallae's face, but thinks he might miss—jindallae would have the advantage to dodge—still, jay shoots his own snowball into the air, hoping to at least hit the area he intended. he knows that his words are kind of like small jabs at the other boy anyway, so maybe it could serve as a distraction.

[jindallaebe]

SNOWBALL 진달래 → 송제이

normally, for jindallae, this time of year is overloaded with stressors from both the restaurant, and his family. the combination of them weighing him down at the same time is often crushing and it stays that way until after seollal. the fragrant breath of springtime often ushers in renewed energy, better vibes, and less burdens, so he always trudges through the winter with hopes that he can enjoy himself better come spring. this year, however, something feels different. there's a certain lightness to him, a sense of calm that's foreign to him when the temperature outside is this biting.

honestly, throughout all of 2024, jindallae's evolved a lot as a person. he has no idea when he truly began to molt, but much like a snake's former skin, he sees fragments of his leftover self sometimes. a lot of the time, he finds them in old music he's written, or in recalling many of the sleepless nights he's had, or in being reminded of his behavior by those he's close to. other times, he finds them in people from his past. whenever he runs into old flames, there's an embarrassment that takes over, one that makes him physically cringe in a way that's far beyond his control, and that lets him know that he no longer feels the ways he once did for these people; that he's remorseful for his actions. this, though, has allowed him to make peace with them.

so, when he sees jay across the way at the christmas market, a wave of memories come rushing over him—both positive and negative. the two of them were rather close awhile back, their relationship frayed, and more recently, they've been reconnecting in a manner that's healthy; forging a friendship that he likely wouldn't have been able to build months and months ago. being that they're in a better place, jindallae thinks he can get away with being rather playful, and without giving it much thought, he digs his hands into the snow, forms a ball out of the fresh powder, then launches it jay's way.

an athlete, his aim is quite impressive, the strength with which he threw the snowball is, too, and in a flash, he watches as it slams into the back of jay's head; exploding into a flurry of glittering snowflakes. shocked by how precise it was, he's unable to keep in his laughter; sort of feeling like an asshole for this, but knowing jay, he's bound to get revenge somehow. now, all jindallae can do is wait for the retaliation, and he won't lie... he's eager to see what happens next. a little too eager, maybe...

[jindallaebe]

LOVER / LOSER 조진달래 → SOLO

jindallae feels so out of place here. originally, he was meant to come to this concert with mindeulle, but sadly, his twin ended up not feeling well and had to stay home, so now, not only is he worried about how his brother is doing, but he's grappling with how awkward it is for him to be one of the only non-teenage-girls in the crowd.

the fact that he towers over everyone, is draped in all black like some kind of wannabe vampire, and has an already rather intimidating aura about him based on his size alone, doesn't help. he hopes that he can escape this without causing any issues. that's the last thing he needs.

above all, he's here to support his boyfriend, and despite all that's going on in his head, he remains focused on that; eager to see him light up the stage and show off his skills. knowing how, and who, he is, he knows it'll be easy for him to capture hearts. he tells him that to this day. stevie's been working hard. sometimes jindallae wonders if he works too hard, but regardless of whether he does or not, being able to finally witness the fruits of his labor himself will be incredible.

besides, there's a small part of him that thinks it's cool that he's romantically linked to a rookie idol. the mere idea of it makes jindallae smirk. just knowing that, although stevie's bound to have so many adoring fans, it's him who he comes home to every night, brings him an oddly high sense of satisfaction. what can he say? he loves to win.

though, before his thoughts get too carried away, he notices the studio delta trainees being lit up one-by-one on stage, and as they stand in line and introduce themselves, jindallae is given whiplash by their lineup. in front of him are joomi, ren, jaeyoung, and stevie, and they're all in the same place, at the same time, and it's an absolutely excruciating reminder that they're all signed to the same company.

jindallae knew this, but seeing them poised how they are feels like a slap in the face, or a splash of ice-cold water racing down his back.

once upon a time, he dated jaeyoung and ren; he had passionate and deep feelings for joomi, but they were never returned; and now, he's wrapped up in stevie, and obsession doesn't even being to describe how he feels about him. this moment is evidence for accusations that he's always tried to dodge, and it's kind of embarrassing. maybe he really does have a type. maybe ren scathingly alleging that he has an interest in 'idol twinks' wasn't bullshit. it makes him laugh at himself.

aiming to not make this about him and his track record, he refocuses his sights on stevie—the true reason for his attendance. he keeps his eyes glued to him from that point forward; amazed at how talented he is, and impressed by how much effort and passion he's putting into this performance, too. he's clearly biased, but in his own opinion, stevie's the most striking entertainer among his label-mates—as well as the most attractive. easily. there's genuinely no competition, and he'll assert that with his whole chest, regardless of controversy.

nevertheless, what adds to the endearment is that the song they're singing and rapping talks about being a loser in the face of love. jin views his boyfriend as anything but that, however, he really sells the concept. when it eventually comes to an end and they're ushered off-stage, jindallae can't help but feel immensely proud. feeling like a fish out of water in this environment no longer matters to him. if anything, he's glad that he came and was able to experience this himself.

now, all he has to do is wait for his opportunity to greet and congratulate stevie. there's more show to sit through, so he knows it won't be anytime soon, but he's counting down the milliseconds until they can come face-to-face again.

[jindallaebe]

their playful banter never ceases to make him laugh, and stevie teases him in a way that he just loves. many people tend to think that he's a little too intense to simply take things in jest, but he's quite the opposite, actually. jindallae adores joking around with his loved ones. the way he expresses affection is often rather aggressive, and that comes across in verbiage, too. sure, it can be compared to how a kid on the playground will bully or pester another one as a means of conveying their interest, but he sees it as more than that.

whenever someone can take his words lightly, and he can do the same with theirs, depending on context, it means that they don't doubt their love. there's no need to become insecure and get defensive because, unless otherwise specified, the snarking and taunting is lighthearted; playful. there's a level of trust there. trust that neither one of you will purposely say anything to harm the other.

besides, it's not like there isn't truth to what stevie's teasing him about. jindallae is obsessed with him; he does make incredible food; he is kind-of-a-gentleman. are these phrases spoken in a ribbing tone? of course, but that's what adds the adorability, especially whenever he can catch stevie's devilish grins between them.

honestly, seeing him smile sets jindallae at ease in a way that he's never really felt before. it sounds corny, but to him, making someone happy, and being made happy in return, is one of the best things a human being can experience. straight up.

"don't worry," he replies, smirking. "i can anchor you." his pupils dilate as he takes in his lover's face bathed in the aurulent beams of the sun; its warmth further accentuated by the shades of autumn that surround them. "why don't we pick up biking together in the spring? we can do that on sundays, too. it can be one of our things." then, when stevie mounts his seat on the bike, jindallae keeps his sights glued to his physique as he moves; "taking in the view," per usual.

humming to himself, he secures the picnic basket to the bike, then joins stevie by getting into his position, too; nodding at his question. "let's! we can ride around until we find a good place to chill. luckily, it's not that busy here today, so we'll have more options." with that, they push off the ground and remain upright as they begin their trek. jindallae's glad that he's on the back seat. it gives him more opportunities to admire stevie from behind.

"imagine going for a ride like this when cherry blossoms are blooming. that's why i think springtime would be perfect for this!" he comments, peering around. "let me know if you see a spot you wanna stop at."

jindallae's been so patient and kind with him through the journey of his first real relationship, and the continued reassurement feels nice, to say the least. the older has been extra thoughtful in that regard, more than stevie could expect. "thank you," he says, his tone bleeding genuinity. "though you've been a complete gentleman thus far. kinda." stevie pauses, an impish smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. he's not sure if the hand in the back pocket would be tucked in the gentleman category, but stevie will let it side. he's biased, what can he do? "and i missed you too."

stevie gives a sheepish laugh, resisting the urge to fiddle with his earrings, and instead nudges into jindallae's side. "sorry, i didn't think about it. and besides..." he trails off. "how am i supposed to eat anything else when you spoil me with such good food?" stevie playfully argues.

he's impressed, honestly. jindallae must have been in a lot of work for their day today, which makes stevie already more and more excited for what's to come. a smile already begins to tug on his mouth, humming a tune under his breath. "why you so obsessed with me~" he sings the familiar mariah carey tune, knocking into jindallae's body playfully with a happy laugh. "well, i'm here now! so you don't have to miss me anymore."

stevie stands back and observes jindallae set up the bike, pursing his lips at the question as he thinks about it. he eyes the front of the bike critically, then the back-- his expression thoughtful. "i can take the front?" he offers first, nodding his head, settling with the idea. he ambles over, reaching out to hold on to the handlebar. "you can anchor me, can't you?" stevie pats the taller's shoulder, hand lingering for a moment. "i was thinking about getting back into biking," he adds as an afterthought, his brain wandering off. biking is a safer option than skateboarding, even if he really enjoys the other more. "and these double bikes are kinda cute. it's making me consider it more."

stevie rocks on his heels, tilting his head up at jindallae with a beaming smile. "we ready to go?" he asks, shuffling closer so he can swing a leg over the front portion of the seat, settling himself in.

[jindallaebe]

[jindallaebe]

grimacing playfully in her direction, jindallae sucks in his through his teeth teasingly; holding his hands up to drive his unserious dramatics home. "i don't know, yinuo..." he begins, licking over his lips. "when i look at you, all i see is softness. the most softness i've ever seen..." will he get a fist to the bicep for this? almost definitely, but this type of playful aggression is one of his favorite ways to communicate with his loved ones. whenever anyone can take the heat he gives them, then dial it up a couple notches before giving it right back, he knows he's met someone that he can be himself with.

not everyone is cool with his sense of humor, but he's glad that yinuo is. it makes their friendship feel all the more real, even if he's technically a senior employee to her.

"yeah, a pal of mine whose been in the mainland for awhile sent me some in a care package. he packed up a bunch of cool food-finds and sent 'em my way, tellin' me to fuck around with 'em to see if i can come up with new takes on recipes." thinking of it now, he feels lucky to have such good friends in his life; ones that encourage him to keep evolving as a chef. "i can see if he can send some more, though. he's in the industry, too, so it shouldn't be too hard."

when yinuo speaks of her mother, jindallae half-smiles. he's glad that she can speak so fondly of her mom like that, that she has fond memories of her mom like that. he's happy for her. "i definitely won't beat your mom's, i know that for sure, but you never know. maybe mine'll be decent enough that it'll scratch the itch for you. though, food that's made purely from muscle-memory is the best kind. you know a person's got that recipe in their soul for life in that way."

honestly, he's got quite a few meals he can whip up without thinking. so long as he has the supplies, they come together like magic. most of the menu items at the restaurant are those he considers to be in this category. however, before he's able to nerd out about culinary arts any further, the talk of yuletide decorations and festivities distracts him. the thought of it causes him to take yet another swig of his seoul mule before responding. "what if i told you that we have no budget for this?"

jindallae doesn't want to be a stick-in-the-mud, it's just fact. "we go all-out for seollal. that's literally next month. isn't that enough?" the commercialization of christmas has always felt exceptionally scummy to him. all it is, is corporate greed. take the spirituality out of it and it's merely massive companies sucking the bank accounts of the working class dry. "december's a slower time for us. let's just chill, take it easy, like we're supposed to in wintertime. we can party later."

"are you saying i'm not intimidating enough?" it's so clearly a joke that the girl doesn't even try to pretend otherwise. she's only barely over 160 centimeters on a good day, slight enough that a good gust of wind might blow her over. no matter how she might have the fighting spirit of a bull mastiff she's still trapped in a tiny little purse dog body. "actually, i'm the one keeping the bodies of bad bartenders in the fridge. it's just more convenient to blame on you. so don't you ever call me soft again," she points a finger at him, her face split into a brilliant smile despite her supposed scolding.

a second wind seems to hit the girl as she sits up a little straighter, eyebrows raising. "you have doubanjiang?" she's shocked, genuinely. "where did you find it? or is it under a different name here or something? i swear i've been looking and haven't seen it anywhere. oh, but i guess i don't have your culinary connections either. anyway, spill." yinuo is no chef, she's not making elaborate meals for anyone, but living alone means she cooks for herself for the meals she doesn't eat here at the restaurant, and an extra taste of home in her cuisine would never go amiss. "my mom's the pro, actually. i'd ask her to send me the recipe but i don't think anything is actually measured out. you can try to do it as good as her, though. i don't think you'll win."

maybe she should be more concerned about her boss inviting her back to his place, but the situation isn't like that at all. yinuo knows jindallae's boyfriend, for crying out loud, and jindallae in turn knows about yinuo's blatant preference for the company of women. there's nothing weird about it, especially when she would consider the two of them friends after working with each other for this long.

a gasp escapes the girl. as much as she joked about a christmas rush and gimmicky decorations, she's shocked and horrified that jindallae won't even try to indulge in the commercialized, secular version of the holiday. "really? no garland? not even a little?" she acts scandalized. "i guess this place really does need a woman's touch. okay, give me a christmas decoration budget and i'll take care of it. i'll do it in place of that extra bonus." it's a missed opportunity, in her opinion, if they do nothing in recognition of the winter festivities. it's a romantic holiday, one often spent between couples and lovers, and what's better than a fancy dinner date? no, doing nothing simply will not do and yinuo has always been the type to take matters into her own hands, warranted or not.

"your team will be happier if you throw them a christmas party," she half-jokes, knowing she's probably going too far yet still unable to rein herself back in. "it's not even religious at this point. it's a national holiday, you know? a lot of people have off of work!"