taespocket

[taespocket]

the y group now in regency era. i am not ok!!!! this was so funny and chaotic and everything!!! 😳 now i do wonder what has brought the duke over- somebody hit me up with lady birdwhistle so we can discuss some stuff

diamond of the first water ♛ kth x oc

© singguks × bluenpjm × socksjinie | all rights reserved. do not repost, translate or claim as your own.

synopsis. The search for true love is a hazardous quest, indeed. Could such a gracious sentiment be the reason for the appearance of the Duke of Elffire? Certainly, all the Mamas of London will have an eye out on the most eligible bachelor of the season.

genre. bridgerton au ㆍ regency au ㆍ angst ㆍ smut ㆍ fluff

pairing. taehyung x oc ft. bts x oc’s

rating. M

wordcount. 5.5K

warnings. some foul language, fights, tension, and jungkook being cranky most of the time.

a/n.  zoë, lily and i have been wanting to write a bridgerton au for months now!! and we found that today was the best way to cross (yet another) au from the list. so, to my other half, my lovely @taespocket. i will forever have you in my life so you can keep me calm and collected. happy birthday sunshine ♡

♛ 𝓂𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉 ― one ; two

Dearest reader, 

As the season opens, it seems only fitting that one would stay alert. The most prestigious families are exhilarated with the possibility of their oldest being declared the diamond of the season. I can’t help but wonder if this year, the Queen’s senses will be sharpened enough. After all, what happened to the Belgraves after their oldest was found bilk with a married man was a shame… Wasn’t it?

As such, it does not do to dwell on past mistakes, as now all attention must fall on the arrival of the Duke of Elffire — isn’t he the most eligible bachelor? I wonder if anyone will be able to catch his attention and infiltrate his cold heart. All say that the warmth of spring is the best to melt the ice from the winter. One can only dwell so much on why the Duke acts in such a way. 

After Lord Bridgerton’s marriage festivities and, of course, the successful pairing of his sister Daphne in the previous year, one can only expect to see how his cousin, Lord Middleton, will do, as his sister, Eleanor, comes of age and is most certain to be a debutant. I’m certain one would love to know more about this family, as the Bridgertons have had such a perfect record… Does it run in the family, or will the Middletons fall from grace and present us with a thrilling time?

Let us wait, as I will return to you with nothing but the truth of what goes on in the Ton.

Yours truly, 

Lady Birdwhistle.

“Honora,” Jungkook’s stern voice sounded across the room, making the youngest of the Middleton family lift her fingers from the piano tiles, abruptly interrupting the song she was playing. “Go check on your sister. It’s taking ages.” 

Her eyes lifted slowly from the instrument and traveled across the room to where her brother was sitting. Before she could even open her mouth, he had already raised his eyebrows at the not-so-subtle roll of her eyes. “Now, brother… As you see, I am rather busy. As for you, you’re merely sitting. Get up and go check on our sister.” 

Jimin and Hoseok’s laughter fills the room, noticing Junkook’s glare on the youngest of the Middletons and how careless she continued playing, now a more upbeat tune, making the mocking of her brother complete. “What are you two bozos laughing at?” 

“Aren’t you in luck that you’re the head of the house, brother?” Hoseok teased, exchanging looks between his brothers. As the middle children, with only a year separating them, they are closer than anyone else in the family. 

“I can only imagine Jungkook being easily dominated by his wife.” Jimin joins, hitting Hoseok’s leg as he falls deep in laughter. 

“Perhaps we should present you two as bachelors for this year’s season.” Jungkook got up, adjusting the vest he had. “Mother!” 

“Hey, hey!” Hoseok was quick to get up, following after the head of the house. 

“It does sound brilliant, doesn’t it, brother?” Jungkook continued, now leaving the living room at a fast pace. “After all, you have been spending an awful lot of time on those art things of yours. I believe it would–” 

Jungkook is rendered speechless as he comes face to face with his sister, Eleanor, gracefully coming down the stairs. Her hands, covered with lacy white gloves barely touched the stair’s handrail as one pinched the long fabric of the blue dress she wore that contrasted with her pale skin perfectly. Her hair, in a bun plaint, fought to escape, some strawberry-golden locks already celebrating their freedom as they smoothly swayed. 

“Sister,” Hoseok steps forward, his features soft as his eyes smile but his mouth is somewhat agape.

“What are you two fighting over?” The smile on her lips made it known that she was used — or better, expecting — her brothers' antiques. A peaceful day at the Middleton residence was rare.

“Hoseok was pondering about being a bachelor for this season.” Swinging his arm around his brother’s shoulders, Jungkook gives his sister a big smile that she decoded as splattered with mischief. 

“Is that so?” Eleanor laughs. 

“Jungkook, you should follow your brother’s lead. After all, you are the oldest and should be the one giving the example.” Their mother, Grace, speaks.

With a long sigh, Jungkook rubs his temples. “Mother…” 

The matriarch of the home ignores her oldest son, hands tightly wrapped around one another behind her back as she strolls into the living room, her children following her shut. 

“Are you all still sitting? Goodness, have you all lost notion of time?” Eleanor teases her siblings, hands on her hips as if she were the one waiting for them to be ready. The bag around her wrist was small, with a pearly white color, matching her entire outfit.

“El, you look stunning!” Jimin jumps to his sister’s side, hand finding hers and lifting it up, making the girl twirl. “There will be suitors rounding Grosvenor Square for weeks and weeks on end.” 

“Thank you,” Bowing slightly, Eleanor laughs. “And hopefully so! I intend to marry on my very first season.”

“Not that your worth is valued in the number of men that court you, sister,” Honora leaves her seat by the piano. “But I do agree with Jimin. You look magnificent.” 

“Alright, shall we go?” Jungkook abruptly ends the hug between the two sisters. The way his hand falls on his hips makes everyone in the room know that his patience is running low. 

“At once, brother. With such a serious look on your face, all ladies will run from you, not to you.” Jimin pats his back, leading the way towards the entrance of their home, where carriages awaited their departure. 

“I shall keep it then.” 

Not many had the privilege of seeing Queen Charlotte’s humble abodes. In reality, only those in the Ton — the high society, aristocrats, and gentry — had the opportunity to muse with the various invitations to the royal parties. 

After all, the Queen is the most elegant hostess. 

As carriages began to fill the palace’s entryway, even some of the adventuresses of the Town joined. Greeted by the royal guards, the path to follow was clear; a quick walk through the so-esteemed rose gardens and all the way up to the ballroom. Petals guided the way to guests, champagne glasses being offered as they escorted themselves to the presence of the Queen. Even the finest of families were admired at the care with which Queen Charlotte had prepared this year’s opening of the season. 

Perhaps — some summoned the courage to assume as they marched closer to the center of the event — the returning of Lady Birdwhistle had awakened something in the Queen. Something that, for many years, had been dormant. 

Lady Birdwhistle seemed to be the successor of Lady Whistledown — that had tormented the Queen and her Ton. But much more important than that, they had tried to damage her reputation, shedding light on the most controversial rumors (that very little had of fabrication) and were constantly questioning every step given by the royal. 

Of course, others were witty to determine that the new mystery author — a copycat, by the words shared by the Queen to ones closest to her — was never in the presence of Her Royal Highness, had it needed to be someone completely mad to have the gallantry to provoke the head of the Country. 

And the talk amongst the high society was that this year, the Queen was determined to find whoever the filthy creature that had dared to comment so nonchalantly over her past decisions was. As the successor of Lady Whistledown or not, Lady Birdwhistle was certain to pay for all that had been said. Of course, their fate was still uncertain, at the moment, as the Queen secretly was often mixed between disgust and admiration for the audacity of the upcoming writer. 

As the Queen’s arrival into the ballroom is announced, maids finish the last details — a mesh of her wig that wasn’t perfectly curled and the smallest wrinkle in the great gown she wore. 

The crowd applauds her arrival. The image of the Queen is seen with marvel in the eyes of her people. 

The sapphire crown she wears around her wig sets the tone of her entire attire and of what she expects to see amongst the Ton. 

Finally sitting on her throne, Queen Charlotte lifts her hand up in the air, signaling she had enough flattery for the moment. The ladies by her sides are considered her closest friends — despite the Queen not trusting them with her secrets, recurring to them instead for the latest gossip. Their attires match the gown of the Queen, dark shades of blue manifesting beside the throne, like background. 

“Let us begin, shall we?” 

And as the words fell out of the royal’s mouth, everyone went silent. 

“If only the Queen were apt to go to war, all would be well.” The oldest of the Cromwells spoke into Honora’s ear, a giggle leaving the lips of the latter. 

“One could only truly imagine.” 

Sarah, much like Honora, was rebellious toward the traditions of the society she lived in. Not that she hated men and the fate that she was destined to live — in fact, she already had an eye out for one eligible bachelor. But she did find that this courtesy made to the Queen was excessive. And a little bit humorous.

“I assume that by you being here you’re not going to present yourself to the Queen?” Honora asked. As the oldest of her household and as Sarah had just gotten of age, it sounded a bit mad for her to miss this opportunity. Even to Honora. 

“Of course not.” Confidently, the blonde clarifies. “I am not an object to be presented. And if I have to be completely honest, I just couldn’t help but appreciate the fuss it caused home.” 

“I wouldn’t expect anything else from you.” Only a couple of years apart, the two girls had grown to be inseparable, both relishing in literature and their views of society as if they shared the same brain. 

Remaining situated on her throne, the Queen judges every lady called into the room as names keep on getting announced. The silence that once filled the room is replaced by the loud murmuring of the Ton. A head not held high, a back too curved, or a dress not flattering enough was reason to get ascribed as not worthy of any man in the Queen’s eyes — or as Birdwhistle voiced, unworthy of being the Diamond of the season.

“Lady Candice, presented by her mother, the Right Honored Lady Campbell.” 

The ballroom was filled by the families of the ladies presenting themselves and some other curious eyes, while the eager candidates awaited outside for their names to be called. 

Eleanor grew more and more concerned at the sight of the various reactions of the candidates that returned to the room she was in. Some came back crying, the blush in their cheeks defeated by the tears that rolled down their cheeks. In contrast, others spoke passionately and proudly about the Queen’s reactions. 

“I can’t feel my fingertips,” Eleanor whispered in her mother’s ear as the girl called, Candice, came back with teary eyes, her mother trying to catch up to her as she fled from the scene.

“Don’t be foolish now, dear. You look splendid– you are splendid.” Hand carefully fixing the tiara she wore in her head, Grace, the matriarch of the Middleton household, spoke. 

“Focus ahead and avoid the Queen’s stare.” A girl spoke to Eleanor, a soft smile adorning her features. “My sister told me to do exactly that.” 

“Thank you, Hani.” Eleanor offered the girl a smile but it was weaker than she had intended. 

A circle of compassion was quick to form around Eleanor, as the anxious feeling grew more on her chest. In reality, the kind words flying from the lips of the girls around her were making her feel worse, rather than the intended opposite. She wanted to shoo them all away and have a minute to compose herself but she knew it would look bad to act in such a way. Even so, she was about to be called in.

“Is all of this really necessary? Or are you all hypocrites that like to pretend we’re not all here for the same reason?” The voice of Dalia scoffing broke the circle and had it been any other voice, Eleanor could’ve breathed in relief. 

Dalia lived right next door to the Middletons with her mother. An only child. After her father left town to be with another woman (or as they told, passed away in a boating accident), her mother shielded Dalia from all the talk of the Town. She became unbearable. 

Being the same age as Eleanor, they used to arrange play dates daily. Honora was still a baby at the time. But the friendship faded as they grew older. With Dalia, it was her this and her that. She was always the most beautiful; the most educated; the most graceful; the richest; the best. And her narcissism was quick to make her lonely, and intolerable to her peers. Her only real asset was her family’s position in society as the escape of the man of the house had left both ladies well in life, a tantalizing allowance being established in exchange for silence and freedom.

“There is no room for ugly ducklings, darling. I would suggest going home. Or better yet, paying close attention now,” The sarcastic smile on the girl’s face made Eleanor roll her eyes. “I intend on dazing the Queen.” 

“Try to not break a leg, Dalia.” Barking back, Eleanor sighs right after. Only Dalia was able to befoul with her emotions at such an important moment in her life.

“Lady Dalia, presented by her mother, Lady Emilia Fitzroy.” 

The dazed look on the royal secretary as he calls the lady’s name is noticeable and those in the room can tell that the Queen's expectations were not being met, as she had grown more impatient with each presentation. 

Dalia walks into the room, head held high as her mother follows suit, hands holding the excess fabric of the dress she wore. 

“Your Majesty,” Bowing slightly, Dalia never takes her eyes off the Queen. 

For a moment the room goes quiet, as the debutant holds her position in expectancy of hearing her Queen's voice. And so, gasps are heard when the Queen lifts herself from her throne. She hadn't done such a thing for any of the other ladies that had presented themselves to her. A smile to another debutant, perhaps. 

“Beautiful posture.” The Queen compliments before returning to her seat, the many ladies by her side struggling to fix her dress in the small gap before Her Majesty could sit.

“Thank yo–” Dalia begins to speak but is abruptly interrupted. 

“Off you go now.”

Bowing yet another time, she turns, back facing the Queen and her ladies. And as she begins to walk, her dress comes apart, only the sound of the ripping fabric silencing once again the murmuring audience. 

Cheeks turning another shade of pink, Dalia glares at her mother, as she whines through gritted teeth. “Mommy,” 

“Move along.” Her mother ushers her out of the room, a forced smile on her features as she side-eyes the audience, but not quick enough that some remarks about her status are still heard. 

“Hadn’t she mentioned that she got her dress from a Parisian designer?” 

“What a misfortune for the most fortunate family of the Ton.” 

“Clearly, she didn’t visit Miss Kim's boutique,” Sarah comments to her friend, an amused expression on her features. Not wanting to be cruel, she would never keep the pleasure of relishing over Dalia's misery, as herself had also once been the target of the debutant’s woe.

“Nari refused to dress her, can y’ believe?” Hoseok whispered between the girls, only to be flustered by his own comment as inquisitive eyes fall on him. “Miss Kim, I mean. The modiste.”

“Of course, brother, the modiste.” Honora teases, watching as Hoseok distances himself and into the comfort of his brothers’ company. 

Pondering hard over her next move, Eleanor mentally apologizes to her mother, knowing how displeased she will be with her behavior. Once arriving home, she would find a way to appease her mother for the scene. Stepping closer to the lady in distress, she walks with her. 

“Step one: look pretty. Done.” 

With her hand lifted, the debutant acts as if there were a notebook. 

“Step two: get praised. Almost done.” 

Dalia stops on her heels, now looking straight into Eleanor’s eyes. The height difference makes the praised debutant look down on the teaser. 

“Step three: make a fool of myself…” Hissing, Eleanor gives her rival her best innocent look. “I’ll make an effort to skip that part.” 

Baffled, Dalia opens and closes her mouth, yet again embarrassed by how every lady in the room now had her eyes on her, their features with a comical curiosity displayed. Rarely feeling such a way, her hands travel to her dress, doing her best to hide the catastrophe that had gone down in her attire.

“Eleanor, that is quite enough.” Grace grabs her daughter by the wrist, pulling her back into line as Dalia’s mother begins to pull hers in the opposite direction, towards the exit. 

“Actually mother,” The ruin-dressed girl begins, recomposed. “I would love to see how Eleanor’s presentation goes. Let us stay a little longer.” 

The Fitzroys find a place by the doors that lead to the ballroom. Other than this new found-curiosity for watching Eleanor’s performance, Dalia is blinded by the need to assert no one is complimented as nicely as she was. Despite the final gaffe, she knows that the title of Diamond is hers.

It had always meant a great deal to be praised by the Queen. A line of suitors was certain to follow such compliment and only a disaster would ruin the chances of a debutant not marrying in her first season.

Two more girls go in. 

The last, Dorothea, faints as soon as she reaches close enough to the Queen, hadn’t the miss eaten a thing in the last three days, surviving solely on water so she could fit her attire and look perfect for her debut. Her Royal Highness’s closest friends fall into laughter, being silenced immediately after. 

Signaling for the royal guards to move the weak debutant out of the way, the Queen frowns, her head being supported by her hand, elbow resting on the arms of her throne. “What a boring day, indeed.” As if commenting to herself, the Queen lets out a whisper. Despite her humdrum expression, the thought of Lady Birdwhistle crosses her mind, the harsh words that the ghostwriter will write about the opening of the season she planned almost palpable. 

“Lady Eleanor, presented by her mother, the Right Honorable Lady Middleton.” 

The words of the royal secretary sound muffled behind the closed doors adorned with gold specs that reach all the way up to the ceiling. Eleanor can only feel her heartbeat, her senses numbed by the anxiety she had been feeling ever since stepping foot out of the number 17th of Grosvenor Square. 

The doors swing open, as the royal guards have had the consent of the Queen to see the debutant. Eleanor catches the curious eye of Her Majesty, that meets her with a smirk at the end of the room, immediately charmed by the color of the dress the Middleton miss was wearing. 

“What was it that you said to me, Eleanor? Try not to break a leg?” 

The whisper made by Dalia is ignored, as Eleanor smiles widely, preparing to walk with confidence. From the corner of her eye, she spots her siblings, Jungkook, Hoseok, and Jimin, as well as her youngest sister, Honora with her loyal friend Sarah right by her side. Her smile now changes into a calmer one, resting assured that even if the Queen isn’t impressed by her, her family was there to support her. 

With Lady Grace right by Eleanor’s side, Dalia sees the opportunity she so long had been waiting for. The chance to humiliate yet again Eleanor, as payback for the teasing she had done to her only minutes ago. 

The Queen arranges her posture in her chair, eyebrow lifted as she grows eager to see the debutant closer. 

And that is all the motivation Dalia needed. No one was going to steal her title. Especially not Eleanor.

With Eleanor’s dress tail passing right by Dalia, her foot comes in contact with it, securing it hardly. The sudden halt in her flowy movement makes the debutant lose balance from the heels she was wearing and Dalia sees the perfect moment to release the fabric, ending with her rival on the floor. 

“Oh, for goodness sake.” The Queen is quicker than anyone to react as gasps are heard across the crowd at the unexpected fall. 

Filled with embarrassment, Eleanor gets up, eyes incapable of meeting the Queen’s nor of anyone in the room as she bows to the royal before leaving with haste. As she walks past Dalia, her voice sounds muffled by the ringing in her ears, the fleeing debutant being too heartbroken to care. 

Jungkook is quick to act, pushing past the crowd and rushing after his sister. 

“Mother,” Honora is by her matriarch in a heartbeat, eyes wide and trembling from the strong squeeze she felt in her chest. 

“Let us go, Honora.” 

And as the family flees to what they consider to be the safety of their home, the party at the Queen’s abode remains, now the murmuring regarding the Middletons discernibly loud. 

Grosvenor Square had never been so quiet. 

On the 17th, the mood is ominous. Much like he had been hours prior, Jungkook sits in his living room. Hoseok is also there, despite not a single word being exchanged between the two. After a couple of minutes go by, Honora joins them. Opening her mouth a couple of times, she fails, uncharacteristically, to find the words for the situation at hand.

The matriarch comes into the hall, a pensive expression on her features. 

“Is Eleanor’s parade over yet?” Jungkook finally speaks, removing the fingers that had been supporting his temple. 

“That’s a little harsh, brother.” Honora stands, arms crossed. Despite the difference in views, Honora and Eleanor always had each other's backs. “Even for you.” 

“Oh please, sister. She’s clearly overreacting.” Mimicking the actions of Honora, Jungkook stands as well. 

“Is that so?” The mother joins the conversation, her features changing into ones that almost look amused. 

And before she can continue, Jungkook carries on. “Of course. Eleanor’s been locked in her chamber for hours now. And the entire house stopped over this childish fantasy of hers.” 

“Perhaps you will find it amusing when tomorrow you will be burned by finding her a husband.” Smiling to the maid that had just served her tea, Grace raves scornfully. 

“Me?” Jungkook scoffs. 

“Of course. You can’t proclaim to be the head of the family just to after zest over the title and influence it has granted you, my dearest son. It’s your duty.”

Scoffing, Jungkook tilts his head slightly to the head, tongue moving through the inside of his cheek. “And it will be thanks to such title and influence that I won’t suffer of a headache over finding Eleanor’s a suitable husband, much like you think.” 

“Goodness, brother, you sound insufferable.” Honora strides off the room, going up the flight of stairs. 

Before she has the chance to knock, the sobs of Eleanor can be heard from the corridor, the door that leads to her older sister’s room being slightly open. Reaching in closer, Jimin comes into view. Sitting on the bed, their sister’s head lies in his lap, as he delicately caresses her hair, now no longer in a bun but running free through the satin sheets of the bed.

“But you don–don’t understand, brother.” Honora is quick to enter the room, thumb finding Eleanor’s cheeks as a tear falls. Giving her a sympathetic smile, she kneels on the floor by their side. “I deserved it.” 

“I know that is nonsense,” Jimin speaks confidently. “You would never deserve such a thing El.” 

“I was a brat.” Eleanor now sits on the bed. “All based on a whim.” 

“What happened?” Honora presses her lips together, fearing her burning question will cause her sister to start sobbing yet again as she had just started soothing down.

Sighing deeply, Eleanor covers her eyes with her hands. “Dalia, she was being a berk. And I was so nervous— and quite honestly, done with her— so I might’ve been a bit rude.” 

“How so?” The youngest presses a little more, now too curious to dare stop.

“I mocked her.” 

“Eleanor—” 

“Better yet even, I humiliated her in front of everyone. Mother even told me to stop.” 

“What did you say?” Jimin was speechless, watching how Eleanor’s face carried sadness mixed with a hint of shame. 

“That she made a fool of herself and that I would be certain not to do the same.” Shrugging, Eleanor gets up from the bed. “Honestly, I am just so tired of her antiques. She’s always so rude to everyone and never—not a soul— lifts a finger and tells her as she deserves.” 

“You already know Dalia gets her way.” 

“That’s the issue at hand, brother.” Sitting on the bed, Eleanor huffs. She was a ball of stress, ready to burst at any second. 

“Eleanor…” 

Honora stars and by the way she drags the name of her sister in her tongue, both of her older siblings know that they want her to stop speaking, as she is about to lecture them on how the society they are trapped in isn’t ideal. 

“You placed so much pressure on yourself, that the thing was bound to turn south. Don’t you agree?” The question is directed to her brother that remains as still as possible, teeth biting his bottom lip.

“Honora.” Eleanor frowns.

“I mean it, sister! And—such festivities are so ridiculous. Not to speak of how humiliating it is to you as a woman!” Speech quick, Honora doesn’t mind the expressions on the faces in front of her. “Your value shouldn’t be measured by how pretty your face is—or your dress. No one should be judging you for it.” 

Laughing drily, Eleanor interrupts. “Sometimes I forget how naive you can be. Of course, people shouldn’t be judging. Much like I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did. But the reality, sister, is that I did. And I did it willingly. Well aware of the consequences that awaited me at home.” 

“Then are you an idiot?” 

“Honora— Eleanor— that is enough.” Jimin intervenes but his voice sounds mute between the discussion going on between the two Middleton girls. 

“No, I am not an idiot. But I enjoy doing as I please. Much like you do when you dress inappropriately at events. Or when, instead of attending your dance classes, you prefer to sneak and go read your books with Sarah Cromwell.” Eleanor takes a deep breath, recomposing herself. “Your view of what society should be is as correct as everyone else. No one cares and it won’t change a thing, Honora.” 

“As long as there are people that think as you do, of course, it won’t.” Crossing her arms, Honora frowns. “I was just trying to say that it isn’t as much of a big deal as you are trying to make it seem.” 

“Yes, El, you will have other opportunities.” Jimin smiles encouragingly. 

“No, I won’t.” Desperate and tired of the conversation, Eleanor raises her voice. “I had this opportunity. Only this one. Now, no one will want to come near me. And I won’t marry in my first season. Hell, I’ll be lucky if I manage to find a husband by the time I’m in my third season.” 

Distressed, Eleanor doesn’t wait for an answer from her siblings, tired of listening and truly not caring about whatever more they had to say to her, she walks straight to the front door. 

Indubitably, the commotion is quick to attract the attention of the prying siblings that wanted to check in on their sister but were too hesitant of making her feel worst. Hoseok and Jungkook are by the front door when Eleanor reaches it and she doesn’t pay them any mind. 

“Sister, where do you think you’re going?” Jungkook crosses his arms over his chest, astounded at Eleanor’s behavior. 

“Are you alright?” Hoseok patters, features filled with concern. 

“Eleanor, are you deaf?” The oldest chips in again. But his oldest sister doesn’t bother to answer and slams the door in their faces. 

The beautiful sunny day that had presented itself for the Queen’s party now had begun to fade, the sun already set on the horizon and the moon shining bright in its place. The cold wind felt like a relief against Eleanor’s cheeks and as she walked, further away from her house, her pace began to slow.

Now feeling calmer, Eleanor let out a puff of air she didn’t realize she was holding. 

“Is your tantrum over?” Stopping in his tracks, Hoseok mimics his sister’s actions, arms crossed over his chest as he too tried to suppress the smile that threatened to escape from his lips.

“Perhaps.” Eleanor relaxes her figure, the smile finally showing.

“So, should we head home?” 

The two speak with a couple of meters between them. At this hour, the streets are calm, but there is still some movement. Hoseok almost feels like there could be a pair of prying eyes in one of the many houses they had passed by in Grosvenor Square. 

“Could we stroll around the block?” Knowing she’s undeserving of such grace from her brother, Eleanor’s eyes fall to the ground. “Just for a little longer.” 

“Let us do it then!” Hoseok is cheerful as they resume their stroll, Eleanor walking backward as she keeps facing her brother. “As of now, I am pondering on ways you are to repay me for this.” 

“Excuse you?!” Indignation is not felt in the miss' face as she falls into laughter. “Repay you for what, brother? Hadn’t it been me, you would still be stuck home. Now, I would dare say that the night is rather lovely.” 

“I’d say such perspective depends on the company,” Seeing his sister scoff, he lets out a strident laugh. “Now face forward, you’ll hurt yourself.” 

“Not like I haven’t fallen already,” 

And like a premonition, as Eleanor resumes her back-walking she bumps into someone as she turns the corner of the street, quickly losing her balance. Certain to fall, she closes her eyes, embracing herself for the collision that never happens. 

“Are you alright?” The deep voice makes the Middleton debutant open her eyes. As she realizes she’s in the arms of an unknown man, she is quick to recompose herself, fingers playing with her hair as a nervous tic. 

“Forgive me, sir. I was not paying attention.” 

“Worry not– sir?” Eleanor tilts her head at the sudden surprised look on the man’s face.

“Pardon?” 

“Am I seriously to believe you don’t know who I am?” Despite the pretentious undertone, the man looks somewhat amused. 

Eleanor, on the other hand, has her eyebrow arched. “And who would you be, sir?” 

And before the man has the opportunity of answering the confused lady standing in front of him, Hoseok comes into view. As soon as he lays eyes on the man, he opens up a smile that confuses his sister even further. 

“Kim!” 

“Middleton!” With the same enthusiasm, the man opens up his arms, engulfing Hoseok in a small hug. “How have you been?” 

“Alright. Jungkook didn’t mention you would come to town.” 

“Ah yes… I still have to reach out to him.” Nodding, it seems like the man is taking a mental note. “I had some business to attend. I know the season has just opened so I wanted to keep this quiet so I am not drowned by the frenetic mamas.” 

Both men laugh. “Excuse me?” Eleanor glares at them as she had been ignored ever since their conversation started. 

“Oh, of course!” Hoseok scratches the back of his neck. “This is my sister, Eleanor. And this is Taehyung, the Duke of Elffire.” 

Eleanor is caught off guard at the sudden declaration of the title of the man. “Oh… and how do you know my brother–Jungkook?” 

“It’s a pleasure.” Taehyung smiles charmingly, one that widens at the frown that shows on the girl’s face. “We went to university together.” 

“I see.” The way Eleanor presses her lips together, suppressing a smile, makes Hoseok sweat. 

“Well, we won’t keep you any longer.” 

“Your dukeship.” Eleanor eyes the Duke. 

“I’ll see you at the club, Hoseok.” Taehyung’s smile changes into a closed face. “Miss Middleton.” 

Intertwining her arm in her brother, Eleanor begins to walk home and as she takes one last glance at the Duke, she finds him staring. And as he smiles at her, she turns ahead, now trying to focus on anything but the curious thoughts that cloud her mind about her hasty meeting with the Duke of Elffire. 

♛ 𝓂𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉 ― chapter two coming soon.

[taespocket]

i was NOT expecting that ending- 😳

as always, you are so true with your words. i feel as thought this really happened and while i was reading i couldn't help but feel warm~ thank you for always going an extra mile for me, even when you don't have time and you're extra busy. we're ride or die baby, forever! 💛

strawberry blonde, 02 | taehyung

synopsis. he was in his pursuit of happiness but turned out he found it not in a moment, but in her.

✿ part of the wonder drabbles; a series of blurbs and drabbles about the bts members...

pairing. taehyung x oc 

genre. idol au + fluff + slice of life + future smut 

word count. 2124

warnings. date in the middle of nowhere and again, lots of fluff!

a/n. dedicated to the strawberry blonde itself, @taespocket ෆ i wish you nothing but a life filled with love, cuteness, partnership, and me + tae cof cof,,, happy birthday~ ෆ

It had been three weeks since she had said yes to going on a date with him. Three weeks of smiling like a fool whenever he thought about the moment; how she was so taken by surprise at his question that her first reaction was to frown cutely. Three weeks of rushing toward his cellphone whenever he heard a beep, hoping it was a text of hers. 

Three weeks of postponing the date because of his tight schedule, feeling like a fly trapped on a wall. 

And now, driving on his way to her apartment buildings, he couldn’t help but tap the wheel with his long fingers in a frantic and anxious beat. Would she like what he had planned for their first date? 

When Taehyung asked her out, he did so with thoughts of being able to take her on a nice date. In his mind, he would have closed the last floor of Hybe building, ordered from the fanciest restaurant in Seoul, and they would have dined there accompanied by the wonderful view. Perhaps he would have asked for some ambiance music while they chatted. He had wanted to ask everything about her that way… Like people used to meet back in the days; a Sunday kind of love. 

Instead, he had to make questions through texts. And the more he thought about it, the more it had felt rushed, and empty. As if a piece had been missing from the final picture. Reading those cybernetic words had less impact than they would have had if she had said them face to face. 

The car came to a stop and the GPS announced his arrival at the final destination. He bent down, closer to the wheel, to try and look at the building before him but his breath faltered as he did so. 

Right before him, Deo stood in front of the edifice, mindlessly looking down at her phone. She was dressed in all black, except for her Nike shoes which were perfectly white. Her wide-legged pants flew in the light breeze, just like her strawberry blonde locks that were loosely being held by a pair of sunglasses — that sat on top of her head. 

She looked modern and casual yet beautiful, like an ancient poem beaming in sunlight. Taehyung’s face lit with a smile. 

He thought about grabbing his phone and texting her a simple “look up”, but he found himself tired of all that jazz. He wanted to be old school, get out of the car, open the door for her… But at the same time, people passed by right behind her. Someone could see and then he would attract attention he couldn’t afford to as an idol. 

So he opted for the middle ground — not so twenty-first century, nor so old fashion. He lowered the window and whistled the first notes of This View, which had felt overly appropriate for the moment. 

Not even five notes in, she lifted her head curious, squinting her eyes in the direction of his car. Taehyung waved at her from the inside of it and she opened the most beautiful of smiles, running lightly toward the vehicle. 

“It was about time,” she said, closing the door after she got into the passenger seat. He smiled wide, scrunching his nose with such happiness. Her comment only added fuel to the fire that burned and roared in his heart. 

“And now that is finally happening… Are you ready?” 

Taehyung saw the girl lean her head on the seat back, just as he was doing to look at her — with a somewhat mischievous smile, and two big brown orbits that were as sweet as honey. She nodded, biting a shy smile, and he started the car. 

“Where are we going?”, Deo asked when he got out of her building area and took a right to the high road. 

“Don’t worry about anything today”, Taehyung said, glancing at her quickly to smile yet again. He just couldn’t help himself. “I just hope you like it!” 

Deo accommodated herself better on her seat and placed the leather fanny pack she had been wearing across her chest on her lap. Taehyung swiftly turned on the music, and as he shuffled excitedly through his songs, looking for the perfect tune, she found herself looking out the window. The sun shone brightly in the sky on that summer day, and her heart felt as warm as the rays of sunshine that touched her skin. 

Taehyung pulled over next to a green field full of red poppies, after what it felt like thirty to forty minutes of a ride — not that she had been counting, but a whole playlist was played until they reached their final destination. 

Deo eyed him once he turned off the engine. If she were with anyone else, she would immediately ask why to stop in the middle of a field like that. She has had her fair share of countryside back in the days when she lived with her parents, where the thought of dust in the air and having to dirt her feet made her feel frustrated. 

But somehow, as she eyed Taehyung and he held her gaze, she didn’t feel so discontent about having her white Nikes encounter the brownish chunks of earth that awaited for her right outside. 

“Oh, right!” He exclaimed. His right hand came to rub the back of his neck. “Uhm… This was not the initial plan… I was wanting to have a private diner at Hybe, or maybe in a hotel but then my schedule got packed and… well, you know,” she saw him shrug a little disconcerted, eyeing her from time to time to try and read her expressions. The girl beside him could feel he was afraid she wouldn’t like the destination he had picked and she promptly got ready to ease his mind. 

“I know this isn’t great– and we can totally turn back to the city! It’s just that… There are not that many places I can go without being seen, and at the time this seemed… Romantic” he emptied his mind and she chuckled, sensing her cheeks flush. 

“Well I think this is beautiful”, she said glancing through the window and then looking back at him. 

His mouth opened and closed, not knowing what to say out loud. His eyes traveled across her features wistfully. Afraid of becoming redder than she already was, Deo mentioned opening the door so she could get out but he was quick to stop her. “Wait!” 

As she looked back, he had already motioned to get out of his seat and smoothly go around to her own door. Opening it, he extended one hand for her to take. She couldn’t help but chuckle at his exaggerated accent as he said “My lady,” diving deep enough into his character that he bowed his head for her to make way. 

It didn’t take much to understand why people couldn’t take their eyes out of him. He was primarily amusing; made of intrinsic quirks and irresistible expressions. And she indeed felt like a princess, like he suggested by his adorable roleplay. Never in a million years she would imagine herself on a date with Kim Taehyung. That scenario was only fittable on a word document page, or so she thought. 

“Thank you, sir”, she took his hand, feeling much like a pinch to her skin, stating he was real while hopping off the car, landing with a quick jump that made dust dance around her feet. 

From then on, each second was marked by a different surprise of events, all unpredictable much like the owner of those fluffy locks that danced unruly to the light breeze floating around them. 

It started with him suggesting a picnic, and she watched as he excitedly opened the trunk to reveal a red plaid towel and a basket full of goods. When had he found the time to arrange all that, or even think of all that, was beyond her comprehension. She knew he had been preparing for a comeback, hence the lack of time to wander around freely. 

Taehyung tried with all his might to make the towel stay put on the ground, but the not-so-gentle breeze that made the poppies around them dance, also made it gain life. Deo couldn’t stop laughing while seeing him battle the red dancing cloth. And after much protest on his part, she decided to help, smartly taking out her shoes while standing right in the middle of it. She then trapped two of its ends on the ground with them. 

Taehyung followed suit, taking off his loafers and taking care of the remaining stubborn pieces that still flapped around. 

“It’s been a while since I last been to a place like this”, the girl by his side confessed, looking at her own feet instead of the view in question. There was some kind of melancholy in her voice, one that Taehyung recognized promptly as he too had felt homesick quite sometimes. 

And to his personal experience, there wasn’t much to do when that feeling came. You either went home if you could, or you waited for the feeling to subside until it greeted you again further on the road. Since the first option wasn’t available — and to his just discovered selfishness, he didn’t want it to be available — he did what he knew best. He entertained. 

He got up with a quick jump. “Then we should take lots of pictures! That way you can come here often, even if through a screen!” 

His boxy smile was enough for her to regain her spirits, and before she could do anything else but mimic his actions, he had his phone in hand ready to work. 

And then came the next surprise. 

The wind wouldn’t let her long golden strands in peace. Whenever she would pose for a picture, he would laugh uncontrollably at how ungoverned her hair was. Deo first got stressed, shouting at the invisible air currents to leave her alone, and the action reminded him of Jimin’s lashed-out cuteness. Instead of pictures, he recorded the moment, laughing endlessly and making her fall into her own laughter minutes later. 

Not much time they spent in heaven, as minutes after was Deo’s turn to jump out of the towel. “OH NO!” she exclaimed surprised. 

Taehyung followed her finger, pointing to the basket beautifully placed on top of the plaid cloth, almost a pictorial straight out of a vintage magazine. “Woah,” he added amused, crouching near it. “I’ve never seen this many ants together. No, you can’t go there! Hey! Little ant, I’m sorry, but that’s not yours!” 

The girl watched the scene perpetuous. They really were as distinct as water and fire. But the tingling feeling on the tips of her fingers made her expressions soften, and the look on her face was of nothing but fondness. 

Graciously giving Deo her pair of Nikes, and then clumsily putting on his loafers back, Taehyung grabbed the plaid towel — completely unaware she had been staring at him — fanning it in the basket to scare away the ants. 

“Should we eat inside?” Deo suggested, plopping down as he turned, pretending to tie her shoelaces. 

He glanced toward the car, and then around him. He nodded. “We can’t miss the sunset. There’s no way”, he paced with the towel on his shoulder and the basket in hand. “Ah! I know! Here!” 

She got up and turned around. “Inside the trunk?” Deo asked, not feeling so sure how that would work. 

As she came closer, he had already placed the towel on the extension of it, the basket occupying the space next to him. She was about to ask where she would sit, but Taehyung had her pinned down by the way he looked at her. The same way people look at magicians; as if she was about to perform a great act. 

And the final surprise of that day, before the sunset turned gold those lush green fields, came in the shape of a kiss. 

Taehyung brought her closer, standing right between his legs. He was still a few inches taller, even if he was sat. And somehow her eyes got bigger, and rounder standing there, so close to him to the point she could feel the tip of his nose gently brushing her own. 

“This is the only thing I can’t postpone anymore” he confessed before taking her lips on his. 

The only thing they had noticed about the sunset that day, despite him saying they couldn’t miss it, was how warm their skins felt under its sunlight beams, as their eyes had been occupied lusting on the darkness of a much-wanted kiss.

✿ to be continued... 

if you want to be tagged for the next chapter, comment below!

[taespocket]

forever thankful to have such special people in my life. i will cherish these moments forever 💛

August 10th.

Dear Deo,

We started writing this letter weeks prior to your day for all the good reasons. For many of us, there was a pause in our friendship for a while leading to a great absence. For others, this was just a wonderful first encounter. No matter what point in the trajectory we met, it would be fantastic to revisit it all, wouldn't it? We can only hope to make your 10th brighter!

You came to us as quiet and warm as your eyes look. A delicate flower with many, many, layers of kindness, readiness, marvelousness, and friendship to peal. Pause or not, to us you remain just as beautiful and enchanting as before.

It differs from eye to eye, but even in the rush or in the silence of it all, ours are always on you. Each with a different characteristic... Each with a painting, that rests incomplete, but is always ready to receive a new stroke or a new color.

Because you are always there; quiet, soft... And your loveable way of coming to us whenever worried, whenever curious, is something we always tremble in joy with. You have a way of making yourself heard and remembered with so little, yet so much. That is your greatest strength.

And to you, our lovely pink rose, one that can be so remarkable and special, we want to wish the most beautiful of days. With hands tied by the longest thread, we can only hope our presence in each other's lives are as steady as the love you deserve in your life. Always there, as ready and unconditional as you.

May your life be just like you envision it to be, and may your wishes spark true while we share many moments more along the way.

No matter what happens, our arms will always be open for you. Steady, even if the waves shake us up and down. And we can only hope you bloom in our garden too!

And if you are ever in doubt about how amazing you are, Didi, our rising star with the softest voice and presence, take a ride to one of our chats and realize yourself how glad we are to have you. To us, you are a piece of home!

We will always be here to be your home too, cheering for you every step of the way while you flap your wings and adventure yourself out there!

With our eternal love, friendship and gratitude,

Sarah @investigativelewis, Arina @rcseluv, Eli @magicshopew, Lu @cottonjaw, Chae @bibliotae, Yuna @yundota, Tae @agustlee, Sunny @tangyguk, Nari @narimiese, Harin @callmeharin and Hani @itshanic 💖

[taespocket]

i love you 🥺💛 (but like seriously, i felt that taehyung pic like a personal attack and now i am just shaking-)

🌸 i wanna fall like your favorite season,

[ !! ] — every kind of way by h.e.r.

[taespocket]

that ending hit me too hard- i was not expecting it omg

but this was everything i wanted! thank you so so so soooo much z. soft taehyung with a hint of flirt taehyung made me blush so hard while reading this and i can't ever be thankful enough for your words! i love you a lot and let's spend this middle together forever 🥺💛

my dearest, ii | taehyung

synopsis. on a fine summer, a young woman goes to the small town of long grove to spend some time with her family. meeting taehyung was as unexpected as facing their differences. still, over the course of one passionate and carefree summer spent by the big bear lake, the two grow to find what love really is, or what he always knew—they were meant to be.

pairing. taehyung x oc

genre. 1940 au ㆍ drama ㆍ fluff ㆍ eventual smut

word count. 3817

warnings. romantic tae but also longing tae  ㅠㅡㅠ

rating. PG-13

a/n. to celebrate @taespocket day ♡ much like this chapter, i realized one comes into life alone, and also goes out of it that way... but if it's my choice, i chose to spend the middle of it all by your side. thank you for filling my heart with wonderful worlds and everlasting sparks!!

chapters.  1 — 2 — 3

CHAPTER TWO — LIKE A RIVER FLOWS, SURELY TO THE SEA

       Narrator's point of view.

It had been easy for her to fall in love with Taehyung. 

Starting by the way he approached her on the street, a few days later from the nightly barbecue, with a jazzy walk and a grin on his lips. He had promptly shown her two tickets for the debut movie Let George Do It! that had cost him a day of work to buy. He had hidden the fact very well with his lazy smile and carefree stance, jokingly insisting for her to attend the theater with him on that Friday evening. 

“Sure! I’d love to” she had answered, doing her best to feign neutrality. Deo wasn’t an expert when it came to men, the only previous experience she had was due to school dances or the soda shops she loved so much. But even if she would mostly dance with her girlfriends, she knew she had to seem a little disinterested in whatever a boy suggested. 

Contrary to her, Taehyung opened the biggest smile as soon as her answer fell from her lips. It was funny how he rejected everything society had made her learn, and that perhaps was what made it so easy to fall for him. 

“Alright! I guess I’ll see you tonight then” he said looking deep inside her eyes. “Seven sharp.” 

When he walked away, turning back to steal her a last glance and then mimicking a seven with his hands — which made her bite a smile and nod agreeable — she was certain he had not sensed how euphoric she had been inside. 

Or how she went home walking above the clouds. 

She looked at herself in the small mirror hung inside Hyori’s wardrobe door. Two dresses in hand and indecisiveness to her glance. Her cousin, who had been watching her from her bed, had let slip some information that made Deo look back at that moment with Taehyung with a fuzzy heart. 

“He must really like you,” was what escaped Hyori’s lips that bit down a smile. And when Deo asked why, overly curious but again posing as a bit indifferent to the subject, the answer she received made both dresses seem to lose their initial spark. 

To her, a city girl, going to the movies was as common as going grocery shopping. Her father was well enough in life to give her the freedom of buying whatever she needed without paying much mind. Never once in her life, she has had to dwell much about a purchase, whatever it was. And the big city had its perks too — there was never a dull moment, as each and every month something new opened in town. 

But as her cousin started talking about her dating life, she realized how different their realities were. She learned that in Long Grove, the only attraction in town was usually the theater or the annual fair, besides that, there wasn’t anything else to do. At least not anything that costs money. When Hyori confessed to only going to the movies with Namjoon twice ever since they started dating, Deo’s stomach was filled with butterflies and she hurriedly tried to look for something fancier to wear inside her belongings. 

“Not that he can’t afford to take me once in a while, but I always say no, so we can save some money…” the dark-haired girl confessed, “And it got even more romantic now. Only getting to go on special occasions!” 

That night, when the clock marked six thirty, she took a last glance at herself in the mirror, twirling the skirt of her dress to see how she looked from all angles. She applied another coat of her soft lipstick making her lips look plumper, and then passed by the living room where her parents and uncles were, to wave a shy goodbye. She avoided her mom’s inquisitive stare, knowing that if their eyes were to meet she would know for a fact that her daughter wasn’t going out with a girlfriend but with a boy. And God forbid if her mom caught her lying. 

Hyori accompanied her to the theater or claimed to have done so. A block away from the agreed place, the jet-black-haired girl left Deo, locking arms with Namjoon instead. He had been anxiously waiting for her so they could spend some deserving time alone. 

On the way to the theater, Deo caught a glance of her reflection through a window, taking the opportunity to check one last time how she looked and to fix her hair — which was sporting big curly waves tonight. In the back of her mind, the thought of having gone overboard with her silky — yet flowy — blue button-up dress crossed her mind. It’s best to go overdressed than underdressed, she decided. 

And then it was seven o’clock. Taehyung had been punctually waiting for her right by the front doors of the establishment. He was wearing grey tailored pants — a big baggy — a white dress-up shirt, and a brownish flat cap that matched his shoes. A style not so different from when she first met him, but she could tell he had paid attention to looking more formal than usual, starting with his hair brushed back. 

“Hi,” he said, taking a few steps to meet her halfway, and then offering her his arm.

“Hi,” she answered holding it gladly with a cheeky smile. “A gentleman… I see.”

Taehyung showed her a playful grin. “As all men should be… At least almost always.” Deo unconsciously held his arm tighter, her breathing faltering for brief moments. 

“But the entrance is that… way,” she started confused when Taehyung led her in the opposite direction.

“Oh yeah, I just thought maybe you’d like something to snack on?” the boy by her side pointed to a stand across the street with his head, “But we can go inside if you don’t want anything.” he stopped mid-track waiting for her answer. 

She eyed the lit-up stand across the street pensively. There were too many options there, and suddenly the strawberry blonde girl didn’t know what to do. 

“Why don’t we buy a box of Mike and Ike?” Taehyung suggested amused, “You know, just to try.” 

The girl squeezed his arm tight once more, opening a radiant smile, “I was just thinking the same!” and Taehyung couldn’t help but laugh. He knew that was not what she was thinking, he had noticed how her eyes scanned the stand hesitantly, going back and forward. But he found the act cute, so he pretended to believe while he looked at her with fondness nodding his head. 

The butterflies on her stomach accompanied her throughout the entirety of the night, fluttering their wings harder whenever Taehyung did something or came closer. Like when he leaned to her side as he laughed at something the actors said in the movie. Or when he suddenly whispered in her ear “I hesitated to say it earlier but you’re definitely the most beautiful girl ever stepping foot in this theater”. 

Deo felt blood flushing to her cheeks, and mentally thanked the fact she was in a dark theater room, where he could not see the redness on her face. She remembered her cousin saying she had never seen him with anyone else, but all his moves seemed confident and of a person with expertise. Still, she had to admit, whatever he was doing, was working.

“And why would you hesitate?” she caught herself asking close to his ear. 

A brighter scene of the movie flashed before them, making his expressions visible to her eyes. He showed her a boxy smile before coming closer again to whisper a cheeky confession. One that made her heart race. 

“Because I was nervous as soon as I laid eyes on you.” 

Deo kept her eyes trailed to the screen, unable to formulate a response. 

Truth be told, if she were to recall that specific moment, she didn’t pay much attention to the scenes unfolding before them. The only thing on her mind was how easily the boy sitting by her side made it to fall in love with him. 

She caught herself being more and more eager to listen to whatever he had to say. And he had cheerfully rambled on and on about how the jokes played out in the movie were so cleverly made. From the moment they passed through the theater doors while joyful laughter served as background noise to their conversation, and stepped foot on the sidewalk, Taehyung had already convinced her that dancing in the middle of a now desert road was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Deo couldn’t understand why it was so easy to give in to his requests. Even if she found most of them crazy or a little bit childish. For certain they didn’t fit the mold she was raised in. 

Even so, she found herself going to the middle of the road, her hand being embraced softly by his. 

First, they walked, side by side, while she glanced back every now and then searching for a vehicle that could run them over. Taehyung bit down a smile every time she did so. 

“So… Why did your family move away?” he asked, hands in his pockets, trying to take her mind off the danger she so eagerly held herself to. 

She snapped her head back to look at him. “Actually my aunt, Hyo’s mom, was who moved out from the city… To follow her husband that is.” 

“Oh,” he nodded contemplative, eyebrows furrowed and she felt the need to press her thumb down on them, to ease it. “And what is that your family do in the big city?” 

“You mean my dad’s job?” she asked, clasping her hands behind her back and forgetting completely that they were in the middle of a road. As Taehyung confirmed, she looked ahead with a sigh, “He’s the owner of the Scenery Gazette.” 

She glanced back at him to see his reaction. Every time she mentioned it to people, what followed was always the same — eyes full of sparks and cascades of questions about famous people and whatnot. People only cared for the status she held, or gossip she may have about the Hollywood faces. 

But the chocolate brown eyes of the boy beside her didn’t seem inquisitive or hungry for juicy tea. Instead, they gave her space to continue. Seemingly more interested in what she had to confide in him than in what she falsely had to say. 

“My parents want me to take over the business in the long run, instead of my older brother…” she admitted for the first time. Her shoulders dropped defeatedly. “Well, not me, but my future husband.” she chuckled but her eyes held nothing but sadness behind them. Perhaps even lack of hope. 

Taehyung thought of everything he could ask, or say. ‘Why wouldn’t they want your brother to run it?’ but on second thought, even if that was an important subject, the path of their talk would lead to another person than the girl kicking a little pebble with her shiny heels, looking rather discouraged. So he chose to take the lighter approach instead. Like his grandpa used to do with him when he was little and carried a heavy heart. 

“And you don’t seem so excited about that… Right?” He asked, offering a comprehensive smile. 

Deo nodded, “Would you?” she glanced at him, wondering if that boy walking quietly by her side would want to take over her family business. Maybe if he did so, it wouldn’t be so bad. 

Taehyung stopped walking and she did too, unconsciously. His eyes stared deeply inside hers, shifting from one to the other, with a calmness she had never known. “No”, he said. “I don’t think I would get excited about it.”

Something tugged at her heart. She looked down and nodded. “I didn’t think you would.” 

“I’m sure it’s a fantastical job, really. Like every and each is. But it’s just that I already have dreams of my own.” he offered her a rogue smile, his eyes just as calm and soft as the light breeze that grazed her locks. 

She looked up again. “Oh… Really?”

He looked from one side to another for the first time, but not for the same reasons she had previously done it. He wasn’t looking for cars, but for people. And like he was about to tell her a secret, he bent down. “I’m a painter.” 

“Painter?” she searched for his eyes, “What kind?” 

“Hopefully, one of the good ones.” 

She laughed. “Well, mister painter, I’d like to see one of your works one of these days”, she said. 

“My grandpa has some clients that come from the big city just for his jams, and some of them usually buy some pieces… I still don’t earn much with them, to be honest. But I’m trying to make a name for myself, and follow my dreams- That’s something, right? And I have a batch I’m working on. Maybe, if you want, you could stop by to see them sometime?” 

Deo’s eyes were filled with magic as she heard him speak. The thought of being brave enough to follow her dreams warmed her racing heart. She smiled, not being able to take her eyes from him anymore. “I’d love to.” 

He took the little box of Mike and Ike they weren’t able to finish inside the theater out of his pocket. He was about to offer her some when he stopped on the way. “Close your eyes.” 

She blinked at him confused and he chuckled. 

“Close them for brief seconds” and she did as he asked. “Alright, now. What flavor do you think you’re going to get?” 

She opened her eyes again, “What game is this?” and as he laughed at her uneasiness, he closed her eyes with the palm of his hand. She couldn’t help but notice how his long fingers engulfed her features as if she was nothing but a doll compared to his size. 

“What flavor?” he asked again.

“Hmm… I don’t know… Cherry?” she asked confused as to what he was doing. He shook the little box filled with candies by her ear making her hit him playfully. 

“Don’t open your eyes,” he said taking his hand off of them. It took a brief moment before he spoke again, and she could tell he was taking a piece of candy out of it. “Ok, say ‘ah’” with the little sweet scented rectangle right by her mouth, she opened it, taking in the flavor. 

He looked at her expectant. 

“I don’t get the concept of the game, but it’s not cherry,” she said amused. 

“It’s not?” he looked at her confused and then at the box, looking at the list with its flavors. “But it was red.” 

“It’s strawberry.” 

“Then it’s fate,” he stated simply. 

Her eyebrows furrowed. “How so? I asked for cherries”

Taehyung laughed and started walking backward, right in front of her, hiding the little box inside his pocket once again. “You didn’t ask. You assumed. And although I very much wanted to give you the cherry flavored one, life decided to give you another one.” 

“And that’s fate because…?”

“Because I own the most delicious strawberry jam around here. That means life put you on my path for a reason, doesn’t it?” he asked childishly but his smile had a devilish charm of his own. 

Her breath hitched, and her heart skipped a beat. Even so, she tried her best to seem dismissive. “I still don’t see the point of the game.” 

“There isn’t one” Taehyung shrugged. His eyebrow raised like a silent dare, waiting for her to throw a tantrum. “I just made it up on the spot.” 

And she indeed threw a tantrum. A playful one. She wasn’t mad at him, not one bit. But she found it appropriate to scoff and go after him to at least try and hit him one time. She never managed to, however. 

They ran in circles, giggly, but as she was about to approach him, arm extended ready to hold on to his shirt, he pulled her by the hand — twirling her like a ballerina. 

As she came face to face with him again, he confessed, “You’re beautiful.” his hand still engulfed her own in the softest embrace. 

The traffic light right by her left suddenly shone a hue of red, as if advising that her heart was about to fail her. And right there, in the middle of the road, Kim Taehyung asked her something that no one had ever asked her before. “If you don’t want the Gazette for yourself… What do you want? Like, really want?”

“Wha-What do you mean?”, she asked still taken by surprise with an erratic heart. 

Taehyung pulled her softly towards him, and she went gladly, taking a few steps.

“If you close your eyes…” his voice was nothing but a whisper. 

Deo’s eyes fluttered, closing slowly, offering no resistance to his request this time. 

“If you imagine yourself happy, what is it that you see?” 

Me and all the glamour that a singer could have, Deo thought. She could see herself on top of a stage in a speakeasy or even in a movie, singing like a diva. Sporting nice silk dresses, and jewelry to match. She would like to live her life singing and dancing without thinking her dream was an impossible one, but her own reality instead. Oh, how she loved to lose herself in the beats of a funky tune…

She opened her eyes. “A house,” she answered. “One with big windows to let the sun shine through them… A big living room where I could dance freely, and maybe a big porch on the second floor for me to sit and sing. I’d have a nice husband who dances with me every night. And we would never fight. We’d have all these records of singers, and our dinners would always be so cheerful.” 

Taehyung smiled at her. 

He could see himself painting on that porch while she hummed some tune and the wind greeted them gently. He wasn’t sure how he would get there, to that dream, or even if he could afford such greatness. But he knew that he wanted to try. “Lot’s of records, huh?”, he mused over the idea. 

Deo nodded with a shy smile. “I’ve always loved the idea of having a house filled with music.”

“I like that.” Taehyung smiled at her, nodding to the idea. “My house was a bit like that… My grandpa has this neighborhood band of sorts,” he said and she chuckled finding it cute. 

The boy before her looked down like something was heavying his thoughts and instantly she wished she could lighten them. 

Taehyung knew he hadn’t much to offer a girl like her. She already had it all from where he was standing. But he could try, he knew he could. If it was up to him, she would have the best life ever. He would gladly take her to dance every evening in a spacious living room, buy her every record, and listen to her sing every night before closing his eyes to fall into a deep sleep. He would do his best for her to know she was loved and cared for. But most of all, for her to know that she was free. 

When their eyes met again, he pulled her closer. Their hands were still intertwined. 

This time, however, his free hand came to the small of her back, and for a second time froze. Is he going to kiss me now?, the girl thought nervous. A few miles away from the theater, on that calm night, Taehyung held her tight in his embrace, Deo’s cheek pressed on his chest. He started to move slowly from side to side. 

Suddenly a warmth irradiated her face, as she melted to the sound of his voice, singing her a song while they danced on that summer night, under the moon and traffic lights. 

♪ Wise men say, only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you ♫

♩ Shall I stay? Would it be a sin, if I can’t help falling in love with you? ♬

His voice was deep, velvety and it could warm the coldest of winters. The notes fell out of his lips with a minimum of effort, and Deo couldn’t help but feel secure. His presence was comfortable and easy to take in, just like a Sunday morning, or fresh baked cookies.

She felt herself letting go of all of her worries, so she sang for him too. 

♪ Like a river flows, surely to the sea ♬

♫ Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be ♩

While she sang, she heard what was about to become her favorite tune — his heartbeat. 

He pulled back for a moment to face her mesmerized. “Where have you been all this time?” 

She smiled feeling cheeky, shrugging. “I don’t know… Wandering around in another city,” and then she looked right at his chocolate eyes. “Looking for you.” 

After that Taehyung held her face as gently as he could, kissing her as he had wanted to do ever since he had met her. Their kiss tasted like strawberries, and as she tugged on his collar, she realized — there was no turning back. She had fallen for him. 

PRESENT DAYS

       Taehyung's point of view.

Lately, it seemed that every time I closed my eyes at night it meant I would be seeing myself in my twenties again. And consequently, seeing her. 

And I can’t seem to understand if my heart keeps tugging because I long for that summer, or if it’s a plea for me to forget all about it. But how could I do so? Four years had already gone by and no matter what was thrown my way, I was never able to forget her eyes. 

I did have a period of time when those memories felt like fading. Or like they didn’t exist at all; nothing but a vivid creation of my own mind. Those had been the worst moments of my life. 

Perhaps now, the memories came back as a way of haunting me for what I was about to do. And I can’t help but laugh at the thought. That was something she would definitely do if she could… Haunt me for selling a house she wanted so much. 

But where was her if that was the case? Where was her as I walked these rushed concrete streets, of a city that never seems to sleep, making my way to yet another buyer? 

And for the first time in a long while I caught myself wondering if she was singing on another porch that was not my own with a mourning heart. 

🍓 TO BE CONTINUED… 

!! — singguks | all rights reserved.

✱. ꔛ˚ if you want to be tagged for the next chapter, comment below!!

[taespocket]

the fact that all i sensed was trouble and that i immediately started sweating is just- 😌 too much quality content

💬 — playlist made for the characters of #FightOn! belonging to @singguks [ masterlist ] @socksjinie [ masterlist ] @bluenpjm [ masterlist ]

[taespocket]

as a honorary member of group y, i can say with certainty that yes, we are soft and pains in the asses and this is just so sweet and accurate and lovely!!!!! 😭💛

💬 — playlist made for the characters of #FightOn! belonging to @singguks [ masterlist ] @socksjinie [ masterlist ] @bluenpjm [ masterlist ]

[taespocket]

i want these two together, like, asap!

“Dream team, baby!” Jungkook says into Freya’s neck making her smile widely. 

﹢ quote & moment from horus academy chapter iv [ read here ]

﹢ all rights reserved to the owners of this story; @singguks @socksjinie @bluenpjm

[taespocket]

the balance between chaos and softness is out of this world!! 🥺

🎨 the key that i won't forget,

♪ the memory i can't replace.

[ !! ] — lost in paris by tom misch, goldlink.

[taespocket]

meant to be~ 💛

ganadara ❀ hoseok x oc

Ⓒ bluenpjm — all rights reserved. do not repost, translate or claim as your own.

synopsis.  as if it was destined, a connection as simple as ABC.

genre.  slice of life au ; dancer!hoseok ◦ fluff

pairing.  JHS x OC

wordcount. 899

warnings.  adorable hoseok ପ(๑•ᴗ•๑)ଓ ♡

a/n. happy birthday to the iconic @narimiese~ the only person with whom i am willing to share hobi (i am not kidding) may your life be as glamorous and filled with light as you deserve! Thank you for being here since day one! ♡

It had become a constant in Hoseok’s day. Unlike the majority of people, he hated the weekends — especially because he couldn’t see her. The girl that worked in the store in front of his dance studio. He even had to change his routine to be able to see her more often. 

It was foolish, now that he thought about it. 

4 months had already passed since the first time he ever laid eyes on her. Fixing a more than broken mannequin and trying her best to tie its falling arm with some necklaces. In the end, the fit ended up looking more unique than anything in the store. 

He loved it. It was way up his alley. 

And ever since, he had this weird sensation in the bottom of his stomach. The first couple of days, he had nagged his best friend about the possibility of being extremely sick, as he counted the days until he could no longer escape the visit to the E.R. 

Despite how much he thought, he couldn’t pinpoint what had been that had left him that sick. Until he saw her again. This time closing up the shop. Her hair was tied in a messy ponytail as the straps of her bag kept on pushing her buttons, constantly falling from her shoulder. It all made sense now. He was feeling butterflies. 

In his mind, he knew a lot about her. 

After all… he did find her on social media. Her feed filled with cute pictures of cafés and showing her impeccable outfits. She was classy and artsy and he was dying to talk to her. 

Sunday morning meant that he would not see her. Usually, Hoseok would constantly look around. Fate, maybe? Today, in lieu, he focused on the task ahead of him: finding a gift for his friend. 

“He just moved into a new house, so I wanted something that he would actually want but that wasn’t that much of a big deal…” Hoseok rambles on to the staff he had mindlessly stopped in the midst of rearranging some products on the shelves. 

“Why don’t you take a look around? I’ll be with you in a minute.” The smile shown is weak and Hoseok nods, him too forcing a smile before strolling along deep into the store. 

He wandered aimlessly with his hands stuffed inside the pockets of his baggy jeans. The store had a little bit of everything and perhaps that much variety made the task at hand even more challenging. 

“Does your friend like music?” The voice startles him and as Hoseok turns around, his eyes widen, mouth agape as he isn’t able to form a single word. “I think music is always a thoughtful gift…” 

Swiftly, the girl moves her fingers along the records in front of her. Lifting her gaze, she smiles at Hoseok. 

“I’m Nari. Kim Nari.” 

“I- hum,” For a moment, Hoseok almost feels starstruck. Clearing his throat, he manages to speak. “I’m Hoseok,” A strident laugh falls from his lips, the nerves getting the best of him. “But my friends call me Hope.” 

“So, Hope…” The playful smile on the girl’s lips makes his heart twirl. “What kind of music does your friend like?” 

“Well… Taehyung is a wild card… He listens to everything, really.” Pressing his lips together, the girl’s eyes fall on the little dimple that shows on the dancer’s features. 

Humming, Nari takes her eyes off Hoseok so she can focus on the records in front of her for a second. “What about… Golden Link? I’ve been addicted.” 

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them…” 

“Do you want to listen to it? I have most of the songs from their new album on my playlist.” Nari offers, already searching her bag for her earphones.

“Yeah! Should we– hum– go grab a coffee or something?” Hoseok lets out a nervous laugh. 

Crossing the street, they enter the small coffee shop and order before directing themselves to a table on the esplanade. The soft morning sun felt cozy against their skins and they scotched closer. The first music begins to play and by the time their order is delivered to the table, Hoseok had lost focus on the tracks. His eyes fell solely on the bronzed skin of the girl standing only a couple of centimeters from him. 

Fate really brought us together… Yoongi would never believe him. 

“So?” Removing her earpiece, a smile adorns her lips. “What do you think?” 

“Beautiful,” Hoseok speaks softly, quickly snapping out of the trance he was trapped in. “They have really good songs, I mean. Thank you.”

“Of course,” Her smile reaches her eyes now and Hoseok feels his heart melt. 

The girl begins to gather her belongings, getting ready to get up from her seat. Hoseok mimics her actions. “Do you think I could get your number?” Yoongi would be proud now. 

And for the first time, she is thrown off guard, surprised. “Mine?” 

“Yeah–” Eyes widen and he feels droplets of sweat beginning to form on his forehead. 

“You got it.” Watching her leave, Hoseok wants nothing more but to jump up and down, feeling victorious. And if he was buying that album? Of course. He just needed to make another stop before storing the precious memory in a vinyl-shape in his home. He still needed to find a gift for his friend…

[taespocket]

my life will only be complete when something like this happens to me 😌

la vie en rose → jung hoseok.

synopsis. life feels dull and colorless until you spot him dancing, that alone is enough to start a fire in your heart.

pairing. hoseok | reader 

genre. dance au, fluff 

word count. 2636

warnings. just dancer hoseok really, he does the job. that and his adorableness!!

rating. PG-13

a/n. to the dearest @narimiese ♡ may your life be filled with joy and countless sparks; hobi's especially!! happy birthday, beautiful!

You had been inside that subway for twenty minutes now. 

Twenty minutes of staring at its window absentmindedly while listening to some random playlist in search of new music, or just new inspiration really. Lately, life had been moving slowly, with a bunch of unwanted breaks just like the course of the subway you found yourself in. It felt like never arriving home. 

Nothing new or out of the ordinary seemed to happen to you recently, and with a heavy sigh, you skip yet another song on the device you held firmly between your hands. Am I just tired?, the thought crosses your mind, but no. That wasn’t it, and you knew it. A dormant spark traveled through your body, ready to ignite. You just didn’t know when or for what. 

The wagon softly hit the brakes again, another stop. Your eyes go from your cellphone, to check the hours, to the window once more. 

The scenery before you is beautiful; the night sky engulfs the huddle of buildings, and neon lights start to shine giving the street all the colors it needed to feel alive. You feel the urge to take a picture, as the street in question finds itself rather empty for the grand Seoul you knew by heart, but one of the buildings—a smaller one in height that was just straight across your sight—felt busy, making a beautiful contrast. 

One of the few alight windows caught your attention, and that’s the reason why you stop in the middle of completing the movement to take the so-desired photo. Inside the framed window there’s this guy, dancing. He seems so absorbed in what he’s doing, so happy, so free, that the moment feels almost magical; his dancing matches the tune playing softly in your ears, and without even realizing a smile forms on your features. Suddenly it’s like you are looking at the world through tinted glasses while looking at him. Like you were able to find this secret door to another universe entirely. 

But the subway goes on, and you are forced to return to reality. Back to the journey full of breaks, cut by sighs in between. 

You are unable to shake the feeling, however, or the image of the dancer. 

A week goes by. The same stops, the same thoughts, the same longing feeling, but a new expectancy and curious eyes that search intently to find that window, or more specifically, that boy. 

And you do. On and on again, for a week, you see him there, dancing after hours… Completely free. Somedays he checks his groovy moves in the mirror, others he just ignores it, preferring to dance with closed eyes and a different kind of passion. The window is always open. You can’t help but make a mental note of how well-dressed he always is. As a fashion major yourself, that was always the first thing you noticed about a person—what shoes they used, what accessories they added, what color combination they went for… It all helped to form a better picture of a person and their personality to you. 

And his seemed bright. Lit, and ready to burn. 

Just like you felt inside. 

And so this feeling of curiosity, of wanting to know how he externalized that, started to feel reoccurring. You couldn’t go by more than half an hour without thinking about it, without thoughts of him dancing popping into your mind. 

It was during work, on your coffee breaks… While brushing your teeth, while staring at the crowd in a busy restaurant… You even drew some sketches of him and his movements in your journal. One that you used strickly to design new clothes but had been on your shelf for too long now. Ever since you finished your studies in Paris and came home.

See, maybe this was the spark you needed. You had always wanted to try to launch your own brand, that’s why you studied so intently abroad, but it never felt aligned with your reality. No. You spent your days working for someone else’s brand instead. A really nice one for the matter. Who didn’t like Celine after all?

You did, and you were exhilarated when you got accepted to work there. But with time, the constant thought of being made to do something of your own would always appear at the back of your mind. Perhaps that was why you had been feeling so low on energy lately. So stuck in time. 

One of those nights, when searching for his window was no longer enough, you saw yourself hopping off of the subway one stop before the dance studio building, without much thinking. Something moved you. 

When you realized, you were already standing in front of where it all started, the place you became so familiar with over the last weeks. You looked at the front door hesitantly. And looking up, to state the obvious, you saw light coming from his window, that as always was very much alight. You mustered your courage with a deep breath and walked in decidedly. 

There was no need to search for what floor his studio was located on, you could simply follow the loud hip-hop music echoing in the corridors. It seemed like the beat was following your own heart, which pumped with force, loudly and somewhat wild. 

Much like his window, his studio door is also open, light pouring out on the long corridor. You approach the room rather nervous, after all, this was a first in your life. Something that came up in the heat of the moment, and if you were to be completely honest, you are not really sure of what you want of him. At least not until you are able to see him from up close. 

He was dashing, even if he was wearing a bucket hat covering half of his face. 

The boy in question was kneeling next to a big speaker, paying close attention to something on his phone. He was so focused, that he didn’t notice your presence by the door and you take the opportunity to annalize him further. 

He wears a less distinguished-colored outfit today. A double-sleeve zip-up jacket, black, and it’s zipped just a tad bit down, enough for you to see he was wearing a simple white tee beneath, that surprisingly showed his physique very well. And he keeps it simple, pairing the fit with double-knee work pants. Whoever came along, and saw him like this, would think he is all about simple and casual, but this man had nothing of the sort about him. You could pinpoint that rather easily, all it took was a look at the pair of sneakers he was wearing—an Off White collab with Air force 1 low. 

From the color scheme of the fit to the skull print bucket hat that covered half his face while he was looking down, everything was very much to your liking. And you start to muse while staring at his figure, if he is naturally inclined to fashion, or if he followed some kind of trend until he looks up and the music ceases. You didn’t even notice how loud it was until a screaming silence fills the place. 

“Hi,” he greets kind of confused when noticing your presence by the door but still manages to open a shining smile while getting up. “Can I help you?” 

For a moment you blank. You hold your breath thinking of a plausible excuse for being there this late, even glance towards the flight of stairs in the long corridor pondering a quick exit, but as you return to his gaze, which grew more inquisitive to the second, you decide for blurting out the truth instead. You wouldn’t be able to think of a lie out of the blue, that was not your strong suit. 

“Uhm- hi,” you greet back with a defeated smile that denounced how embarrassed you were. He chuckles back at you, amused, and you could dare to say a bit intrigued as well. He fetches a small towel on top of the speaker and begins drying his neck while discreetly sizing you up. “I uh- I was passing by… And I saw your window lit- From outside I mean,” You fumble with your words as his presence is rather strong, even if his smile increases in size due to your explanation. He doesn’t reply, at least not yet, and you feel like he is giving you space to say something more, to explain further. “Uhm, I didn’t mean to interrupt or something-” You try, but he doesn’t let you finish the sentence this time. 

“You don’t,” He assures you cheerfully while taking off the bucket hat to dry his forehead as well. For a moment you forget he even replied, eyes scanning every inch of his face you had not seen before. What before felt like a powerful presence became a bubbly one. Something about his eyes made his heart-shaped smile look overly adorable. Perhaps the way it reached them like they too were smiling at you. “Are you here looking for someone?” He asks after getting no reply on your part, looking at you with a tilted head and you had to bite down a smile of your own. 

“Yes, actually,” you confess, taking a bold step inside the studio. “I was looking for you.”

“Me?” the way he tilted, even more, his head, with furrowed brows and a cartoonish pout while pointing at his chest made you finally chuckle more relaxed. As you nod him affirmatively, a smile still on your face, he glances up, pensively. “I don’t remember you. I’m pretty sure I would…” He clarifies more to himself than to you. 

“You don’t know me yet,” you cut his train of thoughts, kind of anxious—in a good way—for his reaction. As he looked back at you waiting for further clarification, with yet another adorable expression on his face, you continue. “Every day coming from work I see you dancing… I hope I don’t sound weird or anything-” before he could say something you see yourself blurting out word after word, fingers fidgeting by the side of your body. The streak of courageousness that had hit you previously felt like dissipating all of a sudden. “I just happened to look at this building the other day and then everything was dark except for your window and as I said, I saw you dancing and it, uhm… It moved me.” 

You finally look at him, searching on his features for something that could tell you about what he was thinking, much like a test you felt a need to pass. When he discards the piece of cloth on top of the speaker and places both his hands on his hips, you are on the brink of slapping yourself for sounding so weird; a million thoughts rushing in your mind. 

What was I thinking? I can’t just barge on someone’s studio and-

He starts walking toward you and you can’t quite describe what his intentions are, but your brain is screaming that he’s probably going to shove you out of the studio. Much to your surprise, he stops before you, a mere feet away. You look up to meet his eyes, and once again they are shaped in a rainbow way, along with a dimpled smile. “I’m Hoseok, but you can call me Hobi.” he offers his hand for you to shake in the friendliest manner, the other disappears to the inside of his baggy pants’ pocket. He’s so… My style. 

You don’t hesitate much before taking his hand in yours and saying your name. And this time you can’t really fight over the urge to smile. There’s a moment of silence between the two of you, your hands still softly wrapped with each other, and it goes from a handshake to a simple hold, one that says a lot as you both keep looking into each other’s eyes. 

“So what can I help you with?” Hoseok asks almost in a whisper, his chocolate brown eyes shifting between yours. As you realize that you’re still holding his hand, something that apparently doesn’t bother him, you quickly let go, laughing shyly and making him laugh along. 

You feel your cheeks heat up, but you answer him anyway. “Perhaps… Would you teach me?”

“Do you like to dance?” it’s the question he shoots at you and you are taken by surprise. 

“Well, I think so,” you answer truthfully as you had never thought about the subject before, and your face must show your confusion about it since his smile—one that apparently hardly left the corners of his lips—got wider and wider. 

He clasped his hands behind his back before leaning a bit forward and you had to look higher up. “But dancing isn’t something made to think,” As he started talking you held your breath, afraid that any movement you made could trigger the evident tension that was starting to build up between the two of you. “It’s made to feel,” and before you could say something, he straightened his back again, and you could swear your heart was about to make an escape and fly off the window. His window. 

“So what do you say?” Hoseok asks again as your brain started musing over his words. “I’ll see you here tomorrow? Same time?” 

And here it was. The spark you needed to unfreeze time. 

“Yes. Yes, you will.” There is an undeniable tone of challenge in your voice. From the moment you had seen him, still from far away, inside the subway, he had already done something to you. 

Your eyes lingered in each other’s again, and as you offered him a last smile, ready to leave, he stopped you in a rush. “Wait!” You look at him with a surprised smile before he speaks again, “I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you about uh…” His eyes scan the place and yours follow, trying to understand what is going on or what Hoseok is looking for. “The box!” 

“The box…?” You ask confused. 

“Yes! The box.” He nods his head exaggeratedly. “We have this box here that uh… We use for a… A prize draw! That’s right!” He crosses his arms and presses his mouth in a thin line, showing the smallest dimple you had ever seen. 

“Ok…” you laugh it out, not quite understanding what the box had to do with you, but finding it funny nevertheless. 

“And what I was trying to say is that you should definitely apply to it! You just need to submit your name and phone number, and who knows? You might get the prize!” Hoseok explains, his right hand coming to the back of his neck and you can’t help but scrunch your nose amused by his antics. There’s no prize draw, right?, is what you think of saying, but he looks at you so expectant and warmly that you decide on taking the bait. 

“Sure! Why not! Where do I apply?” 

The grin he has on his face slowly fades as he looks around the room again, trying to improvise, and you learn yet another thing about him. Much like yourself, he is not a great liar, and you find that endearing. “Uh…” 

“What about I just give you my number instead? Like on your phone. And then once you find the box you add it for me?” you suggest and he almost sighs relieved, retrieving the device from his pocket and handing it over to you. 

You go home that night with sparks in your heart and an insistent smile that never left your face, especially not after you received the following text:

[ unknown number @ 20:18 ] hi! it’s hoseok… from the dance studio! about that box… 😅🥺

[taespocket]

so, so, so sweet! 🥺

✿ crime 101 — double date and milkshake | jimin feat. hoseok

Ⓒ socksjinie — all rights reserved. do not repost, translate or claim as your own.

synopsis.  bubbles first date ever was full of emotions, especially because they weren't for the guy she was being paired with.

genre.  powerpuff girls au ; jimin!boomer ; fluff

pairing.  jimin x bubbles ; hoseok x oc

wordcount. 2060

warnings.  shy smiles and butterflies ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ

a/n. happy belated birthday to the sweet @narimiese ♡ i hope your days are full of cute dates and cheerful conversations~ thank you for standing with us~! my love and gratitude ♡

a/n2. the flashback scene was inspired by a leecheedoodles drawing!

the first time Bubbles met Jimin—romantically—was by accident. 

or rather, a scheduled accident, much like her first time seeing him ever. 

or rather, a scheduled accident, much like her first time seeing him ever. 

they still remembered each other of course, from fighting back in the days. or from middle school, where their siblings were still very much discontent in each other’s presence… but not them. they had always been different from the other four. 

they began to form a liking toward one another early on. Bubbles could pinpoint the exact moment in fact. 

it was a chilly day, it had just begun drizzling, and she was on her way home holding her favorite blue umbrella when she spotted two boys crouching near the sidewalk poking at something with a stick. 

as she approached them, curious at what they were doing while laughing in a creepy manner, she noticed they had been poking at little snails. she was twelve at the time, and the boys seemed a bit older, but she was ready to lecture them. 

she despised people that treated any kind of being that way. no matter how small said being was. 

as she furrowed her eyebrows and came closer to them, she realized one of the said boys was about to stomp on the fragile snails. she remembers running rushedly towards them, trying to stop that catastrophe from happening, but then something surprised her. or better, someone. 

Jimin came in a flash, holding the boy’s foot millimeters away from the sluggish beings, just in time to save them. as he looked up and the mean bully could properly look at his face since he was wearing a hoodie due to the rain, his expressions faltered as Jimin’s showed he was very discontent. 

the two boys ran away, as quickly as they could. they were probably aware of the rowdy ruff brothers’ reputation, and also pretty aware of what Jimin was capable of doing. 

as soon as they were out of sight, however, Jimin’s harsh glance returned to the little creatures on the sidewalk. Bubbles noticed how his features changed as he opened a cute smile looking at them, and something warm and fuzzy filled her body, even if the weather was feeling cold against her cheeks. 

he felt like a ray of sunshine, crouched on that sidewalk. golden locks escaping the soft blue hoodie he was wearing to protect himself from the rain. 

without thinking twice, Bubbles walked toward him, extending her umbrella over himself as well. he looked up confused, and as she smiled brightly at him, showing a big thumbs up, proud of his attitude, he got up in a rush and fled away, overly embarrassed. 

ever since that day, the two of them were never conflictual in each other presence. Bubbles realized he was actually a good boy despite his previous actions, and although from that day on he had been a bit awkward around her, they developed a connection of sorts. 

but today… today was different. 

she wasn’t meeting him in school, or in a fight. today she was meeting him on a date.

even if he wasn’t her actual date. 

it all began when her best friend, Nari, the one she had been friends with ever since kindergarten, waited for her outside the gymnasium where she was having a cheer tryout. 

she was still in her sports shorts and a cropped tee when Nari dragged her over to the milkshake shop across the street, overly fidgety, claiming she was in desperate need of help. 

it turns out that Nari, much like everyone else, had been developing this secret crush on Jimin ever since he had started attending their art class. or so Bubbles thought. “Well, it was nothing serious… I saw him in our classroom and I thought I should just be polite and invite him since he seemed alone in there- and I thought he was going to say no for sure!” the girl explained in a rush while they entered the shop hearing the clink of the bell announcing their arrival. 

her brown-haired friend didn’t have the time to explain it further, as the moment they walked in, Jimin’s best friend raised his hand high and waved it to both of them, signaling their table. 

Bubbles felt herself walking automatically, much like a robot with a mission. her head was totally focused on understanding the situation. What she could piece together was the fact that, first and foremost, her best friend had omitted a crush—even if a small one, by the way she had explained the situation before entering the milkshake shop—and second, she was about to face her first date ever without even knowing her pair. it didn’t get better to know she was going through this moment with someone she had to see almost every day because of “work”. still, Nari was her best friend, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her. 

“hello! I’m Hoseok,” Jimin’s friend got up from his seat, and Bubbles could see how excited he was by the size of his heart-shaped smile. she made a mental note of how bubbly he was. “It’s really nice to meet you- even though we have the same class!” he says chuckling and both girls can’t help but smile. 

Nari makes introductions that aren’t but slight background noise to her ears, as her eyes are focused on the blonde sitting by the window.

even though Bubbles sat on the end of the double bench, making room for Nari to sit right across from Jimin, the conversation happening was between her best friend and the bubbly boy—the one she thought she was having the date with. 

“you like them too?” she hears Hoseok exclaiming excitedly while looking down to his tee and Nari shakes her head affirmatively with a huge smile. “I’ve been dying to go to their concert, you know…” 

five minutes became ten, and soon fifteen. there was no sight of a waitress to attend to their table and Bubbles couldn’t help but feel fidgety. her fingers twisted the paper straws incessantly in front of her while her eyes scanned the place after someone that could ask for their order. 

“that’s probably some influence from my sister's side since she is majoring in fashion and planning to open her clothing store,”

“that’s so cool! I hope I have a brand of my own someday too…” they seemed so in tune with each other that one could think Nari and Hoseok were the ones that had been in touch for years now. 

suddenly Bubbles got a bit impatient. she was a talkative person and she loved meeting new people, but something about this whole situation seemed foreigner to her. she looked over at her best friend, sitting by her side, and a smile tugged on the corners of her mouth almost instantly. 

she had never seen Nari so enthusiastic before, not like this. she was glowing. and suddenly Bubbles decided to get up, claiming she was going to order for all of them since it was taking ages. the reality was that she felt like she was intruding on a moment that wasn’t meant for her. 

“I’ll go too!” Jimin exclaimed jumping from his seat in a rush, and although the other two seemed alienated from the outside world to even realize it—or question anything at all—Bubbles gave him a questioning glance to which he explained, “to help. you’ll have to bring four orders… right?” 

she ponders for a bit; the strangeness of having never been on a proper outing with Jimin, much less on a date, makes her hesitate. as soon as she glances at Nari and Hoseok, chatting like their world depended on it, all the hesitation goes to space. 

“alright! but no stealing the tips jar,” she warns him with a glance as they move toward the counter. 

“that’s something my brothers would do,” he offers his best innocent face and Bubbles almost laugh at how theatrical he was being. “not me! I would never… really.” 

they reach the colorful counter side by side, and as Bubbles looks up to scan the milkshake menu, Jimin leans on his side facing her but his eyes are trailed on their table. 

“I think I’ll be having one mocha… one mint chip for Nari and–” Bubbles thought out loud.

“they really have a lot in common,” Jimin commented with a half-hearted smile, eyes still on the pair laughing while they scribbled something on a napkin. “Hobi also likes mint chip.” 

Bubbles shifted her eyes toward Jimin with the new piece of information and he held her gaze. 

“what about you?”

he shrugged pretending to think. “maybe I’ll take a mocha today too.” 

Bubbles couldn’t help but bite another smile and hit him softly on his arm. before he could catch her staring at him fondly with a shade of pink on her cheeks, a waitress appeared on the other side of the counter with a friendly smile. 

“ready to take orders?” 

she took her eyes off Jimin, surprised by the sudden approach, “oh yes! yes we are”

“it’s two mochas and…” Jimin began before glancing at the table with eyes that suddenly went from smiley to a puzzled look. “no. that will be all.” 

Bubbles followed his gaze, confused, but as she looked at their empty seats, she understood what had happened. 

“coming right up! you can seat, I’ll deliver it at your table, sweets.” the lady said cheerfully and the blues walked away. 

Bubbles went ahead intrigued as to why their friends had disappeared all of a sudden. wasn’t Nari supposed to be on a date with Jimin? 

“well… I guess this is how matches made in heaven work, " the blue-eyed boy commented while casually sitting back in his seat and scrunching his nose while inspecting a napkin. 

Bubbles who was looking through the big window like a kid looking for their lost puppy sat straight on her seat again and took the piece of paper in her own hands. 

“have a nice date, we’re out…” she read out loud the message engraved in the white piece of paper with Nari’s handwriting. 

“she even left a heart and a little flower,” Jimin pointed out with his index finger. “and tons of exclamation marks.”

“so…”

Jimin started chuckling nervous, “so.” 

until now he had not realized they were alone, left to be on a date by themselves. suddenly her blue eyes on him became too much to handle and he froze on spot, not knowing what to do. he always fled when something like this happened… he had been doing it whenever Bubbles stared at him like that. he remembered the first time he did so… she was holding an umbrella over his head wearing the cutest raincoat ever, full of rainbows. 

his heart was doing it again. stupid heart. 

“here it is, my sweets!” the lady that had previously attended them said placing their milkshakes on the table, but their gazes were still glued to each other’s blue eyes. “oh and I forgot to mention! you won the couple prize of this week!” 

both of them looked at her embarrassed. 

“oh- we’re- we’re not–” Bubbles started stuttering while nodding her head and Jimin saw how the lady started retrieving the hand she had been holding two matching keychains. 

“thank you so much!” Jimin exclaimed, lifting his hand to take the trinkets before the girl sat across from him could say anything else. “look Bubs, that’s your favorite!” 

the smile on the waitress's face returned promptly as she handed Jimin two octopus keychains and looked over at them with adoration. “congrats on being our twentieth couple this week!” 

Jimin smiled at her as Bubbles was too red and confused to say anything else. 

from that day on, even though they had never seen each other again due to Jimin getting out of town with his brothers, you could see Bubbles arriving at school every day with a purple octopus dangling from her backpack. she never knew if he still had his. the only time she heard his name was when Nari’s boyfriend—Hoseok—nonchalantly talked about his blonde friend every time they went to the milkshake shop and reminisced about that day. 

Bubbles always smiled at her mocha with fond memories wondering if she would ever see him again. 

perhaps next time they could actually have a proper double date. 

[ back to masterlist ]

[taespocket]

my jaw is on the floor with everything that went down in this chapter, like??????

horus academy, 04 | bts

© horus academy | all rights reserved. do not repost, translate or claim as your own. if you find this work elsewhere besides the three blogs stated, please report it to any of the writers.

@singguks × @socksjinie × @bluenpjm

summary: in a school where greek methods rules, not everything is as clear as it appears to be. heart, mind, soul, and body. those are the teams of the horus academy and boarding school. but deep within the long corridors, lies dark secrets. the so-called loving families formed in the shapes of teams begin to tear up when an anonymous source unravels their deepest secrets.

genre: high school au | mystery au | smut | angst | fluff

pairing: OT7 × OC's

rating: PG13

word count: 11918

warnings: foul language, bullying, pyromania (impulse control disorder regarding fire), exposing secret relationships, femicide. 

a/n: if you want to be part of the tag list so you won't miss the secret that'll be revealed next, comment down below and we'll add you :)

chapters. previous — next

PREVIOUSLY ON HORUS ACADEMY

“Good morning Horus, and get ready for the Ascension,” The speakers throughout the entire school turned on as Kihyun’s voice caught everyone’s attention. “The schedule of this week’s round will be the following—please take notes or regret not doing so—first stop, a game for intellectuals only. The second phase is for those who dare to be brave… and physical! The third and final round must be for the jacks of all trades. Best of luck to all teams- and may the greatest team win!”

Sarxians were starting their day very uneasy… A little before the announcement of the game, the leader of the team, Archie Miller, opened the doors of their common room just to find it completely out of place.

The yellow sofas that normally stood on the four edges of the walls, against them, were placed in a circle and in the middle of the room. As he came closer to have a look at what was going on, he found a white envelope on the floor, right at the center of the circle. It was as if it was inviting the whole team to gather around and take a seat to know what it contained. And some even managed to arrive on time to see their leader reading it alone because Archie was anything but patient or very loving.

To say the Sarx meeting didn’t go so well was more than an understatement. Archie was completely out of his mind; fuming in anger. All he could think about was how they managed to enter their common room. And he knew who had been the culprit, that’s probably why he was that furious.

“Those damn wolves.”

[ ... ]

“And it’s… Correct!” One of the judges announced giving one more point to the Dianoia team. Jin and Kaya, the ones that were chosen to be representing their house in this first round, hi-fived each other while celebrating. 

Dianoia kept leading with two points ahead while Kardia and Psykhe were disputing second place, both tied with four points each. The audience was anxious. After all, this was a game of intellect but also speed. The fastest team to reach a total of nine correct answers would be given a clue to the location of the next round, and that meant the next duo would have to reach the secret location to be given an advantage quickly. No one could leave without the so-wanted nine, and the groups were waiting right there, completely powerless; the wait was slowly killing them.

“The seventeenth question is the following…” A girl from the judges' panel announced, “Which monarch officially made Valentine’s Day a holiday in 1537?”

There was a moment of silence, some glances from the teammates being exchanged, but then Vernon from Psykhe cut through it and slammed the button in front of him and his partner. “I think I know it, but I’m not so sure,” He chuckled in a boyish manner. The Psykhe team, all sitting behind them, started to shout words of encouragement. 

“We trust you, go on!” Dahyun, his partner, cheered alongside their team. 

“Would it maybe be Henry, The Eighth?” He tried, “No! Wait! Ok, no, Henry, The Eighth is my answer- Ah! I don’t know man,” He laughed again confused, starting to feel the pressure. 

“Are you locking that answer?” 

He took a glance back at the Psykhe team and everyone seemed cool with his reasoning, giving thumbs up and screaming Lock it! which made him feel more confident about it. Vernon was often not sure about the information he thought he knew, but the team did not doubt him. That’s why they appointed him to the spot. The boy even had a nickname in the family. Tidbits, because he often shared tiny pieces of information no one ever heard about… Actually, a lot of the Psykhe students were like that, Dahyun included. He was just the ace of it.

“Yeah, I’m locking it!” 

“And the answer is… Correct! Another point for the Psykhe team!”  

They all cheered in unison. Mark, from the Sarx team, slightly punched their stand, murmuring a Fuck, I knew that! At this point, the Griffins were falling way behind… And the thing was, you were not allowed to receive the clue to the next location unless you had nine correct answers. Sarx team, having only three questions on their belt, was feeling more than uneasy. 

“Okay folks, next question!” The judge called for their attention, “What is the rarest M&M color?” 

Not even a second after, Nayeon from Kardia, smashed the button overly excited. “It’s the brown one! Lock it, I’m sure.” And then she turned to her partner to say, “I googled it not even a month before this.” 

“And Kardia, your answer is… Correct! Congratulations!” The judge cheered, laughing, “I guess someone is an M&M enthusiast.” And to that, she received a truthful answer, shouted from Kardia’s stand. 

“WHO ISN’T THOUGH?!” 

“You got me there!” The judge chuckled, “Let’s carry on. Dianoia still leading with six points, close behind them with five points, we have Kardia and Psykhe now tied- again! And Sarx, you better pick it up, you only have three…” 

Archie Miller, Sarx’s leader, was pacing back and forth a few meters forward, where the second phase teams were awaiting. He would have to give his very best if he wanted Sarx to secure its place as the current champions. And the way Freya was stretching overly joyful by his side made him feel even more furious, after all, he was still brooding about the Wolves’ attack on their common room. 

“Nineteenth question! What is the loudest animal on Earth?” 

Jin pressed the button without hesitation and Kaya looked at him alarmed. He often said things without much reasoning and she was afraid they would lose their one-point advantage if he answered something stupid. 

“Sperm Whale,” He said and she looked at him incredulously, almost certain they were losing their point and the other teams would catch up. “Lock it.” 

“And the answer, Dianoia, is… Correct!” 

“I don’t know how I know but I know, ok? You can trust me.” He said simply when he looked at the face she was making. 

“Dianoia, two more questions, and you guys are ready to go!” The judge announced and the team got loud once more, cheering and chanting Go Stags! 

After that, Sarx managed to get a point, and Archie screamed more than his teammates competing that round. Dianoia once more snatched a point, this time through Kaya, and they could already feel the taste of victory — at least for this round. Shortly, Psykhe snatched one more point and Kardia followed. 

“So, participants, what is the biggest selling music single of all time?” 

You could see Kaya furrowing her brows, trying very hard to make sense of some song. The audience went silent again, some trying to think of the answer themselves, some just searching for the team who would ring the button. 

Dong!

Vernon had pressed it. “Candle in the Wind from 1997.” He stated very sure of himself this time, “Lock it.” 

“Psykhe… Correct!” 

Their crowd cheered and the boy put a hand on top of his chest, almost fainting, making them all laugh. 

“Ok, a little bit of science now… Shall we?” The judge wasted no time in introducing the next question, “What is the hottest planet in the solar system, and what is its temperature?”

“I know this!” Kaya shouted, making Jin jolt beside her with the jumpscare. She pressed the button, “It’s Venus! With um… I’d say with, umm about 460 degrees celsius. Lock it!” 

“And Dianoia, your answer is…” The expectation was in the air. Kaya held her breath, she knew she was right but at the same time, there was a chance she wasn’t. Jin held her hand tight, waiting anxiously for their final and winning point. 

The audience was silent apart from the thumping of the feet of the Stags, everyone was up in their seats. 

“CORRECT!”

A lot of shouting could be heard, mixed with some boos from the Sarx team. 

“Congratulations Dianoia! Here is the clue!” The judge passed a black envelope to Kaya’s hands, “Solve it first and then give the location to your teammates over there!” She pointed toward Joy and Yeonjun, the participants of the second phase who were waiting a few meters away. 

While the rest of the trivia game was being resumed, Jin and Kaya started discussing the words written on the envelope.  

“It meanders this way and that, but prove you’re no fool. You’ll be both west and north of it, relaxing or should I say, feeling cool…?” Jin mused. “This doesn’t make much sense… Why would I feel cool?” 

But Kaya didn’t mind much of his question, her brain was working to full capacity. “What do we have inside the school both north and west?” She asked him expectantly, still thinking about the answer herself. 

“Um… Not much. I know North is that way for sure,” He turned to face the trail of the woods behind them. “But west-” 

“So it’s inside the woods!” She stated in a hushed whisper, “What do we have there? It meanders… Meanders.” 

“We better hurry, Psykhe and Kardia are one point away, I think.”

“Um, I think… Cool! It’s not the cool we’re thinking about, Jin!” She shook him lightly by the shoulders, “Think about it, it meanders and it’s cool… It’s water!” 

“Water?” His nose scrunched. 

“Yes! The abandoned pool!” She whispered excitedly, “That’s the only old building still standing in the woods, which is both north and I’m guessing west from here.”

“Oh, fuck.”

In a split of a second, both of them hurriedly went to the second team of Dianoia waiting. They briefed them about the location and how it would make sense since they were all warned through the speakers this morning the second team was the only one allowed to take an empty backpack to the challenge with them. 

“For the wet clothes or any object you might find at the pool.” Kaya clarified with a brilliant smile on her face. 

Once Psykhe passed their intel, Freya and Jooheon ran as fast as they could through the dense woods. The sun was shining bright, as rays passed the little breaches between the leaves. Every little sound made the duo turn their heads, afraid they could be leading the team that had stayed behind to the next game. There was no explicit answer to the riddle so, despite being confident in Vernon and Dahyun, there was no way to know if the pool was the right place to head to. 

“Should we go in?” Jooheon asked Freya. A look at him would never reveal how much of a scaredy-cat he was. 

“What?” Freya asked as she kept on moving towards the old building. 

The pool was in ruins. There was no certainty about how long it had been abandoned. But the long ivy branches on the walls made it clear that it had been years since anyone had taken care of it. The rumors regarding it were many. No one could understand why the school had decided to leave an entire building and simply relocate all its services. 

“Didn’t someone die here?” Jooheon whispered. 

“Those are just stories.” Freya chuckled. “C’mon. Dianoia is probably already inside and Kardia was just ahead of us. We don’t have any time to waste.” 

The girl rushed inside, the glass doors creaking as the movement presented new to them. “Don’t leave me here!” 

Jooheon rushed after the girl who was fiercely striding into the building. Freya didn’t believe the stories. About the pool. Or the boy. She had heard so many versions of it in the last year she had been in Horus that the more she knew, the more absurd they sounded. 

“There’s no way I would’ve come here after five,” Jooheon whispers, but his voice echoes anyway. The sound makes him nervous, as he tightens the grip on the strap of the black backpack he had been carrying for the game. 

“Shush-” Freya stops in her tracks. “Did you hear this?” 

“Is it- is it the boy?” He stutters. 

Freya moves after the sound and as she does, she is perplexed by the sight. The duo from Dianoia was putting on swimming suits, hurriedly. But the creative kids with blue uniforms can’t focus on their actions. Instead, their eyes fall on the pool. It was the size of an Olympic one, but it was far from it. What once might have been crystal clear water, now was dark green, with moss floating around. 

“Oh, gross!” Joy squealed as her bare feet hit the water. “I’m going to be sick.” 

“Oh God-” Freya let out, her hands instinctively covering her mouth as the other rested on top of her stomach. 

“Freya-” Jooheon called out, tapping the girl's shoulder. 

Isn’t the weather perfect for a swim? We are not that cruel — suit up! You should dive and find the consoling sight of home. Find the board with your crest and you shall move one house ahead. And don’t think you can fool us. We might not be present, but we are always watching your every step.

The duo couldn’t believe they had to dive into the filthy water. By now, Yeonjun had helped Joy into it and the girl’s squeals were echoing loudly through the abandoned halls. Freya was quick to rush to the suits, grabbing one for herself and another for her partner. 

“There,” Jooheon said softly, trying his best to not alarm the girl. 

Freya followed the tilt of the head he had given her only for her eyes to lay on one of the corners of the room, by the ceiling, with what seemed to be a camera with a red light flashing. The game had become increasingly serious and there was no policy for cheating. 

“Let’s get ready.” She shrugged. “There’s snorkeling masks there, too.” 

The boy simply nodded as he began to get ready. But he was soon paralyzed, the sudden sound of screams coming from outside alarming him. Jooheon's eyes widened and he felt like he had stopped breathing. He was certain he would see a disfigured man, running towards him and pushing him into the mossy pool, as he took his last breath of air. 

“Spider!” A scream was heard and the boys fell straight on their asses. 

Everyone is silent for a second, until Freya bursts out laughing, the sight of Jackson Wang and Mingyu Kim both screaming over a spider being too funny for her to hold it in. 

“How are you two here already?” Jackson points an accusing finger at the duo. 

“How aren’t you?” Freya remarks sarcastically. 

“It’s not like arrows were pointing Abandoned pool that way!” The boy from Kardia spoke again, his exaggerated personality being enhanced in moments of stress. 

“I’m not going in there,” Mingyu says, a disgusted look on the boy’s face as he reaches the edge of the pool. 

But as soon as he speaks, Jackson is already shoving his swimming suit, a sudden moment of courage filling all his body. “For Kardia!” 

“We’re being watched?” Mingyu asked as he looked around, aiming to find the lurkers. 

“Top corner, to your left,” Freya commented as she put her hair in a bun. 

She watched as the Kardia boy looked around, eyes finally laying on the camera. And in that same moment, a mischievous smile appears on his lips. Freya tries to focus on the task ahead of her, the thought of having to dive into those waters grossing her out more and more as time passes. Still, she couldn’t keep herself from hearing Mingyu whisper to his teammate. 

“Let’s hide these.” 

From the corner of her eye, she sees Jackson smirk, grabbing the last two pairs of swimsuits and running to another room with them. She thought about playing some tricks herself, but she wanted to win this year’s games. Not even for the prize, but for the satisfaction of stealing yet something more from Sarx, and getting back at them for what they did to Jungkook. 

“How are we doing this?” Jooheon asks by the girl’s side. They are both standing so close to the edge, that their toes are curled in the air. 

Freya sighs, considering her options. For a moment, she watched the water, waiting for Dianoia to come back to the top. As time went on and on, she was quick to notice how much more frequent their visits to the surface were. 

“Do you think there might be flashlights or something lying around?” She whispered. 

Jooheon was quick on his toes, the sudden mention of the item rushing his mind. “On the backpacks.” 

“Damn it!” Yeonjun let out a frustrated sigh as he came out for air. He climbed the edge of the pool, sitting down as he tried to catch his breath. 

Joy followed a couple of seconds later. “I can’t anymore.” 

“Let’s rest for a second.” The younger boy helped her climb out. 

“We should search separate areas. I comb one side, you do the other.” Freya suggested.

“Deep side first?” Jooheon asks and Freya nods in response. 

“It might be best. We probably won’t have the strength to comb that part later.” 

“And if we find someone else’s board?” Jooheon whispers, eyes falling on the Kardia boys that were struggling with their suits. 

“We keep our mouths shut.” Jooheon nodded in agreement. 

There was still no sight from Sarx and everyone in the room was glad for that. Archie was close to losing his cool during the first game, and the lack of his presence made everyone sure he was destroying everything that stood in the way of his victory. Sooner, he would be storming over those rusty doors, getting a little too close to breaking them, and diving into the sludge-filled pool with no second thought. 

But for the time being, the room was filled with Jackson’s squeals. Anyone that passed outside could think someone was being murdered. The mischievous boy had quickly faded into a soft one, too afraid — or better yet, grossed out — to enter the pool. Mingyu tried to give the example, but he too was petrified. 

As soon as the Psykhe team was about to dive, hands securing their masks as they adjusted them perfectly on their face, Archie came rushing into the room. 

“What’s the game?” He brutally asked, shoulder shoving Mingyu out of the way as he stopped in front of the board. “Momo!” 

The girl came running into the room, a little out of breath. Everyone could tell she had been forced to run after him towards the abandoned pool. 

“Look for the suits.” 

“Suits?” She asked confused, considering she had no time to read the pieces of information about the game on the wall. 

“Swimsuits!” He screamed. 

The girl looked but the longer she took, the longer Archie pressured. He cursed the game makers for not ensuring there were enough suits for everyone. 

“Loser’s crops.” Jackson shrugged, knowing he would get a reaction from the Sarx leader. 

“What did you say?” 

“You should work your brains as well.” An innocent smile was plastered on the Kardia boy’s face, but he was far from that. 

“Whatever dude.” Archie laughed dryly as he noticed the camera. “Momo, let’s go into the water. We don’t need suits.” 

“Wha-” The girl stuttered. It wasn’t enough that she wasn’t comfortable around water — or her partner — but she also had never tried to swim in these conditions. Just the smell that arose from the water made her stomach turn. “I can’t.” 

“What?” 

“I- I’m not a good swimmer.” 

“Bro, what?! And you’re telling me this now!?” The leader lost his cool, yet again. The Griffins were motivated with micro-aggressions better than with words of affirmation. No one could understand that house around Horus. 

“Relax dude.” Mingyu gets between the leader and the girl. 

“Fuck off, bro.” Archie makes sure to hit Mingyu with his shoulder as he passes him yet again. “You’re not going in, Momo?” 

“I-I really can’t.” 

“I knew I shouldn’t have brought a fucking girl to this. Pathetic.” He spits as he turns around to face the pool. 

“You’re such an asshole…” Freya can’t keep quiet. 

“You’re out of your mind, dude. It’s a game.” Mingyu shakes his head. 

“Again, fuck off.” Archie gives everyone in the room a dirty glance before diving just as he was. 

Freya dived right after. She wanted to keep the advantage her house had so far from the Griffins but at the moment, they were standing equal. Even Dianoia, who had a good head-start, was now seemingly falling behind. Joy hadn’t entered the water ever since she last sat down on the edge of the pool. Even with the snorkeling masks, it had proven too difficult to stay down for too long. 

Joy watched all the other participants give their best. Her mind kept on rushing. The big windows let very little light in, most of them being covered by the tall trees of the woods that surrounded Horus. The wind made the leaves dance swiftly; the sight was almost peaceful. 

Yeonjun came up again for air. He was already exhausted. The pool was more than 6 feet deep. He had a hard time reaching the bottom, much like everyone else, and even harder staying there. More often than not, his flashlight would shut out and he would be lost in the darkness, his only sense being the faint touches of his pruney fingers. 

Mingyu had passed by the board of Psykhe already. He stayed a little, analyzing the piece glued down, hoping that it would make it easier once he laid eyes on his. He wasn’t sure if it was from the small deprivation of air in his brain, but the more he thought about what would be the use for it, the less sense it made for him. 

He came back up for air. 

“You okay?” The boy from Kardia asked once he saw Freya leaning against the pool edge, her body still inside the water. 

She turned to see who was speaking to her. “Yeah.” But it didn’t sound as hip as she wanted, her lungs gasping for all the air they could get. “Not as easy as I thought.” 

Mingyu laughed, agreeing. “You should look elsewhere. You’ve been there for some time.” 

Despite her tiredness, Freya was quick to notice the look on the boy’s face. That wasn’t a simple comment out of care or worry. The thought of him passing by her team’s board was as if a bundle of fresh air. 

“I will.” 

Grabbing the ledge of the pool, she moved to where Jooheon was diving and waited for her teammate to come back up. She was quick to explain the interaction she just had and justify their new search area. Her partner agreed in a heartbeat. 

Not far from them, Archie had been making his best times so far. Sarx would’ve been proud if they could’ve been watching. Instead, he only had Momo. It was the last time he was going against his gut, he had thought. She was quick to collect herself, giving him tips on where to look next, but the sound of her voice only made him more impatient. 

Fifteen minutes passed, with each player doing their best underwater — apart from Momo, who kept crouched by the pool shining light wherever Archie would choose to dive next — and from time to time someone would emerge gasping for air, or even scream. It was difficult to know which was worse: to stay by the edge of the pool gasping for air while hearing weary sounds that came from the trees, or to stay underwater wrapped in shades of dark green and floating shadows that sometimes looked like creatures watching you. Both gave everyone the chills. Even Archie, that seemed way too stoic, would look behind his shoulders or flinch when plants would appear in his way. 

Freya emerged gasping, right in the middle of the pool. Jackson and Mingyu snapped their heads to look at the noise, they seemed to be strategizing while taking a light rest. “Joo!” The girl called. “You’ve seen him?” 

“I think he dived there,” Mingyu pointed out since Momo was too busy — and perhaps too afraid — to diverge her concentration from Archie. 

“Thank you!” Freya said excitedly while swimming her way towards the place he had pointed, just in time to catch her partner coming up for air. “Joo!” 

The guy screamed, scared to see a hand grabbing him out of nowhere. “It’s me! It’s Freya” She laughed it out. 

“Thank God, I thought I was done for good!” 

“In a certain way you are,” She said, attracting looks from the ones still resting by the ledges, “I found it.” She whispered last. 

Jooheon’s eyes got adorably rounded, “You- Really? Like— You’re sure, sure?” 

“Super sure.” She winked. “C’mon!” And as they swam their way out of the pool, the players remaining went under it again, too afraid to stay behind, too eager to win, and to get done and over with this game.

The Psykhe pair was quick to get out of their swimming suits and grab the walkie-talkie with a blue string near the Rules board. Freya looked around, her hair soaking the tee she was wearing, and she thought it was best if they talked about it elsewhere. They couldn’t, in any way, share information or clues with the other teams. Jooheon was quick to catch up on her thoughts, so they both ran outside. 

The radio screeched once she turned it on, Jooheon kept fidgeting by the girl's side. Every breeze that hit his wet neck would make him jump, leaving him on edge. They were still deep into the woods, after all. 

“Tae, can you hear me?” Freya called for her brother through the device. 

“You guys okay?” She heard, but it wasn’t her twin’s voice, it was Jungkook’s. 

“Hey! Yeah, we're alright!” She answered, with Jooheon’s protest by her side ‘Define alright’, as he pouted, making her nudge him playfully. “And we got the clue. Write it down, ok?”

“Ok, tell me.”

“Letter H and number 7,” She started, waiting for their response. 

“Ok, H and 7,” Jungkook repeated, and right after she heard Taehyung’s voice. 

“Any idea of what it could be, Frey?” 

Jooheon kept looking towards the crusty doors from the old pool entrance, trying to make himself useful and busy. He was on the verge of freaking out, the tales from the boy of the woods too impactful on his mind. 

“It was a chessboard!” Freya described, “The pawn was in the H7 position… But I don’t know if you should relate it to chess or if it’s just a coordinate, like the letter H and number 7?”

“Ok, we’ll see what we can do with that… I mean, we’re in the woods too, but in the south part, by the Stags greenhouse.” 

“Watch out for markings in the woods— or signs!” Freya spoke fast, her body getting filled with adrenaline as her mind began to formulate a million different theories of what the solution to winning the game could be.

“Alright.”

“Good luck,” She said as soon as she felt Jooheon poking at her side, notifying her a team was about to come out, “And you two better bring that trophy home, you hear me?” 

“Yes ma’am!” They laughed together, and that put a smile on the, most often than not, blasé girl. Something about them together felt awfully familiar, as if Jungkook had always belonged to her group of friends, or been close to her brother. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a scaredy-cat Jooheon who was tugging on her arm for them to go to the finish line and wait for the outcome of the games. Or in reality, just to escape the nightmare people made these woods to be. 

While she was leaving, she offered one last glance to Mingyu, who was holding a red walkie waiting for the response of his team. 

He caught her glance, their eyes meeting for brief seconds 

“See you guys at the finish line!” She said loudly, and to her surprise, it wasn’t to tease as she often would in the games. 

The smile on his face grew, and the radio screeched. “What took you guys so long?!” Elena’s voice sounded through. 

The sun was still up in the sky when the third game officially started, but the ones who had even the smallest of knowledge about anything sky-related knew for a fact they had to hurry up if they didn’t want to still be venturing into those woods late at night. 

Taehyung and Jungkook were well aware of that. They had barely succeeded in finding their way back hours before this. But here they were, running once more between the long trees that surrounded the school, this time with another goal in mind: find an H and a 7. 

“Do you think Jimin and Elena left already?” Jungkook asked his partner, voice a little shaken due to running. 

“Maybe,” He heard Taehyung answer and pant a little behind him. “We were a bit far from each other and I don’t see very well from afar” He laughed it out making Jungkook chuckle relating a bit to his partner. 

“Oh- Look!” 

They came to a halt, slowing their pace. In front of them, some of the trees could be seen with markings, some with letters, some with numbers. They glanced at each other in understanding. 

They would have to search for two trees apparently, one with their number and the other with their letter.

“They’re painted with four colors…” Taehyung thought aloud making the other boy start looking at the trees once again, “You see there?” He pointed to his left. “That one has a B painted in blue but this one is painted in yellow.”

“So we have to find the blue ones with H and 7,” Jungkook concluded making Taehyung nod. “We could split up to cover more ground?” He suggested with his hands on his hips. 

“That’s what they want,” Taehyung said convicted while looking around once more. 

“What do you mean? Who?” 

The trees were dancing with a light wind right above them. Some melodic whistles floated in the air, some little birds that were probably nestling around. Despite what he had been through, Jungkook still thought the woods were almost magical. It would be nice to venture around them in a lighter situation… 

“YOU’RE FALLING BEHIND!” Both of them heard Jimin’s voice echo and they snap their heads to follow the voice. Jimin and Elena were close by, towards their left, running further into the trees. And as they left into the distance, they could still hear the girl’s excited laugh.

“WE’LL SEE ABOUT THAT!” Jungkook shouted back with a smile on his face. He kept on looking at their backs distancing further and further from where he was standing, a million thoughts spiraling in his mind… Maybe this is where I belong, he thought. And looking back at Taehyung, he found the boy already smiling at him, amused and a knowing look plastered on his face. 

For a moment Jungkook feared having to open up to his roommate for being caught in a moment like that. He didn’t think he was ready to say anything about his past, or if he would ever be ready for that. But thankfully Taehyung didn’t press him. Nor made fun of it, like he was sure any other guy would. 

“We’re not searching anymore,” Taehyung said simply, and Jungkook wasn’t able to follow his track of thoughts, getting confused. 

“What?”

“Follow me!” 

The two of them trailed together between the tricky spaces around the tall trees. Jungkook had to remove the flannel shirt he was wearing on top of a tee due to the sun rays hitting his face and torso. All the walking and running wasn’t helping either. 

Taehyung’s eyes were sharp, looking for their clues. He suddenly stopped before a pine tree with a red seven painted on it and a small paper note attached. They had noticed before that each of the trees had this kind of paper on it, some contained the same text, others had something entirely different. 

“What are you doing? That’s not our seven! Ours is blue,” Jungkook started but Taehyung turned around swiftly putting a hand on his shoulder as if explaining some big event to a child. 

“You can’t think like everyone else in this challenge, JK.” He said in a funny intonation. The more he spent time with Taehyung, the more he could see the guy was quirky and did things his way. “We only need a seven and an H. No one told us it needed to be in our official colors. Think about it. This is a challenge to make you waste time. It’s a tricky one.” 

And Jungkook reflected upon his words. He was… Right. Freya never told them it had to be blue. She only gave them a letter and a number. Taehyung was brilliant. And looking at him, a growing smile forming on his face, he knew exactly why the boy had been appointed to this challenge specifically. 

“Now, start digging!” 

“Digging?” Jungkook asked getting confused once again. 

“Look at the text on the paper.” 

Look up, players! That’s right, two flags you must find… One here, and one at the other coordinate. Will you climb? Hm, that’s dangerous. A practical solution we will share: Go to the heart of it and your tool will be there. 

Jungkook read it two times, but the only thing he could take out of this was: one, climbing the tree to take out the flag swinging on the tallest tree branch, or two, go to the heart of the woods — its center — in hopes to find some tool to facilitate the process. So why the hell was Taehyung asking him to dig, he thought. 

He heard him sigh, “Pine tree roots are called heart roots.” Taehyung explained already kneeling on the earthy floor to start digging the soil with a stick he found laying around, “It might be a long shot, but I don’t think so because look at this,” He fumbled with a dirty spot near the tree, “The soil is darker here, meaning someone already dug it.” 

“And you know all this stuff… How exactly?” Jungkook asked surprised but found himself a larger stick to start helping. 

“My grandparents have a farm… We used to spend a lot of time there when we were kids… Freya and I.” 

“Huh, I see… That’s- That’s nice.” 

“Look!” Taehyung poked a part of the ground enthusiastically, discarding the stick he was previously using to shift some dirt around with his own hands. When he managed to pull at a rope, a whole flag came following. “I told you!” 

“Woah… You’re a genius,” Jungkook marveled. 

With yet another knowing look, both of them got up quickly and started running after any tree with a big H painted on it. On their search, they passed by the Dianoia team trying to throw rocks at the flag on top of their targeted pine tree, they too seemed to be trying to think out of the box… But with no immediate success. 

The Psykhe duo kept running, eagle eyes trying to do the job of finding their so-desired H. Both of them hoped the tree they found wouldn’t be next to any of the other teams, so they didn’t have to accidentally share their technique. Once they found it, a crooked H painted in yellow, they breathed relieved for not being able to see a single person around, although they could hear slightly annoyed screams from the Sarx team. Something along the lines of ‘You have to push me harder, Minhyuk! I can’t climb a whole tree by myself!’ So they were the ones attempting the climbing scenario… Sarx was no joke. 

With their second and final flag in hands, Taehyung grabbed Jungkook by the arm and just advised quickly, “Now we run, as fast as you can- Just don’t leave me behind. Please?” He begged, making the youngest laugh. 

With a certain nod of Jungkook’s head, they both sprinted towards the finishing line. If someone was winning the games this year, it would be them. Taehyung couldn’t help but laugh like a maniac already thinking about how good it would feel to see Griffins’ faces, and his laughter echoed through the whole grove. 

Elena and Jimin had just found their first tree when the two of them passed by running, their clothing all stained with dirt and two flags in hand. Jungkook looked like he was filming an action movie, sprinting and jumping with great agility through his obstacles, while Taehyung followed him, the difference was that he was just wagging the flags above his head like a crazy person. 

“Those bastards…” Elena let out, hands on her hips as she tilted her head. “How the hell did they do it already?” 

“Why are they so… Dirty?” Jimin asked a bit baffled by the situation. 

Elena didn’t answer it right away, her eyes going from them to the tree marked by a big four painted in red. She analyzed it with half-closed eyes. 

“Were they rolling around in the ground? Climbing a tree doesn’t make you that dirty…” She pondered. “They had to be digging. Right?” Her eyes shoot up at Jimin as if something could start to formulate in her brain.

“What, like actual ground?” Jimin had his hands on his hips, and instinctively he kicked the tree trunk in front of him. 

“No, like a tree.” Elena looked serious at him, “Of course, it’s the actual ground, Jimin!” She added and he started laughing at his dumb remark. “You’re too much!” She laughed alongside him. 

“Ok, so where do we dig? Here?” He pointed towards the base of the pine tree and Elena nodded, so he crouched down and started poking the soil. 

Not even ten minutes had passed by when they found the tip of the flag and started pulling it out. A little bit of pulling and more digging around the edge of it and the flag was loose and on their hands. Jimin was about to celebrate when Elena shushed him out, fearing the other teams would find out. 

“Let’s cover and smooth it as much as we can.” The girl said, looking around as her hands were quick to find the piles of dirt and put them back in their place. 

They only needed their F now, and as they searched for it, the situation wasn’t looking so good. The Kardia duo needed to hurry up if they wanted to have at least a shot at winning the first place; with any luck, Jungkook and Taehyung had got lost, with no clue on how to arrive at the finishing line. Taehyung would certainly get lost, Elena thought to herself. Not only that, but the Stags passed by them, one flag on Johnny’s shoulders as they moved through the vegetation. 

Rumour had it that a long time ago, Horus Academy used to be much chipper. Only the richest would be allowed pass by the front gates and marvel at the benefits of having the crest of the prestigious school right by their hearts. 

The halls were roamed by troublemakers. Grades weren’t important. Even the teachers wouldn’t try too hard with the students. An F could swiftly be transformed into an A by the end of the semester, a juicy donation made to the Horus Academy Foundation from the family acting as the factor of competence and credibility of the kids' performance. 

Despite all this, nothing could be perceived more than mischief. Kids were ruthless. They would speak their minds, not a care in the world if they could be chattering you into a million pieces. Some bullying… Some hazing… But never one step further than that. It was fitting, and not even slightly strange, after all, they had been raised by parents that thought money could fix anything. 

Even so, a look at the now long-lost records of the students of the Horus Academy could show that the most serious case that had turned up on school grounds had been a miscarriage — in consequence of a conceived in school-grounds pregnancy. 

That was, of course, until that day. The day when all changed. 

Chadwin Sinclair. Everyone knew him by his self-entitled nickname, Dragon. 

The story was that he had been sent to Horus Academy after almost burning his entire mansion down, with his family sleeping and all the staff still inside. He hadn’t meant it, of course. He was only nine. But his mother—had anyone cared to ask—always found it quite disturbing how his favorite toys were a box of matches. Still, she was too depressed to care or do something about his behavior. With another child on the way, Chadwin’s parents saw no other option than to send him away to a boarding school, as he represented a great danger to what could be the perfect frontman of the Sinclair family. 

And in no time, they had forgotten all about him. 

During the Christmas break, his mailbox was filled with gifts. He was thrilled. There were no visitations nor, like the other students, did he get the chance to go home. But he was still happy his family bought him everything he had asked for. After all, in the eyes of a child, a Christmas morning is fulfilled by presents under the tree. To Chadwin, sitting by the fireplace with his family was, most of the time, a burden. 

Sooner than expected, summer break was just around the corner and he had begun to pack. Some students had already gone home, despite there still being two more weeks left of classes. 

After all, it didn’t matter if they were there or not, if their attendance was perfect and their brains matched the level of the prestige school known to the outside world. As long as the deposit came through at the beginning of each month, all was well. 

Chadwin didn’t get the reception he was expecting. People teased him. Especially the older kids. 

Much like his mother, everyone found it a bit odd how enchanted he was with fire. He used to take refuge in the girls’ bathroom, escaping in between bells, just him and his matches. 

Chadwin completed one year with Horus Academy, then another, and another, never leaving the somewhat prison he had been sent to. He had quickly been forgotten by his family and his Christmas mornings were less and less crowded with the disguised wrapped love. So much so that he had stopped writing home. It was of no use. The far apart he grew from his family, the more the fire grew in him. 

Rumors intensified once he got admitted to the infirmary. And even more when he got released from it. For most of Autumn and Winter, he had been able to hide it with the long sleeves, but as Spring came around the corner and the sun began to fill the days at Horus, everyone spoke about his arm. 

It could fall off at any time.

He was probably trying to kill us all. Failed once… I guess he will forever be a failure.

What a freak.

Don’t go near him. Imagine ending up like that.

Again, kids were ruthless. And if Chadwin thought he was alone before, now he was certain that he was nothing but a waste of space and air. He thought of himself as not being worthy of a kind word. They made him believe he was a freak. And despite his best attempts to leave his comfort, putting behind the warmth of the fire in his soul, he couldn’t. 

So he kept on playing with them. 

One afternoon, he was hiding in the Academy’s cafeteria. 

Some boys had decided that he should mix his elements. The freak should be in the water—a change of pace from his good ol’ matches. They had tried to dunk his head in the toilets. And they had succeeded. Not as much as they wanted, of course. What were a couple of minutes to dear Chadwin when he got to spend so much time with fire…

As it did before, the fire inside him grew. And Horus Academy was changed forever. No one cared to look for Chadwin Sinclair as the ghastly sound of flames was blended with the screams of frightened children, running for their lives. 

Horus struggled to get back on its feet. And truth be told, it almost didn’t. But as the corridors of the new buildings are roamed by a new kind of troublemakers, the Academy keeps on attempting to keep the dark secret of that day from ever being found.

“I can’t believe they’re not here already.” Freya frowned, arms crossing over her chest. 

The sun was close to setting and had it been any other day, the focus of the students would be on capturing the beautiful tones that adorned the sky, with soft shades of blue, pink, and purple welcoming the moon. 

“I can’t believe our advantage didn’t mean anything.” Kaya laughed drily. The girl was usually a good sport, not caring much if she lost or won, only if everyone around her was having a good time. But this— this was different. It meant too much. 

“Honestly, I can’t believe you guys aren’t eating!” Jin spoke after swallowing hard on the big chunk he had taken from his hot dog. 

“I’m confident.” Namjoon’s dimple made itself known as he took a step closer to the finish line. “I can already sense Jungkook and Tae turning the corner, flags in hand, a victorious smile on their faces…” 

“They better not screw it. I didn’t dive in that gross water for nothing.” Freya lifted her eyebrow. 

“The second we knew what the second trial was, I was certain that we weren’t going to finish.” Hoseok laughed. 

“Hey man, don’t even mention it. I will have nightmares, forever.” Jackson cried, gaining a laugh from the ones around him. 

The crowd is silenced by the sound of screams. 

“What the-” Freya squints her eyes, trying to figure out what was going on.

“What’s happening?” Kaya spoke fast, eyes widening in comparison to the tall girl beside her. The black-haired girl moved, hand grabbing Freya’s wrist as she pushed past the group of students that stood by the finish line. “Are those…?” 

“Oh my God-” Freya gasped. “Let’s fucking go!” 

Jungkook passed by the two girls at full speed as Psykhe had been quick to notice what had been happening and everyone shouted his name, as well as that of the boy right after him. Taehyung was out of breath. It was obvious to anyone watching that he had a hard time keeping up with the new guy in school but the compliments weren’t any less. 

Stopping by the judges' tables, Jungkook handed them the flags. 

“Only the team can finish this trial.” One of the judges said eyeing him up, stating Taehyung’s absence. Jungkook puffed irritated, hands falling to his knees so he could finally catch his breath while waiting for his partner to catch up to him. His eyes fell on the time watch on one of the judges' hands. 

“Very well, boys. The flags, please.” Yeri, a girl from the Psykhe house winked at them. 

“We already finished. Won’t you stop the clock?” With a hand on his hip, Jungkook pressed, head nudging towards the ticking-bomb-like device. 

“We need to check the flags first.” Tzuyu barked back, eyebrows narrowed as she was not pleased that the boy in front of her wasn’t someone from her house. 

“What’s going on?” Taehyung who was lying down on the floor finally managed to ask. 

“And— stop!” Wheein, from Dianoia, lifted her hands in the sky. “Everyone!” Grabbing the megaphone from the table, she stands up on her chair, expecting eyes to fall on her immediately. “Guess we have our first place! Give it up for Psykhe!” 

The crowd roars, filled with wolves, and rush toward the boys. Suddenly, they are being lifted in the air. Some boos are heard from the other houses, playfully but honestly sore from the defeat. All except the ones coming from the Sarx house. They don’t boo but a simple look at their expressions makes it clear that they would need their time to soak in the stomp on their winning streak. 

Jungkook gets put down on the floor again while Taehyung still fights for his safety; his teammates are too excited about the event to even care. 

Freya rushes to the new boy—that didn’t seem that new anymore as he fit the group as a glove—without even thinking, her arms swinging around his neck with excitement. He is quick to wrap her in his embrace, squeezing her tight and lifting her in the air. 

“Dream team, baby!” Jungkook says into Freya’s neck making her smile widely. 

“Hell yeah!” Freya can’t help but scream excitedly. Before she can even notice she is being surrounded by her housemates, a pack of Wolves, as loud as they can be, she catches herself feeling secure in this stranger's embrace. It was weird how she felt so comfortable in Jungkook’s presence yet knew so little about him. “Help!” Taehyung yelps cutting short her trace of thoughts, while almost falling to the floor as he is finally released from the sea of people he was in. 

Jungkook lets Freya out of his hold to go and help her brother stabilize himself. 

“Everyone’s been trying to kill me today.” The twin lets out, as if out of breath. 

“Drama queen…” Freya laughs, arm leaning on her brother’s shoulder. 

“Do you know how hard it is to keep up with him?” He side-eyes Jungkook, who breaks out in a fit of laughter. 

“You’re just simply very much out of shape.” Freya chuckles.

“Nah, I’m just that fast.” Jungkook shrugs, nonchalant, and Freya scoffs amused. Hadn’t she been interrupted, she would be quick to fight him back on his statement. Perhaps that would be a theme of conversation for another time, much like her incessant curiosity to know more about him.

“My man!” Namjoon appears, engulfing Jungkook in a hug. 

“Hey, I was part of the team too!” Taehyung pouts. 

“Tae, we all know you’re the brains behind the whole operation but he was definitely the one doing the hard work.” Yoongi appears with a smug smile on his lips, hands stuffed in his pockets. “Good job, guys.” 

“C’mon, show a little more enthusiasm, I know you’re backflipping inside that head of yours.” Freya pokes the boy’s side. 

“Uh, Psykhe.” The dripping dullness in his voice completes the blank expression on his face as his balled fist is thrown unamusedly in the air. 

Freya crosses her arms, one eyebrow raised. “That’s the best you can do?” 

“C’mon, louder! The sore losers need to know who’s the boss.” Jungkook joins in. 

“On three…” Taehyung smiles deviously. “1…” 

“2…” 

“3!” 

“PSYKHE!” The wolves shout in unison. 

“...ATE YOUR… Asses…?” Everyone hears at the end and looks at the culprit in question—Freya. “No…? Alright. No need to look at me like that, gee.” 

“You have no respect for the mourning of others, do you?” Kaya pushes Namjoon away from the circle they had formed while eyeing the electric twins, making room for herself. 

“Don’t be a sore loser.” Freya sticks her tongue out, teasing her friend. 

“Shush it.” The younger girl demands in feign authority for pure spite. 

The group dismisses the circle-like shape and is quick to stand by the finish line, eager to see which team would occupy the second place. In a matter of seconds, the crowd that had become quieter over time was reminded that there was a competition still going on and a second-place to earn.  

“JIMIN-AH! RUN!” Elena's strident scream can be heard even before she comes in sight. “THEY'RE CATCHING UP TO US!”

“Elena really wasn't made for this kind of situation.” Hoseok laughs, knowing that if it were him, he would also scream as loud as his housemate. 

“I'm surprised we didn't hear her any sooner.” Taehyung snorts, an amused look on his face. 

“RUN!” Jimin giggled, grip tightening around the girl's wrist. Elena wasn't as fast as him—maybe it was the adrenaline or his insistent pulling on her arm—but she was running right by his side. 

“Those two together are absolute chaos.” Kaya shakes her head. The big smile she had on her lips is quick to fade though.

Following right suit, Jhonny and I.M turn the corner, and the screams that left the blonde's lips get more intense. The boys from Dianoia are fast and close to catching up to them. 

“GO JHONNY! GO I.M! RUN!” Kaya suddenly jumps up giving in to the frenzy of the crowd, hands tightening around the fence placed between her and the running track. “JIN, LOOK AT THEM!” But the oldest of the group was nowhere to be seen.

“Go Jimin!” Taehyung swings his arms up in the air.

“Let's go, guys!” Hoseok also cheers. 

And the crossing of the finish line and delivery of the flags at the judges' table is only separated by a couple of seconds from one duo to another.

Despite the thrilling emotions both teams were feeling, trying to understand their places in the games, the focus of the crowd wasn't on the judges' table. Instead, everyone started staring at Archie Miller, the captain of the Sarx house. The look on his face as he realized that his team would finish last was nothing compared to the cussing words that left his mouth. He was enraged. He wanted to take the path and find the team he had sent out for the third game and finish it himself. 

“Can’t believe they didn’t tell us if we made it second.” Elena scoffs as she reaches her group, still trying to even her breathing from all the running.

“You never know.” Kaya teases. 

“I will smother you tonight. Don’t think I didn’t hear you scream for those two.” A mean expression adorned her face as she tilted her head towards the Dianoia team.

“What?! Oh, now I’m hurt.” Jimin’s hands flew to his heart. 

“Don’t mix business with pleasure, isn’t that what they say?” The smart girl laughs.

“Wouldn’t you know…” Elena sticks her tongue out to her friend as she sits down on the floor next to Taehyung. “I still can’t believe you guys got first place.” 

“Who else could've?” Taehyung said with a smug smile on his face, getting shoved right after.

“You only won because you had him.” The girl scoffs and points to Jungkook, who was standing proudly next to his team captain. “You should know that you got sorted into the wrong house,” Elena states to the new boy gaining his attention. 

“Look, another sore loser.” Freya jokes at the mercy of her friend teasingly. “But really, this was a collective win, guys. Look at Miller.” 

The conversation is quick to die down as the Griffins finally pass the finish line. The judges don’t bother to look at their flags like they had done with the other teams. Regardless of being successful or not, they came in last and their fate was very much decided at that point. As so, they don’t go to the podium. Sarx goes home without a prize, their player's hair all messy and clothes torn from their lack of imagination completing the third game, as they were the most likely team to present it as yet another physical trial. 

The third place is occupied by Dianoia. An upgrade from last year’s games. The judges make sure to assert the almost nonexistent difference between them and the second place: Kardia. Only seconds separated the two teams. The teasing between the group of friends is immense as if they had been disputing the first place, to begin with. Kaya, a natural good sport quickly loses her composure as her roommate, alongside the other two Dragons of the group, Jimin and Hoseok, celebrates with a much-exaggerated dance for a clear win. 

Screams of excitement were heard as soon as the judges mentioned the real first place once again. Wolves—and even the Stags and the Dragons—made their contentment knowing Psykhe are this year’s crowned winners. 

However, quicker than expected the mood shifts. 

A loud and desperate scream is heard across the open field. A human shape dashing through the tall trees that marked the woods territory—Joy. 

The girl seemed out of her mind, scared and looking like a mess. She was still wearing her swimsuit, or at least half of it since the piece was hanging from her upper body but still covering her from the waist down. As if she had run in the middle of completing the task. 

Her hair was disheveled and full of dry leaves entangled in it. The closer she got to the paralyzed crowd the more it was visible how she was injured as well. A cut could be seen above her eyebrow along with some ugly scratches adorning the extension of her arm and her bare feet. 

“Help!” She managed to exclaim. 

Yeonjun, her partner from the abandoned pool game, was by her side in a heartbeat giving her the support she needed so she could finally know she was safe. His expression was mixed with confusion and worriedness, and he wouldn’t stop saying incoherent things, as if he was certain she had been inside the school perimeters this whole time and not  in the woods. 

Even though she had not arrived with him at the finish line. 

And when questioned about what had happened, while being wrapped with a warm blanket, Joy, still crouched on the ground and shaking, had said she had been surprised at the abandoned balneary when she went to take her swimsuit out of her body by a strange figure. 

“I just got so scared, so I- I ran! And I knew it wasn’t one of the boys. I- I swear it wasn’t one of the boys that were on the pool with me.”  She had said between stutters. 

Yeonjun clarified that he had waited for her, and once he called for the girl by the girls’ balneary and she didn’t answer, he even entered to check. She was simply gone. So he didn’t make much of it, just assumed she went ahead and back to the finish line. 

He returned alone. 

A commotion began to form among the crowd. Everyone was nit-picking on their stories. Some pointed out that Yeonjun should have said something once he arrived, others defended the boy. After all, Joy could have perfectly arrived at the safety of her dorm to take a shower and clean the stench left by the gruesome pool, just like everyone else did. Well, everyone minus Archie who kept staring at the woods by the finish line too proud and anxious to lose his precious title. 

And then the gossip followed. In a question of seconds, the rumor of the boy of the woods was being spread and looks of terror started to appear. That was until the first beep was heard. 

Suddenly the sound of notifications filled the air, and even the Stags who were all over Joy stopped their interrogations to pay attention to what was going on. Something like this… Could it be…?

“What’s going on?” Kaya asks, looking around quickly and approaching her friends again. “I don’t have my phone. What’s going on?” She insists, looking between them.  

“Namjoon?” Jungkook asks, big doe eyes as he can’t help but panic after taking a glance at his own screen. 

“It’s me, isn’t it?” Yoongi laughs drily. It was impossible to ignore all the whispers and stares directed at him. 

The captain of the Wolves scratches the back of his neck, a big puff of air leaving his lips. “We have a situation here…” 

“So it’s me.” Yoongi sighed, the weight of prying eyes still on him. “Let me see.” 

“You.” Freya spat. It was like her body was on fire, rage overcoming all the positive emotions she had been feeling. “This is bullshit.” 

“Yeah, don’t think they agree.” Yoongi chuckles, glancing at the hostile faces looking back at him. 

“Fuck them.” Freya gets closer to Yoongi, protectively wrapping her arms around his body, but the judging stares don’t stop. They only increase. Like a fire going out of control. 

Jungkook can’t help but look at the two of them together. His eyes keep falling on the way the girl strokes the back of Yoongi’s hand with her thumb, ever so gently, and so distant from the harsh expression shown on her face.  

The way Yoongi starts fidgeting on Freya’s embrace, even though he appears to be calm and collected, and the way he tightens the grip on her hand tells her all she needs to know: he’s overly uncomfortable. And she can’t stand it. 

“I’ll be right back.” She says decisively to him and to her friends, who were still close to each other, each with a look of uneasiness of their own. 

Freya marches straight to the mini stage, taking the megaphone Wheein was previously using to announce the results to the crowd off of her hand. 

“Hey!” She shouted and a screech echoed making some of the people standing close to the speakers cover their ears. Everyone winced but started paying attention to the girl instead of looking toward Yoongi. 

“This is bad,” Kaya stated anxiously. 

“Good. Now that I have your attention let’s clarify some stupid and nonsense rumors.” Freya scoffed, too mad that people deliberately chose to just believe some unfound and ridiculous tweet than to actually think. 

“Someone take her out of there,” Kaya added, gripping Hoseok’s arm but unable to take her eyes off her friend, expectant and afraid You would drag her again to the mud. 

“I’m really sorry that Joy had gone through some sort of attack and all but are you really blaming it on Yoongi?” Freya questioned baffled. “That Yoongi? ‘Cause like- Unless he has actual super powers I can’t see how he left my side to sprint towards the woods and go scare her.”

People started looking at each other. By the incessant whispers, it was notorious that they started doubting You’s statement but also clear that some of them were still not buying Freya’s lead. And all because of a tiny detail… One that could light a fire and burn everything down. She had a motive.  

Horus was filled with troublemakers, yes, but its walls also contained brilliant minds; Some bright, the brightest ever, and some ruthless—like said before. And one of them decided to speak, right at that moment, to ignite a flame. 

“I’m sorry but aren’t you his girlfriend?” Bambam shouted from the back of the crowd, a scoff leaving his lips. He had his arms crossed carefreely and an annoying smug smile on his lips that made Freya clench her jaw involuntarily. The way he looked around at people made it clear that he was after sympathy. Some even started to nod alongside him. “The one that was caught climbing his window two weeks ago or so…?” 

Her instinct was telling her to jump off that stage and fly up on his neck, but Freya knew better. He just wanted her to act up and lose all her credibility before the confused crowd. So she took a deep breath before smiling sarcastically, ready to give him an answer. 

Jungkook however, who was the least rational person in the precinct, was so ready to act that he managed to take his first step toward Bambam, tongue poking the inside of his cheek, anger in his eyes. He remembered the boy’s face from that day in the woods when he had been cruelly tied to a tree. 

But Namjoon stopped him right in his tracks. “We got this.” The team leader assured with a last confident smile before walking to the stage Freya was in. 

“And what is it to you?” She questioned smartly. “Does that have anything to do with the fact Joy was attacked by someone or are you just trying to start false rumors? Perhaps you know who’s behind that stupid account, no? They seem to follow your track of logic.” 

A group from the crowd let a wave of ‘uohows’ mocking Bambam that by now had his smile fading into a defeated frowning. Jungkook couldn’t help but show his radiant bunny smile, victorious. Elena shouted a “Damn right” backing up her friend, and Taehyung went along proud of his twin sister. 

Before anyone else could point out Freya had just been defending Yoongi because she had something going on with him, Namjoon stepped up onto the small stage. 

Asking silently for the megaphone, that was handed to him after a brief exchange of complicit looks, the team leader continued. “I feel ridiculous having to even try and explain something regarding that rumor, but if it puts your minds at ease, Yoongi was with me the whole time waiting for our team to arrive at the finishing line. As soon as Freya ended her trial, she took a shower and met us here where, not only a lot of you had seen us, but also the judges.” 

In a matter of seconds, the crowd was silenced and some even quietly apologized to Yoongi while passing by him. 

Freya and Namjoon were about to step off the center stage toward their friends when another voice was heard. The fanfare was far from over. Among the crowd, there was a person who was still not over the events of the day. Archie Miller. 

With unmistakable annoyance in his tone of voice he exclaimed. “You know what? This is bullshit!” 

Suddenly all eyes were on him. 

“So these damn Wolves will just get off with anything?!” He continued enraged. “First our room, our stuff, now Joy… The poor girl can’t even say a coherent sentence.” He took a glance at the girl in question, who was being escorted towards the infirmary, with a feign worriedness that didn’t belong to his normal behavior, gaining some raised brows in return. “I say we punish them.” The Griffins' leader stated finally what he wanted all along. 

“Punish them?” Freya questioned once again outraged. “Where are we? In Hunger Games or something?” 

“C’mon Miller… Acting so coy. We can barely recognize you.” Elena couldn’t help but join. 

Taehyung who was right behind her had to be quick, however. The last thing they needed right now was to add more fuel to the fire. Afraid Archie would unleash his anger on her, Taehyung covered Elena’s mouth with his hand, and in a swift move lifted the girl up, left arm holding her tight on her center, exchanging places with her. “Now’s not the time” He shushed her quietly. 

“Taehyung what the fu-” She was about to say when he circled her yet again in his arms, leaving her face glued to his back. All Elena could do due to the height difference was slap poorly his shoulder. 

The boy could almost breathe relieved knowing he had stopped chaos from happening, but the thought of peace went out as quick as the breath he took. 

“Archie… Dude. If you want your trophy that bad why don’t you go fetch it?” Jimin retorted impatiently and his best friend was almost heard swearing a couple of feet away. “There are more important things at the moment. Joy’s incident had nothing to do with anyone here… Clearly.” 

There was a moment of pause; Some were expectant to what Archie could possibly answer back as everyone knew he was a walking ticking bomb. Some, the gossiping eyes of this school, were curious to know what was this “trophy” talk all about. 

Archie himself took a moment just to look at Jimin. You could see his brain was working to full capacity just by the way he walked toward the other boy with furrowed brows and a questioning glance. 

“I never said anything about a trophy, Park.” He barked out, now only a meter away from Jimin. 

Instinctively, Jungkook balled his fists standing side by side with Jimin. If looks could kill, Jungkook would have opened a hole in Archie’s forehead. And he wasn’t the only one, as Jackson was furiously opening a path among the crowd to reach his Kardia teammate. Freya too was about to reach Jimin to give him a deserving slap in the back of his head for being such a damn taleteller when someone grabbed her by the wrist. 

As she looked up, all she could see was Mingyu’s profile, getting between her and Archie in case something unfolded. Knowing Archie’s temper, a fight was about to start. 

Jimin scoffed with a smile. “Joy was attacked on school grounds and that’s where you’re stuck at?”

Tension was palpable and shortly it was present everywhere. 

“Hey hey, what’s going on?” Jin appeared by Yoongi’s side confused by the sudden ruckus. 

“Where were you?” Taehyung asked his cousin under Namjoon’s attentive gaze, but the answer never came as Jin’s focus was purely on the fight about to happen right before him. 

Much like the oldest's reaction to the scene unfolding right in front of him, the crowd grew closer, engulfing the two boys in a circle. Whispers were heard from every side and some were even tempted to find the right words that would finally ignite the fight. Tzuyu had left the judges table and was now quick on her feet, right next to Mandy, a close friend of Jimin’s, who had been taping the entire scene from the moment she had heard Joy screaming. No one wanted to miss a second of the scene. 

“Are you going to let him talk to you like that?” Bambam had a devious smile on his lips as he spoke right at the ear of his house captain. 

And that was all the incentive the impulsive red-haired boy needed. His eyes fell on Jimin and the other guys backing him up but he was sure he could take them all. Hell, he had his eyes set on the prize. Launching forward, the captain of Sarx pulls his arm back, his fist ready to clash with the now so clearly thief of his precious trophy. 

“May I ask what is happening here?!” Miss Bellum’s voice froze them in their places before a fight could actually unfold. She worriedly passed by students trying to reach Archie and Jimin. 

Belle, the Dianoia student who worked as a secretary for the school during her vacant hours, came right after the teacher, as it was later found out she was the one reaching out to a professor to prevent something worst to happen. She also made sure to update her biology teacher about what had happened to Joy on the way, as Miss Bellum questioned her why the brunette had been admitted to the infirmary with cuts and restless behavior.

“I won’t repeat myself, boys.” The teacher scolded. “If I catch any of you fighting we’ll have serious consequences. Archie, put that fist down!” 

Jimin backed away, quickly apologizing to the teacher but his eyes were still on the boy before him. Archie didn’t say a word, he was far too angry for that, and in his head, this wasn’t over. Far from it. 

Before he could turn back from fighting Kardia’s golden boy, the incessant notification noise traveled through the crowd like a tidal wave yet again. 

[taespocket]

anyone know where i can buy a physical copy of this-? 😳

friday love & the shadow puppets  →  vinyl, puppets #1.

[ june 13th, 1987 ] the shadow puppets release their first vinyl. 

Safety Pin was the debut vinyl record released by the label Pacific Record’s newest band at the time, the Shadow Puppets. It arrived in record stores on June 13th, 1987, with a total of ten songs, Seven Nation Army serving as its lead single and the only song getting a free pass to an official video on MTV.

🧷 background & production.

The band had just signed a contract with the label when the productions for the album started. It's said to be one of the fastest records to reach its final result. Turns out the band already had all of the lyrics written, when the famous producer, Min Yoongi, started working on it. With minor lyrics changes made by the producer himself, paired with his knowledge of everything instrumental, the album got to see the spotlight only a month after the Puppets' arrival at the label.

Safety Pin was not only a go-getter, filled with the band's wanting of turning themselves into propper rockstars, but also contained the moody struggles of the young artists. Needless to say, the concept was everything stage, lights, and a lot of rock and roll!

🧷 setlist.

✘ Thunderstruck ⏤ inspired by ac/dc.

✘ Brianstorm ⏤ inspired by arctic monkeys.

✘ No Surprises ⏤ inspired by radiohead.

✘ In a Broken Dream ⏤ inspired by rod stewart.

✘ Lonely Boy ⏤ inspired by the black keys.

✘ Some Might Say ⏤ inspired by oasis.

✘ Seven Nation Army ⏤ inspired by the white stripes.

✘ Rockstar ⏤ inspired by nickelback.

✘ Come Together ⏤ inspired by the beatles.

✘ Wake Me up When September Ends ⏤ inspired by green day.

🧷 the lyrics & behind stories.

Thunderstruck,

is marked by the first guitar riff of the exceptional Jung Hoseok, and the whole band shouting 'Thunder' every time the powerful and eclectic vocalist Jeon Jungkook finishes his sentences. In a quick interview with the press, JK clarified he co-wrote the song with the band's rhythmic guitarist when they were all having a good time in Texas. "It was the beginning of everything for us," the vocalist shared, "Although we had been playing together ever since school, it was the first time we had quit our jobs and started taking the band seriously. That's why we celebrated so much!" JK concluded making everyone laugh.

Brianstorm,

was one of those songs that took everyone by surprise much like its lyrics and from who it was inspired. The song that made multiple appearances on the most famous radio station due to fans' requests, was inspired by a real person. That's right! "There was this guy... Brian," Taehyung, the band's bassist, shared, "He came to us after a small gig. The guy was a real character!" he laughed. JK also added the motive behind the lyrics he composed, "He came to us trying to offer to be our manager at the time, and he had this weird necktie and even gave us a business card. Brian left us such a lasting impression that after he was gone we brainstormed about him... Hence the whole 'Brianstorm' title pun".

No Surprises,

there are few songs quite as desolate and quite as beautiful as this. Compared to the other tracks on their vinyl, this one is as lush and melodic as it is filled with dread and despair. Although many of the fans got worried for the artists, as rumors of it being about suicid* were raised, JK clarified, later on, that he had written the piece in difficult times for him but it had nothing to do with the topic. "At the time I felt very much lost... The way I was living my life, the job I had... Like I was shaking the hand of the things that slowly kill us in the end. You may get a pretty house or a pretty garden but you're not really satisfied or happy on the inside, you know? It was that kind of feeling I had in mind when writing this." the singer explained.

In a Broken Dream,

is yet another moody and charming composition of the album. It's marked by another of Hoseok's brilliant riffs, as well as an emotional performance throughout the entirety of this title. JK's voice will for sure leave you speechless and the lyricism of it will hit you straight to the heart. "I wrote this one the same day I did 'No Surprises'... Yeah, I was down that day," JK laughs it out, charismatic as ever, "It's about spending your life dreaming about opportunities as opposed to actually going out and living them... Like never actually living in reality but in a broken dream." he further explained. The rockstar is said to have worked a couple of different jobs before taking action to pursue what he truly wanted: music.

Lonely Boy,

shows that when it comes to matters of the heart, the Shadow Puppets aren't always the nice guys. It comes across as a vulnerable anthem but also contains bits of bitter shots and blatant arrogance. Still, the song has a groovy beat that made many bang their heads along! "I don't know if I'm supposed to say but yeah, it's totally about his first girlfriend," the drummer, Jimin, exposed the composition of this upbeat, organ-tinged, song made by his bandmate JK.

Some Might Say,

is where Kim Taehyung shines with a brilliant bass line. And although JK had made another melancholic lyric, the sound of this one is nothing but euphoric. "The melody was meant to say that everything's gonna be alright" the heartthrob confessed. Apart from that, there isn't much regarding the lyrics, just what we can conclude: it's a series of thoughts and opinions that someday crowded our dear vocalist's head.

Seven Nation Army,

"Tells the tale of a person that goes out of town and then comes back, and is engulfed in a sea of lies and gossip," JK recalls, "I remember the first time I got back to my hometown after having some small gigs with the boys outta town... All I heard was 'But is it true' or 'Did you really do this or that'. I got frustrated. I got to understand that every situation has a bad and a good side to it, with fame it's just the same... As for the melody of it, I stumbled upon the riff while warming up my guitar. Pure luck, I guess!" He laughs. Frustrations set aside, we can all agree that from Queen of England to the hounds of hell, just about anyone can sing Seven Nation Army's hypnotic riff!

Rockstar,

it’s a clever piece of subversion, detailing the "benefits" of rock'n'roll stardom although it also takes jabs at fame's corrosive side. "None of it is autobiographical," says JK. "It's all supposed to be silly things, kinda like what we used to think about the industry but amplified exponentially. That sort of silliness is sort of what we wanted to do when we sat together and started throwing ideas." Jimin adds as the rest of the Puppets agree and laugh, probably remembering the moment.

Come Together,

is one of the tracks that there isn't much information about besides the fact that it was co-written by the best friends of the band: JK and Taehyung. It had been said previously they had it written early on in life when they were still in school and being a tad rebellious. Apart from that, there's only a comment from Taehyung about it, "It's a funky track, might be one of my favorites... It's funky, it's bluesy, and we both sing it together pretty well. I like the sound of it... You can dance to it. I'd buy it!", well, Tae, so will we!

Wake Me up When September Ends,

it's one we can get emotional with, even though we don't know the real reason behind its lyricism. We can only assume since the Shadow Puppets vocalist and the frontman refuses to explain it. The same occurs with the bandmates. Even so, the introductory drums are the cherry on top, and Jungkook's voice pierces our souls just like we like it. More so, it's the perfect song to end the album, as the feeling we are left with is of 'just please wake me up only and if the Shadow Puppets have released their second album'!

♪ ♫ ♩· [ masterlist ෴ next part ]

🧷 — singguks | all rights reserved. do not repost, translate or claim as your own.

✱. ꔛ˚ if you want to be tagged for the next update, comment below!!

[taespocket]

𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖕𝖆𝖙𝖍 ⭑ 𝔦𝔫𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔪𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰

･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. welcome to sofiameetsevil,

¡ a few considerations before diving into the fun stuff: ⭑ I am an amateur and in no way a professional tarot reader. Considering so, these readings are made for fun and as a way of spend time. ⭑ Tarot is not a science and in such, it does not predict the future. It represents the energy you are emanting. Your path can be changed at any time, if you are able to follow the cards advice. ⭑ Bellow you will find all the readings I have available. Send in an ask or a private message and I will do it as soon as possible.

⭑ Please be respectful when asking for a reading about idols. They are human beings and don't deserve to be treated as objects.

𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆ 𝔟𝔦𝔤𝔞𝔰 Known as the time reading, it gives an insight into your past, present and future. It includes 3 cards.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆ 𝔥𝔬𝔡𝔦𝔢 This is a daily reading, as it presents information about you either emotionally or spiritually, what will happen to you today and the outcomes. It includes 3 cards.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆ 𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬 The decision reading. It shows where you are in life, the things you are aware of and know for sure, the ones you know but make an effort to ignore and finally, the best path to take. It includes 4 cards.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆ 𝔶𝔢𝔰 𝔬𝔯 𝔫𝔬 As the name represents, it answers a simple question of yes or no. It includes 1 card.

𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

When sending your request, add your name, initials or even a nickname. The more information I have about you, the easier it will be to connect and give you a more accurate reading. Then, add your question. Finally, choose the type of reading you wish.

𝖎𝖉𝖔𝖑 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

When sending a request, make sure you state the idol and the group (if not a solo artist). Much like the process for personal readings, the more information you give me about the idol, the easier it will be to feel the energy. Add your question and the type of reading. I have empathy with BTS, EXO, NCT (all subunits), SEVENTEEN, TXT, ENYPHEN, G(IDLE), AESPA, RED VELVET and TWICE. But feel free to send questions from any other idols. These simply are the ones I feel closer to. Make sure you are respectful in the questions you choose to ask. Idols are human beings and we must respect them.

The Cards ⭑ You and I

.* :☆ﾟ𝔰𝔬𝔣𝔦𝔞𝔪𝔢𝔢𝔱𝔰𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔩

[taespocket]

99 liner AND a leo.... this boy has no flaws 😌

instagram → mark's feed.

[ ·˚ ༘ 🌩 ] “ oh my gawwd dude, look at the puppy! he's all squished! *dies laughing* oh no yoo! *laughs some more* „

[taespocket]

uh-i-hi 😳

instagram → renjun's feed.

[ ·˚ ༘ 🌩 ] “ of course they exist! *gets worked up, realizes it and chuckles softly* humans exist. so why can’t there be aliens? „