#Space Babies Analysis

[esonetwork]

Doctor Who: Space Babies & The Devil's Note Review

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Doctor Who: Space Babies & The Devil's Note Review

Embark on an epic journey through time and space with the Earth Station Who Podcast, as we delve into the exhilarating premiere of Season 14 of Doctor Who! Join us as we unravel the mysteries and marvels of the first two episodes, ‘Space Babies’ and ‘The Devil’s Chord.’ From thrilling encounters with Space Babies to meeting the Beatles and the heart-pounding musical horror of facing off against the Maestro, we explore every twist, turn, and timey-wimey surprise that awaits the Doctor and Ruby Sunday. Whether you’re a devoted Whovian or a curious newcomer, join Mike F, Michael G, and Mary, as well as their guests Elaine Sweatman, Matt Sweatman, and Dave Chapman, for our insightful analysis, engaging discussion, and insider insights that will transport you to the heart of the action. Tune in now and discover the excitement of the new series of Doctor Who, exclusively on the Earth Station Who Podcast, and remember there’s always a twist at the end!!!

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[jay-wasstuff]

Some of you ship tedbecca, tedtrent, and/or roykeeleyjamie and was extremely disappointed that none of them set sail in the finale but none of you will ever understand the pain of my otp not happening,

Dr Jacob X Being Reported/Losing License

[onchyart]

So Will in the ladder scene puts a boundary with his body language (arches his back, so Hannibal has to stop closing in on him)

and he checks again with putting his torso forward and Hannibal recoils back a little bit (but stays put)

It shows that he is sensitive to Will's lead in their bodily geography. Will becomes more comfortable after the second check (maybe even aroused a bit, cause he feels in control)

All Will's dreams that include Hannibal, have an element of putting him in place permanently and Hannibal feeling okay with it, comfortable in Will's restraint, under his control.

Some may say that Will's s2 dreams are erotic, full of suggestive imagery.

well, so if we go all the way with this logic

On his knees, pinned, okay

Meeting Will for the first time in three years, freedom of movement only in his memory palace, glass wall, practically no agency at all. Greeting Will with his back and ass first okay

and hmmm

hmmmmm so yeah, Hannibal's cell was a perfect seduction set up for Will Graham and Will Graham only

[lenle-g]

unhinged observation - we all know their colours don't match the traditional ones, but I've never noticed before that on the portraits they put Jeff in red and Virgil in green, but then they swap them over when we actually see them. In fact, //pause while Len goes to look// when they're in TB3, they're all wearing red - like all the space-rated suits, specifically are red. //Goes to check again// and Gordon and Virg are in green with TB2 in the opening rescue to match Jeff as well.

Does that mean, in 2004 verse, they wear whichever colour matches the 'bird they're currently flying because other than them needing 5 suits each... that's pretty cool can't lie good for them

ignoring the fact they look the same, I can be like ??? well yellow must be wetsuits, red is space rated?? Green is ?? tougher maybe, blue is for however many G's TB1 hits a body with when they're going crazy speeds, orange is a spacesuit for living in space etc etc

[shannonsketches]

An underrated detail I really like about super's manga in describing Vegeta's growth without saying anything is that he stands much closer to everyone. Not just the Z-fighters, but anyone he considers an ally. Throughout Z he's kind of famous for standing on the outside of the group and facing away from everyone, usually with his chin down and his arms crossed (very cold, very standoffish, very guarded, 10/10). In super even when his arms are crossed, his body language is more open. He tends to be Part of the group, he generally faces everyone else, he contributes to casual conversation, and he's much more comfortable overall -- not just with the people that he knows well by now, but with everyone.

I like to read it as Vegeta trusting himself again, after his extremely high fall off his pedestal, and having rebuilt his confidence. Not the performative confidence that he has to prove to anyone else, but the genuine confidence he had way back in the Saiyan saga, when he had very little reason to be anything but. Except now he can also afford to be gentle, because instead of his company consisting of those who would pick his bones if he failed, he has had several very intense moments of proof that failing is not a death sentence here. There is always someone coming to help -- whether it's a fighter on the front lines stepping in to buy him a few more minutes, or a support player with a backup plan -- there's someone coming to help.

He's been repeatedly exposed to compassion as something other than a strategy. He's learned how to feel valuable as both a fighter and a support, himself, and it's made him more confident and comfortable in every other aspect of his life.

[thunderandsage]

(tldr: op’s rambling and unhinged thoughts on Amok Time)

“I will do what I must, T'Pau, but not with him. His blood does not burn. He is my friend.”

as much as we all love a good fuck-or-die spin on pon farr, there’s something about the original episode—and this line in particular—that hits a different way (for context, this line is after kirk becomes t’pring’s challenger but before he learns the fight is to the death)

like—what if you loved someone so much you would surface from your madness, if just for a moment, to plead for your friend to be spared? what if you loved someone so much you would beg an exception from traditions passed down from the beginning of time so they wouldn’t be harmed?

while the framing of this episode is the classic “fuck or die,” the main heart of the conflict ends up being more akin to “kill or die” when spock’s condition, originally only dangerous for himself, puts kirk in mortal danger as well and the plot becomes “how do they both get out of this alive and unharmed?”

and there’s something powerful in that sentiment, in fighting to save someone despite all the trappings of biology and tradition, that makes this a romantic moment more so than the other aspects of the episode, because if you look at it objectively, pon farr is awful, with both your consent and bodily autonomy taken away from you (eventually, there’s the third path with kirk’s fake-out-death that resolves the conflict, but the issues of this situation still remain)

so for me, as someone sliding vaguely around the scale but usually somewhere around gray-ace, it’s the depth and strength of caring in this quote that really stuck with me after the episode—it’s love, it’s obviously and undeniably love, but it fights against the trappings of the situation, and that’s something that you don’t often see outside the episode

(don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of fics that chose this theme that are well-written and enjoyable, but there can be this amato-normativite idea that sex and/or romantic connection are the only possible solutions when love exists in infinite forms, none of which are higher of lesser for their nature. for example—the original episode, due to the era in which it was written and the showrunners not intentionally writing spirk as romantic, comes off now as more of an asexual/qpr situation, but in my ideal hypothetical universe with explicit romance between the two, the resolution between the two could still be the same as in the original for reasons stated above)

[storgicdealer]

OKOKOK so im re classpecting the sticks bc i understand much more abt classpects now than i did when i first classpected them. i hope you dont mind if i drop em here bc youre very smart and you know both avam and hs so

tsc - lord of space (this stays, its way too narratively relevant for it not to)

green - prince of breath (very passionate, perfectionist, tries to be carefree even when he cares way too much about what other people think)

yellow - mage of light (moreso on the knowledge front than the luck front, similar to rose but more active in his role, likes to figure things out but using what shes previously learned)

blue - witch of life (FEFERI WOOO obv shes very witchy, leaf feels like theyd be more rebellious, life player bc its very energetic and tends to take on a healer role in the group)

red - knight of heart (tends to jump straight to protecting her friends, very impulsive and passionate/soulful, acts confident but is sometimes more hesitant than others realise)

victim - thief of hope (man i was so on point with this one)

chosen - mage of doom (has a lot of firsthand experience with doom and suffering, also suffers from their aspect, and very good at causing doom *cough* chosen has never won a fight on the right side *cough*)

dark - heir of time (very destructive by default, causes a lot of death, RED 🔥🔥🔥, but also logical, at times a bit too laid back and chill)

striker - maid of mind (maid im not sure on i just wasnt sure what else to do, mind bc shes very straightforward, thoughtful, plans ahead, very serious and logical)

purple - prince of blood (accidentally or on purpose fucks up almost all his relationships at some point, at the same time is also the reason most of his friends met in the first place, Prince = royalty theming, also matches with green)

mango - rogue of life (acts very skeptical and un-lifey but takes life from others to give to the people they care about)

gold - sylph of hope (loves to cheer people up, very hopeful and energetic demeanor, fairly childish, wants to make everyone happy all the time!!!)

hangman - bard of rage (calms people down, fairly chill compared to the other players, prefers to support and wishes people were more peaceful and mature)

ballista - knight of breath (session lacks breath for reasons i dont feel like describing rn, acts chill but actually feels like he cant live up to the title of Hero and isnt that carefree, protects the few people he attaches himself too <- that one scene in his original short where he draws upon the memories of his friends to open the door)

hazard - seer of void (ngl this is mostly just process of elimination but hazard feels pretty void oriented tbf. hes so chill hes not minding anyones business)

paleo - witch of heart (same as above </3 very passionate headstrong etc etc)

sorry for the word vomit in your inbox i want to talk to you more and idk how to initiate conversation other than random infodumps

OH I ABSOLUTELY DONT MIND PLEASE DO SEND ME STUFF LIKE THIS

oh this is so good. this is so good

my knowledge on classpects is probably slightly closer to surface level than yours lmao but from what i get GOD yes !!!!!! yellow being a mage of light / red being a knight of heart is literally them hello. absolutely. its in their code

PRINCE OF BLOOD PURPLE !!!!!!!! WOOOOOOO !!!!! thief of hope victim OH this is so good. im eating this up (id say my victim leans towards being a rogue a little bit. my whole rambling on how much i associate the motif of them being a "divine being sharing the gift of the animators with the outernet" typa thing) mage of doom chosen DONT even joke with me lad. im shaking him shaking him so hard

MAID OF MIND AGENT !!! MAID OF MIND AGENT !!! (even if not a maid shes still very much a mind player methinks)

oh knight of breath ballista oohhh ... this is so smart oh my god (and very obviously. already fits with one of his forms in "wanted" of literally looking like a knight lol)

wait i just realized green & purple knight and princ. cinder im gonna. im. oh this is SO good

[tabithatwo]

Because I’ve been feeling brave lately (maybe TOO brave time will tell) I’m gonna ask an earnest question like I am truly curious where this comes from…does anyone understand the frequent jackie body shames shauna trope in yj fic? I am not coming for anyone okay I just can’t figure it out for the life of me, like I am 99.99% certain the only time we see jackie discuss shauna’s body is with boob dress and that’s like…her wanting shauna to show more skin. And then she backs down immediately when shauna gets upset. It’s very much an indicator that she loves her body to me. So I can absolutely see where a hyperawareness or her body around jackie just based on like her Body Being Perceived exists!! Or shauna wondering if jackie was judging her in a negative way in the other clothes or whatever!! I just…body shaming is such a really very cruel thing and I’m very confused by where the explicit and extreme verbal body shaming thing comes from, like is there a moment where people infer it cause I’m at such a LOSS on this one. Like obviously characterization is largely based on how you read a text I fully get that!! And that’s okay!! All of this is creative prerogative!! I’m just constantly confused by how frequently people write jackie just tearing into shauna’s body because it’s so specific and so next level mean.

[bugsbenefit]

the Creel attic/the Wheeler basement

okay i'm still thinking about the fact that Mike's basement and the Creel attic are major narrative foils because it's driving me insane. they have so many parallels and are such a clear antithesis of each other

for 1) the parallels between the two alone are already so much to think about:

both are the respective "hubs" and planning locations of the two opposing fractions (Henry and the Party)

both are repurposed storage areas and not usually rooms that are considered to be an active part of a house/used as a normal living area

both are also not frequented by the general household at all and just get assigned to one person in the house. Henry hiding from his family and society at large in the attic constantly and Mike spending so much time in the basement his entire family comments on him being down there all the time, even in the earlier seasons. the rest of the family stays away. Victor only goes up to attic to check the demonic happenings out and Karen only sticks her head in the basement when Mike doesn't respond to her shouting for him. (the actual first time a another family member enters either space for no greater purpose is when Nancy makes plans with the party in s4, which Mike also isn't present for)

both of them are safe spaces on top of that. the party consistently hides in the basement throughout all seasons. both emotionally, like when Mike thought he saw Will's body in s1 or when him and Will think they're going crazy in s2, but also physically, when they use it to hide El from the "bad men" or when Max is actively cursed. and Henry not only retreats in the RSU attic to draw and explore his powers but also chooses the UD attic as the place to motionlessly and defenselessly suspend himself from the ceiling

and from a visual perceptive: both are only accessible by de-/ascending a narrow wooden staircase, include multiple vertical wooden pillars supporting the ceiling, and have walls covered in wooden panels

but 2) the contrasts are literally just as wild to be honest:

the basement being a communal hangout spot, it's Mike's basement in actuality but often gets treated as the Party's basement. people even feel comfortable going there while Mike is on the other side of the country. while Henry's attic on the other hand is only for him and the one time someone else enters it is when his father looks for what's wrong with the house and gets spooked horribly

and how the basement is exclusively Mike's space in the house filled with his belongings, Will's drawings on the walls, games and dnd intended for the whole party all over the place, with no typical "basement clutter" to be seen - it feels homely. while the attic is filled with junk from the whole house, a true storage space, with only a small clear area Henry can keep his own stuff in and later also suspends himself above in the UD

also the attic being on the top floor of the large family house and a basement on the lowest

and the attic being illuminated by a single light-bulb as the only light source that gives dim and eerie lighting. while the basement Also doesn't have very strong light sources and looks glum at times but is filled with a ridiculous amount of lamps that are usually ALL turned on, making it seem warmer and cozier than it actually would otherwise (i tried to count them at some point and it's at Least 9 separate lamps which is genuinely overkill)

and then 3) there's also just some really out there events that contrast each other so much it's uncanny:

Henry spends his time in the attic studying spiders, drawing MF designs and tormenting his family with visions. while Will in s2 seeks comfort in the basement after seeing the MF and suffering now-memories which manifest themselves in the form of inescapable visions

Max seeks refuge in the basement and tries to sort her thoughts out via the letters after being targeted only to ultimately die in the attic the same day

and Max in general: writes her letters on her own terms in the basement, sets boundaries and tells her friends not to stare at her, and overall takes charge of her fate as much as she can by deciding to hand the letters out in the first place and do it herself. when later on, in the attic, she becomes helpless, Vecna ripping her deepest fears out of her, making her belief Lucas hates her, putting her in the center of attention and turning literally all eyes on her (including taking her own eyes in some awful twist of irony), and ultimately taking all her agency

the two locations are incredibly SIMILAR at times but also INVERSES of each other. they're the two main locations and safe spaces the pro-/and antagonists use. they're the two center locations in general:

the basement is a literal heart, lively and the pulse of anything happening plan-wise. people meet here, bond, feel safe, and come by for a breather. Will called Mike the heart but Mike's basement is the physical manifestation of that. the location is a shared comfort space, and literally keeping the party together if you want, which gets all the more obvious when we see everyone still using the basement to hang out even when Mike isn't in town

on the opposite side, the attic is Vecna's central location. it's his main planning hub, and he uses it to keep safe and spy on the RSU Hawkins. but even the visuals play into this as we have vines connecting to a suspended Vecna, like veins or neural pathways, that then proceed to spread over the entirety of the UD with Henry's attic is the center of these vines where he connects to the hivemind directly -> because of this connection you could interpret the attic as the brain of the UD OR a heart, it's either another contrasting theme or another parallel (we're either looking at two hearts or a heart and brain a la classic heart vs. head, depending on how you want to approach the vines. i'm personally leaning more towards calling it a brain? but it's open for interpretation)

and i want to know what that means for the story SO bad

but i actually think it's probably not very god news for the basement in all honesty. there's a whole trope of taking safe spaces, or familiar locations away in final installments to make the threat and sense of being lost and overwhelmed all the more real. and given that the two locations Are paralleled so consistently, the fact that the attic already got "destroyed" as Henry's safe space doesn't really bode well (because not only did the gates rip the attic open. any safety it gave Henry is also gone after he was shot at and set on fire in there on top of that)

they already started ripping people's safe locations away from the characters. the basement is still holding up by the end of s4, but given general writing methods and the fate of it's insane antithesis in form of the attic it's... not looking too good for it honestly

a real question would be how they would go about it though. if they'd choose a physical approach by damaging or destroying it or making it inaccessible with the witch hunting townsfolk going after the Hellfire members and making it impossible for them to get to the Wheeler house at some point. OR if they'd chose a more emotional angle and HURT someone in the basement. which really hasn't happened until now. the narrative, until now, consistently only made Vecna attack or target people shortly before entering or shortly after leaving the basement, starting all the way with Will's disappearance in s1

but if it was an actual person getting hurt or getting their feeling of "safety" in the basement taken from them it would most likely be Mike himself. after all, it's still all around acknowledged to be Mike's basement in the first place, and a lot of other character like Max or Will actually already Avoided a BadEncounterTM in the basement so they're in a bit safer territory. Mike having some bad experience in the basement would also close the parallels of the attic/basement with both "owners" of the locations having them ripped away against their will

i'm not sure if they'd fully destroy the basement but what i can absolutely see happening is them twisting the "safe feeling" into fear or horror, either by something Really bad happening down there or it possibly being the location for a vecna vision to corrupt the "happy memories"

but whatever path they'll continue on with the basement, the chance of something seriously Not Fun happening there in s5 is insanely high with the way the story and narrative developed it and now majorly paralleled it to the Creel attic, and i need to SEE

[bisaster-energy]

the way shizuru calls kuwabara baby bro...like usually maybe a person wouldn't actually call their younger sibling that. it sounds kinda weird . but it makes sense for HER.

because kuwabara is not just her brother. their parents are nowhere to be seen, dad probably coming and going as he pleases. as far as we know shizuru is kuwabara's only real role model growing up, a constant. and kuwabara in turn is her responsibility. he asks her for money for the bus and she knows to wait for him to realize he has no idea where he's going. she follows him into an extremely dangerous tournament because she's supposed to be there for him so he doesn't get into too much trouble. she watches him die. so yeah kazuma is her bro. but he's her baby too.

[hyp3rfixation-h3ll]

tangentially related to my last post, and i've said this b4 on my twt but i wanna say it here too bc my tweets dont reach a large amnt of ppl lol (plus i like using this blog to ramble) i'm glad there isn't a whole lot of people out there infantilising the botbots, especially Dimlit because of his interests and things he likes being typically childish (stuffed toys, blankets, etc.), which is a direct result of his anxiety influencing how he interacts and feels ... If this was 2013-2016 he wouldn't have survived the "blueberry" (iykyk) "cinnamon roll bean boi" era 😭

As I've said previously, the botbots themselves are not children in my eyes, they're at least in their early 20s if you REALLY NEED TO pin them down to a human age range for any reason-- their worldview is just very limited. Burgertron says it himself; to them, the Mall is the entire universe! They don't know anything beyond that & the adjacent parking structure, they're still learning how everything works. Which doesn't mean they're children, they're just childish and immature which are two different things from outright being child / teen - coded! ( also they have actual execution methods for bots they dont like 😭)

idk how to cap off this post so here's a silly photo . ok bye :3

[anothermonikan]

Okay it's been a few hours since I finished 2010 TYWMC and I have not stopped thinking about the scene where Dr. Chandra is talking to HAL about full-throttling back towards earth and the lead up to that as well,,,,In fact I think I'm thinking about how everyone else treats HAL vs how Dr. Chandra treats HAL, and it makes sense, to the others HAL is a potentially dangerous system, he's killed before and they're afraid he'll kill again, but Dr. Chandra, he's the only one that treats HAL with so much kindness and understanding, and it makes sense he programmed him after all! But the way that understanding and respect is the thing that saved them,,,,like they convince Dr. Chandra to lie to HAL despite Dr Chandra contesting to it and he couldn't keep it up, he's the only one that has the basic decency not to lie to HAL and they were so ready to shut him off (At least they still think they have the capability to do that) because of that, they were so convinced that telling him the truth would cause him to refuse, and HAL understands. he understands why they're doing what they're doing. And I don't think that would've happened if they lied to HAL. Gwahhhhh sorry this is really unfiltered rambling rn I just really really love how this movie handles HAL, because in the first movie it is not clear why HAL is why he is unless you've read the books and 2010 works so well with it, man, I can't wait to read the book for 2010 man

[orcelito]

With gay moon post approaching 600 notes (600 notes... 😥) I have had a few realizations

1: not everyone shares the same observations that I do. Which I say just bc I was IMMEDIATELY struck by the framing of Vash with the moon in that one panel the first time I saw it, but I've had a number of ppl mention they hadn't noticed it

Which leads into 2: the reason that post has so many notes is bc pointing out moments like that holds value to people. Plus I guess my commentary & conclusions? Plus acting as something for people to bounce their own ideas off of.

And then 3: there are probably more moments I could explore in such a way, & that could hold value to people

[elainemorisi]

due to Circumstances, I now have a persimmon seedling and a quince tree, and I am pretty enthused about this

[david-watts]

been seeing a few posts from various people about reading habits and actually. my opinion is if something gets you to read then it’s better than nothing at all. fanfiction? cool. stuff you read in middle school? cool. classics? cool. super serious adult fiction? cool. ya? cool. biographies? cool. guinness world records? cool. so long as you’re able to comprehend and process the works and critically think about what’s presented then who cares

[gyuzgrl]

too sweet //lsm//

summary- when Jeonghan brings up BDSM at dinner, your boyfriend is keen on trying it out for himself. you laugh it off, telling him he doesn't have the stomach for it, and he decides to show you just how capable he is in bed.

Crystal-chandeliered ceilings, a live cello performance, a bottle of Domaine de la Romanee- 1945; you're in the lap of luxury. After a particularly long week, your boyfriend decided to organize a 'little' get-together to get your mind off work. Something small, he said. Just a little dinner with Jeonghan and Hoshi- nothing much.

That's how you find yourself here- seated in one of the best restaurants in Seoul, surrounded by friends, donned in a dress so stunning it would've killed a small Victorian child.

Earlier on in the relationship, you used to get awkward in places like this, wondering how much it cost, trying to order the cheapest thing on the menu, but now? Now you've grown accustomed to Dokyeom's treats. It's how he shows his love for you- among many other ways- so who are you to say no?

"and yeah- we fucked." Hoshi states, mouth full of food as Dokyeom's eyes widen to the size of saucers.

Jeonghan giggles, turning around to see if anyone heard, and shakes his head.

"and?"

"and-" Hoshi continues, prodding a bit of beef with his fork, "and it was like painfully vanilla,"

You watch as Jeonghan's face contorts into a disapproving frown, and sip at your wine, praying to whoever's listening that your sweet, baby boy doesn't open his mouth to ask any questions.

But of course, you've never had much luck with the universe, have you?

"like ice cream?"

Aghast, the older man turns to Dokyeom.

"dude..."

When the inquisitive, wide-eyed stare doesn't leave his face, you cut in, clearing your throat.

"c'mon don't be like that- you know how he is Han"

Your boyfriend shifts his gaze to you, now wondering how you of all people know what his hyungs are talking about.

A sheepish, watery smile paints your face as you reach for your glass, taking another sip.

The air stills for a minute, awkward pauses flooding the space while Hoshi and Jeonghan share knowing glances.

They turn to you, flashing you those up-to-no-good grins, before fixing their attention to your poor boyfriend.

"alright buddy," Jeonghan starts, reaching out to grasp Dokyeom's shoulder, "lemme teach you about sex."

Immediately, you see the tips of his ears burn red. Poor thing.

"why are we uh, why're we talking about sex?"

"cause you still think we're talkin' about ice cream" Hoshi sneers. You shoot him a glare, and his shrinks back.

Ever the explorer, Dokyeom chimes in again, turning to you this time.

"we're not talking about ice cream? what are we-"

"sex." Jeonghan whispers, voice taking on a mock-sultry tone. He turns to you,

"what's he like in bed?"

"hey!-"

"he seems vanilla now, so I'm guessing it's basic shit" he continues, eyes narrowing in on you.

Suddenly you feel conscious of your surroundings. A nice evening out has somehow turned into a free-for-all analysis of your sex life, and your most intimate moments with Dokyeom have come under the looking glass.

"y-yeah, we're vanilla"

"oh you poor thing," Hoshi fakes a sob, bringing his hand to his chest as if your house caught on fire.

"don't be like that- some people prefer vanilla y'know?"

Some people, sure.

Not you, though.

As much as you love how Dokyeom makes you feel, you have to admit, he's a little, well... basic. It's the same old scene, classic p-in-v sex, sometimes he goes down on you, sometimes you do him, nothing apart from that.

Not that it doesn't feel good- it feels amazing- but you've always wanted something more. Something you're sure he won't be able to pull off.

"uhuh, I'm sure they do," Jeonghan muses, seeing right through you.

"what are we even talking abou-"

"sex!" all three of you whisper-shout in unison, starling Dokyeom.

"but- vanilla?"

"it's classic, like your basic animal-planet kinda sex" Jeonghan's voice turns serious, brows set in a firm line. "there's more than that, though"

Hoshi watches intently, moving a bit of bread to his mouth in slow motion, as the scene unravels before him. You find yourself equally invested, eyes fixed on Dokyeom's wonderstruck expression.

"there's more?" he gasps.

"oh you bet- d'you know what BDSM is?"

Your mouth goes bone dry.

"I think so? it's the stuff with the knives and leather and like latex-"

Jeonghan shoots you a quick glance, mouthing 'you're welcome', before moving back to the man next to him.

"that's not- it's not all intense and gory... there's layers to it, kay?"

Dokyeom nods, eyes shimmering.

"BDSM as a concept is deeper than just leather and blood. B and D stands for bondage and discipline, D and S stands for dominance and submission, and S and M stands for sadism and masochism-"

"so that's what Rhianna was talking about-" he cuts in, jaw falling slack as he listens further.

"each of these can come out in different ways- bondage could include cuffs, rope, shibari, or y'know whatever material you have on hand. discipline is meant in its literal sense- you do things to teach your partner the quote-unquote rules of sex, which could include spanking, using gags for punishment or doing things they like for reward. Sadism and masochism basically play on pain. Sadists like to cause it, masochists like to feel it- again, many ways to do this."

Hoshi stares in awe as Jeonghan concludes, putting his fork down to clap.

"wait- what about dominance?"

A sly smile quirks up Jeonghan's lips.

"oh that."

You swallow at the lump settling at the back of your throat, unable to tear your gaze away from your boyfriend's face- so eager, so fascinated by what he's heard.

"it's the premise of what all this is; discipline, sadism, bondage, it's all built on power play. One of you is in control and the other follows, letting themselves be controlled, it-"

"what about consent?"

Oh sweet, sweet boy.

"that's where safe words come into play. I use the traffic light system, so if my partner says green it means they're feeling good, if they say yellow, they're still okay but I need to slow down, and if they say red, they want me to stop"

"huh."

Dokyeom sits still for a minute, eyes glued to the plate sitting in front of him, and you can practically hear his brain churning to process all that he's learnt.

As the night goes on, he seems quieter than usual, staring at you, absorbing information, listening to what's being spoken about around him. Every time you turn to the side you meet his gaze- intense, preoccupied.

Dinner comes to a close with him shoving his shiny black credit card into the waiter's hands before anyone else beat him to it, and soon, you find yourselves saying your goodbyes, heading to the car.

Dokyeom opens your door, making sure you're seated, and moves over to the driver's seat.

"you don't- do you like how things are now?" Out of nowhere, his voice sounds in your ears, catching you off guard.

You look at him, surprise etched in the rise of your brow, and shake your head furiously.

"of course I do! baby, I love how things are with us, I love you"

He sighs, turning on the ignition, and begins to drive.

"not like that, honey, I meant physically,"

The blank look on your face has his cheeks burning as he works up the courage to say it.

"sex, y/n" he says, a little louder than before, "do you like the way we do things now?"

Oh.

You hadn't expected the conversation from earlier to stick with him, but evidently, it has. A shiver runs through you when he says it- sex. He's never brought it up so unambiguously before. It feels dirty, somehow, even though you've laid with him multiple times.

"I-"

"be honest, honey, okay?"

The earnest, gentle tone of his voice has your heart softening. He really is too pure for this world.

"I mean, I love the way we are now," you mutter, eyes focused on your lap as you pick at your nails, "you make me feel good"

Technically you aren't lying to him- you're just choosing to keep some things hidden. Dokyeom doesn't need to know that you've spent your nights thinking about his fingers buried deep inside you, forcing you to cum again and again until you're sobbing and shaking. He doesn't need to know you've been fantasizing about his arms, wondering how they'd feel pushing you down, leaving you helpless, completely at his mercy.

He's a nice guy, after all. They don't usually like stuff like that. And even if they think they like stuff like that, they don't have the stomach for it.

One stray teardrop and Dokyeom will be on his knees, apologizing profusely, crying along with you as he chastises himself.

"I'm not convinced," he sighs, shoulders slouching against his leather seats. "if this is about protecting my feelings-"

"no! no- not at all baby,"

"so tell me- I know you, I know when you've got something hidden away in that pretty head of yours"

Caught between a rock and a hard place, you find yourself in a bit of a dilemma. Should you be honest with him and take your chances? Or should you pacify him and convince him that plain old vanilla lovin' is all you need?

"I-"

"baby," he soothes, voice gentle, "I just wanna make sure I'm doing the best I can for you,"

A car passes you by, blaring loud pop music, and he breaks into a sheepish smile.

"there's a lot I didn't know before today- stuff that you knew about... so I just- I'm checking. If there's something you'd like me to do, someone you'd like me to be, I wanna try"

"oh,"

You stay silent for a bit, thinking over what to say. Sure, telling him that you're actually a submissive and you hate taking charge is simple, but the execution part leaves you tongue-tied. Someone as sweet and innocent as Dokyeom wouldn't be able to handle taking control.

Nothing against him, it's just that he's so cute and naive- there's no way he'd be able to restrain you and make you cry.

"there's one thing..." you mutter, voice so meek you're barely audible.

His ears perk up.

"y'know the dom-sub thing Hannie spoke about?"

"uhuh, one of us is in control and the other one listens,"

"yeah, I kinda, uh- I tend to lean towards being controlled rather than being in control"

"oh, we can do that if you like, baby" he chirps, twisting the steering wheel as he pulls into your apartment, "we can try whatever you want,"

There's a smile on his face- that same shining, star-studded gaze, eyes crinkling, teeth on full display- and you feel your heart sink.

You'll just have to make do with vanilla for the rest of your days.

The lift ride up is tense. You chew on your lower lip, tapping your heel impatiently against the ground as you move higher and higher, finally reaching your house.

Dokyeom keys in the passcode, unlocking the door, and you stumble inside, rushing to the bathroom for a bit of space.

Locking the door behind you, you stare at yourself in the mirror, worry etched in the crease of your forehead. Your face is beet red, pupils blown wide, and your throat feels dry.

All that talk about the bedroom has you feeling a little jumpier than usual and you can't help the way your brain automatically shifts to its usual Dokyeom fantasy- tied up helplessly in bed as he eats you out over and over, saying the filthiest things known to man.

God, the things you'd let him do to you...

His nose is built just right, bumping into your clit perfectly as he eats you out, tongue lapping up your arousal from your past orgasms. Those long, slim fingers would be splayed across your thighs, forcing your legs open, even when your body spasms, begging for an intermission.

'snap out of it- Christ' you tell yourself, shooing away any wandering thoughts as you unlock the door and head into your bedroom.

"everything okay, honey?"

You curse the universe when your eyes are greeted by his broad frame, standing by your dresser as he clicks his watch open, shaking it off his wrist in a few crisp motions.

"y-yeah I'm-" you cut yourself off when he begins to fold his shirtsleeves up, dragging the white fabric up around his elbow, putting his forearms on display. The way his veins frame the shape of his arms so perfectly, peeking out just enough, has you growing restless with desire, and you feel your face grow hot.

"baby?"

When you stay silent, he eyes you through the mirror, making sure you're still listening, and continues-

"I was thinking about what you said in the car, and I think we should give it a try"

Before you can stop it from happening, your lips part, letting a taunting laugh slip past them. Dokyeom halts his actions.

"why's that funny?"

"it's not! I just uh-" you nibble at your lower lip, trying desperately to conceal the smile perking up the corners of your lips, "I appreciate you saying that, but we really don't have to do things you won't be comfortable with,"

"how d'you know I won't be comfortable?"

You sigh, walking over to him.

"Kyeommie, you're a really great guy- you're sweet, you're kind, you're funny- and I love those things about you,"

"uhuh"

"it's just that you're too sweet, y'know? You won't be able to handle the stuff I'm into, baby"

His brows furrow, and he opens his mouth to speak, but you cut in, sugarcoating your words as much as you can.

"being nice isn't a bad thing at all, okay- don't get me wrong. I love you exactly as you are, so there's no need to make yourself uncomforta-"

"you think I can't do it, don't you?"

His voice is low, dripping with a kind of venom you've never heard from him before. You reach out, moving your hand to soothe over his shoulder, but he catches your wrist, pulling you into him.

"Dok-"

"I may be slow, I may not understand the things you do as easily" he sneers, his grip tightening, "but I know my way around your body-"

"I know I can make you feel good."

He inches closer, nose bumping against yours, and you let out a shaky sigh. Your heart thuds rapidly against your chest, banging against the confines of your ribs so noisily you're sure Dokyeom can hear it.

You've never heard him speak like this before, never seen his eyes flood with such darkness. The once glittering light in his pupils has now dimmed to a darker, lust-filled ocean, void of mercy.

The expanse of his broad shoulders shield you from the front, and a hand slides down your arm, resting at the curve of your back, trapping you in his hold.

"what is it that you want from me, hm?" he mumbles, angling your chin up towards his face, "want me to take control- be a little aggressive?"

Your breath catches, and you stare up at him, eyes wide. Never in your wildest dreams did you think you'd hear him talk this way, with his voice all low and mean. The way he holds you too, it's different from before. There's no gentle embrace, no tentative grip- no, he's sure right now. There's a certainty with which he holds you, a forcefulness he would've once been afraid of.

"tell me," he whispers as he walks you backward, heading for the bed, "tell me what you want and I'll make you feel good,"

With each step forward he takes in your direction, you take one back, staring up at him with wide, unbelieving eyes. Is this really the same guy from two hours ago?

His gaze pierces through you, challenging you as if to say- 'try me, I dare you.' It's simultaneously intimidating, yet somehow exciting, and you feel a familiar heat spread in your lower belly.

Like some sort of predator, dead set on catching its prey, Dokyeom stalks toward you, moving further and further, until your calves make contact with the bed.

He smirks.

You've been caught.

"what's wrong, honey?" a faux pout graces his lips, "you were saying so much a minute ago-"

You gasp as he closes in, leaving no room for anything but your body and his. The hand on your face leaves your chin, and he traces a finger down your throat, stopping just below the divot of your collarbones, lingering over the hem of your dress.

There's an evil glint in his eye and you watch, waiting patiently to see what he does next.

"strip."

Certain you heard him wrong, you stay still, staring up at him dumbly.

"oh, we don't feel like listening today?" he quirks a brow at you, loosening his grip on your waist as he lets his hand travel up your back, "either you do it- or I'll do my fucking self."

On beat, he thumbs the zipper of your dress and tugs it down in one sharp motion, leaving you stunned. The fabric falls slack against your body, loosening at your neckline just enough to give Dokyeom a peek of what lies underneath.

He trails his finger down your clavicle, pushing your dress down to reveal the lacey surface of your bra- the fabric flimsy and transparent, letting your nipples poke through.

"someone's excited," he bites his lips, smirking down at your hardened nipples. "you wanna take this off for me, baby?"

His voice is raspy, taunting almost, and your body obeys, arms hastily undoing your bra as you shimmy out of your dress. You should feel embarrassed, getting naked so desperately like some sex-hungry nympho, but you don't.

The arousal pooling in between your legs is far too distracting to leave any room for humility or shame.

Dressed pooled at your ankles, bra tossed aside, you stand bare before him.

Teasingly, Dokyeom lets the pad of his extended finger trace down your chest as he leans in, lips ghosting over yours. Your eyes flutter closed and your lips part- ever so slightly- bracing for impact. You feel his breath fanning across your face as his presence nears, skin almost touching yours, before he sends a sharp tweak to your nipple, pulling away with a devilish grin.

Jolting at the sudden stimulation, you gasp, eyes opening wide. There's a current running down your body, stemming from the spot he abused seconds ago, and you feel it land in your clit.

You want to argue, to call him an idiot and tell him to kiss you proper- to quit teasing- but you know you like this. The way he's got you all figured out, the way he so effortlessly gets you to bend to his will, god this is what you've been waiting for.

"get on the bed."

The firmness of his voice tells you to bite your tongue and acquiesce, but there's something deep inside of you that wants to see how far you can push him.

"don't wanna"

He pauses for a second, looking into your eyes-

"do you actually want to stop or are you just being difficult?"

"the latter," you singsong, staring up at him with a challenge dancing behind your eyes.

There's a moment of silence as he prods his cheek with the tip of his tongue, taking in what you've just said. His blood boils at the mockery in your voice, eyes hardening to a cold brown.

"brat." he spits, clenching his jaw.

In one forceful motion, Dokyeom yanks you towards himself, lifting you up by the thighs before tossing you onto the mattress behind.

"baby-!" You can't help but squeal as he manhandles you effortlessly, showing you just how strong he really is. Your body lands with a dull thump on the bed, sinking deep into your duvet as he stares daggers into your sprawled out frame.

"sit still."

Dokyeom steps back, standing before you at the foot of the bed, and keeps his eyes on yours. A sly hand creeps up his neck, fingers weaving into the intricate knot of his tie, and he pulls it loose, tossing the silk fabric near your feet.

Undoing the top buttons of his shirt, his hand travels down to his belt, clicking the buckle open with ease. The metal comes apart in his hand, loosening with a single flick of his wrist, and you feel your mouth begin to water.

He looked sinful. With his sleeves rolled up- biceps straining through the fabric, the way his chest peeked out tauntingly through his shirt, how his eyes bore into yours, not breaking contact for an instant- it made you want to scream.

The sound of metal clanking pulls you from your thoughts, and you realise that he's shucked off his trousers, leaving himself in his CK black boxers and a partially unbuttoned shirt.

"Kyeommie," you pout, reaching an arm out towards him, "c'mere"

It takes every bit of his strength to keep himself from crumbling instantly, but he manages it with a firm shake of his head.

"thought I told you to stay still, hm?"

You frown, your pout still evident, and turn away with a huff.

"I'm taking this off, y'know," he teases, plucking open the buttons of his shirt, and you feel your attitude fade to dust as you turn back to him in an instant.

Who wouldn't? After all, he does have the body of a God.

As he undoes his last button, you're greeted by his sculpted torso, tanned to perfection.

Dokyeom smirks, ego inflating at your star-struck reaction as if you haven't seen him like before.

"every single time," he mutters, shaking his head in amusement.

Before long, the shirt is discarded to some remote corner of the room, and he stands before you, nearly bare.

"where were we..."

Grabbing your ankles, he tugs you down till your hips reach the foot of the bed. A startled gasp escapes you at his actions and he can't help but smirk.

"if tossing you around was all it took, you should've just asked, sweetheart"

Your cheeks burn red. Never once has he spoken to you like this- so direct, without scaffolding.

"makes me wonder what else you might like,"

Dokyeom brushes his fingertips up your legs, kneeling down to face your clothed cunt.

"I learned a lot today," he bites his lip, eyes fixed on the damp spot growing under your panties. "will you tell me which of all those you like or should I find out for myself?"

His gaze shifts to you, eyeing the flush on your cheeks, the scandalized widening of your eyes.

"I- I want-" you trail off, voice so small it makes him melt.

"I'm listening, honey, tell me what you want,"

That soft, silverish quality of his voice resurfaces, and you feel your body relax. He rubs slow circles into your thighs, trying his best to coax the words out of you, but you remain hesitant.

Embarrassed, rather.

You've never told anyone what you want from them so plainly, with nowhere to hide. You feel exposed in front of him for the first time in a while and the feeling excites you.

"don't stop." you murmur, unable to meet his gaze. "don't stop after just one... y'know-"

His eyes darken.

"oh I'm going to like this"

Deft fingers slide up your inner thighs, hooking under the last of your lingerie and pulling it apart, tearing the lace off of your body to reveal what Dokyeom wants most.

The most intimate part of you lies spread out all for him, glistening with arousal, and he has to suck in a breath to calm himself.

"don't- don't do that,"

"do what?" he asks, backing away slightly just in case you've changed your mind.

"try to control yourself like that- just don't hold back"

You breathe shakily before continuing- "I want to see how far you go-"

Something snaps within him, that final band of restraint finally tears apart, and he yanks you down onto his tongue, licking fervently at your cunt like this is the last time he gets to taste you.

Your lips part, letting breathy, helpless cries slip past, and Dokyeom knows he's doing well.

Despite the gusto with which he devours you, his movements are precise, practiced. It's exactly as he said earlier- he knows how to make you feel good. He knows your body.

He works his tongue against you, lapping at your clit without any care of hypersensitivity or overstimulation, pressing harder and harder into you as your legs spasm around him.

"wai- oh my god-" you moan, back arching up, hips lifting off the bed for a second, before Dokyeom pushes you back down firmly with his hand splayed across your lower belly.

Squirming helplessly under the force of his arm, your body tries to move away, to get just a little respite, but all in vain. He doesn't let you. The weight of one hand holds you secure, while the other cups the underside of your thighs- pushing your leg up as far as it can go.

With your legs spread out further, his assault on your clit feels even more direct, with each firm motion of his tongue sending shockwaves across your body, and you feel your muscles tighten, building up for release.

Dokyeom seems to have noticed too, and his lips curl up at the corners into a deeply satisfied smirk. You feel it against your skin.

"already?" he abashes, eyeing your tensed frame, "after all you said?"

"m'sorry- please, please can I-"

"can you?" he echoes.

"can I cum ple-please"

You've done this before- asked for permission before- but not with him. Never with him. Dokyeom's smirk only widens when he realises the power he now holds over you. To be able to deny one their right to pleasure is... exciting, to say the least. He certainly seems to enjoy it, considering the bulge growing in his boxers.

"mm, I didn't quite hear that honey, come again?" His voice is patronizing, mocking.

"please Kyeommie please let me cum"

Dokyeom's never thought of himself as a man who likes to abuse his power, but right now with the way you're begging? He wants to see just how much you can take before the seams begin to rip.

"no."

Your eyes fly open, jaw agape as your clit throbs under his tongue.

"w-what"

"you asked, I said no."

Now he knows he isn't being fair, he knows. But the tears welling up in your eyes have him entranced. There's this urge he has deep inside to see them all spill out and stain those pretty cheeks of yours.

"but-"

"are you gonna act up? 'cause that's not how you're getting what you want sweetheart"

Dokyeom's voice sends a chill down your spine. With the way his tongue abuses your clit, you're certain you won't be able to hold yourself back, not when your high is almost near.

You want to be good for him, you really do- but is this even fair? As he laps into you, nudging your sensitive nerves just right, your head tips back into the pillows and you moan out a string of profanities, getting completely lost in the pleasure he gives you.

He isn't happy.

"if you wanna cum that bad- I should give you more, hm? who am I to deny?"

You know very well from the tone of his voice what he's got planned.

Grabbing the tie- now dangling precariously off the bed- Dokyeom crawls over your spent frame, balancing his weight on his knees.

"gimme your hands."

Tentatively, you hold out your arms, pushing your wrists together.

"what are you do-"

"you know what I'm doing, sweetheart"

You do.

He pulls the fabric of his tie taut, looping it at your wrists before tying a firm knot to keep you from moving. The black silk, although soft to the touch, presses into your skin, and you hiss when he gives the fabric a sharp tug.

Dokyeom's eyes draw back to yours, and he grabs your wrists, pushing them up above your head.

"keep these here," he murmurs, gulping slightly when he notices how close your faces are.

Your eyes burn holes into each other's, and he sees something in your gaze that he hasn't before-

Hunger.

"Dokyeom," you breathe, chest rising shakily,

"kiss me"

Waiting no longer, he pushes his lips to yours, capturing the plush crimson in a slow, hard kiss. The way your lips mold so perfectly together, fitting into each other like pieces of a puzzle, makes this moment that much more meaningful.

When he touches you, when he kisses you, you know deep inside that this man is your forever. No one has or ever will make you feel so alive.

Dokyeom swallows your whimpers, your cries, as he slips his tongue into your mouth. It's sloppy and messy and desperate- but you love the way it feels, the way he feels.

Leaving your wrist, his hand comes down to cup your jaw, tilting your head back so he can kiss you harder, deeper.

"wa-wait-" you pant, feeling your lungs burn.

As you try to pull away, a deep growl emanates from within his throat, and he tugs you closer, unwilling to let go.

A surprised 'mm!' escapes your occupied lips, muffled by his own, and your body lights up- embers of red-hot desire scattering across your skin.

Dokyeom's own lungs beg him to move away, to breathe, but he holds still, stubborn as ever. You feel far too good. If this is how he dies, he'll go gladly.

The airy whimpers and gasps from you, however, finally get him to let go.

Your chest heaves as you gulp in precious breaths to soothe your lungs, as does his own. Staring up at him in shock, you manage to stutter out-

"where has that been all this time-"

He lets out an airy laugh, pressing a tender kiss to your jaw, trailing down your torso until he reaches your gushing sex.

"the hands stay up there- got that?"

You nod eagerly, holding your wrists up to show him, but you're quickly cut off by his tongue, pressing back into your clit.

"oh-"

Tracing slow figure eights into you, Dokyeom works his tongue deftly while his fingers prod at your entrance. With ease, he slips two long digits inside, pushing deep till your arousal trickles down his knuckles.

"Dok- oh fuck oh my god"

Each knuckle of his fingers adds further stimulation as he begins to pump in and out of you. Every time he draws back, you stretch to accommodate the balls of his joints and it feels divine.

You've always loved his hands. Those slender, long fingers were perfect for you, and the fact that his knuckles jut out at each joint only makes it all better.

The kinks in his fingers have your legs quivering, and his tongue- god his tongue- nudges your clit with the perfect amount of pressure.

Feeling your orgasm build at record speed, you moan, completely defenseless as Dokyeom slurps noisily at your sex while his fingers push up against that one particularly soft spot inside you.

"Kyeo-Kyeommie m'gonna-"

"that's it, sweetheart- just let go for Kyeommie"

With a sob, you feel your orgasm burn through you, twice as intense as the previous one, and your thighs quiver.

You're spent. You're spent and he's only made you cum twice.

Watching the way your muscles twitch from the weight of your orgasm, Dokyeom grins, feeling particularly proud.

Now usually, this is where it ends. His arms would slip out from under your thighs, and he'd kiss you sweetly, telling you how amazing you are. He'd check to see if you wanted him to make love to you, and if you agreed, he'd do exactly that.

Tonight, however, he stays firm in place, his mouth still connected to your cunt. Limbs still quivering, your eyes widen when he begins to move against you, barely giving you a second to catch your breath and recover.

Your body goes limp when he pokes his tongue against your over-sensitive clit, licking gentle yet firm stripes with precision. Each oscillation elicits the most delightful sound, just as a clock chimes with the motions of its gong.

All you can do is clutch the fabric of his tie, nails digging into your palms as your skin burns under his touch. Your nerves throb, pulsing in time with your heart, in time with his tongue.

"so good for me, honey," he mumbles into you, sliding his fingers back inside you in one fluid motion. Your back arches comically off the bed, mouth hanging open in a mix of shock and pleasure.

Once more, you find your belly rudely forced back down. Dokyeom narrows his eyes at you, irritation flashing behind his deep brown pupils, and keeps his hand there- splayed over your lower belly, pushing down with just enough pressure for his fingers to prod out from under your skin.

You gasp, feeling fuller somehow with the added force, feeling his fingers drag deeper against your walls. Within moments, your cunt clenches down around his digits, and he laughs in disbelief.

"again? baby c'mon you have a point to prove, don't you?"

Under any other circumstance, you would've bitten back, calling him some name, yelling some profanity- but now? Now you need him. You're so close, right on the edge of the water, ready to fall in, and only he can give you that last push. You know better than to open that smart mouth of yours right now.

"is this all it takes? y'know if you're gonna start off by being a brat- you gotta keep up with the act at least-"

"m'so-m'sorry-" you gasp, tugging against your restraints as you feel your high mere seconds away, "m'sorry please can I cum please I've been so good for you-"

Dokyeom nods, scissoring his fingers in and out of you more rapidly than before, and you cum with a scream, straining against the cloth binding your wrists as your orgasm rips through you like a whirlwind.

"that's my girl-" he sighs, placing a kiss to your inner thigh, while his fingers continue their movement inside you.

"Kyeom- oh- t-too much,"

Your cries fall on deaf ears, and he shoots you a sly grin.

It has been over an hour now, you're certain. Dokyeom's held you still and pulled orgasm after orgasm from you with his tongue, his fingers, both.

"p-please-" you whimper, tears streaming down your face as those long fingers slide into you once more.

"just one more, honey,"

Dokyeom presses tender kisses to your inner thighs- now wet with your slick- and pushes further into you.

"just one more for me, hm? you can do that for me, can't you baby?"

You nod, small sobs wracking your body. Of course you'll do this for him. You'll do anything for him. Plus, you can't say you aren't enjoying this-

"that's my girl."