#anyway good morning! ☕

[refinedstorage]

I can't really call them process vids bc it's just the layering and some late stage edits but there you go!

[squoxle]

pls write a jay dad au and wife😔🙏🏻

Well, since you asked so nicely...how about we start your day with a little...

Coffee After Sex ~ P.JS

☕︎ pairing: soft dom!husband!jay x sub!wife!reader | ☕︎ wc: 3.3k | ☕︎ plot: after a recent job promotion, you have been spending less and less time with your husband. | ☕︎ cw: 🔞MDNI!! this fic contains a combo of smut, fluff, crack, and angst with a hot cup of coffee in the morning.

The feeling of Jay's breath on your neck sent chills up your spine as he left soft, wet kisses along your neck.

You felt his warmth against your body, a sensation you had missed for far too long.

Nothing could take the place of him at this moment.

Nothing...except for the fact that this was all a dream and Jay had left you alone in bed hours ago. You looked over to the spot where he laid next to you and brushed your hand across the cool, empty space.

You pulled his pillow to your chest as you laid in silence, the delicate rays from the sun peeked through the blinds hidden behind the floor-length white curtains. Tears rolled down the side of your face, wetting the pillow slightly as sweet thoughts of him flashed through your mind.

You thought back to the last time you took a family vacation, the twins were a little younger at that time, but you still had fun playing in the sparkling beach sand. You rolled onto your back, looking up at the ceiling before climbing out of bed.

The cold floorboards kissed your feet as you walked to a pair of fluffy slippers. A lot of times it was easier to just keep yourself busy, focusing on the present rather than going into a mini depressive state. But you couldn't help it, you missed his laugh, his smile, the smell of him cooking breakfast on the weekends, and the way he'd come up behind you and kiss you randomly...some of the many things you loved about him.

Recently your husband's work schedule has been a lot busier than usual. He left earlier in the morning and came home even later.

You'd hope to spend some time with him on the weekends, but it was hard to balance everything with the twins and all of the other things you had to do around the house. Plus, he spent most of the day in the home office anyway. And by the time he came home in the evening, you were already in bed.

But what could you do about it? "This'll just be for a little while and then everything will be back to normal," you thought back to what Jay told you when he first took this promotion. His fingers gliding across the side of your face, brushing the hair behind your ear as your head hung low. He lifted your chin gently to meet your eyes before delicately kissing your lips.

A little while...a lot of times his absence made you feel like a single mom, but you had to stay positive. If not for you, for the kids. Seeing their mom sulking all day wouldn't do them any good.

Today you took the kids out for a trip to the library and picked up a few books before walking over to the nearby park. You sat on the bench and watched them play around together, chasing each other in a game of tag before taking turns pushing one another on the swings.

You saw Jay sit on one of the swings as the twins took turns pushing him. "Argh! You're too heavy, Daddy," your daughter sighed.

"You're just too weak," your son teased, giggling slightly as his sister puffed her cheeks.

"I am not!" she spat. "Watch," she grunted as she pushed with all of her might. Jay used his legs to swing a little higher. "See?" she smiled, tilting her head to the side as she placed her hands on her hips. "Told ya."

"No, I saw Dad use his legs," Jay burst into laughter noticing that his son had picked up on that detail.

"No, he didn't," she shook her head. "Did you Daddy?"

"No, you're just really strong," he chuckled as he swung back and forth.

"He's lying," your son said plainly, folding his arms as his sister stomped over to him, careful not to get hit by the swing.

"Okay," she huffed. "I'll show you how strong I am," she raised her fist at her brother.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he squeezed his fists together, cracking his knuckles.

"Woah, woah, guys calm down," Jay stopped the swing, breaking up the two. "Don't hit your brother, baby," Jay kneeled down to meet her gaze.

"Nah nah," your son poked his tongue out.

"But he just--" she started as Jay cut her off.

"Leave your sister alone. And we don't hit girls in this family, okay," he patted his son's shoulder. "How about I push the both of you? There're two swings."

"No, we wanna push you," they said in unison.

"Well, you gotta play nice, alright," he exchanged looks between the two.

"Okay~" they smiled before running behind him.

"You can push him first and then me, okay," your son said, making a deal with his sister.

"Okay," she smiled. "Hurry up, daddy. Sit down," she jumped excitedly as Jay sat down, waiting to be pushed.

Their little grunts mixed with his laughter caused your nose to tingle as tears gathered at your waterline. It was as if you could see Jay everywhere, but it was all just your imagination trying to fill that void for you.

You used the back of your hand to wipe away the wetness from your eyes before walking over to join the kids in whatever game they were playing.

After a busy day, you finally had the chance to relax after laying the kids down for bed. You ended up reading two of the books you picked up earlier since they couldn't decide on one. You flicked on the carousel nightlight before walking out of the room, leaving the door cracked enough that you could peek in and check on them without disturbing them.

Your husband, Jay, had texted you around lunchtime that he would be working late again tonight, but he'd try to get home as soon as possible.

This had been going on for the past few months and you were starting to miss him more than ever, but you didn't want to stress him out with your feelings so this was something you kept to yourself.

You went over a mental checklist to make sure you took care of everything before getting ready for a bath. You walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge to double-check that you packed a lunch box for Jay before switching off all of the lights and heading back to your room.

You started the bathwater as you shuffled through your drawers to pull out an oversized T-shirt. You climbed into the warm water and thought back to your dream from this morning.

You wished you could spend more time with him like you used to. Wished he could be sitting behind you right now with his arms wrapped around you, kissing your shoulder, and playing with the bubbles that floated on top of the water.

You rested your head on the cool, smooth, acrylic outer surface of the bathtub as music played through your headphones. You closed your eyes and drifted away in your mind as you felt a set of lips leave a kiss on your cheek.

"Jay?" you thought to yourself. You opened your eyes and turned around in the water to see nothing but your king-sized bed peeking through the door. "Must my mind playing tricks on me again," you sighed as you turned around to lay your head back down.

Soon after you zoned out in your music, you felt a hand glide along the side of your face. This time you felt kisses trail from your cheek down to your shoulder. You opened your eyes to see Jay hovering over you.

He was wearing his black work slacks and a plain white tee. You felt his warm hands press into the soft, moist skin on your shoulders. “Hope you don’t mind if I join,” he smirked as you turned around.

“Not at all,” you smiled back, watching as he undressed himself.

“Don’t think you’re getting this show for free,” he chuckled. “A view like this can be pretty pricey y’know?”

“I’m sure I can afford it,” you giggled back.

You loved how your husband liked to joke around here and there. This was one aspect about his personality that made you fall for him in the first place.

You turned off your phone and reached over to place it on the countertop near the sink. Bubbles covered the lower half of your body, but the silhouette was still very visible.

“Nice ass,” Jay smiled as he eyed your naked body. He was only wearing his boxers now, the rest of his clothes were kicked in a corner and balled up.

You shook your head in response as he stepped into the bath water. “C’mere,” he mumbled under his breath as he pulled you close. It was quiet for a moment as you laid against his slightly wet skin before reality set in.

“What’s with the sudden change of attitude? You’ve been so quiet lately,” you toyed with the wedding band around his finger as you laid between his legs.

“I missed my wife,” he said softly, pulling your hand to his lips as he kissed your knuckles. “And my kids.”

“Hmm, well we missed you too,” you hummed.

You listened to the deep, rhythmic beats of his heart as you rested your head against him. Aside from the warmth of the water, you missed the feeling of being wrapped in his arms.

Were you finally getting what you’d been waiting months for? To feel the strong embrace of your husband and the comfort that came with it? Whatever it was, you wanted to enjoy every last second of it.

You felt his breath on your neck as he rested his chin in the crevice of your shoulder. "Hey!" you exclaimed as you felt his fingers rub against your clit. He giggled at your reaction.

"Has it really been so long that my touch surprises you," he mumbled in between kisses.

"No, I just--"

"I'm kidding," he chuckled. "I'd be shocked if you touched me like that too."

A playful smirk grew across your face as you grinded your ass against him, the gentle sounds of the water matching the movements of your body. He groaned slightly as you stimulated him. "Are you shocked yet," you whispered, looking over your shoulder as you met his lustful gaze.

"Almost," he smiled, kissing your lips again. "I wanna see what else you can do," he bit your lower lip before you turned around to face him. He raised his knees up to get a little more comfortable as his back pressed up against the walls of the tub.

You straddled his wet body, the water level at your waist as you leaned over his shoulder. He pulled you closer as he lined his tip up with your opening. You slowly lowered down, taking in every inch as he held you by the waist.

The strokes were slow, but this gave you the chance to watch his facial expression contort as you bounced up and down. You teased his cock as you paused randomly, flashing him a playfully seductive glare.

"Are you gonna be a tease the whole time or are you gonna fuck me like a good girl?" he cooed. "I thought you liked it when I played with you like that," you tilted your head to the side as his lips turned into a smirk. He winced, sucking air through his teeth as you circled your hips around his tip. You pressed your hands into his shoulders as you plopped back down on him, filling yourself with his cock.

The water rocked with your hips, matching your movements, filling the room with its delicate splashing sounds. "Mmm, I do but," he moaned as you took this as an opportunity to pick up the pace.

"But what, baby?" you huffed. "But, I wanna fuck you so badly right now," he groaned. "You'll get your turn," you smiled. "I wanna have a little more fun like this," he hummed as you said these words, you could feel the desperation increase with every movement.

You listened as soft, sweet moans escaped his lips while you rode him. Every so often you would hit his good spot, causing him to throw his head back and lift his hips up slightly to buck into you.

His breathing quickened and began more ragged as you changed the speed and movements of your body. He felt your pussy tighten around him as you both came closer to your highs. You leaned back slightly, bracing yourself against his raised knees as he pressed into your lower stomach.

You felt his thumbs pushing hard into your soft flesh as you nearly toppled over. The overwhelming and increased sensation of dick sent you into a mode of overstimulation as you humped faster. Matching your energy, Jay raised his hips to pump deeper into you as muffled screams hid behind your hand.

You knew you had to stay quiet because you had a habit of getting carried away with the noise. "I've had enough of this," Jay huffed, guiding you off of him as he leaned you over the edge of the tub. You held your position with your palms as your tits pressed into the coolness of the acrylic layer.

You leaned your head across your hands as you waited for him. You were facing the door as you heard the sounds of him moving behind you. Your eyes jumped open as he spread your legs apart. You felt the top of his head bump into your stomach before the feeling of his tongue lapping at your entrance overwhelmed your senses.

"Ngh!" you yelped, in this position it was a little harder to cover your mouth so you just stuffed your face into the fold of your arms. "Ahh!" you gasped as he jammed his fingers into you, coating them in your juices as continued eating you out.

He finger fucked you faster as you leaned more and more over the edge. You were struggling to stay in one spot as he gripped onto your ass, holding you in place as nearly came right on his face. You caught your breath as he ripped his fingers out and climbed out from between your legs.

"I want you to finish with my cum inside of you," he hummed as he lined up behind you. You moaned, faced still stuffed into your arms, as he slammed his dick into you. "Already tightening up?" he cooed as he felt your entrance had tightened up slightly compared to earlier.

"It's my turn now," he hummed, grabbing a handful of your hair in his hand before pulling your head back to face him. "Look at me while I fuck you," he groaned as one hand wrapped around the base of your chin, squeezing your lips together.

You panted breathlessly as fucked into you harder. "Who's pussy is this," he smacked your ass as you moaned with his touch. "Say it," he pushed, taking his free hand to rub your clit. Your body trembled in his grasp "You better say something or I'll stop right now," he huffed.

"It's yours," you yelped. "It's yours, baby," you whined in a shaky voice before he sucked your lips in for a rough kiss.

"Good girl," he grunted as he pushed your head down. You felt his hips smacking into your ass as he groaned in pleasure. He kept up the pace until finally spilling his seed inside of you.

The two of you laid there breathless, panting with your wet bodies, both from sweat and the water that swayed beneath you. It wasn't long before you climbed out of the tub and went straight to bed, naked and slightly damp, especially Jay's hair which got wet when he ate you out.

As much as you enjoyed that little surprise with Jay, you hated the feeling that came over you once he finally fell asleep. You looked over his features, lightly touching his face as you thought about how he'd be gone in the morning...just like always.

Your husband was starting to feel like another part of your imagination, every good moment being tainted by the feeling of abandonment. You closed your eyes looking at him with tears in your eyes as you drifted off to sleep.

Your eyes fluttered open as the colors of the sun danced across your bedroom floor. As usual, you woke up to see the covers pushed back on his side, reminding you that you were alone again. You sat up before swinging your legs over the edge of the bed. You slipped into a pair of panties from your top drawer before pulling a dress over your head and sliding into your slippers.

Interrupting your senses, was the smell of breakfast. You stopped as your hand wrapped around the bedroom doorknob, you listened as the sounds of hushed giggles and food sizzling filled the air around you.

You hoped with everything in your body that this wasn't your mind playing tricks on you again, you weren't sure how much more you could take. But when you opened the door to see the kids huddled over the countertop as Jay swirled a skillet on the stove, you had to blink a few times before realizing that this was really happening.

You slowly walked into the kitchen as Jay welcomed you with a smile. "Good morning, Mommy!" your kids smiled in unison.

"Morning," you waved as you walked over to them, planting a kiss on each of their heads. "What's all of this?"

"We're helping, Dad make breakfast," your son smiled. "I made your coffee."

"I put all the stuff on the pancakes," your daughter chimed in as Jay placed the eggs and bacon on the place.

"Yeah, but you didn't make them," her brother teased.

"I made one," she huffed.

"And where is it now, huh? Oh, that's right, in the trash," he giggled.

"Well, you put salt in the first cup you made for mom. So now who sucks," she poked her tongue out.

"Calm down you guys, you both did a great job. Especially for your first time," Jay smiled as he came behind them, patting them both on the shoulder before coming over to kiss you on the cheek. "We were gonna surprise you in bed," he chuckled.

"Wait, Jay. Don't you have work today?"

"I did," he started as he walked over to the table, placing your breakfast down. "But I called in. I wanted to spend some time with my family today."

The kids climbed onto their barstool as Jay passed them their breakfast. "Thank you," they smiled before they started eating.

"Jay," you gasped. "You didn't have to do that. What if they needed you at work today?"

"Well, my family needs me more. Especially my wife," he tilted his head to the side as he sat down next to you. "This morning," he started in a hushed tone, "When I was about to get out of bed you grabbed my arm and said 'Please don't leave me again.' Your eyes were still closed so I knew you were sleeping, but there was no way in hell I could go to work after something like that."

He reached over to grab your hand, caressing the back as you lowered your head. "Sorry," you whispered quietly.

"Don't be sorry. If I hadn't been working so hard I would've noticed how this change was affecting you sooner. I already contacted my boss about another position and we'll see how it goes from there, but for now, let's enjoy this moment together. Just me, you, and the kids."

❀ Thak you all so much for reading! Make sure to check out other works on my masterlist!

❀ 𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝: @chlorinecake @mimikittysblog @nikisvanillaccola @wonbinisbabygurl @mrswolfhard3 @laylasbunbunny @sussyjake @furious-eagle @cherrriesss @abbyizzy @weyukinluv @addictedtohobi @thatonenoona @wavykook @givemeyourtmihyun @jaeljn @hoonmywk @valennshit @19-yunalyn @hoonbby @frostedblankets @hoonsyo @no-mannerism @perfectxserendipity @chubbibish @ihrtlix @bunniesforsoobin @thereadersparadise @thatbooknerdfr @aiden2001 @belongstoheeseung @jakeybabe @donut-crazs @rizzhee @nikimeows @woonieees @uarmyxtae @rebecca-johnson-28 @they2luv1naia @isa-2007 @silcry @riverscafe @pearlwhitesoul @nikohiroshi @thatbooknerdfr @wonniewonwon @sughoonieeee @babyy-bambii @adrika04 @sehunsharpasseyebrows @wtfyangjungwon @fr-3-akn-4-stymf @rikiloversworld @shawyle @sunoosrightbuttcheek @uarmyxtae @lovesickxmina @urfavberry @urauntiefaye @breadlover01 @taehyunsfavmoa

[milqueandsugar]

🌼☕ ` Sick Day ` ☕🌼

Gen / Fluff

Includes / Alastor , Husk , Lucifer

Alastor knows something is off immediately, maybe even the day before. He couldn't place his finger on it. You were totally normal, even got up early, the day was as close to nice as it could get in hell. Still, he bid you goodnight with unease, and it grew until morning.

If he figured something was off yesterday he knew something was wrong when you didn't show for breakfast. You were always there for breakfast, you made an effort to be sat at the table for every meal. You had an early day, he reasons, you might have just slept in. He doesn't bring a tray of food but tea or coffee instead, it isn't until he steps through his shadow into your room that the smell of sickness turns his nose.

If the smell wasn't a give away your curled up form was. Your breaths were labored, nose somehow but stuffy and running. You could taste snot and mucus on your tongue, the air was somehow sharp on your aching throat. You felt terrible. You looked terrible.

If you put up an fight to getting cared for your as delusional as he is stubborn, and Alastor isn't known for loosing a fight. He's very confident he can't get sick so that excuse is only a waste of effort.

He cares for you the best he can, the best he knows too. Caring doesn't come from his heart but rather the soft memories of his mother. He pulls out all the old wives tales. Onion on the heel, open windows, lots of tea and medicine with honey. He doesn't dote on you per se, your strong and he knows it. He does however help you take your medicine, bring you food and insist on your rest, you can't get better without rest. He doesn't sit on you night and day but his shadow dances around your room keeping you company when you're gone, usually miming sleeping. He's really adamant about the rest thing.

When you do recover he helps you catch up on work, getting out and doing something will be good for you! So don't expect to much help from him. He continues to cook you meals from home, soul food, comfort food, good food. It made sense when you were sick, he gave you an earful about how packaged foods would rot you inside out but you were back to regular health. Not that you were complaining of course, but you had a sneaking suspicion he may just like cooking for you. He calls it preventative measures, you call it cute, though not to his face.

Husk doesn't suspect anythings up when you miss breakfast, you two were up pretty late playing card and drinking games. When lunch rolls around he's a little more concerned, okay maybe you were reaaally hung over. When he gets the text at 2:45 to bring you some Tylenol and water he's more concerned. You shouldn't be THIS hung over for this long. He clocks out early, Angel's at a shoot, Alastors on air and lucifer and Charlie have fucked off for the day so he doesn't have to pretend to believe sinners are going to be visiting anytime soon. He brings leftovers too, he stands in the kitchen a moment contemplating between warming your water or putting ice in it before going room temperature as a compromise. He's halfway down the hall too your bedroom when he hears your retching. Oh you're really really hung over. He's quiet when he enters, still under false pretenses of your ailment and does his best to keep the light out of the room. Closing the blinds and even turning the hallway light off. It's when offering you your water he realizes how flushed you are, and how bundled up you are for a warm day in hell and the occasional sniffle of your nose.. "oh shit you have the flu."

Does not care if he gets sick or not, he spends his time working or with you and he hates working anyways. He sits in with you when you're bored, when your lucid enough to ask for his company and for when your eating. It makes him feel better knowing your eating something even if you end up throwing it up a few hours later. He's a terrible cook let's be honest so he just orders food in or steals leftovers for you. It how he usually eats anyways.

Husk hasn't ever really had the flu in hell or on earth, strong immune system? Luck? Maybe both. Hungover he has been however so he treats it like a very long hangover. Lots of water, lots of quiet and dark, lots of Tylenol. It works, or, your body fights it off on its own but you get better after about a week. Finally, you were going insane. You love husk, you do, but sometimes you need to see another person, or the sky, or literally anything. He doesn't treat you any different when you recover, he keeps whatever food your eating easy on the stomach (he's fallen into the habit of eating with you and enjoys it, don't say anything you'll scare him off.) But once you say your better he takes your word for it. Maybe keeps the alcohol away from you a little bit and definitely tosses whatever bottles you drank together before you got sick out. He doesn't trust them.

Lucifer hasn't dealt with sickness a day in his life what the fuck is wrong with you. He's an angel, in his defense, and Charlie was never sick growing up. So when he notices you start slowing down throughout the day, your yawning, your shivering, he thinks it's burnout. It's the closest thing to sick he's gotten alright give him some time. Some time he does take, maybe three days, before it clicks for him.

Its when your folding laundry together, classical music playing, a scented candle burning over the naturally sulfuric smell of hell. Just the two of you on a quiet evening. It was domestic, sweet, romantic even. Even chores seem like a dream when he's spending time with you. "I trust Charlie, I mean, I trust her intentions but I'm just not so sure about this Niffty character-" He looks up at you, you clear your throat. "This nif-" your voice falls flat again, your usually melodic voice rasping and phlegmy sounding. "Sorry-" you cough hard, trying to shift the mucus in your throat. Your nose is running from the pressure by time you get your voice back and continue your story. Lucifer is very concerned.

As much as you explain its just a sore throat he's very concerned it will grow into something else. He starts buying books on illnesses to try and figure out how to best help but that only stresses him out more. Tea, tea everyday for every meal, everytime he sees you he brings you tea. Medicinal, chai, cold, hot, lemon, he's spent so much money on tea and he's prepared to spend more until you get better. Refuses to let you talk, makes you go on vocal rest, gets the softest tissues available in hell when he notices how red your nose has gotten. Gets Charlie in on it of you don't get better in under a week. Charlie gets Vaggie in on it. You're surrounded by at least one angel whose never dealt with a sore throat every single day. By time you get better the angels have come together with a care schedule. It's a sore throat. Lucifer has carried you on multiple occasions. Once all your symptoms subside they get back to normal, just, try not to cough to loud in front of any of them.

[ladyxskywalker]

No Need to Pretend

Anakin Skywalker x F!Reader/OFC

you stay with anakin overnight at his apartment, a place that is beginning to feel more and more like your home

I wrote this a while ago =] super short based on a happy memory 💌

"Just love me, even if you have to pretend..."

He's in between sleeping, the moment right before his eyes are about to close late into the early hours of the morning. Watching him open them again when he says this.

He misses you even though you're not so far away. Reaching for you to stay next to him closer, away from the edge of the bed where there's not enough space, wanting you to abandon the couch to fit right in.

And you smile. His arms pulling you toward his chest, legs intertwining beneath the covers. Feeling trapped by the ease of falling for this man, in only the best of ways. An escape to the kitchen for ice cream, better left for the next day instead.

"I love you very much, I don't need to pretend."

You say, smiling and running your fingers through his soft and unruly hair. Caressing his cheek within your palm as he hums - getting more comfortable against the plush feel of his pillows. Tilting his chin up to find the brush of your lips that's now become a shadow.

You find that he likes them a certain way when you're there. The cushions, the placemats on the table. A mug for your coffee in the morning that he leaves out now. He likes that you have a favorite, and even more so when you say you miss it when you're not around.

"I cleaned today."

You remember him saying.

"You did? You always keep things tidy here."

"Mhmm. I want to keep things nice for you. For when you return."

Then you think of the short periods of time when you're apart. How even more than a week seems like too much.

That when you finally get cozy with his fuzzy blanket, the big one that reminds you of the one you have on your bed back at your place, you can't help but think that his apartment is just as much your home as well.

You certainly spend enough time there anyway...

"Are you sleeping here tonight...?"

He mumbles, gently. Pressing his forehead lightly against yours. Bringing the sheets further up and over to keep you both warm. As if the gesture was made to answer for you.

"Yes, handsome. I have a day off tomorrow."

"Good. You're supposed to be here."

And in that simple moment, you nod. Curling up further into his chest so that you can remember how all of this feels.

The memory of finding someplace where you belong.

A home.

His heart and yours.

Hands to hold that say you are safest and protected.

And a touch of his kiss before you both drift off.

... 💙

thanks so much for reading ! 😊☕💫

[flooffybits]

Such A Cliché

A soulmate is a person's other half, so the pain that one feels is a pain shared with the other. However, when circumstances aren't quite agreeable, hurting your soulmate is what you end up doing anyway.

Word count: 6.2k

Warnings: getting burned, yn is an ass, yoohyeon is scared of you, sad jiu, hospitals

A/N: lmao should have been done when I told you guys about it but I wanted to add more but here you go! also please tell me if i made a mistake, i had asked a friend what is unnie in chinese because i thought it would be nicer since dongie is yn's younger sister here

☕buy me a coffee☕

Gahyeon is understandably the last to get out of bed by the time morning comes. She knows that Dong had checked in on her a while ago, but she was too sleepy to even try opening her eyes, and instead batted the older woman’s hand away, grumbling about another five minutes.

So when she finally does decide to get up and get ready, the maknae was confused to see her roommate fussing around the dorm, perfectly dressed like always. “Are you heading out, unnie?” She asked while taking a seat, welcoming the quick peck Siyeon pressed to her cheek as a good morning greeting.

The Chinese woman hummed, smiling as she grabbed her bag and then began to put her hair up into a messy bun. “I’m picking my sister up from the airport today. I thought I told you last night?”

She did. Gahyeon was just too sleepy to retain everything the older woman told her.

“I don’t know why you expect her to remember after just waking up.” Bora teases, also dressed up and ready to accompany the latter. Though her comment did earn a pout from the maknae as she glared at the dancer. “I remember! I’m just still half asleep.” She argues, earning a laugh from the woman next to her before Siyeon pulls her to a hug. “Oh, no need to be so grumpy.” She cooed and Minji finally exited her room in time to see the pair putting their shoes on.

“Oh, you’re leaving already?” She questioned, smiling when she saw the now awake maknae. “Remember to be careful, alright?” She reminds them and Bora grins while giving her a thumbs up. “Like I would let anything happen to my princess.” She says with a puff of her chest and Dong only rolled her eyes in good nature before taking her girlfriend’s hand and tugged. “Let’s go, I don’t want to have her wait too long.”

Bora allowed herself to be pulled out of the dorm, waving goodbye while Dong shouted a quick ‘be right back’.

Once the door closed behind the pair, Gahyeon turned to the leader with her brows pinched together. “I forgot that Y/n unnie was coming.” She suddenly said out loud and Siyeon chuckled while she sipped her coffee. “We figured.”

Still, Gahyeon couldn’t wipe the frown off her face as she sank further in Siyeon’s arms. “Is she going to stay here?” She mumbled and Minji sent her a sympathetic look. “I don’t think so. But Dongie wants us all to hang out.” She explains, making the maknae grimace. “Come on, I know that she isn’t too fond of us, but let’s do it for Dongie.” Siyeon coaxes her before Yubin and Yoohyeon finally come to join them in the main room.

“Dong unnie and Sua unnie already left?” Yubin noted and Minji hummed in confirmation. “I don’t know how Sua unnie is going to adjust, now that Y/n unnie is moving here.” Yoohyeon muttered before Minji gave her a meaningful look. “I know that we don’t get along with her too well, but who knows? Maybe getting to see her often now could help.”

“I hope so.”

..

“Is it obvious that I’m nervous?” Bora blurted out as she scanned the crowded building. She’s been to the airport numerous times and she’s not really antsy with having this many people around her. But it was the fact that she would be seeing you again that had her fidgeting in place.

Dong gave her hand a reassuring squeeze while smiling under her mask. “Relax, unnie. It’s just my sister.” That didn’t help the dancer’s nerves at all. “It’s your sister, the same one who does not like us, by the way.” She reminds and Dong resisted the urge to sigh, her smile slipping away as she looked away.

“She’s just… not adjusted yet. My parents are warming up to me being away and being an idol but Y/n, you have to understand that we were inseparable as kids.” She explained, causing Bora’s lips to purse when she felt the tension her girlfriend was feeling through their link.

She hated that she had to be put in the middle of it all.

You weren’t a bad person, you were just indifferent because of the fact that you had your only sibling stripped away from you at such a young age. You had grown up together until she moved to study in South Korea and eventually became a trainee, going against your parents’ wishes, and leaving you feeling abandoned.

You tried to be supportive of her, but everytime you would see her with her group members, it always felt like you were being reminded of how you had lost your sister to seven people you didn’t know.

It was childish, you had to admit, but you missed her dearly. Dong was your best friend and you protected her at every given moment. So, after a promotion at work, you were given the opportunity to move to a different country. And seeing that South Korea was among your options, your answer was clear as day.

“There she is.”

Bora didn't want to bring the topic up again, knowing how it was a sensitive subject. So she bears the usual grin she always wore before waving her hand in an exaggerated manner, enough for you, and a handful of strangers, to notice the dancer.

You suppress the urge to roll your eyes as you head over, forcing a smile for your sister, and you notice as she lets go of her soulmate's hand to welcome you into a warm hug.

"I can't believe you're actually here." You hear her voice muffled against your shoulder, and your smile becomes more genuine as you pull back to give her a proper once over. "I can't either, but I'm sure you're gonna get sick of my face one of these days now." You joke and Bora smiles from the side, witnessing your true self around your younger sister.

Though as your eyes drifted to her, the dancer smiled and her wave was more tame this time around. "It's been a while. I hope your flight was fine." She attempts and you nod stiffly, expression now blank that Dong has to nudge you. "It was alright, though I think my legs would appreciate the walk."

She's a little surprised, considering you were a little more civil compared to your first meeting years ago. But she takes it either way.

"Well, let's get you to your apartment. I want to hear all about the promotion." Your sister pipes up as she takes your arm and Bora trails after you as you speak, respecting both of your privacy.

Though she does notice how you keep a slow pace to make sure that she isn't too far behind.

..

"You mean she's actually civil, now?" Siyeon asks in disbelief as she sets her cup aside. Her eyes were so wide, it looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.

"I was expecting her to ignore me the whole time. But she was trying." Bora explained, her face showing how she was also having troubles coming to terms with your new personality. "Then again, you are Dongie's soulmate. It's possible that she's still not too happy with the rest of us but tolerates you." Yoohyeon piped up and Bora turned to her. "I know, I thought of that, too."

Currently, Dong decided to spend a few nights with you to help you adjust, which Minji allowed.

"Dongdong actually told me that they had a serious talk when she went back home." The dancer stated while leaning against Yubin's arm. "But at least she doesn't resent you. She's trying for Dong unnie's sake."

"Dami is right. I'm sure none of us want to have Dongie pick sides. I'd probably do the same if my brother ever finds his soulmate." The leader commented and Gahyeon crinkled her nose. "Unless you find yours first." She teased, making the eldest playfully roll her eyes. "Very funny, but you know I'm not rushing into finding them."

Siyeon hums, already knowing the leader's stance after all these years. "Wouldn't it be funny if your soulmate ended up being Y/n?" Yoohyeon made a sound of protest, looking scandalized as Gahyeon laughed. "Don't say that! I can't imagine Jiu unnie with someone like Y/n unnie."

Bora rolled her eyes this time. "She isn't that bad. We don't even know what she's like aside from that one time and all the stories Dongie told us." She defended and Yubin shrugged her shoulders as she laced her fingers under her chin. "That's true, but all of unnie's stories are different from what Y/n unnie showed us."

"She's a protective older sister who had to let go of her only sibling. I'm sure you can understand how painful that must have been."

No one says anything to counter that. Even when Gahyeon was an only child, she's grown to love all the girls as though they were her own family, so she can't imagine having any of them taken away from her.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Bora spoke. "Dongie said Y/n was offering dinner for tomorrow." She looked up from her phone, the question in her eyes and Minji struggled a little to find an answer before she took a quick look around.

If Bora said you were fine, then maybe it would be alright.

"Sure. Tell them we'll meet them there."

Maybe that was her mistake.

Minji isn’t sure why, but given that you would be around more often now, she realized that you had to have some sort of civil relationship for your sister’s sake. Dong was as precious to you as she was to all of them. With you much closer now, there was no doubt that you would be around them, whether you liked it or not.

When dinner came around, Dong was leading the group through the restaurant, giving her name before they were brought to the table you had reserved for everyone, though you were nowhere in sight.

“I thought you said she was already here?” Yoohyeon asks cautiously, taking a seat and then looking around the fancy restaurant. “She sure does know how to go all out.” Siyeon comments when she looks at the various decorations and the expensive looking furniture.

Dong laughs at that, but a voice beats her into responding. “Work hard and you get rewarded, I suppose.” All heads turn to you when you finally join them and all but your sister and her soulmate straighten at your appearance.

With a nod, you take a seat beside the pair and then eye each girl. “I’ve already asked Dongie what you girls would like and ordered ahead. Though if you want to add anything, feel free to ask.” You explain, gesturing to the food that was already present on the table and answering Yubin’s silent question.

Minji shifts a little, the tension suffocating, before she decides to speak up. “It’s nice to see you again. I hope your trip was fine.” She says carefully, a kind smile on her features as you raise your eyes to meet hers. “It was alright.” Was your curt reply and Dong rolled her eyes before giving you a nudge on the side.

You give your sister a small glare before clearing your throat. “Right. Well, there was something I’ve been meaning to say.” You tell them and all eyes are on you, all of them listening very carefully while you keep a calm look on your face. “I am aware that my actions towards you all have been very childish and unpleasant.” You begin, and they aren’t sure if you notice the silent exchange they send each other or just chose to ignore it. “I didn’t make the effort to get to know any of you and merely aimed my anger and selfishness towards you all. For that, I’d like to properly apologize.”

The table is quiet for a while, the six girls looking at you in surprise and disbelief, and while you didn’t show it, you were a little nervous.

Thankfully, Yubin manages to recover before offering you a smile. “I understand why you acted the way you did, and it’s okay. I’m sure I would feel the same if I were in your shoes.”  She assures and it’s like a chain reaction before everyone starts talking. “We get it, really. Family is really important to you.” Yoohyeon is the one to say, and while it was different for her, she does understand being separated from a loved one.

Slowly, the tension starts to melt away. And while it was still a little awkward, the girls found a little bit of comfort in your presence the longer you all spoke to one another. Much like Dong when she first arrived in South Korea, you weren’t too talkative.

You were still quietly gauging each of the girls’ personalities, though you knew enough about Bora to know she would take care of your sister, soulmate or not.

They all cared for one another and you could see that your little sister was, in fact, happy where she was. This was her home away from home, and you didn’t have the heart to keep blaming these girls when they made sure she was loved and taken care of.

Resigning to that fact, you decided that maybe this was for the best. You couldn’t cling to your childhood forever and it was probably time to move on.

While you're so stuck in thought, you failed to catch how Yoohyeon had accidentally knocked a bowl with her hand, effectively spilling its contents. Unfortunately, the soup in it was still hot and you were quick to wince when it came in contact with your skin.

What no one was also expecting though, was the yelp that came from across your seat. Minji had clutched her left hand in an attempt to soothe the sudden ache and Dong looked more than surprised as you cradled the exact same hand.

“Unnie, are you alright?" Gahyeon’s question caught your ears and Siyeon’s eyes widened as both you and the leader answered at the same time.

“I'm okay."

The table grew silent as the two of you finally looked up, Minji’s face growing pale when she realized what was happening. She had kept her soulmate link open, and by doing so led her connection to experience the same pain her soulmate was experiencing.

That soulmate… was you.

“I'm, uh, going to ask for more napkins." Yubin quietly muttered as she swiftly left the table and Gahyeon squirmed as her eyes shifted from one person to another. The silence was deafening at this point and Dong wasn't sure how to proceed as she looked towards Bora.

The dancer looked worried above all else, but the disbelief still showed. “I think-”

"Excuse me.”

Dong made a sound of protest as she watched you get up and leave the table. "Jie!” With a quick nod from her girlfriend, your sister quickly followed after you while the rest of the girls did their best to process what just transpired.

"So Jiu unnie’s soulmate…" 

“I can't believe you jinxed it!" Yoohyeon squeaked while Siyeon tended to the leader’s hand, making sure it didn't hurt too much. “Oh god, Jiu unnie is… no, I can't even think about it.” Bora rolled her eyes at the maknae’s antics before she took the napkins from Yubin’s hands and began to wipe away the spilled soup. “Stop acting like Y/n’s some sort of disease."

“But she hates us!" Yoohyeon protested. “How can she be Jiu unnie’s soulmate?" Minji, who had been quiet the whole time, finally snaps out of her daze before looking around to assess what was happening.

She took note of the absence of you and Dong, so she's quickly on her feet and catching everyone off guard. “Unnie?" 

“Where are they?" She almost feels panicked at the thought that you’d left, but Siyeon gently tugs her back down to sit. “Unnie, I think you need to let them talk and let Y/n calm down." She says softly and the leader purses her lips together. "But I… we…"

Bora frowns at her friend before shaking her head. “Just let them talk for now, okay?" And as much as Minji wants to go and chase after you right now, she reluctantly obliged, sitting stiffly in her seat while the others did their best to try and distract her.

It takes around ten minutes before Dong is walking back, a regretful look on her face, and Minji’s shoulders tense up when she doesn't see you anywhere. “Unnie went home." Oh.

Instantly, there's sorrow in the leader's chest with knowing that her soulmate intentionally chose to leave after finding out who she was. While you may not be on the best of terms, she at least hoped that you would open up to the idea and talk to her. Since you were now living in South Korea, she thought this might be your chance to repair the relationship that you had and maybe work on your bond.

But that didn't seem like the case.

“The food’s been paid for but… do you guys still want to stay?” Dong asks with a frown and Minji looks at her with pleading eyes. "Did she leave already?” She can't help asking and Dong gives her a look, analyzing her friend, and she's not sure whether or not she wants to answer.

But she knows Minji.

"She's waiting for her ride.”

That's all it takes for the leader to shoot out of her seat and out of the restaurant in hopes of catching you before your ride gets there. While Yoohyeon and Gahyeon wanted to protest, their respective partners both stopped them.

By the time Minji’s out the door, she feels the chill bite at her skin for a split second before it's mellowed down. Her heart skips a beat at the thought but pushes it down as she focuses on the task at hand. It doesn't take her long to find you though because there's only a few people there. She sees the way you rub your burnt hand and her own skin tingles at the slight pain that lingered.

"Can we talk?”

“You and I have no business with each other that would require-”

“You know that’s not true… not anymore at least.” You were stubborn, Minji knew that. But she wasn’t about to give up on a chance that allowed her to connect with someone on such a deeper level that even her words were no longer needed.

But you were having none of it. Soulmates be damned. You were not about to do that, not with her.

“It’s a stupid connection. It doesn’t mean anything to me.” You turn to give her a sharp look. “It shouldn’t mean anything to you either.” All words die in her throat when a car finally pulls up and you open the door, stepping inside without saying anything more than you already have.

Minji all but watches as you slip from her fingers and disappear into the night, leaving her with an aching heart and shattered hope.

..

“Unnie, are you sure?” Dong pants when she hunches over, hands on her knees while she tries to catch her breath and Minji puts away her nearly empty water bottle, blinking up at the rest of her team with an apologetic look on her face. “I’m sorry, I just keep messing up this one part.” She says regretfully and Bora gives her a look that basically screams “shut up or I just might strangle you”.

“It’s only just a little bit more practice and you girls will be free to go so don’t worry.” Sooyeon promises them and Yubin shakes her head with a grin. “It’s okay, unnie. We can handle it.” However, no one is able to pick up on the wince that the leader shows after finally stretching her arms and legs. Siyeon had only spared her a questioning stare before she’s being bothered by the overgrown puppy of the group as Bora marches in their direction.

“You alright to keep going?” Sooyeon asks her when she sees the leader staring, but Minji is quick to snap out of her thoughts and flashes a grin, nodding her head and calling everyone to attention.

The pain lingers, but she manages to push through until maybe the week after.

She quietly asked Siyeon to get her some hot packs to put on the sore area along with her legs one night before she’s just about ready to call it quits.

“Handong?”

The familiar voice meets everyone’s ears when the door opens and a dancer is quick to point to your sister, who spins around in surprise. “Jie jie! What are you doing here?” She asks when she walks over. “Actually, how did you get here?” She adds with her brows pinched together and you frown before handing her the plastic bag you were carrying. “I have a phone, you idiot.”

Bora walks over to join you, given that you were a little more welcoming of her now that you were living here and managed to get to know her on the few instances Dong had forced you to spend time together. “What’s that you got there?” She inquires while your sister finally looks at the contents of the bag, her face lighting up when she sees a few familiar names inside. “Aww! You didn’t have to come here and bring us food!” She laughed when she noticed the embarrassment on your face.

Minji blanches at the sight of you and basically shrinks next to the maknae who looks worriedly at her. “We can go out if you want, unnie.” She whispers, but the eldest only offers her a smile before shaking her head, letting out a shaky breath. “It’s okay.”

“Anyway, shouldn’t you be at work right now?” Dong asks when Bora takes the bag to set aside, telling everyone that you had gotten something for them, too. “I clocked out early. I wasn’t feeling too good.” You mumble before your sister raises a brow. “So you decided to come here instead of going home and resting?”

“I wanted to be more involved in your life.”

Your sister pauses at your words before a smile blooms across her face and a poke landed on your cheek. “You’re getting soft.” She teased and you crinkle your nose while swatting her hand away. “Shut up and go back to practice. Everyone is looking at us.”

“You love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

With a laugh, Dong skips over to join the rest of her friends while you take a seat on one of the chairs to watch them do their work. While you were someone who worked in the world of business, you were honest when you told your sister that you wished to be more involved. So you pay attention to their choreography with rapt attention.

And while you don’t intend on doing so, your eyes gravitate towards the woman who was, in your opinion, a little more sluggish than she should be. It caused your brows to raise before pain flared throughout the entirety of your left side. Immediately, your hand reaches to try and soothe it, but the pain is persistent so you’re quick to look at the raven haired woman who is trying her best to power through whatever pain she was dealing with without realizing that she still kept her soulmate link open.

Looks like you were more tired than you let on because you did the same.

However, when you began to feel the sudden influx of her pain, your frown only deepened before you decided to slowly absorb whatever it was she was feeling, feeling a little relieved when she starts to move a lot more comfortably than when you arrived.

It’s like that for the rest of their practice as you quietly watched and accepted your soulmate’s discomfort without her knowledge.

“Will you be coming over tonight?” Dong asks when she comes back to you, candy in hand, and you shake your head, wincing when the nausea hits harder. “I just wanted to watch.” She scoffs before lightly punching your arm and you almost curse at how much that hurt. “You could have just gone ahead, dummy.”

Your brows knit together and at this point, Minji was already looking at you from where she stood. “I just felt like it. Now, shut up.” You grumble before swiftly walking out of the room and your sister laughs as she chases after you. “Jie jie, come on!” But your only goal right now was to escape and hide the fact that you had used your soulmate link to help Minji despite how you’ve been ignoring her.

Hell, you’ve been making her feel like utter shit with the way you talked to her since finding out she was your soulmate, but you had no idea that she was dealing with something like this.

“Be sure to eat when you get to your dorm and don’t stay up late.” You instruct as you reach your car, a pout forming on the latter’s lips as she crosses her arms. “Since when did you turn into mom?” She asks and you give her a look before getting inside. “I mean it, Dongdong.”

Sighing, she nods her head before giving you a quick hug and then shutting your door. “I will. Get some rest, okay? You look like you’re about to pass out or something.”

Shooting her a smile, you nod to the rest of the girls over her shoulder, eyes meeting Minji’s before you finally bid them all a goodnight and drive off.

As soon as you’re out of sight, Dong just stands there, but her smile is nowhere in sight as she lowers her hand and frowns in the direction you took. “Dongie?” Bora is quick to her side, noticing the sudden shift in her mood before her girlfriend shook her head. “I’ll check on unnie tomorrow.” Is all she says before she’s leading the two of them to the van that was waiting for them.

..

While you did avoid your soulmate like the plague, you do show up to a handful of their practices ever since then. Minji obviously noticed due to how her eyes would immediately gravitate towards you whenever you entered the room. She didn't mean to, but knowing that you were her soulmate had shifted something within her and she's a little frustrated knowing how your relationship was.

But since the first visit, Minji did notice how she was slowly feeling better. And at one point she did believe that she was finally well rested without knowing that you were the actual reason that she was better. Maybe the only time that she got a hunch was when you didn't come to their practice and she could feel the same throb on her side as before you had come to visit them.

“Y/n isn't here today?" Bora voiced out one time and Minji looked up to see your sister shaking her head in response. “She hasn't been answering any of my texts either so I think she's busy at work.” Dong tells them and Minji can't help but frown.

While you were a busy person, you always had time to text your sister on your whereabouts even though you’ve been living in South Korea for a month now.

"Doesn't unnie usually still text you though?” Yubin voices out Minji’s original thoughts. Even though she's admittedly still intimidated by your presence, Yoohyeon did show concern when she notices a difference in your usual routine. “The last message she sent me was three hours ago. She should be done with work by now.” Dong mumbles while she tries to send you another text. However when there’s still no response from you, she purses her lips before finally dialing your number.

“Maybe she’s just asleep, unnie.”

“She would have told me that she was headed home at least." Dong bites her lip as she anxiously waits for you to pick up the phone. However as soon as the line connects, she breathes out a heavy sigh of relief. “Yah! What are you doing? I've been trying to contact you-"

Everyone watches as the resident cat went quiet, her expression hardening as she listened to whoever seemed to have your phone at the moment. “What room?" Is all they hear before she's thanking the person and then quickly reaching for her bag.

“Unnie, I need to go to the hospital."

Bora and Minji’s faces were both of surprise and shock, but the former says nothing more as she follows after her soulmate while the leader and the rest of the members hurried after them. "Y/n unnie is at the hospital?” Yoohyeon asks while she did her best to avoid tripping over her own feet. "What happened?”

"That's what I want to know, too.”

As everyone huddled inside the car, Dong stares at her phone with Bora gently coaxing her into talking to her. Meanwhile, Minji’s mind can't help but run around at the possible reasons as to why you would be in the hospital.

For some reason it saddens her how she can't even feel anything that you may be feeling at the moment and all she can think of is how you've cut your connection off. It stings, but she refuses to be selfish right now and focuses on keeping her member calm and the rest in check.

As soon as they get to the hospital, Dong is the first one out and is quickly asking for directions to your room. She has no room for anything else at the moment. She just needed to see where you were. So she skips the elevator and opts for the stairs, taking two steps at a time and ignoring the protests of her roommate and soulmate.

“Uh, do you know where we're going?" Yubin can't help but question. Still no response. “Dongie, slow down or you might trip." Siyeon warns, only for the said female to abruptly turn down the next corridor, causing Yoohyeon to nearly crash into the dancer’s back.

Your sister would apologize to them later, probably. Right now, she was more concerned about your condition. When her eyes spotted the room number you were in, she quickly reached for the door before pushing it open.

“Jie jie?"

Inside, she immediately finds you sitting on the hospital bed. She's quick to give you a once over before she notices the bags under your eyes and that your skin lacks color. Her brows pinch together in worry as she comes closer and you turn your head when you hear their group.

“Dongie, what are you doing here?" Minji frowns at the question, but Dong merely scoffs as she crosses her arms across her chest. “What am I doing here? What happened to you?" She all but seethes. “You weren't answering any of my texts and when I call you, it's someone from work telling me that you're at the hospital?" Your frown deepens when the guilt stems in your chest the more your sister speaks. “I told you not to overwork yourself."

The rest of the girls are a little surprised, but then again this was her sister. It was understandable that she was upset right now.

“Dongdong, calm down." Minji gently soothes as Bora grabs her soulmate’s hand. “I know you're upset, but Y/n needs to rest right now, okay?" You watch as the leader tries to coax your sister but the glare she has is still fixed on your face as she waits for an explanation.

“It's okay." You finally interrupt. Looking around, you breathe out a sigh before gesturing for everyone to take a seat. “I suppose you'll all be here for a while so please have a seat somewhere."

“Jie-"

“I'm sorry." You cut your sister off with a heartfelt apology. “I didn't mean to worry you. In fact, I didn't think this would happen in the first place." You tell her, leaning back against the bed. “What exactly happened then?”

You're quiet for a moment, carefully considering whether or not to tell the truth with all of her members present. But then again, you were seeing them in a completely different light especially after you've been experiencing how exhausted Minji’s felt ever since you arrived.

"Jiu-ssi.”

Everyone looked surprised when you called their leader, but your soulmate only looked at you as your eyes met hers. "You haven't been feeling anything for a while, have you?” It was a simple question, but Gahyeon only frowned at the implication. "Why are you asking Jiu unnie?” But Yubin had placed a hand on the maknae’s knee while Minji shifted in her seat. "Not… really. I only got a little sore after some of our practices but they pretty much went away after."

She doesn't understand why this was relevant. You'd severed your connection with her ever since you found out she was your soulmate. It was why she couldn't feel an ounce of the pain you were feeling.

“As it turns out, the pain that you've been feeling for the past month has only been accumulating."

What?

“You were experiencing some pain on your sides the day I first visited Dongie at your company. I noticed that you weren't exactly comfortable when you were dancing so I tried something.” Wait, did that mean… “When I had reopened our soulmate bond, I was able to take that pain away, along with every other discomfort you had been feeling at the time." 

Minji’s eyes widened at the admission and her back grew stiff. “I also noticed how the pain was becoming more frequent so I opted to just leave the link open." You then shake your head when you remember where you were. “Unfortunately, it looks like I've overestimated myself.”

“But I thought…”

"How come unnie never felt anything from you?” Siyeon asks when she notices that the leader was unable to find her voice. "A soulmate link can be made one way. So I opted to keep her out while letting her pain in.” Dong took your hand in hers when she took the seat closest to the bed. “You should know how exhausting that can be. You should have said something.” Your sister scolds and you only smile while squeezing her hand. "After what I said to her…" You tear your eyes away from your sister to look at your soulmate. “I thought maybe this was my way of possibly apologizing." 

Minji couldn’t believe her ears, but at the same time, she was deeply moved with how you had decided to take all of her pain away even when you had told her that it all meant nothing to you. All this time she believed that you had no care for her and yet… you had been taking care of her without her knowledge.

“I know that I overreacted when I found out, but the truth is that I’m afraid of what this link may bring me.” You finally admit with a heavy breath. “I didn’t want to have another thing possibly be taken from me again, so I opted to just push you away rather than accept you and the bond that we have.”

Sensing the sensitivity of the conversation, Dong quickly gestured for everyone to get out of the room. And while Yoohyeon wanted to protest, her soulmate placed a hand over her mouth and merely dragged her outside. Bora sent her best friend a look while Dong gave you a smile before they both closed the door, leaving the two of you alone.

“I’m sorry, Jiu-ssi. I know that you’ve been miserable since we last spoke but I guess I was too prideful to admit that I was in the wrong in the first place.” You tell her and Minji forced herself to stand back up before slowly approaching your bed.

“I… can’t say that it was okay but… I do understand where you’re coming from.” She finally says while gripping her own hands. “Your sister left, you were hurt. So now that there’s something else to lose, you’re afraid.” She had hit a nail on that one as you dropped your gaze down to your lap and Minji felt her heart skip as she stopped at the edge of your hospital bed. “But Y/n… you need to know that I don’t give up on the things that matter to me.”

You lift your head in surprise to see her already staring at you, a warm look on her face as she assesses you and you wonder deep down why she isn’t screaming at you, cursing you for hurting her. “How can you possibly forgive me?” It comes out of your mouth before you can even think, and she only gives you a smile.

“I’d like to think that I’m not like most people. And if you give me a chance… maybe we can get to know more about each other's soulmate better?”

[cinamun]

This entire exchange…Mercy girl…I get it. He would’ve got my ass too.

With Bishop being a sociopath and therefore literally having NO feelings fr. How much to you think pure sexual attraction has to do with his actions towards Mercy? I know a lot of it is toying with her simply because it entertains him but sociopathic tendencies aside, sexual desire is something majority people just feel by nature because of your body’s drive to reproduce so it begs the question of where is the line drawn between him actually wanting her sexually and being irritated that another man is now involved hence the stalking/breaking and entering or doing it just because he had nothing else going on for the day, popped in per his usual shenanigans, saw she went on a date and just decided to fw her for fun? I was going to add another thought but I forgot now 🤦🏽‍♀️

Good morning friend! My notifications are being mad weird right now so sorry for the delay!! The flesh is weak and he would have gotten my dumb ass too 🤣🤣🤣

Anyway, this man paid for that body. He absolutely LOVES the sex and it was the primary driver for that initial attraction especially with the little kink they have.... 👀 I think he very much wants her sexually AND is irritated that she might let someone else smash. So we just saw him make sure she ain't thinking about Sean for awhile ☕🫖

As for the multiple felonies, I think he just gets a rise out of fucking with her. It's probably fun.

My question is, is it possible he might give more of a shit about Mercy than we think?

[swede1952]

Good morning. ☕☕☕

11 August 2024

When I enlisted in the Marines, I was given a service number, later they changed to using social security numbers. I believe that my dog tags may have had both. I bet I still have those somewhere, though finding them would be like finding a needle in a haystack. I can see one of my Army dog tags from here, hanging from a small statue of the Thinking Man, you know the statue from Dobbie Gillis. I still remember the service number after over 50 years. I think I do anyway, I suppose in could just as well be a phone number, but I think not. Back in boot camp we were required to memorize the number and recite it on demand.

"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." - Ronald Reagan

[delicrieux]

Hello, how are you? I hope you are doing well! I've had this idea in my mind for a while: could you please write a Harry Potter imagine where Draco asks Professor Lupin's daugther on a date to Hogsmeade? She's in Gryffindor. Thank you!

NIGHT, THE LIGHT  | endless drabble series (winter edition)  

summary: differences can actually be appealing pairing: draco malfoy x f!lupin!reader a/n: used 24. countless candles from this list <3

masterlist. ☕. reqs are open for the winter prompts list 1 & 2 !

Hogwarts drowns in candle light. White wax drips onto the walls and the floors and melts in puddles, leaving an earthy, herbal scent in its wake. They appear when the days start growing shorter and nights longer, and disappear when spring eventually comes. During December, it’s all a warm, cosy glow. You’ve never felt more at home here than during winter.

The curfew is upon you, and if a wandering professor should catch you sneaking back to the Gryffindor common room, you’d eagerly inform them that you had spent your hours studying, terribly afraid to disappoint your father. And if your father still worked here and caught you, you would tell him the truth: I was trying to hex the brooms so Filtch’d have something to do in the morning.

Well, a part of the truth, for you think that as kind as your father is, he would not take kindly to the news. You’d rather he not know at all, not now, lest he convinces you to change your mind via a strongly worded letter. 

You had been thinking of ways to ruin Filtch’s morning for a while now - you could not, in good conciseness, leave that burden for the Weasley twins to carry. Plan made and swiftly executed, you had been on the prowl for more shenanigans to cause. Surely inspiration would strike when the moon’s out, it always does.

In the candle-lit corridors you had ran into Draco, seeming a bit pale in the blousy light. Neither friend nor foe, he stuck to tormenting your friends on odd occasion when he became bored. Those jabs and jeers had died down drastically as the years went by. During year six, he preferred to ignore the lot of you, thoughtful about his musings as he was. 

He had grown pretty, and somewhat secluded, and sometimes he was even tolerable, perhaps even more than that. So you met in the dark next to the sleeping portraits, and your heart had skipped a beat which you reasoned could only be from fright.

He gave you a once-over, and his expression revealed nothing, “Quite late.”

“Haven’t noticed.” You said.

“Then you’re blind as a bat.”

“Charmed, truly,” You muttered, “where were you, anyway?”

“What do you care?” He quipped. You shrugged.

“That you’re right, I don’t. Will be on my way, now-”

And as you moved to pass him, he suddenly became alert, “Wait.”

By all means, you did not have to. But you did, and when you looked at him, he seemed torn and much older, no longer the petty boy Harry insist him on being.

“...Well?” You probed once the silence stretched.

“The trip to Hogsmeade is coming up.” He said it perfectly natural, even bored, “Would you like to go with me?”

You thought you misheard him. Brows drawn and eyes squinted, you inquired a simple, “What?”

“Are you deaf also?”

“Quite rude to insult me after just asking me out.” You bit back, “Why would I want to go with you, anyway?”

He shrugged, “It’s not a no.”

Your mind rushed a mile a minute, tripping over ideas and thoughts that were barely coherent: one was of you laughing and drinking butter beer in the damp and warm haven of the Three Broomsticks and the next was Harry lecturing you about unwanted company. 

But you were always one for mischief, and the excitement in your chest was palpable enough for you to fear he’d hear the pulses of your heart, and so you bit down a smile and shrugged, “I’ll think about it. I guess.”

“Don’t think too long.”

“What? Am I on the clock? Will you ask someone else if I don’t give you an answer.”

“Maybe.” He didn’t sound very convincing.

“Fine. We’ll go. But if we’ll have to stop at Junko’s.”

“Fine.”

Silence, again.

“Well, goodnight, Draco.”

“See you in the morning.”

All the way to your common room you could only think one thing: what the bloody hell just happened?

hope you like it! xx

[refinedstorage]

We used to be so much better at being human even just 10 years ago how do we get it back

[sgiandubh]

Happy birthday!

Dear Happy Birthday Anon,

Good morning and I am sorry. My birthday was in July, when I took a much longer break and made sure everyone that counts in my non-OL life was there. Sorry to disappoint you: not a Libra, just a strange specimen of Cancer (on the cusp of Leo).

But thank you anyways ☺. This put a smile in my ☕ . And I am sure there may be someone's birthday today, in this fandom, so let's make a good use of it and tell them many happy returns, whoever she/he would be. And slainte with a glass of Palivos white: it's heaven.

[mgnifiqueyoo]

— "better than him."

requested by: anon [💙] pairing: yeonjun x fem!reader song recommendation: everyone who falls in love – has someone else they’re thinking of (cian ducrot) lowercase is intended…

— short a/n: i've written a few txt stuff here so it really feels nostalgic to write about yeonjun! (thank you to the person who requested this,, i really loved writing this djnddjknd). in short, this oneshot absolutely got me kicking my feet. it has enemies/rivals to lovers themes and also a bit of angst (a few cursing too)! no nsfw themes as well so don't worry! ^^

[ total words: 3.3k ]

click here to support me on ko-fi! ☕ click on this g.form link to request!

───── ❝ ❞ ─────

“... ugh, you're here already?”

you had just stepped into the practice room, earphones plugged in yet you could still hear his voice as if it pierced through your ears… so annoyingly. “yeah? because i'm an actual responsible contestant, what about you?” it felt like all the nerves in your head were pulled upwards as you didn't even hesitate to snap back at him, which he also seemed to expect.

the first conversation you two have for today is already a mess, isn't that wonderful?

“because i'm an actual responsible contestant- blah, blah, blah… you're all talk,” he spat back with a sly smirk on his face, which you noticed without even looking twice. “besides, i bet you're just doing that to impress coach youngjun.”

“so what? it's not like i'm committing a crime or something.”

“that's understandable.”

yeonjun backed down, which you found was surprising, especially how quick it took him this time. usually, it'd take him days before taking your opinions into consideration. ‘i guess this is what happens when you're stuck with me for more than a week now,’ you thought to yourself, chuckling afterwards.

on the other hand, your supposed dance partner was making a face. in the simplest words, he heard the way you chuckled and he didn't like it. “just because i'm putting up with you, that doesn't mean you get to be all,” he paused for a bit, pointing his fingers sharply at the small smile that formed within your glossed, hot pink lips. “... smiley.” he stared at you with squinted eyes as you did the same in return. 

“oh? but i actually don't care so there's that.” your shoulders rose up in a snappish, almost unbothered manner that it made him grimace. — and oh, this is how it is to be around an equal… in an academy filled with such rivalry. isn't it a pleasant feeling? most of the time, it wasn't.

but now, you knew you can just deal with the personal feelings later on. yeonjun's not so bad to spend time with; if you think about it, he's not even close to the worst students of the academy.

it's better to be told these things face to face rather than not knowing who your real enemy is. “did you already stretch before i got here?” you changed the topic, focusing on the purpose of being stuck in this room with him as he nodded condescendingly, his eyes twitching with every second – how lovely? not.

“alright, then. give me ten minutes to prep,” you said, tying your hair up in a high ponytail that wasn't really neatly kept. but you didn't care anyway. it's just practice, not the competition itself. 

yeonjun, on the other hand, was just watching you closely, leaning his back against the wall with a look of either disapproval or curiosity. — either way, it didn't matter to you.

“... what?”

“just watching you feels like a hate crime to me.”

at first, you couldn't really care less about what he thought of you literally stretching. just like what he said earlier, you're “all talk” but in reality, he's the one who talks a lot. you never even said a word when you walked into the room; you barely even noticed he was there.

but even though you knew that he's contradicting himself, you actually had no idea why he did.

 “alright! good morning, you two.” a voice greeted from the now opened door, followed by a few claps. coach youngjun finally entered the room and broke the silence alongside the pianist, who immediately made her way to the keyboard at the corner to play one of the most well-known compositions with another musician who sat next to the bass drum next to him, ready to intensify the supposed solemn piece.

“good morning, mr. choi.” you both bowed down, greeting him back with respect as if the two of you weren't even bickering at first. and as soon as the coach had looked away, yeonjun already shared a fair glance at you – which seemed more like a warning rather than good luck. 

but that look of his quickly vanished when the coach had his eyes on you both once more. “so? should we start?” mr. choi clasped his hands together with a small smile on his face as both of you gave him a single nod in unison; it's like the two of you were actually getting along even though the truth is so far from that. “then, i guess you two should show me what you got so far.”

without thinking at least twice, you and yeonjun were at the center of the dance floor. you were now forgetting everything about yourself, taking in deep breaths as the music played; to you, it felt as if you've put aside all the things you thought about yeonjun – he's meant to be the apple of your eye by now, which is a little difficult to take in but that golden medal is what you're looking forward to.

being one of the best dancers the academy has, every single opportunity pushes you to reach what you want to be. you strive to be better. you have to be better no matter how big or small the stage could be.

because after all, that's what you wanted.

“you're going a little faster, y/n! slow down!” the coach sounded irritated as you widened your eyes mid-performance, trying to force more grace into every move you made despite the drum’s beats becoming louder with every second. — it didn't necessarily mean that you looked awful but interpreting the character was important; you seemed more like odile rather than odette. 

and to youngjun, that was quite uncomfortable to watch.

“yeonjun, you're stiff! move like you're in love with her!” the comments that pointed out all imperfections only stopped when the music did as well. 

you didn't want those words to get in your head… but you're slowly losing it.

“... that was underwhelming,” youngjun stated, his brows knitted in the way like he's trying his best to understand what just happened in that run. it was eight o'clock in the morning and god, he couldn't believe how mediocre that performance was. “i expected better actually… what was that? why did you two… look so tense? it just doesn't make sense.”

you weren't the only one that faced such high standards and you could just feel how yeonjun felt so upset about the coach's disappointment. “both of you were supposed to resemble lovers– lovers, you hear me? and what i just saw are like children learning how to dance for the first time. it's unpleasant, yeonjun. we can't show up next month like this.”

“well, she's a messy dancer. it'd probably take a while before we fix this.” that was your last straw, causing you to clear your throat to get his attention.

“me? a messy dancer? excuse me but maybe if you weren't so dense, then we would've presented a better performance.” you fought back, not letting him talk badly about you in front of the coach. in return, he chuckled, shaking his head. “really? i'm the one with the problem here? oh, just shut it, y/n. you don't even know what control is-”

“that's enough!”

you and your horrible dance partner turned your heads towards the coach once again, slowly realizing how stupid that petty argument was. “i'm going to leave you both alone and when i come back, this better be fixed or we're not pushing through.”

that last part was enough for the two of you to take this seriously as he left the room first, the pianist later following his footsteps as she made sure not to turn the situation worse by saying anything. the drummer, on the other hand, was aloof to it, minding his own business as he left the room, shutting the door closed.

“good fucking job, choi yeonjun.”

“as if you didn’t say shit about me either.”

you rolled your eyes, crossing your arms as you maintained distance from him. this was the most stupid thing you’ve ever participated in. — no, not the competition, of course but definitely the fact that you retaliated over yeonjun’s comments. well, to be fair, it wasn’t just you who messed up the first run! what you said back was just the truth.

but that also didn’t mean that you didn’t take part in making the performance weirdly underwhelming. “you know, you should try to shut your mouth sometimes, y/n. it’d save you air, just saying.”

“how about you fucking try that yourself? i wouldn’t say anything back if you stopped talking for once,” you interrupted him. like what the coach yelled earlier, this was enough. you’ve had enough. “you think this is just a game to you? it isn’t. so why aren’t you taking this seriously as much as i do?”

yeonjun stood there for a bit, not a single word leaving his mouth at all as he had his gaze at you and only you. “... you don’t think i’m taking this seriously?”

“well, maybe i would if you weren’t being such a bitch!” you can’t help but scream at his face, letting out a low growl after as you walked away, scratching the top of your head with both hands. as much as you thought you were handling this well, you were actually just dragging yourself down. — this was so out of control that it reminded you of something that was left in the past.

“you’re just like him.”

“... like who now?”

you let out a chuckle once more, turning around to look at him in the eye. “remember jihoon park? the one who left me in the bus during last year’s competition? yeah, you’re not too far from him.” when you told him those words, fire ignited in his eyes as he was barely a step away from protesting. 

yeonjun couldn’t accept it.

he was sure he was nothing like him.

absolutely nothing.

“you think i'm just like him? you think i can be someone so careless? for the record, i care about this performance as well!” yeonjun was furious. he couldn't stand thinking about how you thought of him; close to that infamous dance partner who was once called an ace. “so, tell me! how am i even close to that asshole?”

you let out another chuckle, one that's deeper this time as you shook your head. “you wouldn't get it even if i explained it to you,” you answered sharply, getting closer to his face with a smug look. “so don't bother learning about it, okay?”

“oh, now, you're not telling me… how convenient,” he was letting his sarcasm roll off his tongue like it was natural. but deep inside his head, he wanted to know. he needed to know what it was that made him so similar to jihoon park; your beloved ex-boyfriend. — so that he could change it. “... if you want this to be fixed, then i need to know at least the tip of the iceberg.”

“why do you care?” to yeonjun, it seemed as if you were angry at him. yet in reality, you were just so confused. why did he care about this so much? when did he start caring about this thing between you both so much? after all, you thought it was some game to him.

“why do i care? well, give me a reason why i shouldn't,” he taunted, sounding as “mad” as you did even though that was so far from the truth and you had nothing. for the first time, you had nothing against what yeonjun asked for. “and if you can't give me at least one, then i don't see the problem in caring about you.”

you held your palms up loosely, later putting them down as you shook your head once again. “no… let's not talk about it.”

“what?”

“i don't want to talk about it!”

and yeonjun laughed, not because he thought it was funny but more likely because he found it unbelievable that someone as bold as you are would avoid to talk about some ungrateful boy. “... why did you let him do that?” he questioned, still finding it so surreal that jihoon had made you feel so worthless when he left you in that bus, ashamed of yourself. “actually, i have a better question, why him? you know you deserve better, right?- god, you’re freaking me out.”

you couldn’t believe what you were hearing from him. it’s not totally something that was unexpected but you never saw this conversation coming. — he cared and he never denied that he still does. 

“really? after all the things i told you, you still think i deserve someone better than him? are you out of your mind?” you tried thinking of it as some joke but after looking into yeonjun’s eyes, you just couldn’t. in fact, you shouldn’t even. it was no joke. there was no punchline!

“of course, i do… you wouldn’t be such an irritating dance partner if he hadn’t treated you like such an embarrassment,” yeonjun admitted, walking towards the space beside you as the two of you were now leaning against the same wall, standing next to each other. “no one deserves to be left behind because he felt like you weren’t enough.”

“so, you knew about what he told me?”

“oh? everyone did. they talked about it all the time.”

it took you a moment before you nodded in response, completely startled by how these things just showed up now. — and somehow, in the end, yeonjun was the only one who told you the truth that you needed to hear from at least one of your closest friends, who happened to be rivals now. 

but that’s what hybe academy’s all about, right? rivalry. survival of the fittest. everything around you must be considered competition.

there are no friends.

just foes.

the dancer takes your hand in his, leading you to the center of the room as you tilt your head to the side, surprised. “come on? let’s go back to square one.”

“... this quickly?” you felt your shoulders rise up as he let go of your hand, positioning himself with a better posture, making himself ready for another round. 

“you wanna prove mr. choi wrong? let’s start dancing then, odette.”

you took a few seconds before you decided that it’s best to become the white, pure swan. after that poor performance earlier, yeonjun knew the exact words to convince you into dancing with him yet again. “... 5… 6… 7… 8.” he counted as the young, skillful dancer in him disappeared, fading away to the prince, whom odette loved with all her heart. 

there was nothing but love in those eyes that it made you wonder if you none of it was at least real. 

you made your way towards him, elegance lining your every step as if air had taken control of your “weightless” body; feather-like in other words. you kept your chin up, giving him a slight nod as your fingertips touched his wrist as well as his shoulder, causing him to give you a smile – which wasn’t in the choreography. 

“what are you doing?”

“you’re perfect.”

those words, despite being encouraging, also turned distracting for you as you twirled into the dancefloor with him, a lost and stiff stare being visible, especially with all these mirrors around the two of you. “watch your tempo,” yeonjun still found the chance to remind you about the things you must remember. “you’re doing awesome. keep it up!” 

the music in your minds soon fell silent as both of you looked straight into the mirror, hand in hand before bowing down to the imaginary audience. or was it all imaginary? because now, it seemed that you were also the audience of such a beautiful, quiet yet emotional performance.

not even the emptiest dancefloor could make it as cold and empty as it was earlier.

“i wasn’t lying earlier.” you didn’t know what he meant, causing you to look back at him, squinting your eyes in confusion. “lying about what? that i’m a messy dancer?” after such a petty fight, you finally found it comfortable to joke around with him as he laughed back, shaking his head while his eyes were still on himself in the mirror.

but then, those same eyes laid on your reflection, his plump lips slowly curling into a tiny, almost unseen smile. “no… no, it’s not that.”

“then, what is it?”

he turned his head to look at you, his smile becoming more noticeable as his eyes twinkled under the bright lights on the ceiling. “... you.”

“... well, what about me?”

for a quick second, he took a deep breath, his smile disappearing for a while but he didn’t seem to be upset about something you’d never know. instead, he came closer to you, standing next to you with your shoulders brushing against each other. his pinky finger grazes over yours, slowly wrapping it around as if he’s about to swear a promise for you. “... you’re perfect.”

words like that were new to you as you gasped silently, facing him with disbelief in your eyes.

“you’re not doing enough.”

“i don’t know why i’m doing this with you. all you think about is yourself.”

“forget the contest. fuck you, y/n.”

jihoon’s words were engraved in your mind, always coming back when someone tells you the nicest things you’ve never heard from him. all you ever wanted from him were words of encouragement but all he did was crush you. — and it ended with that last sentence, completely leaving you behind as you arrived to the venue with no one next to you.

shame was in your veins. until now, it was still there; pumping through the stream of blood, like poision had entered every part of you.

“what?” you uttered, uncertain of what yeonjun meant when he told you those two words, causing him to finally take your entire wrist in his grip, pulling you close to him as his other hand traced the side of your face with his knuckles softly. 

“kiss me,” he said, his voice trembling, equally as nervous as you were. but the difference? he couldn’t hold back the truth he avoided to face for so long. “stop thinking about jihoon and kiss me.” the tone of yeonjun’s voice danced around the tightrope that’d lead to either furiousness and frustration.

but then, you brought your palms to both sides of his face, your lips getting lost to his own as you reached the point where you realized… that you really did deserve better.

and maybe both of you had a rough start; all because of the denial that the past caused. 

in the back of your head, you wondered how could this take place; how could you kiss him just after such an argument? how could you bring your lips against his after that embarrassing, childish bickering in front of the coach? — if it weren’t for denial, you would’ve done this earlier than you could ever imagine.

something about his so-called hatred already came off as some denied admiration.

after all, who wouldn’t want to hold you like this?

moments after, he pulled away from the deepening kiss, remembering that practice was supposed to be the number one priority, not this… yet it was too good to let go, wasn’t it? 

he stared at you for a minute that felt like hours of silence for you as your heart raced just by thinking about the possibilities of what could’ve been going on inside his head. — was this mistake? did he think that this was a mistake? you didn’t know. you had no clue. and of course, that wave of shame was starting to wash over the weak shore inside your head.

“i’m staring to think that kissing you after the performance would be a good idea,” yeonjun cracked a joke, making you smile as you shook your head at him, finding him silly over it. “... but seriously! it would be a win-win situation if we won, which is expected, and i get to do what every guy at school would sell their souls for.”

“you’re crazy, do you want us to get eliminated? that’s foul play, yeonjun.”

“well? do you not want to kiss me?”

“... actually, you just changed my mind about that.”

[hourglass-dreams]

Madrigals in the Morning☀️

Alma didn't used to be a morning person at all. She was the kind of person to stay in bed until noon. But when the Encanto formed and everything happened, she had to become a morning person. Some nights she wouldn't even sleep but even when she was exhausted, she had to be up taking care of the triplets and helping the community.

Julieta usually wakes up in a fairly good mood, and early too. She secretly doesn't really enjoy cooking in the morning but she does it anyway.

Do not even look at Pepa in the morning until she's had her coffee. Yes shes one of those people that HAVE to have caffeine in the morning 😅 she hates waking up early and the only people she's nice to in the mornings are Félix and her kids and to an extent, Isabela.

Bruno has lots of trouble sleeping so when he does sleep, waking up is torturous to him because he often has a headache >< and he can just be cranky as hell so if he doesn't have to interact with anyone, he won't. 😅

Similar to Pepa, the only person Isabela is nice to in the mornings is her girlfriend (for me it's Maya ^^) or Dolores to an extent. She's also just really cranky and not up to anyone's bullshit 😅

Dolores is a lot like Julieta in that she wakes up in a good mood 95% of the time. She enjoys waking up early because it's much quieter.

Luisa isn't a morning person but she trained herself to become one over the years. She will work her ass off from sunrise to sunset unnecessarily. Her sisters are helping her with sleeping in more because she's often so tired.

Camilo is honestly so neutral. He wakes up tired as fuck but you would never know because of his high energy and readiness to mess with people 😅

Mirabel is the person that wakes up early as hell, ready to take on the world. No one understands how she does it, neither do I. She's in a good mood, talking to everyone, and energetic. LIKE HOW?

Antonio is the kind of five year old you have to drag out of bed, other than that, like Camilo, he's pretty neutral.

Félix will sometimes wake up in a cranky mood but hides it well, he has the coffee thing in common with Pepa though ☕.

Agustín usually wakes up early alongside Julieta or a few minutes after. He's pretty mellow, you know, besides him falling while trying to get crusties out of his eyes.

[c-n-i-d-a-r-i-a-n]

Thing!!

Got tagged by the lovely @crownedinmarigolds and it's been a while since I done one of these 👀

SO here are my submissions for this 9 People You'd Like To Get To Know Better situation!!

If y'all wanna play I'll throw lassos at these folks! 🤠 @dragomirthewizard @tweltchy @zoominalong @renaissancebadboy @redratt @mrfrunky @dabblingindissent @its-sixxers @shaydh

3 ships: I haven't engaged with "Canon" content for so long that I can barely summon up any concept of canon character x canon character. What media do I even like?? It is a mystery to me… After some very diligent digging into my past and present interests I have these raw uncut gems to present for you ✨

▫ Fallout 4: Danse X Hancock | A shit game that gave us some alright characters but couldn't give them good arcs. We live for good intimate tension and it could have been real between these two with their respective storylines if only the envelope had been pushed 140% farther.

▫ Destiny: Ikora Rey X Eris Morn | I've missed a lot of the recent content but I can dig it. It's one of the more reasonable ones.

▫ Warhammer 40k: The Emperor of Mankind X Malcador The Sigilite | That monster knew love exactly once and no one can convince me otherwise.

first ship: The Matrix: Neo X Trinity X Morpheus | My parents loved these films so I saw them maybe once a month growing up. I'm probably the person who's watched the Matrix the Most. Anyway these three are poly af.

last song:

last film: Guardians of Gahoole - the war-owls movie | We watched it on Christmas because I forgot we owned it and I also forgot how hard that movie fucks, like it pulls no punches for a "If Tolkien wrote Owls" narrative.

currently reading: Priests of Mars | Graham McNeill

currently craving: My second coffee of the morning ☕☕☕☕

fav color: I like oranges and yellows, and blues and greens!

relationship status: Happily married!

last google search: "Dark Souls death screen generator" Most of the jokes I make on Discord hinge upon this macro creator

current obsessions: ▫ Baldur's Gate 3 ▫ Vampire: the Masquerade ▫ TTRPGs with the crew (💋💋💋 y'all are awesome and I love you alll) ▫ If you can count "being stressed about tax filing" then I am also obsessed with tax filing 🤙

[seokmins]

Brewing Love — LSM

The clumsy, newly hired barista honestly sucks at his job. But there's actually a good reason why he's either breaking the coffee machine or forgetting recipes?

【ˢⱽᵀ ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡⁱˢᵗ || ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳᵖᵒˢᵗ】

💞 🄿🄰🄸🅁🄸🄽🄶: Lee Seokmin x reader 📚 🄶🄴🄽🅁🄴: Fluff, Very teeny tiny angst, Coffee Shop/Barista!au 🌟 🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: G  💬 ⓌⒸ: 4.8k ⚠️ 🅆🄰🅁🄽🄸🄽🄶🅂: Food/Non-alcoholic beverages, Reader has anger issues tbh lol, Not much really lmk if I need to add anything — I really tried to make it gn! as possible so I hope I didn't miss anything :D

💫(っ  ◔◡◔)っɛƖ۷'ʂ ŋơɬɛʂ 💕:

requested by the darling miss @chogiwapadada for what I presume is in celebration of 1k on this blog 😏 I don't know if this was a request truly meant for you lmao I think you sent it bc you know it would torture me fjskdf but I finally got it done... anyways, mwah this video lives in my head rent-free thx bestie wife I hope you enjoy it 💖☕

It's just like your brother to leave you to fend for yourself. 

You had made Joshua swear up and down to you in person that he would never leave the quaint coffee shop he'd opened last year near the local campus unattended and unsupervised. You'd collected written assurance that he would give you fair warning if he needed your assistance. All you'd asked was at least a week's notice. You were a busy person!

Seungkwan would never let Joshua do you dirty like this. But your best friend was in Jeju now, as he always was during this time of year to see family. Meaning there would be no one to operate the coffee shop during its busiest season, the second month of the fall semester.

Joshua knew this. Seungkwan's been the 'best' to your 'friend' for decades. 

One to two people was enough to keep disgruntled students and surly professors semi-satisfied with their daily (or hourly) orders of much-needed caffeine. Joshua was always in the back, filling in between Seungkwan's generous shift hours or whenever it got busy — or at least that's where he was supposed to be.

Right now, Joshua must be enjoying himself on the white sands of some remote beach. Watching the sun sparkle across aqua blue waves as the tide rushes in to kiss his toes, sea breeze whipping back the black locks of his hair, one arm wrapped snugly around the shoulders of his partner. 

You're happy for him. Truly. You did not want him to feel any bad vibes on his special vacation.

Still — that didn't eliminate the fact that you hoped he would stub his toe on a rock as you glare at his sloppy, scribbled signature on the written agreement that ended up doing you no good. 

You're well aware that he and his significant other had decided on a small, private wedding. You were the one who happily lent your assistance in helping them prepare it. The celebration was quiet and tiny in contrast to the radiant display of love and affection they had toward one another. A reason why they had been debating on whether or not they would go somewhere extravagant instead for their honeymoon. 

You slam a glass a little too harshly on the counter. Of course, you'd advocated that they should! Duh! You just didn't think Joshua would send a lame text message, having already booked a flight and halfway out of the country by the time you read it in the morning. That was Joshua's escape mechanism to avoid the wrath of your anger as you scrambled to get to the coffee shop and open it before the regulars in a more foul mood than you decided to riot.

Smart and stupid.

AKA Joshua Hong, your beloved brother.

The door to the storage room bangs open and you hear a worried gasp of your name before two hands are wrapping around your own, trying to gently pry your fingers from around the glass. You let out an angry huff of air that causes your hair to fly up but release the death grip on the glass and let yourself be fussed over.

"I thought you had broken something!"

"What, like you do?"

It's fascinating to watch the blush creep up along Seokmin's neck to his ears and finally color the roundness of his cheeks. The soft trace of his fingers over yours intently checking for any signs of injury is equally as heartwarming as him trying to defend himself.

"That… that was… an accident."

You raise an eyebrow. "Are you saying I was trying to break something on purpose?"

"N-no! I was just worried you might've hurt yourself."

"I'm fine and so is this glass. Now get back to what you were doing, our afternoon rush will be hitting soon."

Like a scolded puppy, you can practically see figurative dog ears drooping as Seokmin hunches his broad shoulders and slinks back to the storage room. Despite being thousands of miles away, Seungkwan pulled through with helpful information that he knew someone who was looking for a part-time job. Of course, your best friend who was a reliable worker fully understood additional assistance was needed during the month and a half that Joshua was gone. Unfortunately, he had underestimated just how clumsy Seokmin was.

Although he was sweet and ready to learn immediately upon being hired, you swear it only added more work to your plate to train him. It also didn't help that his charming good looks caused an influx of customers to flock to the shop, very unsubtly to steal glances and shoot their shots with the new barista. Even you could admit that watching Seokmin's arms flex as he operated the large coffee machines, the bright sparkle in his eyes that matched his brilliant smile, and his shy but endearing nature were all very healing for the soul.

But you were also a witness to the horrifying scene of him almost breaking the great coffee contraption that cost nearly triple the amount that students paid for tuition at the campus. If you had been a cat, all your fur would've been poofed out when you hissed in shock at the unnaturally loud clank that echoed over the calm background music when he'd pushed down a lever too hard.

The future flashed before your eyes at that moment. 

A furious, caffeine-deprived mob banging outside your door. Seungkwan complaining about his puffy face after crying for weeks. A perplexed Joshua divorced merely a month after marriage because now he's swimming in debt. Loan sharks dirtying your name and preventing you from ever getting a new job to pay for repairs and all other extraneous bills. You and Joshua are homeless, branded as criminals on the run.

Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic. 

But you've poured a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and money into this place and that darn machine — none of which you technically even own. It's your brother's pride and joy just as much as it became yours, a comforting place to visit on your days off that you are more than happy to assist when it all comes down to it.

Even now, you're eyeing Seokmin suspiciously as he very gently lowers the lever to start the process and shoots you a sheepish smile. Everything turned out alright in the end. But you had to spend an extra two hours last week examining the components closely with your new hire cringing but giving you pouty, pleading gazes in the hopes that you wouldn't fire him on the spot.

Of course, you didn't. You even brewed him your signature blend to ensure that the machine was operating as it should and as additional compensation for the extra time he stayed. Plus, you needed his help. Whether you liked him or not.

You did like him, though.

"Um, can you help me finish this latte?" 

You jump. Lost in your thoughts, you're unaware of Seokmin's sudden presence as he whispers in your ear, minty breath warm as it fans against the side of your face.

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

Even though he did things like this, yes. You somehow still really did like Seokmin.

He's good at acting oblivious to the curious, questioning stares of the customers waiting at the counter and you do your best to ignore them as well. Peeking over his shoulder, you talk him through it as your nervous system relaxes because of the refreshing scent that surrounds him. 

You don't know how to describe it but Seokmin smells like sunshine. Maybe because he is the sun itself.

"And you know what's next?"

"Wait, don't tell me." His eyebrows scrunch as he closes his eyes in thought, mumbling what he's already done to remind himself. 

"You've added almost all of the ingredients."

"Right. Cinnamon, vanilla extract, syrup… the coffee of course. Uh…"

"Milk."

"Yes," he puts down a finger as he counts, "the milk… Oh! The milk!" Smacking his forehead lightly, he grabs one of the containers that he'd frothed a portion of the milk in earlier. "Duh, how could I forget that again?"

"You're doing better each time."

You're taken aback when you pat him encouragingly and he turns, not even flinching at how close his face is to yours. "All thanks to you."

You blanch at his sparkly, grateful eyes and quickly shuffle to the counter. The woman waiting for her order is giggling as you approach and you choose to ignore it.

"Would you like whipped cream?"

"I do like sweet things," she slyly says and takes it from your grasp, laser-focused on the man behind you. "Care to top me off, Sugar?"

You follow her expectant gaze only to find Seokmin not even paying attention. His back is turned and he's humming happily to himself as he cleans up the used utensils and straightens the dishes. 

"Um… excuse me, darling?"

"I think she wants whipped cream," you say. Or something… someone… else runs across your mind only to blink when the tube is dangled in front of your face. "Huh?"

"Said you needed it, right?" Seokmin waves it back and forth until you take it from him and goes right back to what he was doing with a bounce in his step. "Let me know if I can grab anything else for you!"

The woman is boring holes into the side of your head as you stare at his back flabbergasted for a few seconds before snapping out of it. Meeting her narrowed eyes, you put on your best customer service smile and squeeze the whipped cream dispenser to top off her latte. 

"Could I get you anythi — "

"Hah! No. Thank. You."

She flounces out as if she's a damaged diva not even waiting for you to finish and you shrug, wiping up the wasted drops of liquid heavy cream. Losing a customer who has a bad attitude is no skin off your back.

"What was her issue? She was kinda rude."

"And here I thought you weren't paying attention."

"Of course I was. She asked for whipped cream, she got whipped cream. No reason to cut you off like that when she got what she wanted."

"But she didn't."

"What?"

You turn around with a knowing smirk and lean against the counter when Seokmin tilts his head in confusion. "She didn't get your attention."

He rolls his eyes. "That's ridiculous."

"Are you single?"

"Uh… wh-why do you ask?"

It's amusing how his demeanor changes so quickly, once again flustered after being snarky for merely two seconds. 

"Sorry, I'm not trying to pry. You don't have to tell me, what I mean is that, if you are single it's okay if you wish to spark a connection with a customer. Nobody's going to fire you for that, we're chill about it. That's how my brother met his partner after all."

"I… I don't — "

"I'm not saying you have to, like if you already have someone special you're also free to invite them over if you want 'cause you know Kwannie does that all — "

"I'm single!"

You blink at his abrupt outburst. "Okay. I wanted to make sure you're comfortable here. As long as you don't break my coffee machine, you can do what you want."

"I just," he runs a hand through his hair, "it's… it's nothing you have to worry about." 

Seokmin looks so devastatingly serious — almost upset — that your body moves before you realize it, playfully dispensing a dollop of whipped cream on the tip of his nose. It's comical how his eyes cross in confusion to stare at it in utter astonishment that you can't help but let out a tiny snort. 

He recovers from the shock faster than you think. Thumb scooping the cream off with lightning speed before he cradles your cheek and chin, smearing it across your bottom lip with a gentle swipe.

You've heard detailed stories from your friends, and even sickenly from your brother, about the legendary sparks that fly in moments with someone you deem special. But no one ever talks about the absolute stillness. How everything seems to fade away and it feels like it's just you and Seokmin in the world. In that moment.

Staring into his warm, dark-brown eyes that hold galaxies. Holding your breath when his gaze drifts down to watch how your tongue pokes out to lick up a tiny bit of the whipped cream. Right where his thumb hovers above your lips. How his eyes dart back up to yours, leaning in just a smidgeon before the sound of someone irritably clearing their throat shatters the spell.

"How quaint." 

You leap away from Seokmin's grasp, scowling at the new arrival who lazily adjusts his barely-tied tie, only causing it to look messier. Yet, it somehow makes the local populace drool over him even more.

"Yoon Jeonghan."

He laughs at the way you hiss his name, unfazed by your venomous tone. "That's now Professor Yoon to you, sweetcheeks."

"Gross. I doubt any students can take you seriously."

"Does Shua know his sibling isn't looking after the shop and customers but flirt — "

"Josh knows his place is well taken care of because I'm here, isn't that why you told him to take off?" You interrupt with a pointed tone, raising your eyebrows. "What do you want, the usual?"

Jeonghan rolls his eyes. "You're acting like their elopement was my idea."

"And it wasn't? Can't fool me, Mr. Yoon."

"Not always. But I'm not lying, it really wasn't me. You know Joshua is much more mischievous than he lets on."

"Yeah, tell me about it. He's had a bad influence ever since he was young."

"Ouch. Are you sure you're not talking about yourself?"

The cardboard coffee container is nearly crushed by your grip as you hand it to him. "If your conscience stings you must be feeling guilty, unlike me."

You hear a snort off to your side and side-eye where Seokmin is trying to hold back his laughter at the bantering while he fusses with another recipe. His cheeks are still flushed, ears adorably tinged red and you bite your lip.

"Ahem. Sometime today, preferably."

Jeonghan's additional cough snaps you out of your trance, glaring at your brother's best friend as if you weren't caught red-handed. Again.

"Here. Your order."

He delicately picks up the cup, a stark contrast to your aggressive movements. "Thank you, my dear barista. A one out of ten experience as usual."

If you could, you'd flip him off as he turns his back to leave like you normally do. But 'professional' times call for 'professional' behavior and you've already made a fool of yourself enough today. 

"Go ahead and post your opinion online as promised! Then you'll see how irrelevant it really is!"

That doesn't stop you from having the last word when the bell jingles and Jeonghan graciously responds with a middle finger once he's fully stepped out the door. A sigh of irritation escapes and you tap your nails irritably on top of the counter. Maybe you can speak to your friend Seungcheol in administration and find out how in the world that menace managed to get employed.

You don't actually dislike your brother's best friend. He just grates on every single one of the few nerves you have left.

Seokmin sidles up to you. "Hey, do you have some time tonight?"

"Why? Want to go over some more things?"

"That would be nice, yeah."

"Sure." You shrug in agreement. It's not like you had any big plans. "Let's see if we can survive through this mob first, though. Seems like classes have let out for common hour — oh, wait!"

He freezes, wide-eyed. It's your turn to grasp his sharp jawline in one hand, bringing his face closer to yours. Ignoring the way he nervously licks his lips and how his eyelashes flutter as he rapidly blinks, you take a napkin and wipe the sticky remnants of white still left on his nose.

"Sorry," you murmur, "you had… there was just… a little… "

"Thank you." Seokmin's hand covers yours pressed against his cheek before you can move away. You're forced to meet his gaze head-on, unable to look anywhere else. "Thanks for taking care of me."

"O-of c-course!" You curse yourself for stuttering like an idiot. "I m-mean I have to take care of you, what kind of person do you think I am?"

It's Seokmin's turn to take the first step back but he does it with a calmness that almost seems calculated if it weren't for his embarrassed giggle that sounds abnormal being two pitches higher than usual. Shamelessly he winks at you, pretending like the heat that's been burning in his cheeks hasn't spread down to even his arms.

"A very sweet one."

You try to hide your shy smile behind a frown, sarcasm, and the chatter of customers coming in. "Well, duh!"

Time flies when the coffee shop is bustling. The lines do not let up and somehow, Seokmin helps keep up decently without any terrible disasters befalling. Just as the sun begins to sink below the horizon and cast off the distinct glow of golden hour rays, you happily flip the 'closed' sign to display on the door. 

Stretching, the feelings of relief at the end of the day are briefly interrupted by Jeonghan walking by on his way home and you rightfully get your vindication. Two middle fingers and a big grin. Gestures he doesn't fail to kindly return.

Your neck prickles and warms slightly when you go back inside and find Seokmin grinning at you as he leans on the counter, forearms nicely on display. The frothy glass placed between them allows you to ogle his arms without it being too obvious.

"You like it, huh?"

"Huh? Like what?"

"Messing with Jeonghan." A playful smile is on his lips, almost a smirk like he knows. 

"Well, yeah. We've known each other since we've been in diapers so it's easy to give him crap."

"Ever had a crush on him?"

You put your hands on your hips. "What's this? Revenge for earlier?"

"Depends on what you're referring to." His eyes sparkle. "And maybe your answer."

"Why does this feel like a test?"

"Maybe it is."

"You're a piece of work!" You exclaim, eyebrows twitching at the next words that come out of his mouth. 

"As much work as Jeonghan?"

"No, Hannie's something else, for sure. Now, you… you're just… I don't know… difficult." 

"You wound me, you really do." Seokmin shakes his head with a smile. "All I did was ask a simple question but it seems like getting to the answer's more difficult than I am."

"What do you get out of knowing?"

"I don't know… wingman privileges?"

You choke on air. "Are you trying to set us up?"

"If that's what you want. Your answer, then?"

"No, thank you," you say emphatically with your entire chest and he beams.

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" He gestures to one of the tables and you take a seat with a huff.

"You know I could cut your pay out of spite."

"Yeah, but you're not going to."

"You're right, as long as this drink isn't poisoned." You stare dubiously at the beverage placed in front of you and he whines.

"The last one wasn't that bad!"

"No, but… it wasn't good either. Oh? What's this?" 

Tonight, it's not just a drink Seokmin has whipped up. A pretty little fruit cake on a plate is accompanied by it and you poke it questioningly with the fork he also hands to you. 

"I made it."

"You did?" You eye it and poke it again. "Well, it's awfully squishy for something made out of plastic."

He whines again, this time your name. "I'm serious! Just try it."

You relent, of course. You've already established the terms ahead of time in case you get sick from something he's made. Not that you have, but it's always good to be prepared for the worst case scenario.

Gingerly, you take a tiny bite. Eyes unwittingly lighting up in enjoyment at the taste of one of your favorite sweets and the way the fluffy dessert melts on your tongue. Absolutely deli —

"It's good, isn't it?"

"Just say you bought it."

"Wha — ?"

"You can't fool me. Clearly this cake is store bought."

"I… " Seokmin tilts his head. "Okay, you got me… you enjoyed it though, right?"

"It's a very appreciated treat, thank you. Where did you buy it?"

"Um, got it from a local bakery. I think they just opened so I'm glad it tasted good."

"Oh, nearby?"

He twiddles with his thumbs. "Uh, p-perhaps I can take you…?"

It is at this moment you heavily weigh your options in a decision-making split second. Grabbing the drink you haven't touched yet, you gather up the confidence you didn't even know you could summon around him.

"A date?"

Seokmin's entire body twitches as he mildly chokes on his saliva. His downturned gaze shoots up to meet yours before returning to the very, incredibly, interesting mark on the table.

"Um…"

"Is it? Are you asking me on a date?"

"W-would you… g-go with me? I mean t-to the place."

You raise your glass in his direction, a smile growing on your lips. "I would like to meet the professional baker who made this cake… "

He bites his lip. "Are you teasing me?"

"Not necessarily."

"Then?"

"If your drink concoctions meet my expectations, then we can go… on a date?"

The poor man looks like he might die on the spot. "You're definitely making fun of me."

"Am not." Even with your mischievous banter, the answer is clear when you slightly grimace after taking a sip. "Why does this taste a bit off?"

"I don't know…"

"I think you added too much syrup. Did you remember to divide it evenly?"

He shrugs. "I think so?"

Sighing, you stand up and gesture for him to follow you around back. "Let's go over the basics again. I can't believe you're still so bad at this."

"Maybe I don't have a good teacher." Seokmin's hands fly up in defense when you whirl around. "I'm kind of over here struggling to wrap my head around if you're asking me out or if you're tricking me into thinking I asked you out."

"Use that lovely brain power of yours to retain the correct measurements this time to succeed. If you want to go on a date, that is."

"I'll do my best."

Seokmin's grand declaration is encouraging but every single fancy drink he prepares for you flops and you're starting to consider that maybe this was his subtle way to reject the date offer. You're mildly insulted, to say the least. But in all honesty, you don't have time to dwell on it, let alone even have time for one anyways.

It's a relief when Seungkwan returns, granting you some well-deserved days off to return to your normal routine. By the time you've finally caught up with things and find time to drop by the coffee shop again, it's been a little over a week. Joshua's flight landed the night before as well, meaning your dashing brother would be well within choking range soon.

Your best friend greets you at the front with a tight hug and large bag of souvenirs as promised. You ask him about his visit and he chats animatedly about the rest of the Boo family he hasn't seen since last year.

"You know I was worried that you didn't get any rest before coming to work but it seems like things are going smoothly."

The atmosphere is peaceful and quiet, the midday lull leaving the shop empty and Seugnkwan's as bubbly as ever. In fact, he rolls his eyes at you and clicks his tongue. 

"I got a ton of rest, silly. And Seok's a great help."

"Yeah, he's not too bad. I just feel bad that you have to manage everything as soon as you got back."

"Aw, you gotta chill out, bestie. Seriously, we have a pro on our hands."

"I know you're more than capable — "

"Not me, I'm talking about Seokmin obviously!"

"What?"

Seungkwan babbles on while you're left flabbergasted. "You know it's incredible, really. He's already whipped up a whole bunch of new drinks and now that we're going to be adding pastries to the menu, he wants to kickstart them by launching a holiday theme! Something fruity because — "

"Whoa, whoa… what are you even ta — "

"Spilling all of my trade secrets already, Kwan?"

You turn around at the voice but you're not even focused on the man speaking who's suddenly shrouded in mystery but glaring daggers at the one with his arm wrapped around Seokmin's shoulders. 

"Joshua Hong!"

"Behold!" Your brother raises his tanned arms to the ceiling. "We have acquired brand new bold and raw talent!"

"Don't think I won't kick your butt because there are people around!"

"Lovely to see you too, dear!"

Seungkwan rushes to hold you back when you take a threatening step towards his boss. "I understand your feelings but can we please call a truce for now!"

"I demand an explanation."

"Of course," Joshua nods, "you have my eternal gratification for various reasons but especially because you convinced the Lee Seokmin to come to the dark side."

"You know I want to hear about something else so what are you talking about, Kwannie picked him? And the 'dark side'? This isn't a cult!"

"Well, yeah but it wasn't until he found out that you — "

Seokmin interrupts Joshua with a hacking fit causing the two other men to look at him in concern. Your eyebrow twitches.

"Clearly there are many things going on that I don't understand." Whether it was intentional or not, you didn't like it.

"It's not like that, it's just — "

"Seokmin's the son of the family that owns that famous bakery in town," Seungkwan supplies helpfully, the only one with a tiny bit of common sense. "He's been scouted by tons of places since he decided to start out on his own but he's agreed to set up shop here."

Your mouth drops at this new information. "What?"

Joshua's arms wrap around the younger man's shoulders again. "Isn't this exciting? It's going to bolster our sales so much!"

When your eyes meet Seokmin's, he winces. "I wasn't trying to hide anyth — "

"If you didn't want to go on a date so bad, you could've just told me."

It slips out of your mouth before you can even think and everyone, including yourself, freezes. Realizing what you said, you swear under your breath, getting ready to bolt away from the scene immediately. But as usual, Seokmin's one step faster. He gently grabs your wrist, spinning you to face him again.

"I swear it was nothing like that! I…. I ended up delaying things because I was nervous."

"Why? There was — well, at least I thought — there was… I don't know… something between us?" Your other hand covers your face. "I can't believe you're making me say this in front of my brother and friend!"

He sucks in a harsh breath. "How do you think I feel? And I'm sorry, I didn't… I was just being stupid. I wanted to… liked spending more time with you but I was unsure of what Joshua might think of me."

"He could give two rats less about a single thing."

"True dat," your brother chimes in.

"You see how he runs this coffee shop… or rather the lack of. No responsibility."

"Hey!"

While Seungkwan hushes your brother, Seokmin takes both of your hands in his. "I'm sorry. Really. C-can I please make it up to you? Maybe o-over some cake and coffee? I'll explain whatever you want."

You chew on your lip, the warmth of his grip and pleading gaze causing you to rock back and forth on your heels. "Are you asking me on a date, Lee Seokmin?"

He catches onto your teasing tone and squeezes your hands. "If you'd be okay with that…"

—

Seokmin still is bad at making drinks. Even if he's improved and follows the recipe correctly, they still taste awfully bland. Neither you nor Joshua nor Seungkwan can figure it out but it's okay because that's where you come in. His grandiose ideas are brewed into fruition by your very own talents and that's why you stick around. 

Or perhaps the delicious little desserts and pastries prettily displayed on the counter are another motivation. Definitely getting to test-taste every single one before it's put on the menu is certainly a bonus. 

And maybe… just maybe… It's the smiley man whose kindness is baked into each one of the tasty treats that becomes the real reason you stop by every day. Just like how everybody comes for their daily fix of caffeine, you cannot go without your daily fix of love from and for your very own Lee Seokmin.

dokyeomblr September 2022: Brewing Love ©

[cinamun]

I've been just reading and processing, and may I just say BRAVO!

Characters like Dira are sometimes hit or miss with me. Sometimes the face of sexual liberation is a woman with multiple partners, while a woman that is celibate or just not interested in casual sex is demonized as a prude, even though both are expressing bodily autonomy. And the same thing can be said in reverse. I'd like to applaud you for not demonizing either, and for also refocusing the real danger of this lifestyle.

It isn't the lifestyle, it's people pushing boundaries and not respecting women at their word. I, like several readers, am so used to women bearing the burden of men's actions and feelings that I didn't even realize that these dudes not hearing her isn't her fault. World view shifted.

I also love that Darren is there to be like, "Not your fault, but the way things should be isn't how they are. Protect yourself."

Now should I be concerned that you've introduced a literal Chekov's gun? Probably.

Should I be concerned that Dira has had a vision of SadBoi McKidnapper? Sure.

Is there still the fact that Dira, in her conversation with Hope, that she still think that when people express love, she thinks of control and ownership? Yeah.

But do you know what I'm most interested in right now?

Dira getting a job!

I know she's rich and fabulous, but isn't celebrity her aspiration? Eff the love life, I'm trying to see how she gets in these magazines. If she's going to get her Lori Harvey on, then let's go!!!

GOOD MORNING!!

Thank you sooooooooooooo much AND!!! Characters like Dira are tough to pull off for all the reasons you've described. I felt it fitting that we close out with wise words from her father. Wise words that gave her the harsh reality of what the world is really like! Something we didn't even touch during the commentary! It was all about Dira! But! No! Its about staying safe and protecting herself!

Whew!! Let's keep shifting world views, shall we?

As for Chekovian concerns, Its just for protection. Right? You never know who might start set trippin. Anyway... 👀☕🫖

BACK TO DIRA!! You know, her aspiration is to be an actress! Since graduating, she's just been vibing. Unlike Hope, she left home with a significant six figure starter package so she hasn't even thought about any career ambitions... YET! When she's not shopping, eating out, walking Pookie or chilling with Charlie, she's reading up on all the happenings in Del Sol Valley. The latest gossip, the latest film projects and she's subscribed to several zines that give her up-to-the-minute updates on upcoming opportunities. Whether its commercials, walk-on roles or extras, she knows about it.

I honestly can't wait for that season of Dira so, as always, stay tuned my friend.

[sunflower-eddiediaz]

for make me write: 🍪😊☕? love you <3

Love you 💜💜

🍪 Cookie jar

Chris hears his dad enter the kitchen and turns around to ask him about it. "Dad, did you forget to buy cookies?" "Uh… No? Did you want me to?" Dad answers as he opens the fridge.

😊 I can't deny that

"I mean, Ahmed–" Buck continues. "Who's Ahmed, anyway?" Eddie doesn't remember the name. Maybe they've crossed paths on calls. It doesn't seem like Buck knows him that well, either. "HE doesn't matter, I'M in crisis," Buck insists.

☕ Eddie & Karen

"Hey, Eddie, come in." Karen greets him at her door. "Hi, thanks. How was the night?" Eddie asks as Karen closes the door. "The boys were good and actually slept instead of playing all night, so no one was grumpy this morning." Karen answers with a smile.

make me write