#characters that give into their flaws >>>>
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thewriteadviceforwriters · 1 day ago
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💀 Making Your Villain Make Sense (Without Making Them Rightℱ)
("because if I see one more war criminal with a sad diary entry get a redemption arc, I’m gonna throw my laptop.")
Here’s the thing: your villain doesn’t need to be redeemable. But they do need to make sense.
And I mean sense beyond "they’re evil and they monologue about it." Or “they have a tragic past, so now they do murder <3.” Or “they were right all along, the hero just couldn’t see it đŸ„ș.”
Let’s fix that.
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🧠 STEP ONE: BUILD A LOGIC SYSTEM THAT ISN’T OURS Your villain shouldn’t just be wrong, they should have their own internal system that works for them. Morally flawed? Absolutely. But coherent.
Ask yourself:
What do they value more than anything? (Power? Order? Loyalty? Vengeance?)
What do they believe about the world, and how did they get there?
What fear drives them? What future do they think they’re trying to prevent?
The villain doesn’t need to know they’re wrong. But you should.
Make their logic airtight. even if it’s awful. Give them cause and effect.
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👿 STEP TWO: STOP GIVING THEM THE BETTER IDEOLOGY Listen. I love a “morally gray” moment as much as anyone. But if your villain is making all the good points and the hero’s just like “no because that’s mean,” your arc is upside down.
If your villain is critiquing injustice, oppression, or inequality, make sure their methods are the problem, not their entire worldview.
✖ WRONG: Villain: “The ruling class is corrupt.” Hero: “That’s not nice.”
✔ RIGHT: Villain: “The ruling class is corrupt, so I’m burning the city and everyone in it.” Hero: “So you’re just
 committing genocide now?”
Your villain can touch a real issue. Just don’t let them be the only one talking about it, or solving it with horror movie logic.
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đŸ”Ș STEP THREE: GIVE THEM POWER THAT COSTS THEM The best villains lose things too. They’re not just untouchable horror dolls in sexy coats. They make bad choices and pay for them. That’s where the drama lives.
Examples:
They isolate themselves.
They sacrifice people they love.
They get what they want, and it destroys them.
They know they’re the monster, and choose it anyway.
If your villain can kill a dozen people and feel nothing, that’s not scary. That’s boring. Let them bleed. Let them regret it. Let them double down anyway.
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đŸ§± STEP FOUR: MAKE THEM PART OF THE WORLD, NOT OUTSIDE IT Villains shouldn’t feel like they were patched in from another genre. They should be part of the world’s logic, culture, class system, history. They should reflect something about the setting.
Villains that slap:
The advisor who upheld the regime until they decided they deserved to rule.
The noble who’s using war to reclaim stolen legacy.
The ex-hero who thinks the system can’t be saved, only reset.
The priest who truly believes the gods demand blood.
They’re not just evil, they’re a product of the same world the hero is trying to save.
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👁 STEP FIVE: SHOW US THEIR SELF-JUSTIFICATION You don’t need a tragic backstoryℱ. But you do need to show us why they think they’re right. Not just with exposition, through action.
Let us watch them:
Protect someone.
Choose their goal over safety.
Justify the unjustifiable to a character who loves them.
Refuse to change, even when given a chance.
A villain who looks into the mirror and goes “Yes. I’m correct.” is 1000x scarier than one who sobs into a journal and says “I’m so broken đŸ„ș.”
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🧹 BONUS ROUND: DON’T MAKE THEM A HATRED MEGAPHONE Especially if you’re writing marginalized characters: don’t let your villain become a mouthpiece for slurs, abuse, or extremism just to make them “evil enough.” That’s lazy. And harmful.
You don’t need real-world hate speech to build a dark character. You need power, consequence, and intent.
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TL;DR: Good villains don’t need to be right. They need to be real. Not a vibe. Not a sad boy in a trench coat. Not a trauma monologue and then a sword fight. They need logic. They need cost. They need to scare you because you get them, and still want them to lose.
Make them dangerous. Not relatable. Make them whole. Not wholesome. Make them make sense.
—rin t. // thewriteadviceforwriters // villain critic. final boss consultant. licensed chaos goblin
P.S. I made a free mini eBook about the 5 biggest mistakes writers make in the first 10 pages 👀 you can grab it here for FREE:
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matt0044 · 3 minutes ago
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The sad part is that the Miraculous fandom is not an isolated incident and that I have seen this, well, nearly everywhere. It's nothing new but rather a fire fanned slowly into a blaze before you know it.
I often question (as nice as I can with my flawed way with words) why they're even here. Sure, I know that no work of any kind of art is immune to any kind of criticism. However, a lot of Miraculous "fans" have me asking: "Do you even find joy in any of this? In the show? The discourse?"
The answers vary. "I wanna like the show but the writers f*ck it up" is a popular one. Namely that the initial presentation of Season 1 and its concepts drew them in but the storytelling choice along with how the characters evolve leave them with a sour taste in their mouth.
This is admitted a nuance dilemma but it's a occupational hazard of any long running piece of work that things will never stay the exact same or that choices in character writing will inevitably tick some fan off.
Even when less subject to the whims of studio heads, creative teams aren't always going to be on the same wavelength as fans. Theories and predictions are always going being skewered in some shape or form.
Some are waiting for it to "get good" again but the fact is that, well, nothing can truly reverse course by this point. Especially in a time consuming art form of animation. Waiting for it to get good is like gambling at a casino. It will always be rigged against you.
However, I feel like hatedoms like with Miraculous persist because of the sense of community. Nobody wants to feel alone and when something you've invested in has proverbially "stabbed you in the back," you may initially walk away in defeat.
Except wait, there's a whole subsection of the fandom that's full of the betrayed just like you. You are not alone in this. They will validate your pain and reassure you that you don't have to go so long as you have friends like them.
This... is not terribly healthy. This culture of discontent will inevitably spill into the main tags/subs where most who like the thing or like it enough with caveats. Many will even go so far as to feel like their dislike is more valid that other fan's like of Miraculous and be, well, jerks about it.
I don't want to tell them how to enjoy themselves but a small pal of mine who got into something akin to this elsewhere described the hating as "alcohol." It's a controlled substance that's not immoral to drink but can be addictive and severely affect your emotions, making you do things that you'd otherwise never do.
That's not even getting into a lot of the bigotry masked by faux-progressivism. Like, prefer Adrien all you want but if you can extend empathy to even his low points, then what's stopping you from giving Marinette the time of day.
if anyone is wondering why the ml fandom isn't as active as it used to be and why your favorite creators arent posting as much art and fanfic, it's literally because of the negative, nitpicky pieces of shit who cant shut up about how much they hate ml, the writing, the characters, season 5, whatever the fuck, coming onto every single ml post and flooding the tag with salt and half-baked criticisms. nobody can post anything—not even a simple text post—without at least one person coming onto that post and spouting some annoying bullshit. you are literally driving the fanartists out of this fandom
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ahundredtimesover · 2 days ago
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Something About You (07) | JJK
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Pairing: Jungkook x (f.) Reader
Genre/Tags: friends au, vacation au, slow burn, romcom-ish vibe; adulting; inspired by AYS; PE teacher!JK and researcher!OC; fluff, comfort, smut
Chapter Warnings: foul/explicit language; alcohol consumption; semi-explicit smut that's not too smutty (m&f oral, condom talk, unprotected sex) (18+)
Word count: 21.4k
Series Masterlist
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Status: Complete
Series Summary: You and Jungkook have been friends for a decade. And while he’s the charming and dependable, often reserved boy-next-door, he’s also just been a friend - a constant in your life, a part of a whole, and someone who’s seen all the flawed and probably unattractive sides of you.
A resumption of your friend group’s out-of-town trips has caused you to spend more time with him. And somewhere in between the morning coffee in the forest, running around in the snow, and watching the sunset on a boat, he’s become something more. And you’re not quite sure how to deal with it.
đŸŽ¶: Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney || Yes or No by Jungkook
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A/N: Wrapping up this feel-good series! I'd hoped to gush about these episodes with you guys weekly but it is what it is, and I'm just happy for the people who tuned in and have and will enjoy this. I hope this story and these characters gave you a bit of joy.
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Your eyes dart to the time on your laptop screen.
2:52 PM.
Jungkook will be arriving at your apartment soon for your scheduled 3PM drive to Busan but your meeting with your manager doesn’t seem like it’ll end in the next eight minutes. 
It’s Friday, and though you’re glad that she allowed you to adjust your hours today, you also wish she’d stick to the agenda and not add items to it because now, she’s briefing you about a new research proposal when you should just be talking about the one you’re currently working on.
“Yes, I’ll read more about that. So the one that’s due next week
” you say, trying to bring the conversation back to its original purpose. “I worked on the budget with the procurement team with regards to the service provider fees. Do you have any comments about it?”
She asks if they’ve been vetted and you answer that you did your due diligence and that the quotes and sample works are in the attachment you sent her. You’re discussing the other line items when Jungkook opens the door - having already memorized your lock code - and you gesture to him that you’re still on a call. 
He gives a thumbs up to say it’s okay, and he gestures to the clothes he’s holding to say that he’ll just change while waiting for you to finish. You nod in response, expecting he’d head to your bathroom, only for him to strip in the middle of your living room, as you can see from your periphery. 
You hold in your surprised look and curse him internally for teasing you like this. 
But not wanting to miss out on the view, you move your laptop towards the right and adjust your seat so you can have a good look at him. You’re met with a muted incredulous laugh followed by a cheeky smile, as he now stands several feet from you in just his black Calvin Klein underwear. 
It’s a shame you’re not close enough to admire every detail of him looking like that, but you have the rest of the weekend to do so. The thought of what the next three days will bring sends chills down your spine.
Your eyes alternate from the screen to your boyfriend, who’s now replaced his running shorts and sports jacket with black trousers, a  loose-fit white tank top, and a blue cardigan. You bite your lip to hold in a smile and your manager fortunately doesn’t notice. 
She finally realizes that it’s past 3PM and apologizes for holding you up, especially since you started the day much earlier than usual just so you can accommodate the four-hour trip you’ll be making. 
“This is great work as always, ___,” she beams. “I’ll let you go now and I’ll see you on Tuesday. Enjoy your cousin’s wedding!”
“Thank you,” you say, bidding her goodbye.
You close your laptop, officially switching off for the weekend, then frown at Jungkook as he walks over to you. 
He chuckles as he bends down to kiss your lips while you remain seated. You give in as you always do, and the groan you’re about to let out is replaced with a moan when he swipes his tongue in your mouth and gently cups your cheek.
He pulls away and boops your nose before standing straight up.
“How rude of you to dress up in front of me like that,” you scowl at him.
“And how naughty of you to watch me while you’re on a call with your manager like that,” he bites back.
“You’re so annoying,” you huff, even as you hug him and immediately fall into his arms. 
“Sorry, just wanted to tease,” he admits. “I know my body drives you crazy.”
You pinch his stomach and pull away.
“Were you ever this cocky?” You chuckle. 
“Nah. It’s a trait I developed just in the last two months. It’s all your fault since you react the way you do,” he smirks. “But don’t worry, we’ve got this weekend.”
“We do,” you say, biting your lip at the anticipation of what’s in store.
Of course, there’s Seokjin and Hayoung’s wedding tomorrow afternoon in Busan and the intimate yacht party right after. There’s also seeing Taehyung who flew back for a few days for the celebration. There’s the luxury hotel with all its fancy amenities that you’ll definitely take advantage of. There’s seeing both your families and meeting them as a couple this time. And then there’s staying over at Jungkook’s house on Sunday. There’s lots to look forward to and you can’t wait to get started. 
“So
 am I gonna see you dress up, too?” Jungkook smiles.
“Sucks for you, I’m already wearing this,” you shrug, saying you’d planned on leaving right as he arrived but your meeting extended you so now you really should get going.
He whines only a little then follows you as you walk towards your luggage.
“Do you have everything packed already? Dress, the right underwear, heels, makeup, evening bag?” He asks, making sure you didn’t forget anything or else it’ll ruin your weekend.
“Yup, I’ve got— oh shit, my bathing suits!”
You scurry to your closet and get a few pairs, knowing that Jungkook would want to swim as much as he can. And while you could watch him for hours, joining him wouldn’t be bad.
“Can’t forget those,” he hums. 
Once you’ve got everything packed, you turn towards him to signal that you’re ready, and he heads out your door with you right behind him.
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Going on a long drive alone with Jungkook is not a rare thing; it’s something you’ve done a few times just this past year. And so there’s this familiarity you feel - there’s talking about your day, a lot of teasing, smacking his chest, video calling with your friends, and sipping iced coffee and feeding each other the cookies you bought at a drive-thru.  
But there are new things, too, like holding his hand and placing it on your thigh for him to caress. There’s shamelessly ogling him and telling him how handsome he looks in his outfit and him admitting that he wears the tank top because of how much you like it. There’s kissing him when you’re at the stoplight, and him suggesting driving to an emergency stop so he could kiss you back properly.
And then there’s talking about other couple things, like meeting your respective parents as each other’s partners this time. 
You’ve met each other’s families several times before so it’s nothing new. Your parents know him as the athlete and the teacher and the one you describe as everyone’s go-to person. You’re known to his parents by your profession, too, as well as being the clumsy girl who freaks out when holding a knife and often hurts herself.
“Kook, they probably think I’m useless,” you pout. 
“They also know you as the other smart friend,” he says. “They remember that you got an award during graduation. That’s not being useless, babe.”
“Yeah but I mean, you know, domestic stuff,” you say softly. “All I know to do is wash dishes. That’s the only thing I can do when I stay over on Sunday.”
Jungkook understands what you mean and immediately appeases you.
“They’re not of that traditional mindset so you don’t have to worry. My mom’s cooking isn’t the best, too,” he laughs. “My parents just taught me and my brother  how to be independent and then we could look out for those who—”
“Are helpless?”
“Who need a bit more help,” he corrects you. “You’re not even that bad. You know how to feed yourself.”
“Yeah, very basic food that only requires less than five steps to make. Or anything I can cook in the air fryer,” you laugh at yourself mockingly. “I don’t know how to make things fancy or delicious like you.”
“Well, basic things help you survive so that doesn’t make you helpless. Plus, you now have a boyfriend who makes the fancy and delicious food for you,” he winks. “Makes it difficult for you to let go of me, yeah?”
“Hey, I like you either way,” you pout at him. “Though I admit that the cooking skills definitely help.”
“Good. I’ll just keep making delicious things for you, then,” he smiles. 
“You are good at taking care of me,” you nod. “I don’t really know what I—”
“You listen to me,” he interjects before you say what he thinks you’re gonna say, which is that you don’t take care of him the way he does with you.
He could already sense your faraway eyes and knew that your mind would travel elsewhere again, and to places he doesn’t want it to go to. He hopes you never doubt yourself in your relationship because there’s really so much that you do for him, and he’s worried that he doesn’t tell you enough.
“You listen to my worries. You create a space for me to talk about them,” he continues. “And you give good advice. That’s taking care of someone, too, you know? Because if my mind’s a mess, how would I function?”
“That’s true,” you finally smile.
It takes you back to last Saturday and how you both spent the day at your apartment because he didn’t feel like doing much. He talked about an issue he had with a senior teacher and some other concerns about his students. You just listened to him and shared your thoughts while he laid on your lap, and he told you the next day that he felt better. 
Safety, friendship, and intimacy are needs after all, and you suppose they’re what you’re able to give him. 
“I told my parents that I’ve been confiding in you and that it’s been easier to do that since we got together,” he adds, wanting to make sure you don’t feel unworthy when meeting them again. “And they know you watch my students’ matches and they think that’s really sweet.”
“Well, I don’t feel that worried meeting them as your girlfriend anymore,” you giggle, appreciating what he’s doing. 
He’s just always known how you are and how to calm your mind. 
“You shouldn’t. They already like you,” he smiles.
“And my parents already like you, too,” you say. “I’ve told them how you give me massages and piggyback rides and how you cook for me. I mean, not like they have anyone to compare it to but
 I guess that says a lot, too, doesn’t it?”
“So does that mean they’ve never met your exes?”
“Just over video call but that doesn’t really count,” you shrug. “There wasn’t really time to see them and I was a bit shy. I’m so babied in my family and they’re also a bit chaotic and I wasn’t ready for my exes to deal with all that.”
“Well, you kinda have no choice but to introduce me now because of the wedding.”
“True. I still would’ve though. But I’m also really excited,” you say as you caress his hand. “They’ll see that I got someone really good.”
“You think they’d expected Tae or Jimin as the friend you’d end up with and not me? They like the guys a lot,” he remarks, remembering your calls to your parents in the past and how they lovingly greeted your friends. 
“Not really. They’re just more familiar with those two,” you explain. “When they’d call me during college and I was crying out of stress, Tae or Jimin would be with me so they knew how much the guys took care of me then.”
“Yeah, and I wasn’t there,” Jungkook says regrettably.
“Because you were stressed, too! Just like Mo-eum because you both took difficult courses,” you reason. “You know I’ll always be thankful for how our relationship happened, right? And that includes our friendship. We were there for each other whenever we could.”
“I know,” he sighs. “I just
 don’t want them to wish it was someone else with you since you’ve got other good guys around you.”
“Well, I’m with you. I don’t think I can have anyone better,” you smile.
You lean over for a kiss on his cheek and this appeases him. 
You’ve already been on a call with your family a few times since you started dating Jungkook, which is about two months ago. It may seem too soon but you don’t recall feeling this kind of joy and desire before. 
Maybe because you let yourself settle into it first for those first few weeks and when you found out he reciprocated your feelings, it was just that natural for the emotions to intensify again. 
Your parents already like him. They think that being a teacher requires a kind of dedication and patience that you need in your life, and you know they’re right. 
But that’s just one part of him. Outside of what he does, he’s kind and tender-hearted and enjoys what life has to offer. It hasn’t been long but you’re already experiencing more of those sides of him as well.
You’re looking forward to seeing them see you with him; you’re certain they’ll see how different it is this time, too.
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You get through the four-hour ride with more laughter and stories. There’s silence in between those, too, and neither you nor Jungkook minds. Your voices are just replaced with soft touches and tender smiles and those are enough just the same. 
You finally arrive in the hotel in Busan and make your way to reception to check-in. You meet Jimin and Mo-eum there who have just arrived, and you all leave your things at the concierge so you can proceed to the restaurant for the pre-wedding dinner.
You head to the table where all your friends are and excitedly greet them, hugging Taehyung tightly as you miss him terribly already. 
It’s like you’ve all been spoiled this past year. Jeju wasn’t too long ago and now you're out of town again. It’s different this time because of the purpose of your trip and the fact that you’ll be experiencing luxury this weekend, a far cry from the outdoors and homey vibes of the previous months. 
You get to relax and feel regal, enjoy the amenities, eat fancy food, and savor the view of the ocean from your bedroom. You almost wish you could afford to stay an extra day or so but staying at Jungkook’s family home is definitely the better choice. 
While waiting for Seokjin and Hayoung, you take the time to greet the other guests who made it tonight. Your and Jungkook’s families will be arriving tomorrow before the ceremony so you take him with you when you greet your cousin’s parents. Having known your friend group for years, they tell you how happy they are that you ended up with one of them, too, just like their daughter. 
You return to your seats and enjoy dinner with your friends. The food boasts of familiar flavors presented in new and delicate ways. You have fun with how you eat them and join Jungkook in raving about how delicious it is. You drink champagne and inhale the dessert that when it’s all over, you feel full and satisfied.
“So, jacuzzi in half an hour?” Jimin pitches to the group. 
Taehyung had booked the hot tub for after hours, and the five of you got excited at having the space all to yourselves. The rest of your friends agree to join. Even if they won’t be dipping, they won’t pass up on drinks with a view tonight. It’s literally Seokjin’s and Hayoung’s last hurrah with all of you so they say they’ll follow later on. 
As is the tradition, you book a suite to house the five of you. This time, however, it’s pretty clear who’s sleeping with who. 
You and Jungkook enter the room with the queen-sized bed and you turn to him excitedly. He picks up the hint of desire in your eyes and he pulls you in, his hands on your waist now as he admires how you look in your floral dress.
“What are you thinking tonight, huh?” He smirks.
“Hmm, nothing
 Just a big comfy bed, a nice shower, a stunning view
 A few things we could enjoy,” you say, playing it coolly.
“Yes
 if you’re awake,” he teases. 
“Hey,” you smack his chest. 
“I’m kidding,” he laughs, kissing your cheek. “I’m just saying that I know you’re tired from today. If you fall asleep early, that’s okay. You should get rest because we have a full day tomorrow.”
“I know. I’m actually already sleepy,” you laugh. “But I want to take advantage of this fancy room with you.”
“We will,” he smiles. “Come on, let’s get changed.”
You both put on your swimsuits and head out to the common room. It’s spacious and boasts of a floor-to-ceiling glass window that lets you see the still ocean and city lights from outside. The five of you take a shot of tequila that Jimin brought with him then bring that to the jacuzzi room several floors above.
It’s not the best weather for a hot tub. It’s warm as it normally is for the middle of summer. But there’s something about being in a private area on the 20th floor of a fancy hotel with bottles of champagne and whiskey and plates of food that makes it perfect for tonight. There’s soft music playing and given the size of the tub, everyone decides to join in. Even Yoongi.
From the hot water, to the jets on your legs and back, and to Jungkook massaging your neck and shoulders, you feel totally relaxed. There’s laughter all around, even more when you all rehash memories of Seokjin and Hayoung over the years. 
There’s commentary from all your ends, too, especially from the older ones who’d witnessed their relationship up close. The couple shares their favorite moments from the past six years, too, like when they first said I love you and how they made up after their first big fight.
It reminds you that there’s still a lot to learn even when you’re already in a relationship. It’s something Hayoung has talked to you about, as someone who understands what you’re experiencing. It may seem all good and easy because you think you know the other person so well already after being friends for many years but romantic relationships bring their own challenges; no couple is immune from those. 
But like she said, it’s the strong friendship she has with Seokjin that allowed them to get through them. It’s a good foundation, she told you. Being able to just talk about things openly, being comfortable and honest, and trusting that they want the best for each other have become natural, and those have been their keys to making it work.
They’re good advice, as you think that you and Jungkook are still in the honeymoon stage. One day, you know the hardships will come. Maybe you’ll have to readjust to each other all over again or witness the births of new versions of yourselves, just like he’d told you before. 
But deep inside, they’re challenges you welcome because you know they’ll make you better together and you truly want to make this work, a change that you took note of early on. Plus, you genuinely like Jungkook - not just as your boyfriend or your friend but as a person. You truly admire and think the world of him, so whatever you’ll face, you’d willingly go through them with him, as long as you get to keep him around.  
You don’t think you’d do that just with anybody. 
“You okay, babe?” He nudges your shoulder as he notices you gaze at him again. 
“Yes. Just thinking about how much I like you,” you smile at him.
Jungkook smiles back, as he’s already used to you being like this just two months in. He’s usually a lot more reserved and moderated when it comes to expressing his feelings, as he tends to just feel them, whereas you’re more vocal about yours. 
There have been days when he’d see you stressed or frustrated at work but you’d sit on his lap, hug him, and tell him that having him next to you already makes you feel better. There’s this vulnerability in your honesty, and it’s something he’s witnessing up close. 
While you’ve told him you admire him for just doing whatever he wants, he thinks you’re just as admirable for feeling whatever you want and there’s so much strength in that. He realizes he might not tell you this enough.
“She’s so cheesy, isn’t she?” Jimin’s voice cuts through his thoughts, as the man - who’d heard your little exchange - approaches both of you. 
“She is,” Jungkook hums as he pulls you between his legs and wraps his arms around you. “It’s pretty cute. Was she always like this?”
“Nah. Not in front of us, at least,” Jimin shakes his head. “I guess it makes sense because we weren’t the biggest fans of her exes.”
You laugh at the dig, which you don’t mind; Taehyung and Jimin have valid reasons. 
“Hmm, I don’t think I was this cheesy,” you confirm. “I think I’m like this because Jungkook and I have had conversations before, hoping that the other person would find someone good for them to be with and look, it’s us!”
It’s quite serendipitous in its own way, you think.
The three of you giggle and Jungkook tightens his hold around you.
“I’m glad it was you,” he whispers in your ear,  prompting you to lean against his chest at the feeling of floating because of his words.
“He’s so affectionate, too, huh?” Jimin smirks now. 
“Oh, he is,” you giggle again, as you think back to how tightly he hugs you when you sleep and how he likes to pull you back to him when you wake up. “Has he always been like this?” 
You’ve obviously seen Jungkook with his girlfriends and you don’t recall him being this touchy. You wonder if he’s like that even if he’s just with the guys.
“Not at all, not even with his girlfriend in high school or the one during the summer before college started,” Jimin laughs. “I know he’s clingy behind closed doors though. At least that’s what he says.”
“Oh, he is,” you exclaim, earning you a cheeky laugh from the man in front of you.
The man behind you groans though, but now he wraps his legs around you, too. You feel the giddiness at knowing he doesn’t want to hold back when it comes to his affection towards you. 
Jimin watches his two best friends with such tenderness. He has a different relationship with both of you - he’s gentle with Jungkook whereas he gives you tough love. 
But he knows sincerity when he sees it, and after seeing both of you go through your respective relationships, Jimin can tell that it’s very different this time. You’re both more in control over your feelings even if you don’t hold them back. Perhaps it’s the maturity at this stage in your lives or maybe, it’s really just about finding and choosing to be the right person for each other. 
Your best friend’s eyes glimmer and you see the smile behind them. And cheeky as he may be sometimes, you’re glad he made that comment to you months ago that got you paying attention to your feelings and that ultimately got you Jungkook.
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The night goes on with a few more drinks and laughter with your friends. Whenever you and Jungkook separate, there’s always a moment where your eyes meet and you share a smile. There’s that assurance even until now, reminding you of this past year and how you’d be apart and somehow you’d find him looking out for you.
You end before midnight and head to your respective rooms. You and Jungkook take turns washing up in the bathroom and staying in the common area with your friends. With a bit to drink and a long day tomorrow, you all decide to head to bed.
“Goodnight!” Jimin calls out to you. “Don’t break the lamp or something.”
You stick your tongue at him before entering your room. Jungkook pulls you by the waist. He flushes you against his chest and tucks his head in your neck.
“It’s a fair comment, though,” he hums, referring to what Jimin had said. “I mean, you did break my humidifier.”
“Yah!” You smack his arm that’s wrapped around you. “I didn’t break it. It fell.”
“Sure, babe,” he giggles. “It totally fell out of nowhere when it was sitting right in the middle of my bedside table.”
You groan in agreement, conceding now because that may have been what actually happened. It was two weeks ago and Jungkook was yapping about it the next morning while you were on a call with your friends and they pieced things together. They’ve been teasing you ever since. 
“Uh, you were the one shoving your frikkin dick inside me!” You defend, turning around now to face him. 
“Uh, you were the one telling me not to stop,” he counters. 
“You’re annoying when you’re cocky,” you frown at him. “No kisses for you.”
“Hey! I’m just stating facts,” he laughs. 
But you pull away from his hold to tease and lay on your side of the bed. The soft sheets and thick covers instantly make you feel like you’re being swallowed by clouds; you could fall asleep any minute. 
“K,” you hum under your breath, your eyes fluttering close.
“Are you sleeping on me?” He gasps. 
“The bed feels so good, Kook,” you moan as you stretch your limbs. “I’m gonna fall asleep soon so get your ass in bed now.”
“So impatient,” he bites back with a smile. 
He removes his shirt then switches off the lamp. Your eyes follow him when he does, and you’re thankful for the sliver of light from outside that allows you to appreciate his body. You’d done that during your time at the hot tub earlier and you think you’ll keep doing that; your reaction will probably be the same every time, too.
He finally lies in bed but you’re the one who sits up now. You take your shirt off, something he’s used to you doing by now, and he returns the fond way you’re looking at him. 
Even when he’s annoyingly cheeky, his body pretty much shuts you up, and he knows this. Your body does the same to him. You laugh in unison because both of you have come to know each other like that.
You bend down to kiss him, not at all able to resist. It’s soft and gentle, as the exhaustion from today continues to weigh you down. But even then, his tongue explores deeper, and you’re hypnotized by the way it does that your body moves on its own. 
You’re on top of him before you know it - your legs on his sides, your one hand softly pulling his hair and the other, grazing his bare chest. And your clothed cunt, rhythmically grinding against his slowly hardening member. His fingers trace patterns on your back, leaving you moaning in his ear. 
And also yawning. You think it’s out of pleasure though.
Jungkook chuckles as you pull away, hovering over him with your dazed eyes. You yawn another time, and your face tenses as you try to hold it in. He can tell there’s more you want to do but he also knows you’re very, very sleepy. 
“Hey, go to sleep now,” he whispers.
“But—”
You’re interrupted by another yawn, causing him to giggle once more. 
“Babe, it’s okay. I want to keep going but I’m sleepy, too,” he assures you. “We’ve had a long day and I’d rather have you awake when we swim in the morning than do anything else tonight. Yeah?”
You pout at him before nodding. You did promise him you’d swim with him in the early hours tomorrow. 
He helps lay you back down and pulls the covers over you. He smiles while watching you slowly retreat into dreamland, soft hums and a small smile escaping you as his fingers continue to trace your body. He briefly cups your breast and he knows you like it. You’ve told him a few times that the drawn out pleasure helps you fall asleep and this is one way he does it without tiring you out further.
He presses soft kisses down your jaw then your neck and your body reacts again. You caress his head as he trails south, and you moan his name. He might’ve gone a bit too far so he goes back up and gives you a final kiss on the lips.
“We’ll sleep now,” he hums.
He lays on his side and pulls you close to him, your back flushed against his chest now and his leg wrapped around you. Your hand finds his and your fingers intertwine. 
It’s intimate, and even with your hair all over his face, he likes this because he gets to hold you tight. It also ensures that you don’t hit anything, including his face. 
He laughs at the thought. It’s something he’d gladly get used to though. And he finds that it’s easy - to adjust, to move around and alongside you, and to settle into you even more.
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 You wake up to soft kisses on your cheek the next morning. You moan under your breath, wanting more of those but also wishing you have more time to sleep. You knocked out once you closed your eyes last night and you feel like you didn’t move at all.
Which, of course, isn't true. When you open your eyes, you find yourself sprawled in the middle of the bed and the giver of your kisses is standing next to it, chuckling at you. 
“Good morning, princess,” he greets. “Come on, let’s go swimming.”
You look at him with your sleepy eyes and hope for a bit of compassion. Perhaps five minutes more. Or 20. 
And he sees right through you.
“You can sleep longer, it’s fine,” he smiles. “I can go ahead before it gets crowded. Is that okay?”
“No, I told you I’d go with you,” you mumble.
You did say you’d do this with him, especially after he let you drag him to your Pilates session last week. He decided then that he’d definitely stick to the sports he knows and that won’t get his limbs all tangled while hanging in the air. You reason that his body is just a little too fit for the machine and you may be right.
“Okay then,” he says as he changes into his swim shorts. 
“Why do you have so much energy?” You ask, stretching your arms and legs around the bed now. “It’s barely 7:30.”
“I just came from a jog by the beach. The wind was really nice and cool.”
“Oh, good,” you nod, appeased that he gets to do the things he enjoys doing when he’s in his hometown. 
He returns to standing next to the bed and you lift your leg for him to massage. Your legs have been a bit sore after this week’s intense Pilates workout. He starts kneading your calf and it feels so good that you could fall asleep again. 
“Yah! We have to make it to breakfast at 9 before we prepare for the wedding,” he reminds you. “Come on. I’ll be wet and half naked. I know how much you like that.”
You frown at his teasing even if it’s pretty much a given at this point. But he’s started to enjoy it a little bit more after your friends exposed you to him. They shared more details of how you were during your Jeju trip, specifically about your ogling whenever he went swimming. 
It flusters you even if you’re actually able to just admire his body and touch and kiss it whenever you like. Perhaps there are still remnants of disbelief over how you never bothered about it before. Years of going on beach and lake trips, watching him flex his biceps, and commenting on his abs to tease him never made you look twice nor longer than a few seconds.
Now, you can’t get enough of it. 
You curl yourself in bed, urging him to convince you a bit more. 
Instead of kissing you, he starts tickling your foot, causing you to squeal. 
“Jeon Jungkook, you brat!” You groan as you try to kick his hand away and flail your arms while still lying in bed. “You’re gonna regret this.”
Your words don’t have bite in them, but still, he stops and pulls you towards the edge of the bed. He cups your cheeks and peppers your face with soft kisses until you’re finally smiling. 
“Happy?” He cocks an eyebrow.
You giggle and nod.
“So can we go now?”
“Yes,” you playfully roll your eyes then head for the bathroom. 
You change into your swimsuit then you both exit the room. Out in the common area, Jimin and Taehyung are waiting to leave, too. 
“So early and already getting freaky,” your best friend smirks. “Hope you didn’t break anything.”
“He was tickling my foot!” You explain; they definitely heard you squealing. 
“Ooh, he’s relentless with that,” Taehyung shakes his head as he understands your plight. 
He’s been on the receiving end of that, after all. 
You eye your friends who are in their active gear as well. Taehyung will do a morning workout while Jimin is dragging Mo-eum to go for a run.
“Are you sure about that?” You ask your best friend. “You know she’ll stop once she sees a plot of land to find four-leaf clovers.”
“I know, but she promised she'd match my pace,” Jimin shrugs. “She just didn’t wanna be the only one not doing anything physical today.”
“She technically won't be. I mean, I don’t think that watching your boyfriend swim counts as physical,” you hum.
“Are you sure about that?” Jimin cocks his eyebrow. “Your heart rate literally heightens just seeing him in swim shorts.”
Jungkook chuckles because he can attest to that. Sometimes you also just completely zone out. 
You groan because you also agree. You turn to the man next to you with a pout. 
“You’re not good for my health.”
Jungkook just laughs even harder and your friends join him. You do sound ridiculous.
But he thinks you’re the most adorable thing in the world. You already expressed concern about ogling him too much in front of his family, not wanting them to think you’re a little too much for their son, but he assured you that they’d feel proud you think so highly of their genes. 
With you being shameless in front of your friends, he sees even more just how unfiltered and honest you are about your feelings towards him, and it makes him feel really good. 
He pinches your cheeks, endeared by how you look at him, until Mo-eum finally exits the bedroom and you all head out then separate to do your own thing.
You and Jungkook find yourselves on the 7th floor this time to swim in the infinity pool. You stand in awe as you look at the scenery of stunning landscape against tall buildings that line the vast ocean. It’s definitely a lot more urban than Jeju but it offers a different kind of tranquility that you feel you can only get from here. 
You now understand why Jungkook was insistent on swimming despite your tight schedule. It’s truly breathtaking, especially with the clear skies and cool breeze embracing you. He even passed up on sexy time last night just so you wouldn’t be too tired for an early wake up call.
He sighs in relief as he stands next to you, no doubt admiring his surroundings just as you are. 
“Such perfect weather,” he hums as he removes his shirt. “I haven’t had a proper swim outdoors in so long.”
“Well, get going then,” you turn to him, eyeing him up and down while trying your best to keep your cool. “There are barely any people so you won’t be disturbed.”
“Hey, you said you’d join me,” he pouts. 
“And I will, after you do your laps,” you smile, knowing that he needs to do those before doing any leisure swimming. “I’ll have a good view from the lounge chairs here. And then a closer look later on when I’m in there with you. I’ll soak up the sun first before getting in the water. It’s more refreshing that way.”
“Fine,” he sighs. “Don’t bail on me, okay?”
“I won’t, I promise,” you smile. 
“And uh, try not to drool too much.”
He’s running to the one end of the pool before you could respond. But you watch him from a distance exchange words with the lifeguard on duty then turn to your direction to give you a cheeky wink before he dives in the pool. 
Your annoyance at how he’s been enjoying teasing you quickly dies down once you watch him glide in the water. He’s so graceful, as he does butterfly strokes so effortlessly, his broad shoulders and taut arms doing most of the work that you can see, but you know his thighs are working overtime, too. 
Your eyes follow his every move and he’s so captivating like this, especially with the sun glistening on his honeyed skin. You don’t doubt the kind of career he would’ve had if he pursued the sport. You’re sure he would’ve excelled and made it to the national team if he wanted to - he’s just that good, and it’s something that others have said about him, too. 
But then again, you wouldn’t have met him if he went to a different university, and that’s a thought that terrifies you. Maybe you’d still meet him at a chance encounter if the universe willed it, but you think the way you ended up together is exactly how things should’ve happened. 
He returns to where he started and half his body emerges in the water. He turns to you with a smile and a thumbs up. You return the gesture and make a show of cheering for him, earning you a chuckle. 
He does a few laps of freestyle while you settle in the lounge chair. You still have a good view of him but you’re able to do so comfortably now with a little less lust and a lot more admiration. 
By the time he’s doing backstrokes, you’ve moved to the stairs where you’re already in your bathing suit, ready to join him. He swims towards you and walks up the steps, your eyes now following the water that’s dripping down his torso. 
“I didn’t drool,” you tell him proudly. 
He playfully shakes his head and chuckles. 
“Cute,” he hums. 
He reaches out his hand and pulls you towards the water, and once you submerge yourself in it, you moan quietly at how refreshing it feels. You quickly swim towards the other side and lay your arms over the edge to get a better look at the view. 
You sigh in relief at how beautiful it is, even more with Jungkook beside you who has a bit of sparkle in his eyes. He grew up not far from here, and he shared during the drive how his family would often head to Haeundae beach on a weekend. He’d enjoy it despite how busy it could get. This is his childhood, and you’re glad that you get to share in this moment with him.
“You know Kook, I was just thinking earlier that if you chose to do this professionally, you would’ve been such a star, skills-wise and looks-wise,” you say as you turn towards him. 
“Yeah?” He cocks his eyebrow. 
“Totally. And then I imagined you being part of the swim or water polo olympic team and showing up on TV with your wild abs and sweet smile and social media would explode with edits and thirst tweets about you and then you’d be invited to variety shows and be on magazines and get endorsements,” you ramble. “Imagine if you decided to pursue that now? I’d be the kind of girlfriend who’d be cheering so loudly during your matches and maybe trash talking your opponents.”
He laughs at the last sentence but he thinks you’re not wrong. 
“I think you’ll be the type to have a burner account and reply to tweets criticizing me,” he hums.
“Oh, I’d do it on a burner and my personal account,” you state. “Imagine how much I could shut them up?”
“You could,” he laughs. “But they’re also either paid to do that, or are bots and aren’t real people.”
“And then I’d hire hackers to find those shits and message their parents and expose them online,” you continue, disregarding what he said. Your face distorts in anger at the thought that he’d get any hate if he really did pursue a different career path. “I mean, who in their right mind would criticize you?!”
“You’ll never know,” he shrugs. “People always find something to complain about other people they don’t know. But hey, it’s a good thing neither of us have to deal with that, right?”
“True. We live such humble and unproblematic lives away from prying eyes,” you nod. “But
 have you ever thought about it? About the kind of life you would’ve lived if you decided to take swimming seriously?”
“Hmm, not really. It’s not like being part of the Olympic team was assured, anyway,” he reasons. “And it just
 stopped being a dream. Once I started teaching, I was sure I wasn’t gonna regret doing it. Somehow I just knew that’s what I was meant to do, you know? Plus, it meant going to our university, meeting the friends I’d have for life, and getting together with you. I’d choose those in any lifetime.”
You smile at his words, knowing that it’s not just him being sweet or flattering you; they’re his most sincere thoughts. But you’re glad you made it to the top three things that make his current life worthwhile, knowing that he could be living a totally different one had he chosen to study somewhere else. 
You think it’d still be a good one though - he’d be doing something he loves and he’d be making amazing friends since you think he just naturally attracts good people. Maybe he’d be dating someone who deserves him, too. 
But this is the one he’s living now and considering how much you’re a part of it, you think it’s pretty good. It makes you think of the billion choices a person makes in their life. We never know if they’re right or wrong but we stand by them, and they make us who we are. 
You wonder if you chose to join your sister in her art classes after school instead of reading your textbooks while waiting for her to finish, would you have been less studious? And would that have made you less inclined to be a researcher? Then maybe you wouldn’t be living the life you have now, and there’s a chance you wouldn’t have Jungkook in it, and—
A kiss on your lips disturbs your thoughts, and Jungkook’s soft eyes look back at you when you look at him questioningly.
“Whatever it was you were thinking, just know I’m glad I’m with you the way I am right now,” he says.
He probably already sensed your mind going elsewhere as it always does and instead of asking you where it went, he chooses to assure you about what you mean to him. And it’s exactly what you need.
You hug him in response and ease your mind back into the present with pecks on his cheek. He’s who you should be focusing on right now, so you foolishly suggest a race between you two just for fun even if you know you’re no match for him. You secretly like it when he’s a bit cocky.
Jungkook laughs but agrees to your 20-second early start. He leans his back against the edge, endeared by your movements and the fact that you’re freestyling diagonally, before he starts swimming to eventually beat you. 
You feel like you’ve been at it for so long and you pause, thinking that you’re only a few meters away from the end, only to learn that you’re just past halfway, and Jungkook is already on the other side, laughing at you. 
But instead of teasing even more, he urges you to keep going, cheering you on as if you’re competing at a tournament. So you do. 
You keep swimming that you don’t realize you’re at the end, and you hit your head on the wall because you arrogantly chose not to wear the goggles that Jungkook advised you to use. 
“Oh babe,” he chuckles as he swims towards you, and it’s now you realize that you started swimming sideways somewhere along the way. 
He cradles your head in his arms before turning you to face him. 
“You’re always hitting your head when you’re around me.”
You know he’s alluding to that boat incident in Jeju, something that he occasionally teases you about, especially after you gave him a lowdown of the thoughts that plagued your mind during that afternoon. 
You pout at him in response to his smug face, and he scrunches his nose in endearment. Then he pulls you in a hug and kisses the top of your head that you just hit. He thinks you could’ve gone another few hundred meters, and you’re really not as out of shape the way you say you are. 
The fact that you’re able to swim the entire length of this massive pool already says a lot even if you’re a bit out of breath. He knows you’re neutral about swimming - it doesn’t excite you as much but you don’t mind it. 
Waking up early to join him already makes him feel good, even if he knows you prefer just watching him do his thing, but even that makes him feel hot all over. He’s not sure when he’ll get used to your reactions to him and he’s noticed you try to temper it. He hopes you never do, though, and it’s not for his ego or anything; he just likes being the cause of your intense emotions and desire. 
You and Jungkook spend the next 15 minutes leisurely swimming about before lounging on the chairs to dry up. But then he orders a burger then decides to go for one last lap, with you whining that he’s gonna drip all the way to your room and you don’t have time for him to dry up all over again.
He insists that it’ll be fine, and while he does leave some droplets in the elevators all the way to your bedroom, he manages to not make much of a mess. 
Your friends are back, too, and they’re all taking turns in their shared bathroom to wash up before heading for the breakfast buffet. Jungkook hints at joining you in your shower, but you put up a strong front and say no.
“Kook, the last time we took a bath together, we took up an hour,” you remind him. “It’ll take us longer together than if we did it separately.”
“Well
” he smirks at you, clearly reminiscing about that time and the different ways he took you in the shower.
You were in Gangwon for a field visit one weekend and decided to spend the night, and after telling him, Jungkook took the train to meet you so he could spend it with you. The bathrooms in your apartments aren’t spacious enough for you two, but the one in the hotel you stayed at was. You ended up requesting a late checkout the next day because you took a bath longer than you should have, just like the night before.
Much as the thought excites you - somehow he looks even hotter when he’s wet from a shower - you’ll be pressed for time. You don’t want to end up stressing the rest of the day just because you were horny.
“Tonight,” you promise him as you wrap your arms around his neck. 
“And if you’re too tired and end up falling asleep again?” He cocks his eyebrow.
“I won’t!” You try to convince him. “I want to make the most out of our last night here because we are definitely not gonna be able to do as much once we’re at your parents’ house.”
“Well, we could always just book a room in a less fancy place for our last night,” he suggests.
“Kook, your parents invited us. They sounded really excited,” you remind him. 
“They are,” he smiles now. “They asked me for your favorite food yesterday because they were in the market. I said you’re easily satisfied like me. They also cleaned my room and dusted all my awards because they wanted to brag about me to you.”
“Ugh, they’re so cute,” you groan, your cuteness aggression now extending to Jungkook’s parents because they truly are adorable. 
He smiles and kisses your forehead. He knew that suggesting taking a bath together would push it but it was worth a try. He’s not upset one bit; just being with you in his hometown is enough to make him happy. And like you said, there’s always tonight. The last time you and your friends had a night out, you were unable to resist him and ended up confessing your feelings. 
“Go take a shower,” he says now. “I’ll just mentally prepare myself to meet your family again.”
“It’s my nieces and nephews you have to be worried about,” you warn him. “Once they find out what you do for a living, they’re not gonna leave your side.”
Jungkook laughs and says he’ll prepare for that, too. Seokjin had mentioned that not long ago. The kids have grown up and are never out of energy. They recently got into sports, too, and are in that phase where they wanna try and learn everything. It’s good for their development for sure, but that just means constantly asking your family and extended family members to play tag or whatever else their creative minds could think of. 
But he’s ready for that. He’s got your family to impress and an athletic image to uphold. He also just really wants to see you smile because that’s what you do when those kids are happy.
“I’ll make sure to stretch before meeting them, then.”
You giggle before entering the bathroom, knowing that Jungkook doing prep work before meeting your nieces and nephews might be a bit too much. 
You savor your bath time and run today’s schedule in your head for the nth time. It’s all straightforward but you want to make sure you get to properly celebrate with your family and friends. You wipe yourself dry and call out to Jungkook to let him know that he can start in the shower while you do your skincare but you’re left with no response.
You wonder if he’d left the bedroom so you open the door, only to find him doing pushups next to your bed.
“Oh. You were serious
” you say, as your eyes take their time in watching your boyfriend push himself off the floor, with his taut arms and broad back hypnotizing you. 
“It’s the last part of my workout,” he informs you, as he stands up and wiggles his eyebrows at your staring. “I do this all the time. But I did stretch earlier so I’m now physically ready.”
You burst into laughter. “Kook, they may have so much energy but they’re still just kids.”
“You forget that I work with kids. Half an hour with the year ones and I’m already spent,” he reminds you. “Plus, Seokjin told me about that one time he and Hayoung took them to a kid’s cafe and he gave up 15 minutes in. He said they kept going from one game to another and he got so tired that he fell asleep in the sandpit.”
“True. I mean, they’re gonna need a new victim since Seokjin will be busy tonight,” you hum. “You’re actually the one with the most patience.”
“Exactly.”
“Alright then. Finish your stretching then take a shower.”
“Will do now,” he says. 
He hums under the gush of water while you fix up at the nearby vanity. He walks over to you soaking wet, and you groan at him for drenching the floor again.
“Just wanted to remind you what you missed out on,” he smirks, as he wipes himself dry beside you. 
“I pride myself in having self-control, excuse you,” you bite back. 
“Alright. Let’s see about that later,” he laughs mockingly before walking out, clearly still teasing you as he doesn’t even wrap himself with the towel. 
It’s just his toned ass and delicious thighs, slowly disappearing from view.
You pout at yourself in the mirror but then again, not like there’s anything to complain about.
He returns to your side in his boxers now and starts putting on moisturizer. Wanting to always hit him back, you remark that the bathrobe is too heavy so you remove it, leaving you the one completely naked this time. 
Jungkook doesn’t react for the first five seconds. But once he finishes putting lotion on his arms, he immediately stands behind you and wraps his arms around your waist. It’s kisses on your back and torso before you know it, and you squeal in an attempt to reprimand him, but even he knows you’re enjoying it. 
“What’s the point of not taking a shower together if you’re just gonna do this anyway?” You whine.
“The point is that we’re dry.”
“That does not make any sense,” you groan, as you watch him continue to kiss you while you remain unmoving.
You eventually concede though, because anytime Jungkook expresses his desire for you like this, you can’t help but feel warmth. Which is actually quite comforting.
“Okay now I’m starving. For actual food,” he says. “Let’s go!”
Both of you finally get dressed and walk with Jimin, Taehyung, and Mo-eum to the hotel restaurant. The rest of your friends have already taken their seats, so you join them and pick your spots. 
Namjoon and Hoseok apparently worked out this morning, too, and when you ask Yoongi if he’d just gotten out of bed, he nonchalantly says that he and Gyu-rim went for a coffee run earlier. He blinks rapidly right after then quickly looks away before saying that he’ll just get more of the noodle soup at the buffet table. Gyu-rim excuses herself to go to the comfort room and heads the opposite direction.
You and your friends look at them then at each other, curious as to what might’ve happened. 
“Okay, it’s either they confessed during their little coffee date or one of them almost did then chickened out so now it’s awkward,” Jimin suspects. 
“It’s highly likely that’s Yoongi because he only ever gets cold feet when it comes to Gyu-rim,” Hoseok fondly says. 
“What’s there to be nervous about?” You say. “It’s Gyu-rim, she–” 
You pause, as nine pairs of eyes look at you questioningly. You’re unsure if Gyu-rim told anyone else about her feelings for Yoongi and you don’t want to do it for her.
“She’s so chill, you know?” You say instead. “Nothing really fazes her.”
“You can say the same for Yoongi but not when it comes to Gyu-rim,” Seokjin hums. “I mean, I’d know.”
Seokjin would, and that’s either because Yoongi’s his best friend, or he knows exactly what Yoongi’s feeling because it’s probably the same as what he felt. But you don’t push and instead let Namjoon remind everyone to not meddle. It’s always more exciting that way, he reminds you all, even if it could also get frustrating.
You continue with your two plates of food as Yoongi returns followed by Gyu-rim. It’s not long after when Seokjin and Hayoung excuse themselves to start getting ready. Your older friends and Taehyung follow soon after to help them, so you’re left with Jimin, Jungkook, and Mo-eum who continue talking about the other potential relationship in your group.
You watch in entertainment as Jimin and Mo-eum bounce off their observations, and you remark that this is what they were probably doing behind your and Jungkook’s backs. 
“Oh, totally. We’d even do it while you’re in the bathroom or something and then change topics when you return,” Mo-eum hums as she chews on her rice cake. “Like, remember when you were whining the weekend after Jeju because Kook got tasked to chaperone for a school trip so he couldn’t go to your apartment?”
“Oh god,” you shake your head, and you all quickly get into narrating how your respective conversations went.
It’s funny in hindsight, knowing now that Jungkook was missing you the way you were missing him. You still felt upset that time, though, and you don’t want to feel that frustration ever again. 
You finally finish your meal and head to the lobby to meet your family who just arrived from your town in Gwangju. They’ll be checking in early, and you wanted to make sure they were settled first before you started preparing yourself. 
It’s warm greetings when you see your parents and they excitedly hug Jimin and Mo-eum. When it’s Jungkook’s turn, your mother beams even more, and she engulfs him in her arms and sighs, as if in relief.
“Oh, Jungkook. What a lucky woman our daughter is,” she smiles. “We won’t ever have to worry about her starving or not eating delicious food.”
“Ah, well, she’s not hard to please,” Jungkook chuckles, earning him a pout from you. “But I’m
 I’m just glad I get to take care of her.”
“What a sweet man,” your mother gushes, and you nudge her and warn not to scare him away. “She needs that. She’s too busy saving the world and has to be reminded to look after herself, too.”
“She does,” Jungkook smiles. “But she’s been doing well in that regard. It helps when you’ve got good people around you.”
“Of course,” your father says now. “You’re all so lucky you have each other. And that both of you ended up together. Seriously, it’s such a relief. You’ll understand it if you become a father - you’re constantly praying that your children find good and responsible partners that they’ll spend their lives with and so there’s this nervousness every time they introduce someone. We’re lucky that her siblings found them and well, you’re the first one that ___ has properly introduced as her boyfriend and we’re just relieved that it’s someone like you. We adore your parents, too, so whew, no in-law drama and–”
“As you can tell, I got the rambling genes from him,” you interject, earning you laughter from your friends, especially Jungkook who scrunches his nose in entertainment. 
“Not obvious at all,” Jungkook chuckles. 
But your father’s smile softens and this means a lot to you, too. Your parents were never the type to pressure you into getting married right away, only because you established early on that your career is very, very important to you. Finding a partner is something that could be delayed, or even given up if it was your choice. 
But it doesn’t mean that they don’t hope that you find someone who would accept you for all that you are, including your dreams for yourself, because they do. It’s something they tell your siblings, which they tell you, so you’re glad you can appease your parents this time.
Jungkook is the type you’d proudly introduce to your family. Even if he can get a bit shy sometimes, like now, as his hand searches yours once they ask him about work and other things. You adore your parents; they could just get a little overwhelming sometimes. You suppose it runs in the blood.
You thumb his hand in assurance, and he seems to calm down a bit once he talks about his students and what he teaches them based on the year level. He also talks about the extra-curricular activities he organizes for the school. It’s something he’s proud about but he doesn’t get to always talk about it this way, so you’re glad he’s able to share this with your parents. You suppose they have more reason to want to get to know him like this and you don’t mind, not when they seem really impressed, too. 
Your chat is interrupted with the front desk staff saying that their rooms are ready and your nieces and nephews entering the lobby after playing in the playground right outside. Your brothers already look tired and it’s not even lunch time. 
You say your goodbyes for now as they head to their rooms and you return to yours. You and Mo-eum hog your bathroom so you both could do your makeup while Jimin and Jungkook play video games outside, even with your constant reminder for them to get ready soon.
You get dressed with Mo-eum in your bedroom then let Jungkook in so he could dress up, too. His breath visibly hitches at the sight of you, and you shyly smile in response. 
But there’s nothing to be nervous about, not when you look the way you do in your sweetheart gown. He’s seen you in formal looks many times before but not like this, and not since he started liking you, which he reminds himself was barely a year ago. There are still so many things that will feel new or different this time around despite having known each other for so long. 
And that includes seeing you look so stunning that he can’t help but sigh in amazement. 
“How do I look?” you ask, turning around to show him the entirety of the dress, which also happens to be low-back.
He doesn’t really have the right words for it, but he takes your hand and kisses it. 
“You look really good,” he says under his breath. 
You settle with a nod, unable to control your smile with how visibly affected he is, especially as he pulls you closer and softly kisses your bare shoulder. That itself leaves goosebumps on your skin; you can’t wait to know how it’ll feel later on.
You turn towards the closet to hand him his clothes this time. You help him when you can, and you learn that Jungkook, too, looks breathtaking in formal wear, especially with his thin necktie and the white dress shirt that beautifully hugs his toned upper body. 
He heads to the bathroom to style his hair while you attempt to put on your heels, and not only are you unsuccessful, you’re also left speechless once Jungkook appears before you. It’s the slightly parted hair, you think. You decide that this slick, confident style is the mature look; you’d take this over his leather jacket any day. 
“How do I look?” He dares ask, as if your ogling doesn’t say enough. 
“Do you want the G-rated answer or the X-rated one?”  
He laughs in response, truly never ready for what you have to say. 
“Hmm, what about you tell me the G-rated version now,” he hums as he bends down to help you buckle your heels, “and then you can show me the X-rated answer tonight?”
“I can do that,” you smirk, slightly lifting your dress to show a bit of leg as he finishes with your shoes. 
He helps you stand up and you fix his necktie before smiling at him.
“You look so handsome, Kook. Seriously. I might have to pull you away from the kids if they hog you later.”
“Hey, I’m gonna need to be in their good graces, too,” he chuckles. “But I’ll just be near you, okay?”
“I was just teasing. I think,” you say. “But hey, it’s Seokjin and Hayoung’s wedding. We have to enjoy it. Don’t worry too much about my family because they already like you.”
“As if you’re not wanting to impress my parents, too,” he teases.
“Oh god yeah. Please make sure I don’t do anything stupid in front of them,” you start to panic. “I might ramble about your amazing genes and how they conceived you so perfectly.”
He laughs again.
“Well, they won’t be at the yacht party so you can let loose then. Just don’t
 hit your head or anything again, yeah?”
You playfully roll your eyes before opening the door and he follows behind. You smile at Jimin in his adorable bowtie and Mo-eum in her classy strapless dress and ask for their help to make sure that you don’t embarrass yourself in front of Jungkook’s parents.
“Hmm, I don’t think they’d mind if you do,” Jimin hums as you all walk down the hallway. “I think it’ll assure them that you’re not presenting yourself to be someone perfect for their son, only to end up betraying him.”
You sigh at the thought.
“And hey. Kook really, really and I mean, really likes you. That’s the only thing that matters to them.”
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The four of you separate once you arrive at the 15th floor. Jungkook and the guys head to Seokjin’s room while you and Mo-eum squeal once you enter Hayoung’s suite. She’s already made up and there are several more photos taken before she gets into her dress, which Gyu-rim and Suhyeon help her wear. 
It’s not long before you go to another room on a different floor where Seokjin and Hayoung finally see each other. It’s also where their families will greet them before the ceremony starts.  
There are lots of tears and so much squealing throughout the whole hour that it happens. Seokjin’s rich family members are mostly humble and have a good sense of humor whereas your entire clan is a little too energetic. It’s definitely not balanced out but you end up laughing for most of it because there’s always a joke or remark that makes it through the crowd. 
But you see Seokjin always turns to Hayoung, his eyes softening as he watches his bride enjoy the moment just like he is, just like how he always tells her to. There’s so much trust and promise in the way he looks at her, and it’s the kind that’s built over time. It may seem a bit too early but you hope you and Jungkook get to that point one day.
“They’re so cute,” Jungkook whispers in your ear amidst all the chatter. “Who would have thought that the corniest guy in the world could have the softest smile?”
“Well, he’s looking at the love of his life,” you say. “That’s reserved for only her.”
Jungkook nods in agreement and looks at his friends. Behind all the jokes and the contagious laughter is a man who’s truly so in love, and Jungkook is happy he gets to witness it. 
Your time eventually comes to an end and you’re all escorted to the large balcony where cocktails are being served while the bride and groom remain for more photos. You take one sip of champagne before handing it over to Mo-eum once you see Jungkook’s parents, who happen to be talking to your parents, too.
They greet you with the warmest hugs and gush at how you look. You’re left feeling a bit flustered at the compliments and respond with the G-rated version of what you think of their son’s outfit. 
Both your parents have met each other many times and they talk just as any couple friends do. There’s a lot of praising each other’s kids and you thank the heavens that they get along early on. Jungkook’s parents even talk about your stay at their house tomorrow and your parents take this opportunity to invite the Jeons to your grandparents’ farm. You come up with possible dates and agree to firm up the plans in the coming weeks. 
Not long after, all the guests are asked to head inside the hall for the mid-afternoon ceremony, and you separate from your parents to sit at the round table with your friends at the front. 
As expected, the guests erupt in cheers and applause once the bride and groom are revealed behind the large doors. They look so perfect together, and you at least get to gush with your other cousins about how Hayoung copped herself a truly handsome guy when she proclaimed she was going to be a nun when she was a teenager. 
The vows end in tears, as Seokjin surprisingly goes into serious mode and expresses his most sincere emotions that surprises even his best friends. 
“This could've been left in a letter that I’d be reading to you tonight but I want everyone to know that I will love you in words, I will love you in action, and I will love you with every breath,” he says, as he wipes the corner of his eyes. “I’ll always be thankful to the chickens that chased you and had you yelling and laughing like crazy because that’s when I knew that I liked you. Your laughter changed my life, Hayoung. And I hope to never live a day without it.”
It’s a special moment you all share. It’s the first wedding in your friend group; they also happen to be the couple that you all look up to and seek comfort from. The emotions spill over to the speeches that Namjoon, Taehyung, Suhyeon, and Hayoung’s sister make. 
Before you know it, the newlyweds are walking out the hall for a change and you’re all buzzing from what just happened. The reception commences soon after, and it’s delicious food after delicious food that’s served that gets you and Jungkook jumping in your seats and moaning to yourselves. 
The socializing bit begins and you take the time to catch up with your other cousins. It’s midway through one conversation when you realize you haven’t seen Jungkook in a while. You look around the hall but eventually find him out the balcony, racing with your nieces and nephews. They squeal in disappointment when they lose and in excitement when they almost win, and while they take turns to go ahead, Jungkook’s the one who runs solo. 
“Five-minute break,” he yells, as he heaves while walking towards you.
You hand him a glass of water and chuckle at how he obviously is quite tired but is still willing to go a few rounds with the kids. 
“What have they asked you to do?” 
“Well, other than running, we’ve raced by hopping and jumping on one leg,” Jungkook answers. “They wanted to crawl, too, but I used the adult card for that one and said no.”
“They spend a lot of time outdoors so they come up with a bunch of different things,” you laugh, already used to them and their different games. 
“As they should,” Jungkook hums. “Which is why I’m going along with it. I mean, they’re at a wedding. It’s an event for adults. What else are they supposed to do?”
“Hmm, that’s true. But thanks for keeping them company,” you smile. “You deal with kids enough at work and now you’re doing that here, too.”
“Because it’s fun!” He beams. “Plus, So-you asked me if I’m your boyfriend because I keep kissing your cheek and she’s never seen anyone do that with you so she’s a little protective. I need her on my side.”
“She’s a little too smart for her own good. I told her once that I don’t really wanna have a boyfriend so she’s quite sus with me,” you laugh. “But she’ll come around. She loves the water so if you teach her how to swim, she’ll be impressed.”
“That’s already on tomorrow’s agenda,” Jungkook says. “One of your uncles told them I’m a swimmer and they got excited. They already told me to meet them at 9 sharp and that they’ll tell your parents if I don’t show up.”
“Bunch of brats. I love them so much,” you chuckle. “Well, there goes our Sunday morning.”
“At least it’s not too early. We can stay up tonight,” he smirks. 
“Well, we won’t if you’re the one who uses all his energy and falls asleep right away,” you point out.
“Oh, you know better than challenging me like that.”
You actually do, which is why you did. He’s gonna want to prove a point and he’s sexy when he does. You’re unsure if he’s caught on that you like challenging him so he’d do what you actually want him to, but he does it anyway. 
Before you could answer, Haneul is yelling that five minutes is up and that the jumping jacks race is about to start. Jungkook, truly wanting to prove himself to them, removes his suit and hands it over to you. 
You watch in amusement as he makes his way across the covered path, jumping up and down with his arms swinging over his head. The kids are shrieking while he heaves, but they cheer him on. At this point, some of them, tired from all the running and screaming, are already seated on the bench next to you, giggling.
“I don’t even know why Jungkook is doing this,” you chuckle as you watch him win the race. 
He’s not even letting them win as a courtesy.
“He’s in a competition with So-you,” Ha-yul says of her cousin.
“What competition?” You ask. 
Your 8-year old niece merely shrugs and wraps her arms around your waist and continues to watch on. Knowing her, she probably knows what they’re competing for but you don’t prod. Jungkook will probably tell you later.
You instead ask her about her family’s recent trip to Jeju and she beams with joy once she talks about the dolphins she saw swimming in the ocean.
“They look so magical, auntie. Even from afar,” she smiles. “Did you see them when you were there?”
The question sparks a memory. A very special one. 
“Yes, I did,” you gush, recalling how you wanted to hold Jungkook’s hand then because of the overwhelming beauty of nature and the exhilaration of accepting your feelings for him. “It was so pretty.”
“Did you see them with anyone?” She asks, looking up at you now.
“Yeah. I was with him,” you reply, gesturing towards the man who’s somehow ended up teaching the kids how to do a high kick.   
“Are you sure you were even looking at the dolphins?” 
You turn to Ha-yul with her doubtful eyes and crossed arms. 
“Yes, I was, you smarty-pants,” you chuckle, pinching her adorable cheeks. “Jungkook was the one who told me about them so we went to this spot to watch the sunrise and then the dolphins showed up right after.”
“Hmm. That’s very sweet,” she replies, slowly smiling. “I like him for you, auntie. He makes you smile a lot.”
“He does, doesn’t he?” You giggle, feeling the heat rush to your cheeks at the thought that even your niece can see it. “I like him for me, too.”
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You eventually go back inside after feeling a bit hungry despite all the food you ate earlier. You yell for Jungkook to follow you, knowing he’d want to munch on something  after the series of physical activities he just did. Your nieces and nephews fortunately drain their energy and run towards the hall, too, and you overhear them tell their parents that “uncle Jungkook is so cool!”
You gush at him, knowing that he achieved his goal of impressing them, though you don’t think it would’ve been difficult. He’s natural with kids and you got to see that today. It’s even more special to you because they’re your family - people you love and adore, and it means so much that they accept him. 
Even your cousins seem to like him, too. One of them talks to Jungkook about teaching, another about swimming, and another about taekwondo. The conversations move to sports in general, and then video games, and then music and their favorite beer and whiskey brands. You leave them alone, not wanting to cling to Jungkook’s side the entire time. 
So you hang out with your siblings while your other friends stay nearby. By this time, the number of guests has started to dwindle. The ceremony and reception are long over but there’s still lots of food and drinks being served. The sunset yacht party for close friends and family will start soon, and you’re all just waiting for the go-signal to start heading to the port. 
You walk towards the bar for a glass of soda when you stop in your tracks at a sight that you didn’t think you’d see. There by the counter is Gyu-rim, giggling shyly and Yoongi, chuckling, too, while he pulls her close to him and whispers something in her ear. She laughs once more then their hands slowly move down, their fingers grazing before he places her hand firmly in his.
Your jaw drops and you blink multiple times to make sure it’s real. 
It is. And you seriously want to scream in excitement.
But you scurry back to your friends instead.
“Oh my, oh my, oh my,” you catch your breath. “It’s happening!”
“What’s happening!” Mo-eum rushes to you with a slice of cake in her hand. 
The rest of your friends slowly gather around you and you direct their sights to the bar where Yoongi and Gyu-rim are still definitely being all shy and affectionate.
“Who is it?” Jimin asks, squinting his eyes to try to see what has all of you gasping and freaking out.
“Gyu and Uncle!” You squeal at him. 
“What! Wait, I’m blind!” He groans.
And just as you’re about to tell your best friend to be subtle, he’s already off near the bar to get a closer look, and his own gasps alert the pair that you’re all onto them. 
But Yoongi just turns to your table and raises his glass in both confirmation and celebration.
And Gyu-rim just smiles. She’s no longer just doing it internally, that’s for sure.
They eventually walk towards your table and you can sense the restraint your friends have in bombarding them with questions. Except for Jimin.
“How! When!” He goes on. “I manifested this. I envisioned this. I prayed for this! When did you–”
“Coffee. This morning,” Yoongi answers. 
“So did you two just look at each other and then have a silent understanding of your feelings?” Taehyung wonders.
“Sorta,” Gyu-rim hums. “The distance between us just kept getting shorter and then he
 uh, he just held my hand and I held it tighter and then we just
 I guess, kinda knew.”
“How on brand,” you remark.
“Yeah, just like your confession,” Jungkook, who suddenly appears next to you, whispers in your ear.
“At least I confessed first,” you stick your tongue out at him.
“Then why were you awkward during breakfast?” Mo-eum asks the pair.
“It was fresh,” Yoongi shrugs. “And we weren’t sure how to act without you guys freaking out.”
“We were still talking about you though,” Jimin informs him.
“I’m sure you started it,” Yoongi deadpans.
“Of course I did,” Jimin winks.
“So why now?” Taehyung asks. “What pushed you to finally confess?”
“I didn’t wanna waste any more time,” Yoongi sighs.
“And I couldn’t deny it any longer,” Gyu-rim pipes in.
“And well, I was thinking about those two,” Yoongi adds, his gaze turning to you and Jungkook now. “There are lots of things going on in our lives. I could be one serendipitous encounter away from letting her get away. I don’t really think I could live with that.”
“Gosh, our impact,” you whisper to Jungkook after softly smiling at the new couple. 
He just wraps his arm around your waist and pulls you closer. He’ll always be glad that things happened the way they did with both of you, and he’d go through a decade of friendship and periods of distance and confusion if it means having you like this.
You all continue to gush and talk about all that happened today until you’re told that you can now head to the port. You’re transported in coaches then you make your way to the large yacht where there’s more food and drinks, hanging lights, and a saxophonist serenading the minimal guests. 
There’s less squealing this time with the kids left behind in the hotel. It’s more relaxed now, as the many lounges offer so much space to enjoy the scenery, the almost cool air, and each other’s company. 
You and Jungkook constantly get separated, with your relatives pulling you over to them every five minutes. You can’t complain though, as you really don’t see them as much, but you also wish you could have more time to be with your boyfriend, perhaps hold his hand as you socialize, or gush at how he looks because he truly is so beautiful tonight. 
But somehow, you find your way to each other once the sun starts to set. Between the purple and orange sky, the calm waves, and the jazz music, it’s a moment that you’ll truly treasure, especially with Jungkook’s arms around you, his chin tucked in that space by your shoulder, humming in amazement.
You don’t really need words for this moment. You just pull him closer to you and kiss the side of his face when you can, an act of extreme fondness and desire that you could offer him right now.
The dancefloor opens up and Seokjin and Hayoung are the first to slow dance. People soon follow, including you and Jungkook, whose hands just don’t want to separate from you. You feel quite overwhelmed and opt to gently lay your head on his chest, wanting to feel his heartbeat and the full warmth of his arms around you. You know it’s where you’ll always want to be.
His soft kisses on your head give you a kind of assurance that’s quite emotional. It’s as if he knows how much you feel and how deep you’re thinking and he’s there, not quieting your mind but encouraging it. It’s acceptance and respect that you don’t think you’ve ever felt with anyone before.
The music turns lively not long after. The drinking continues, too, leaving some guests in a rather unfiltered and perhaps wild state, including your friends. 
There’s Jimin, Mo-eum, and Taehyung dancing around like always. There’s Hoseok with his now half unbuttoned dress shirt, not too subtly grinding with his girlfriend in the corner. 
Then there’s Namjoon, yelling “fuck the government” towards the ocean, and Yoongi has to remind him to tone it down because he’s part of the government, and well, he’s a future public figure so this behavior might not be a good look.
“I’m thinking of quitting my job, actually,” Namjoon admits. “I’ll just have my own podcast and name it ‘the professional yapper’ and talk about all the things that fuck us over. And crabs. I’d like to talk about crabs.”
“Who hurt you?” Gyu-rim asks.
“I
 I’m drunk,” Namjoon heaves.
“We know,” several of you say in unison.
But this is when his body starts to shut down. After releasing all his pent up anger, his energy drains and he gets sleepy. He doesn’t want to sit down, knowing he’d fall asleep and it’ll be difficult for anyone to carry him off the boat, so Jungkook stays by Namjoon’s side to make sure he doesn’t fall on the floor or into the water. 
It keeps your boyfriend away from you again though, as he follows the older man everywhere, even outside the bathroom. But you don’t mind. Jungkook’s taken care of your friends during times like this and you know he won’t stop just because of you. 
It’s already dark once the yacht returns to the port. It’s barely 10 PM but you’re full and exhausted. You’ve had a long day and you just want to have a nice bath like you promised Jungkook and well, do a lot more. 
Jimin, Mo-eum, and Taehyung don’t want their night to be over yet so they head to the hotel bar to eat and drink some more. They don’t miss the chance to tease you and Jungkook about having the suite all to yourselves though but you run with it. It’s not like your desire for each other is a secret or something you suppress when you’re with your friends.
So you and Jungkook head back to your floor and once he enters your bedroom, he immediately climbs on the foot of the bed and lies down. With his loosened tie, he undoes another button of his dress shirt and releases a deep exhale. 
Even you feel his tiredness from that one breath. 
You stand by the window and just watch him, his arms and legs straightened out and his eyes closed. You take the time to admire him like this. His body’s breathtaking even with clothes on, and you let the X-rated thoughts fill your mind.
He mistakes your hardened gaze for annoyance, as he apologizes for lying on the bed with his day clothes. It’s one of your biggest pet peeves, and you once had an argument because he was tired from work and wanted to cuddle but you wouldn’t let him stay next to you on your bed until he showered. It was more of a banter, really, but you did sense his frustration when he dragged himself to your bathroom then slept right after lying on your side. 
He sits up now and scoots to the edge of the bed.
“It’s okay, Kook. Rest there if you want to,” you assure him. “I don’t blame you, considering you were the cool uncle and the great friend tonight.”
“Those kids are relentless,” he chuckles. “And Joon is so heavy; it was a struggle getting him off the boat.”  
“Well, he has a lot of angst to release but I’m sure he’s glad you helped him.”
“Yeah, but that meant I didn’t get to be with you much today,” he pouts now. 
You smile at his sullen expression, as the realization that you spent much of the wedding being with other people hits him. Sure, you had dinner and the sunset viewing and that slow dance but with everything that happened today, it still doesn’t seem enough. 
So you walk towards him and slightly lift your dress so you could sit on his lap. He shifts you around so you’re snug against him and he smirks.
“So you’re not mad that I lied on the bed in day clothes?” 
“You were at the foot of it so it’s fine,” you wave him off. “That could be our compromise.”
“Okay then. So
 will you show me the X-rated version of your thoughts now?”
You gaze at him - at his sparkling eyes and soft lips and chiseled jaw and think this view of him will always leave you breathless. The fact that you have this beautiful man wanting your attention blows your mind and you truly wish he’ll never get sick of you. 
You bite your lip and nod before kissing him deeply, not holding yourself back now since you’ve been wanting to do this all afternoon. He returns your eagerness and moans against your mouth. He grips your waist and pulls you closer to him in an effort to eliminate whatever distance is left, which is none. You’re chest to chest now but that still doesn’t feel close enough.
Soft moans fill the room and your pleasure continues to build, especially with Jungkook grazing his fingers down your semi-bare back before slowly pulling off the straps of your dress. It triggers something inside you, as you now fiddle with his necktie, desperate to get it off. 
You manage to untangle it and quickly undo the buttons of his shirt. He lets you do it on your own while his hands travel to the edge of the bed, and you feel him smile in the kiss that hasn’t stopped.
You finally remove his top then move to unbuckle his belt. Briefly pulling yourself from him, you eagerly undo his trousers and start pulling it off. He watches you from his seat on the bed while you bend down, and you cock your brow at his smug face. He looks like he’s really enjoying this.
“You letting me do all the work?” You tease. 
“For now.”
You know what that means. And that just gets you more worked up. So you immediately undress and watch him watch your every move until you’re back on his lap, both of you now completely naked.
Your kisses turn even more heated. His grip on your waist tightens, and your nails on his shoulders dig a little deeper. You catch your breath and let him kiss down your neck, his teeth merely grazing your flesh, leaving goosebumps on your skin.
Your hand travels south, too, until they reach his hardened dick and you’re overwhelmed with an even more intense desire for him and everything he is. 
You want him so bad, you think you’ll explode. 
Jungkook feels you grip his length and grunt as your tongue flicks his lips. This is usually your tell.
“Let me just get the co—”
“No,” you interject, pulling away as you look at him with now wondering eyes.
“I
 uh—”
“Well, do you want it inside you, at least?” He asks, gesturing towards his member that you haven’t let go of.
“Yes, I just
 I just want it naked. Is that okay?”
It takes a few seconds for it to fully register to him what exactly you mean.
“You’re asking me if I want to be inside you without a condom?” He asks incredulously. 
“Well, yeah. You said you’ve always used one,” you say. 
“It was a precaution for a bunch of things,” he reasons. “And well, given what happened with the last girl I dated, I’m glad I did. But you said you’ve always used one, too.”
“Same reason,” you shrug. “But I really, really like you, Kook. And you’re so hot. And I hate the taste of latex when I suck you after.”
“Those seem like valid reasons,” he chuckles. “You feel really good even when I wear one so it doesn’t matter as much.”
“Yeah but, I don’t wanna do this with doubts or hesitation,” you sigh. “And I don’t wanna gatekeep.”
“You don’t wanna gatekeep
 your vagina?”
“Yes. You say it’s really good down there. You can have all of it.”
Jungkook laughs out of amusement. You truly are unfiltered and bizarre sometimes but still very endearing.
“That’s your vagina though,” he reminds you. “I’m just a visitor.”
“And you can visit my coochie without clothes on! Like you’re free. Plus, you’re the only one who’s going in there so why not?”
He laughs again at your allusions and pulls you in for a hug. 
“You drive me crazy, you know? And in the best way,” he says softly. 
“Thank you for that clarification,” you pull away and giggle. 
“So uh, shall I visit now?”
“Gotta prep you again first,” you gesture towards his flaccid dick.
“Oh. That won’t be hard,” he smirks.
You both burst into laughter but he does clarify that he’ll indeed get hard again; he just couldn’t pass up on the pun.
Jungkook softens at the look you give him. There’s this gentleness in it like always but it’s a little different this time. It's filled with even more trust. Perhaps appreciation and gratefulness, too? You often thank him for listening to all your thoughts and he gladly would. Everyday. 
He loves that this is something both of you can easily talk about, which isn’t even the first time. And that just like him, you don’t want any reservations or doubts in your relationship. There’s so much clarity that he feels for you in such a short amount of time that he’s been with you and he doesn’t even question it. 
Just this intimacy with you is everything he wants - there’s pleasure and intense desire but there’s playfulness, too. There’s warmth and comfort and that’s what being with you is like. 
You gaze at each other with such yearning that it immediately turns into a heated kiss. You catch your breath and his mouth travels to your nipples, expertly lapping them up, causing you to tilt your head and moan. He takes the chance to kiss down your torso, leaving you panting once he makes it to the side of your waist, an erogenous part he recently discovered that he takes advantage of. 
You return to kisses and your hands explore his chest before they grip his now hardened length. You moan at the feel of it, then thumb his tip before you lift yourself up and slowly slide down.
The sensation is different and you know he feels it, too. He hums and curses under his breath, pulling you close to nibble your neck while you grind against each other. 
It really does feel liberating in an odd way, Jungkook thinks, just because he feels everything. You clench around him and it has him moaning. 
This is the time when he does all the work, as he shifts you around to lie on the bed and you know it, too, biting your lip in anticipation for how hard he’s gonna go.
But he wants to focus on your pleasure first, so he dives down your cunt and kisses you in all the places he knows you like. He meets your eyes and hums to himself in satisfaction, knowing how much you’re enjoying this.
Once he feels your slick on his mouth, he gets on his knees and aligns himself with you, spreading your legs so he can get a good look of that naked entrance you were talking about.
You both moan once more, and Jungkook pushes in and out, familiarizing himself with the feeling that he knows he’ll keep having. You feel even more amazing like this; he just hopes he can keep it together and make this last longer.
“You okay, babe?” He pants.
“Yeah. It’s just like Pilates.”
He laughs again, having accepted that you’ll always have something fascinating to say even when he’s balls deep inside of you. 
But he quickly gets back to that hypnotic feel, especially once he flushes your legs against your chest, allowing him to thrust into you intensely at a different angle. 
You’re definitely not yet flexible enough so you’re a bit overwhelmed, but you let him chase his high just as he let you do so earlier with his skillful mouth and focus on the way he feels bare inside you. He knows how to use his beautiful dick and not to be cheesy, but it feels pretty special that no one else has ever felt him like this. 
His thrusts start to get erratic and you know he’s close. He pulls away, pulls out, then pumps himself repeatedly until he’s spilling his seed on your torso. The pure look of pleasure and exhaustion on his face is so sexy, you feel like coming again.
He finishes and hovers over you, supported by his propped up arms with his damp hair and sweat dangling from his forehead. He’s panting and cursing under his breath as he pecks your lips, and you just watch him, enthralled by these little actions, knowing that your body made him feel that way. 
“Let me just—”
He cuts himself off and walks to the bathroom then returns with a pile of tissues that he wipes you with. He apologizes as he does and you look at him softly, appreciating the gentleness and warmth on his face. He discards the soaked tissues and plops down next to you.
For a brief moment, you just look at each other, as if words aren’t enough to express what you want to say. It’s not just about the sex or the pleasure you both get from it. It’s not just the lust that courses through your veins and the desire for more. 
It’s that feeling of security, you think to yourself. It’s falling quickly from cloud 9 but knowing you’re not gonna crash because not only is he there next to you, holding your hand while you fall, he’s assuring you that it’s not gonna hurt. The fall isn’t the kind where that happens. 
Not like it’s some fairytale you’re in - although it might very well be - but there’s this trust that you both know what you’re getting into, that you know what you’re doing, that you just want to do what makes the other person happy. 
Because that’s what you want. With Jungkook, you’re not chasing the high or some elusive happiness because you’re living it already. It’s in your grasp and you’re filled with it. 
He smiles and you smile back. You snuggle close to him and softly kiss his lips. You want to repeat over and over again how much you like and adore and want him but it doesn’t feel enough so you settle for a hug and a bite of his cheek just because.
Jungkook chuckles and settles in this position next to you with caresses on your bare shoulder. He’s thinking of all that he feels for you until he hears your soft snores and he laughs again. 
You catch yourself and ask him if you fell asleep.
“Wow, you’re tired?” He teases.
“Shut up. Pilates makes me tired. What more this?”
“Fair enough,” he hums. “Let’s have a bath then. It could help you relax.”
You immediately agree and get off the bed. You clean your face then prepare the tub, splashing in some bath salts and lavender oil. He stands next to you naked, looking every bit handsome that you can’t help but kiss him again.
He still shivers at your touch and that urges you, as your hand once more wraps around his length and desire overtakes you once more. You start bending down and Jungkook knows what you want. He stops you for a bit and grabs one of the small towels from the sink and places it on the floor, right where your knees are supposed to be.
You get back to it immediately and the absence of the taste and smell of latex is so satisfying. It urges you to do more. It’s perhaps the best suck you’ve given him and the sounds he makes spurs you on. You didn’t think it would ever feel this good for you.
You let him come in your mouth this time and the long exhale he makes lets you know that you did well. It’s the same time when the tub gets filled, and you both go inside, moaning at the feel of the warm water all over your tired bodies.
It’s quiet for a while. You suppose you’re both just soaking in everything, familiarizing yourselves with the silence and the fact that you get to enjoy this fancy bathroom where you can do whatever you want. 
But Jungkook is the one who cuts through the sound of the bubbling water.
“You were so pretty tonight,” he says with his deep voice. 
You scrunch your nose and smile, giddy at his compliment and the sincerity in which he gives it. Even after all you’ve done in just the past hour, this is what gets you all shy and giggly. 
“Thank you,” you whisper. “You, well
 I’ve told you both versions. But it was nice to see you being with my family, Kook. I know you’re usually shy around new people but you looked so natural with them. I really appreciate you trying.”
“I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous,” he chuckles. “You talk about your family a lot and you’re their baby. I wanted them to see that I’m good for you, you know? That I can take care of you because I’m sure that’s what they want for you.”
“That’s actually what one of my cousins said as they were leaving,” you smile. “And that my grandparents would’ve loved you.”
“Yeah?”
“She said you would’ve been a big help at the farm,” you chuckle.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Jungkook smiles. “I know that they put Seokjin to work that one time. He said he’s glad he was prepared because his uncle has a farm, too, but that was tough work. And it was worth it. They were charmed by him at the end.”
“It would’ve been the same with you,” you say, reminiscing about that trip from long ago.
Seokjin and Hayoung were dating for just three months when they visited your grandparents. He’s lucky he got their approval then. Two years later, your grandfather passed; your grandmother followed a year later. 
But Jungkook got to meet them years before that as your friend and that still means something. Regardless, you think they’d adore him, too, if they were still around.
He smiles and kisses you. It's an affirmation he welcomes, and it’s one he got today from your entire family, especially from his biggest critics - your nieces and nephews. 
You return Jungkook’s kiss and moan once his one hand travels to your clit and the other fondles your breast. It’s the perfect place for this, and you sigh in his hold with your back flushed against his chest as you anticipate reaching your peak.
And you do, with his expert fingers fiddling away while his tongue swirls in your mouth with such intensity. You crash from your high engulfed in his arms, and you really can’t ask for anything more.
You stay like that for a while longer before heading to the shower. You fool around again that by the time you finish, you’re worn out and eager to sleep. 
“You’re waking up to go swimming with me and your family, right?” Jungkook asks you after you’ve turned the lamp off.
“Uh-huh,” you yawn, turning to hug him now.
His chest is taut and smooth and he smells like baby powder that you push your face against it out of sexiness aggression.
He laughs at you and accepts the new quirks you develop when it comes to him. 
“Good. Let’s slee—”
You’re snoring before he could finish his sentence as he expected. 
The perfect weekend may be halfway over but he’s loved every single moment with you. Including all the times you’d fallen asleep before he could even properly wish you goodnight. 
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You ask for a five-minute extension when your alarm rings the next morning but Jungkook isn’t having it.
“I might lose points from your nieces and nephews if I’m not down at the pool by 9,” he groans. “They made me promise. You can’t sabotage me like this.”
He pulls the cover off of you and you groan in response. You slightly open your eyes and find him standing beside your bed already in his swim shorts, arms crossed and looking impatient.
“They won’t do anything. You’re being dramatic,” you say.
“I’m being cautious,” he argues. “Come on, babe.”
“Fine,” you frown, getting off the bed and walking to the bathroom. 
He follows you there and kisses your neck to get in your good graces and it works. You’re that weak for him and he knows this so he takes advantage. Sometimes you pretend to be angry or uncaring just so he’d butter up to you but his eye rolling and smirk tell you he knows exactly what you’re doing. 
You finally get in your bathing suit and head to the indoor pool where the kids cheer when they see you and Jungkook. You think they’re excited because he promised to teach them how to swim this morning. 
“You weren’t that excited when I taught you,” your cousin, Hae-dal, whines.
She was a competitive swimmer once upon a time, too.
“But you’re not a teacher, Ma,” Ha-yul says. “I couldn’t understand what you were saying.”
“She’s got a point,” you tell your cousin. 
Once Jungkook starts teaching them how to do the basics and guiding them with their strokes, she concedes.
You didn’t really plan on swimming today but the kids dragged Jungkook and he couldn’t bail on them. He still would’ve come though; he really wanted to try the hotel’s indoor pool and you don’t blame him. It’s huge and fancy-looking. There’s an area for kids, too, so teaching them is easy. You watch him manage six excited children who all want his attention and like you expected, he’s able to give it to each one.
“He’s such a natural,” Hoseok’s voice cuts through your thoughts. 
You turn and see that your friends and their partners are here, too, and are heading to the adult pool. You wave your greetings and signal that you’ll go to them later.
“He is,” you respond to your friend. “I never noticed it before.”
“Would you have liked him then if you did?”
“Maybe. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing,” you hum. “I wasn’t in a good headspace for years and I probably would’ve screwed us up.”
“And he probably would’ve fought to keep you.”
“You think so?” You wonder. “If I hurt him, then I don’t deserve him.”
“Only if you intended to, but we all know you wouldn’t. Not to him. And that’s because you’re a good person, ___. I hope you’ll never forget that.”
You look at Hoseok, a man you’ve known for years and someone you’d seek advice from every once in a while when things are tough because of how wise he is, so he knows your fears and your worries well. 
He knows you’re afraid to disappoint people, that you don’t want to hurt the people you care about. And even as you’d told Jungkook last night that you want to continue with your relationship without doubts and fears, somehow this affirmation from Hoseok is something you also needed. And you wonder if it stems from a conversation he might’ve had.
He reads your mind, as he says that he, Jungkook, and Yoongi were chatting last night while making sure Namjoon didn’t fall over the yacht’s railing. 
“Kook was just talking about not wanting to fail you. As a partner and as a friend.”
“Did you assure him that he wouldn’t?” You ask.
“I did. And I reminded him that he’s a good person, too, and hurting you isn’t something he’d just do.”
“Seems easy to say, huh?” You laugh dryly.
“People can fight and have misunderstandings and not hurt each other. That’s
 kind of what a mature relationship is,” Hoseok advises. “I know you’re on the cusp of something really great - if you’re not there yet - and I thought that reminding you that you’re capable of having genuine, long-lasting and gentle and intense feelings for someone would help. Because you are, okay? Kook’s really happy that he gets to be with you.”
You smile and think that it’s indeed a good reminder. You and Jungkook have been on this honeymoon ride of laughter and playful bickering the past two months and this weekend has turned out to be a beautiful dream, too. 
You feel so much for him and you don’t want to one day be overwhelmed by it that you start to doubt if you’re built for something enduring, like you want your feelings for him to be. 
You told him months ago that you’re both good people who’ll find other good people meant for you and that you deserve. And both of you have. It’s quite serendipitous - all the times you comforted yourself at the thought that the person meant for you is just somewhere around, he’d been next to you all along. 
“Thanks, Hoseok,” you turn to the man next to you. “I’m not surprised if Yoongi and Gyu-rim turn to you, too.”
“Oh, they already have. And it’s barely been a day,” he laughs. “And I say the same thing - they’re good people who deserve good things, too. And they’ve experienced so much that they know enough not to let go of the amazing things that come their way. But you and Kook - you’re like my babies. It makes me happy seeing both of you happy.”
“Well, I am. Very much.”
“And he is, too. But know that I’m just here, okay? We all are.”
You nod and hug him, assured even more that when things get tough, it’s your friends who'll help you and Jungkook find the way.
You finally head to the adult pool and greet your friends. By that time, Jungkook’s swimming lessons have ended, and he’s left the kids on their own to play around. 
You dip in the water and stay close to Taehyung and Mo-eum while Jungkook does his laps. It turns out to be a spectacle, as your friends and family stop to watch him. He’s surprised when everyone erupts in cheers and he just laughs it off, content that he still has the skills to entertain, even if he’s certain that he’ll continue doing this for fun.
Swim time ends and you head to your rooms to wash up and prepare for an early lunch before you checkout. Your friends and family occupy several tables of the hotel restaurant and manage to not be too disruptive with how large your group is. 
You fix your things and head to the reception then say goodbye to your relatives as they go back home. Your parents remind you and Jungkook about scheduling your visit to Gwangju and you promise that you will. Your nieces and nephews all take their time to hug your friends goodbye, especially Jungkook who they now say is their favorite uncle, a badge he says he’ll proudly wear. 
It’s a short drive to Jimin’s father’s cafe where you and your friends go to for dessert, and he welcomes you all with your favorite cakes and pastries that have you jumping in your seat. 
That’s where you separate. Seokjin and Hayoung go back to the hotel for another night before they fly to their honeymoon, Taehyung heads for the airport to return to New York, you and Jungkook drive to his parents’ house, and the rest of your friends journey back to Seoul. It’s goodbyes for now but the next lunch gathering is scheduled for when the newlyweds return and you can’t wait for that day to come.  
“So, are you excited to go to my childhood home?” Jungkook asks as he turns the corner to his street.
“I’ve been to your house a few times before, Kook,” you remind him. “It’s nothing new.”
“Well, you’re going as my girlfriend this time. That’s a new experience.”
“What new experiences am I gonna have, huh?” You teasingly ask.
“Hand-holding under the table, hugs on my couch
 make out session on my childhood bed,” he shrugs.
“Very tempting,” you say.
“And very doable. My parents might even gush and tell us that it’s okay to be affectionate because, uh, they’re not really used to that.”
“Hmm. Sounds good then,” you smile. “Can’t wait.”
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The new experience turns out to include Jungkook’s parents telling their neighbors that their son has a girlfriend and that she’s very smart and beautiful.
Jungkook shakes his head in embarrassment, as the elderly couple were merely passing on their street and greeting them but his parents went ahead and bragged about you, which you actually think is quite cute. And a relief, because you were worried about what they thought of you. They’ve always been nice, but you want them to truly like you, and with the way they’re welcoming you into their home, you think they already do.
The new experience also includes being shown old home videos of Jungkook growing up, like his taekwondo competitions and trips to the beach. You’d seen some of his baby photo albums the few times you all went here as friends but there’s more this time, and you’re reminded of baby Jungkook’s chunky cheeks and perfectly round doe eyes. 
There are photos of him being cradled by his mom and riding his dad’s shoulders and wearing costumes with his older brother. There are those from family trips and his kindergarten days. There are more of the embarrassingly adorable bowl cut hairstyle from middle school and the side bangs from high school. 
That’s how you spend the afternoon - his parents and brother telling you all these stories, Jungkook covering his eyes in embarrassment and defending himself, and you, heaving from laughter. 
They don’t even mind when you snort or say unfiltered things and that’s a comforting feeling. They look at you endearingly when you tell stories of Jungkook over the years and even recently, and you don’t miss the way his mom would sometimes touch your hand out of reflex and let it stay there. 
She’s such a warm individual, and you feel that aura of comfort she exudes that Jungkook definitely took from her. She’s so bright and positive and you understand why she’s beloved by her students. 
His father is very laid-back and slightly cheeky. He likes reminding you that it was Jungkook’s mom who confessed her feelings first because she found him very handsome, just like you did, and you see how Jungkook takes from his old man in that regard, too.
His older brother is quite introverted but has a good sense of humor, and you see why they get along so well, even if they insist it wasn’t always like that. But he seems very caring and attentive, and you’re reminded that Jungkook was raised by such good people. 
You’re lucky you get to be part of this family, as what they say you are, with his mom insisting that you always were because of your decade-long friendship with her son but now, you hold a special place in it.
You continue talking with Mrs. Jeon and let her show you Jungkook’s awards cabinet while the men start preparing dinner, as it is in this household. Jungkook did tell you that this mom’s cooking isn’t the best so it was something they always did. 
She asks you more about your work and takes interest in the research projects you did for child development. She asks about your college days, too, and how you and Jungkook were like back then.
You enjoy sharing about your life and your friendship with her son. You don’t know how much she knows but you talk about the past year and the trips you took and all the moments you had with him that turned out to be the serendipitous moments that brought you here. 
“He really likes you, ___. Like, really, really likes you. I don’t know how else to put it,” she takes your hand and smiles. “He’s a lot more open about himself and he talks to us with this joy and calmness and we’re really happy about that. So thank you. If he does anything silly, let me know, okay?”
“I doubt he will but yes, Auntie,” you smile back. “I think this is the kind of thing that my parents will tell him, too.”
“Probably,” she chuckles. “But we’re parents, ___. At the end of the day, we just want our children to love and be loved. We want them to be happy. And that’s what he is when he’s with you.”
You bow in gratitude, as her words assure you. But love? It’s an exciting thought. You don’t know if it’s all too soon but you know where this whole thing with Jungkook is going, and it’s definitely heading there. 
And just as your mind’s about to go elsewhere again, Mr. Jeon calls out that dinner is ready. 
You excitedly walk to the dinner table and gasp at all they prepared. From the beef soup to the pajeon to the cold noodles and raw fish, your tummy rumbles in anticipation. And as you expected, everything is delicious. 
You and Jungkook take turns in moaning and making these weird sounds you make when the food is good, and your shyness in front of his family slowly melts away. You talk more over dinner and even while you wash the dishes with his mom and then right after.
But you don’t stay up late, as you still have a long drive back to Seoul tomorrow afternoon. So you bid his parents and brother good night and take turns with Jungkook in washing up.
You’re exhausted by the time you’re in bed, your leg over his and your arms wrapped around his waist. You’re softly kissing his face as you both take in the silence and he asks you if you want to ride his bike with him and go to this famous spot to watch the sunrise. 
“To relive that time,” he tells you. “I
 I always find myself going back to that morning in Jeju.”
“Why?”
“It was so thrilling - riding with you for the first time, feeling what I was feeling but nervous to let you know
 But it was also so grounding, I guess,” he explains. “I mean, sunrise, dolphins, scenery of a seaside town
 It’s like all these pretty things, including you.”
You remember the feeling clearly. It’s not hard to forget since it felt the same to you. Perhaps that’s when you thought that you could really have the good things you dreamed for in the palm of your hands, and now you do. Seeing the sunrise again with Jungkook this time would definitely make that past sunrise and all the sunrises after that even more special.
“Okay,” you smile. “But you’re waking me up. Drag me out of bed if you need to.”
“I’ll carry you bridal style out this door if it comes to it.”
You giggle at his words but promise that you’ll wake up. You don’t want to miss it either.   
“Today was nice, Kook,” you say after a beat of silence. “I think your mom finds me funny.”
“She finds you endearing,” he corrects. “She likes you. She likes you for me. And she thinks you really like me, too.”
“Hmm. I wonder how she figured that out. Is it because of the hundred times I called you handsome or praised you for a gazillion reasons or held your hand every time I had the chance?” 
You playfully mock yourself even if you think you’re very transparent about how you feel. You truly think you can’t like Jungkook anymore than you already do.
“Possibly,” he laughs. “But also because your eyes sparkle when you look or talk about me. It’s kind of a big tell.”
“Imagine if you were half-naked and she caught me ogling at you.”
“Let’s be thankful then that the first time she saw us together, I was fully clothed,” he chuckles. 
You nod in agreement and think the same. 
It’s quiet again for a while and Jungkook meets your sleepy eyes. He kisses you and he feels your toes curl like they often do, and he smiles against your lips because like always, you’re not afraid to feel things for him, and you’re not afraid to show it. 
He promises himself he’ll take after you. And then he can tell you everything he really feels.
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You keep your promise and wake up when Jungkook taps your arm. He’s already dressed, and you appreciate how he always gets up first so you have more time to sleep. 
You fix up and make your way out in the dark where his motorcycle is parked on the street since he’d really planned on riding around in the morning. 
He reminds you of safety guidelines and tells you you’re free to hold onto him anytime, not like you need a reason anyway. He puts on your helmet and helps you up, then starts the drive to a nearby town to head to a spot he’s passed by so many times. 
The ride is quiet, with only the soft breeze of the summer morning buzzing as you drive past houses and mountains. You see the coast and he tells you you’re near. 
It’s still dark when you arrive but you can get a sense of what’s around you. There’s a walkway that leads to a church and behind it are massive rocks that jut out the ocean. There are some street lights the further you walk and you see the view that he’s talking about. The water is so vast and the boulders are flat and safe enough for you to sit at so you find a spot and sit between his legs, basking in the calmness of your surroundings and the warmth of the man who’s holding you. 
“Do you come here often?” You ask, as light starts to dot the horizon. 
“Not really. I ride past here sometimes but there are always many people in the morning,” he says. “The sun rises over this side so I thought it would be a good place to go. And well, it’s beautiful and we’ve barely seen it.”
“I already like it. You can just hear the waves crash against the rocks and it’s so refreshing.”
He hums in agreement and asks you how you slept. You talk about the short dream you had and end up talking about the other ones you remember. Jungkook laughs at your stories again and tucks his head in your neck when he does. He holds you tight and shifts around when he senses your legs cramping up. 
The sky continues to lighten, as orange and red hues peek out of the ocean. 
And then the sun comes and you hold your breath like always. It’s so breathtaking and it feels even more surreal being where you are. It’s another sight that you’ll ingrain in your mind knowing that this time, there’s so much more meaning to it. It’s as if you’ve really come full circle - from that hike up in Chungbuk to Jeju a few months ago to right now. 
Jungkook went from someone who was just around you to someone next to you and with you, and you’re filled with so much emotion, just thinking of how you got here. 
The sun’s taken its place in the sky and you hum in satisfaction. It’s another one of those daily occurrences that you get to witness and be a part of, and you have the most amazing person you know holding you.
You turn to Jungkook and find that he’s already looking at you. His eyes soften and you smile and he smiles back.
You’re so beautiful this morning, just like you are everyday. But he finds that everyday is a new kind of beautiful, and he wants to keep finding new things about you to gush about. Whether it’s a new pitch of your voice when you’re whining about something, a different reaction when he teases you, another fascinating thought you have, or anything else, really. 
He wants to keep learning about and experiencing life with you. He wants to keep holding your hand and settling into this home that both of you keep discovering and enjoying. He wants to—
“Kook, are you okay?” You cut through his thoughts. 
“Yeah. Just thinking about how much I love you.”
Jungkook sees your face change into one of surprise. It doesn’t worry him though. Even if you don’t feel it yet, you might as well be close to it.
“Is it too soon? Too late?” He wonders.
He at least doesn’t want to put you off. 
You look at the man with the prettiest eyes and child-like smile and think that he’s the most beautiful person you’ve ever met. To be loved by him is probably your greatest gift.
“Hmm, it’s actually perfect timing,” you say, gazing back to let him know just how much you feel, too.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I was just thinking that I can’t like you more than I do now but I could. I could love you and I do, Kook. I
 I really do love you.”
You’ve always been one to give in to your feelings and you feel them intensely. At this moment, it’s love that you’re filled with, and you feel it so much for the person in front of you.
He giggles and kisses you softly on the lips. You kiss him back then give him pecks on his cheek until he’s lying on his back and hugging you tightly.
It’s so freeing, as you listen to the ocean waves and the seagulls flying by and Jungkook’s racing heartbeat. It’s as if you’re able to feel all the comfort and passion you could possibly feel for someone and you want it to always be like this. 
You settle back on your earlier spot and he wraps his arms around your waist again.
“So, uh. When you have the time, do you mind telling So-you that I won?” He says.
You look at him questioningly.
“I told you she cornered me after the ceremony and asked me if I was your boyfriend, right?” Jungkook starts. “So I explained we were friends and then we started dating and she asked if I plan on marrying you like her uncle Seokjin who was also just friends with her auntie Hayoung and well
”
“What!” You laugh, imagining your 10-year old niece interrogating Jungkook. 
“Yeah and well, I said that we haven’t talked about getting married because we just started dating but that I love you so that should be a start,” he continues. “And so I got into this ‘who loves you more competition’ because she insisted it was her and while I understood where she was coming from, I couldn’t accept defeat and I insisted it was me. So we played all these games and your other nephews and nieces started playing along. I won everything but So-you didn’t want to declare me as winner.”
“Why not?”
“She said it’ll only count if I tell you. Because why does it matter if I love you if you don’t know that I do?”
“What a smart girl,” you laugh, thinking of how silly and incredibly adorable that whole exchange might have been. 
“She is and she’s right. It matters that you know. And I wanted to tell you that night but I didn’t want you to think it was only because you let me enter coochie heaven naked.”
You laugh again.
“What about yesterday?” You wonder.
“I was going to, especially after seeing how good you were with my family but
 I wanted to savor the feeling one last time,” he explains. “Just like when I liked you first and didn’t say anything, I just had these moments of feeling it all to myself and admiring you without expectations. And I get to release it all now and it feels really good.”
“You’re not too bad at expressing your feelings, you know that?” You smile at him, feeling overwhelmed and quite speechless at everything he’s saying. 
“I try,” he whispers.
“I love you for it. And for everything else,” you assure him. “So maybe this beats the Jeju sunrise?”
“That was still special on its own. That version of us was trying to figure out if we could be each other’s home. This version
” he says, taking your hand for him to kiss. “This version knows we want to stay in this home for a long time.”
You let his words settle and pull his arms to hug you tighter. It’s all you need because he’s right. 
You’ve settled into him, into this with him, and even into this version of yourself that embraces all types of emotions and basks herself in the love she receives and gives. 
And as you spend the rest of the morning walking around town with his parents, and as you hold his hand while he drives back to Seoul, you think that he’s who you’ve been wishing for this whole time.
He’s the good that you hoped for and truly deserve, and you don’t think you could ever ask for anything more. 
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wistfulnightingale · 2 days ago
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Good Omens & the Existential Art of Not Giving Up (or, When It's All Exhausting)
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So many of us love Good Omens, especially Crowley and Aziraphale, with an intensity that our friends and loved ones may not understand. We analyze their choices, their relationship, their future. We cry over them. We speculate, create and enjoy fanfics about them, and await the conclusion of their story with all of our hopes and fears on the line.
For me, one of the biggest reasons I'm so attached to their story is because of the way they constantly fight to figure out how to exist as they are, in a universe that forces them be something they're not. They make mistakes, they get overwhelmed, and sometimes they totally screw it up. But they always come back.
They never give up.
Our world is -- tough -- to say the least. Many of us are struggling to figure out how to exist as we are. So many pressures and expectations, so much conflict and... Well, you already know exactly what I mean! Existential Exhaustion is real, and all too present.
Good Omens provides something much more important than an escape from those harsh realities. I believe it provides HOPE.
I lost hope for a little while. I've been away from Tumblr and my AO3 writing for months because of it. Good Omens was helping me keep my head above water in a chaotic, exhausting world. When the future of GO itself got chaotic, I lost something (for awhile) that helped me make sense of the world's chaos.
But these characters, Crowley and Aziraphale, are beautiful and brave and flawed and So Ineffably HUMAN... They show us what it is to fight and fall and fail and rise to fight again. They remind us that we can mess up and still be lovable, worthy of love. And, when they get it right, they show us what acceptance and fidelity can be.
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Stories are usually about how people (and angels and demons!) respond to challenges. We only get to be privy to the story of Our Ineffables when their lives are about to get turned upside down. AntiChrist about to enter the world? Season 1. Their precious, peaceful, fragile existance together about to be threatened by a mysterious Something Terrible from Heaven? Season 2.
I love to imagine what Aziraphale and Crowley's lives together were like in that short time they had together in between. (It's why we love the flashbacks, right? An extra peek at their relationship!) That time was far too short, but they came a long way since that gentle night at the bus stop, and protecting each other's very existence from Hellfire and Holy Water the very next day. "To the World", they said. "To Us," it meant, and how much they love it and strive to protect it.
Like us, Our Ineffables are flawed fellows. They get overwhelmed. Aziraphale gets too anxious, and starts spouting off things he doesn't really mean. Crowley loses his temper, and likewise starts spouting off things he doesn't really mean...
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They fight with each other.
They fight for each other.
And life stays hard. They get overwhelmed. Anxiety happens. Anger happens. Bad decisions happen. Existential Exhaustion. Doesn't put any of us at our best, yeh?
But they keep trying to figure it all out and make it right. For the world and for each other...
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Maybe I believe in Our Ineffables so much because I need something to believe in that gives me Hope, something that helps me keep fighting. Because I do believe in them, both of them. They mess up, but they don't give up.
Maybe that's not such a weird thing for any of us to believe in.
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maybe-boys-do-love · 3 days ago
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I wasn't obsessed with The Ex-Morning to start, but I trusted it would hit me eventually. You see, the thing I love about Lit Phadung as a director is that he never tries to be above the classic Thai BL aesthetics. The production hallmarks are all there: dialogue-heavy stories with generic comedic scoring and stable cameras theatrically focusing on people rather than any dynamic or poetic cinematography. He chooses works that bring broad, obvious characters to life for us. The work of his I've seen--the full SOTUS series, Love Mechanics, Love in Translation, and currently The Ex-Morning--is remarkably unpretentious, always skirting the line of cheesy. This all sounds hardly complimentary. And yet. And yet!
A few episodes in, his series begin to unobtrusively swell like a tide moving in with the density of the characters and thematic subtext. Episode 6 in SOTUS S inspired me to research and write a whole 20 page essay on the 4 Act structure. Episode 3's where The Ex-Morning hooked me. An example of a master at work in episode 3, we get the shipping-moment where Tam grabs Phi's hand, a perfect example of how Lit layers quiet symbols amongst the cheese of romance. The narrative set-up here gives us classic BL. Blatant skinship edited and closely framed to make it impossible to miss or misread its romantic implication. We even have a fujoshi observer to remind us the gaze we're meant to use.
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fighting certain urges about the hair on Singto's hands
But P'Lit and screenwriter Aof--who I've argued appears to have adapted these techniques from P'Lit's work on SOTUS--layer this shot with other visual information. In zooming to the hands, the ring, the mala bracelet, and the act of writing get secretly highlighted amongst the yaoi content. The show has not pushed us hard to think about their meaning yet, but there's been a subtle focus on jewelry and accessorizing already and the Buddhist themes have been an emerging question, too. It's just one of many examples in the series where the questions of materialism, emotional attachments, authorship, and queer embellishments arise without hammering the audience over the head with it.
And then on top of these visual strategies, Lit consistently draws out overwhelming performances from his actors that imbue what might otherwise be camp with a raw humanism, heightening the stories beyond run-of-the-mill romcom plots. With their flawed, conflicted characters and unflinching portrayals, they're tests of empathy.
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It's no surprise he's launched the careers of several renowned pairs--Kristsingto, DaouOffroad, YinWar (not their first outing, but the one that elevated them past their peers). In a P'Lit world you get to play a full range of emotions, and he's not interested in requiring violence or high-concept plots to experience those feels. It's pure romcom, with the full breadth of its possibility, which is something I adore.
Lit's not an auteur by the traditional definition. His vision's not singular, his work not so marked by his idiosyncrasies to be easily chosen out of a lineup of his peers. I think it's better for that. He intricately crafts his works so that you don't have your attention drawn to its craft or intricacy, letting the story and characters, which at first might seem silly, take hold of your soul.
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Cynthia really brought such a softness and vulnerability to Elphaba

Honestly, it’s kind of miraculous how well she makes it work. It had the potential to undermine Elphaba’s righteous (and sometimes extreme) anger at an unjust world, or even end up turning her character into a one note Too Good For This World doormat without any edge or flaws.
Instead, the added softness made Elphaba more layered, more interesting, and if anything makes her epiphany during Defying Gravity hit way harder because there really is a progression from dreamy but naĂŻve young woman to idealistic rebel with no f*cks to give.
Cynthia really did that to her and I, for one, couldn’t be more grateful.
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sleepingdeath-light · 3 days ago
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relationship hcs ; chuuya nakahara
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requested by ; mod / self indulgent
fandom(s) ; bungou stray dogs
fandom masterlist(s) ; here
character(s) ; chuuya nakahara
outline ; “dating hcs for chuuya”
warning(s) ; none, just fluff!
despite what one might expect from a high ranking member of the port mafia, chuuya nakahara is nothing short of a complete and utter gentleman in how he approaches his relationship with you, and if it weren’t for his heaving and unpredictable schedule you might find yourself tempted to call him the ‘perfect’ boyfriend
(
 well that and his jealous streak, which has landed people in the hospital or six feet under on many occasions
 but everyone has their flaws, right?)
not afraid to engage in pda with you but will generally stick to more polite stuff — chaste kisses, hand holding, linking arms, guiding you with a hand on the small of your back, etc. — unless you goade him into being a bit more playful
just don’t try to one-up him because he will win — even if he needs to drag you somewhere a bit more private to do so
his favourite places to be kissed are on his hands — bonus points if you kiss the scars there, but palm and wrist kisses never fail to leave him a bit giggly and red in the face
chuuya rarely ever calls you by your actual name and instead refers to you using an array of pet names that, while all endearing in their own right, can range from casual and modern (like ‘babe’ or ‘sweets’) to the kind of shit you’ve only ever heard from the mouths of hollywood gangster stereotypes and that would be hilarious if he didn’t make them all sound so damn good (e.g. ‘doll face’ if you’re on the feminine side)
and on the flip side he’s generally quite chill with whatever you want to call him as long as you save the cutesy stuff for when the two of you are at home and on your own (he has a reputation to keep up, after all)
chuuya does not tolerate any negative talk about you whether it’s coming from someone else or if it’s coming from you. and sure he could easily spend hours upon hours listing every single thing he loves about you, more often than not his way of dealing with this is through confrontation (either a very stern talking to about self deprecating language if it’s you, or a physical confrontation if it’s someone else)
he flusters super easily when you shower him with unexpected physical affection and praise, especially if you’re super gentle about it — after all, for most of his life he’s been in survival mode and surrounded by harshness and violence so it will take a long time for your sweetness and affection to not catch him a little off guard
gift giving is one of his main love languages meaning that as his lover you can expect to be spoiled absolutely rotten — sometimes that means him going out and buying you stuff himself (e.g enough bouquets of flowers to fill every surface in your home, a whole new outfit for a date, luxurious clothes and jewellery, etc.), and other times that means him just straight up giving you his black card and telling you to buy whatever you want (and don’t even think about being guilty for spending his money, he likes being able to provide for his partner so please just spoil yourself on his behalf)
while his schedule is an absolute nightmare, courtesy of his role as an executive, chuuya does his best to block out at least one evening each week for the two of you to go out on an actual date. in an ideal world he’d book off a whole day, but that’s just not possible for him these days
 though that’s not to say he doesn’t make the most of the time you get because, rest assured, any date you go on with him is guaranteed to sweep you off of your feet no matter what you end up actually doing
late night joyrides on his motorcycle? just say the word and it’s done
does his best to keep you as far away from his work as humanly possible — only telling you the bare minimum about what he does each day, only introducing you to a select few people that he genuinely trusts, refusing to let you anywhere near pm territory unless absolutely necessary, etc. — even if you yourself are a port mafia member that just happens to be a lower rank than him
 he’s just lost so many people that he can’t help but be protective
he keeps a photo of you in his wallet and he’s not afraid to show you off — at least not to those he actually trusts (he’s a proud boyfriend, sure, but he’s not stupid or blind enough to put a target on your head like that)
and whenever he’s drunk you’re pretty much the only thing he talks about, which is as cute/endearing for you as it is annoying for pretty much anyone else who happens to be in earshot of him at the time
he has two phones: one that he uses for mafia related things and that he keeps as impersonal as possible (no cutesy contacts, default home and lock screen, no pictures of himself or his colleagues anywhere, regularly reset, etc.), and one that he pretty much exclusively uses to talk to you and kouyou. the latter features your smiling face as his homescreen, a picture of the two of you on his bike as his lockscreen, and an entire album dedicated to pictures and videos of you smiling and laughing that he watches whenever he’s sent away from work and feeling homesick
nothing pisses him off quite like dazai talking about you or getting near you in any capacity. call him jealous or whatever but he just does not trust the guy not to try something just to mess with him and you are the line that will not be crossed and chuuya will make sure of that
he’s the type of boyfriend to lend you his coat/jacket without question if you mention being cold (or even if you just happen to look a bit chilly)
 now whether or not it actually fits you is another story, but it’s a sweet gesture nonetheless
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petalbcrnes · 20 hours ago
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hiii i luv your writing so much!! this is probably a silly question but what media do you read/watch to get a good understanding of the batboys? i want to write about them ^_^ i know only a little based on what I've read from stories but other than that im clueless... sorry if this is a very weird thing to ask.... i just luv your writing and look up to you!!!
not a silly question at all my dear! 💞 it makes me so happy you look up to me đŸ„čđŸ„č i wish you the best of luck in writing for them.
there is a lot of media to choose from when learning about the batboys characters. Almost every comic, movie & game shows us different sides of their personality.
id recommend these medias to start from. i would like to clarify that i am no expert in this. i have barely read any comics about them. most of my knowledge about their characters comes from reading fanfiction. if i make any mistakes with the information i gathered here please let me know!
batman: death in the family & batman: under the red hood, Arkham Knight (a more gritty version of jay, bruce, etc) juni ba's comics (i recommend juni ba's comics to every dc fan), batman vs robin, son of batman, gotham knights (take this one with a grain of salt, not many liked it, i personally liked it 😭), wayne family adventures. (most of my characteristics for the batboys comes from wfa), if you're feeling like it you could give the series titans a try (first dc media i ever watched, im not too much of a fan of the earlier seasons, the characters building gets better down the road), young justice is a classic (currently watchinf yj, you could watch it for nightwing i suppose)
I have some issues with the movies, considering we do not get the full batfamily in most of them, plus i feel like their culture/roots often gets ignored (damian and dick for example). (Jason, tim and duke are often ignored. Mostly duke though).
what to keep in mind when writing:
dont fall for the stereotypes. jason wasn't some angry robin. tim isnt always glued to his computer. duke is 100% a batfam member and has his own full fleshed out character. damian isn't unfeeling. talia isn't a horrid mother. bruce is flawed yes, but for our sakes give him a chance.
dont forget their roots/race/ethnicity— i think it is canon that dick is romani (writers put that in ~2000's, in a very racist way as well. it doesn't erase the fact dick is romani, but take advice from romani and roma creators when writing for him (if you plan on highlighting his heritage). damian is mixed— arab and chinese heritage on his mother's side, plus bruce is white so (wow kore you worded that beautifully). for damian his culture is pretty important— id recommend letting it shine through while writing.
dont forget duke. duke thomas is a batboy. he will always be a batboy. try and include him in any works where the other batboys r included.
this is more of a quick guide to know about the batboys. for me at least 😭 if anyone has recommendations feel free to let us know 💞
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briebysabs · 2 days ago
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So the recent alnst comic dropped and put the entire fandom on fire. But I do want to talk mischaracterization and how the alnst fandom has an abundance of it. Every fandom has it to various degrees because fans will always reach their own conclusions, how far it is from the creator’s intent differs from person to person. But alnst fans have such strong takes and everyone is so aggressive in being right. Two fans can have greatly different assumptions of a character. A big part of that I believe is because except for comics that give some context, most of its storytelling is done through visuals and songs.
Those are less concrete mediums. The meaning of a simple hand movement or lyric can be taken in differently from person to person. But I’ve always felt that as long as you understand alnst is not a black and white story, that there are no good or evil human characters you should be able to somewhat put pieces together.
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I don’t see how some ppl gathered that Mizi is “the true villain” or smth. Her willful ignorance is definitely a coping mechanism and this adds a lot of complexity to her. And lowkey after sitting on it, some fans do reduce Mizi to a single dimension like Till, that boy, and even Sua. She isn’t a “perfect victim” who is innocent and has no flaws bc that eliminates her humanity. Most of the ppl in her life projected that image onto her so she felt compelled to fit into it. She couldn’t stop Till from having a crush on her even though she rejected him and she couldn’t severe the codependent relationship she had with Sua. Plus all this described to us from Mizi’s POV and given Ivan’s entire deal as a character I don’t think we’re supposed to 100% trust what she’s saying about herself.
In regard to Till, I sympathize with him to an extent. I understand you can’t control who you like and it’s hard to move on. Add that on top of this horrible environment where desiring Mizi might’ve been the few things to keep him going. But I need people to really see the truth: his crush on Mizi was fucking shallow.
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He didn’t really know her nor try to. Yes he had this unrequited crush but it is not Mizi’s responsibility to make him better about it. I have been in Mizi’s position multiple times. A guy likes you, you express you’re not interested and they insist that they’ll still want you. The whole time they’re not even close to you and you’re like a prize to them. I’ve been in Mizi’s position and it’s fucking uncomfortable.
She also risked her life returning back to save Till in r7 so I don’t think she was plotting his demise on some villain shit. Mizi still saw Till as her friend I doubt she’s faking those emotions.
Finally it is very essential to remember this series is created by two queer korean women living in SK. And if you know anything of the korean male population, it’s not great. I mean men aren’t in general but in sk it’s like
.in the 7th circle of hell. So anyone villainizing Mizi please take a minute to really process her character because she’s probably inspired by their personal experiences.
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gtzgoblin · 3 days ago
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I've been thinking about this episode all week because I'm gonna have to watch it again with my kid this weekend but I just can't get over Belinda. She started off such a strong character, she was calling the Doctor out on his shit, she didn't want to be there, he was being almost sinister in his attempts to keep her with him and like the time didn't pass for her to be the way she was in the Space Eurovision episode never mind the end of the last one.
Now don't get me wrong, I have a kid, I would go into the box with my kid in a second if there was any risk there. I understand why Belinda did that in character at that moment. But when she vanished, the only person bothered by that was Ruby (which I did feel terrible for her about, don't get me wrong, I was desperate to give her a cuddle coz she's been hard done by these last two series as the Doctor dropped in and destroyed her life as ever). If Belinda had given any sort of unease (in the series to suggest she was a mother and time had changed or at the end when Ruby was creating) I'd be more open to the ending but, like, the Doctor has then saddled this woman with a little kid she had no knowledge of before the event - he literally changed time to make it so - and Poppy didn't even turn out to be his. Now Belinda has an ex and has to work nights and it just could have been written so much better even without changing the ending if they really had to go there - but they didn't! The other weird baby went to Carla. In the Space Babies ep Poppy wanted the Doctor and Ruby to be her parents. Ruby was the one who knew she was gone and cared. I don't understand why Belinda ended up with her when she'd shown absolutely no wish for a kid outside of a situation where she was brainwashed.
And on top of that why was Ruby the only one who knew? Why couldn't Belinda be the special one in that occasion? Her character was just watered down through the series and like, the companions have their flaws, but I've been watching s11 and by the end of that series Yaz has tonnes more depth and she's much younger and much more wobbly in herself (due to age). Amy Pond had a similar storyline and it broke my heart.
The episode itself, and most of the series, I've enjoyed on a surface level (that left me with a bad taste in my mouth admittedly) but that's all down to the acting of the cast, who have been wonderful. Ncuti, Millie, Varada, all of the UNIT cast, Anita Dobson and Archie Panjabi were fantastic (and the Ranis exit sucked too, what a let down) I hated Conrad because Jonah Hauer-King was so good (when Ruby was going on about his dad my heart stopped coz me and my husband had a bet on whether the Master and Lucy Saxon were his parents).
I get that things out of the series' control happened, and things had to change because of it, but everyone deserves a good send off and that send off for poor Ncuti was not only lacklustre (excluding Jodie, but again, she didn't need to be there) but overshadowed as much as his first one (still not over DT getting an award for the regeneration when it was Jodie's exit) which is absolute bullshit for the MAIN CHARACTER of the show. He should have had a better, more pointed regeneration. Even the Rani hitting him with a damn laser or Omega getting him (I'd rather we forgot about Omega altogether though, that also sucked) would've been better than him changing time for no reason.
And why couldn't he have gone to find the real Poppy on his way out, seen her happy with her family, or brought those babies back to earth where someone could've looked after them instead of making Belinda a one-dimensional incubator and happy about it?
Ugh, go back to the ÂŁ5 budget and filler episodes running down corridors that are flashing red against a Dalek, or something bad CGI with big teeth please. Two of my favourite ever episodes are the Jodie one with the Dalek and the time loop and the Matt one in that hotel with the minotaur and they were just classic Doctor Who: show string budget, non-compicated plot, some cool companion events, the Doctor shows off after thinking it's all doomed.
That's better than this.
(P.S. did I misinterpret the genetic bomb thing? Is that how the Master wiped them all out or not? If so, how did he keep some of them in the cybersuits (I'm guessing he chose specific people he hated most to be exempt), he'll be furious at bigeneration (I stand by that that's a stupid concept though I'm glad Anita is still lurking somewhere), and also how did the Doctor then bigenerate if he's not technically a Time Lord? Is he a Time Lord? I never got the nuance of that so decided to just ignore it...)
(P.P.S I fucking hate gimmicks so I'm not touching that regeneration with a barge pole)
(P.P.P.S if DT doctor regenerates will he regenerate, will he turn into Ncuti again, will he turn into someone else, go backwards into Jodie, or will he just explode and destroy the earth?)
if you asked me a week ago how i thought 15 would die i would have guessed succumbing to his injuries after rescuing rogue from hell and dying homosexually in his arms but. no. instead he dies forcing a baby onto a woman who has never shown interest in motherhood. great...
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tornadoxp · 1 day ago
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Curse Swap AU: Sam
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to be perfectly honest this was mostly inspired by @sodiumpentothol's Wrong Side of the Bed AU.
So in this AU Sam gets immediately cursed by being exposed to the light from his window. Luckily, he doesn't get a good look at the visitor so he doesn't immediately get sucked into the sky. unluckily though he has been given the Jeanne special of a drawn-out version of his flawed ritual transformation.
Over the course of 15 days Sam will wake up to some new additions. These changes initially would be small, and he could pass as a normal person but right around day 4 he gets a new pair of arms and the changes there on become exponentially more dramatic.
Gameplay wise this replaces Sam Leveling up making each phase increase his stats and give him new skills. Sam could assess himself at the start of a new day to describe what has changed and give insight to what new skills or challenges he has to deal with.
Specific phases would change what Sam would need to deal with for example.
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sorry I'm too lazy to draw more Sam.
at day 12~13ish Sams eyes will start splitting like this giving him blurry vision. During this phase Sam starts every encounter with the blindness debuff so this day could either be used for other non-combative tasks or he could focus mainly on support for his ally's.
The most interesting thing for me is how this would change his interactions with other characters. Sam would be treated differently depending on what phase he's on. In the first phases Sam would be basically treated as he is by default but on later phases be treated with suspicion, fear, or at worse outright hostility.
This would pose the question on whether Sam should risk exploring dangerous areas to meet and build rapport with others while he still can or allow his transformation to progress to be stronger but lose out on potential ally's and traders.
The relationships he does develop with other characters will be tested as the days goes on. With some characters wondering if Sam would still be sane by the end of it. But with a little luck and a lot of trust Sam still has the potential to find companionship in the apocalypse.
In a future post I'll talk about how the Sams final transformation would be affected by factors like his mental state, how many allies he has, his perception of himself, and the rituals progress. But I think I'll save it when I talk about the endings.
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astrolook · 12 hours ago
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đŸŽ€Unpopular Opinion: Debilitation of Planets in Astrology💬
Note: These are all my personal observations and patterns I've noticed over the years. Take what resonates with you more and leave the rest. Lemme know in the comments if it hits home!
A planet is considered debilitated when placed in certain signs; its energy would be the opposite, weak or diminished. The planet would give malefic results. But not all debilitated planets are bad. A single planetary placement or aspect can't determine the outcome. Debilitated planets can lead to positive outcomes as well. You can consider this post for your natal chart(D1), D9 or any divisional charts. Vedic focused post.
Sun is debilitated in Libra - First off, everyone born under the Libra zodiac season is gonna have a debilitated Sun. The Sun represents ego and authority, but Libra seeks balance and compromise, two things the Sun isn’t great at. It’s like putting a spotlight in a room full of mirrors. The light scatters, and the focus fades. Sun thrives on decisiveness, but in Libra, it weighs every option like choosing which restaurant to eat at. Libra Sun people cater to the needs of others, forgetting their own. Libra is all about "we" and Sun is all about "me". The positive side of this debilitated Sun is that it's leadership with diplomacy. The ego takes a backseat, giving space to social intelligence and emotional tact. Thrives in partnerships by bringing light to shared goals, not just solo ambition. A natural peacemaker. I don't see why it's bad. Even exaltation can give bad results at certain positions, like the Sun in the Aries 12th house. Until they move somewhere else or work behind the scenes, this Sun makes a native feel like a background character in their own life.
Moon is debilitated in Scorpio - The Moon wants emotional safety, whereas Scorpio wants emotional intensity. Moon wants to be seen and felt, but Scorpio wants to stay locked in. Scorpio Moon people would sulk in the corner like, "No one gets me!" but the Scorpio is like, "Cool! Let's keep it that way." These natives are the kind to cry behind sunglasses. On the positive side, these natives don't break easily and are human lie detectors. Scorpio Moon natives aren't afraid of the dark, they grow in it. They feel others' emotions and can be a safe haven for others. Moon is exalted in Taurus and if it's in the 6th, 8th or 12th house or aspected by Saturn, North node or Mars, even this exaltation can give results like mental unrest, health issues, hormonal imbalance, etc.
Mercury is debilitated in Pisces - Mercury wants logic and Pisces swims in feelings. Mercury loves clarity and Pisces loves mystery. Mercury is all about details, whereas Pisces blurs them. In Pisces, instead of a direct answer, these natives talk in metaphors or symbols without getting to the point. Decision-making gets foggy. On the positive side, this placement is great for poets, artists, fantasy writers, singers, lyricists, etc. Pisces Mercury sees beyond the box, they live outside it. These natives are drawn to the invisible layers of life and are great at making intuitive leaps where logic falls short. Mercury is exalted in Virgo and in certain positions, like Mercury in the 8th or 12th, can cause severe anxiety and nervous disorders. Virgo Mercury natives can sometimes be tone-deaf and can have little empathy.
Venus is debilitated in Virgo - Venus wants a candlelit dinner, whereas Virgo notices if the lighting is too warm or the cutlery is sanitized. Venus loves to write a poem, but the Virgo proofreads it until all the feelings are gone. Venus is about seeing beauty in everything and acceptance, but Virgo is like, "But my hairstyle doesn't match my aura!". Venus wants harmony whereas Virgo wants improvement. Venus loves beauty whereas Virgo gets lost in flaws. On the positive side, Virgo Venus natives express their love through acts of service. These baby-faced cat energy natives see the beauty in the practical. Can be picky in relationships and won't waste their time on short-term affairs. Venus flows but Virgo Venus edits to fit their theme. An exalted Venus in Pisces in the 6th can have poor boundaries, leading to over-giving. In the 12th, they can be sacrificing and put their partner on a pedestal or have secret affairs. In the 8th, they can attract abusive partners due to their idealization of love.
Mars is debilitated in Cancer - Mars wants action whereas Cancer wants emotion. One wants to fight, the other wants to feel. Mars is direct and to the point, but Cancer is sideways. Cancer Mars sulks and simmers. Decision-making becomes emotionally biased. Instead of direct rage, you get cold silence, guilt trips or "I'm fine" with death stares. On the positive side, Cancer Mars gives the "mama-bear" energy. These natives win quietly and won't advertise their accomplishments. Cancer Mars takes action when it really matters. An exalted Mars in Capricorn can be blunt or bossy, even in personal settings. If it's in the 8th or 12th house can become self-destructive in some cases. Can have anger issues.
Jupiter is debilitated in Capricorn - Jupiter wants you to have faith in the Universe/ God but Capricorn wants proof. Jupiter expands whereas Capricorn restricts. Jupiter brings hope but Capricorn is cautious and won't move an inch without a backup plan. Philosophy meets harsh reality. On the positive side, these natives turn their big dreams into solid, long-term goals. Their faith isn't blind, it's earned. They won't believe until they experience it firsthand. Slow and steady growth, the growth that lasts and leaves a legacy. An exalted Jupiter in Cancer, their belief and value systems are emotionally driven. They give away too much of their time, money or trust to people who don't deserve that and end up feeling drained/ exhausted. May resist growth if it means leaving their emotional “nest” or support bubble, especially in the 3rd or 4th house.
Saturn is debilitated in Aries - Saturn is like a slow cooker whereas Aries is a microwave. Aries wants to lead but Saturn is like, "Well, earn it!". Hard lessons in control. Aries can be like, "Why can't I have it?" and Saturn would be like, "Bcoz you're not ready." Explosive frustration. On the positive side, these natives are tough cookies. Aries Saturn people evolve fast. Others reach level by level, but these natives skip a few levels due to maturing faster than others. An exalted Saturn in Libra can become paralyzed in decision-making. Can try to fix everyone around them, especially in the 1st or 7th. Prone to attracting people who are emotionally cold towards them.
North Node is debilitated in Sagittarius - Lol, this placement is like a philosophy class being run by a conspiracy theorist. The North node just can't stick to one belief system. Might practice three different religions within a year or so. Sagittarius likes spiritual direction, but the NN is obsessed with anything foreign, forbidden and wild. Sagittarius wants to go deep into one philosophy. NN would be trying Buddhism this month, Witchcraft next month and invests in cryptocurrency in between. Can be cult-like thinkers, in some cases. On the positive side, these natives challenge dogma and are drawn to higher knowledge. Can be visionary thinkers if it's aspected by Saturn or Jupiter. Seeks purpose beyond success. They might fall for a few fake gurus first, but when they finally get it, they really get it.
South Node is debilitated in Gemini - Gemini is all about intellect, but SN is like, "I don't care, everything is an illusion." SN can't handle Gemini's endless questions, it would rather meditate in silence than debate logic. Gemini is social but SN wants to be alone. Gemini juggles with hundreds of interests whereas SN deletes all apps permanently. SN is like an ancient soul forced to deal with a toddler. On the positive side, SN rejects surface-level info and can access deep insights, spiritual or metaphysical. These natives can't be fooled by trends or fake news. They know that the celeb X and celeb Y aren't into each other and just doing it for clout and money. They walk with the "I'm too old for this" vibe and don't give a s#!t about what that model with 15M followers on insta had for breakfast.
Note: There is a debate over NN-SN signs of debilitation and exaltation. Some say it's Taurus - Scorpio, others say it's Gemini - Sagittarius. Personally, I stick to the Gemini-Sagittarius signs as I find it makes more sense to me.
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kirkwallguy · 1 day ago
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honestly emmrich being so rigid about his beliefs was something i was SO sure was going to become relevant and then was just never addressed. there's a cutscene with him where you discuss the mourn watch or something (i've actually completely forgotten the context lol?) where he asks how rook would like to be treated after they die, i was actively excited to make an actual roleplaying character choice for the first time in many hours so i jumped to pick cremation (in my head my rook was ferelden 💔) and emmrich pretty much acted like rook had taken a shit in front of him. again this got me excited because it was the first time i felt like a companion had disagreed with rook on anything meaningful that wasn't related to the main plot. i was really ready to start seeing the cracks with other companions where you could pinpoint a superiority complex or need to be right, because surely at least one of these characters has to have a meaningful flaw right??? and then it was never addressed again.
and it sucks because giving emmrich an intolerant streak makes him SO much more interesting. he preaches how good he is and has a general aura of being kind but when he finds out someone disagrees with a core belief of his he acts like he personally is being attacked, which is why he butts heads so much with taash, who is actually very similar to him in that way. if this was a trait they actually dwelled on it would work so well with him having thanatophobia, which does often manifest in a need for control. like making him actually a shitty hypocrite once you peel back his first layer of professionalism makes him an actual character rather than a two dimensional old man for people to thirst over.
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tuttle-did-it · 24 hours ago
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Black history absolutely matters. And I'm glad you mentioned it because it gives me a chance to talk about it. I’m a M*A*S*H academic who, thanks to illness and disability, am not really able to write proper articles about things like this. So things like this just lives in my brain u til some poor, unsuspecting person accidentally trips a wire in my brain.
I just had to explain to my [former] writing group that they were very, very incorrect to assume that Britain didn’t have Black people here until 1950. Ten white people, all well educated, intelligent— had no idea that Black people have not only lived in Britain since before Roman times, but that we have rather a lot of historical artefacts and evidence to prove it. They meant no offence by its, but they were truly convinced of this.
Black history— history of People of Colour in general— does not seem to be a priority for education in the West. What education I have on it was because I was doing independent research on these topics and trying to learn more for myself about what I don’t know. And there is so much more for me— for all of us— to learn.
I really do believe M*A*S*H is one of the best shows that has ever been on television. But it does have flaws, and one of the most glaring is the treatment throughout the entire series is that of people of Colour. I do believe it would have been far better if the show was not so white-- on screen and in the writer's room.
They have a few episodes with people of colour— specifically in terms of Black people, and on a couple of episodes, they do have storylines about Black soldiers, but very few recurring characters are seen. And, as the show was about, you know
 people in Korea
 they really should have had at least a few more regular Asian characters in every episode.
For their time, they were pretty ambitious with what they were doing, and for their time they thought they were being progressive with the area of Asian characters. The only other mainstream show in America at that time was Kung Fu— starring a white American in Yellowface for 3 years. M*A*S*H was probably exceptionally progressive in this area. (Kung Fu did employ many Asians for the show, but very often times, as with M*A*S*H, in stereotypical roles. But that’s another rant for another day.)
The absence of Black characters within M*A*S*H is, however, very loud, to me. Generally, most of the main characters don't treat Black people badly (aside from the horrifically nicknamed Oliver Jones (no, I'm not using the nickname)—and his complete erasure— but they often don’t treat them at all. Which historically makes zero sense considering by this point there was a move for desegregated units and most of the Black soldiers were sent to the Army instead of other branches of the military.
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Source- Cambridge
The fatality of Black soldiers in the Korean War DOUBLED over that of white soldiers.
In short, the majority of the patients seen in 4077th should have actually been Black soldiers. And as it was focussed on an Army unit, the stretcher bearers, supply officers, kitchen crew— every element of that camp— should have seen far more Black soldiers than we did.
I think it's very important to acknowledge these things. The achievements and contributions of people of colour within history is an absolute failure in the West in general. It is reflected within pop-culture, which just reinforces the erasure of these achievements and contributions even more.
M*A*S*H is not alone in this, by any means. And the majority of shows in this era were segregated- white shows like M*A*S*H, Bob Newhart Show, All in the Family, etc.; Black shows like The Jeffersons, Good Times, Sanford and Son, Benson, etc. A *few* shows, like Diff’rent Strokes, did attempt more integration than just a weekly guest star.
So this failure is not just on the shoulders of M*A*S*H. But it is a glaring issue within the show, and just another example of how contributions and achievements of Black people have been ignored by Western society in general.
I would very happily urge anyone with an interest in history to check your library for books about Black history. There are many books about the forgotten and ignored roles Black peoples have made within western culture — especially during wartime.
If you have a public library within close distance, they will probably have a Black history section, or maybe even a dedicated section to check out. You can also find quite a few resources (videos, books, what have you) on YouTube.
Archive.org will have hundreds of resources— and often pdfs of entire books.
@JSTOR also has an amazing database, and you can sign up with them to get access for more. They’re amazing and I love JSTOR.
A few YouTube channels I think are very interesting, that aim to reclaim these histories are below (they do not exclusively deal with war, but Black history in general):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFze6CybJ_TZzkrVdgyRbhg - Julian Johnson, a Black American Lawyer makes short videos on various injustices through American history. https://www.youtube.com/@daarac_ngo - a channel that doesn’t upload very often but does make videos about Black cinema and history.
https://www.youtube.com/@jimcrowmuseum - a YouTube channel for the Jim Crow Museum. Haven’t updated in a while, but they have some fascinating videos as well.
https://www.youtube.com/@blackhistorywalks Black History Walks has a focus in Black history within the UK, but they also do international history, and try to also highlight various things that many might not know about— such as how the chocolate industry uses slave labour and is destroying countries that grow cocoa— and ravage Black spaces. They interview Black people about their experiences, etc. They also do short videos like this which highlights a Black American military troop called the Triple Nickel. https://youtu.be/XMYznXiFHm8?feature=shared
There are dozens— probably hundreds— more YouTube channels focused on Black history and achievements through history. So if any of this is of interest, use it a a jumping off point to find more.
The history for People of Colour has been ignored and erased not just through TV shows like M*A*S*H, but also through history in general. These histories and people deserve to be recognised. So please, if you have interests in these areas, do try to dig into this history. There’s always so much more to learn.
Black history matters. And the fact that was not represented more in such an important show as M*A*S*H matters, too.
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Alan Alda’s send off to Loretta Swit
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uncobbedcorn · 3 days ago
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behold. my heir
uuuu lore ramble beneath read more ... kicks pebble
their lore isn't really set in stone but here's a bunch of little tidbit ideas
- they were the Ancestor's Final Atrocity, being an attempt to contain the very heart of darkness with a body made of flesh scraps sewn together (it uses the very thread that used to hold its body together in order to sort of mind control others it's smth i will explain later in the post)
- in a way it was successful in creating an imperfect reflection containing an offshoot of the hod intended to defeat the heart (fight fire with fire type deal)
- the letter was to give it instruction before the ancestor did something really funny
- it is the reason why dd is cyclical in nature because with every playthrough it becomes attached to the relationships and the hamlet and the people there and it knows that once it defeats itself there will be no reason for them to stay
- in a sense the Heir becomes attached to the hardships it watches them go through and since it's mostly organic material it develops emotion in a very flawed sense to the point of obsessing over the heroes
- every time the hod is defeated the heir gets consumed with this mental spiral that causes it to impulsively revive the hod and restart the cycle
- every reset also resets its own capacity to feel for the heroes and every time this happens they slowly fall back in love with them rinse repeat
- the teal(?) strings are my way of incorporating dd1's gameplay loop into the character. they act as puppet strings that allow the heir to sort of control a hero's rational thoughts which causes them to act a certain way without being aware they're being controlled by an outside force
- the heir can see the heroes' actions because it's an offshoot of the hod but it cant see everything everything because of the actual hod limiting its power
- they are heavily clothed because they dont want anybody to see its actual form (insecure baby)
- most of the time when they give instruction it's a written request, but in direct conversation it speaks directly to the mind and from an outside perspective it just looks like the hero is holding a one sided conversation but to the hero they think they're talking normally
- it very rarely speaks with its actual voice because it sounds like the overlap of every single creature used to build its physical body. including things that do not have vocal cords complex enough to support human speech so its actual voice is very difficult to listen to
more lore coming never
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thegremlininyourcloset · 12 hours ago
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shoutout to fictional women and girls. Nobody gets them like I do. “She’s a bitch—“ She’s a teenager. “She’s evil—“ she got angry once. “She has no personality—“
you aren’t looking hard enough.
there are LOADS of interesting fictional women & girls that just get ignored by fandoms. Sure, some of them appear in lots of stories—but they’re never the focus. They’re just a plot device, a source of advice, a conflict.
And yes, sometimes, when you write fanfiction of female characters who aren’t given much depth by their authors, you have to dig deep.
maybe she wasn’t given all that many traits—but take what she has, and run with it. Take an aspect of her background, dig into how it might have affected her. And you can absolutely give her traits that weren’t quite there in the original text.
People do that with less popular male characters all the time. In fact, they do it with popular male characters even more!!!
(I’m looking at you mha fic authors who wrote a billion and one stories centered around your bland fucking protagonist being a completely different character
no hate tho I just don’t like deku—)
let her be feminine without being weak.

but don’t project femininity where it isn’t there.
And, most importantly:
don’t be afraid to make her flawed. Make her angry, make her dramatic. Make her vicious and violent.
don’t make her perfect. don’t make her a prop.
make her interesting.
@fictfrenzy @themoonwitch-mustspeak @lordbasilsnek @lena-thinks-too-much @thebestusernamepossible @illustrativewriter
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