#how to make dalgona coffee

[nick-writes-stuff]

Ransom

Hwang In-ho x spouse!reader (gn)

summary: As much as In-ho tried to keep you a secret, a plot to overthrow and loot the compound involved holding you as ransom. The plan is unsuccessful, but your life wouldn't be the same again.

!warnings: canon-typical violence, home invasion themes, reader is injured and manhandled, hurt/comfort, implied traumatic experiences

a/n: this is probably going to be the last solo in-ho fic for a bit. i don't want to get burnt out from writing him. expect some headcanons or fics about some other characters in the future!

In-ho liked to keep you away from his work. You didn't know all of the specifics. You knew what he was doing was gruesome and shady, but you preferred to stay out of it.

A year or two after he began working as the Front Man, he had reached out to you, hoping to get some piece of his life back. You two had been close friends in your childhood up through your first year of university. You knew him and his brother well. Jun-ho would always pick on him since he thought it was obvious the two of you were pining for each other, but nothing ever came from that.

Then you drifted apart. There was no animosity between you. You talked occasionally, but you were just doing separate things in your lives. You would be lying if you said you didn't think about him every once in a while, wistfully wondering how your life would have been different if you had ever gotten the courage to ask him.

That thought made you feel guilty every time. You heard about what he was doing in his life. You knew he got married, was expecting a child with his wife, got fired for alleged bribery, lost his wife and child, then distanced himself from everyone in his life. Nothing stopped the thought from popping up, but you had never thought about acting in it.

Until you bumped into him at a coffee shop on the outskirts of Seoul years later. You didn't think much of this encounter. He had seemed nonchalant and casual that you assumed he had already cleared things up with his family.

This wasn't a chance encounter like you thought it was. Quite the contrary, as In-ho had meticulously planned it for a month in advance. It included a bit of surveillance on his end, but that was nothing out of the ordinary for his line of work. He met you there, and it felt exhilarating to finally be able to leave the mask behind for once.

You finally kept in touch with him. Your relationship only grew from that point on. Before you moved in with him, he sat you down to talk about his work and living situation. He was straightforward for the most part, but he spared you any of the extremely gory details. And you didn't run. You wanted to be there for him. Even if you were morally opposed to his line of work, you really cared about him. And it's not like you were participating.

You had lived with him for a few years before he proposed to you. Unlike every other thing he does, he didn't have a plan for it. Everything was spontaneous, and it was something you really appreciated. Not thinking about it beforehand showed that he really felt strongly about you and didn't have to think it through to convince him.

You stayed in the apartment for most of the time. You found a way to make yourself busy. Sometimes In-ho would have some random tasks for you like baking bread or making dalgona. You didn't know how that was helpful, but you didn't mind.

He was happy to have someone to return home to at the end of the day. But with that came the worry of your safety. The compound was secure, but there was always the fear in the back of his mind. You've taken self-defense courses before. You weren't helpless, but the people who could be a threat are rather unsavory people. They acted rashly and without forethought. Their unpredictability was concerning.

In-ho wanted to teach you how to use a gun, but you refused. You didn't like guns. You witnessed something traumatic that you didn't like discussing, and In-ho knew that. You at least let him show you how to check if the safety was on or off. He did insist that you carry around a stun gun, something you reluctantly agreed to.

You both had hoped you wouldn't have to use it. But sometimes things never go how you planned.

You had been straightening up when you heard the alarm start blaring. You swallowed hard, trying to calm your breathing. Panic would do nothing but make you more vulnerable.

The shrill ring of the rotary phone receiving a call shocked you more than it reasonably should have. You felt your heart stop for a second as it reverberated through the room. You shook your head at your jumpiness and walked to answer the phone.

You picked up the receiver. “You scared the shit out of me.” You said with a slight chuckle.

In-ho wasn't in a joking mood. He couldn't be right now. “Listen, there's 5 players and 2 rogue guards storming the place right now.”

Your jaw dropped. “Oh god.” You muttered, realizing the gravity of the situation. Your breathing quickened as a response.

“Stay calm, okay? You need to keep your mind sharp.” He said. He knew it was a tall order, but he was right and you knew it. His voice was level despite the pit forming in his stomach. “There's one near you. Lock the door and hide in the storage room. Get ready to catch him off guard and lock him in there, okay? I'll get to you as soon as I can.” He said quickly.

You took a deep breath. “I will. I love you.” You said.

“I love you too.” He said. His voice was softer than it was before. He tried to keep you a secret while at work. Sure, some people knew you were living with him, mostly just some of the managers, but he didn't like advertising the fact that you were someone he cared about in fear it would be used against him.

And it was being used against him. There had been a scheme brewing behind the scenes for a few years that they hadn't caught onto. A player who voted to leave and didn't come back to the games decided to make a group to infiltrate the compound and steal the money outright. If they had 45 billion Won to offer the winner, they had to have even more at their disposal. The two guards had been working there for a few years. One of them was one of the managers who knew about your presence on the island. The one who was right outside the door to the apartment.

Things started to piece together in In-ho mind as he watched the events unfold. He became suspicious of other soldiers now. He didn't think he could trust anyone to rescue you except himself. What if they were in on it? Maybe he was being paranoid, but he didn't want to risk your life. He started devising a plan to neutralize the situation, giving out orders when needed. Once everyone knew their task, he made his way toward the apartment.

-

You put down the receiver the correct way out of habit. You rushed over to the front door, trembling fingers struggling to lock the door. You flicked the lights off and entered the storage room. You flicked those lights off as well. Maneuvering the best you could in the dark, you stood beside one of the shelves with your back against the wall. You focused on the coldness you felt where you made contact with the wall. It was grounding you. Your hand gripped the stun gun in your pocket. You tried to calm your breathing, but it was still shaky.

You flinched the first time you heard a thud. It wasn't a gunshot, more of an impact. The second time, it happened you realized it was someone breaking down the door. And they seemed to have gotten in. You heard heavy footsteps pacing through the apartment.

You hoped they would think you weren't there. Maybe you took a trip outside or even to the mainland. Maybe they didn't even know you were here.

That wasn't the case. You knew it the second you heard him shout. “Come on out. I know you're here.”

You tensed up, realizing how bad of a situation you were in. You just hoped In-ho would be there soon.

You heard him opening the doors one by one, doing a sweep of the apartment. Eventually, he opened the door to the storage room. You took deep breaths trying to stay quiet. Once he walked past you, you made your exit. He noticed you before you got out. “Not so fast.” He called out.

You managed to get through the doorway and start to close the door on him. You tried shoving against him, but you were overpowered and knocked to the ground as he shoved the door open.

You gathered your bearings and started to stand up, but you noticed the weapon in his hand. A pistol. Standard issue for the managers to keep on their person.

You started breathing faster, panicking despite In-ho's words repeating in your head. Stay calm, okay? You need to keep your mind sharp. You took a deep breath as you stood up. You tried to run off, but he stopped you by shoving you into the wall.

“Sorry, but I can't let you get away.” He said mockingly while closing the distance between you. He wrapped a hand around your throat.

“What do you want?” You asked, managing to get the words out despite the circumstances.

He laughed, using his other hand to pull off his square mask and hood to reveal his sick grin. “You're going to be my golden ticket to the fortune it takes to run these games. Your husband has to have hundreds of billions of Won, and he's gonna fork it over if he doesn't want me to put a bullet in your head.” He said. He tapped the barrel of the gun against your temple. You flinched away from it, both out of fear and a reflex from the cold metal.

He was clearly deriving pleasure from watching you struggle, and it made you sick to your stomach. You couldn't breathe, both from the panic and his grip on your airway.

“You don't have to do this.” You muttered, voice hardly above a whisper.

“Oh, I know. It's nothing personal, sweetheart.” He said with a sickening sweet but mocking tone. He had a sadistic glint in his eyes.

Your vision started to blur as he spoke. You reached your trembling hand into your pocket, fumbling with the stun gun. When you got it oriented the correct way, you made your move. You held down the button and jammed it into his side.

He jerked backward, releasing the grip on your throat and the gun. You took a desperate breath as you ducked out of his hold, but he recovered from the volts quicker than you thought he would. He turned and shoved you to the ground.

“You motherfucker.” He growled. He kicked you, causing you to cry out in pain. “You're gonna regret that.” He spat.

-

In-ho was making haste to the apartment when he heard you cry out. He grimaced under the mask. He tried to calm down his own breathing, but that attempt was in vain the second he heard a gunshot.

“Fuck, no no no no no.” He muttered. He felt the panic rise within him. He didn't know what he would do if he lost you. He can't do this without you. He can't lose you. If he did, it would be all his fault. You didn't deserve this. You didn't belong in the world that he dragged you into.

Why did the universe hate him? Was he doomed to lose everyone he loved? His mother, his father, his wife and child, his brother, his mentor, and now you too. Maybe he was meant to be alone. The universe was trying to show him that, but he never learned, and now he's lost the last person who he cared about.

He quickly noticed that the door had been broken into. Whoever did this was sure of their actions.

Whoever did this was about to be killed as well. He pulled the gun from his own pocket. Part of him wanted to keep them alive and torture them, make them regret the pain they put you through. But he knew you wouldn't want that.

He braced himself for what he thought he would see when he entered the doorframe, but it wasn't what he expected.

You were sitting with your back against the wall. You held the manager's gun in your hands, still outstretched as if you were frozen in time. Your gaze looked far away. Your breathing was shallow.

The manager laid in a heap on the ground, blood beginning to pool around him from the wound.

You shot him dead.

Once In-ho assessed the situation, he was at your side almost instantly, and the black mask was discarded just as quickly. He grabbed your wrist gently, which snapped you out of your haze. You jerked away from his touch, head quickly turning to look at whoever startled you.

“Hey, hey, it's me, okay? It's just-” He started.

The second you realized it was him you wrapped your arms around him. The pistol clattered to the ground. You cried into his shoulder, letting out shuddering sobs.

He wrapped one arm around your waist while the other cradled the back of your head. His thumb gently stroked your scalp while he repeated, “It's okay. You're safe,” in a soft whisper, hoping both of you realized it was true.

His own breathing was uneven as well as he tried to keep himself calm. He wanted to be a rock for you to cling to, the calm in the storm. But he was so fucking scared himself. He thought he lost you. He thought he was going to walk in and see you dead on the ground.

So for the first time in a long time, tears ran down his face. He couldn't remember the last time he cried. It was probably when he returned from the games to learn his wife had passed. After the confrontation with Jun-ho, he didn't cry. He just shut down emotionally, distanced himself, and drank a bit too much for a few days. He had never really given himself time to process those emotions except during the recurring nightmares about the incident.

After a few minutes, you heard a voice at the door. “Sir?”

You looked up to see two triangle soldiers. You tensed up, about ready to get up and run out of the room, but In-ho's embrace tightened ever so slightly to keep you with him.

He didn't turn. He couldn't because he didn't have his mask, and he wasn't going to doom the two guards by looking at them. “Get a cleaning crew to deal with this. We'll be out of here when they arrive.” He said, keeping his tone level.

When he heard them leave, he released you from the hug. He pulled back and looked at you. “Could we move into the bedroom? Is that okay?” He asked you gently.

It took you a moment to register his words. Your gaze was directed toward him, but it seemed you were looking through him. You eventually nodded your head. He had been intending on carrying you, but you stood up using the wall to keep your balance. He noticed your grimace from the movement. He suspected you were in pain, but he didn't dwell on it now.

He grabbed your hand gingerly, leading you into the other room. He didn't even care to grab the mask, totally forgetting it as his priority shifted to you.

When you entered the room, he locked it behind you. He didn't want to be bothered by the games right now. He would get the information about the breach later. Right now, he was needed here. Plus, he thought you would feel safer knowing it was only him with you.

You sat on the edge of the bed, feet dangling to the ground. You just sat there motionless, staying into space. He looked over at you, his eyes a storm of anger and fear and worry and love. He sat next to you, an action that startled you until you realized it was still just him.

He wrapped an arm around you and pulled you close to him. “It's just us in here, okay?” He said softly. He grabbed your hand in his, fidgeting with your fingers absent-mindedly. Occasionally his fingers would find their way to your pulse point as if he was subconsciously ensuring you were still alive.

He didn't know how long you both sat there like that. He didn't want to overwhelm you, so he just held you and occasionally murmured some comforting words. You could talk when you were ready.

Eventually, you broke the silence. “I didn't know what else to do.” You murmured softly. Your face was still blank, but he took some comfort in hearing your voice.

“That's okay. You did what you had to do to survive.” He said. Explaining this to you felt strange to him. It's the same words used to justify the murder in the games. Maybe his vision was clouded by his love for you, but he didn't think the games and what you just went through were comparable. It felt wrong to use those words even though by the game's logic, these two situations were both considered self-preservation. He didn't have time to go through this moral dilemma. Perhaps he would rethink all of his past decisions in the quiet of night, but right now, you needed him, and that was the most important thing to him.

After a few more moments of silence, you spoke again. “Do you want to know what happened?” You asked.

He sighed softly. “I would like to know eventually, but we don't have to talk about it now if you don't want to.” He said honestly. He didn't want to pressure you, but knowing the information would be helpful for investigating the incident and his own mental well-being. He wanted to know how he could prevent this from happening again.

You took a deep breath before beginning to speak. “He broke down the door and started looking through all the rooms. He was looking for me. I hid in the storage room, and I tried to sneak out like you said, but he was too fast and forced the door open.”

He grimaced slightly. He already assumed that the manager was there for you, but hearing it stirred an anger in his chest. “Did he say anything to you?” He asked.

You nodded. “Yeah. He said that he was going to hold me as ransom for the money.” You said in a small voice.

He stayed silent for a moment before gently cupping your face in his hand. He guided your gaze toward him. “Did he hurt you?” He asked. He tried to keep his voice gentle, but the simmering anger inside him caused his voice to be stern. He needed to know.

He felt you tense up, and that answered his question enough. You nodded slightly. “I got shoved around a bit. He tried choking me out, but I got him with the stun gun. That disarmed him and…” you trailed off, taking a deep breath before adding, “you know the rest.”

He tilted your head up slightly, dark eyes landing on the redness that would certainly turn to bruises. Physical reminders of the pain In-ho felt like he caused you by putting you in this dangerous environment.

There was that anger again. He could feel it coursing through his veins. It was wrath and hatred and fury. He wished you hadn't killed him so he could force the manager to feel at least 1000 times more pain and torture. He wanted the satisfaction of killing him slowly on his own terms.

You wanted to reassure him that you were okay. The bruises will fade with time. The lingering sense of pain where the manager's hands gripped your throat will leave. When he didn't seem to react, you sighed softly. It's time to take another approach. “If you think this is bad, you should see the other guy.” You said cheekily.

You could see it in his eyes. While he was unreadable to almost everyone, you could see his emotions clear as day. Although to be fair, you were the only one to see him without the mask. You leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I'm fine. Just a few bruises. Nothing that times won't heal,” you said. Physically, at least. This day would definitely haunt you for years, but you knew that wasn't his concern right now.

It took him a moment to register your words, but when he did, he looked down at you. Upon seeing your smirk, he couldn't stop the smile from creeping onto his face. He laughed lightly, shaking his head. “Only you could go through something like that and joke about it after.” He said.

“I just don't like seeing you upset.” You said softly.

He paused for a moment before pressing his lips to your forehead. You leaned into him. You both sat there in the intimate silence for a moment before you spoke again. “You know, I don't regret doing it.” You said. You sighed. “I didn't like doing it, but I think he got what he deserved.”

He tried not to seem surprised. He was surprised, but he didn't want you to think it was him appraising your statement negatively. He didn't have room to judge as he had an obvious reputation.

“And that's okay.” He said gently.

In a strange way, he was almost proud but not for the reason most would think. He could imagine Il-nam praising him for getting you to see the purpose of the games. Others would think he was happy to corrupt you. But honestly, that's bullshit.

He was happy that you had a reason to fight for your life. You considered yourself, your husband, and your future together more important than your personal code of ethics. He had seen how opposed to violence you were, and the fact you would act against your moral values for him was almost heartwarming.

It reminded him of himself. He did the same for his first wife. He was an upstanding police officer, but he decided to work with the people he was supposed to take down. He took loans and bribes to pay for her treatment, and he wouldn't have changed a thing. It was a testament to his devotion. His love language is acts of immorality

In-ho arranged for two nights off to spend with you. You both tried to pretend the other's nightmare hadn't woken you up. He appeared like he didn't notice your hands reach to your next and try to pry off the hands of the man in your dream. You didn't react when you felt his fingers on your pulse point as he calmed himself down. Through the next couple days, you tried to live as normally as the situation allowed. He occasionally needed to step out of the apartment to assess the state of the games and give orders. You waited for him rather impatiently. He also wanted to be with you as much as possible. It calmed both of you from the anxiety which was likely going to linger. Being here was dangerous and that was a risk you both would have to take. And you took it willingly if it meant being together.

He'd do anything for you, too. His list of misdeeds had grown more serious, so it's more accurate to say he would change his ways for the better for you. If he had to break the strict rules or if he had to leave the games behind entirely, that's fine. He'd do it in a heartbeat if you asked him to.

[blue-jisungs]

Hiiiii! I saw you asking for zb1 reqs! Can you write smth about making coffee for Hanbin (it wasn't good), but he didn't want to hurt your feelings, so he didn't say anything? But you could guess it was bad judging by his face?

(I am sorry, I tend to ramble when it comes to ideas)

Also, can I please be 🌹 anon?

[ axe’s memo ! ] sorry it’s so short i couldn’t really ..?? think of anything more 😭 and obv, you can be 🌹 anon <3

[ 8:56am ] “so? how is it?” you asked, voice cheerful.

hanbin wanted to find some positives in this situation, he really did.

but the dalgona coffee you made for the first time… had a questionable taste. he wondered if it should be even that bitter.

however, seeing how excited you were to try it out and how much fun you had whilst making it… he just couldn’t bring himself to tell you the truth.

“it’s good!” hanbin put on the widest smile he could and forced himself to take another sip. trying to control the grimace from the bitterness, he closed his eyes.

“you done have to lie, bin” you grunted and took a sip to try it yourself. he watched your frown, followed by a cough “it’s… awful…”

your laughs filled the room, promising each other to stick to regular coffee.

m.list

taglist. @slytherinshua

[pushing500]

may we please know how much dye did you have to grow

... Too much.

It's not my fault!! I just designated a patch to grow and forgot about it because the agrihand mechs do everything with the garden. The only crops the Jones boys grow are rice (for the nutrient paste dispenser), coffee beans (the most important one), psychoid (to make yayo so our neighbours will overlook our blatant ocean-polluting), haygrass (for our animals), and tinctoria (for the dye to make the base look lovely). EDIT: I forgot, they also grow sugarcane to make their dalgona coffee!

This ask reminds me that it might be time to cut back on the tinctoria and plant more psychoid or haygrass instead... Whoops.

[hellodahliah]

Tag Game: Nonsims interests thank you @freezerbnuuy for the tag

1. Atla, Avatar the last Airbender. One of My favorite cartoons.. i am not die-hard obsessed that I have watched or read all of the extra content and spinoff series or watched Korra (didn't vibe with how they modernized everything in the world of that series and was so sad seeing all the characters from the original series become old or die) but the original series is close to my heart and childhood. I gave the new live-action series a chance, while it is much better than that godawful movie and I quite liked it nothing can top the og series.

2. Arcane, okay it took me a while getting into this one I started watching early 2023 ish. My friend had to sit me down and make me watch the first 3 episodes, because I was like "eh, i don't event play LoL" and she was like "neither do i, but trust me, I know you will love this series" and she was right. I was hooked. The art, music, and animation style is everything 🧑‍🍳🤌💋 (I know this is supposed to be nonsims, but just had to share that some of the parts of the series actually loosely inspired some of the scenes in Sotgr 🫢).

3. Anime, so I haven't watched as much Anime as I did in High school or years back but lately I have become more interested in watching/finishing some of the series I have on My watch list: Jujutsu Kaizen, the Apothecary Diaries, SpyxFamily, Dadandan etc... To mention a few.

4. Coffee - I try to learn different coffee recipes at home so I wouldn't need to buy expensive lattes from coffee shops (Imagine in this economy 😣)and it is tiring to just have filter coffee every morning. I bought a small milk frother which has been very useful when doing lattes or dalgona coffee etc. (Haha, we Finns are known for drinking much coffee 😅☕jk i know some people who hate coffee too)

5. Sewing and any craft related activity and shops. My goal is to start sewing most of my clothes, because I rarely find clothes I like in shops and when I do the size and fit sits weirdly, which is annoying. Also, I don't really want to support fast fashion (which is most of clothing brands) so started to create a Pinterest board on clothes i like and started to sew. I have also got more into sewing by hand like cross-stitching, and recently I bought a set of Sashiko needles as it is a technique i am interested in trying and learning. During my teaching practice I have taught kids to sew bucket hats and punch needling. Whenever I see a crafts, hobbies or fabric store I need to go inside and have a look.

5.Fitness, working out and going to the gym is important for me. I go three times a week, over all I love to move my body and take long walks try different athletic hobbies, we're thinking about trying climbing with two friends from university. I have also thought about starting acrobatics again, I used to do it as a kid and quit because I broke my arm and never got back into it after and life happened (plus the group i was in wasn't really that nice, a lot of mean girls)

I am tagging @silverspringsimmer @aleksa-sims @seyvia @violetpixels @nova-kim @kissalopa ! If you would like to do, no pressure though! 🤗

[luckystarchild]

I want to ask something related to A Good Cup of Foe! What would Kurama think of Dalgona Coffee trend and how would he react whenever someone orders at his shop? Also, some ideas of "ungodly things" that Kei can order to torture Kurama further: Mango Espresso, Unicorn Frappuccino, Red Velvet Frappuccino, Shrek Frappe, Chocolate Banana Mocha Frappuccino (insp from this link: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5b/44/bf/5b44bf6c3ddfbbfe417876370b689ac9.jpg )

First off, THANK YOU for the list of drinks. It's been fun coming up with a list of bad ones they can torment Kurama with, and I love having more to choose from! The Shrek Frappe sounds hideous and I'm so, so happy about it! >:)

Regarding your question, though: I had no idea what dalgona coffee is, so I looked it up. Here's a brief history lesson for those who may also be unfamiliar. (Shoutout to Wikipedia.)

Me, a person with a coffee allergy, writing a story about coffee... Hey, at least I'm learning a lot!

At this point I think Kurama has a pretty marked distaste for instant coffee, so I don't think this would be in the rotation of drinks he prefers. HOWEVER, he's also a respectful person who is open to different cultures and customs, and I don't think he'd hold it against anyone if they enjoy the drink. He'd definitely try it, and I think he'd be able to appreciate its appeal even if he doesn't put the drink into his regular rotation. A polite and sincere "not to my personal taste, but I'm glad you've found a beverage you enjoy" would be his response if you told CoffeeSnob!Kurama you prefer dalgona coffee over his single-origin-what-have-you.

As for ordering it at The Fox's Garden... He would NOT be thrilled about having to whip the coffee by hand. It sounds timing consuming and also physically tiring. I think he'd make it for a customer if he could use an electric whisk, but if they insisted on the hand-whipped version, he'd probably not be as receptive or accommodating. He has other customers to serve, after all. (This may also be why he hates the terrible drinks Kei orders; they take too much time to make, especially when the shop is slammed.)

(I also don't know if he'd keep instant coffee in his shop at all? Or maybe there's a fairly common drink that calls for it that I'm unaware of...)

Great question and thanks again for the drink list. You are amazing!! Have a good cup of fjoe on me.

[poopwons]

So I was thinking about how the AOT characters would have reacted during the pandemic quarantine and I have to get it out.

Eren Jaeger, who always complains that he never had any time to play video games is super pumped at first. He proceeds to play for maybe an hour, gets bored and comes to interrupt your work from home call complaining that he’s bored and lonely without you.

Sasha Braus eats every snack in the house while binge watching reality tv. You’re not surprised when you hear a knock on your door and it’s another grocery or go puff delivery.

Pieck Finger, baby girl sleeps her day away. Sleeps in until ten, has some breakfast, gets back in bed to watch a movie and falls asleep again. When you finally get off from work she pulls you under the covers to snuggle up with her.

Armin Arlert buys and assembles copious amounts and varieties of Lego sets. He buys you special flower sets that he helps you put together. Also uses the free time to go through his TBR list.

Jean Kirstein does all your silly tik tok trends with you. You want that silly dalgona coffee? He’s making it with you. You want to try a new baking recipe out of boredom? He’s right there in the kitchen separating the yolks from whites for you.

Reiner Braun makes a home gym. Sweet beefy boy is not about to let something silly like a quarantine keep him from working out. He asks you to go for walks with him all the time, telling you the sunshine will do you good. He also takes up gardening.

Levi Ackerman is thankful for some peace and quiet from all the brats coming in and out of his place dirtying everything up when they forget to take off their shoes. Needless to say Levi spends this time isolating to deep clean his whole house, while you sit in the living room amazed that this place could get any cleaner.

[ficnation]

Chapter 2: A Sweet Connection

Series: “The Heart Wants What It Wants”  Word count: 1,5k+ Pairing: Angel Reyes x Female! Baker! Reader Warnings: none A/n: Here we go! Another chapter filled with pure fluff and yummy things. Let me know your thoughts and please reblog.

Main Masterlist 

Mayans MC Masterlist

PREVIOUS CHAPTER || NEXT CHAPTER

Angel never knew he had a sweet tooth—not until he met you. But once he did, it was as if something awakened within him, and suddenly, he was like a bee seeking honey—being pulled in by the smells coming from the tiny bakery on the corner of the street. And when he first tried your treats, he was hooked. Now, he can’t get enough of your pastries, cookies, and cakes. Every time he sees you, his eyes light up, and he can’t wait to sink his teeth into another one of your delicious creations. 

He pulls up on his motorcycle in front of your bakery, and the sound of the engine makes your heart flutter wildly in your chest. He’s become a regular client since his first visit, often coming over to buy freshly out-of-the-oven pastries or to indulge in a morning cup of coffee.

The sound of bells fills the air as Angel enters the building. They tinkle sweetly, filling the room with a graceful melody. Their gentle yet joyful sound makes his brain tingle with anticipation for what awaits him inside—you and your kind, shy smile. The scent of freshly baked bread, along with the subtle sweetness of pastries hanging in the air, adds to his good mood. It promises to be a delightful encounter for Angel as he heads toward the counter to face you.

“Hey there, Sugar,” he greets you with a charming grin, his face illuminated by the warm lights hanging from the ceiling.

You tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear as you greet him back, beaming. His gaze is instantly drawn to the graceful movement, to your smile—the one he loved so much—and the captivating twinkle in your eyes. The fact that his mere presence brings that happiness out of you makes him almost proud.

“Take your pick,” you encourage him, pointing to the display you’ve just finished stocking. Your voice carries a soft and sweet note, making Angel feel at peace. “I made Bolillos.”

“Yeah? You gonna get me some of that and two coffees of your choice?” he asks, taking a deep breath. The delicious aromas wafting in the air make his mouth water as he imagines the delectable treats he’ll get to try today. His stomach rumbles in anticipation.

Your eyebrow quirks up playfully. “Sure thing. Do you want your usual to that?”

Angel almost moans at the mention of his favorite pastry—a croissant with hazelnut filling—something he didn’t expect to like at all the first time he tried it. “You know how much I love sweet things.” The wink following his words almost makes you tumble to the ground, clutching your wildly beating heart.

You turn around quickly, trying to hide the love-struck expression crawling up your face as you walk toward the adjacent kitchen. Before you disappear into the other room, you swallow hard and ask, “To go?”

“Only the bolillos.” He scratches the back of his neck, awkwardly, before he speaks up again, “I was hoping you could keep me some company. I’m willing to share the croissant, and I’m already getting you a coffee.”

You turn back toward him so fast, your braided hair whips around and smacks you in the face. Angel snorts quietly as you look at him with wide eyes, embarrassed. You didn’t expect him to ask you that at all.

“Y-yeah, I’d love that!”

When you come back from the kitchen with two Dalgona coffees, Angel has already situated himself at one of the closest tables, reclining in the wooden chair. You skirt around the counter and walk up to him carefully, so you don’t spill the beverages. You put the two glasses on the table, startling him slightly. You didn’t even notice he was almost snoozing in his chair.

“Hope this wakes you up,” you say, chuckling. It’s the most beautiful sound Angel has ever heard in his life—he could listen to you laugh for hours.

You disappear again for a short moment, then come back with his croissant placed neatly on a porcelain plate and his order wrapped up in a paper bag. He nods in thanks as you sit opposite of him and sip on the beverage; he quickly follows in your footsteps.

The instant Angel takes a sip of the coffee, his eyes light up as he experiences the sweet and rich taste of the drink. He looks up at you, his curiosity is evident as he asks you, “What’s this?”

“Dalgona coffee,” you say, a smile on your face at his delight in the drink. “It’s popular in Korea, and it’s made with cooked caramelized sugar.” He takes another gulp, humming in appreciation. “It’s a perfect pick-me-up, especially with the instant coffee mixed in.”

“Exactly what I needed,” he admits, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He takes a bite from the hazelnut-filled croissant. It’s crisp on the outside with a soft and chewy interior, full of the creamy and nutty flavor of the filling. He grins at you again, offering you a piece. “It’s delicious,” he says, “have some.”

“I made it, I know how it tastes.” You giggle, taking the piece offered to you, and take a bite. Your eyes light up as the flavors fill your taste buds, delighting your senses, your love for the hazelnut croissants reignited in an instant. “Holy shit, I forgot how good it is!”

“I have great taste,” Angel says smugly, nodding in agreement, his mouth full of the pastry, sharing in your satisfaction.

The two of you are filled with the comfort of the moment, your connection evident in the shared glances and laughter. For a moment, Angel considers asking you about yourself but decides to wait until after he’s finished enjoying his breakfast. Right now, he’s soaking in the peacefulness of the moment, content with a good croissant and even better company.

As the two of you finish off the shared treat, Angel considers how he wants to continue the conversation. He looks at you, admiring the warmth of your smile and your kind demeanor. You have an infectious energy about you, one that makes it effortless to feel comfortable and at ease.

“So,” he starts, directing the conversation to you, “how long have you been a baker here?”

Your face lights up at the question, a teeth-showing smile playing over your lips as you consider your reply. “I’m actually the owner,” your tone is warm and inviting, a glimmer of pride in your words. “I’ve been baking for the past few years and loving every minute of it.”

Angel whistles under his breath—it’s definitely something you should be proud of. What you’ve done with the place is admirable. He remembers passing by this building so many times before, it was completely in shambles, but you turned it into something beautiful and homey.

“You’ve got some experience then.” He chuckles, sharing your enthusiasm for the profession. “You’re doing a fantastic job,” Angel says, “Loved everything I’ve tasted so far.”

You chuckle and shake your head. “Oh, you flatter me,” you say, your tone humble and grateful. “But I do love what I do, and I try my best to put love into everything that leaves my kitchen. That’s how I know you’ll keep coming back.”

He takes you in with shimmering eyes, and a wide grin spreads through his face. He doesn’t remember when was the last time he had a conversation with someone so passionate about what they do—it’s refreshing. For a moment, he wishes he could be as content with what he does as you are.

“And I plan to, that’s for sure.”

The two of you converse for a little bit longer and just when you’re finishing your coffees, the bells hanging over the glass door start tinkling softly. Another customer walks in—an elderly lady with hair almost white as snow—she searches the room for you with her gaze. You look at her and raise your hand in a wave, then face him again with an apologetic smile.

“I have to go back to work,” you say, reaching over the table to squeeze his hand. Angel can’t help but savor the short moment of affection, marveling at the softness of your skin.

“Don’t worry, dulce. Go do your job,” he ushers you with a smile. You retract your hand, and he already longs for you to touch him again.

You stand up from the chair, telling the customer you’ll be right with her, then you turn toward Angel again, whispering, “It’s on the house.”

Before the man can protest, you’re strolling away, squeezing the old woman’s shoulder when you pass by her. You step behind the counter, occupying your usual place, and greet her politely.

Angel can’t help but wonder if you even remember his name, or if he’s just another regular customer in your busy bakery. But whether you remember or not, he’s already found himself enamored by your kindness, grace, and beauty—you stole his heart the moment his eyes landed on you for the first time. He gets up to leave, shaking his head to will the thoughts stirring in his head away.

“See you soon,” he whispers to himself more than anyone else. His gaze lingers on your person before he turns around and walks out of the building.

Taglist: @danzer8705

[popp1nstaxr]

•➤Do you like coffee?

Content: Smut, affectionate nicknames (YeonJun calls Baby, honey, among others to Y/N), Fem! reader Dom! and barista! YeonJun, unprotected sex (don't do that).

My first language is not English, so I'm sorry for any spelling or narration errors there may be ♡

reblog and like for more!!

Yes, I love coffee.

Iced coffee, mocha, espresso, latte, vanilla latte, double mocha, all of them, I simply love coffee and that's why I was visiting my favorite coffee shop again, it was very late, eleven at night and I knew they would close at twelve, so He knew it perfectly and at that time of night it was very rare to find other customers besides me.

As usual I approached the bar to order my coffee where I saw YeonJun looking at his cell phone, I smiled, we certainly didn't know each other beyond barista and customer, but sometimes we talked, well, after all, at this time it was just him and me.

"Jjunnie" I called smiling, he looked up and smiled the same way "Hey, Y/N" he greeted, smiling and putting his phone away to pay attention to me, he's always so attentive. "What do you want to drink today? We have everything left, except the Vanilla Latte, you know that's my clientele's favorite... and your favorite, of course" he spoke and laughed a little, I snorted, damn, just today I wanted to drink that coffee.

"Really? Mmh... and which ones are left?" I asked, he clicked his tongue and started talking "Mocha coffee, regular coffee, double mocha, dalgona coffee, espresso and... uhm, I think there's iced coffee left" I nodded, dalgona coffee seemed like the best option for now, but God, I really wanted my Vanilla Latte...

"So~ are you sure there's no Vanilla Latte left?" I smiled, innocently, he raised an eyebrow and denied "not this time, honey. There's no more of that coffee, the rest is for tomorrow" I let out a frustrated sigh.

"pleaseeeee~" I begged him, I knew he always saved something for me, I mean I'm his most frequent customer. He laughed softly and made a gesture with his hands so that I could approach where he was, I did not hesitate to pass the bar and approach him.

Maybe I'm closer to him than I thought...

It didn't take long for him to surround my hips with his arms and corner me towards the bar. He cornered me with his body and began to leave small kisses on my neck. I immediately moved my head to give him more access to my neck. letting him run his lips over my neck, I could feel the hot breath from his mouth as he let out a deep laugh "you should stop buying me like that...there's a reason you're wearing a skirt today, Mh?" He spoke in a somewhat hoarse and flirtatious manner, with one of his hands squeezing one of my buttocks above the fabric, which made me jump a little and make him laugh softly "how cute..." I heard him murmur and felt like Toma my hips with his hands and sits me on the bar. "Open your legs honey..." I obeyed and saw him smile damn.

"How obedient you are today. Why?" He asked a little mockingly as he approached me and one of his hands took my hip, the other placing itself on my thigh and slowly rising in an exquisite caress "Shut up, don't get used to it..." I murmured and he rivered with a hoarse voice again before He began to kiss my lips slowly, gradually increasing the intensity of the kiss, while I felt the hand that was on my hip go down to my other thigh and squeeze, bringing my body closer to his, caressing my thighs with a... torturous delicacy. I was playing, my breathing had already quickened and I hadn't even played properly.

He bit my lip and I let out a soft moan, which he took advantage of to put his tongue inside my mouth and one of his hands touching under my skirt, caressing my intimacy in circles over my underwear, shit, I was already sighing and doing what essential. Little by little I felt his hand enter my underwear, his other hand caressing one of my inner thighs.

A moan escaped my mouth when he put one of his fingers inside without warning, suddenly separating from the kiss and instinctively closing my legs, hiding in his neck I hate being so sensitive, he shook his head "No, honey, you must have them open…” I heard him say and he gently pushed me to rest my back on the bar, so that I was lying down and my legs were completely at his disposal. I felt like, with a little force, he separated my legs again and took off my panties, throwing them on the floor and lifting my skirt, again his long finger was the one that penetrated my intimacy "Jjunnie~" I moaned, he seemed to smile satisfied and continued penetrating, now with two fingers. while his other hand held my other thigh tightly, making sure my legs were spread.

I arched my back and tried to keep my moans from coming out so embarrassingly loud, but damn, he did it so well and it was just his fingers "I'll put the third finger in, baby" I heard say and without giving me time to speak, he put the third finger inside, now penetrating with much more force.

"Jj-junnie, j-junnie, jjunnie~ I-I'm going-I'm going to cum-" I spoke between moans, but YeonJun took his fingers out of me, I couldn't help but moan needily "Already? I couldn't even have that much fun this time " I heard him say and laughed "well... let's make you finish, I guess you can last two rounds..." and he stuck his head into my privacy, his tongue using it with such skill that the tears pooling in my eyes ran down my cheeks and I gripped the edges of the bar, pushing my hips towards his head.

His tongue, Oh God, he did it so good, licked absolutely every part inside me, I could feel how hot it was inside her, how it touched my walls and damn.

"Y-YeonJun~" I moaned loudly and came completely on his face, he licked up all my liquid almost as if he had never drank water in his life, when he left my intimacy my legs were shaking and I saw him tasting his lips, smiling.

"Great, now, don't close your legs honey... I have to finish" he spoke and I heard him unbutton his pants.

Shit, that's why he always came out with so much pain in his hips.

I didn't even notice when he thrust his cock into her without warning, pounding her hard, she even looked bigger than him last time.

He began to move, thrusting hard as my walls soon contracted around his cock, almost as if I never wanted to let go again, he thrust harder each time, the sound of his hips crashing against my skin. , both moaning in unison.

“Fuck, Y/N, you're so perfect at taking my cock…” I heard him sigh in whispers, increasing the speed even more as both climaxes were finally released, YeonJun cumming inside me completely.

He saw the satisfied smile on his face and licked his lips before thrusting hard once more and pulling out of me, fixing his pants. "So, the Vanilla Latte, with sugar or without sugar?" I laughed a little tiredly and sighed "with sugar..."

I definitely love coffee.

And you, do you like coffee?

[inkandlunacy]

haven't had a coffee out in ages. i've a nespresso, and a dolce gusto, and a moka, and a turkish pot, and honestly i don't frown upon a well made instant either. case in point: dalgona. i just can't have most brands, as they make me break out. i draw a line at 3-in-1, though. either there are no good ones left, or my taste buds evolved to the point of no return.

i think it's the powdered creamer. ruins the best coffee out there.

maybe next year i'll get myself a fancy espresso machine, though i really do love my nespresso and dolce gusto. they're old but mighty.

anyway, this was about coffees out. if i don't lose my current job in the next couple months (as seems to be the trend for me lately), i might become financially stable enough to grab a coffee out 1-2 times a week again.

which means i'll never be able to afford a house. *badum tss*

also, did you know: if coffee calms you down, you might have adhd. i do, and when i found it, it made so much sense, i have no idea how i haven't drawn that parallel before. caffeine is a stimulant. stimulant = focus. focus = calm. so while everyone around me was sipping americanos to stay awake, i took shots of espresso to 'calm down'. then i decided that it 'sounded odd' and stopped saying that. but now i know, and i can say 'espressos calm me down' again.

sometimes i wonder what i would be like on r1tal33n, but where i live it's prohibited. as are caffeine pills, but those i can get off of iherb.

[theproductivecreative]

Sharing my story and why I'm passionate about bullet journaling.

It was the year 2020 when the pandemic hit. While other people found love in making Dalgona coffee and growing plants, I discovered and became enthusiastic about bullet journaling after I saw a pen collection post on Facebook. I followed the profile and fell down the rabbit hole of stationery and journaling (and planning, too!).

I didn't know it was a thing that's been going on for years. I wrote diaries when I was a child up to my teenage years but have always stopped. The longest time I journaled was a year until the diary was stolen. At other times, I eventually got lazy and missed writing diary entries until I stopped altogether.

Discovering bullet journaling changed how I journal and has helped me constantly write since 2020. Sure there were backlogs, which even lasted for 2-3 months but I always keep coming back. I found myself passionate about what I do. The added creativity challenge makes it delightful to me.

One main reason why I pursued this hobby is because I was really desperate to find a way to lessen my screen time. Illustrating and decorating helps me stay away from gadgets and focus on things that matter more.

Today, I run a Facebook page and TikTok account where I share my journal spreads. (Not just bujo but creative diary as well!) You may also join my Facebook group if you need help from fellow journaling enthusiasts. I'm hoping to see you there!

[mindbytesworld]

Social Media Eats First

Welcome to the world where social media meets food. Where what we eat, when we eat, and even how guilty we feel about that 2 a.m. pizza is increasingly influenced by curated feeds.

Social media didn’t invent food photography, but it sure made it competitive. If your meal isn’t symmetrical, color-coordinated, or plated like a Michelin-starred dish, is it even worthy of the 'gram?

This obsession has led many of us to value appearance over taste. But let’s be real: sometimes the messiest, sloppiest sandwich is the one that truly feeds the soul.

You’re scrolling at 11 p.m., already in bed, and someone posts an alfredo pasta that looks like it could change your life. Suddenly, your humble daal feels like betrayal. You weren't hungry 5 minutes ago. Now you’re considering Postmates and reevaluating your life choices.

This constant stream of delicious content creates something we can call “food FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out on meals that probably cost a lot)

On one side of the feed, you’ve got influencers blending kale smoothies, talking about gut health. On the other side, there’s someone deep-frying a wheel of cheese and dipping it into ketchup like it’s a championship.

Its effects?

Many complain about feeling conflicted or even guilty about their food choices after spending time on social platforms. Social media has a way of turning food into a comparison game. Are you eating the right things? Are you doing it aesthetically enough? Should you be intermittent fasting or trying that thing where you only eat in colors?

Thanks to TikTok and Instagram, suddenly everyone’s a chef. Your friend who once burned maggie is now garnishing butter boards and making 3-ingredient pasta that somehow looks like art. It’s inspiring, until you try it yourself and end up with something that could be used as construction material.

Despite the occasional food guilt spiral and absurd latte art expectations, social media can be a wonderful place to learn, share, and be inspired. It’s helped people with dietary restrictions find community, taught millions of us how to cook during lockdown, and yes—it gave us Dalgona coffee. That was fun while it lasted.

CTA: for further discussions, drop a mail at saba_t2000@yahoo.com

[noonaishere]

Online/Offline [C.S] - eighteen | were they in a drama or something?

“Oh-- shit,” you whispered. 

You had left the lid of the cup on the counter and when you turned, you knocked it onto the floor. Your formerly-barista-but-once-again-a-barista heart prided itself on being as efficient as possible, and now you added seconds onto this customer's wait time. Whatever, you could just get a new lid--

A hand fell over the one you were holding the cup with as it placed a new lid onto the cup. The fingers squeezed the lid on and squeezed against your own skin as well for a moment. You looked up into San’s smiling face and stopped yourself from inhaling sharply from the surprise of his proximity and the heat you could feel from his fingers. He turned and picked the other lid up off the floor and threw it away.

“Oh, uh, I thought your shift wasn’t until later.”

He shook his head. “I’m here early.”

Something about his small action and how close he just was confused you, but you were at work, damnit. You went to the register and handed the drink to the customer.

“Here you go, have a nice day.”

They took their drink and smiled back, “You too,” and left.

But why was San so close to you in that instance… it probably didn’t mean anything. He’s just a nice person and maybe has some personal space confusion. That’s all. You shook it off mentally and turned back around. 

“How come you came in early?”

He shrugged. “Bored at home, and Seonghwa wanted to talk to me about something.”

“Oh. I didn’t know you were the boss’ favorite.” 

He laughed softly. “I don’t know about that. It’s business stuff, not anything fun.”

“He discusses business stuff with you?”

He nodded.

“Oh… maybe you are the favorite, then.”

He laughed again. “Do you need help?”

You looked at the line of customers waiting. “Umm, yeah. I got like twelve orders for a dalgona latte already today and they’re all I’ve been making.”

San nodded and went and got his apron. The first customer he helped also ordered a dalgona latte.

You whispered to him, “Did someone in a drama order a dalgona latte or something? Everyone keeps ordering it.”

“I don’t know--”

You pulled the step-stool over, stood on it, and addressed the crowd. “If there’s anyone else in the line who wants a latte with dalgona chips, raise your hand.”

Four out of the seven people in line raised their hands.

“How many do each of you want? Show me the number.”

Two held up one finger, one held up two and the fourth held up three.

“Do you all want a regular?”

“Yes,” they all replied with various levels of awkwardness.

“Okay, I’m going to make seven of them.”

You went to step off the stepstool when your foot slipped. 

“--Ah!” Suddenly, you were looking up into San’s eyes.

He looked into yours for a moment before righting you and clearing his throat. “You should be more careful.”

“Well, there goes my attempt at being cool.” You laughed. “Sorry.”

He nodded and went back to ringing customers up.

You got to work on the seven coffees with dalgona chips, talking to yourself as you worked. 

“‘Spresso, ‘spresso~~” You set up the first four espressos to brew and then started setting up the cups.

“Cups, cups, cups~~” You put the seven cups in a line so you could work them like an assembly line. 

“Ice, ice, ice~~”

Ice in each cup up to the top.

“Mooooo~”

You heard San chuckle behind you as you filled each with milk all the way up to the top, emptying a container and opening a new one. The first four espressos were done so you took them all out and put them to the side and set up the next four.

“San, I have an extra espresso if you need it.”

He turned around and looked at what you were doing as he got a danish for the customer he was helping. “Okay.”

“Chippy-pips~~ chip chip chippies~~” You sang to yourself as scooped dalgona chips onto the top of each drink. You put the tray with the crushed dalgona in it back where it went and began pouring the espresso into the cups.

“Let me help you,” San said and got two of the espresso and poured them.

You got the next two and he got the last one. You walked over to the register and helped customers. “You said two dalgonas, right?”

“Yes. And can I get a croissant?”

“Yep. Let me just add that…”

San brought two of the dalgonas over and put them into a carrier and got the croissant. 

After about twelve more dalgona coffee orders - you had already searched Naver to see if they were trending because they were in a show or something but couldn’t find anything and were just as confused as you were at the beginning of your shift - the rush had finally died down. Wooyoung brought out more dalgona ready to be crushed, and you got to crushing it with the metal press.

As Wooyoung went to walk away, San gave him a ‘good job’ slap on the butt, and Wooyoung laughed.

You stuck your own butt out, “What? No slap for me?” 

San went beet red and left for the kitchen without saying anything. 

You and Wooyoung looked at each other.

“I was joking… should I apologize?”

Woo waved it off. “He’ll be fine.”

    previous | main cast | masterlist | next

Send an ask or leave a comment if you want to be added to the tag list! 🧋

[rowonlgc]

   BIRTHDAY EVENT | WC: 340   

we can do a parfait. sure. or a cheesecake. those have been popular recently. fine with me. the pastry chef purses her lips, eyebrows threading together as she squints at him. but what do you want? it’s your birthday dessert, so it should be something that you’d enjoy. a difficult call. in all honesty, rowon doesn’t have much of an opinion about most things. he likes what others loves, dislikes what others hate, but at the end of the day, he doesn’t think anything of it.

how about your fans? are they younger, more mature? they’re the ones who will be ordering, so anything you remember about them … another difficult call. being newly signed onto the acting path, he hasn’t exactly met any of his fans, but judging from his instagram comments, most of them seem to be students with a penchant for making art and video edits of him and his … friends. students, so a younger crowd. we can start —

“coffee,” rowon says suddenly. “dalgona.” it’s something he’s been making a lot of recently, though not for himself.

the pastry chef clasps her hands together. yes, students would love that. a kick of caffeine, and it’s sweet. a perfect pick-me-up. have you heard of cheese foam? we could do this dalgona cheese foam that’s been trending. as for the dessert … maybe not a cheesecake, since we have that in the drink.

“we could do a swiss roll.” he briefly considers it with tiraimisu cream, having had that previously, but that would double-up on coffee flavours, which may give an impression that he’s a coffee fiend. “i’m thinking coconut cream with shredded coconut.” macaroons were pretty popular back when he worked at a cafe, so why not.

ooh, shredded coconut for a bit of texture. i’m liking the sound of that. that would pair well with the coffee too. she disappears into the pantry and returns with a large tub of instant coffee, which she then drops on the table. all right! let’s get started.

[hazwani1]

Week 7: Social Media and Public Health: A Platform for Dialogue or One-Way Messaging?

Social media has revolutionized the way public health campaigns communicate with the public. Social media refers to online social networking sites and is a broad example of Web 2.0, such as Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram, WhatsApp, and blogs. It is a new and ever-changing field. Access to the internet, social media platforms and mobile communications are all tools that can be leveraged to make health information available and accessible. (Kanchan & Gaidhane, 2023). But are these campaigns truly leveraging the interactive potential of these platforms, or are they simply using them as digital megaphones?

The One-Way Messaging Approach

Many public health campaigns still rely on traditional, one-way communication styles. These campaigns are typically centered around disseminating important messages, such as promoting COVID-19 vaccinations or raising awareness about mental health. For example:

The CDC’s Instagram posts during the pandemic often delivered visually appealing infographics and key health tips but rarely engaged directly with audience comments.

Similarly, campaigns like #EatHealthy often feature polished content that informs but doesn’t always invite interaction.

This approach ensures consistent messaging and allows organizations to maintain control over the narrative. However, it risks missing the mark in fostering trust or addressing specific concerns of the target audience, particularly in diverse or skeptical communities.

The Interactive Potential of Social Media

Conversely, campaigns that embrace social media as a platform for dialogue often see greater engagement and impact. Interactive features like polls, live Q&A sessions, and user-generated content can transform a campaign into a two-way conversation. Examples include:

The #ThisIsOurShot campaign, where doctors and nurses answered vaccine-related questions through live streams and short TikTok videos. This approach directly addressed misinformation and empowered users to engage with trusted professionals.

Mental health awareness campaigns like #BellLetsTalk use platforms like Twitter to encourage people to share their stories, creating a sense of community while driving the campaign's message.

These methods invite users to participate, ask questions, and share their perspectives, making them feel heard and valued.

Challenges to Fostering Dialogue

Despite the potential for interaction, creating two-way communication isn’t without its challenges. For one, public health organizations may struggle with the volume of responses and questions, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the onset of COVID-19, incidents of racism and xenophobia have been occurring globally, especially toward people of East Asian appearance and descent. In response, this article investigates how an online Asian community has utilized social media to engage in cathartic expressions, mutual care, and discursive activism amid the rise of anti-Asian racism and xenophobia during COVID-19 (Abidin & Zeng, 2020). In the era of COVID-19, SAT has developed into a congregational Facebook hub for the Asian diaspora. SAT's 1000+ daily posts from its members have quickly shifted to reflecting on what it means to be "Asian" during the pandemic, from promoting "quarantine trends" (such as homemade dalgona coffees that require the effort of whipped coffee and milk but are Instagram worthy to simulate the café experience; and recommendations of Korean dramas in every genre to soothe the soul) to making fun of Asian mothers' pseudo-scientific anti-COVID remedies.

Additionally, misinformation and trolling can disrupt meaningful conversations.

To mitigate these issues, organizations can use strategies such as:

Employing community managers to monitor and respond to comments.

Partnering with influencers who align with the campaign's goals and can engage directly with their followers.

Providing clear guidelines for respectful dialogue to maintain a positive online environment.

The Sweet Spot: Balancing Information and Engagement

The most effective public health campaigns strike a balance between delivering essential information and fostering meaningful interaction. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) frequently uses Instagram Stories to post health tips while also utilizing the "Ask Me Anything" feature to respond to followers' queries in real time. This dual approach ensures that their messages are both informative and engaging.

In conclusion, while many public health campaigns on social media remain rooted in one-way communication, the potential for meaningful dialogue is immense. By leveraging the interactive features of these platforms and actively engaging with their audience, public health organizations can not only amplify their messages but also build trust, address concerns, and foster lasting behavioural change.

References

Abidin, C., & Zeng, J. (2020). Feeling Asian Together: Coping With #COVIDRacism on Subtle Asian Traits. Social Media + Society, 6(3), 205630512094822. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120948223

Kanchan, S., & Gaidhane, A. (2023). Social Media Role and Its Impact on Public Health: a Narrative Review. Cureus, 15(1), e33737. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33737

‌ Kwai, I. (2018, December 11). How “Subtle Asian Traits” Became a Global Hit. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/11/world/australia/subtle-asian-traits-facebook-group.html

[the-wereraven]

Hmm, how familiar...

Yes! It is the apocalypse siblings!

Though in eternal slumber, trapped somewhere they don't even know, the apocalypse siblings have managed to manifest their consciousness to roam the living world and observe it.

However, they are but frail, mortal Cookies in this form. Though they may use their five senses, they cannot impact the world around them in a way that matters. They may disappear and reappear at will, making many who have seen them believe they are ghosts, which is partially and technically true.

Dalgona Ivory appears as a sickly Cookie with strange underbaked dough (or rubbery skin if you're thinking human(oid), Pepper X appears as a strong warrior, Black Coffee appears as a physically frail wizard, and Fugu appears as a mere traveler.

What are they up to? Whatever Cookies do I guess?

[rainbowxocs]

Name: Joji Ritchi (譲治リッチ)

Username: ojijoji

Nicknames: Oji-Sama (おじ-さま), Genkin-Kun (現金ーくん)

Age: 20.

Pronouns: He/Him. (in English.)

I Pronoun: Maro (麿) (Archaic First Person Pronoun used by noblemen.)

Sexuality: Polyamorous, Asexual, Panromantic.

Gender: GNC, Guy.

Species: Human.

Disorders: CPTSD, ADHD, Autism.

Physical Conditions: Albinism, Bad Eyesight.

Religion: None.

Job: Heir to the Ritchi Foundation.

Lives in: Okutama, Japan, 2025.

Languages: Japanese, English.

Height: 5’4”

Race: Mixed (White, Asian.)

Ethnicity: British, Japanese.

Accent: Yamanote.

Voice Claim: Tamaki Suoh from OHSHC (JP Dub)

Weaknesses: Basic Human Weaknesses. No special weaknesses.

Weapon: Has Body Guards.

Alignment: Lawful Good.

Text Color: Purple.

Main Hobbies: Bonsai, Coloring, Embroidery, Puzzles, Ikebana, Tea Ceremonies, Swimming, Collecting.

Favorite Drink: Ceremonial Matcha, Honeycomb Lavender Coffee, Watermelon Boba.

Favorite Fruit: Ruby Roman Grapes, Densuke Black Watermelon.

Favorite Meals: Fugu, Wagyu Burgers, Toro Sushi, Unagi, Okonomiyaki, Caviar, Tamagoyaki, Uni, Takoyaki, Hotpot, Peking Duck.

Favorite Candy: Taiki Hana.

Favorite Dessert: Dalgona, Raindrop Cake, Coffee Jelly, Gotgam, Jelly Noodles, Byakuya Icecream, Strawberry Cake Roll.

Favorite Flower: Lily of the Valley’s.

Scent: Fancy Arabian Perfume.

Handedness: Right Handed.

Blood Color: Red.

Soul Form: Iridescent Flame.

Awareness: Not Aware (Effect: None.)

Birthday: March 3rd 2005 (Pisces, Rooster, A)

Theme:

Battle Theme:

Playlist:

Fun Facts: Is quite literally the richest person in Okutama. He doesn’t seem to have a grasp on how much money is actually worth though.

Special Interests: Tea Ceremonies, Royalty, Fairytales.

Stims: Loves Shiny Things, So many Shiny Things. All the visual stims. Also loves scented things like candles.

Stimboard: LINK

Moodboard: LINK

Fashion Board: LINK

Comfort Objects: Bag just, full of trinkets and gizmos he has collected over just walking around Okutama.

Family:

Susan Ritchi (Mother)

Omura Ritchi (Father)

Saiki Hanako (Nanny/Mother Figure.)

Friends: Kagayaki, Kakikomi, Hana.

Romance: Shoyu Mikoto (Girlfriend.)

Pets: Tanpopo (タンポポ) (Giant African Snail)

Brief Personality: Joji is incredibly sheltered, He means well but often doesn’t quite know things about the world outside of what he grew up in. He’s very kind and tries his best but is very naive. He genuinely would probably get in a big white van to help someone get their puppies out of the back. Bless him.

Brief Backstory:

Joji was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He grew up with his father and his nanny, his mother having died in childbirth. His father inherited the legacy of being a “Ritchi” until Joji was old enough to inherit the fortune.

His father resented him because of this, not only had Joji “taken away” his wife but also he would eventually take away some of his power and status. So he decided to try and sabotage his son.

He kept Joji incredibly sheltered until highschool. Keeping him homeschooled and essentially trying to make sure he couldn’t and wouldn’t try to take his rightful place as heir to the fortune. Joji was oblivious to this. Even in highschool he was incredibly out of touch with the rest of his classmates.

Joji would spend a lot of his time alone. He didn’t quite fit in with anyone. He would spend his time collecting things that he would find in the nearby ocean or in the forest. He loved nature a lot and it was his escape from the loneliness he felt.

Joji eventually met his girlfriend, Shoyu. She was similarly disposed to him. She was the heir to a great fortune, the head cheerleader, basically everything that a guy could want. Joji however at first just wanted someone to talk to.

Joji would collect rocks and other trinkets for her and talk her ear off about anything and everything. The two slowly began to fall in love, even though Joji didn’t even quite know what he was feeling when he looked at Shoyu.

When the timeloop ended. His father tried to kill Joji in order to make sure the fortune would stay with him instead of his son. However, Joji was able to get him arrested and completely inherited his mothers business and fortune. Now he acts as a somewhat supervisor for the whole business, with his friends and girlfriend at his side.