#super junior edit

[smsource]

SMTown 2025

[neptunemooon]

Ruby on Joon & Brian BYOB

The set of Byob Pocha was as inviting as ever—dim, warm lighting, a laid-back atmosphere, and a sleek wooden table where Ruby sat with Joon and Brian, her fingers lightly tapping against the stem of her wine glass. Unlike the usual liquor or brand-sponsored drinks, she had brought her own—her homemade wine.

Joon raised an eyebrow, amused. “So, Ruby, you walked in here today with your own drink. That’s a first.”

Brian leaned in, intrigued. “Yeah, we need to talk about this. You made this?”

Ruby chuckled, setting the glass down. “Yes! It’s my homemade wine. I got into making it a few years ago—kind of a passion project. My family, bandmates, and staff love it, so I figured, why not bring some here?”

Joon took a sip and whistled in approval. “Yo, this is actually really good. I was expecting—well, I don’t know what I was expecting. But damn.”

Brian followed suit, his eyes widening. “Ruby, you might be in the wrong industry. You could start your own wine brand.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “I’ll stick to music, but hey, if this whole K-pop thing doesn’t work out, maybe I’ll consider it.”

They all shared a laugh before Joon leaned back in his chair, eyeing her curiously. “So, we know you grew up in LA, right? What was that like?”

Ruby smiled, adjusting in her seat. “Oh man, where do I even start? Growing up in LA was—chaotic, in the best way. It’s a melting pot of cultures, and there’s always something happening. I was surrounded by so many different kinds of people, food, music… It was the best place to be as a kid. But it also made me tough. You learn a lot just by being in that environment.”

Brian nodded. “LA kids have that certain energy. You can tell when someone grew up there.”

Ruby grinned. “For sure. You gotta have a little street smarts, but also, there’s this deep sense of community, especially depending on which area you grew up in.”

Brian then tilted his head, his expression playful yet genuinely curious. “By the way, I recently learned that you speak and understand Spanish very well. Where did you learn?”

Ruby laughed, her eyes lighting up. “Oh, that’s easy. I grew up in a Hispanic community. My neighbors, friends, my classmates—everyone spoke Spanish. So I just naturally picked it up... Not to boast, but out everyone in my family I speak it the best."

Joon cracked up. “Wait, wait, so your family doesn’t speak it as well as you?”

“Nope,” Ruby said smugly. “Like, they understand it, but I’m fully fluent. When we go to Mexico, I’m the one talking to everyone, having full conversations with the people from there. My parents and brothers just sit there, nodding.”

Brian shook his head in amusement. “That’s actually hilarious. I love that you just casually flex on them.”

“I mean, someone has to,” she teased, flipping her hair playfully.

Joon leaned in with interest. “Okay, but which side of LA are you from?”

Ruby exhaled, already expecting the question. “I’m from the east side. It’s got a lot of character—great food, great people. A little rough around the edges at times, but it’s home, you know?”

Joon and Brian both nodded in understanding. “The east side has fire Mexican food,” John added.

Ruby pointed at him. “See? You know what’s up. I’ve had Mexican food in different countries, but nothing beats a taco truck in East LA at midnight.”

Joon clapped his hands together. “Facts.”

They all laughed before Brian leaned forward. “Okay, so, coming from LA to Korea—that had to be a huge culture shock. What was the biggest one for you?”

Ruby thought for a moment, then sighed dramatically. “Honestly? The quiet.”

Joon and Brian both looked at her, confused. “The quiet?” Joon repeated.

“Yes!” Ruby insisted. “Like, in LA, there’s always noise. Even at night, you hear sirens, people yelling, music blasting from cars, dogs barking—something is always happening. But in Korea? I remember the first time I walked through a residential neighborhood at night, and it was dead silent. No cars, no loud music, nothing. I was like, ‘Am I in a horror movie?’”

Brian burst out laughing. “I never thought about that, but you’re right. Korea is way quieter at night compared to LA.”

Ruby nodded. “Exactly! And even during the day, people aren’t as loud in public. Like, in LA, people talk to strangers all the time. You go to a store, and the cashier’s like, ‘Hey, how’s your day?’ You walk by someone’s dog, and suddenly you’re in a ten-minute conversation with the owner. In Korea, it’s way more reserved. At first, I thought people didn’t like me, but then I realized that’s just the culture.”

Joon shook his head in amusement. “So basically, you went from constant background noise to… peace.”

“Yes,” Ruby sighed dramatically. “And at first, I hated it. But now, I kind of appreciate it. It’s nice to have moments of quiet… Even though I still blast music in my house to feel normal.”

Brian grinned. “You can take the girl out of LA, but you can’t take LA out of the girl.”

“Exactly,” Ruby said with a smirk, raising her glass.

Joon and Brian clinked their glasses against hers, the atmosphere warm and full of laughter.

After a few more sips of wine and shared laughter, Joon leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. “Okay, so I know a little bit about your backstory, but I don’t think we’ve ever really talked about it in detail. How did you even get into K-pop?”

Brian nodded. “Yeah, like, did you grow up listening to it, or was it something you randomly stumbled into?”

Ruby smiled, leaning back in her chair. “Oh man, okay, so this is actually kind of a funny story. I didn’t really grow up on K-pop. I mean, I knew about it because LA has a big Korean community, and I had some friends who were into it. But I was mostly listening to whatever my brothers played—hip-hop, R&B, rock, that kind of stuff.”

Joon raised an eyebrow. “So if you weren’t into it at first, what changed?”

She let out a small laugh. “I got scouted—in the most random way possible.”

Brian blinked. “Like, someone just walked up to you?”

“Yes! I was at a mall in LA with my friends, just shopping, and this guy comes up to me and starts talking about how he’s a recruiter for a K-pop company and that they’re looking for new trainees.”

Joon shook his head, already skeptical. “Nah, see, that sounds like a scam.”

“Right?! That’s exactly what I thought!” Ruby said, laughing. “I was like, ‘This dude is about to ask me for my bank account info or he is part of a cult... And I don't mess with that. ’”

Brian burst out laughing. “I mean, some random guy walks up and says, ‘Hey, want to be a K-pop star?’ That does sound sketchy.”

Ruby nodded. “That’s why I didn’t take it seriously at first. But he gave me a business card, and he was like, ‘We’ll fly you out to Korea for an audition if you’re interested.’ And I was like, ‘Sure, buddy.’ I shoved the card in my bag and forgot about it.”

Joon laughed. “So what made you actually go for it?”

Ruby sighed dramatically. “My brothers. I told them about it as a joke, expecting them to laugh it off. But instead, they bullied me into auditioning.”

Brian smirked. “Wait, what?”

Ruby shook her head, grinning. “I kid you not, they ganged up on me. My older brother, was like, ‘Ruby, do you know how many people would kill for this chance?’ And then then my other brothers—were like, ‘If you don’t at least try, we’ll never let you live it down.’”

Joon nodded, impressed. “Okay, shoutout to your brothers, because they had a vision.”

“Seriously,” Ruby said. “So I caved. I sent in a video audition first, and a couple weeks later, they actually did fly me out to Korea for an in-person audition.”

Brian leaned in. “And that was for YG, right?”

“Yes,” Ruby confirmed. “I trained there for a while. And here’s something a lot of people don’t know—I was supposed to debut with BLACKPINK.”

Joon and Brian’s eyes widened in unison.

“Hold up,” Joon said, setting his glass down. “You were supposed to be in BLACKPINK?”

“Yep,” Ruby said, nodding. “I trained with them, we were in the same group lineup. But at the time, I was still in high school, and I really wanted to finish and graduate with my friends. If I debuted, I wouldn’t be able to do that. So I made the decision to step back and leave.”

Brian looked genuinely surprised. “That must’ve been a tough call.”

Ruby exhaled, thinking back. “It was. I loved training, and I was really close with the girls, but I also wanted a normal high school experience. I wanted to go to homecoming, football games, school trips, prom, walk at graduation, and do all the things my friends were doing. So I chose to leave.”

Joon leaned back, nodding in understanding. “I respect that. Most people wouldn’t walk away from a chance like that.”

Brian tilted his head. “So then how did you end up at SM? That’s a whole different company.”

Ruby smiled. “That’s another crazy part of the story. After I left YG, I went back to the US. I finished high school, went to prom, did all the things I wanted to do. And I thought I was done with K-pop. But then—out of nowhere—I got a message from someone I used to know from YG.”

Joon’s interest was piqued. “Like, a staff member?”

“Yes,” Ruby nodded. “She reached out, just checking in, asking how I was doing. And then she told me that she was moving to a new company and where they working on debuting a group soon. And she thought I’d be a perfect fit.”

Brian raised an eyebrow. “Wait, so she was basically recruiting you again?”

“Pretty much,” Ruby said, laughing. “But I wasn’t convinced. I was like, ‘Nah, I’m done with that life.’”

Joon smirked. “Clearly, you weren’t.”

Ruby sighed dramatically. “I thought I was! But then, this lady did something sneaky—she called my parents.”

Brian clapped his hands. “Ohhh, she knew what she was doing.”

“She did,” Ruby said. “Next thing I know, my whole family sits me down and gives me this speech about how not everyone gets a second chance in this industry and how I should at least give it a try.”

Joon nodded, impressed. “And that got to you.”

Ruby smiled. “Yes. It took a lot of convincing, but eventually, I was like, ‘Alright, fine, I’ll go and audition.’”

Brian leaned in. “And how did that go?”

Ruby smirked. “I passed after the first round.”

Joon and Brian both whistled in approval.

Brian shook his head. “You know what? That former YG staff member deserves a raise. She knew she had to go through your parents.”

Ruby laughed. “Right? She knew my weak spot.”

Joon grinned. “Well, thank her, because now we have you as one of the biggest stars in K-pop.”

Ruby blushed slightly, shaking her head. “It’s been a wild ride, but I wouldn’t change it.”

Brian lifted his glass. “To second chances.”

Ruby and Joon clinked their glasses with him, the moment warm and full of appreciation. Then a rich aroma of freshly prepared Korean dishes filled the air. The two cooks emerged in a neat line, each holding steaming plates of food, their faces beaming with pride. The head chef, a middle-aged man with a warm smile, personally approached Ruby as he carefully placed a variety of dishes in front of her.

"Miss Ruby, we made sure everything here is completely vegan for you," he said with a respectful nod.

Ruby's face lit up with delight. "Oh, wow, thank you so much! I really appreciate it."

Before she could pick up her chopsticks, Brian and Joon both turned to stare at her, completely caught off guard.

"Wait… You're vegan?!" Brian blurted out, eyes wide.

Joon leaned forward in disbelief. "No way! How did I not know this?"

Ruby giggled at their reactions. "Yes, I am. Have been for a long time."

Joon, curious, tilted his head and asked, "How long have you been vegan? And why did you decide to go vegan?"

Ruby set down her chopsticks for a moment and thought back. "I’ve been vegan since I was ten. I watched a documentary about factory farming, and it really opened my eyes to what happens to animals in the industry. It made me so sad that I decided right then and there that I didn’t want to contribute to it anymore. At first, I just cut out meat, but then I learned more about the dairy and egg industries and made the full switch to veganism."

Brian and Joon exchanged looks, clearly impressed.

"That’s so young to make such a big decision," Joon commented. "I respect that."

"Was it hard being vegan in Korea?" Brian asked. "Like, do you have trouble finding food options here?"

Ruby nodded slightly. "At first, it was definitely a challenge. Korea’s food culture is very meat and seafood-heavy, and even dishes that seem plant-based, like kimchi or stews, often have animal products in them. But over the years, it’s gotten so much easier! More people are aware of veganism now, and there are a lot of plant-based options popping up in restaurants. Plus, if I cook at home, I can make vegan versions of all my favorite Korean dishes."

"Speaking of which, what’s your favorite Korean food?" Joon asked, grinning.

Ruby's eyes sparkled. "That’s a tough one! But if I had to pick, I’d say tteokbokki. I love spicy food, and I make my own version using a plant-based sauce. It’s so good!"

Brian, still processing, leaned in with another question. "What about your family? Are they vegan too?"

Ruby shook her head. "No, they’re not. But they’ve always been really supportive of my decision. My mom especially—though I do feel bad for her because when I first went vegan, she had to cook two different versions of everything, one for the family and one for me. It was a lot of extra work for her. But when I turned thirteen, she sat me down and said, ‘Okay, Ruby, if you’re serious about this, you need to start cooking for yourself.’ And that’s when I really learned how to cook."

Joon chuckled. "That sounds like a very mom thing to do."

"Right?" Ruby laughed. "But honestly, I’m grateful. It made me independent in the kitchen, and now I can cook all my favorite foods exactly the way I like them."

Brian leaned back, shaking his head in admiration. "Man, I had no idea. You’re really dedicated."

Joon nodded in agreement. "Yeah, major respect for sticking to what you believe in."

Ruby smiled warmly, feeling touched by their reactions. "Thank you, that means a lot."

As the conversation continued, Joon swirled the remaining wine in his glass before setting it down, tilting his head in thought. “So, Ruby, your concept as an artist—it’s pretty unique, even within K-pop. How would you describe it?”

Ruby smiled, leaning forward slightly. “I’d say my concept is elegant rock and roll. I love blending rock influences with a more refined, almost theatrical aesthetic. Like, I’m not full-on punk or grunge, but I have those rock elements while keeping things polished and dramatic.”

Brian nodded. “Yeah, I noticed that. You’ve got that stage presence that feels powerful but still really graceful.”

“Thank you,” Ruby agreed. “I love that contrast. The intensity of rock music mixed with something sleek and elegant.”

Joon smirked. “So basically, you’re like—if royalty started a rock band.”

Ruby laughed. “That’s actually a great way to put it.”

Brian grinned. “I mean, you already make your own wine. That’s some queen behavior.”

She chuckled. “Maybe I was royalty in a past life.”

Joon leaned in with a playful look. “Okay, so we know you trained for a while before debuting, and there’s been a lot of talks lately about how you originally trained with aespa before going solo. How did that transition happen?”

Ruby exhaled, thinking back. “So when I first joined SM, I was being trained as a potential member for aespa. The concept was really cool, and the girls were amazing, but as time went on, I started feeling like it wasn’t the perfect fit for me.”

Brian tilted his head. “In what way?��

“I think it was more about my personal style,” Ruby explained. “Aespa has this futuristic, tech-heavy concept, and while I love it, my natural vibe leans more toward live band performances, raw energy, and a more classic rock influence.

"I see and how did it happen?" Joon asked, his curiosity evident. "How did you end up debuting solo?"

Ruby chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It’s kind of a crazy story." She leaned back against the chair, her mind drifting back to the moment that changed everything. "It was a quiet evening, and I had taken the opportunity to use one of the empty practice rooms in the SM building. The trainees usually occupied the main rooms, but I liked the solitude of the basement studios. It was peaceful, just me, my guitar, and the music."

Brian and Joon exchanged glances, already invested in the story.

"I was strumming a soft melody, letting my voice blend with the chords, completely immersed in the moment. The practice room had great acoustics, and the sound reverberated beautifully, creating an intimate atmosphere. I wasn’t practicing for a particular showcase; I was simply singing for myself, feeling the music in its rawest form. I loved the energy of live instruments and the way they added soul to a performance. Unbeknownst to me, someone had stepped into the room. I was too lost in the music to notice the presence behind me, quietly observing. It wasn’t until I finished the song and sighed contentedly that I felt an odd shift in the room’s energy. When I finally turned around, the door was already closing, and whoever had been there had left as silently as they arrived. I blinked in confusion but shrugged it off, assuming it was another trainee passing by."

Brian raised an eyebrow. "That’s kind of eerie. You had no idea who it was?"

Ruby shook her head. "Not at all. And honestly, I didn’t think much about it. But then, a few days later, I received an unexpected summons to one of the company’s main offices. The moment I heard about the meeting, my stomach dropped. I had no idea what it was about, and my mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario. Had I done something wrong? Had I broken a rule without realizing it? My heart pounded as I walked through the long hallways, my nerves growing with each step."

Joon leaned forward. "Wait, so you thought you were in trouble?"

"Absolutely!" Ruby laughed. "When I finally entered the office, I was greeted by a few senior staff members. They gestured for me to take a seat, and I complied hesitantly, still unsure of what to expect. Then, one of them spoke. ‘What do you think about debuting solo?’ For a moment, I just stared. My brain completely short-circuited. Of all the things I had imagined being called in for, this had never even crossed my mind. I was so caught off guard that I couldn’t even form a response. My mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. I must have looked ridiculous, sitting there in stunned silence."

Joon burst out laughing. "I can totally picture that!"

Ruby grinned. "Yes, it was probably hilarious from their perspective. The staff chuckled at my reaction, and one of them gave me a reassuring smile. Then they said, ‘A few days ago, someone paid a visit to the building. As you know, we like to keep an eye on our trainees. When he went to the basement, he heard someone singing in one of the practice rooms. Curious, he opened the door and saw you playing your guitar and singing. He was captivated by your performance. He immediately came back upstairs and asked about you. When we showed him all your training footage, he told us, "You better debut her soon, she even has the potential to debut as a soloist... She has a charisma on stage that you don’t come across often."’

Brian’s eyes widened. "No way. That’s insane!"

Joon nodded in agreement. "Who was the person that suggested you go solo?"

Ruby swallowed, the weight of the moment still fresh in her memory. "Lee Soo-man Teacher."

Silence filled the room for a second before Brian let out a low whistle. "The founder of SM Entertainment himself. Damn."

Ruby nodded. "Apparently, he had made a surprise visit to the company that day. When he went down to the basement where we practice, he heard me singing. He immediately saw something in me and knew I had to debut."

Brian suddenly perked up. "Wait, what song were you singing when he walked in?"

Ruby smiled, a hint of nostalgia in her expression. "The Chain by Fleetwood Mac."

Joon’s mouth dropped open. "You were playing that song? No wonder he saw something in you. That’s legendary."

Brian grinned. "Man, I wish I could’ve been there to hear it."

A deep sense of gratitude filled her as she reflected on how that one moment had changed the course of her life. "I’m always going to be grateful for him," she said softly, sincerity lacing her words. "I wouldn’t be here without him."

Joon shook his head in amazement. "That’s crazy. One moment you’re just practicing alone, and the next thing you know, Lee Soo-man himself is vouching for you."

Ruby smiled, gripping her guitar a little tighter. "Yes, it still feels surreal. But it taught me something really important—you never know when the right person is watching. And sometimes, fate steps in at just the right moment... But that is the story of how my solo journey started.”

Joon nodded. “Wow, I think that's the best story I have ever heard of how an idol debuted. And honestly, your sound does feel like it was meant to stand on its own.”

Ruby smiled. “Thank you, looking back, I think everything happened the way it was supposed to.”

Brian then grinned. “Alright let's keep the stories going, Ruby I'm very interested in this who was the first K-pop group you ever got into?”

Ruby didn’t hesitate. “TVXQ.”

Joon and Brian both let out a knowing “Ooooh.”

Brian nodded. “A classic.”

“Right?” Ruby laughed. “They were my introduction to K-pop. Their vocals, their performances—I was hooked. And then…”

She paused for dramatic effect, a playful glint in her eyes.

Joon smirked. “And then?”

Ruby grinned. “Then I became a huge fan of SHINee and EXO.”

Brian chuckled. “Okay, I see a pattern here.”

Ruby laughed. “Yes, I guess SM groups just had a hold on me from the start.”

Joon shook his head in amusement. “I know you said that you weren't into K-pop groups when you were younger, but were you ever a fan of boy bands from the Western market?

Ruby opened her mouth to respond but then suddenly blushed, giggling softly.

Brian caught it immediately. “Wait, wait, why are you blushing?”

Ruby waved her hand dismissively. “No reason.”

Joon smirked. “Nah, that reaction means there’s definitely a reason.”

She sighed, still smiling. “Okay, so… At first, no. The only group I ever really got into when I was younger was…” She paused, biting her lip before giggling again.

Brian leaned in, eyes wide. “Who?!”

Ruby finally admitted, “Big Time Rush.”

Joon and Brian lost it.

“BIG TIME RUSH?!” Joon exclaimed, clutching his chest dramatically. “That’s amazing.”

Brian was laughing so hard he had to set his drink down. “I did not see that coming.”

Ruby was giggling uncontrollably now. “I was never into One Direction, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, or any of the other boy bands. But Big Time Rush? Huge fan. Actually… I still am.”

Brian wiped an imaginary tear. “This is the best thing I’ve heard today.”

Joon shook his head in disbelief. “You know what? I respect that. Big Time Rush has bangers.”

“They do!” Ruby said passionately. “Their songs are so fun, and I loved their show. I had the biggest crush on James.”

Brian clapped his hands together. “See, this is why I love this show. We get the real tea.”

Joon pointed at her. “So if Big Time Rush called you up right now and asked you to collab, what would you say?”

Ruby gasped dramatically. “Oh, I would say yes in a heartbeat.”

Brian grinned. “Manifesting it now.”

Joon lifted his glass. “To Ruby x Big Time Rush.”

Ruby clinked her glass with theirs, laughing. “To BTR forever.”

And with that, the Byob Pocha set was filled with even more laughter, warmth, and unexpected nostalgia, and then Joon set his drink down and leaned forward. “So, let’s talk about your SM family. From what I hear, you’re pretty close with a lot of them.”

Ruby beamed. “Oh, for sure. SM is really like a family. I’m close with pretty much everyone, but there are definitely a few people I’m extra close to.”

Brian nodded. “Okay, let’s hear it. Who are your ride-or-dies in SM?”

Ruby chuckled. “Alright, with NCT, I’m really close with Taeyong, Johnny, Jaemin, Mark, Yuta, Ten, and Yangyang.”

Joon raised an eyebrow. “That’s a solid lineup.”

Brian smirked. “So what’s the dynamic there? Who’s your partner-in-crime?”

Ruby grinned. “Taeyong and I are like siblings. We are so close he is like my big brother—he always checks in on me. If I have a schedule that’s running late, he’ll text me, ‘Yo, did you eat?’”

Brian nodded. “Taeyong gives off protective older brother vibes.”

“He is!” Ruby giggled. “Johnny likes to mess around with me. We just roast each other constantly. He’ll be like, ‘Ruby, why are you so dramatic?’ And I’ll be like, ‘Johnny, why do you look like you haven’t slept in three days?’”

Joon laughed. “He does have that permanent tired look.”

“He really does!” Ruby giggled. “And then there’s Mark—he’s like the wise older brother who gives me life advice. Whenever I have a problem, I go to him.”

Brian smirked. “What’s the best advice he’s ever given you?”

Ruby thought for a moment. “One time I was really stressed about an upcoming comeback, and Mark just looked at me and said, ‘If you’re scared, it means you care. And if you care, it means you’ll do well.’”

Joon nodded, impressed. “That’s deep.”

Ruby smiled. “Right? He always knows what to say.”

Brian leaned in. “And what about the others?”

“Oh, Jaemin is my gossip buddy,” Ruby revealed with a mischievous grin.

Brian’s eyes widened. “Jaemin? The soft-looking one?”

“Yes!” Ruby laughed. “People think he’s all cute and innocent, but we’ll sit together and be like, ‘Did you hear what happened?’ He’s hilarious.”

Joon shook his head. “I love that.”

Ruby continued. “Yuta and Ten? Absolute chaos. If I ever want to do something fun and possibly dangerous, I call them.”

Brian raised an eyebrow. “Dangerous how?”

Ruby smirked. “Let’s just say we’ve almost been kicked out of a few karaoke places for being too loud.”

Joon clapped his hands. “I knew Yuta was trouble.”

“He is,” Ruby admitted. “But he’s also one of the most caring people I know. And Yangyang? He’s like a sibling who thinks he’s cooler than me.”

Joon chuckled. “Thinks?”

Brian grinned. “Sounds like there’s a little sibling rivalry there.”

Ruby laughed. “A little? He always tries to act all cool, like, ‘Ruby, you don’t understand Gen Z humor,’ and I’m like, ‘Dude, we are the same generation.’ But honestly, he’s super sweet. He hypes me up all the time and always sends me funny memes.”

Joon nodded. “Okay, so we got the NCT crew. What about SNSD?”

Ruby’s eyes lit up. “Yuri and Sunny! They’re like my big sisters. They kind of took me under their wing when I first joined SM. Yuri gives me a lot of career advice, and Sunny is just hilarious. She makes everything feel lighter. One time, we were at a company dinner, and I was nervous because I was still new, and Sunny just whispered to me, ‘If you don’t know what to say, just keep eating. Works every time.’”

Joon laughed. “Honestly? Solid advice.”

Ruby grinned. “Right? And then there’s SHINee. I’m really close with Key.”

Brian whistled. “Oh, Key? That’s high-fashion friendship right there.”

Ruby nodded. “Exactly! Key is like my fashion consultant. He will tell me if my outfit is bad.”

Brian smirked. “Has he ever roasted your fashion choices?”

Ruby sighed dramatically. “More times than I can count. One time, I wore this dress I thought was cute, and he just looked at me and said, ‘Ruby, sweetie, did you get dressed in the dark?’”

John cracked up. “No mercy.”

“None!” Ruby laughed. “But I love him for it.”

Brian leaned in. “What about EXO?”

Ruby smiled. “I’m closest with Suho, Baekhyun, and Chen. Suho is like a real-life superhero. He’s always making sure everyone is okay. If I’m sick, he’s the first one to send me vitamins.”

Brian raised an eyebrow. “Baekhyun, though. I feel like he’s the troublemaker of the group.”

Ruby giggled. “Oh, absolutely. Baekhyun is the worst influence but in the best way. If I ever say, ‘I should sleep early tonight,’ he’ll text me at 2 AM like, ‘Are you really asleep, though?’”

Joon shook his head, laughing. “So he’s the instigator.”

“100%,” Ruby confirmed. “And Chen is just… the sweetest. We bond over music a lot. He gives me vocal tips, and his voice is insane.”

Brian nodded. “Red Velvet?”

“Irene and Joy,” Ruby said immediately. “Irene is like an unnie I really look up to. She gives the best advice. Joy is just so fun and full of energy. We’ll send each other random voice messages just screaming about things.”

Brian grinned. “And BOA?”

Ruby gasped dramatically. “Queen BoA? I adore her. She’s been such a mentor to me. Anytime I doubt myself, she reminds me to trust my instincts.”

Joon nodded. “And of course, aespa.”

Ruby smiled. “Oh, I love all the girls. We trained together, we eat together when we can, we send each other memes at 3 AM. They’re like my sisters.”

Brian grinned. “Okay, so outside of SM, who are you close with?”

Ruby thought for a moment. “Jennie and Jisoo from BLACKPINK, since we trained together at YG. I’m also close with ITZY’s Yeji and Chaeryeong, and (G)I-DLE’s Yuqi and Minnie. They’re so fun.”

Joon smirked. “So if you had to be stuck on a deserted island with just one of them, who would you pick?”

Ruby gasped. “That’s evil!”

Brian laughed. “You have to pick!”

Ruby groaned. “Ugh, okay… I think Yuqi, because she would definitely keep me entertained.”

Joon nodded. “Smart choice.”

Brian then asked, “Do you have any family in Korea?”

Ruby shook her head. “Not anymore. I used to live with my grandparents—my dad’s parents. Also, my aunt and uncle, my dad’s sister used to live here too, but they all moved away about three years ago.”

Joon tilted his head. “Where did they move?”

Ruby smiled. “My grandparents moved to Texas, and my aunt and uncle moved to London.”

Brian raised his eyebrows. “Texas? That’s a jump.”

Ruby laughed. “I know! But they love it. My grandma says she likes having more space and good barbecue.”

Joon chuckled. “Classic.”

Brian then leaned forward. “What about your relationship with your family? Do you ever get homesick?”

Ruby exhaled, nodding. “Oh, definitely. I miss them a lot, especially my siblings.”

Joon nodded. “Yeah, you’re the youngest, right?”

“Yup,” Ruby confirmed. “But one of the things I’m really grateful for my company is that SM always schedules my time off during Thanksgiving week so I can go home.”

Brian’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yes,” Ruby said, smiling warmly. “And it’s perfect because Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s the one time of year where my whole family gets together.”

Joon nodded approvingly. “That’s actually really sweet.”

Brian grinned. “And now I need to know—what’s your must-have Thanksgiving dish?”

Ruby gasped. “Mashed potatoes.”

Joon shook his head. “Wrong answer. It’s stuffing.”

Brian held up a hand. “Nah, it’s mac and cheese.”

Ruby laughed. “We’re gonna have to agree to disagree.”

Joon raised his glass. “To family, food, and Big Time Rush.”

Ruby clinked her glass with theirs, laughing. “To all the best things in life.”

Brian then leaned back in his seat, swirling his drink. “Alright, Ruby, we heard that you're a fan of spicy food, so we decided to play a little game called Spill or Spice. Basically, we’re going to ask you a ‘what-if’ scenario, and you must either answer or eat the spicy food. But since we know you love spice, our cooks decided to take it up a notch by adding the Carolina Reaper pepper.”

Ruby raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh no, this could be dangerous.”

Brian smirked. “If you had to debut under a company that wasn’t SM, which one would it be?”

Ruby tilted her head, considering the question. “Hmm… Honestly, I think I would’ve fit well in HYBE, specifically under BigHit.”

Joon nodded. “Interesting choice. Why?”

“Well,” Ruby began, “BigHit really focuses on artistry and storytelling in their music. I feel like they give their artists a lot of creative freedom, and as someone who loves being hands-on with my music, that would’ve been really cool.”

Brian leaned forward. “Okay, but imagine you debuting under HYBE. Would you have been in a group like LE SSERAFIM, or do you think they’d still make you a soloist?”

Ruby laughed. “Oh, I feel like I’d still be a soloist. I love being in control of my own artistic direction.”

Joon nodded. “Fair enough. Now, let’s get a little messy. Is there a company you definitely wouldn’t have joined?”

Ruby hesitated for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Okay, no offense—and I mean this with so much love—but… probably JYP.”

Brian’s eyes widened. “Ohh, okay, we’re getting real now.”

Joon leaned in. “Spill. Why JYP?”

Ruby grinned. “Again, no shade! JYP has very talented groups like 2PM, TWICE, Stray Kids, ITZY, DAY6… But I just don’t think I would’ve fit their vision.”

Brian smirked. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Ruby started, “JYP’s girl groups have a very distinct vibe. They’re either super bright and bubbly, or they’re chic and girl-crush. And I feel like I don’t fit either of those molds completely.”

Joon nodded. “You’re more… Elegant Rockstar.”

“Exactly!” Ruby exclaimed. “Like, imagine me in a TWICE concept—can you really see me in ‘Cheer Up’ or ‘TT’?”

Joon paused, picturing it. “…Yeah, no.”

Ruby laughed. “Right? I’d be that one member in the back looking confused, like, ‘Why am I doing finger hearts?’”

Brian snorted. “Okay, but ITZY is girl-crush. You don’t think you could’ve been in ITZY?”

Ruby tilted her head. “Maybe, but ITZY’s sound is very high-energy and bold—which I love—but my personal music style is a little darker, moodier. More R&B, more sultry. I feel like I’d be the odd one out.”

Joon nodded. “I get it. So it’s not that JYP is bad, it’s just not the right fit for you.”

“Exactly,” Ruby said. “Like, I can love a company’s artists and style without seeing myself in it, you know?”

Brian chuckled. “Fair. But now I need to know—how would JYP himself react if you told him this?”

Ruby gasped dramatically. “Oh my God, can you imagine? He’d probably be like, ‘Ruby, let’s do the JYP whisper test.’”

Brian cracked up. “If you had to do the ‘JYP’ whisper before every song, would you survive?”

Ruby shook her head, laughing. “Absolutely not. I’d be like, ‘Can we just… not?’”

Joon grinned. “Well, at least we know where you stand.”

Ruby raised her glass. “To finding the right place, even if it means turning down a JYP whisper.”

Brian set his drink down with a playful glint in his eye. “Alright, Ruby, that was fun, so let’s keep this going. Another round of Spill or Spice—you in?”

Ruby grinned, leaning forward. “Oh, absolutely. Hit me with it.”

Brian smirked. “Okay, let’s say you didn’t become an idol at all. No K-pop, no entertainment industry. What do you think you’d be doing right now?”

Ruby blinked, genuinely considering it. “Oof, that’s a hard one. Honestly? I think I’d be a vet or an animal rights lawyer.”

Joon’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, really? That’s a serious shift from being a global superstar.”

Ruby nodded. “Yes! Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been super passionate about animal rights. I became vegan at ten after watching that documentary, and it really stuck with me. If I weren’t making music, I’d probably be out there fighting for animal welfare full-time.”

Brian smiled. “Okay, I can totally see that. Like, ‘Attorney Ruby, defender of all things furry and feathered.’”

Ruby laughed. “Exactly! But I think I’d still find a way to be creative. Maybe I’d write books about it or make documentaries.”

Brian nodded. “Alright, next Spill or Spice—what if you had to be in a different generation of K-pop? You couldn’t debut when you did. Would you go first-gen, second-gen, or fourth-gen?”

Ruby thought for a moment before answering, “Second-gen, for sure.”

Joon clapped. “I knew you were gonna say that.”

Ruby giggled. “I mean, I grew up on second-gen groups! SHINee, 2PM, Super Junior, 2NE1, f(x), Girls’ Generation—those were my idols. The music, the fashion, the energy—it was so iconic.”

John smirked. “Okay, let’s take it further. If you had to debut in a second-gen group, which one would it be?”

Ruby gasped dramatically. “Oof, that’s a tough one! Okay, I’d say… f(x).”

Brian’s jaw dropped. “OHH, good answer! Why f(x)?”

Ruby smiled. “They were so unique! Their sound was experimental, their style was edgy, and they had this cool, artsy vibe. I feel like I would’ve fit right in with their concept.”

Joon nodded. “I could totally see you in ‘Electric Shock’ or ‘Red Light.’”

Brian grinned. “But wait, if you were in f(x), that means you wouldn’t be Ruby from SM now. Do you think you’d still be close with all your SM friends?”

Ruby gasped. “Oh no, the butterfly effect! Maybe I wouldn’t have met Taeyong or Johnny or Jaemin…”

Joon laughed. “Okay, okay, let’s not cause an existential crisis. Next question—what if you had to be in a boy group instead of a girl group or soloist? Which one would you pick?”

Ruby covered her mouth as she burst out laughing. “Oh my God, imagine me in Super Junior—I’d be so out of place!”

Brian grinned. “Come on, pick one!”

Ruby thought hard before finally saying, “SHINee.”

Joon’s eyes widened. “Ohh, you’re going for the legends.”

Ruby nodded, slightly blushing. “They’re one of my ultimate groups. Their vocals, their choreo, their stage presence—I would’ve thrived in SHINee. Plus, their music is just… so good.”

Brian smirked. “Okay, but you’d have to match their energy in performances. Could you keep up with Taemin’s dance skills?”

Ruby groaned, dramatically face-palming. “You just had to bring up Taemin.”

Brian laughed. “Ohhh, that’s right—you have a thing for him, don’t you?”

Ruby’s face turned red as she waved her hands. “I do not have a thing! I respect him as an artist!”

Brian and John exchanged knowing looks. “Suuure.”

Ruby sighed, shaking her head but laughing. “Moving on! Next question, please.”

Joon grinned. “Alright, what if you had to release a full English album tomorrow—what genre would it be?”

Ruby’s eyes lit up. “Ooooh, that’s a fun one! I’d go full R&B with a touch of rock.”

Brian nodded. “Nice. So, like, Tinashe meets Paramore?”

Ruby gasped. “Yes! That’s the vibe exactly.”

John smirked. “Alright, last one—what if you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive? Who are you choosing?”

Ruby took a deep breath. “The Beatles.”

Brian’s jaw dropped. “Ohh, you’re shooting high.”

Ruby grinned. “Of course! They're the kings of classic rock! Imagine performing with them—I’d lose my mind.”

Joon chuckled. “You’d be living your ultimate rockstar dream.”

Ruby nodded. “Exactly. I mean, if we’re dreaming big, might as well go all the way, right?”

Brian raised his glass. “To dreaming big.”

John and Ruby clinked their glasses with him. “To dreaming big.”

As the taping of Joon & Brian BYOB neared its end, the energy in the studio was electric. Ruby, who had been a radiant mix of charm, humor, and humility throughout the entire episode, had the staff laughing, cheering, and even a little teary-eyed with some heartfelt moments. Joon, ever the playful host, decided to finish on a light note, leaning in toward Ruby with a mischievous grin.

“So, Ruby,” he began, his voice teasing but warm, “Before we wrap up, we have a little surprise for you. You’ve been such a great sport today, so we thought we’d bring in something special.”

The lights dimmed momentarily, and the sound of a familiar song echoed through the studio. Ruby's eyes widened as the staff erupted into applause. Her favorite SHINee song, 1 of 1, began playing, and the camera zoomed in on her face, capturing her delighted reaction. A few members of her crew even started clapping along, adding to the atmosphere.

Joon’s smile was all too knowing. “I think you know exactly what this means, right?”

Ruby laughed nervously, her cheeks flushed. “I… I can’t believe you’re doing this. This is too much!”

She shook her head in disbelief, trying to contain her excitement. The screen behind her flashed an image of Lee Taemin, and the entire studio gasped, knowing her connection to him from past appearances. Ruby covered her face in playful embarrassment as the camera caught her blushing, much to the delight of the fans who had been following her every moment on the show.

Brian leaned back, clearly enjoying her reaction. “I think we all know that Taemin has quite the fan in this room,” he said with a wink, causing Ruby to laugh out loud.

As the segment came to a close, Brian stood up and handed Ruby a small, elegant gift box. “This is from us, as a thank you for being such an amazing guest. We’ve got your back for whatever comes next, Ruby!”

Ruby took the box, her hands trembling slightly from excitement. When she opened it, a delicate pendant necklace with a small heart-shaped charm sparkled in the light. Her eyes glistened with gratitude. She couldn’t believe how thoughtful it was.

“Thank you so much, sunbaenims! This is beautiful,” she said, touched beyond words.

“Of course!” Joon replied with a grin. “It’s a reminder that no matter how far you go, you’ll always have a place here with us at Joon & Brian BYOB.”

The staff cheered one last time as Ruby stood, smiling brightly. The camera zoomed in on her as she waved, sending a heart with her hands to the fans watching from home.

“Thank you for having me, Joon and Brian! This was so much fun!” Ruby said, her voice full of warmth.

The final shot of the show was a slow zoom-out, capturing Ruby waving goodbye as the lights of the studio flickered back to life. The cheerful music of 1 of 1 played once more, leaving a sweet, unforgettable end to a memorable episode.

Hello, everyone! How are you all doing? Hope you all are having a wonderful day!

I hope you all enjoy this one-shot. I decided to do something different for this week's one-shot since the poll is still active. If you haven't voted yet, please go vote; I want to make something you guys will enjoy reading. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I made a poll to see who you want Ruby to end up with. One option was to write alternative storylines for Ruby and Taemin and Ruby and Felix, and the other option was to write a storyline where Ruby and Felix end up together since he won the original poll. Please go and vote if you haven't; the poll ends in two days! The link will be below. Thank you all! See you all next week!

My works are not allowed for translation or reposting as your own without my permission.

[dwejjitokkl]

"About You"

Capa fanfic

Fandom: Super Junior (K-pop)

Personagens: Lee "Eunhyuk" Hyukjae

Artes por: -

Se inspirar, credite ❤︎

Inspirada na música "'Bout You" do Super Junior D&E

[nctzenism]

Here’s moi

Some fun facts about me..

• I have 7 cats

• I’ve been a kpop stan for almost 10 years

• My ult group is NCT ofc (yes the entire NCT)

• Oli London once wished me a happy new year

• I’m autistic and ADHD

• I’m from Kent U.K.

• I collect Xiaojun pcs

[kpop-locks]

꒰ ˀˀ ↷ donghae+jeno ; aesthetic ”♡ᵎ ꒱

like/reblog | @moodscreens

don’t repost our work or claim it as yours

[growingwithem]

Sooyoung & Eunhyuk ❤️‍🩹

[midsummersky]

“ Even though I was standing in the rain, I liked it Because they were traces you left behind Because longing is beautiful pain, I thought I could endure it ”

[luckee4]

[miramizar]

💛🍃 Happy birthday Jungsoo 🍃💛

✫ image credits: x ✫

Just like the artists of SM considers you to be irreplaceable, I consider you to be irreplaceable in my life, and I'll forever be thankful for meeting someone as hard working, responsible, dorky and sweet as you 💕 I wish you the best birthday possible, and you have my love and support today and all days~ 💗🎉💝

[shiroi-honoo]

Super Junior05 {x}

[laineybeeee]

[mylittleredgirl]

[and the rest of the post!]

...... but her circumstances have recently changed.

by cutting frank out of her life (both because she wants a future he's not offering and because she wants to punish him; i have plenty of thoughts about that too), she has eliminated her only source of friendly human contact. she and frank bonded over being hated by everyone else! they encouraged that in each other! but now... she’s all alone.

hawkeye is now in the business of making digs on frank's behalf, and that's another social avenue closed off. she was becoming friendly with both hawkeye and b.j. — they're the first people she told about her engagement! — but (largely because of how clueless and obnoxious she was in that episode) frank got the swamp rats in the divorce, so to speak.

so she's lonely to the point of distress, but she's so boxed-in by her inflexible belief in power structures and has been terrorizing everyone since we met her, so she can't easily walk that back without... abandoning her hold on those power structures long enough to apologize (which i noticed she doesn't do in this episode, but when in her whole life would she have ever seen an authority figure apologize?). and taking a cheese grater to her ego, because it's not like people are going to immediately embrace her, so she'll deal with rejection while she tries to change.

and what if they make fun of her to her face instead of behind her back — which is worse??

i find it telling that they call her 'hot lips' when she's not around — and i'm sure she knows they do. in the script, the act one tent scene is much longer, and the nurses debrief the O.R. shitshow and then drag margaret for a page and a half before she arrives:

and then on-screen, when mary jo tries to protect gaynor (the one on the top bunk with dark hair):

sorry for the gazillion caps; i swear this is actually the readers' digest version oh my god

having this episode right after "lt. radar o'reilly" is such a brilliant accident, because dear sweet radar just put words to the tragedy and loneliness of military success. radar was jealous of the officers in theory, but is so much happier back among the grunts, because it's better to take disrespect and abuse from above together than to take it from below while isolated and alone.

from season 5 "lt. radar o'reilly":

which is exactly what's happening here!! margaret has wanted this promotion all her life, but she probably didn't picture having it in the middle of nowhere. she has no family waiting at home for her at night, no peers she can relate to, not even a terrible boyfriend in her tent anymore. she barely knows her absent fiancé; would she dare send him an honest letter about her day that isn't all sunshine and idealized presentation?

so with all that, whether or not she deserves it, i love that the nurses offer her an olive branch at the end.

earlier, margaret started the professional reconciliation by finally allying herself with the nurses and protecting them in front of colonel potter. it's long overdue; up until now, we have only seen variations of the opening O.R. scene, where she criticizes them in public instead of rising to their defense. this part of their dynamic is entirely on her to mend — no one else can help her.

and then, later...

the nurses are far more emotionally aware than she is. this is the best possible move they could make — it defuses another potential standoff, and it's their way of thanking margaret for letting baker off the hook. it shouldn't have to be up to them to change the culture and improve their relationship with their supervisor, but they're honestly more capable of it. and it's very sweet how margaret immediately responds.

the nurses are all adult women who value their social connection with each other, and they recognize someone in distress who doesn't really know how to initiate kindness, and took a chance to show her. <3 <3

i hope this improves things for everyone! i think it will! and i definitely hope margaret thinks long and hard about all this, because if she lets it, it could really change her life.

tl;dr: poorly socialized feral cat domesticated by the mortifying ordeal of being known and one (1) cup of terrible army coffee.

[i reblogged the tumblr post where i found the script here.]

i know some of you have been pressing your faces to the glass waiting for me to see this one in particular SO i saw "the nurses" the other night and am still thinking about it!!

i love love love it when characters get pushed to a point where you can almost see their childhood selves pop out, like are they even talking about what's happening right now? or are their 12-year-old hearts just screaming?? i love that margaret's outburst is both irrational (the hostile work environment is coming from inside the house; i was yelling at my tv "baby it's your fault!!!") and so so honest.

[this turned into a bit of a character thesis, so not only is there a readmore, there will also be a reblog soon with the rest of the post because i maxed out the image limit!]

this whole time, margaret has treated her subordinates with a heavy hand because she thinks it's the right and fair thing to do. the rules say this is how it works!

she maintains a high standard of excellence in brutal circumstances, but she's also reactive, moody, and unforgiving. she's often shown on the edge of losing control and authority, she inflames situations by overreacting, and the thing she punishes most egregiously is disrespect (toward frank, toward the army, toward herself). she intentionally underlines the distance between herself and the other nurses at every turn.

from season 3 "there's nothing like a nurse": [all IDs in alt]

really, everything she thinks and does comes from a place of "they're not supposed to like me," but the childish part of her that is completely unable to see her own behavior is confused and hurt because "i'm just doing my job so why don’t they like me???"

it's her job to maintain discipline, but especially here in 4077-land, she doesn't have to lead with the whip. henry was beloved because he was an overly permissive clown, which will never be her speed, but colonel potter has all the same training as she does. he's loved and respected as the Good Regular Army Guy because he leads with discernment and mutual respect.

it's easier for him. he's more experienced, he's respected and supported from above and below, and he has a calm temperament — which isn't nothing.

from season 4 "the interview":

whether she's aware of this as a problem or not, we at home can see how margaret's inability to control her emotional reactivity causes her as much grief as her inability to control other people.

if she were capable of laughing off small slights, hawkeye and trapper wouldn't have used her as a chew toy so much, and henry might have taken her real concerns more seriously if they weren't lost in the noise of daily fits, you know? she rarely started it, so i'm not blaming her for the hostile chaos circus of seasons 1-3, but i am saying she would have had a better time if she knew how to take a few deep breaths.

this description from the script, after the near-brawl in the nurses' tent in act one, is basically her character thesis statement:

and here, when she's reacting fully emotionally, the truth comes out! the reason that she won't be flexible and show compassion to the nurses isn't because of the rules, but because they're mean to her!!

that's obviously a very bad place to lead from. she has enormous institutional power over them, including controlling their freedom of movement, but she feels like all the other girls in school are hanging out together and they hate her. because they are! and they do! the fight in act one boils over when they make fun of her hair, and that sent all of them back to middle school.

and in many ways, that's where margaret's emotional maturity is stuck (which is, i think, why i find her so endearing). she can't see herself. she knows they don't like her, trust her, or want her around, but she doesn't understand how she dug this hole herself, or how to get out of it.

to add insult to jealous injury, one of the nurses (mary jo, who gets between margaret and baker to stop the fight and takes care of the others in different ways) is margaret's age, and the others look to her as their chosen leader and personal support.

and i'm sure margaret had NO IDEA this was the messy truth until she heard it come out of her mouth.

and her emotionally breaking on the "one lousy cup of coffee" in particular…

i wonder, how often does some version of that first tent scene happen? does she deliver their assignments every night? she walks in already defensive, they immediately stop laughing, and then... she either finds a reason to scold them or they ice her out until she leaves. (and they probably start laughing again as soon as she does!)

from her perspective, when she arrived for the dreaded sleepover and they turned out the lights the minute she walked in, it's like they cancelled the nightly coffee klatch just to avoid spending one social minute with her.

i also think the nurses are right when they assumed that she wouldn't have accepted an invitation to hang out with them (and might even have snapped at them for being inappropriate for asking). she doesn't cross that emotional line, even when she should — she didn't know gaynor was spiraling after losing so many patients in a row, and didn't respond compassionately when she learned.

has she ever invited them for coffee or a friendly chat? no.

...... but her circumstances have recently changed.

[reblog coming soon with the rest of it!]

[andromedask]

SUPER JUNIOR-L.S.S. 조크든요 (JOKE) MV but it is 50x speed (슈퍼주니어-L.S.S. 💙)

[mv1simp]

Into You ♥️

Max Verstappen x Redbull Engineer! Reader

Oh baby, look what you've started, the temperature's rising and is this gonna happen? (Been waitin' and waitin' for you to make a move)

At 27, you've just been promoted to the role of Redbull's race engineer - a very impressive feat in motorsport for a young woman. There's just one issue though - you secretly had a massive crush on the driver you're meant to be guiding, Max Verstappen. Will you make it through the season before he catches on? (You hope so because goddamn, the HR team were a nightmare to deal with.)

Content includes: fluff, humour, Max and reader are simps for each other, sexual tension, pining, drunk confessions, 3.2k WC

Recently, you'd started having some issues at work. Okay, gun to your head, you'll admit it was more like a single issue - in the shape of a very attractive, 6 foot Dutch racing driver who occasionally had problems with anger management. Sure, it didn’t sound that bad, in fact, someone else would just sit back and enjoy the eye candy the F1 paddock provided! But to truly appreciate the full depth of your embarrassing problem, one needed to unpack all the lore behind it.

After graduating from a prestigious mechanical engineering master's program, you'd been ecstatic about getting to intern at Redbull's F1 racing team, department of aerodynamic design. You'd started working at the company at a very good time, because later that year, their top driver Max Verstappen claims his first WDC at age 24 - only 6 months your junior. A very impressive feat for such a young age - as you admire him from a distance in the garage workshop. And, super hot too, you thought cheekily, whoever wifed him up was sure to be a lucky woman.

Your own hard work hadn't gone unnoticed, and many higher-ups and sponsors alike were curious to see the team who had been behind the championship winning changes to the Redbull car. You'd risen very quickly in the ranks, from intern to permanent technical engineer and then last year to to the innovative research & development department, now involved directly with calling the big shots for what each version of the car would look like and coming face to face with Max for the first time in your career with Redbull.

Unlike the other drivers, Max was genuinely curious about your design process. The way he asked questions, thoughtfully listened to your long explanations and then would give you direct feedback about the exact issues he would have in the trial runs had made you flustered, especially from the full intensity of his blue eyes. No, seriously though, Shakespeare himself would have written poetry if he'd gazed into them. The TikTok creators certainly seem to agree, with all their ocean eyes edits. Not that you had any saved. Anyways, moving on-

You were on the quieter side but Max seemed to know just how to get through to you. It meant that your team had been able to design the most dominating car in F1 history - the RB23, and paired with Max Verstappen it was an unstoppable force, almost like you made it just for me, Max had said, smiling gorgeously at you like some GQ Sports model. You stared back at him incredulously, banana choc chip muffin halfway to your mouth, cause who the hell woke up looking like that, you two were wearing identical Redbull shirts but his looked like it had been personally tailored to fit that broad muscular chest and yours was giving oversized trash bag??

Honestly, you'd hoped that working in closer proximity would humanise him more and you'd lose this silly crush of yours the moment you saw him do some icky rich white boy move. Like maybe he’d donate to Donald Trump's anti vaccine campaign or say guys 🥺 Can’t go to Ibiza this weekend the yacht staff had an emergency, got caught in some Gulf war zone or something? Idk

But when he had knocked on your apartment door when you hadn't shown up to work in two days, and found you crying because your childhood dog had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer across the other side of the world and saying I’m sorry, I know it’s not that big of a deal, I’ll come back tomorrow I promise-

And instead of laughing like you’d expected, he’d cut you off, told you to pack a bag and then driven you all the way to his personal jet. You looked into his beautiful blue eyes while he earnestly begged you to use it so you could make it in time to say goodbye to your Arlo before your parents put him down tonight. And that’s when you realised you were doomed to be hopelessly in love with the younger man. (But also, you had a serious discussion with him about the extreme greenhouse gas emissions from private jet fuel use, we only had one planet, you would be happy to just fly first class instead-)

But when your mentor Newey announced his plans to leave Redbull this year, you had planned on following him - making the exec panic at the thought of losing two of their crucial engineers. They frantically thrown random promotions at you, praying one would stick - and Redbull twitter fans breathed a sigh of relief when you took interest in the role of race engineer and stayed in the company.

You'd been excited about becoming one of Checo's engineers, having trained under the current one for the last few months. But to your horror, one day you arrived on the paddock only to be promptly sat down at a meeting along with the two drivers and be informed that they'd had to switch some things around, GP had an emergency to attend and could you pretty please fill in for the role of Max's race engineer this weekend-

NOPE. You'd announced, standing up and slamming your hands on the table, then realising that might be a touch overdramatic as everyone questioningly looked at you. Why not? Christian Horner demanded suspiciously.

Um, because he's super hot, you fool?! How is a girl meant to focus with him whispering track feels really wet today in her headphones? Were the years of self control to just admire from a distance like a loser and not jeopardise your career just a joke to him?? You don’t blink as your boss stared you down, hoping he could pick up on the thoughts that you’re trying to telepathically communicate. The table remained silent, only interrupted by the noisy slurping of Checo's boba tea. You quickly changed tactics - well, Verstappen is the winning champion, he needs an engineer who has experience working alongside him during the race-

Alas, the object of your affections threw a well intended wrench in your escape plans by adding that you were the perfect person, then, since you'd worked together for years and understood his communication style. Unless - he paused, flashing those deadly baby blues at you - unless the issue is you don't want to work with me?

You'd lasted all of three seconds under his hurt gaze before admitting defeat and accepting the role, slumping down next to him and desperately praying you'd wake up a lesbian tomorrow morning. Max continued to sneak long glances at you through the meeting, leaning around you to grab a pen and then his phone and making you jump each time his strong arm wrapped around your small frame. Across the table, Checo thoughtfully chewed on his boba as he watched you two curiously. Ah, young love.

And to no one's surprise the pair of you had made a flawless team, you expertly guiding Max as your engineer instincts took over and him actually listening to your helpful instructions without his usual aggression over the radio. And so when GP announced that his 1 week emergency was now going to be a 6 month break, sorry! - it had been all too easy for Christian Horner to bestow the honour of being Max's primary engineer onto you.

So now, here you sat, before your 4th race with Max, grimly looking on with your chin propped onto interlaced fingers, preparing yourself for his deep, sexy voice that was going to be purring in your ears very soon. The very voice that had become a recurring theme in the dreams you'd been having lately, that and also how he would bite those thick lips of his when he'd stare at you, with his cute little freckle on his top lip-

Why do you look like you're about to go to war, your intern asks bluntly, putting an end to your illicit thoughts and delivering you your triple chocolate caramel frap. Because I am, you hissed, sculling the whole thing in one go. She smirked, leaning in conspiratorially. Was this to do with how categorically down bad you are for your precious Maxie?

You proceeded to inform her that if she ever brought up how you'd drunkedly referred to him that one time, you'd have no problem abusing your authority to shaft her on tire service duty for a week. She wisely chose to leave you be in peace, taking your empty cup as she went.

Taking some meditative breaths, you focus on thinking about unsexy things. Like the hydraulics system of the current car needing to be redesigned to better incorporate-

Your thoughts are cut off a second time as another cup is deposited in front of you, this time by none other than Max himself, who's thoughtfully brought you a triple chocolate caramel frap. You stutter out your thanks, not daring to touch more caffeine currently as you already had sweaty palpitations at the sight of him looking so big and muscled in his slutty tight fireproofs. Dear God, had he no shame? They needed to bring back the Victorian era and cover him up, he was going to distract everyone (mainly you.) He frowns slightly, leaning down to your height, and informs you that you didn't have to call him Verstappen, you know, Max is fine-

Wow. And then what would come next? Maxie? And then you asking him for his hand in marriage? No, no, absolutely not - you needed to maintain strict professional boundaries or risk him catching onto your massive crush and promptly be fired. You politely informed him that for the sake of public decorum and the rabid fangirls that were watching your every move as a young female engineer in proximity to their favourite drivers, that you would refer to him as Verstappen, or Mr. Verstappen if he preferred a more formal title?

He'd pouted those lush lips of his and reluctantly agreed that just Verstappen was okay, he supposed. But he much preferred hearing you call him Max, at least when there were no cameras around? What you had done in your past life to now be forced to resist such temptation, you would never know.

So the season went on, you two continuing to be a smashing success and a very popular internet pairing. Not that you'd been paying that much attention! Just a saved TikTok edit here and there of the time Max had called you schatje over the radio after blowing up about a tire malfunction. He’d then sweetly apologised the next lap when you remained unfazed and told him to sort his shit out, babes, Leclerc was right up his ass with a tire and DRS malfunction, yeah? (Twitter had gone crazy. Who knew Max Verstappen responded so well to a 5 foot, slightly older woman giving him orders over the team radio?! You’d instantly been accepted as a replacement for the beloved GP, original gentle domTM to the Dutch driver.)

And perhaps another saved edit of the time he had protectively held you in those big, strong arms of his, guiding your tiny figure through a massive media-frenzied crowd and whispered reassurances in your ear when you couldn’t breathe properly. Or the time he’d bitten a reporter’s head off with the ferocity of a lion after he suggested that as the first female race engineer, you’d acquired your new job through your…feminine wiles.

And maybe just one of when the PR team had made you do one of those ridiculous hot lap videos with him after seeing the online response, and he'd laughed as you screamed out of fear for your life when he cruised at a cool 200km/hr. The aftermath had been brutal, as you weakly stumble out and almost fall flat on your face, only for him to easily pick you up, carrying you bridal style back towards the garage (Truly, this right here was proof God sent his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.)

Nearing the end of the 6 month stint, when GP was due back in to resume his role as Max's race engineer, the Redbull team had decided to take a well deserved weekend trip to Verona, Italy. You’d suspiciously looked at your intern, asking why she’d selected the romantic setting of Romeo & Juliet of all places, to which she replied that just cause you’d chosen to cockblock yourself for eternity with a crush on your coworker the millionaire F1 driver, didn’t mean the rest of them couldn’t get some. Valid point, so you shut up.

So now, here you are, sitting in a romantically lit corner of a cute Italian vineyard with a small group from the engineering division, sloshed after a bottle of red wine and asking them be real, be real, you're telling me none of you have been checked out Max's ass in his fireproofs? Lies.

Across the courtyard, Lando is currently extremely unimpressed with his good friend, 3 time Championship winning, and general terror on the track Max Verstappen. That is because said friend has decided, rather pathetically, to lie on the cobblestone and drunkedly ask the stars why fate was so cruel. Seriously mate, Lando sighs, all this over a silly insta post?

Excuse you, it’s not just any insta post! Max had protested, baby tears in his eyes and face flushed from the four G&Ts he’d drunk. Pulling out his phone, he shows Lando the damning evidence of the pictures you'd uploaded from the group trip with your engineering friends. Look. LOOK. His arm is around her and she used a Lana Del Ray lyric in the caption. Do you have any idea what this means?

The Brit has to resist rolling his eyes at the melodrama unfolding in front of him. The Dutchman continues, never one to miss a chance to maxplain - as he details how it had taken him a a whole 2 months to get him to call you by his first name, and then another 2 months before you'd told him your favourite song was Summertime Sadness, and that even now if he hugged you to celebrate a win you would look like you were about to throw up and furiously speed walk away.

Lando is seriously regretting tagging along to the Redbull trip instead of Carlos's invitation to Mallorca. It was bad enough that the whole train ride Max had been on the phone begging GP to take another 6 month break so that you'd continue to be his engineer, but Lando has had his limit with this simpy pining. Taking his phone out as the maxplaining continued in the background, he shoots a text to your intern, who immediately replies, and within minutes the pair of them have hatched a conniving plan to dump you lovesick fools together while the rest of them make their way into town.

And that’s how you and Max find yourself locked inside the upstairs wine cellar, having been separately tricked with various promises from your scheming friends - only to hear the door click behind you and turn to find each other. It's very romantic and all, soft candlelight and bottles of luxurious Italian wine and a shining full moon visible from the terracotta balcony. Someone had even generously left a speaker in the courtyard, with Lana Del Ray's melodic voice rising upto the second floor. Basically, the worst nightmare for your self control as you prayed for inner strength and avoid looking into Max's dreamy blue eyes. This was definitely some twisted beyond the grave revenge from Shakespeare for you saying he'd write poetry about a F1 driver’s eyes.

Max, though, is all too happy to come right over to you with another freshly opened bottle of wine, drunk and flushed and having zero inhibitions about pulling you into his warm side with a strong arm. You're too buzzed to resist, letting yourself fall against his chest to hear his soothing heartbeat and rest a palm against his hard abs, just this once (The real thing was even better than what you'd imagined.)

You're both laughing and giggling then, hearts full, reminiscing about the season together, the inside jokes on the radio, the side eyes to each other when Horner got too wound up at a meeting, and oh did you hear that the McLaren tireboy was hooking up with the Mercedes oilchecker?

And then your eyes meet his and your homegirl Lana starts singing dear lord when I get to heaven, please let me bring my man (real) and Max is softly brushing your cheek, leaning down as your heated gazes flit to each other's lips-

NOPE! you force yourself to declare, dramatically leaving his arms and contemplating if you could land the jump from the 2nd floor balcony. The Italian wine has made Max demanding though, as he doesn't let you go, grabbing your hand to pull you back like he was Anthony goddamn Bridgerton and wanting to know Why not, was he just imagining the chemistry, did you not find him hot or?

You'd gaped at him. Not hot? Apparently the Italian wine had gotten to you too because you didn't hold back, launching into a tirade of how no, Max, the issue was actually that he was too hot for his own good and did he even know how unfair it had been to be his engineer, pure torture really, you were sure the American military would be adding it to their interrogation tactics. As if it hadn't been bad enough to crush on him from a distance for years but then have to resist falling for him every time you saw him? So, no, you couldn't just give him a casual drunk kiss because you were in love with him!

Max stares at you, initially smug that you apparently found him so irresistibly good looking, but now completely bewildered when you finished ranting. You think - he swallowed. You think that this is just casual? Cause I- cause I'm drunk?

At your nod, he launches into his own maxplaination, brows furrowed, demanding to know how on earth you could think it was just casual, what about when he diligently showed up to every meeting with a banana choc muffin and caramel frappe and his hoodie for you to wear on the chilly mornings, or when he brought two Lana Del Ray VIP tickets the very same day you'd told him you liked her, or when he'd literally called you darling in Dutch over the team radio for the whole world to hear, or how he even sold his private jet and only jetpooled with the others since you told him off?! Seriously, even that old crone Helmut had asked him when you two were going to hard launch!

Your doe eyes go wider and wider at each statement, a pretty flush taking over your own face as your mind boggles at the realisation that apparently, the love of your life felt just as deeply about you. Stuttering, you try to formulate a reply - only to come up with Oh, well, I, uh - you sold your jet? For me?

Max rolls his eyes, but there's nothing except pure adoration on his face as he pulls you back into his warm chest, grinning down at you when you eagerly wrap your arms around his broad shoulders. Yes, schat, he murmurs gently, the cutest blush painting his cheeks. Because I love you, too. And this time you don't pull away when he finally, finally leans down and meets your lips in a passionate kiss, enjoying the sweet moans he draws out of you as he showcases his numerous talents off the track.

Somewhere, in the middle of a Verona nightclub, your intern gives Lando Norris a firm handshake. Pleasure doing business with you.

_____________________________________________

A/N: A lil sweet fluff for me, this is actually my first fluff piece i think ahaha i've only written like 8 smut pieces in a row!! Hope you enjoyed 💖 and PS thank you ALL for the requests you’ve been sending, been getting them and will work thru them just have a few projects I’m cookin up for u guys hehe xx

[blighted-lights]

Could you draw Shockwave holding a baby ravage 🥺

SO. this ask reminded me of an old fic idea i had and i got super invested in it, so have TWO sketches, actually <3 and potentially more to come if i decide to come back to this idea. to sum it up quickly; shockwave cloned ravage after the original ravage died, and thus, baby ravage was made! ravage part 2, if you will. ravage junior.

and a bonus! (EDIT: went a bit more into detail about this au here!)