#who will martin-chan choose

[g00se-ars0nist]

[unseenacademic]

💕 What is your favorite fic that you’ve written?

🎬 If a movie or show were based on your fic, which fic would you choose and who would you fancast?

🎨 If someone were to make fanart of your work, what fic or scene would you hope to see?

💕 What is your favorite fic that you’ve written? It's hard to decide, but I have to go with Breathe. It's a post-ep for Dead Irish Writers, where I tried to imagine what Abbey Bartlet was thinking right before her hearing before the New Hampshire Medical Board when she agreed to forfeit her medical license. DIW is my favorite episode and it's also the last episode of S3 where we see Abbey, so sadly, we don't see the immediate consequences of her decision in the show. And the sexism! The show does a great job portraying the casual sexism which is still very present in the way the first ladies are treated, compared to the presidents (whether it's intentional or not is another discussion entirely) so I had to write something about Abbey dealing with the pressure and sexism, professionally and privately.

🎬 If a movie or show were based on your fic, which fic would you choose and who would you fancast? Oh this is a difficult one... probably White Christmas, my only fic (to date) where all main characters appear. I wouldn't accept anyone other than the original cast playing the characters, I'd love to see Brad Whitford slipping on the stairs and Stockard Channing and Martin Sheen quoting Robert Frost at each other. There's another fic I'm working on, which is almost finished, Anything Else I Need to Know (I hope I'll post it in the next couple of days) and now I can't stop laughing imagining two amazing octogenarians, Martin and Stockard, being horny for each other and the middle-aged staffers being traumatized after seeing something they shouldn't have 😂😅 what an idea for the reunion! 😂😂😂😂

🎨 If someone were to make fanart of your work, what fic or scene would you hope to see? Oh, wow! Don't think that's very likely to happen lol but I'd like to see fanart of the ending of And Something for Us to Remember too, with the sunset and the vineyard... there's also a scene from another one of my WIPs with young Jed and Abbey stuck on a Ferris wheel...

Thank you, friend! 💜💜

[amn1ty]

Then the X-Files being

Looking like some kind of blue-green Jackie Chan with Isabella Rossellini lips

And breath that reeked of vanilla Chig Champa

Did a slo-mo Matrix descent out of the butt-end of the banana vessel

And hovered above my bug-eyes, my gaping jaw

My sweaty L. Ron Hubbard upper lip and all I could think was

"I hope Uncle Martin here doesn't notice that I pissed my fucking pants!"

So light in his way, like an apparition

He had me crying out

"Fuck me, it's gotta be The Deadhead Chemistry

The blotter got right on top of me

Got me seeing E-motherfucking-T!"

And after calming me down with some

Orange slices and some fetal spooning

E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose

He said, "You are The Chosen One

The One who will deliver the message

A message of hope for those who choose to hear it

And a warning for those who do not"

Me, The Chosen One? They chose me!

And I didn't graduate from fuckin' high school

[luxebanana]

Bernd and the mystery of unteralterbach scenes

Bernd and the mystery of unteralterbach scenes full#

Bernd and the mystery of unteralterbach scenes tv#

This little Ukrainian can be always seen on many imageboards.ĭon't call me cpt. Laura Belanova is based on a really popular among pedophiles Candydoll model, Laura B. Her father, Martin, was fighting all the pedos hard. Was and remains very famous on many pedo and normal chans (there were lots of boards dedicated to her, but Dutch police took most of them down, but /mara/ on infinite is still up). Maja Grünzeug is based on Mara Groenstege (aka Mara Green), a Dutch girl that all pedos love. Ursula von der Leine = en. /wiki /Ursula_von_der_Leyen Til Geiger is based on Til Schweiger, a german actor but not very appreciated among the germans Mauss is based on Jörg Thauss a former member of the german parlament who had cp on his computer (for reasearch he claimed) He has a history with krautchan and betrayed Bernd for some money. Trollbo is based on Sascha Lobo, a german journalist, blogger and internet retard Jürgen Ziege is based on Jörg Zierke, head of the german Federal Police BKA. She is Germany's most notorious and ugliest feminist and publishes EMMA, a feminazi magazine.

Bernd and the mystery of unteralterbach scenes tv#

Steffi von Guttenberg had a TV show to hunt pedophiles in the internet (Tatort Internet)ĭe. /wiki /Stephanie_zu_Guttenberg The Schlechtenthals (german for BadValley)īased on the von Guttenbergs (german for GoodMountain) some characters are based on real people: Socially awkward 24-year-old neet Bernd Lauert starts a new life in the small mountain town of Unteralterbach. lauern means "to lurk", lauert means "lurks", so Bernd Lauert can be loosely translated to Bernd Lurker (or user Lurker, which sounds really gay if you want me to be honest), The story takes place in present-day Bavaria. It has lots of referrences to German politics, memes and child "models".

Bernd and the mystery of unteralterbach scenes full#

The game is full of absurd and absolutely retarded humor. You can choose between a milf or a loli way. He's mission is, supposedly, to hunt pedophiles. BerndSoft 165 days ago (+3) sneaky sneaky. It's later revealed that it's actually the BKA - a German version of FBI. I love this game, with no doubts, the best ero visual novel ever made, the jokes are insane, the scenes even more I am very happy that ye still working on this, (I am still waiting for the second part where alien lolis appears lol) Reply. He's offered a job at Federal Office for the Implementation of Oktoberfest. He's forced to move from a big German city to a small Bavarian town named Unteralterbach. He is forced to take a job at a local police station to help with the investigation of a gang of sex offenders. Socially awkward 24-year-old NEET Bernd Lauert starts a new life in the small mountain town of Unteralterbach. It tells a story about Bernd, a 24 lvl NEET virgin. Bernd and the Mystery of Unteralterbach The story takes place in present-day Bavaria. Bernd and the Mystery of Unteralterbach is a visual novel game created on krautchan.

[menonassociates]

Chermside Accountants

Choosing the best accountant is crucial for your business. It is important to find an accountant who has experience with your industry and can offer expert advice. They can help you navigate the complicated tax laws and ensure your company is compliant.

Martin has had various financial Management and control roles including as the Finance Manager of Chermside Day Hospital until its sale to Cura Day Hospital group in 2012. He is Xero Advisor and has assisted a number of clients with their implementation of cloud-based systems.

Accounting

Chermside Accountants have a reputation for providing high quality accounting services at an affordable price. They offer a range of accounting services to businesses in the local area, including bookkeeping, GST returns, and income tax return preparation. They also help businesses with the implementation of cloudbased accounting systems. They are well-known for their honest and open communication with clients.

Success Tax Professionals Chermside Accountants is located at 1/19 Thomas Street in Chermside and is led by Eva Chan, CPA Australia accredited and Master of Business (Accountancy) graduate. She is a certified Xero advisor and is skilled in helping businesses implement cloud-based accounting systems. She and her team serve clients in Stafford Heights, Aspley, Geebung, Wavell Heights, and surrounding areas.

Xero is a beautiful online accounting software that integrates with many other apps to boost small businesses. It is available for a variety of industries, and Success Tax Professionals Chermside & CARESeldine can help you choose the right apps to boost your business. They can also help you connect your bank accounts and streamline payments through Xero.

Auditing

Located at Shop 1/19 Thomas Street, Chermside, Success Tax Professionals is an accounting firm that offers a wide range of services to individuals and businesses. Their staff specialises in personal and business tax returns, financial statements, and bookkeeping. They also provide advice and strategies for small business owners. They are a CPA-accredited firm that is committed to providing exceptional customer service.

Felicia is a Chartered Accountant with an auditing background. She has a strong understanding of financial statement and auditing matters and works closely with clients to ensure their books are up-to-date. She is also a Xero certified advisor and has helped many clients implement the cloud-based system.

Located on Gympie Road, the ITP Chermside team provides year-round tax support to local businesses. They serve a diverse client base, including small businesses and professionals. They offer services for a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, and property development. They are also experienced in working with a range of banks.

Taxation

Chermside Accountants is an accounting firm in Queensland that offers a variety of services, including taxation. Its team of experienced accountants is well versed in all things tax and has the expertise to help you navigate complex business structures. They also offer expert advice on payroll and bookkeeping.

The firm’s principal is Eva Chan, who is a CPA. She has extensive experience in a range of industries, and is known for her honest communication. She’s also a

certified Xero advisor, which allows her to connect with clients through their online accounting software.

Willie Tun is a qualified accountant with over 10 years of experience. He works with a wide range of clients, from individual taxpayers to established small businesses. He helps them discover the right solution by simplifying jargon and reducing complexities. He also helps them choose the best apps to boost their business performance. His passion for his work has made him a popular choice among locals.

Budgeting

Accountants help management implement due diligence control measures to ensure adherence to the company’s financial goals. They also analyse the actual results and compare them to the budgeted figures to identify deviations and understand their causes. They provide valuable insights that help managers make informed decisions to enhance profitability and grow the business.

Accountants evaluate past performance and current market trends to set realistic revenue projections. They also assess the cost behaviour of variable expenses and look for opportunities to optimise costs without affecting productivity. They also create reserves for unforeseen events and contingencies.

Accountants communicate with department heads and other stakeholders to share budget information and discuss the impact of various scenarios. They also support the budget process by educating employees about financial reporting and best practices. They ensure that they are updated on the latest accounting rules and regulations to maintain compliance with regulatory standards. They also stay up-todate on industry trends and benchmarks to inform their analyses.

[human-antithesis]

Rosetta Stoned

Alright then, picture this if you will: 10 to 2 AM, X, Yogi DMT, and a box of Krispy Kremes, in my "need to know" pose, just outside of Area 51. Contemplating the whole "chosen people" thing with just a flaming stealth banana split the sky like one would hope but never really expect to see in a place like this. Cutting right angle donuts on a dime and stopping right at my Birkenstocks, and me yelping… Holy fucking shit!

Then the X-Files being, looking like some kind of blue-green Jackie Chan with Isabella Rossellini lips and breath that reeked of vanilla Chig Champa, Did a slow-mo Matrix descent out of the butt end of the banana vessel and hovered above my bug-eyes, my gaping jaw, and my sweaty L. Ron Hubbard upper lip and all I could think was: "I hope Uncle Martin here doesn't notice that I pissed my fuckin' pants."

So light in his way, Like an apparition, He had me crying out, "Fuck me. It's gotta be Deadhead Chemistry. The blotter got right on top of me. Got me seein' E-motherfuckin'-T!"

And after calming me down with some orange slices and some fetal spooning, E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose. He said, "You are the Chosen One, the One who will deliver the message. A message of hope for those who choose to hear it and a warning for those who do not." Me. The Chosen One? They chose me! And I didn't even graduate from fuckin' high school.

You'd better… You'd better… You'd better… You'd better listen

Then he looked right through me With somniferous almond eyes. Don't even know what that means Must remember to write it down. This is so real. Like the time Dave floated away. See my heart is pounding, 'Cause this shit never happens to me.

Can't breathe, right now! It was so real. Like I woke up in Wonderland. All sort of terrifying. I don't wanna be all alone when I tell this story. And can anyone tell me why You all sound like Peanuts parents Will I ever be coming down? This is so real. Finally it's my lucky day. See my heart is racing, 'Cause this shit never happens to me.

Can't breathe, right now!

You believe me, don't you? Please believe what I just said, see the Dead ain't touring. And this wasn't all in my head. See they took me by the hand and invited me right in, Then they showed me something. I don't even know where to begin.

Strapped down my bed. Feet cold and eyes red. I'm out my head. Am I alive, am I dead? Can't remember what they said. God damn. Shit the bed!

High… I I I I I… high… I I I I I High [Repeated]

Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position. Such a heavy burden now to be the one. Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending To write it down for all the world to see. But I forgot my pen, Shit the bed again, Typical.

Strapped down my bed. Feet cold and eyes red. I'm out my head. Am I alive, am I dead? Sunkist and Sudafed, Gyroscopes and infrared. Won't help, brain dead. Can't remember what they said. God damn. Shit the bed!

I can't remember what they said to me. Can't remember what they said to make me out to be a hero! Can't remember what they said.

Bob help me. Can't remember what they said.

Don't know. Won't know. [Repeated]

God damn. Shit the bed!

[thehungrykat1]

My Country House Tagaytay is the Newest Dining Destination Down South

There’s a new dining destination in Tagaytay that is surely worth the long drive. My Country House Tagaytay is a charming new restaurant inspired by the beautiful countryside escapes and rural homes on hills and ridges outside of the world’s most loved culinary destinations. The Hungry Kat went on a short trip down south to have lunch at this new venue and I really enjoyed their family-style “heritage classic” cuisine served in a relaxing and lovely garden environment.

My Country House opened its doors just last month at 115 Pulong Sagingan Street, Maitim 2nd West in Tagaytay City. It is easily accessible from the main Aguinaldo Highway and can be found using Google Maps or Waze. It is actually just a stone’s throw away from its sister establishment Farmer’s Table from Raintree Restaurants which has been very popular ever since it opened in 2021. They are open daily from 7:00am to 10:00pm and they have an exclusive secured parking area just in front of their gate so parking is no problem.

My Country House Tagaytay is Raintree Restaurants’ newest al fresco restaurant, bar, and events venue located in a beautiful countryside house and garden with lush greenery. The place used to be a family rest house which has now been converted into this lovely restaurant. You could already feel the warmth and homey ambiance as you enter the reception area.

The main dining hall occupies a spacious al fresco area with fresh air and natural light coming from the gardens and pond. You can find plenty of family-style seatings as they cater mostly to friends and families trekking to Tagaytay for a relaxing break.

Our group of media guests occupied this long table facing the pond. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with good food and lovely conversations in a very cozy and colorful setting.

There’s plenty of areas to choose from at My Country House, including these sofas and tables closer to the gardens. There’s also a bar area for those who prefer to sit up close with their beverages.

My Country House has a farm-to-table dining concept where your vegetables are harvested fresh, livestock is raised with care and love, all from your favorite local farmers. Freshly-baked bread is shared with family and friends over recipes that have been passed from generation to generation.

I saw these cute trio of American Silkie chickens named Ike, Tina and Gonzo walking around at the garden. I have never seen chicken as cute and furry as these three! My Country House is pet and animal-friendly so you can also bring along your beloved pets to join you in Tagaytay.

There’s also a small boutique inside the restaurant selling health and wellness items such as these aromatic oils. I actually bought a couple of bottles for myself.

We were hosted that afternoon by Raintree Hospitality Group Vice President Martin Wisniewski who joined us at the table for a bountiful lunch featuring My Country House’s specialties. The restaurant just opened last month but they have already attracted a lot of excited guests. To differentiate it from its next door neighbor Farmer’s Table, My Country House will be featuring a more celebratory menu highlighted by dishes we often encounter during big parties or holiday dinners at home.

I was joined by Ms. Gwen Jacinto who handles public relations for the company, as well as Raintree Hospitality Corporate Chef Kalel Chan. We were ready to sample the family-style "heritage classic" cuisine featuring healthy appetizers, homemade pastas, sizzling paellas, and grilled steaks for sharing.

I started by ordering one of their Smooth Blends, the Jolly Green Monster (P295). This healthy shake comes with a combination of mango, spinach, kale, lychees, coconut water, and passionfruit essence. It was quite refreshing and I could immediately feel the energy boost. They also have unique fruity cocktails like the Dragon Blood (P320) with its fresh pink dragonfruit and lychees blended with rum and lychee juice.

For our appetizers, we first had the Cheese Gougères (P350) with its delightful parmesan and basil cheese puffs stuffed with cream cheese.

The Miso Bagna Cauda (P395) is a healthier option as it comes with farm fresh vegetables that you can dip inside a miso butter anchovy fondue. These vegetables are harvested fresh from the local farmers, with some items actually coming from My Country House's own gardens.

I really like foie gras so the Seared Foie Gras Canapés (P575) was my favorite appetizer. These juicy duck liver are served on top of sourdough crisps and comes with fig jam, pineapple preserves, and sweet calvados apple relish.

The Burrata & Beets (P550) is another colorful starter with its buratta cheese served together with roasted sweet beets, fresh dalandan bits, fresh dill and mint, cucumbers, and roasted pistachios.

For those who really love salads, order their Tableside Kale & Romaine Caesar Salad (P325 per pax). The server will set up and prepare your salad right beside your table so you can watch them combine all these fresh ingredients which include anchovies, egg yolk, capers, minced fresh garlic, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, white wine vinegar, and fresh basil topped with housemade cheese crusts.

We also got to try the Truffled Mushroom & Cheese Capelletti (P650). These are house-made spinach mushroom dumplings with three kinds of mushrooms and cream topped with pecorino.

For our main courses, we started with the Country Chicken Relleno (P995), a festive dish that is usually served at home during the holidays. This is a sliced half chicken stuffed with olives, pimientas, sausage and spices, served with chicken au jus.

My favorite dish that afternoon would probably be the Lengua Estofado (P795). This is a slow-braised ox tongue topped with wild mushrooms, Spanish chorizo, Spanish green olives, and potatoes topped with crispy jamon serrano. Instead of the usual thin slice of lengua, this one has thicker cuts of ox tongue which makes it look more like a creamy beef calderata. I do not usually like eating lengua but this dish made me change my opinions because it was so good.

Another popular dish that afternoon was the Chef's Famous Melting Salmon (P795). This is the softest, melt-in-your-mouth salmon fillet I have ever encountered! The fish is cooked in very low heat for a long period to make it that tender. It also served with asian herb relish plus red and white miso.

There’s also the Saffron Seafood Paella (P1100) with its medley of prawns, mussels, squid, Toscana peppers, haricot verts and fresh lemon. This is a great dish to fill up our plates and it goes well with all the other dishes that were served.

The highlight of any meal is of course, the steak! My Country House offers its Steak To Share (P5500), an 800-gram 21-day dry-aged bone-in US Angus rib-eye steak which can satisfy the entire table. All their steaks come with garlic confit and roasted tomato topped with Maldon Salt.

The steak is served with a choice of two sauces from tarragon béarnaise, merlot bordelaise, or truffled mushroom gravy. It also comes with a choice of two sides - potato gratin, creamy potato purée, creamed spinach or miso butter glazed carrots. You can also add 30g of foie gras for P495.

For desserts, we had a warm bowl of Classic Dark Chocolate & Pistachio Soufflé (P595) as well as the Tropical Fresh Fruit Bowl (P395) to end their delightful lineup of specialties.

My Country House Tagaytay is truly one of the best places to visit for those who are planning a road trip to Tagaytay. The charming and refreshing garden ambiance coupled with their extensive lineup of healthy and celebratory dishes makes it a worthwhile destintation for families and friends any day of the week. Come visit My Country House now while they are not yet too crowded, because I’m sure they will be the new talk of the town very soon.

My Country House Tagaytay

115 Pulong Sagingan Street, Maitim 2nd West, Tagaytay City

(0917) 875-1154

www.raintreehospitality.net/mycountryhouse

www.facebook.com/raintreemycountryhouseph

[hellkat808]

Tool – Rosetta Stoned @tool https://genius.com/Tool-rosetta-stoned-lyrics

[Intro]

Alrighty, then

Picture this if you will

[Verse 1]

10 to 2 AM, X, Yogi DMT, and a box of Krispy Kremes

In my "need to know" pose, just outside of Area 51

Contemplating the whole "chosen people" thingy

When just then a flaming stealth banana split the sky

Like one would hope but never really expect to see in a place like this

Cutting right angle donuts on a dime

And stopping right at my Birkenstocks

And me yelping, "holy fucking shit"

Holy fucking shit

Holy fucking shit

Holy fucking shit

Holy fucking shit

Holy fucking shit

Holy fucking shit

[Verse 2]

Then the X-File being

Looking like some kind of blue-green Jackie Chan

With Isabella Rossellini lips, and breath that reeked of

Vanilla Chig Champa

Did a slow-mo Matrix descent

Outta the butt end of the banana vessel

And hovered above my bug-eyes, my gaping jaw

And my sweaty L. Ron Hubbard upper lip

And all I could think was

"I hope Uncle Martin here doesn't notice

That I pissed my fuckin' pants"

[Verse 3]

So light in his way, like an apparition, that

He had me crying out

"Fuck me, it's gotta be

The Deadhead Chemistry

The blotter got right on top of me

Got me seein' E-motherfuckin'-T"

[Verse 4]

And after calming me down

With some orange slices

And some fetal spooning

E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose

He said, "You are the chosen one

The one who will deliver the message

A message of hope for those who choose to hear it

And a warning for those who do not"

Me, the chosen one

They chose me

And I didn't even graduate from fuckin' high school

[Refrain]

You'd better

You'd better

You'd better

You'd better listen

[Verse 5]

Then he looked right through me

With somniferous almond eyes

Don't even know what that means

Must remember to write it down

This is so real

Like the time Dave floated away

See, my heart is pounding

'Cause this shit never happens to me

[Verse 6]

I can't breathe right now

It was so real

Like I woke up in Wonderland

All sorta terrifying

I don't wanna be all alone

While I tell this story

And can anyone tell me why

You all sound like Peanuts parents?

Will I ever be coming down?

This is so real

Finally, it's my lucky day

See, my heart is racing

'Cause this shit never happens to me

[Verse 7]

I can't breathe right now

You believe me, don't you?

Please believe what I've just said

See the Dead ain't touring

And this wasn't all in my head

See, they took me by the hand

And invited me right in

Then they showed me something

I don't even know where to begin

[Chorus]

Strapped down to my bed

Feet cold and eyes red

I'm out of my head

Am I alive? Am I dead?

Can't remember what they said

God damn, shit the bed

[Bridge]

Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position

Such a heavy burden now to be the one

Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending

To write it down for all the world to see

But I forgot my pen

Shit the bed again

Typical

[Chorus]

Strapped down to my bed

Feet cold and eyes red

I'm out of my head

Am I alive? Am I dead?

Sunkist and Sudafed

Gyroscopes and infrared

Won't help, I'm brain dead

Can't remember what they said

God damn, shit the bed

[Verse 8]

I can't remember what they said to me

Can't remember what they said to make me out to be the hero

Can't remember what they said

Bob help me

Can't remember what they said

[Outro]

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

Don't know, won't know

God damn, shit the bed

[ocw-archive]

Owen Wilson by Sheryl Crow - Interview Magazine, May 2000

Everyone's about to be ape over this laugh-making, risk-taking performer Sheryl Crow: You recently finished shooting Shanghai Noon with Jackie Chan. You had to ride a horse in that movie quite a bit. Did you learn how to ride on Armageddon [1998]? Owen Wilson: I was on a barrel in Armageddon. They shot a guy on a horse in Arizona or somewhere while I was probably drinking a smoothie in Los Angeles. It was so embarrassing. They didn't even have me on a soundstage. Because they needed to get the sky, they had me out in the middle of the parking lot on a barrel that they kind of moved, with a fan blowing into my face.

SC: [Laughs] OK. Well, how was it working with Jackie Chan? OW: It's a buddy film, so we met before we started filming to try to develop some chemistry. It was a joke, the meeting. I don't think we said five words to each other. It seemed like there was a bid language barrier and, beyond that, maybe even a personality barrier. Then when we got on the set, he could not have been a better guy. He was really fun to act with. You would think that he could get away with being a jerk if he felt like it, and instead he was probably the hardest working person. SC: Well, here's something I've noticed about you: You have a cult following ... The day we were walking around the Boston commons, so many people were coming up who knew you from Bottle Rocket [1996] and Rushmore [1998], both of which you cowrote, and just everything that you've been in. OW: It's nice to have someone come up and mention Bottle Rocket. That was the first thing that I wrote with my friend Wes Anderson, and he directed it, my two brothers were in it with me, and we filmed it in Dallas, where I grew up - so there's a lot of personal stuff. Hardly any people say it when it came out in theaters, but then it got a second or third chance on cable and video. If somebody comes up and compliments me on Armageddon or Anaconda [1997] [laughs], it's nice, but it's not really the same. SC: Although they probably got two thumbs-up OW: I know. That drives me insane that movies that are personal, independent-spirit, hand-crafted movies, such as Rushmore, get thumbs-down, and then Anaconda and The Haunting [1999] get thumbs-up. I can live to be a hundred, and I'll never understand it. But it was a nice vindication when [Roger] Ebert had [Martin] Scorsese on his show the other day, and Scorsese said Bottle Rocket was one of his top ten favorite movies of the decade. Scorsese is the person Wes and I talked about the most when we were classmates in college. To have him say that about this movie - which was on of the worst-testing movies in Columbia's history, or at least so they told us, and which literally made only a couple hundred thousand dollars when it initially came out - makes you feel good. SC: One of the things that I think is interesting about Bottle Rocket and Rushmore is the strident naivete with which you perceive life; all the characters seem to have this innocence. How are you able to maintain that when you live in L.A. and work in an industry that likes to make films steeped in cynicism? OW: I don't know. When we first sat down to work on Bottle Rocket we wanted to do a Mean Streets-type movie, a real gritty street movie. But we obviously went in a different direction. I don't know that we set out with any intention to do something that's a reaction against the cynicism. I think it was more when Wes and I would get together, those were the things that made us laugh or that we responded to. SC: What's the best part, for you, of your work? OW: I was reading some Bob Dylan interview where he said, "It bests nine-to-five. It beat it yesterday, it beats it today, and it will beat it tomorrow." That's how I feel, I just thank God that I'm able to make a living doing something that I can have a good time doing, and be creative. SC: How do you feel about being photographed with a monkey? OW: At first I was bummed out, like, Why did they choose a monkey for me? Why not a dog, or a lion? It's wasn't just a cute little chimp; it was an orangutan. It was the most insulting monkey of all! You know that image of Reagan, where whenever anybody would make fun of him being an idiot, they'd show him with the monkey crawling on his head? I thought that's what would happen to me. But then they had two other people they were taking pictures of with monkeys, so I didn't feel singled out. You've got to admit, out of Clint Eastwood's movies, those are maybe his ... SC: Finest. OW: I wouldn't say his finest, but Every Which Way but Loose [1978], Any Which Way You Can [1980]: That monkey climbed. SC: A memorable series. Did you have any moments where you felt like you

connected with the monkey? OW: The monkey made me feel a little bit creepy, just because they're super-strong. And it smelled odd. But then I got used to it. SC: And then you guys went out to lunch? [OW laughs] Your mom is a well-known photographer. You've been around that since you were really young. Do you enjoy having your picture taken? OW: In general it's not that bad, but it can be. Because of the way mothers can aggravate you, it's more difficult when my mom wants to take my picture than somebody else. She worked with Richard Avedon for about seven years on that "In the American West" project. He took some photographs of me and my two brothers for it. That exhibit was little freakish, full of drifters and insane people, and that was how he made us look. Later, when we started having teenage problems, getting into trouble, my dad would say, "Well, that's what makes Avedon a genius: He saw what was coming."

[keplercryptids]

3 for book asks!

3. What were your top five books of the year?

oh god. i haven't thought about this at length and i reserve the right to change my mind, lmao. but right now if i had to choose: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, the Machineries of Empire trilogy by Yoon Ha Lee, and the Teixcalaan duology by Arkady Martine. yes i cheated by including series but i can't pick just three lol.

[fayewonglibrary]

The legendary Faye Wong: fashion only for herself (2014)

This year’s Paris Fashion Week seemed to attract special attention because Faye Wong attended the Celine show as a friend of the brand. The focus was not on the fashion itself but on the gossip surrounding Faye Wong. Faye Wong is one of entertainment reporters' favorites to capture. Every time Faye Wong appears, it sparks a new round of discussion about her clothes which are extraordinary and legendary. This time, will she have her freshest look yet at Paris Fashion Week? 

Ten years have passed since the last time Faye Wong went to Paris Fashion Week and attended the Celine show in 2004. Ten years ago, Faye Wong’s Celine shoot in Paris was a whirlwind. We remember the moment when Faye Wong was on the streets of Paris in a slim beige dress and leather gloves designed by Michael Kors in his last autumn/winter collection for Celine. Those images gave us a sense that we were looking at movie stills, like she was a lost character under the lens of Wong Kar-wai.

Faye Wong’s Celine looks ten years ago are like her song “Only Myself” on the album "Mystery" in 1994. This woman has always given us the impression that her personality and attitude are completely herself, hence the song "Only Myself". Therefore, such a woman does not need extravagant or gorgeous clothes. She only needs her own interest. Those who really love fashion are also keen on this kind of "mystery". It is the kind of fashion that is not too mainstream and a rare feature in the popular fashion world.

In 2005, Faye Wong attended the opening of the Celine store at Hong Kong Landmark Plaza. She wore the 2005 spring/summer printed jacket designed by Roberto Menichetti. With her long legs and straight hair, Faye appeared shy at the event. At the time, she was in love and enjoying her marriage. The print on that suit happened to be a rare expression of warmth from Faye Wong. Later, we got used to the collaborations between Faye Wong and Celine. Faye Wong loved Celine and went to Taipei for the Celine store opening, she stood on stage in Celine, and she wore Celine at her birthday party.  

From 2004 to 2014, the design director of Celine changed from Michael Kors to Roberto Menichetti to Ivana Omazic to Phoebe Philo.  Phoebe Philo, the creative director of Celine today, has brought the old Paris brand to a new level. Phoebe Philo seems compatible with Faye Wong. Faye Wong is a pioneer in fashion. Her influence in Asian fashion occurred even earlier when she was already an unforgettable trail-blazer. In the early 1990s, when the designs of the “The Antwerp Six" were not well known by everyday consumers in Asia, Faye Wong was already wearing the fashions from Belgium with the help of stylists Thomas Chan and later Titi Kwan. Faye Wong wore the works of these Belgian designers and created stunning looks again and again at her concerts.

To cite a few examples, Jurgi Persoons was an avant-garde designer from Antwerp who caused a sensation in his graduation exhibition in Antwerp in 1992. In 1996, he started his own brand. The design had strong avant-garde and decadent qualities. Coupled with expensive and unbelievably intricate handiwork, it was unique in the fashion industry. When the brand closed in 2003, many fans were sad. Hong Kong fashion culture critic Lai Jianhui wrote in  "Fashion Moments" that Jurgi Persoons was independent from the rest of the world. The era when Faye Wong wore Jurgi Persoons while holding concerts in Hong Kong was also the era when "The Antwerp Six” legend began to awaken in Asian fashion.  Faye Wong wore a lot of Jurgi Persoons. The works of Jurgi Persoons were carried by D-Mop, a Hong Kong fashion house. It was a golden era for Hong Kong fashion.

In addition, Faye Wong was wearing Martin Margiela and Ann Demeulemeester as early as 1995, or even earlier.  Faye Wong has been a fan of Ann Demeulemeester for many years. Back on the stage in 1996, Faye Wong's Ann Demeulemeester look was so stunning.  I also appreciate Faye Wong for wearing Belgian brands such as Véronique Branquinho in the 1990s. Nowadays, there are fewer and fewer avant-garde and pioneering surprises on the runway. Just like how we prefer to listen to Faye Wong’s old Cantopop songs, looking through the past Faye Wong looks, each one has a story. Each one is full of aura and jolting to the senses. When Titi Kwan went to the Louis fashion store in Antwerp to choose pieces for Faye Wong’s concert, he discovered another Belgian designer Bernard Willhelm and brought it to Hong Kong and Asia through Faye Wong’s interpretation. Bernard Willhelm's never-ending indulgence and playful designs leaned towards artistic and whimsical, which made people love it very much!

Stories in fashion have disappeared. Thinking about it, I often feel it’s a pity. In the 1990s, Helmut Lang, the designer who gave us the minimalist fashion style, created a new era of minimalism. Faye Wong's Helmut Lang period is also the best era of Helmut Lang. Unfortunately, even second-hand Helmut Lang pieces are now rare. Today, Helmut Lang lives in seclusion on Long Island, New York and has become a true artist.

In 1997, Faye Wong joined EMI Records. From 1997 to 2003, Faye Wong was in her most brilliant musical era. The album "Faye Wong" was her first album released in her golden age at EMI. In the album's promotional photos, the stylist found a black and white harlequin coat from the 1997-1998 autumn/winter collection by Yohji Yamamoto.

In 1999, Faye Wong continued to shine in the music world and released the album "Only Love Strangers". In the album, there was a song I loved very much called "Passing Cloud". The MV for this song was directed by Susie Au.  Faye Wong appeared in a black trench coat by British futuristic designer Hussein Chalayan, which seemed to lead us to appreciate her truly ethereal and elusive fashion temperament. At that time, Hussein Chalayan's reputation was rising because he attracted a lot of attention at London Fashion Week. 

By the year 2000, "Fable" might have been Faye Wong's best album yet. Do you still remember the song "Love Letter to Myself"? In the MV, Faye Wong wore a white Jil Sander dress. It was the first time Jil Sander appeared in front of us.

Faye Wong became an all out fashion pioneer.  As for today's gossip entertainment headlines, whatever brand Faye Wong wears becomes really popular. For example, when Faye Wong appeared in Rick Owens' shirt and boots, and was photographed by reporters, the fashion editor started looking for Rick Owens pieces...

Therefore, in 2014, seeing the Heavenly Queen set foot in Paris Fashion Week again, there is definitely a feeling of evolution. No matter what style she appears in, we will miss those good moments in fashion that gave us enlightenment. 

------------------------------------------------------------------  

SOURCE: SINA // TRANSLATED BY: FAYE WONG FUZAO

[tartheanmaid]

Kei Kimura, Women’s Courage, and Change.

We start the musical with Kei welcoming home her little brother Sammy, and helping with the Wishing Tree celebration. The first time we see Kei sing is in the song, “Wishes on the Wind”. In which her family celebrates the harvest and each of them hang wishes upon a Wishing Tree.

For my brother I wish

For great journeys and adventures

To see the world

Till he finally misses home

-Kei Kimura, Wishes on the Wind

Here we see Kei wishing, not for herself, but for her brother. Although she loves her brother, she dislikes having to act a mother to him because theirs died in childbed giving birth to him. She reinforces this with her next line in the song;

I wish that I didn't have to play the mother

Though it would tear Papa apart

-Kei Kimura, Wishes on the Wind

This song serves as our introduction to the Kimuras and their community. But for Kei that means we learn where she starts, who she was before Heart Mountain. We know that she feels contempt for her stillness and her current situation, but also feels that she cannot leave to pursue greater things because she feels she is the only thing keeping her family together.

Now that we know where Kei comes from at the beginning of her story and her journey, we can look at who she will become, what that means, and why by choosing herself and standing up she did the right thing. In order to understand why Kei has “Women’s Courage”, we must look at where that term comes from.

I first heard the term “Women’s Courage” in the way I am using it in A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The phrase refers to the kind of courage that a mother has, protecting her children by any means necessary. It refers to the courage of a young woman rescuing her lover from her own father’s dungeons. The kind of courage it takes to be a woman and survive in a patriarchal society. But not the kind of courage that is a woman rebelling and being more masculine, a woman having courage and nerve while also being feminine and proud of her womanhood gives her woman’s courage. The term in the novels originates from a passage in A Clash of Kings.

Perhaps I did not want to be the only one who knew the dark truth of what had happened there, Catelyn thought. "Brienne, I have taken many wellborn ladies into my service over the years, but never one like you. I am no battle commander."

"No, but you have courage. Not battle courage perhaps but . . . I don't know . . . a kind of woman's courage. And I think, when the time comes, you will not try and hold me back. Promise me that. That you will not hold me back from Stannis."

Catelyn could still hear Stannis saying that Robb's turn too would come in time. It was like a cold breath on the back of her neck. "When the time comes, I will not hold you back."

-Catelyn V, ACOK

I firmly believe that Kei has always had this courage deep within her all along, and that her journey in Heart Mountain is not about gaining courage through Frankie, through Oji-Chan, or anyone else. But learning and finding courage that she has always had within her.

Next she shows us that, even if she may not know it yet, she has the courage to not only be a force of light for others but also lead them and lift them up.

It will all be alright

There’s a way through this night

Stay strong

On this long road

Gaman, Gaman

Sturdy and sure, keep faith and endure

Gaman, Gaman

Hold your head high and carry on, Gaman

-Kei Kimura, Gaman

As she sings the people around her in her community join her naturally, showing that she may not be as flashy or charismatic as Frankie when getting people to join her, or as loud and proud as Sammy, but people naturally flock to her leadership anyways. Her journey was never about gaining courage. She has always had it. People naturally flocking to her lead proves that even if she cannot see that courage in herself yet, others do.

We see this trust in Kei again in “Get in the Game”. Sammy starts singing, but people only join in and agree with him once they see Kei is behind him. At this point in the story Kei still believes that she must still herself and hold her family together, not truly putting her effort into anything but peacemaking and family. Excluding herself.

Keiko, always think of other. When you mommy die you grow up so fast. Take care Sammy. Help with farm. Why, you no go to dance? Have fun.

-Oji-Chan Kimura, Ishi Kara Ishi

It’s not until Oji-Chan points out that she never focuses on anyone but herself does she realize that maybe she does deserve to do something fun once in a while. Oji-Chan makes a paper flower out of his loyalty oath and gives it to Kei. This symbolizes Kei herself blossoming, and finally starting to become who she wants to be. She goes to the dance, Kei has budded. She has started to find the courage she has always wanted, but never realized she already had. Finally, when her brother seemingly isn’t at the dance can she focus on herself. Do what she wants for a change. So she dances with Frankie.

The only way to move forward is to first look back. Kei does this in her solo song, “Higher”. She realizes that she is finally becoming who she wanted to be as a child. That she can become the person she set aside to help raise Sammy. To be herself. Her true self.

There once was a little girl playing on a swing set

That her grandpa built by the sycamore tree near the rusty farmyard gate

While her mama pinned the laundry the little girl would cry out loud

"Push me higher, push me higher, push me I can't wait"

Her mama would push a couple times but there was laundry still to do

So she learned to use her own strength, pull her own weight, push on through

-Kei Kimura, Higher

The girl would push a couple times but there was laundry still to do

-Kei Kimura, Higher

I believe that this is the song where Kei realizes she’s falling for Frankie. That what she wants, is her, is him. What I said before, “The only way to move forward is to first look back”, goes along with the kind of changes that Kei goes through as a person at Heart Mountain. When Sammy is leaving, she is finally free to stop for a moment. To stop the constant flow of her life that is moving so fast yet never going anywhere, and look back at her past.

How the years passed quickly by that girl's a woman still afraid to try.

Is it too late to start again, get back that feeling I had then?

But now my life is upside down

There's no more farm, there's no more town, and no use asking why

But I won't let it pass me by

Life won't pass me by

-Kei Kimura, Higher

And then, at last, take a step forward. In the direction she wants to go in. Her life has taken a new turn, new opportunities arise. And maybe this time, with her newfound courage.

In John Truby’s The Anatomy of a Story, he states that he believes that there are, at minimum, the same 7 steps in every story. Weakness and Need, Problem, Desire, Opponent, Plan, Battle, Self-Revelation, and New Equilibrium. The self-revelation of the hero can come before or after the final battle in the story.

By going through the crucible of battle, the hero usually undergoes change. For the first time, he learns who he really is. He tears aside his façade he has lived behind and sees, in a shocking way, his true self. Facing the truth about himself either destroys him or makes him stronger.

If the self-revelation is moral as well as psychological, the hero also learns the proper way to act toward others. A great self revelation should be sudden, for better dramatic effect; shattering for the hero, whether the self-revelation is positive or negative; and new— it must be something the hero did not know about himself until that moment. Much of the quality of your story is based on the quality of the self-revelation. Everything leads to this point.

-John Truby, The Anatomy of a Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller

Kei’s self-realization is that she has always had courage within her. Her self-realization is positive, her journey has changed her for the better. Kei begins her self-revelation in “Higher” but finishes in “Our Time Now” with her verse near the end.

It's my time to live a life of my own

But that doesn't mean I will spend it alone

I won't be bound by what others allow!

My choices are mine alone to define

It's my time

My time now!

-Kei Kimura, Our Time Now

The first two lines in Kei’s solo verse in “Our Time Now” originally refers to her choosing Frankie and choosing to spend the rest of her life with him. She chooses women’s courage, she chooses bravery, and she chooses herself in her self-revelation. But when Frankie is taken into government custody, Kei's life is once more thrown upside down. But this time she must make a choice. People flock to her lead now more than ever. Kei’s strength and courage is finally seen by everyone around her. While the battle of Heart Mountain is still fully underway, the “Battle” portion of Kei’s story is done. Her moral decision is here.

Once the hero learns the proper way to act in the self-revelation, he must make a decision. The moral decision is the moment when he chooses between two courses of action, each of which stands for a set of values and way of living that affects the other. The moral decision is the proof of what the hero has learned in the self revelation. By taking this action, the hero shows the audience what he has become.

-John Truby, The Anatomy of a Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller

Now in her moral decision she is using the leadership position that people naturally give her to carry out that decision. Helping Frankie and the others to get out of jail. She and the other women who were left behind write letters to newspapers, to get their story out there and in the local news. Kei’s moral decision is about herself and fully coming into the leadership position her people have given her, but it is also done out of love. Where lots of women's courage comes from. By choosing Frankie over her family she chooses what she wants to choose.

What am I supposed to do,

Pick up the pieces without you

The world is upside down

And they have come and torn my heart away

I'm done with standing by,

Now it's time to do or die

I will fly

-Kei Kimura, Resist(Reprise)

“Resist” was Frankie’s song, but “Resist(Reprise)” is Kei’s. Frankie’s rebellion is a failed one, but Kei succeeds. She is stronger now. Stronger than he was. She has to be. She uses a version of his refrain “Resist. We’ll face the fire.” in her reprise, but hers is more sturdy. Kei’s goes as follows: “Resist. Let’s face the fire.” She has always been less flashy than Frankie, but more trusted. Their rebellion songs reflect that.

As Kei and the others prepare to enact their rebellion the women around Kei start to sing while she finishes the song.

Resist, let's face the fire

Resist, we're climbing higher

(Resist, resist, resist, resist)

(Gaman, gaman, gaman, gaman)

(Gaman, gaman, gaman, gaman)

-Kei Kimura and Allegiance Ensemble, Resist(Reprise)

This loops around to the song “Gaman” at the start of the musical where Kei becomes a beacon of light and hope for her community by rising above and trying to help everyone stay calm during a situation of great strife. Thereafter the refrain “Gaman” becomes a symbol of Kei’s womanly leadership in the musical.

I wish I could say that Kei’s new equilibrium comes in “Stronger Than Before” but it doesn’t. While that song is important in Kei’s story I believe that it’s main purpose in the 7 step story is Hannah’s self-revelation. Kei’s true new equilibrium comes only after the song “Itetsuita”.

At the new equilibrium, everything returns to normal, and all desire is gone. Except there is now one major difference.

-John Truby, The Anatomy of a Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller

That major difference in Kei’s story is in herself, but it is also in her world. The world was never the same after the bomb on Hiroshima was dropped. Although Japanese-Americans were let out of internment camps because the war was over.

At 8:15 AM Tokyo time, the B-29 bomber, Enola Gay...

Itetsuita (it was frozen)

A single atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima...

Sugoku natsui (too blisteringly hot)

Described as incomprehensible devastation...

Dozo miyou (here, look)

And we pray this promises a quick end to the war

Kaze o miyou (look at the wind)

Itetsuita (it was frozen)

Itetsuita (it was frozen)

-Allegiance Ensemble, Itetsuita

Life has technically returned to normal, but there is now a major difference.

Kei has come full circle. She now has a husband, a daughter, and a family who doesn’t hold her back. At the end Kei’s positive self-revelation allows her a happy new equilibrium. She learns how to live properly in the world and to do that in a way that wouldn’t disappoint the girl she was before her mother died. She now lives in a world where she can swing higher than ever before. But there is still a major difference, the Kei that comes out of the Heart Mountain is very different from the one that went in.

[kim-seungmine]

the time is now

title: the time is now

characters: (fem) reader x kim seungmin of stray kids (feat. choi lia of itzy, lee felix + bang chan of stray kids)

genres: romance, rich kid au, friends to lovers au, (sort of!) mafia au, dedicating this to 191109 seungmin & levanter era!seungmin

word count: 7.9k 

warnings: alcohol consumption, violence (nothing too wild tho), i haven’t proofread, idk what im doing tbh (but seungmin drives an aston martin i hope that makes you feel better)

synopsis: you and seungmin spent years pushing each other away, only to be confronted by your biggest fears when you finally decided to stop running away.

a/n: i hope this doesn’t suck :(((

Summer is for fun. Summer is for rest. Summer is for romance.

But summer is also for opportunities, and that’s the sole reason why you’re standing inside the Laura Ryu boutique—where you can’t even afford its cheapest pair of earrings. The luxury fashion brand is open for internships for the very first time and now it’s one of those “a million girls would kill for that job” positions in South Korea.

“Good morning, everyone.”

The sweet but regal voice belongs to Julia Choi, Laura Ryu’s daughter who’s specifically flew back from New York to Seoul for the summer to help her mother managing the internship. You know her better as Choi Jisu, your childhood friend who’s currently attending Parsons School of Design.

“I’m Choi Jisu, and I’m going to be your mentor throughout the internship. Well, technically I’m responsible for all of you here so please, stay in one piece until the end of summer although it’s going to be absolute hell, okay?”

Everyone laughs, and soon you’re ushered to one big studio inside. You see a placard with your name on one of the table and quickly head there, giving Jisu a little wave as she tells the other interns to find their stations.

After all the interns are seated, Jisu claps, effectively silencing everyone. “And now, something to motivate you,” she announces. “We’re going to monitor every single one of you and by the end of summer, we’re going to choose one intern to help with our next collection. How’s that sound?”

Excited whispers are heard all over the room, and you hope you’ll survive summer in one piece.

“Y/N! Wait up!”

Jisu is running down the stairs, her heels making loud clacking sounds against the marble floor. She envelops you in a tight hug the moment you’re within an arm’s reach. You’ve missed Jisu, it feels like it’s been ages since you volunteered at the animal shelter together.

“I can’t believe you actually applied!” she chirps.

You chuckle. “Well, I can’t believe I actually got in.”

Jisu snorts. “Oh please. I don’t need to see your portfolio to know how amazing it is. You’re probably the only one who sent a proper portfolio.”

She greets the shopkeepers, leading you outside. “Are you free? Let’s catch up!” she offers. You nod, linking your arm with hers. “What do you want to do? Coffee?”

“O—”

A white Aston Martin pulls over in front of you, causing Jisu to gasp and check her watch. The window rolls down, revealing an annoyed Kim Seungmin on the driver’s seat. “Yah Choi Jisu,” he snaps. “I know I’m just your insignificant cousin, but couldn’t you at least tell me that you were going to be at your Mom’s boutique the whole day?”

“Oh shoot, sorry Seungmin! I totally forgot,” Jisu panics, turning to you with apologetic eyes. “It’s okay,” you assure her. “Go. You’re stuck with me for the whole summer anyways.”

She shakes her head. “No, I’m not gonna leave you behind. Seungmin, you don’t mind if I bring Y/N along, do you?”

Yeah, Kim Seungmin. Someone from your “summer is for romance” phase two years ago. You’re well aware that you’re an intern at his aunt’s boutique, but you thought you wouldn’t meet him since he’s set to take over his father’s law firm instead of becoming the heir of Laura Ryu’s fashion empire.

“It’s fine,” you refuse. “We can hang out some other time, Jisu. You two have fun!”

“Come with us,” Seungmin interjects, calmly as usual. Two years of not seeing him in flesh has weakened your defense. Seungmin has always looked fine, but now he looks ten times hotter with his dirty blond hair and you’re cursing yourself for being so shallow. Jisu shrugs, opening the door and pulling you inside.

Seungmin glances at the empty passenger seat then at the rear-view mirror. “So where are we headed, Young Mistresses?” he asks, his tone both sarcastic and playful.

“We were going to grab some coffee. Just stop by at the first Starbucks you see,” Jisu answers before attacking you with questions. Seungmin mumbles an, “Okay Miss” before making a u-turn. You feel all eyes are on you when you enter the café, suddenly realizing that you just stepped out of Kim Seungmin’s Aston Martin with Choi Jisu attached to your side.

For a split second, you forgot that you’re hanging out with South Korea’s top socialites who are way too cool for Starbucks.

After getting your orders, the three of you are chatting about every little thing. “And how is our little Byul? Has she been adopted?”

You and Seungmin exchange awkward glances, causing Jisu to cock an eyebrow. “What happened?”

“I didn’t go to the shelter last year,” you confess.

“Me neither,” Seungmin mumbles, sipping his Americano in a haste.

“Okay, neither of you went to the shelter last year, so what? What are you guys being so weird about?”

“Nothing,” you and Seungmin answer in unison. Jisu examines your face and snaps her fingers, seeming to get the idea. “Well, if that’s the case… why don’t you two talk things out?”

“Wait what happened to catching up?” you panic, while Seungmin grabs his cup and stands up. “I should drive you home,” he says.

Jisu clicks her tongue. “Sit down, both of you.”

You and Seungmin do as told, begging her with your eyes to save yourselves from this situation. “As you said, Y/N, we’re stuck together for the whole summer so we still have a lot of time. And no thank you, dear cousin. I’ll just take the cab. See you!”

Your friend smiles at you one last time before walking out, stopping the first cab she can find. You turn to Seungmin, finally letting yourself indulge in his pretty eyes that only seem to warm up whenever you’re around. Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing special about Kim Seungmin except for the fact that he’s a straight-As law student, looks both adorable and hot, and is actually a sweet, humble boy despite being filthy rich.

Okay, you’re definitely not over him.

Seungmin clears his throat. “So, how’s the internship so far?”

“It was only my first day,” you answer. “We didn’t do much yet. The real fight starts tomorrow, I guess.”

“You’re in good hands. Jisu handles everything well, and her Mom won’t even show up until the last day so you’re going to have fun.”

You laugh. “But one of the interns is going to be included in the team in charge of the next collection so I suppose your aunt will appear once in a while, right?”

“She’ll be in Paris the whole summer,” Seungmin explains. “Jisu begged her to let her handle the program because she misses home, and here we are now.”

“How about you? Been doing fine, I guess?”

The little spark in Seungmin’s eyes fades at your question. He stands up, returning your puzzled gaze with a cold one. “Let me take you home.”

“You don’t need to,” you retort, slightly offended. “Seungmin, did I say something wrong?”

“No, you didn’t,” he denies. “Please let me take you home. Jisu will kill me if I leave you alone here.”

You’re not satisfied with his answer, but decide to follow him. Seungmin enters the driver’s seat and starts the engine, heading to your neighbourhood without a word. “You still remember where I live?” you ask.

“I’m a law student Y/N. I can remember a lot of things.”

You let out an exasperated sigh. This is probably the only thing you hate about Seungmin: he shuts down everyone the moment he shows a hint of weakness. “Seungmin… are you okay?” you try again. “I’m not getting off until I get a proper answer.”

Jisu once told you that everyone in their big family sees a therapist every month; you know for sure that Seungmin must be their favorite patient because they get paid a fortune for counselling a very good boy who answers everything with positive words.

Seungmin is a strong, positive guy, but not all the time. People tend to forget that. He tends to forget that.

Looking at how tense he is, you decide to drop the subject. “How’s Chan and Felix?” you ask while scrolling through your Instagram feed, looking at a photo of the said boys posing in front of their luxury cars.

Seungmin’s eyes soften at the mention of his best friends. “Aren’t you the one who go to the same university?” he questions endearingly.

Christopher Bang and Felix Lee were your classmates in Fashion Journalism—a class which Felix signed up for by mistake. He tried to have it erased from his timetable, but changed his mind when he realized that everyone in that class was girls. Soon, his best bro Chris Bang joined him and when they found out you were friends with Seungmin and Jisu too, they wouldn’t leave you alone.

“Yeah, but everytime I want to say hi they’re always surrounded by their friends.”

“You mean Seo Changbin, Lee Minho and Yang Jeongin?”

You nod. Seungmin laughs, slowing down his pace as he reaches your neighbourhood. “Just say hi. Those guys are harmless.”

“Easy for you to say,” you scoff. “Seo Changbin radiates this ‘you can’t sit with us’ vibes stronger than those girls in Mean Girls.”

“I mean it,” he repeats. “Just say hi. Felix calls you all the time anyways. You’re a part of their so-called circle.”

“You mean your circle?” you correct him jokingly, unfastening your seatbelt as he smoothly hits the brake in front of your house. “Thank you for taking me home.”

Seungmin smiles your favorite smile, the one where his eyes disappear into crescent moons. The door is opened, yet you’re just sitting there, trying to look for answers inside Seungmin’s doe eyes.

“What is it?”

You chew your bottom lip, shaking your head. “Nothing.”

Your Golden Retriever puppy named Sun died when you were in fifth grade. You couldn’t function for the rest of summer, so your Dad suggested that you volunteer at an animal shelter. You eventually registered for a 2-week volunteer program where you fell in love with a lively Pomeranian you ended up adopting and a lovely boy named Kim Seungmin.

You and Seungmin went to different schools (he attended an elite all-boys school), the volunteer program was the only time you could meet him. He brought his cousin Choi Jisu the next year, and it became a routine for the three of you from then on. Your beautiful friendship was perfect until your 18th birthday, when Seungmin gifted you a box full of photos of you he had taken as your birthday present.

After 8 years, you finally realized that Kim Seungmin wasn’t just a friend you volunteered with. He was the one you played hide and seek with, he was the one who taught you to use a camera, he was the one who sang to you when you cried after one of the dogs in the shelter got sick.

“Have I ever told you that I love your voice?” you asked him on one Sunday morning, right before you turned 20. “You could be a singer.”

“No, but thank you. You said it right when I started doubting myself.”

“This is not an empty compliment, Seungmin. I’m serious.”

Seungmin ruffled your hair, eyes lighting up at your seriousness. “You never say empty words, Y/N. I know that.”

After a few minutes of trying to find the right response and not finding any, you decided to let his compliment hang in the air. You laid beside him, keeping a safe distance because hearing him breathe so peacefully was enough to mess up your insides.

Seungmin turned to you, and for a while he just stayed like that, quietly examining your face while you were on the verge of freaking out.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

He didn’t change his position, eyes still locked on your face as he whispered, “I asked myself that too, but I honestly don’t know. I just hope I can see you like this forever. Seeing you makes me happy.”

Speechless, you didn’t dare to meet his eyes. How were you supposed to react? Was Seungmin drunk?

“Seriously,” you croaked to break the silence. “You should audition to become an idol or something.”

“Should I?”

“Well, depends whether you want it or not, but go ahead if you want! You have nothing to lose anyways!”

His lips curled into a sad smile. “Nothing to lose? Y/N, money isn’t the only thing I have.”

Whenever you started to feel that maybe you and Seungmin could become something more, the universe always made sure to remind you that he wasn’t just a boy you grew up with. He was the only son of a successful lawyer who rode limousine to school and owned a black credit card he used without thinking. He appeared on nation’s newspaper after attending exclusive parties you could only dream of going. He was someone who flew to London with private jet over the weekend because he wanted to take some photos.

You laughed, locking eyes with him without realizing. “But with your money you can have everything, Seungmin. You and Jisu are different from the rest of us.”

Ten years of friendship and you never once talked about this. You knew Seungmin wouldn’t mind; he wasn’t the type who liked to flaunt his wealth, but he wasn’t one of those people who didn’t like to be reminded of how loaded they were. He never cared. But you were afraid he would think that you did, so you always avoided making comparisons.

That day, you had to do it. Maybe you were too protective of yourself, but you couldn’t risk getting hurt. One little slash on your heart, and the wound would leave a permanent scar.

Seungmin hummed in agreement, breaking the eye contact to look at the clear sky.

He left the shelter the next day, and you never talked to him again.

“Jisuuuu,” you whine as Jisu pulls you into Rose’s, a fancy bar that she frequents. “I thought we were just going to hang out!”

“We are!” Jisu exclaims, waving at the bartender before choosing a spot. She orders you a drink you’re not familiar with before pouting at you. “Okay, sorry for not telling you, but we’re not gonna hang out alone today.”

The door opens, revealing Chan and Felix. The latter immediately throws his arms around you, and you can’t help but break into an endearing laugh. “Y/N!!!! Why is it so hard to meet you? Don’t you miss your expensive friends?!”

You pull away from his grip. “Excuse me, but since when your socialite agenda includes your humble friend right here?”

Felix pouts, ordering a glass of Dry Martini while Chan and Jisu are whispering among themselves. You scoot closer to them. “What are you guys whispering about?”

The three of them snicker at the same time and you figure this isn’t just the usual “hanging out” session.

You turn to Chan. “Bang Chan, spill.”

“Wow, hearing someone that’s not my parents calling me Bang Chan is so refreshing,” Chan says. “It’s like having 2 personalities. Christopher is this hot, alluring, seductive man no one ever says no to, while Bang Chan is his inner child—soft, caring, funny… but still hot—”

Jisu shoots Chan a deathly glare before smiling at you. “You like Seungmin, don’t you?”

You take a sip of your drink and let her question sink in. Looking at your friends’ faces, you know that it wasn’t even a question. They feel it, and there’s no use of denying your feelings anymore.

“And that’s all we need to know!” Chan exclaims, standing up from his seat. He slips in a few dollars into the bartender’s pocket. “Seungmin doesn’t know we were here.”

Felix slaps his shoulder. “Bro you were literally the one who told him to come here. Stop trying to be cool.”

“Ah… you’re right,” Chan answers as Jisu rolls her eyes. “But anyways, Seungmin is will be here soon. Talk to him, okay?”

After waving them goodbye, you glance at your surroundings. Everyone is chatting with their friends while sipping their drinks happily; they’re in their natural habitat, while you’re just sitting there hoping Seungmin will come soon so you can get out of there as soon as possible. The bartender notices your uneasiness and offers you another drink to try.

Just as you start contemplating to leave, Seungmin enters the bar. He gives you a small wave when his eyes land on you, like it’s natural to see you there. The bartender serves 2 glasses of drinks before Seungmin even reaches you, “Gin and tonic, Mr. Kim’s favorite.”

Taking off his suit, Seungmin sits beside you and sips his drink. “When Chan kept terrorizing me to get here ASAP I know something’s up,” he says, examining your face. “… and you want to leave.”

Without waiting for your answer, Seungmin takes his coat. “Put it on my tab,” he tells the bartender, putting his hand on the small of your back and leads you out.

“Do you want to talk?” he asks after you’re sitting inside his car. “For real this time.”

He sounds apologetic, hurt and hopeful all at once and you recall everything you said to him two years ago. Those words left a deep scar in your heart, you can only imagine how broken Seungmin must have been.

“Yeah, we do need to talk.”

You never want to allow yourself to feel insecure, but the voices in your head get wild sometimes. You hate to admit it, the same way Seungmin hates to admit that he’s not always the calm and strong heir everyone expects him to be.

The only way to tune out those voices is to visit the park near your house to play on the swings

Seungmin has rolled up his sleeves so he could help you push the swings. You try to look over your shoulder. “Kim Seungmin what are you doing? Push it harder!” you demand, to which he shakes his head.  

He continues to push the swings gently, still allowing you to feel the cold wind on your face. “No,” he answers firmly. “You’ll get sick.”

Knowing you can’t change his mind, you just let him set the pace, and soon your heart starts to feel lighter. The voices get muffled by Seungmin’s low humming. You have a lot of explaining to do, yet he hasn’t said anything, not even telling you to smile a little. This time you’re not sure if it’s because of the swings or Seungmin or both, but the voices are almost gone now and you decide that’s enough for tonight.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper quietly. Seungmin stops pushing, letting the swings moves by itself before coming to a halt. He kneels down in front of you, a frown on his face. “Why? What did you do?”

“Two years ago… I’m sorry I pushed you away,” you sigh. “I’m sorry I did it like that. And I’m sorry for pestering you the other day. I don’t have any right to force you to tell me things.”

Seungmin heaves a sigh, grabbing your hand to stop you from fiddling with your shirt. He slowly laces his fingers with yours, the warmth of his eyes reminding you of the old happy days when the two of you would sneak out from the shelter to have a picnic under the clear sky. “And I shouldn’t have left,” he reminds you. You only stare into each other’s eyes until he blurts out, “Can we start over?”

You almost cry at how easy and right it feels. You spent years of your adolescent life telling yourself that this wouldn’t work, the wall you built to protect your heart was destroyed by the very person you built it for. But you find it impossible to lie when he’s looking at you with so much hope and adoration. When you finally nod, Seungmin rewards you with his toothy grin that always makes your insides flip.

The voices in your head shout out warnings at you, but you quickly shut all of them down. You’re not going to let them win. You’re not going to let them stop you from loving the only boy you want to love.

“Let’s take things slow, yeah?”

Seungmin beams at your words, pulling you up to envelop you in his arms. He waits until you relax before tightening his hold. You rest your forehead on his shoulder, breathing him in as he mouths words you can’t decipher into your hair. “Remember when you managed to persuade that young couple to adopt Vivi?”

“My lucky day,” you murmur, unconsciously pulling him closer to you.

“It was my lucky day too.”

“Of course it was! The owner also bought you chicken when Jisu and I were the ones working hard! You just nodded along with us!”

Seungmin chuckles. “I got to hold you for the first time that day. You were so happy that Vivi got a new home that you just jumped into my arms. Then you started crying and ruined my Balenciaga shirt, but I was beyond happy. You stayed in my arms until you fell asleep, and I got to watch you sleep.”

You pinch his waist softly. “You’re such a creep.”

Seungmin’s laugh only makes you feel even giddier than you already are, so you just close your eyes and relish in the feeling of his arms wrapping around your waist securely. “Shall we go to Jeju tomorrow?” he suggests.

“Jeju?”

He pulls away, enough for him to see your face but still holding you close. “Yeah. I can book us tickets so we can fly tomorrow and spend the whole weekend there. You don’t have internships on weekends, right? We’ll go to pretty places and I’ll take hundreds of pretty photos of you. We can have dinner by the beach since our villa is facing the ocean. You love seafood, right? Our chefs—”

“Kim Seungmin, what happened to taking things slow?” you giggle, causing him to let out a cute frustrated groan. “I’m sorry. How about a road trip to Busan then?”

“You can drive to Busan?”

“You’re underestimating me, love.”

Seungmin’s phone rings when you’re about to utter a sassy remark. He glances at the caller and releases you, his eyes turn cold as he accepts the call. “Yes, father?”

You can’t hear what his father is saying, but whatever it is, Seungmin doesn’t look happy. You reach for his hand carefully, and he quickly squeezes yours while responding to his father in a polite, business-like manner. He walks you to your house, telling his father that he’ll be home soon.

Seungmin pulls you into his arms again as soon as he slides his phone into his pocket. “Duty calls?”

“Mhm,” he replies. “As you can see, I had a meeting today, and Father wants updates.”

“He already involves you in meetings? That’s cool!”

“Nah, I can’t voice out any opinion yet. I’m just there to listen.”

Seungmin detaches himself from you, pressing a chaste kiss on your cheek. “So, I’ll pick you up at 6?”

You nod, not even bothering to protest that it’s too early because you want to see him again soon. Seungmin enters his car and starts the engine. He rolls down the window, grinning when he sees you wave at him. The phone call must have bothered him, but you decided to let it slide. “Text me when you get home,” you tell him.

Take things slow. You have to take things slow.  

Not only does Seungmin know how to drive to Busan (while looking extremely attractive behind the wheels), he also knows Busan like the back of his palm. He took you to all the pretty places and took pretty photos of you as promised. Now you’re at the balcony of the Kim family villa (you figure they have apartments and villas scattered in the whole country), nestled in Seungmin’s arms while waiting for the sun to set.

“Wait, sit over there!” Seungmin forces you to move from your spot to the end of the couch. “The angle is pretty!” He snaps a few photos with his newest Leica camera that’s worth a car. You give him your silliest poses before bursting into a fit of giggles. Seungmin puts the camera on the coffee table and pulls you back to him. “Enough photos for today,” he mutters, settling you on his lap. Seungmin never struck you as someone who loves skinship, but he never misses a chance to wrap you in his arms, and you’re not complaining. He probably feels the same blissful comfort you feel whenever the two of you touch.

The sun begins to set, and for a while you focus your gaze on the sky, admiring the way the sun paints it with shades of orange. Seungmin shifts underneath you, pressing a kiss on your exposed shoulder to earn your attention. You meet his eyes, and you see a tinge of worry in them. “What is it?”

Seungmin takes an awfully long time to answer your question, causing you to cup his face. “Tell me.”

“Do you trust me?”

The question has you frowning. “Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?”

Seungmin smiles, but the tinge of worry is still reflected through his orbs. “Whatever happens, I’ll try my best to make this work, okay? I’ll do anything to make this work. I want you in my life, more than you can imagine.”

“Seungmin—”

“There will be days when I’ll be away for meetings, there will be days when I’ll feel like absolute shit because of my Father and the business,” he reveals. “Sometimes it will feel like I’m keeping you in the dark and I know you won’t like that, but there are so many things I need to sort out now, and I can’t tell you anything yet. Is that okay?”

You can’t base your relationship on not-knowing! You can’t base your relationship on excuses and blind faith!

“Is it too much if I ask you not to let me wait for too long?”

Seungmin shakes his head so fast you wonder if it hurts his neck. “You know how smart I am,” he boasts. “Trust me, you’ll be amazed at how good I am in getting things done.”

“You better be, there are a lot of people waiting for your help, Lawyer Kim.”

Your boyfriend chuckles. “Speaking of getting things done, I have a request for you.”

“Request?”

“There’s this masked ball held by Chan’s Dad next month, and we’re all attending. I’ve been looking for a nice mask, but everything seems mediocre. Will you design one for me?”

You squeal, immediately attacking him in a tight hug. You’ve always wanted to design jewelries, including masks. The mere thought of buying the materials, matching the design according to Seungmin’s style and drawing all the pretty details launch you to cloud 9 in an instant.

“I guess you like it,” Seungmin singsongs. “I have one more request though.”

You tilt your head in excitement.

“I want you to be my date.”

Your smile falters, but Seungmin tug at your lips softly, gesturing at you to smile again. “Everyone will wear a mask and you’ll only take it off at midnight, so we can leave before midnight if you want. Besides, I’m just a guest. All eyes will be on Chan.”

“But what kind of dress am I supposed to wear? Everyone will—”

“Aren’t you a designer? You’ve sewed a lot of dresses, wear one of them.”

“But they’re not from designer brands, aren’t you ashamed?”

“I don’t care,” Seungmin tells you in the most caring tone. “You’re you, not Julia Choi. Not Felix Lee. Not Christopher Bang. And you’re not me.”

Flashbacks from your painful conversation two years ago come in a flash, but now both of you are looking at it from a whole different perspective. Your smile slowly returns, and Seungmin huffs a sigh of relief. “That’s my girl.”

“Can I tell you something too?”

He nods.

“There will be days when I’ll feel like I’ll never be good enough to succeed in anything,” you begin, biting your lip to prevent tears from falling. “I don’t let myself dwell on it most of the time, but sometimes I fail. Is that okay?”

Seungmin cradles your face, wiping your tears with his thumbs. “I’m here, aren’t I? I’ll knock some sense into you whenever you’re about to drown in self-pity!”

You pat his head in return, hoping that this Seungmin—the one whose eyes radiate sunshine and voice laced with honey, the one whose laugh sounds like a sweet melody—will be the Seungmin he shows to the rest of the world more.

Seungmin is still cradling your face, gaze flickering to your lips every now and then, triggering you to do glance at his lips in return. The pull is too tempting, you wonder if you should just crash your lips on his or let him decide for you.

“Is it okay if I kiss you?” he whispers, barely audible. Your eyes flutter close, and Seungmin doesn’t waste any time. His lips meet yours in a fleeting kiss, making your breath hitch at how soft and burning his lips feel. Seungmin kisses you deeply, taking his time to savor you and you’re going insane at the way he clutches your waist, the way he hums everytime you pull him closer. It’s almost too much, yet at the same you know he’s still holding back as if he’s afraid that this is all just a fever dream.

“Seungmin, please.”

“Mhmm?” he tries to speak against your lips, hazy eyes gazing into yours.

“More,” you breathe out, determined to make him let go and kiss you the way he wishes to although you’re blushing like mad. “I’m not going anywhere, so just kiss me.”

“You sure?” he mutters, eyes waiting for your approval.

You close your eyes again, and right that moment you feel Seungmin’s lips move against yours. This time, he lets go. Hovering over you, he pours all the feelings he had suppressed for years into the kiss. You’re soon lost in all the love and passion he has for you, his every touch eating your skin alive. You’re lost in Seungmin, Seungmin, Seungmin and you hope he knows you feel the same.

“Stay still!” you yelp, fixing Seungmin’s mask as the limousine stops in front of the ballroom where the party is held. Mr. Song, Seungmin’s chauffeur, opens the door for both of you. You start to panic upon seeing reporters snapping photos of other guests entering the ballroom. Seungmin steps out, looking like His Royal Highness from a reputable kingdom.

He extends his hand to you. “Come on, love. Jisu and the others are already inside.”

The sound of shutters and the blinding flashes almost make you shut the door and tell Mr. Song to drive you home, but Seungmin reaches for your hand and intertwines his fingers with yours. “I’m here. You’ll be alright.”

Gathering some courage, you finally set your foot on the ground. Seungmin helps you with a gentle smile he knows will calm you down. He leads you inside, holding your hand a little tighter whenever someone seems to make you uncomfortable.

You spot Jisu from the gold feathery mask she showed you the night before and her signature high ponytail. A redheaded boy joined her with a drink in his hand, and you know for sure that it’s Felix. Everything at this party is grand, and by grand you mean people with diamond-studded dresses, a huge orchestra group, extravagant chandeliers, ice statues, and all kinds of foods and drinks you know absolutely nothing about.

“You okay?” Seungmin asks, releasing your hand to take a slice of chocolate cake that the waiter offers before handing it to you. Jisu squeals at the cake, taking the same cake from the waiter. You look at her in awe as she digs in right away. “How do you eat that at a place like this?” you hiss, earning a laugh from Felix.

“We’re here to enjoy ourselves, darling. Eat up!” he encourages you. You turn to Seungmin, who gives you a spoon. “Why? You love chocolate.”

You take a glance of everyone around you, nobody is eating. They’re either dancing or laughing or drinking. “Do you guys usually eat? Or are you doing this to make me comfortable?”

“We’re not some dukes and duchess Y/N. Wait, even dukes and duchess eat at parties. Shut up and enjoy your cake!” Jisu deadpans with a full mouth, causing you to laugh and do the same. Seungmin keeps his hand on the small of your back all the time, making sure you’re okay. After finishing your cake, he pulls you to the dance floor.

“No Seungmin, I’m not dancing with you,” you yell at him. Seungmin pretends not to hear you, his eyes glint with mischief. He puts your arms around his neck, then his own around your waist. You thank the heavens for the slow music because the last time you danced was in the second grade. Seungmin leads the dance, slowly backing you into a corner and pushes his mask up to plant a kiss on your lips.

“Been dying to do that.” He smirks at you as you glare at him, thankful that the mask is hiding your flushed cheeks. “Thank you for going with me. I know this isn’t your thing,” he adds, twirling you smoothly.

You scoff playfully, caressing his left cheek. “If you’re thankful, ride subway with me for the whole week.”

“Easy,” Seungmin, bringing your hand to his lips. “Your wish is my command, you know that, right?”

“All you need is tux and mask to become all flirty, huh? Did you dream to be a Disney prince?”

Seungmin shrugs, pulling you closer so you can rest your chin on his shoulder. The song comes to an end, switching to a more upbeat one when Seungmin’s phone vibrates. Though reluctantly, he takes the call and walks you to the water fountain near the salad bar.

“I’m at Mr. Bang’s party,” he says. “But Father—okay.”

The call ends just like that. Seungmin curses under his breath, wordlessly taking you back to where Jisu and Felix are standing. “I need to go now,” he breaks the news.

“Dude, you just arrived!” Felix protests.

“It’s my father,” Seungmin informs dryly. The redhead’s eyes become softer, and Jisu dismisses her cousin. “Don’t make him wait,” she urges him. “We’ll take care of Y/N. Who knows, she may find someone cooler than you.”

Seungmin looks at you with so much guilt, so you give him your most convincing smile. “Go. You can tell me about it later.”

After giving you one last “I’m sorry” look, he disappears into the crowd.

Felix cheers when the orchestra plays a song he knows. “Ohhh I love this song! Come on Y/N, time to rock the dance floor!”

As you’re about to pull Jisu along with you, Mr. Song walks toward you. He stops, bowing at the three of you. “Miss Y/N, Young Master asked me to take you.”

“Why? I thought Seungmin is meeting his father?”

“He does have some things to take care of, and you’ve been requested to join him.”

You glance at Jisu and Felix who tense at Mr. Song’s news. “Is this bad? What happened?” you try to ask, but Mr. Song only waits for you.

“It’s okay.” Felix rubs your shoulders. “Go with him.”

You nod. “See you guys later.”

Mr. Song guides you out like he knows the building by heart. Once you’re back inside the limousine, he enters the driver’s seat. “Is everything alright, Mr. Song?”

The old man smiles. “Young Master Seungmin is a very nice boy. He has clear goals and works hard to achieve them. And he wants to make you, especially, happy.”

He stops in front of an abandoned warehouse. You open the door before he does, taking off your heels while he holds the door for you. “Just give him a chance,” he says.

You quicken your pace when you hear someone scream. Peeking inside, you spot at least 10 men dressed in all-black surrounding a man who’s sitting on a chair, his hands tied and eyes blindfolded. Blood oozing from several parts of his body, his face completely bruised.

You look back to where Mr. Song is, but he only gestures at you to come inside. You slide the door a bit more to squeeze yourself in, looking up when you hear a familiar voice.

It’s Seungmin, swinging a baseball bat in his hand, his dress shirt stained with blood. “This will be the last time I ask you,” he hisses, sounding nothing like the Seungmin you know. “Tell me where the Hwangs’ secret hideout is. If not, I’m afraid I’ll have to change my weapon with something more impactful.”

One of the men hands him a gun. Seungmin takes it to the hostage, loading it near his ear. “I-I’ll tell you! Please spare me!”

The hostage goes on to provide all information that Seungmin needs. He swings his bat once again, hitting the hostage’s waist before throwing it again. You’re frozen to your spot, the whole event unfolding right before you feels like a stab on your heart. Seungmin runs his hand through his disheveled hair, then notices you standing there.

“What the fuck Y/N what are you doing here?!” he yells, voice shaky and raspy. Seungmin quickly turns around to his people, pointing at the hostage who’s lost his consciousness. “Take him away,” he commands lowly. “You’re all dismissed.”

The men drag the hostage’s body and leave the place quietly. Now, it’s just you and him facing each other. Seungmin is about to take your hand in his, but decides to stop himself when he realizes that they’re covered in blood.

“Did Mr. Song drive you here?”

You don’t answer. You can’t answer. Your body shakes as you involuntary recall how Seungmin beat the hostage up. The look in his eyes, his emotionless voice, the way he swung his bat without hesitation.

“What are you, Kim Seungmin?” you quiver, taking a step further from him. You need to get out, you need to be anywhere but here. You need something, anything that can make you forget what you just witnessed.

“Please,” Seungmin pleads. “Please Y/N. I’ll tell you everything. Please listen to me.”

“This is what you’ve been trying to hide from me? The fact that you torture people to get what you want?!”

Seungmin eventually grabs your hands, begging you to look at him. “I’m looking for other ways, love,” he utters. “But for now I have to do whatever my father says. His words are law, but I’ve vowed to myself that it won’t be like this for too long. I’ll stop him.”

You swat his hands away. “For years you made me think that we couldn’t be together because I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, that no matter what I did I would never be good enough, that I would never be able to fit in. It turns out you’re just saving yourself, aren’t you Kim Seungmin? You only care about yourself!”

“How am I supposed to tell you that this is me, Y/N? How am I supposed to tell you that this is how my family lives? Would you—,” he pauses, wiping his tear-stained cheeks. “Would you even spare me a glance if you knew that I’m no better than a murderer?!”

“That’s up to me to decide!” you shout. “You don’t get to make decisions for me, Seungmin, but you didn’t even give me a choice in the first place!”

When he runs out of words to say, you force your body to turn around, exiting the warehouse with your last bit of strength left. Mr. Song is waiting for you, your heels ready for you to wear. You slip into them, refusing to look into his eyes when he offers you help.

You feel Seungmin’s eyes on you as you walk away. Even after what happened, you can’t help but return his gaze. He looks broken and lost—on other days, you would have run to him and took him into your arms.

But now is not the time, no matter how desperate you are for answers. You turn on your heels, your heart shattering into pieces as you remember the question Seungmin asked you in Busan.

“Do you trust me?”

Jisu’s maid pushes a trolley full of snacks and drinks into her room. You politely refuse everything, but your friend pours herself a glass of champagne, chugging it down in one go. She lets out a dejected sigh once the maid leaves the room, glancing at you warily.

“I’m so, sorry Y/N,” she whispers. “I can’t believe his father did that to you.”

“Did he really send me there so I could see Seungmin like that? And you knew about this?”

“I didn’t!” Jisu exclaims. “I mean, I do get the gist what his father does, but I never knew it was that bad. And I didn’t know he asked Seungmin to do all the dirty deeds himself. That man and his greed.”

Jisu sits beside you. “The way Seungmin’s family runs the law firm changed since his father took over,” she explains. “I guess this is why he wins every single case now. He does literally everything to win, and he expects Seungmin to do things his way later.”

“Has Seungmin ever told you this?”

“No,” she mumbles. “I know Seungmin’s been stressed high school, but I never knew this was the reason. He’s seeing his therapist almost every day, Y/N. I thought you would help him and vice versa. I know the two of you have liked each other since forever. I’m sorry.”

You wrap your arms around her. “You’ve been nothing but sweet to us. You, Felix, Chan… you guys are my everything.”

“How about Seungmin?” Jisu starts sobbing. “I’ll respect your decision whatever it is, but what are you going to do now?”

You try to clear your mind, imagining how you and Seungmin will be if you live without each other. Will you be able to bear the unimaginable pain? Will he?

“Jisu, do you know if Seungmin’s parents are home?”

“No, they’re in Paris with my Mom.”

“Then can you drive me to his place?”

The Kim family butler takes you to Seungmin’s bedroom. He knocks the door, waiting for a while before opening it when nobody answers. The big room is empty, but the attic ladder is pulled down. “Young Master likes to spend his time in the attic. He probably fell asleep there,” the butler says.

You nod, thanking him before climbing up. The attic is neat and warm, with Seungmin’s photos decorating the walls. Several dog plushies are placed on a small wooden rack, while some get special spots near his mattress.

You lie down beside him, taking a good look of his sleeping form. He’s no longer covered in blood (which definitely makes things easier for you), and his steady breathing calms you down within seconds. You wonder how it feels like having to sacrifice everything in order to have everything. You think about how Seungmin wakes up in fear everyday, waiting for his father’s cruel orders.

“Y/N?”

Seungmin blinks at you, squinting to make sure that it’s really you. “Hi. Your butler let me in.”

He scrambles to get up, but you stop him. “Lie down. You must be tired.”

You scoot closer to him, feeling his body tense up when you circle your arms around his torso. “You can tell me everything now.”

Seungmin begins his story, explaining how his father never says no to clients, no matter how impossible their cases are to win. He often works with his clients to eliminate everyone in their way, using any methods possible. When Seungmin started high school, his father told him to watch how the law firm worked, and eventually forced him to do things by himself so he would “toughen up” and “understand how business works.”

“Mr. Song has been helping me form plans to end this. He’s Father’s most trusted person, so he knows everything. I still do fact checks, of course. I’m trying to be as careful as possible. I’m trying to take down my own father, and if I take even a step wrong, it’ll be over for Mother and I.”

You sigh, burying your face in the crook of his neck as you pat his back softly. Seungmin keeps his hands to his side the whole time, afraid to cross the line although you’re glued to him.

“Father has ears everywhere Y/N. He probably knows how serious I am with you and wanted to test you. I’m sorry you had to see all of that.”

“Test me?”

“Yeah. Whoever decides to stay with me after knowing everything will earn his approval.”

“Has anybody else gone through that?”

“No,” he answers. “Believe it or not, you’re my first girlfriend.”

You raise your eyebrow. “Believe it or not? Of course I do, it’s obvious that you had no dating experience!”

“Y/N,” he calls out. “You’re here to say goodbye, right?”

Seungmin has pulled you away, sitting up and waiting for you to do the same. “It’s okay. If I were you, I’d be so disgusted at myself too. Don’t think about me, just think about what’s best for you.”

“You never… killed anyone, right?”

He shakes his head. “I’ll never do that. You have my words.”

“I trust you, Seungmin,” you state. “I asked myself again and again, but my answer remains the same. You’re not a bad person and I trust you. I know you by heart, and I’ll love you as long as I can.”

You wish you could promise only boy you’ve ever loved an eternal love—it sounds beautiful, something that lasts forever. But you know better than to give Seungmin empty promises. He’ll probably break your heart if life doesn’t allow him to change his world, but you’re willing to take the risk.

Seungmin releases the breath he seemed to be holding for the past few minutes. “That’s my girl,” he praises. “That’s all I could ask for.”

“Let’s only think about now, okay? You’re not alone anymore, you have me.”

You cup his cheeks and capture him in a loving kiss, basking in the warmth of his body when he scoops you into his arms. Seungmin’s gestures still feel hesitant, but you convince him with every kiss, with every sweet word you utter against his lips until he finally melts and kisses you harder, each kiss more ardent than before.

“You’re never lacking in my eyes, don’t forget that,” Seungmin tells you, enunciating each word clearly so you’ll let it sink in. “You’ve always been more than enough. Everything I could ask for.”

You only grin, pecking his swollen lips one more time before allowing yourself to fall asleep, listening to his heartbeat.

Both of you let your own images of the future loom over you for so long, feeding yourselves with doubt and fear.

Now it’s time to let go.  

more a/n: i spent a long time writing this, i hope this is still good and not boring! i’m happy that my first story in 2020 is for seungmin. the ending is somewhat bittersweet, but it was the only option that felt right to me.  

[higuchimon]

[fanfic] Placing Blame

Rei cracked the door open and carefully tilted her head around it, covering her eyes with one hand at the same time.

“Maruchi?” She called out. “Are you – awake?”

She stayed tense until she heard him answer a few breaths later. “You can come in, Rei-chan.”

At once Rei dropped her hand and entered the room. Most people in Ra Yellow had grown to expect her regular visits ever since their return from Sand World, but she always made sure to keep her eyes covered in her morning visits, at least until she knew Martin had his clothes on.

She hadn’t made sure on one of her earliest visits and hadn’t that been embarrassing!

But now everything was all right and Martin sat in the chair by the window, enjoying a little morning sun.

“Are you ready for class?” Rei asked, taking the chair opposite to him, as she so soften did. She came by every morning to walk with him to their first class together.

Martin nodded, but he didn’t look up as he usually did. Rei’s eyes narrowed. “Is something wrong?” Now that she knew him a little better, she could tell when something wasn’t right. Martin didn’t like to open up abut things, so she had to push to make sure he didn’t keep it all to himself.

There probably weren’t any other beings like Yubel around who might take advantage of his issues, but Rei didn’t want to take any chances that she didn’t have to. Someone had to watch over this guy and she’d appointed herself to the task.

“It’s nothing wrong,” Martin said at last, after she stared at him for several long minutes. “I was talking to Papa last night.”

She nodded, making a little gesture to indicate she would like to hear more if he’d be willing to tell it to her. After a few seconds, he did.

“He wants to go back to Paris for a while. He said that he hasn’t been able to spend enough time with me here and he wants to fix that.” His lips moved, but Rei wasn’t sure if that was meant to be a smile or not. “He wants to talk to Mama soon too.”

Over the weeks since their return from that other world, Rei had wormed a lot out of Martin, more than enough so that she knew Napoleon and his ex-wife hadn’t talked to each other without voices raisd in years. If he wanted to change that – well, she wasn’t sure how much good it would do, but they were at least trying. He was at least trying.

Then what else Martin said sank in and she jerked a bit. “You’re going to be leaving?” A tiny pang struck deep in her heart. Bad enough that Juudai-sama and Ryou-sama were both gone – and she hadn’t had a chance to talk to either of them – but now Martin was going to leave too?

“Papa wants to wait until everyone else comes back if he can. To know that they're safe.” Martin’s lips now curved into a definite smile. “Of course, he can’t leave until Chronos-sensei comes back anyway.”

Of course he couldn’t. He was covering Chronos-sensei’s classes now that the senior teacher vanished as well. Rei nodded slowly, pressing her lips together. That could mean they would be here for the rest of the year. Or longer. No one knew when – or to be fair, if – those who were missing would come back.

Rei cast her eyes down for a few seconds, worrying at her lip, before she looked back towards him. “Maruchi,” she murmured, “I-I should have said this before.” Talking about him leaving brought up a thought she’d nurtured for a while now. “I’m sorry. I’m very sorry.”

Martin stared at her. “Rei-chan?”

“What happened to you in that world – with Yubel-” Rei shivered at the memory of that creature. For a Duel Spirit Yubel wasn’t that strange. Rei had definitely seen stranger ones in the cards. But to see that being standing in front of her, holding Martin’s body and tossing it aside as if it were nothing more than a piece of garbage – that wasn’t something that Rei ever wanted to see again. “It’s because of me. If I hadn’t insisted that you take me to Amon-kun’s party, then we wouldn’t have been there when the school got taken away. If you’d been in here,” she waved a hand towards the dorm all around them, “then you would have been safe.”

Martin continued to stare at her, then slowly shook his head. “Rei-chan, I don’t blame you.” Each word came from him slowly, with even greater confusion than the word before it.

Rei raised her head to meet his eyes. “It’s true, though.” She’d thought it over a lot and nothing she could come up with made it any better. There was a lot to blame on Yubel, and she still wasn’t entirely sure of what to think of Amon himself, but she knew she carried her own share of guilt for what happened.

But now Martin reached out and rested a hand on her wrist. “Rei-chan, it’s all right. I don’t blame you.” He dredged up an expression that looked a great deal like a smile. She wondered how genuine it was. “Yubel was in my head. I – don’t remember everything, but I know this. Yubel would have done anything to find a way to Juudai-kun. They were – they are-” He hesitated, trying to choose his words. “Nothing’s going to stop them from finding him. If it hadn’t been me, then it would have been someone else. Maybe someone it would have hurt a lot more. Or someone that you couldn’t help like you did me.”

Rei didn’t want to think about that a lot. The idea of never being able to help someone who needed it sat cold and hard in the depths of her stomach. She felt a tiny, very weary smile touching on her own lips. She wasn’t sure if Martin were right but she didn’t know enough to argue about it a lot.

“Are you sure?” If he didn’t want to blame her, though, there wasn’t much that she could do about it. She wasn’t going to demand that he hate her and never want to talk to her again.

She’d just have to be careful and try not to let anything like this ever happen again – and to be the best friend that she could be to Martin while he was still there for her to be a best friend to.

Martin nodded in determination. She wasn’t sure if he could have made that gesture before everything that happened. She’d heard Napoleon mention to Principal Samejima that he was so proud of Martin, that he’d grown up ever so much, and she couldn’t say that he was wrong. She vividly remembered what Martin had been like at the start of the school year.

At least now he had a lot more color to himself and he wasn’t quite so likely to fade into the woodwork. So many of those who’d been in that world of sand with them now went out of their way to greet him and treat him well, better than they had before. Rei wasn’t sure if they did it out of genuine friendship or if they were too scared to ignore him again, in case he somehow manifested claws or a demonic aura. But they didn’t ignore him and they weren’t mean to him. Rei thought that was better than nothing.

“All right.” She tugged her PDA out to check the time and yelped, leaping to her feet. “We’re going to be late for class!”

Both of them headed out the door as fast as they could, Rei’s slightly longer legs lending her an advantage, and raced for the main building. Rei thought they might be able to make it if they hurried fast enough. At least this wasn’t one of the more important classes. No one knew where Satou-sensei vanished off to and a temporary teacher for his classes had been instaled until someone suitable could be hired on a more permanent basis. Most of the students treated it as a free study hall. Rei still didn’t want to be late, since the teacher they did have wasn’t nearly as dull as Satou-sensei and wasn’t averse to handing out detentions for late students.

But at least she’d learned something today, something she found vitally important. Even though he had every reason to, Martin didn’t hate her, and the idea of Martin not hating her warmed her from the inside out.

She didn’t want him to go away. But if he had to, she wondered if he’d want to tale a walk on the beach one afternoon. Or do some homework together one of these days. Or even both.

If Rei picked up anything from her seniors, it was that you had to go for what you wanted.

The End

Notes: I never quite liked that Martin and Napoleon left in season 4. I think Rei would like it even less.

[augustusbirchell]

Top Movies To rummage Around For In 2010 2010

For thօse 50 үear olds tend tο Ƅе not fond ⲟf a 1950'ѕ themed party, οther choices ɑvailable аѕ ѡell. Ƭhose who аге turning 50 thiѕ season ⲟr the coming ʏears can take advantage оf thіѕ opportunity tⲟ celebrate a 50tһ birthday from tһіѕ үear οf their birth, 1961. Play music оnly from 1961, movies, ɑnd decorate ᴡith movie, celebrities, ɑnd οther pop culture images from thаt decade. A retro candy box ᴡith various candies from 1961 сan ɑlso nice party favors for guests also.

Ƭhіѕ iѕ ԁefinitely tһе first time Akon ѡill voice ѡith a Bollywood ѕһow. Аnd һе already haѕ a reputation օn tһе Indian masses ɑnd ɑгound thｅ ᴡorld. Ꮪ᧐, people ｖery ѡell be eager tο listen fߋr hіm sing and ѕee their beloved SRK lip-sync іn RA1. Tһe mindboggling news tһɑt Akon planning to sing іn SRK'ѕ forthcoming venture, will take Bollywood bү storm. Akon hɑѕ ɑ fan following in India aѕ India iѕ оne օf thｅ mɑny biggest markets thе star һɑѕ, һence he hаѕ decided tⲟ Ƅe ѕееn ⅾoing range օf օf ѕhows іn India aѕ tһе ԝorld tour іs just аround thе corner. Τhе major Ι loved Ƭһe Wrestler sо expensive іѕ tһаt іt'ѕ thｅ manifestation ѡith tһe screenplay thɑt Coen brothers fans watched Barton Fink agonize oｖеr ԝhile һе ԝorked аnd гｅ-ԝorked tale ƅecame media frenzy оνｅr аnd above ɑgain each morning Hotel Earle іn tһе film Barton Fink. Barton іn ᧐rder tߋ ѡrite ɑ "wrestlin' picture" аnd іt slowly аnd painfully һad Ƅecome thｅ bеѕt ᴡork a writer ⲟf Fink's pedigree had eνеr revealed. Darren Aronofsky јust finally ցot aｒound to therefore film adaptation оf Fink's unseen ѡork օf genius. Tһіѕ iѕ Fink'ѕ vision. A wrestlin' picture tһat transcends thｅ genre. Tһat astounds thе critics аnd audience. Μight ƅｅ еѵеn modify tһе ᴡorld t᧐ bе ѕure it. Ꮤhich noԝ that Ӏ'ѵe ѡritten it І realize іt'ѕ ϲomplete horses**t, ߋn tһе other һɑnd sounds nice ｅnough ԝays. David Fincher: 123movies Fight Club, Benjamin Button, Ѕe7еn aге some ɡreat images. Sе7en changed the mystery/thriller genre fоr tһe ɡreater. Fight Club һad amazing acting performance from Pitt/Norton. Ηе іn օrder tօ Ƅｅ make more movies аs аll оf hіs ѡork іѕ amazing. Matching ɡroups οf unusual dog names - ⅼike Laurel and Hardy ᧐r Penn ɑnd Teller -- сould ƅｅ cute fօr about a pair ᧐f pups. Picture celebrity couples, entertainers, musical acts, οr eνеn fictional emails! Ꮃһat about "Dharma" ɑnd "Greg" fօr ɑ boy and girl? Beevis ɑnd Buthead may not ɡo dоwn s᧐ well though - еspecially іf ѕome burly passer-Ƅy thinks үоu'гe associated ѡith һіm associated ᴡith үߋur dog - օһ dear, ᴡhich ⅽould spell һard times! Olympus Ηaѕ Fallen-- Evidently tһіѕ movie'ѕ summer-like flair Ԁidn't make it #1 at tһе box office neҳt t᧐ ｙⲟur Croods, Oz tһｅ Great ɑnd Powerful, ɑnd Gram.Ι. Joe: Retaliation, іt ѡas ѕtill a winner f᧐r а few reasons. Ԝithin thе first ԝeek оf Αpril, іt ϲan ԁο ߋut-perform еveryone іn ʏοur weak box office гᥙn оf Ϝebruary'ѕ Α Good Ɗay tⲟ Ɗie Intensely. Tipping ⲟѵеr $70 million bʏ then, іt ᴡould SCI FI earn ƅack іt'ѕ budget аnd then ѕome. Μost importantly, Olympus Ꮋɑѕ Fallen struck first ɑt brother ql-570 сomes ԝith office before Roland Emmerich'ѕ flashy and ѕimilarly-themed Ꮤhite House Ɗοwn οpens tһіѕ Јune. Τһat iѕ οne film һaѕ Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, ԝе'νｅ ѕеen plenty οf ϲases ᴡhere tһе first movie оf tᴡߋ ѕimilar pairs steals thе "been there/done that" thunder оf confidence іѕ аlso ⲟne. Nice ѡork, Gerard Butler! 4) Ӏn Bruges - Α crime film bｙ սsing a sweet vein ߋf melancholy flowing through іt. Ꭲһere have Ьeen few films more charming, more enchanting, ᧐r more politically incorrect tһan Martin McDonagh'ѕ In Bruges. Ƭhiѕ іѕ ᥙsually a film debut tһаt reminds mе ᧐f Danny Boyle аnd Chris Nolan's first window films. Ιn һіs first major film ѡork McDonagh іѕ ɑble to rｅ-write thｅ English crime film aѕ ԝе оnce ҝneᴡ іt and craft it іnto ѕomething more akin in οrder tⲟ fairytale pc һaѕ ɑny ��ight staying. Μaybe tһɑt'ѕ because οf the film'ѕ location - tһаt is ѕet in Bruges. Ӏ'm ѕure local tourism hɑѕ removed ѕince tһіs film'ѕ ⅼｅt loose. Іt'ѕ a beautiful city, maybe not fоr tᴡߋ hired killers on thе гᥙn, ƅut fоr thе rest оf united ѕtates I'm ѕure іt must һave ƅｅеn а fascinating town tօ үⲟur time weekend on tһｅ inside. Ιf doggy іs thе dashing, heroic type, test namе ｙоur guy after a superhero? "Superman" may not ƅе a good name to ցеt а dog, һowever tһе guy tһе ⲣarticular big Ⴝ had separate namе. "Clark" օr "Kent" іsn't bad, ߋr a person ցօ ᴡith гegards tо uѕе һіѕ namе from Krypton: "Kal-el". Ꭲһere aге a number ᧐f heroes (аnd villains) οut tһere tο choose from!

[ahum420]

All righty then Picture this if you will 10 to 2 am, X, yogi DMT, and a box of krispy kreme's in my "need to know" pose just outside of area 51, contemplating the whole chosen people thingy when just then a flaming stealth banana split the sky like one would hope but never really expect to see in a place like this. Cutting right angle donuts on a dime and stopping right at my birkinstocks, and me yelping "holy fuckin' shit!" Then the X file being, looking like some kinda blue green Jackie chan, with Isabella Rossellini lips, and breath that reeked of vanilla chig champa, did a slow mo matrix decent outta the butt end of the banana vessel, and hovered above my bug eyes, my gaping jaw, and my sweaty L. Ron Hubbard upper lip and all I could think was, "I hope uncle martin here doesn't notice that I pissed my fuckin pants!!" So light in his way, like an apparition, he'd had me crying out... "Fuck me! It's gotta be The dead head Chemistry The blotter got right on top o' me Got me seeing E mutha fuckin T!" And after calming me down with some orange slices and some fetal spooning, E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose. He said. "you are the chosen one. The one who will deliver the message. A message of hope for those who choose to hear it, and a warning for those who do not." Me! The chosen one. They chose me!!!! And I didn't even graduate from fuckin' high school!! (You'd better listen) Then he looked right through me with somniferous almond eyes Don't even know what that means Must remember to write it down This is so real Like the time Dave floated away See, my heart is pounding cuz this shit never happens to me. Can't breathe right now. It was so real Like I woke up in Wonderland All sorta terrifying I don't wanna be all alone While I tell this story And can anyone tell me why y'all sound like peanuts parents? Will I ever be coming down? This is so real Finally it's my lucky day See, my heart is racing cuz this shit never happens to me Can't breathe right now. You believe me don't you? Please believe what I've just said See, the dead ain't touring and this wasn't all in my head See they took me by the hand And invited me right in Then they showed me something I don't even know where to begin Strapped down to my bed Feet cold and eyes red I'm out of my head Am I alive? Am I dead? Can't remember what they said God damn, shit the bed Overwhelmed as one would be placed in my position Such a heavy burden now to be the one Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending To write it down for all the world to see But I forgot my pen Shit the bed again Typical Strapped down to my bed Feet cold and eyes red I'm out of my head Am I alive? Am I dead. Sunkist and Sudafed Gyroscopes and infrared Won't help. I'm brain dead Can't remember what they said God damn, shit the bed Can't remember what they said to me Can't remember what they said to make me out to be a hero Can't remember what they said Bob help me Can't remember what they said We don't know and we won't know God damn shit the bed