#especially automatic by the bonfyre | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tales-from-exo-planet · 5 years

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ALMATY | PATHCODES VOL. II

ACT I. “crew love”

Length - 4,473

Mood - nostalgic, coolin’

Pairing - Jongdae x Reader

“Say what you mean You ain't gotta play games with me So automatic, you know so automatic Say what you mean You ain't gotta fake sh*t with me So automatic, no so automatic”

“Automatic” by The Bonfyre

__________________

“Are you flying into Arizona still or-”

You knew that _______ (Arizona OG Reader) had discussed plans with MQ just this morning and asked that he confirmed then with Chanyeol as soon as possible.

Why she decided not to mention plans to Chanyeol herself you weren’t sure since you all met in the lobby of Minseok’s resort following your day of rest before traveling back to your respective home offices.

Maybe she had only deferred to MQ since the two of you planned to leave earlier that morning but decided to sleep in and catch a later flight.

But regardless of the reason, you watched Chanyeol, the mysterious man who had a knack for reappearing.

He was just as long limbed, bowed, and agilely muscular as he had been when you met him in passing years ago at Feinbäckerei.

Like many at your university, you’d heard from classmates about a local student run bakery whose menu changed based on the seasons.

The student body was abuzz with the news each week and you were curious as to why no one shared the same story even twice a month.

Figuring that this was a place you had to experience once, you took the metro following one of your evening seminars following behind a twittering trail of animated classmates as they hurried through the front door just as the “library” packed up and the settings shifted, with the aid of a the same students who had been quietly studying, as if an unnatural retrograding force of Mother Nature personified had altered the balance of the seasons.

You managed to order a plate of buchtel and watched the magic of the evening unfold.

How could students have organized something so seamless?

What kind of mastermind put this event together?

After finishing your plate you ordered a glass of ice wine and milled about the oak tables of students gathered together whispering together throughout numbers before exploding in whooping cheers and thunderous applause amid clinking of proper wine glasses and forks tapping on porcelain dessert plates.

You recognized the way students organized themselves in packs separated by universities and regions, realizing that this had become a focal hangout regardless of university affiliation.

You remembered the last set of the evening, a gangly rouge cheeked towering boy with a mop of messy curls stepped forward to the mic, the shoulders of his hoodie slipping off of his bare shoulders as he spoke, “mic check, check, ch-ch-ch-check.”

His associates, gangly but squat where he was tall, manned their keyboards, drums, electric bass guitars and synths nodding once in approval.

You raised your eyes at their aloof stares into the crowd, and stopped mid circulation of the place to hold up the wall near the glass case where more precious buchtel could be seen amongst the assortment of desserts.

The tower turned to his left picking up his guitar, and picked up his electric guitar, fitting the strap over and down across his shoulders until he was comfortable.

You looked around at the crowd seeing that they reflected the unbothered gaze of the mute band, continuing to chatter amongst themselves quietly as if there was no one there.

The tower slightly cocked his head again to his left and the drummer kicked into gear at a zinging speed, the tower and the bass guitarist following suit their fingers sliding from the top of their instruments’ necks to its core.

You jolted at the screams of appreciation that erupted from the crowd as if they had been waiting to be electrified, and suddenly the entirety of the place was on its feet chasing the tempo of the riotous troupe.

“Different advertisements worked for different crowds we were trying to bring in. For the musicians it was the flyers, the general crowd were told by word of mouth and social media. We have patrons just casually walking by and entering too,” someone was saying in an excited voice somewhere far from the howling and stomping happening in front of you.

You turned into the hall behind you, placing your glass pitifully empty of ice wine on the counter of the glass dessert case to your right as you made your way towards the animated voices.

“Do we have all of the data we need on each of those outlets?”

“How was I supposed to keep data if you changed one of the methods at the last minute and are just now telling me about it?” A voice angrily retorted. “I’m not a mind reader.”

“It’s nothing to be so personally afflicted by,” mediated a calmer voice but you heard a grunt nonetheless from the angry voice who had just sounded.

You neared the open door of the kitchen, knocking as you came into the light of the room.

They turned towards you from where they stood at the silver cooking table, their laptops and notebooks neatly placed in front as placemats for the eight of them seated there.

“Excuse me, are you lost?” The angry voice asked of you once again, his eyebrow raised in particular annoyance at your sudden appearance.

“Hi, I’m ______,” you smiled genially, unabashed at the way they stared at you.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help wandering around the place. I was curious about who put this event together. I’ve been hearing about this place all week and I’m amazed at what’s going on here especially since I don’t recognize any of you from my university,” you looked around at them all as they were seated there watching you.

“And…? Why are you back here? What do you want? We’re busy,” the angry voice had some very angry eyes too.

“Currently I’m studying international law and this venture interests me from a sociological perspective. I understand we are from opposing schools and obviously are individually engaged in unique studies but if there is a place for someone with my background, I want to be part of it,” you answered simply, looking directly at the source of the angry voice paired with an equally irate gaze.

A brighter voice answered you after a moment of stunned silence.

He walked forward from the head of the table, extending a hand to you. He had rolled back the sleeves of his pressed white button down, his tie painted with smiley faces sporting sardonic grins, pulled aside of its alignment.

“I am Minseok. I am happy to meet you _______ and appreciate your admiration of our little school project. I am curious about how your background as you say can be of use,” he was so handsome with his glittering toothy smile and his downturned ice blue eyes.

Holding your hand in his, he turned and acknowledged each member of the table.

“That’s _______ (Arizona OG Reader), also from a neighboring university, and these two associates of mine are also from my program, _______ (Berlin Reader) and-” in your mind you couldn’t stop yourself from saying “Angry Eyes” in place of his name when Minseok mentioned it. It just fit.

_______ (Berlin Reader) and _______ (Arizona OG Reader) both nodded to you, their smiles gracious as they moved their laptops and notebooks aside and made space for you between them on the opposite of Angry Eyes at the head of the table.

As you took your seat, and pulled out your notebook from your seminar, the girl named _______ (Berlin Reader) leaned into you whispering, “welcome.”

———

You looked at Minseok now where he stood beside your tight band, and gauged the degrees of separation that had built between you all as you stood in the present. So very far from that kitchen round table and that initial kind whisper of welcome.

Minseok stood amongst you as he had stood leader then and looked at each of you in familiar affection before settling his unyielding gaze on _______ (Lyon Reader) feeling a chilled current whip through the swirling air as you watched him wait for her to acknowledge him.

What does he want…?

After bidding sweet _______ (Lyon Reader) goodbye, you turned in arm with _______ (Arizona OG Reader) to go, pausing mid motion at that warbling baritone calling out to your friend. She turned over her shoulder, holding tightly to you.

“I am going to spend a weekend with ______, and then I’ll head back. MQ said he’ll meet you there before he goes out of town,” Fiammetta revealed, her tone bored as she informed Chanyeol. His honey brown eyes widened in surprise as he listened to her.

“Oh...I’ll see you then. Safe travels ladies,” he stepped back carefully from you both as if he heard the intention behind her rebuff, “not now please.”

You watched Chanyeol go, following behind Baekhyun who waited for him within the airport sliding doors.

You took another glance back at _______ (Lyon Reader) who watched him there, a sudden socially pleasant smile gracing her mouth that had been set in uncertainty just a moment before.

Love is powerful in its ability to disarm.

Love can redirect as well as it can guide.

And the tremors of doubt in love can sever and destroy even the most faithful to its source.

As she turned to Minseok who began to speak to her in ebullient soft tones, you pulled tighter to _______ (Arizona OG Reader), bringing her away.

She stiffened at your sudden movement but went with you when she turned and looked at the expression of mischievousness on your face.

“What’s all that about with Chanyeol? Why didn’t you tell him where you were going? What has he done to annoy you this time?” You asked, watching as her own eyes widened at your brash questions.

You almost laughed aloud at her expression. Surely she knew better than to expect you to not ask outright.

“Why do I have to tell him where I’m going? I’ve never had to tell him before. It’s just...kind of annoying to be so close in contact all the time now-”

“Kid brother annoying or annoying that you like it?” You asked, watching her turn it over in her mind.

“Can’t they do anything without us babysitting? Though I’m not sure he’s a kid brother anyway…” she tsked laughing with you as you suddenly laughed at her.

“Oh hush,” she blushed pulling away from you but you held on to her as you went your way into the airport.

————

“I always come here for provisions if I’m staying in for the weekend,” you said to _______ (Arizona OG Reader) as you passed through the market, looking over the fresh produce within the stalls.

“The fruit looks like it’s bulging. Goodness it looks so delicious. It can’t be winter time, can it?” She asked, eyeing the crates of fresh plump blackberries:

You placed your selections of assorted fruits, and fresh fish, in your carts and hurried along to the cashier.

“And you’re only a block or two from this? Goodness I love Almaty,” _______ (Arizona OG Reader) said, falling in step beside you after wrapping her hair and shoulders to step out into the light mist.

“Mhm. Just about a block or two,” you said, adjusting your bag and purse as you waited for her.

You walked together as leisurely as you could in the light mist passing by the open shops along the way, graciously moving to the side as chittering elderly couples and chattering young parents and their children passed alongside you both heading to the market you had just left.

“Hey honey, we’re home!” You called as you entered with _______ (Arizona OG Reader) on your heels heading straight for the kitchen to wash your wares.

“I got the rest of the assembly love if you want to get comfortable,” you said to her after she helped you wash the last of the fruits.

“It’s so heavenly here _____. You could never get me out of here,” _______ (Arizona OG Reader) said as she walked down the earthen stairs into the den just beyond your kitchen island where you assembled your buffet for the afternoon.

You joined her on your suede couch proudly parading the tray of provisions in front of you both but dissolved into laughter the moment you saw the look on _______’s (Arizona OG Reader) face once she saw your chess board.

“It’s time for a rematch,” she declared, eyebrows raised in challenge as you poured a glass of chapoutier belleruche for you both before taking a seat and rolling up your own sleeves.

“Best of three?” You agreed as you munched on a fleshy grape.

“Mhm! But what should we- yes! Have you heard their latest EP?” She exclaimed as you turned in the middle of her sentence to wheel your vinyl cart from its nested place beside the record player until it was beside you where you sat on the couch opposite _______ (Arizona OG Reader) who reclined on your loveseat.

She popped up at the sight of the embossed vinyl cover you offered her, reaching over the tempered glass coffee table where your acrylic chess set had been placed.

You turned the record over in your hands to the A side and positioned the needle, the neo soul tune rippling throughout your heated den.

She took a sip of the chapoutier belleruche as she reclined on your love seat, a hedonistic smile curling at her lips as she cradled the vinyl.

“Those were the days,” she murmured sipping leisurely from her glass before you poured both her and yourself another glass.

“We were a wild bunch for awhile...we had such dreams then,” you reminisced along with her, wrapping yourself around one of the pillows there your mother had stitched from your father’s work shirts.

“How is it being here now though? I know it was hard for you then and I’m sorry I couldn’t come-” you shook your head at the apology away that she offered again. When you first reconnected she had said something similar but shorter as you had to shift focus quickly into the multitude of tasks _______ (Berlin Reader) and Minseok had demanded. But finally here together she meant to discuss it further but didn’t mind not talking about it now. You were at peace after all.

“No one knew how long we had. I’m glad I came back for him and got to see him. I’m sorry that we all lost touch over the years and just went our separate ways but that’s how it goes. I mean I didn’t get to be there for you when-” and like you she shook her head, her sensual smile borne of the homey atmosphere of warmth, alcohol, soul, and chess splitting to reveal a slight regretful frown at the mention of that broken engagement she never wanted to discuss at length, an intimacy you and so few were allowed.

“It’s like we just faded back into our own lives and all the promises we made just…” you made a flimsy gesture with your hand as the next song succeeded the first.

She sighed heavily, tipping her head back as she took another sip.

“I feel like I’ve just been going and going for years. Just moving and working and it’s been fun. For the most part,” she whispered, as she eyed the bottle that was half as full as it had been when you both sat down.

She looked to you and you nodded, and so she reached forward, tipping her glass slightly to gather more of the wine before pouring you some as well.

“But this, this business venture. This is incredible, _______ . It’s like the whole world is our playground,” she sighed again as she reclined, finally making her move along the board.

You eyed your options across the board, answering in kind, “it’s sinful how invincible it felt reuniting with you all over the past year. This board covers so many fields, so many outlets for creativity. There is so much potential here...it’s too good to be true.”

She waited until you moved and then leaned forward, swaying slightly as she made her approach.

“It is too good to be true. The Pathcodes are a fairytale. It’s the global empire companies dream of becoming,” She inhaled the last dregs of her glass and you followed her lead, hearing yourself beginning to hum along in time with the keyboard as you reclined again.

“From an orphan to a billionaire leading our merry empire, Minseok has had the Cinderella tale to beat all tales,” You mused, turning on your side with your father’s pillow clutched to your chest to watch her next move as she leaned forward, considering.

You picked up a couple grapes while you waited.

“Do you think it’ll last though? I mean...yea it’s been a great year but this is a different group of people than we started with then,” she stated simply, nodding to you when she’d considered all of her options and made her advance.

You thought back to the group you knew, the eclectic multidisciplinary gathering of students within the greater Berlin area, and reflected on who had now arrived in the present.

“Why do you mean do I think it will last? Minseok is just as ruthless as he was then. He almost got himself and the rest of us arrested for carrying on with his social experiment even after the semester was over because we were not legally operating in that abandoned building,” You chuckled at the memory but _______ (Arizona OG Reader) tilted her chin to the side as she eyed you.

Get real.

“Do you think the board is really going to last? The event was spectacular yes. Our gains have been phenomenal. Public interest and approval is solid. Our community partnerships are growing. But will we all last? It’s a lot of work and the wear and tear is starting to show...you heard what I heard…” she inclined her head towards you in a knowing way.

“Well, I mean we talked about that while we were there. I...I don’t know. I couldn't have imagined this empire coming from what we started back then. We were not there in our minds. We would have kept the little library going and actually legally set everything up as it should have been, but that was peanuts compared to what we are doing now. And it could never have been possible without the team that we have now. I honestly feel like that goes without saying,” you added finally eyeing your moment of opportunity.

You dived forward moving the acrylic piece just so, winning a begrudging groan from _______ (Arizona OG Reader).

“But do you think everyone will stick around? I don’t know everyone as well as I know some-”

“Chanyeol for instance,” you quipped and she rolled her eyes at you.

“Stop,” she tried not to laugh, but you could see the room turning in her eyes. She was happily buzzed, and peachy though clearly still in control of her expressions.

You reached for the bottle to pour again.

“I just mentioned a name,” you shrugged innocently and she snorted at your attempts to feign indifference.

“It’s the way you said it. It’s so ridiculous. It just happened once,” she sighed, gathering her hair from her neck as she gathered it into a bun atop her head. As soon as she removed her hands, her hair tumbled from the top of her head allowing her a brief moment of cool respite from where the barrel curls were sticking to her neck.

She popped some cool grapes in her mouth.

“I don’t know if the entire board will last but it happens you know? We all have lives, don’t we? I say we just allow it to be fun for as long as we can and then-”

“Minseok is serious about world domination though. Can’t you tell? We talked about him being an orphan and his trust he’d been left as a child after he completed boarding school in Berlin but he’s earned beyond what was left to him. I don’t see someone that hungry ever stopping no matter what’s going on around him. And I’m not sure everyone has decided on this being their life’s work the way that he has. We have a varied group of people giving their time to this. People have children now, some are married, some are still dating...I just...can we depend on this board to keep going? Is this a real thing?” She popped a couple more grapes in her mouth, munching thoughtfully as she thought of a winning counter to your move.

She sighed as she gracefully moved from the loveseat to sit upon the furred floor rug beneath the glass coffee table.

You thought about the people you had met, considering what they revealed about themselves and the truths they didn’t realize that they displayed.

Commitment to a dream even if it didn’t belong to you was not something you were new to. For you, your word was your bond, it was your life’s blood. You were dependable, and consistent. The same young woman who stepped into the kitchen of that abandoned building transformed into an after hours library cafe was the same woman now who navigated the global system of rules and regulations that kept the livelihoods of your board’s reputation clean.

“I think we’ll have to consider it with _______ (Berlin Reader). I know that this would be something important to her to discuss as well,” you said watching _______ (Arizona OG Reader) as an idea dawned on her mid thought.

Your phone suddenly chimes on your island counter.

“Oh boo! I don’t want to work,” you muttered into your pillow, turning away into the couch at the familiar tune.

“If they call again, I’ll answer for you and tell them just that,” she said rising from her perch to walk to your kitchen island where she grabbed your phone.

You waited for her to set it down on the coffee table in front of you before picking it up to look at the missed call.

“Oh it’s Jong-dae,” you announced, sitting up as she sat down again upon the furred floor rug.

Quickly you dialed him back, placing the phone to your ear as you gazed at the board.

“Hello ____,” you heard him smile after the first ring and you found yourself smiling as well hearing a cheeky laugh from _______ (Arizona OG Reader).

“Hey, so you’re settled back in then? How was the dinner?” You asked, tossing the other pillow beside you at _______’s (Arizona OG Reader) head when she wasn’t looking.

“Ah it went well. Thank you so much for recommending that venue for the listening party. It was perfect,” it sounded like he had company. You heard a faucet softly going and a slight whisper followed by glasses clinking in the background.

“Ah I’m so happy to hear that. That’s wonderful. But was it a bad time to call you back? It sounds like you’re busy?” You inquired but you heard him cover the phone for a moment as he spoke to his company. It sounded like he said he would be right back.

“Oh no, it’s fine. It’s just…” you heard slippered feet quickly padding away from the sound of the faucet, and a door snap open and closed.

“So how are things going there eh? Isn’t this date number…three?” You asked, chuckling as Jong-dae chuckled too at your mention of his company. From the volume of his laugh, you knew you were right.

“Yes she came to the listening party also just this afternoon. I decided to invite her over for dinner and to try that recipe you recommended too,” he lowered his voice considerably though he was far from his company you imagined.

“Oh? Well I hope you brought the right spice you know? Since you’re trying that recipe out anyway. She must be something special if you’re pulling out that recipe,” you teased and he laughed good naturedly at your prodding.

_______ (Arizona OG Reader) watched you as you listened to Jongdae tell you again about the diplomat’s daughter whom he was courting after a chance meeting at your embassy office a couple months prior.

You had fallen in a comfortable friendship with him since stepping into your advisory role, and found Jong-dae a handsome breath of fresh air that you were delighted to work with.

He was a peculiar albeit alluring combination of artist and intellectual being that he was both socially conscious and a rock and roll soloist.

In him you’d made a fast friend that you trusted almost immediately. There was something so pleasant about being in his presence, and listening to him speak that found you on the phone or within each other’s presence for hours at a time allowing the day to just slip from you.

But even he was someone, _______ (Berlin Reader) had warned you, that needed to be guided away from his natural tendencies for the protection of this joint venture you and _______ (Arizona OG Reader) had just been privately discussing.

It felt ridiculous as _______ (Arizona OG Reader) would put it to play the “older sister” role but somehow for Jong-dae you truly didn’t mind and felt that he was truly thankful to you, playing up his “younger brother” role.

“Ah, _____ noona, I learned it well since you showed it to me no? Don’t you believe I can pull it off?” He whined, slipping back into his familiar mother tongue whose nuances you could easily follow.

You rolled your eyes, waving _______ (Arizona OG Reader) on as she waited for you to make your move.

“But last time you cooked for me, you used too much spice and you weren’t trying to impress anyone then. I’m just reminding you. It’s not all about the hip work to catch a lady you know,” you heard _______ (Arizona OG Reader) spluttering wine into her glass as Jong-dae broke into a coughing fit.

“I’m going to pretend that you didn’t say that and just go now,” he choked into the phone and you laughed as you said goodbye throwing in a “be responsible!” to him before he hung up, beaming as you placed the phone down.

“Why do you tease people so much ______? Goodness,” _______ (Arizona OG Reader) coughed again, patting her chest dry with her napkin where the wine had spilled onto her chest.

“Come on! I have older brothers. It’s just what we do. It’s how I grew up. I feel like it’s an experience to be shared. And look you’re still here,” you said, taking another sip from your glass.

I hope we’ll all still be here you thought suddenly contemplative as your phone chimed again.

#exo fanfic #jongdae fanfic #chen fanfic #pathcode au #human realm #universe gamma

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