#i can count the number of exceptions on one hand of groups where my bias isn't a rapper

[lesbian-vmin]

Okay. I wanted to revisit this (x) ask to talk about the topic of “disconnect” a little more. I’m going to do it very briefly, and anyone can feel free to disagree with me. I’m sharing anyway.

So, I tend to not get hung up over one video. Or one moment. Or even recent things? Because, let’s just say we watch a video where Vmin don’t have many interactions. Maybe it’s in a Run BTS episode or during an interview. They don’t always have to go out of their way to interact with each other, and just because we don’t see them interacting (especially during Run episodes, or other heavily edited shows such as BV is ITS), doesn’t mean they didn’t interact at all during filming.

As an example, I think it was in a Run episode that Jimin(?) ended up saying that he and Taehyung were watching the stars at night during BV2 in Hawaii. (note to self: find source link later) Sure. We didn’t see it. And we only have Jimin’s words to go off of. But, they spend a number of days at their vacation destination, and we don’t even get a full 24 hours worth of content. They aren’t TV show characters or cartoon characters. They are real people. Their lives go on when the cameras aren’t running, and the things that get edited out (that were filmed, but we’ll never see) actually happened. That being said, a majority of what happens, even during filming will never be seen by us. The only time you can possibly get a full unedited event is during a live show. And fancams of them on stage don’t necessarily count because different angles will tell you different stories.

Moving on to my main point. The reason I don’t think there’s anything weird going on, and try to read too much into things based on what little we get to see is simple. Let’s look back at 2017(?) or 18(?) vmin when everyone cried they weren’t close. We’ve had BV every year (except last, but we got ITS) since 2016. (BELOW THE CUT) (didn’t I say this was going to be breif? 😅)

Europe - 2016

Hawaii - 2017

Malta - 2018

New Zealand - 2019

ITS - 2020

So the reason I was never bothered and affected by those “worries” was literally because of BV, and other small moments we did get to see. Because I know that we don’t possibly get to see everything, but it doesn’t invalidate the moments that obviously show us they are close and okay. And if it’s just one small moment, it means everything. Their relationship doesn’t become more insignificant just because of what we get to see through editing and them putting on a show because they’re working.

In 2016, we had Jimin wanting to eat with Taehyung when he joined the group, but Taehyung wanted to eat seafood with SJ & JK. Him wanting to eat a particular food doesn’t mean he and Jimin aren’t close ffs. They kept in touch the entire time Taehyung was still in Korea filming. If Taehyung didn’t care about Jimin, he would have ignored him or been keeping in touch with another member instead. Later, we have Jimin calling Tae, more in a panic about him being lost than Taehyung himself. When they thought Taehyung’s bag was missing and they’d have to send him home? Watch BV1, and at that part, watch Jimin. See how upset he looks. He just got his best friend with him in Europe, and now he thinks he’s going to lose him again. Notice how he doesn’t participate so much when they start the prank on Taehyung. Because he’s just happy Tae doesn’t have to go, and he doesn’t want to give it away. I mean, this is just my assumption on this part, but it doesn’t seem unreasonable.

In 2017, we have Taehyung and Jimin watching the stars at night in Hawaii. Sure, we don’t get to see it. But we know that it happened because Jimin said so. And without reason to believe he’s lying about it, we have no reason not to accept that as the truth. Then we have the letter Taehyung wrote to Jimin and them being all sentimental about it. Taehyung had to ask if the letters were going to be read out loud, so it’s likely there were things he wanted to say that he didn’t include in the letter. Jimin said that he really understood Taehyung when he heard the letter, and no one (not even the members) could understand why Taehyung cried while reading the letter. And any fan who tries to analyze and tell you why. I wouldn’t give their theory an ounce of thought. Because if Jimin thinks not even the members understand, how can we possibly understand? I promise you there’s no theory out there good enough to be the truth behind Vmin.

In 2018...do I even have to go there? Just look at them during BV. I did a whole ass analysis about this (x), but there’s a lot more that can be said. Jimin was upset, again, obviously, that Taehyung didn’t join them right away. He’s clearly upset (and looks like he wants to cry) when they accidentally order 7 sandwiches for the members as if Taehyung is with them. He was so happy when Taehyung arrived that they held hand, no only across Namjoon’s lap, but on his shoulder, too. Jimin didn’t get to hug him until the end of their lunch, but you can bet he was sitting there waiting for the moment to do so. After Taehyung arrives, they are basically glued to each other, and Jimin goes to see and do the same things he did before because he wants to do them with Taehyung. That speaks volumes for how much he cares about Taehyung, and it shows how valuable Taehyung’s presence is to him. Taehyung could have done the things with any other member who hadn’t done the things yet, but it was Jimin who visited the same places. He even said that he was thinking about the things Taehyung would like while he was doing them, such as looking at the moon (because Taehyung likes the night views).

In 2019? In New Zealand? Don’t even get me started on this one. We have the moments where they slept together, pretty much by choice. Jimin didn’t look upset when Hoseok basically gave him permission to sleep with Taehyung in the camper. Then we later have Jimin giving up the room he wanted because the person he shares the room with was more important, and he wanted to sleep with Taehyung. He didn’t have to. He could have went with the room he wanted. But he chose to take the room with Taehyung. And, of course, we have my most favorite vmin moment of all time. Their horse date. Jimin could have done anything he wanted that day, but he chose to go with Taehyung. He didn’t even want to ride the horse. He wanted to go because he wanted to be with Taehyung, and no one can prove me wrong. If he wanted to ride a bike, why he didn’t go somewhere that was more bike-friendly? Such as a biking trail. Those exists. And they have the perfect terrain for mountain bikes. And I’m sure New Zealand has its fair share of biking trails. But he didn’t. Instead, he went with Taehyung. To a field. (Also, he didn’t say he wanted to ride a bike. He said he wanted to go with Taehyung “but (he) doesn’t wan’t to ride the horse”)

And then we have 2020. In the SOOP. There are a lot of moments in here. You have moments where they were playing together, singing together, and even in bed together. They said they wanted to sleep together, though I’m not sure why that didn’t end up happening. We can talk about theories all day, but I don’t think anyone of us knows the truth. They spent a lot of time together during in the SOOP. It’s more recent, so I don’t want to post too many spoilers for those who haven’t gotten the chance to see it.

So. To sum up all of this. The reason I don’t ever worry too much or read too much into things is because of all this. I can’t say shit about things we don’t get to see if we never even get to hear about it. If there’s a moment of tension between Vmin (I’ve talked about at least one before) we can point out how, at that moment, they seem to be tense and probably have a current issue. But anyone who honestly thinks a small moment of tension is indication of any more serious issues (such as them secretly hating each other) obviously doesn’t have a best friend, or s/o, or sibling, or parent. Because every person you’re close to is a person you get irritated at once in a while. If you never get irritated with them, how do you know you’re close? It’s when we get over things that bother us with our loved ones that prove how much we love them.

Call it confirmation bias if you will, but it’s things like BV and other small moments we get to see that assure me Vmin are as close as can be. Because they’re moments that actually happen, and a year’s worth of edited content that might make it seem like they don’t talk to each other or they’re “weird” doesn’t change the moments that we do get to see. It doesn’t invalidate them. It doesn’t make them less significant. It doesn’t make them non-existent. And go ahead and say that’s me hanging onto a thread. Because one day, there’ll be another moment. And I’ll say, “I told you so.”

The most important thing we have to remember is that we don’t get to see everything. And...I mean. Does it makes sense when I say I can’t talk about a moment they don’t interact, but the moments they do make it clear that they care about each other a lot?

I hope this answers your ask better than the first time I attempted.

Also. Note how the members tend to ask Jimin when they want to know what Taehyung is up to.

#vmin analysis #vmin #needs source

[princess-butters]

Just a celebrity [knj X reader]

A/n: Hi, I know it’s been a while since my last post, I legit have no excuse except that it’s procrastination and that I had no ideas to go by, I still don’t, but I’m trying my best to write as much as I can now. I have a fanfic in the works that I have coming up and it’s hard to write each chapter without it being mostly filler and actually relevant to the story, you know? It’s actually something that’s been in the works for almost 4. Fucking. Years. and I’m just now writing most of the chapters I have planned. It’s somewhat of a short story too which I’m glad because I was really worried it would be too long and dragged out with said filler but what I do have is a character introduction to the characters. It’s not all of them but it’s at least something to begin the story so once it’s done, I can post it and show you guys what I’m working on. But anyways I’m getting sidetracked. This was originally supposed to be for an imagine but it became too long and I decided it should be its own story so enjoy.

Warnings: [TW // Mentions of forced strict diet, and starvation, Namjoon really wants to eat but can’t because of his company, description of being underweight. Fluff with bits of angst. Y/n is a cynical bitch to Namjoon in the beginning but warms up to him at the end of their first encounter. It’s a fluffy relationship at the end. If I’m missing any TW, please let me know.]

Word count: 1.8k

Your first interaction with Namjoon was during his concerts in Korea since you were studying abroad and your friend, whom you’ve met online and was the sole reason why you wanted to move here, told you about a K-pop group that had debuted a while ago and it’s safe to say that you...didn’t care too much for their music and you only went to their concert to support your friend who was quickly becoming a big fan of them. It’s a unique story, really, it’s not your simple story of a fangirl who goes to some concert and one of the members sees them in the audience and brings them backstage. No, this was completely different. You never had the desire about fantasizing idols when you were younger, now that’s not to say that you didn’t enjoy music because you did, hell, you even own band merch that you still proudly wear but you never found them to be attractive like most fans would and always saw them just as artists.

While Namjoon did spot you and your friend in the crowd, he didn’t tell some security guard so you could exchange phone numbers – it was by complete accident and fate one day when you were walking home from the grocery store to pick up some food for you and your friend until you heard someone bolting towards you, running away from something that seemed serious. Annoyed and a bit taken back by his actions at first, you glance behind you not expecting much but what you didn’t expect was the amount of crazed fangirls heading your way. Gasping as you saw the hurdle of fans, your feet were stuck planted on the ground, standing there frozen with fear as the young, violent fans inched closer and closer, pushing each other around like a bunch of wild animals, until you felt the warmth of someone’s hand, presumably the same guy from earlier.

“Come on, don’t just stand there like a crazy person! I know a place where we can get rid of them!” He sounded young, about your age, the young musician took your hand in his and dragged you with him.

And that’s how you became stuck with each other behind some gritty, old building, trash bins and garbage all over the bleak scenery, you and the young musician huddled up together in-between two dumpsters as the loud and obnoxious cheers of fans faded out into the air. Both sighing with relief, you look up at him unimpressed.

“I guess this is your everyday lifestyle?” You question the young star and he lets out a heavy sigh, still trying to catch his breath from running so fast. It probably didn’t help matters that he was also dragging you along with him.

“You haven’t seen the worst of it. I usually find these girls in my room.” He tells you nonchalantly, like he’s used to it at this point.

“Shouldn’t that be considered trespassing?”

“Yeah but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m a big star around here and what these girls want, they’ll sure as hell get it.”

“Wow. And here I thought you were just another puppet for the music industry.” You reply back with a snarky undertone, lifting yourself up from the ground and wiping any muck and dirt left on your clothes. The young musician didn’t take your words kindly and narrowed his eyebrows together.

“Hey listen, it’s not as easy as you may think. Just be thankful you’re still alive because if they had caught you, you would’ve been roadkill by now.” He commented as if it was a statement of fact.

“I barely know you!” You argued, lifting your arms up to emphasize your point.

“Doesn’t matter to them. They see some girl out with a popular celebrity, they become lions and you’re their prey.”

You roll at his comment, thinking he’s just over-exaggerating. “Well thank you for the joyride, but I really should get back to my apartment.”

“What did you get?” He asks curiously as he stares at your bag full of food, he sounded like a kid who saw a bag full of candy on Halloween.

“Black bean noodles with rice on the side.” You explain to him simply, going over to make sure you got exactly what you needed and it didn’t fall out while you were running.

The man rests his hand against his stomach, it begins rumbling with hunger as he heard those three words. He hasn’t eaten since yesterday because of the intense and strict schedule his company has forced him to go through and he would be lying right now if he said he wasn’t hungry. “Black bean noodles? That sounds really good! That’s one of my favorite dishes, I haven’t had something like that in a while.”

You cross your arms, thinking it was his way of attempting to relate to you on some level. “Oh please, you’re a star! I bet you eat everything that’s handed to you.” You didn’t mean for it to come out so cold and bitter but you couldn’t help yourself, this was some celebrity and you’ve had a dislike for them because a lot of them are just stuck-up snobs who bully everyone lower class than them. The man gives you a look that even you couldn’t figure out, almost like he was envisioning the different foods he wished he could eat but couldn’t.

“I wish it were that simple. My company would kill me if they saw me eating anything like that, I’m forced to be on a strict diet and I’m barely allowed to eat a granola bar let alone noodles.”

Shocked by his explanation, you lower down your arms and began feeling bad for making such assumptions. You alternate looking between him and the food, clearly the thought of him starving had profusely disturbed you and you couldn’t help but send an expression of empathy and sadness to the lone musician. When you decided to speak up once more, your voice went up an octave, softly responding back in a more friendly manner, it was your discreet way of apologizing to the poor guy for being so harsh. “Really? I’ve never got it before. My friend likes them and practically begged me to get it for her.”

“Your friend has good taste. I guess I better get going, the fans have died down and it’s probably safe for me to leave. It was nice meeting you.”

“Yeah.” You mindlessly say as you watch him turn around before you could say anything else but when he rounds the corner, you quickly find your voice once again and call out to him, hoping he hasn’t left just yet. “Hey! If you want to, why don’t you come over and have dinner?”

He emerges from the side and leans against the bricks walls, hands in his pockets like he’s trying to protect himself from the freezing cold. “I can’t. Mostly because we don’t know each other and my company would kill me if I ate something that wasn’t on their list which is not many, to be honest.”

You slowly walk up towards him and look at him directly, taking a minute to look at his features. Poor thing looked like he was starving himself, even though you’ve never liked idols and found them all to be the same mindless puppets, it can’t be said for this guy. His cheek bones were hollowed, he’s skinny but to an unhealthy standard, and his eyes were baggy and darkened around the sockets, almost sunken in. You couldn’t tell if it was from a lack of sleep, starvation, or both. You hesitate for a moment before placing your mitten hand on top of his exposed hand. “But you’re starving. I can’t let you walk away and not have something.”

“I really can’t.”

“Please? I really don’t want to leave you in this state and the food I have isn’t that bad for you.”

After realizing that you’re not gonna give up on this and that you really were serious, he took a second to think it over. The thought really was enticing and he would be lying to himself once more if he said he wasn’t interested and desperate to eat anything, even if it came from a complete stranger, and he knew the food was legit because well, he can see it very clearly. “Well...alright.”

Once you heard his confirmation, you show a small smile and nodded with him. “Then it’s settled! Off to my house we go!” You latch onto his arm and begin walking home with him when another thought came to mind and halted in your steps. “Oh yeah, you’d better wear your disguise or we’re gonna be running from your psycho fans. I didn’t even catch your name.”

A chuckle came out of him as he placed his cap snug on his head and his mask covering half of his face, the only thing visible were his eyes, everything else made him seem like he was invincible to the public eye. “My name’s Namjoon.”

“So you’re that Namjoon guy my friend always talks about! Oh boy, this is gonna be fun.” You smirk to yourself as you two resume walking, the thought of your friend acting like a complete psycho in front of her bias entertained you.

Once you and Namjoon arrived at your place, your first instinct when you walked through the front door was give an explanation to your friend about why you were late and how worried she was. When you told her what had happened and showed her evidence to prove your case, her reaction was a lot more different than how she usually is. Throughout the evening, you and Namjoon got along fairly well—with the exception of your friend asking him benign questions about his career as an idol and if the other members are exactly the same in real life—you would frequently apologize for her erratic behavior as it worried you it would make the idol uncomfortable but he says it’s nothing compared to what he always hears from fangirls.

You and Namjoon surprisingly hit it off at the end of the night and you exchanged phone numbers when he was about to leave and promised each other you would meet again soon, this time without your friend in the picture. After he left, thoughts began to provoke and you wondered to yourself that maybe, just maybe, you were wrong about idols for once.

And now let’s look at today’s events, where are you and Namjoon right now in your relationship? Well one thing’s for certain is that you two are officially dating and have been since 2017, two years after your initial meeting. When you two became more comfortable with each other, he had invited you over to the dorms and introduced you to his members, to which they immediately welcomed you into their group with open arms, you’ve actually become best friends with some of them. It’s been a fun and crazy ride, exploring different countries and cultures had never crossed your mind before but now you can safely say that it’s been one of the best things to have ever happened in your life. You were fortunate to have somebody like him and him you because along the way, you have made each other better, Namjoon had taught you that being guarded and stubborn shouldn’t lock you out of the world and it’s okay to let your guard down sometimes, and you taught him that just because he was an idol doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be any boundaries and that he was a human being first.

Whenever the media caught wind of your relationship, they always thought it was just a fling and that the two of you would break up like everybody else in the industry but so far, you have proved each and every one of them wrong and now both you and Joon don’t give two shits about what everybody says.

#bts #bts one shot #kim namjoon #namjoon #rm #fluff #some angst #one shot #bts namjoon #namjoon x reader #namjoon one shot #namjoon x you #namjoon fluff #namjoon angst #kpop #kim seokjin #jin #min yoongi #yoongi #jung Hoseok #hobi #park jimin #jimin #kim taehyung #Taehyung #jeon jungkook #Jungkook #bangtan #bangtan imagines #bangtan reactions

[the-star-named-dowoon]

Cross Road

Title- Cross road (one Shot)

Genre- Demon Au & Best friends to lovers

Pairing- Demon best friend Hoshi x human reader

words- 6600+

warnings- Lots of talk about sex and baby making, virgin sacrifice, hoshi being the best, and yah

Plot- You and Soonyoung have been best friends since you were kids. You thought you knew everything there was to know about him,but little did you know your childhood crush had a surprising secret.

Masterlist

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

Kwon Soonyoung. 

He’s a sweet man, a funny man, and even a smart man. Well… is man really the right word? Sort of. You wouldn’t really know how to describe him. Other than being the best person you know and love. 

He’s special to say the least. 

But to tell that story we have to go back. 

Way back.

———————————-

You were sitting on the playground during recess. It was the first day of kindergarten and kids ran around, already making new friends as the day progressed. You didn’t really pay much attention to it at the time, you just sat there. Not that you were shy or anything, but no one really came to you. You sit with your legs dangling off the edge of the playground watching other kids play tag. The boys provoke the girls to chase them around with the risk of getting cooties. As you watch , a finger taps your shoulder lightly. 

“Hey you look like a sad lonely person.” You turned your head around to see a boy. He had chubby cheeks and a bright welcoming smile. You mean to say something back but you didn’t really know how to take being called a sad lonely person. “Hello? Anyone in there?” He questions and knocks his knuckles against the side of your head playfully. 

“Huh?” Was your only response. The boy nudged himself next to you. 

“I’ll make sure you’re not sad and lonely anymore.” He stated as he dragged you towards the slide. He ushered you to sit down first then excitedly sat behind you. After giving a count off, he pushes you both. The weight of two kids proved to be a little much and caused you to go past the end of the slide. Both of your butts land with a thump onto the sand. Rubbing his behind, The boy helps you up before you both burst into a fit of giggles.

“My name is kwon soonyoung.” He holds out his chubby hand. You return the gesture with a high five after not really knowing that he was asking for a hand shake. 

“I’m ___”

-

Middle school came around quickly and Again you found yourself sitting by yourself. It’s lunchtime and you sit patiently, sipping on your water bottle. Middle school was a weird time in your life, usually with growing up... comes changes. Whether that be physically or mentally. But one thing for sure that hasn’t changed is...

“Why do you look like a sad loner?” A smile made its way on your face and you turned to see your best friend already by your side. He settles in the seat next to yours at the long table. 

“Can’t I be a loner for 5 minutes Soonyoung? You’re by my side all the time.” You tease. He puts his hand on his heart dramatically and pretends to be hurt. He wrapped his arms around you playfully as he fake sniffled. 

“I thought you loved me!” He yells and catches the attention of the other students. You didn’t pay much attention to them because being friends with Soonyoung comes with the attention that he gets. 

 He’s loud to say the least. Not to mention a little heart throb to all the hormonal preteens. 

“I do love you.” He grins and hops off of you and begins to dig into his lunch.  As he’s turned away you couldn’t help yourself but be giddy. It’s true, you do love Soonyoung...well love but not love- love. Not yet at least. But you definitely did like-like him. He’s your best friend so you thought that he really wouldn’t like you back. Not to mention with all the attention he gets from other girls you decided it would be best to be friends. 

But When you realized you had a crush on soonyoung, you never looked at him the same. 

And when you both sat through sex Ed that day…

“Oh my god…” you both say I’m unison after watching the very in depth documentary on puberty.When you found out where babies come from. You were scarred enough to not even want to look at Soonyoung for a few weeks. 

-

High school came along and this was the time when everything really changed.

Well, only because during this time is when you knew you love-loved Soonyoung. Still, you both were close and even added a few new friends to your bunch. Jun,Chan and Minghao are a few guys that wiggled into your close circle. Soonyoung met Jun and Minghao in dance class his freshman year and Chan a year later when he entered high school. They were like brothers ever since. And they definitely knew about your giant crush on Soonyoung. 

“I swear she was like the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen! It’s like every girl is nothing but a sack of potatoes compared to her. ” Jun says excitedly with a bite of his sandwich still in his mouth, causing chunks of food to fly towards the other Chinese boy. Minghao blocks his face with his hand and nudges his friend harshly, glancing over to you. Jun clears his throat. “Except for ___ of course!” He explains and swallows his food,you just roll your eyes and continue to eat your slice of pizza.

“But we met at a party last night and to say we hit it off is an understatement.” He wiggles his eyebrows at the rest of the group. 

“Really? She slept with you? No way.” Chan argues as he takes a bite of his apple. 

“I swear! And when I say she has a nice-“

“Ok ok no need to go into details.” You cut him off. Minghao just huffs at your response. 

“Really? You can’t handle this? Your best friend has the highest sex drive in the entire school.” Minghao states while shoving a napkin towards Jun’s face. He’s right, this kind of talk was normal between guys and you just so happen to be the only girl here. But Soonyoung has no shame whatsoever when I comes to talking about sex.

“Hey, we cant talk about that in front of her. She probably can stand the fact that the love her life sleeps around like it’s his job.” Jun says and results in another nudge from Minghao. “Hey you brought it up first!” Jun hisses at Minghao. 

“I get your concern boys but Soonyoung can do whatever he wants. If he wants to sleep around then that’s something I have to deal with in a one sided love story. Plus, I’m his best friend, I have to handle it.” You sulk a little. The boys catch on and comfort you.

“Listen. He might be a horn dog but he still has never been in a relationship. Those girls mean nothing to him.” Chan wraps his arm around my shoulder and rubs the side of my arms.

“Ya, all those girls have is being hot. You’re nothing like that” Jun blurts and it results in you and the two others looking up at him with furrowed brows. He’s quick to put his hands up. “I mean you are hot! Wait I mean pretty? You're just not their kind of hot. You’re one of the guys-“

“Shut up.” Minghao now has his palm slapped on to Jun’s mouth. “Ignore Jun. In Soonyoung’s defense,he only sleeps around with girls he doesn’t give a shit about. Those girls mean nothin.” Minghao says and jerks his hand away from Jun as jun licks his hand. “Sicko” he hisses. 

“It’s ok you guys, no need to put other girls down just because you guys have a bias towards me. Who knows, maybe they’re cool..” you suggest.

“Or Maybe he just takes a while to notice what he has in front of him. I mean, he doesn’t have a father figure around to teach him this stuff. His dad lives on the other side of the world from what we know. He needs to learn things himself.” Chan reassures. You just shrug and shovel in the salad you have on your tray. 

“I see what you’re saying and I really appreciate it. But it’s ok if he doesn’t like me. I’m still his best friend and always be around. Just as long as I have him in my life I don’t care what we are.” The rest of the table is quiet and continues eating in silence until a loud slap on the table is heard. You flinch your head up and see the devil himself, Soonyoung. 

“Sorry I’m late guys. I had a dentist appointment and just barely got to school for the rest of the day. I had a test I couldn’t miss.Hope you didn’t miss me too much.” He says and pinches your cheek. While he’s doing that you notice his long sweater sleeve glide down his arm a bit. Smeared black lines run up the rest of his arm. Before you could ask about it, Jun goes on to tell his story about the girl he met at the party. while he tells the story again you notice that a Smokey scent emerges. 

“Do you guys smell that?” You ask, cutting off Jun. 

“Smell what?” Soonyoung says warily. 

“It smells like something burnt, like ash or something.” You state and sniff around some more. Even sniffing Chan’s shirt. You were about to sniff Soonyoung but he shot up from his seat before you could get a whiff. 

“I mean we are in the lunchroom. They probably burnt something in the kitchen. But I’m gonna go get a soda, I’ll be back.” He rushes. Thinking that he was acting weird, you chose to go check on him.

Soonyoung rushes to the vending machine outside of the cafeteria. He lifts up the neck of his shirt and gives a good sniff. He goes to lift up his arms to smell his armpits but you come out from the side of the vending machine taking him by surprise in his mid sniff.

“What are you doing?” You ask and he pretends to stretch his limbs.

“Stretching. Sitting in the dentist chair did a number on my back. You seem a little tense, maybe you should do it too.” He tries evade but you see right through him unfortunately. Lifting up his sweater you see something you didn’t really expect. 

Black ink runs up all the way up to his shoulders. Symbols and pictures drawn all over his arms, a lot of them smeared away. Some parts of his arms were covered in black powder, almost like charcoal. 

“Have a little art project?” You ask suspiciously and let his shirt fall down. “What is this.” You question pointing to his arm. 

“It’s nothing really. Just like you said, an art project I did for fun when I was bored last night.” He says a little unnerved. “Nothing to hide.”

“Then why were you hiding it? You didn’t even think to shower?” Soonyoung seems a little stumped at the questions. So you decide to back down at his discomfort. “Never mind. I should expect weird stuff from you. Never a dull day with my Soonyoung.” You tease and walk away from the scene. 

Soonyoung lets out a harsh breath and pulls out his dollar before putting it into the vending machine. Looking up at your figure walking away he smiles to himself. 

“My Soonyoung?” He whispers to himself gently. “I think I like the sound of that.”

You unfortunately decided to let his strange behavior go that day, and you soon regretted it. 

Ever since that day you haven’t seen Soonyoung. It’s been two weeks and not a word from him. No phone call, no texts, not even an email. It’s like he jumped off the face of the earth. Even the boys couldn’t get any word from him. You started getting worried because this had been the longest you have gone without seeing him. Not to mention you don’t know if he’s ok or not. 

Something just felt wrong.

“I’m going crazy.” You say and grip your hair harshly. Letting the frustration take over. 

“We get it. This is the longest you’ve gone without your boyfriend.” Minghao sasses slightly and scrolls through his messages just in case any message would appear. You almost react to his sass but you just sit back on the bench.Since you guys have been so worried you all decided to head out to the park to ease our minds. But it’s been everything but easy. You couldn’t blame Minghao for being harsh because he was going through the same thing. You were all scared. 

“Im sorry,but I can’t really help but feel this horrible feeling, Hao.” He just pushed his head back and slouched on the park bench.

“Join the club sister. We all have a bad feeling. I mean we all haven’t heard from him in weeks. You think this could feel anything other than bad?” He growls. You decide to not say anything back in consideration of how he’s feeling. You knew he didn’t mean to bite like that. 

The two other boys walked back from the convenient store that was a short distance away, and heard what Minghao had said. 

“Easy Minghao. We’re all anxious but let’s not take it out on each other. ___ has a right to speak about how she feels, I mean, she has known Soonyoung the longest.” Chan hands you a Popsicle and sits next to you and Minghao. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I know you're worried, I shouldn’t have been rude.” Minghao apologies and brings you into a side hug. You let your head rest on his shoulder as he rugs the side of your shoulder. 

“It’s ok. I know you didn’t mean it. All we can do now is try our best in this situation.” You say and hug minghao tighter. 

“Well, there’s not much we can do. We’ve gone to his house everyday but no answer every time. Not even his mom answered. We call and message him every hour of the day and nothing. It’s like they dropped off the face of the earth.” Jun plops down on the sidewalk in front of the bench. 

“Do you think he moved?” 

“No way. He would have told us. Unless...”

“That could explain why he was acting so strange.”

You just sat and listened to the boys sit and squabble. You knew that something wasn’t right. He wouldn’t  hide like this, it’s not like him. 

“While you guys sit and argue, I’m going to go check his house again.” You gather your things and stand from the bench. Giving Chan the half eaten Popsicle. 

“Wait what? It’s getting late.” Chan says. “We know you’re worried. We all are. But maybe you should just go home and rest, it’s been stressful for you.” He argues.

“I just… I just want to check again. I have to. I care about him too much to just rest, it’s worth a shot.” The boys kept trying to get you home but you were persistent.

“Chan is right. It’s getting late. Let us walk you home.” Jun offers again but they all know it’s no use. 

“Love you guys. I’ll see you later.” Those words were your goodbye as you walked towards Soonyoung’s house. Leaving the boys as they shook their heads.

The Kwon’s house was an easy house to remember. The house sat at a crossroads with no other houses around it. No one really built any houses there because of the tales of old crossroads and their associations with demons and such. There were many stories of deals being made at that very crossroad. Even a story about a woman who fell in love with a demon there. You never really believed in stuff like that anyway. Soonyoung would often tell you those crazy stories and you just chose to listen. 

As you got closer to the house a chill ran up your spine. A chill strong enough to go from your head straight to your toes. Although, you never thought to be scared of his house before, today seemed a little more ominous. Various street lights towards your friends house flickered and even went out completely as you made your way down the street. The wind felt especially strong as it felt like it was almost pushing you in the opposite direction. 

Determined to find your best friend, you went against your gut.

Finally, you made it to Soonyoung's house. The wood flooring on his doorstep creaked way more than usual. The porch light was on but no bugs surrounded it and the porch light barely lit the area with a faded yellow light. Almost hesitant, I knocked on the door, no answer. You knock one more time, still no answer. 

“Soonyoung. It’s me ___. I came to check on you… we’re worried. Me and the boys. We’re all worried and I just thought it wasn’t like you to just leave. Please…” I rest my forehead on his front door.

“I just really want to see you.”

Then it was like the temperature in your body shot down to zero degrees. The shiver up your spine was almost painful as the hairs on the back of your  neck rise. Your heart nearly drops as the porch light shatters into a million pieces. Bringing the front door to complete darkness. You turn around to see that all of the lights in the neighborhood flicker off, all except one. The one street light only lights up the crossroad in front of his house. you rest your back against his door and try to calm your breathing. 

The door your resting on starts to open slowly with an ear splitting creak. Opening the door to a black hole of an entrance. Thinking this was too creepy to stick around you go to rush home but something grabs onto your wrist. A large hand holds firmly on your arm. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” They whisper and drag you into the house. Feet skidding on the smooth hard floor as you try to scream but nothing comes out. Your throat felt dry and your body felt ice cold. You couldn’t see anything but pitch darkness. But soon candle light comes to you when you’re thrown on the floor. The floor from what you assumed is the living room was lit by multiple candles in a circle. The candles surrounded a giant drawing carved into the hardwood flooring. The symbols resemble some of the symbols on Soonyoung’s arm you saw before. 

“I can sense a very innocent energy from you.” The voice from earlier surrounds the room. Stepping out from the darkness is a tall figure. His robe is long and dragged on the floor as he walked. He steps into the circle but not with feet but with hooves of a goat. Raising his arms, the baggy fabric of his robe falls down his forearms, exposing the scales running up his arms to his hands. His face is covered by a hood but sticking out are two long horns covered in rings of gold. “A good virgin energy.” He praises. 

“W-what?” And like a ghost, he’s in front of you before you could blink. Kneeling down to where you are on the floor. 

“My son. My offspring has brought me the final step of becoming what he truly is. He was hesitant at first but now since you’re here, in front of me, I know he’s ready.” He explains. 

“Where’s Soonyoung?” You ask hesitantly. The creature just gives a low chuckle.

“He’ll come. And when he does and finally makes his sacrifice, he’ll be the new king of the underworld like he's supposed to!” He chants. “After all these years of collecting virgin energy and gathering up enough power to be able to withstand the demon power, I will finally be able to spend time with my love.”The demon declared, and It’s like all the air was taken out of your lungs.

Soonyoung. Your Soonyoung. Some kind of demon prince? He would never do this to you, would he? All these years, were they nothing but a trick to use you someday? No. This can’t be true. 

“This can’t be true…” the tears run down your cheeks as his father's hands rests on your face gently.

“It’ll be over soon.” He says gently and gets up to walk in the center of the circle.

“I summon you, my son.” He puts his hands together and the carving lights up a bright red. Gusts of wind push out from the floorboards and blow out the candles around. “Come to me…” he chants in this demonic language as the light grows brighter and brighter. The wind is strong enough to lift the creature's robes and your hair to fly up. Loud booms sound across the room like thunder as the furniture moves with the current from the wind.

A cloud of black smoke rises from the symbols and gathers up In the middle. A twirl of black slowly taking form, making the shape of a body. Red lines and symbols traced up the figure, they shined as bright as the floor. Soon, the smoke disappears and what’s left is the boy you knew.

Soonyoung stands in the middle of the circle in front of his father. “Why did you call?” His voice was deep and Demonic. Almost like it was put through a voice modifier. He’s wearing something similar to his father and like him, he has the long horns sticking through his hair. 

“You have proved to me that you are ready my son.” His father states proudly. “The virgin has been offered.” Soonyoung looks behind him. You nearly passed out as his pitch black eyes landed on you. Soonyoung’s heart stops.

“___?” He whispered surprised. Taking a step towards you, he nearly stumbles. You push yourself back in response. This wasn’t what he wanted, this was what he was trying to hide this whole time. Turning back towards his father he steps away from the circle. 

“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not going through with your stupid ritual. I couldn't care less about taking over the throne. She isn’t the virgin sacrifice, she’s my friend!” Soonyoung hisses. You glance up at him, relieved at what you just heard.

“Friend?” His father questions. But when he’s about to say something the light to the living room turns on. Soonyoung’s mother by the light switch in her bathrobe looks at the scene before her.

“Honey? What’s going on here?” She questions the demon and runs over to you. “___, I’m so sorry this happened! Please come sit down, let me get you some water.” She rambles. You did nothing but nod and accept the help from Soonyoung and his mother at the table. 

“___? Oh! I’ve heard so much about you!” The demon says joyfully. You're surprised at the change of demeanor. “I’m sorry. I’m nothing without my glasses.” he explains while taking off his hood to reveal a human-like face. With the exception of scales in certain patches of his face and the horns. He had Hints of Soonyoung indeed. 

“Here, my love” Soonyoung's mother hands him his glasses. He looks in your direction, his serpent like pupils focus on you. 

“Oh well, would you look at that. You really are ___. My apologies.” He apologizes with a short bow. Heading over to his wife he takes a seat at the table and props his hooves up. You couldn’t make out words, just strings of mumbles. A ding from across the kitchen makes you flinch. Soonyoung’s father gleefully got up and towards the oven. “Well would you look at that! My Blood butter cookies are done.” He bubbles and pulls out the tray with his bare hands. You couldn’t comprehend this situation even if you tried. 

“Ughh…” you try to speak but nothing.A pair of hands rest On your shoulders. Soonyoung grabs your attention.

“Come with me upstairs. We’ll talk in my room.” You just go along with it and head upstairs with Soonyoung and away from what you hope Is a fever dream. 

You enter his room, it looks like a normal and definitely not like a hell hole.

 He gently closes the door behind you. “I know you have a lot of questions.” He starts, petting the horn on his head nervously. “I’m sorry about my dad… I told him I wouldn’t sacrifice a virgin any time soon, so I guess he jumped to conclusions when he saw you.” He tried to explain. But you stand there as you try to comprehend but all that’s in your brain is white noise.

“I’m sorry I left… I just didn’t know how to deal with this whole thing. My father just shows up out of nowhere expecting me to become this prince of the underworld. I didn’t know how to break it to you that I’m a half demon spawn of the underworld. I thought you would think I’m some kind of weirdo-“

“That’s why you didn’t tell me?” You bring up. It catches him by surprise. 

“Huh?”

“You didn’t tell me because you thought I would think you're weird?” You say dumbfounded.

“Ya, why else?”

“I dunno, from all the movies I’ve seen, it’s because demons are this dangerous thing, then people go out of their way to protect people from demons.” You try to explain but he just looks confused.

“Protect you? Why? I would never hurt you nor did I think I would. The underworld isn’t that crazy. I mean did you see my dad? He isn’t really the most fearsome creature. And he needs new prescription glasses.”  

“He was telling me you need a sacrifice, Soonyoung!” 

“Well I didn’t say all of the underworld wasn’t that crazy. Plus, did you really think I would sacrifice you? You’re my best friend.” Your shoulders slouch a bit. Feeling bad about your accusations and thoughts about him. Of course he wouldn’t. 

Soonyoung notices your change in demeanor and pats the bed, signaling for you to sit down next to him. You plop yourself on his bed. “ I’m sorry. I was just surprised. I didn’t mean to think of you that way.”

“Hey. I don’t blame you. You're doing pretty well for someone who thought they were gonna be a virgin sacrifice to a demon king.” He laughs and brings you into a side hug. 

“The visual effects didn’t seem to help either. You emerging from the ground was a sight to see. Must be from all the virgin energy you’ve gathered.” You tease lightly and a blush makes its way into his pale face. 

“Thanks? I’ve been practicing my summoning, I was playing video games when he called me..” he explains  “And He Had to tell you about virgin energy?” He sighs. 

“Well I didn’t fuck anybody for energy, that’s for sure. I just so happen to gain energy from virgins. It’s a weird demon thing.” He mumbles at the end even having pink tint on his cheeks. “But there’s no need to talk about that..”

“Why you so shy to talk about sex now? Didn’t have a problem before.” You state blatantly. He seems to have caught it because he looks at you Nervously.

“You ok? If I offended you, I’m sorry. Who cares if you’re a virgin-“

“It’s not that..” You say with slight frustration. “It’s the fact that you sleep… with girls.” You struggle to get the last part out. 

“Would you rather I slept with women?” He asks, even more confused than he was before. “ I mean, it’s a little illegal since we’re still in high school-“

“No! That’s not what I meant!” You groan and flop the rest of your body on the bed. “That’s not what I meant…” Soonyoung gently lays down beside you. 

“What do you mean? Tell me.” He takes your hand into his. Red markings cover every finger. 

“I… I “ 

“You what?” He pushes.

“I...like you, Soonyoung. I like you a lot. No, I’ve been in love with you for years. And I’ve always been afraid to tell you-“ you’re sentence is cut off by Soonyoung's lips on yours. Your eyes widen but you kiss back anyway. Fluttering your eyes closed at what felt like pure bliss. He ends the kiss and pushes your hair out of your face.

“And why would you ever be afraid to tell me that?” He smirks. “ I fell in love with you the moment I saw you on the playground being a sad lonely person.” He confesses. 

“ I just thought because you never showed any signs of liking me. And you had all these beautiful girls to be with and I was just the friend…” 

“Never showed any signs?” He Scoffs. “How about wanting to be with you everyday?Wanting to have you talk to me? Wanting to have you be a part of my life forever? Are those not signs?” He asks. 

“I’m sorry I never noticed…” you say shyly with a slight smile of embarrassment. He just playfully nods and brings me close. 

“Also, all those girls. Sure, I fucked around. But I’ve never wanted a relationship with any of those people, and ya, they were pretty. But they weren’t you. That’s because you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve laid my eyes on, and I mean to sound cheesy.” You couldn't help but throw yourself on top of your best friend. Landing in his stomach he lets out a small “oof”. 

“Although cheesy, I love it.” You confess. 

“You wanna be my girlfriend? I promise you won’t regret it.” He tried to persuade but you just pretend to think for a bit before answering.

“Fine, since you asked-“ 

“Great! Now that you’re my girlfriend, you wanna make out?” He eagerly brings your face closer to his. You just chuckle and brush your hands through his hair slowly.

“ How about after I formally meet your dad. I don’t think we got off on the right foot- or hoof, earlier.” You say shyly. Soonyoung gets off the bed and pulls you up.

“Ya, the hooves are a shocker to everyone. I guess my mom likes them freaky. But luckily you don’t have to worry about hooves. Only the horns, but you probably dig them anyway- ouch!” He rubs his shoulder after a rough smack from you. 

“Maybe a little.” You giggle. “But that was for leaving me for two weeks.” Soonyoung feels guilty but you send away that feeling with a quick kiss. “And that was for being with me for this long. I love you, Soonyoung.” You confess again. 

“No, thank you for being in my life and accepting me. I love you too.”

“Good, now let's go try those cookies.”

-

Things did get better after that. Soonyoung officially introduced you to his father, he’s a very nice demon when he’s not trying to have you as a human sacrifice. Though he is bummed that he’ll have to stay in the underworld for a little longer until someone could take his place as king. But luckily Soonyoung’s mom finally agreed to going down with her husband finally now that their son is 18. 

Soonyoung decided to finally go back to school after he learned to hide his horns and markings. So he graduated with you and the rest of the boys. Except Chan who’s a year younger.

Let’s just say the graduation party with the 5 of you ended with Soonyoung getting drunk enough to where he exposed himself to the rest of the group.

Welp, nothing else to hide.

But as the year went on, you decided to stay and study in your home town. While Soonyoung and the rest of the boys decided to open a dance studio, called Dancing with Demons. Which would become the best in the city. If only people knew they were dancing with an actual demon. Still a cute name though.

Now that you’ve graduated and have a path, you decided to move in together for college,Along with the three other boys, thinking that it was better for your college budgets. You spent even more time with your best friends and the love of your life. 

And the rest is history

—————

“And the rest is history…” you whisper to yourself as you look over at your now sleeping husband of 3 years, 5 years in overall relationship. Sleeping on his stomach and his arms under the pillow propping his face up slightly. His big horns prevent him from sleeping on his side comfortably. 

Often you would wake up in the mornings just to think about what happened 5 years ago. You would just sit and remember all the beautiful moments that lead to this. This perfect person who you plan to spend your whole life with. 

“What are you thinking about?” A soft voice takes you by surprise. Your husband pats the spot next him, you scoot closer to his side and run your hand down his back. The red marking showing perfectly due to him not wearing a shirt.

“Just thinking about how I was able to get a life like this.” Soonyoung pops his head up. 

“Well it only took a whole childhood and a false virgin sacrifice…” he states blatantly. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I still got you in the end anyway.” He kisses the side of your head. 

“Well at least I don’t have to deal with the potential of being a virgin sacrifice anymore.” You laugh. Soonyoung rests his chin on his arms and gives a low hum.

“Ya, got that situated only a few months after we got together. Now you just have to deal with the thought of having a demon baby.” He says smugly. “Which if you asked, I wouldn’t have any hesitation of giving you one.” He winks. You just slap his chest gently and rise to get out of bed.

“Five years and you think you're ready to have my baby, huh?” You tease as you step out of bed and ease your way out of your pajamas. You couldn’t even get your top off before you’re squished between the wall and the demon. Your front is pressed on to the cold wall as Soonyoung’s warm chest pushes on your back. Craning his head between your neck he kisses slowly on your skin. 

“Excited isn’t enough to describe, baby. If you give me the green light I would gladly give you a baby,right here, right now.” He whispers as he lifts his head to press a kiss to the side of your head. “You know how much I love you. But if you forgot then I can spend all morning showing you how much I would want to start a family with you. Hell, I could spend days showing you how much I love you.” At this point he knows he had you almost convinced to let him have you, but as much as you love the thought of entering the baby making factory, there are other plans to attend to. 

You grip his hands gently as you peel them off your body they were just roaming. Having the most effort to remove the one on your butt. “As much as I would love to let you give me a family, we have plans today. We have lunch with your parents in the underworld today…” Soonyoung groans and practically throws himself back in the bed. Having a child-like tantrum as he huffed and puffed. 

“Are you kidding me. Cock blocked by my own parents. Don’t they know I’m a busy demon?” He complains as he gets up and strips his clothing with a pout. “And for what reason? Because my dad made his famous demon lasagna?!” He blurts and grabs his towel, almost stomping towards the shower. You just laugh to yourself and shortly join him in the shower. 

Stepping onto the steaming water, you hug his back tightly as he lets the water fall on his head. He turns around only to press you against his chest, pulling you closer so the water runs down both of your bodies. Though showering together seemed like a sexy scenario, you showered together often, sexy or not. You found it a relaxing time to spend together. 

Soonyoung gently grabs your chin, bringing your lips to his. The kiss is soft, no urgency. As you both part your husband peers down at you with a loving gaze. Taking the shampoo you begin to wash his hair, going around his long horns as you do so. Soonyoung hums softly at your touch. 

“You’re not mad at me are you?” You ask teasingly. The demon pouts and leans into your touch. Rinsing out his hair you let him scrub your hair and let him wash your back to his request. 

“I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet. You still choosing my dad's underworld lasagna over me Making love to you all day, and a whole bunch of cuddles and kisses?” You couldn’t help but burst out laughing, he joins along and rinses you both off. Ending the shower, he wraps you up in a towel before him. As he’s drying your hair with a towel, you take this as a chance to capture his lips in a sweet kiss. 

“How about a deal?” You waver. This catches the demon's attention. 

“You’re making a deal with a demon? Aren’t you ballsy.” He smirks. “What are you offering?” He asks. You take a moment to look like you’re pondering. 

“I was just suggesting that if you make it through a whole day of being with your parents, then I would reward you.” You slide your hands up his torso, making sure to travel along his markings, making your arms wrap around his neck at the end.

“Keep talking.”  With that, You just realized that you have this demon of the underworld wrapped around your finger. 

“If you make it through today without complaining and have a good time, then I’ll let you do whatever you want with me. Maybe even try for a baby-“ you couldn’t even finish your sentence before you’re pushed roughly against the wall. Your legs instinctively wrap around his hips as he kisses you passionately. Gripping your face roughly as he kisses you. You grip his hair and his horns roughly as his kisses don’t let up. After what seems like forever, he finally lets you go. Your feet come back to the wet floor but he still holds you. Having a sinister smile etched into his face. 

“You seal a deal with a kiss baby. Thanks for doing business.” He plants one more kiss on your lips and walks out the bathroom as if nothing happened. You would be lying if you said you weren’t disappointed being left alone after that, but you know he was ready to give you what you wanted in due time. But for now, you can’t just think about how you couldn’t stop falling more in love with this man. Just thinking about a family with him makes you almost teary eyed. You didn’t want a family with anyone else. You’re set for life with Soonyoung. 

“___! Hurry up! My parents are just getting older. We can’t keep them waiting. Or take your time, because I found a site of baby names that I can comfortably read as you get ready!” He beams from the other room. 

Yup, you fell in love with a demon from the underworld. 

But, you wouldn’t have it any other way. 

A/N - Hope you enjoyed!

#Seventeen #seventeen scenarios #seventeen fanfic #seventeen x reader #seventeen oneshot #seventeen hoshi #seventeen hoshi x reader #demon au #seventeen au

[kimyoonmiauthor]

Barnes and Nobles Bookstore Report 2020 on Diversity

For those who are new to this... What I do every year since I was 13 was go to the bookstore, usually in summer and take an overview look at what is being shelved and sold. This, of course, changed with the internet. It’s a way for me (and maybe you) to get a sense of what the industry is and isn’t doing, particularly with diversity. I also check local bookstores (But my local one is closed due to covid this year). I usually note what has an hasn’t changed. It’s something that authors should be doing anyway. I don’t do it more often because it’s usually depressing. And I don’t do it near holiday seasons, since that can skew the book selection unfairly. So I usually pick a non holiday-heavy month and one that will not skew my numbers (like say, February, which is Black History Month) I pay attention to the following: - Where the books are shelved. - How many times a book is shelved (in different areas) - Who gets the most real estate and a rough guess as to why. (Usually because they are white cis and male.... no lie) - Which diversity gets the most real estate - What are the labels on the shelves and if those are separate or different from previous years. - I generally skip the children’s section since there is a yearly report for that. - Demographics of the area visually apparent v. numbers of the area itself. Who are they supposed to sell to (and usually failing to sell to) Blame the Anthropology... I’m well-trained to look for such things. - All Bookends and displays. - I usually look at all sections of the bookstore and take notes, in order. - If I have access to internet, then I also look up the authors, if I can to find out their diversity and spread. - I also take lots of pictures.

These are my notes for this year.

Demographics of the area outside of the bookstore: About 50/50 with the majority being Latinx (Black and Latinx mainly) Mostly women. (It was early, though--maybe white) Last demographics of area 2010, granted 36,226 (71.1%) White, 2,573 (1.3%) Black, 531 (0.3%) Native American, 31,434 (16.4%) Asian (6.9% Filipino, 5.4% Korean, 1.3% Chinese), 122 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 12,146 (6.3%) from other races, and 8,687 (4.5%)  (Latinx is around 17%)

The first two bookcases at the front of the store, were mostly white cis male authors. In the new author case, this was true, as well, and mostly had well-knowns.

Considering the Latinx population, I’m always kinda feeling like why aren’t there more Latinx books on the shelves?

White and black authors. But the black authors are only there because of Black Lives Matter, which feels like it’s catering to the white people who want to know what this is about, rather than the demographics of the bookstore itself. The Magazine section, Vogue, in particular did have PoCs on it.

- The Art History Section is and always is really white. I could count the PoCs on the shelf of 6 tall shelves on one hand. All of the How to draw Manga books are by white people. I know this because I’ve looked up the authors in the past. And it’s not that Japanese don’t publish books in English with instructions, BTW... so I always find that a bit strange, especially since the author they choose doesn’t really have a manga style 100% but mixes in American Comic books. (But that’s a separate thing.) They mostly had known PoC artists, acceptable to white people. - The Cookbooks don’t cover Africa. They had one African American cookbook which interested me. (Labeled Soul food and had a Black author), but the books mostly were for “French” in the international section. A few Korean (2-3) and I didn’t spot many other regionalities. I looked for Indian, for example.

- There were SFF books front of the store, which surprised me. Might be because there were PoC authors and the majority were PoC. (Also Black Lives Matter skewing) - All of the seating was removed (probably because of covid) I usually use it to sort through books I want...

- No Surprise, the same location for featured “classics” as last year and all but one were written by white men. The token book? Arabian Nights. I’m not sure that really counts since it was compiled by a white guy. (Believe me, I had thought like where is Jorge Borges? Marquez? etc) Most of the authors were white cis and het too... - The recommended section... by looking, mostly white cis het men. - Danielle Steele was shelved in General Fiction section. Actually several genres were shelved together there. Some Science Fiction, Some Fantasy, Some Romance, Some Historical Fiction, etc. There was no special section for Historical Fiction. (Not popular? Used to be back in the day...) There’s no LGBTQIA, women’s or African American section, even in the non-fiction. I have mixed feelings about taking it out of the non-fiction section. I like it combined in the Fiction section. They also took out all of the sub labeling except for major transitions. (Labeling individual shelves as containing something) - Diminished Latinx books in the Classics (Shelf) section. This has not changed... and it still ticks me off how white and cis het (also leans towards male) it is. - Increased black authors overall. Octavia Butler was Shelved twice, for example. Toni Morrison got a bookshelf all to herself (probably because of her recent passing). Nnedi Okorafor actually showed up on the shelf. Rena Barron was triple shelved--once at the front of the store and in two sections of the bookstore... So apparently B&N have a lot of faith in her book. - Overall, improved balance between men and women (except in the classics and recommended sections. I feel stabby about that.)

- The covers were a lot less offensive overall. (Though I had a few head scratchers on why that cover for that book, but that’s getting into graphic design quibbles) The PoC books actually had PoCs on the cover. And some of the covers were redone to have PoCs on the cover. There were no sexualized women on the out turned books. The Mystery/Thriller books, for example, has a trend of being symbolic and drawn. Kinda felt like I was staring at the old Chick Lit.

- There were less books shelved overall, because of the shelving practices of out turning the books so people could see the covers. (Even less than last year)

- The Romance Section ticked me off since I could count the amount of PoCs on the cover with one hand. But the covers have improved a bit. Jim Hines won the cover war... There was ONE LGBT book and ONE interracial book. It’s like PoCs don’t fall in love at all. What gives?

- Science Fiction and Fantasy were separated again. The amount of shelves for YA and SFF were about equal. (Which drastically changed from last year). This meant that the genre fiction was mostly equally shelved. (Mystery/Thriller might have gotten a smidgen less). The Science Fiction section was astoundingly male cis het. I even looked for authors I knew who were queer/poc, etc and couldn’t find them. Anne McCaffrey was gone completely, BTW. Oh and JK Rowling didn’t make it to the main shelves (She was in the audiobook section). lol Someone was mad. So win one, lose the rest.

- All of the “recommended race” books were written by People of color and well known. Win~ But all on black-white relations except one. (A book on my wishlist, but I pre-promised myself to not buy anything... so it was difficult to leave that one behind...) - The people with the most shelving were Shakespeare (Got his own section), Stephen King, and I forgot the third author, but he’s male cis and het too... Yeah... I know. And yes, there are authors more prolific than these authors too in history who are also PoC. - All of the books were from known and popular authors rather than unknown authors, mainly. Not like that rare find where you’re browsing and you go, “OMG, never heard of this person before.” So for me, who likes to browse and find that rare find it’s not as fun. I’ve found books pre-internet that were like that in Barnes and Nobles no less.

Overall: Improved, but I have this irking feeling the increase in black books is specifically to the Black Lives Matter movement. They care more about publicity than the cause, otherwise, other PoC groups wold have gotten better rep. Also kinda sad at the lack of LGBT. The widest diversity in the store is still YA. And as every year, I’m super sad about the lack of rep for Latinx. Seriously, didn’t you give it a thought that you might be in an area that’s not white? (I know the “But you could complain” thing... but it never worked in the past either and I have written to corporate, just so you know.) I pretty much left with this feeling of elation that it was improved, but this feeling of sickness that they were still, STILL catering to white people. (Cis het, etc). Yeah, depressing enough to want to marathon several PoC shows to undo the implicit bias type of feeling. And this area, as shown isn’t lacking in PoCs. Also, kinda have to state, I wish it was more like a treasure hunt... sometimes that’s the best part of going to a bookstore. Disappointed about the lack of a non-fiction LGBTQIA... kinda had a wish the Julie Sondra Decker might show up in that section. My ace little heart. I took 108 pictures as photo proof of my assertions (Again, Anthro training). BTW, Rena Barron should thank her publicist for convincing for the triple shelving...

#bookstore #barnes and nobels books #diversity

[ryouverua]

Trial 6 - (Fifty)Third Time’s the Charm, Post-Accusation (3)

Is that all we are to you? Just a vehicle to solve your cases for you?! ... you know what on second thought don’t answer that -

Trial: 1 / 2

hello darkness my old friend

What an interesting reaction. Despite the weird back and forth she’s been having with Monokuma, he still had the Monokubs jump in to defend her - though with that said, the desperation of it all probably backfired in Shuichi’s eyes. The point is, her first reaction wasn’t to protest - I mean, she will, and she did a bit weakly earlier, but it’s to withdraw into herself and think. Isn’t that how we first came across her? Thinking deeply to herself and completely ignoring Kaede and Shuichi to the best of her abilities?

A-are you attempting to plead ‘power of friendship’ right now -

“There is no time for friendship in the court of law!!!”

Clinging to that idea is the only thing he had to keep himself going all this time, too.

Also, after pushing behind the scenes for him to condemn three of the most well-meaning people in the class (and, y’know, Kirumi and Korekiyo lol), it’s interesting that she seems to think that this line of defense will work - especially considering what he’s accusing her of doing. You’ve managed to do something way beyond just murder, Tsumugi! Aside from Rantaro, you set the groundwork for everything that followed! And I feel like this game, more than the others, really pushed the idea that the survivors share some of the blame when the ‘blackened’ dies. I don’t agree with that mind you, but survivor’s guilt is very real and very powerful.

Despite all of this, he still wants to be wrong and is happy to be wrong. Being awfully, painfully right seems to be a running trend with him, with the one glaring exception hanging over his head.

BUT SHE STILL ISN’T SAYING ANYTHING -

she’s just sitting there with this worried, anguished expression and I don’t know what I was expected but it wasn’t this?? Is she trying to frantically brainstorm a way out or -

Seriously Monokuma do you actually hate her??? Despite working with her? Despite being intrinsically linked to each other???

Anyway whatever that just means it’s cute comic time, nice.

“gdmt do I have to do everything myself -”

They kept her glasses on! Oh, they kept her glasses on it for this! I don’t know why that makes me so happy.

Aaaaw look at Miu tinker away! The animation is really cute for it, tbh. Also something about Korekiyo eating all by himself with Kirumi waiting on him is kinda hilarious to me...

.........

I just realized that everyone in the dining hall were killers/wanna-be killers of the game lmao. Also, if only the nosier people had been in the room, this could have been prevented. 8′\

.... Now I really wish we knew where Kokichi had been at the time.

i just have this screenshot because Shuichi and Kaede are cute here

What was the signal that clued Tsumugi in on leaving, I wonder? Maybe she waited a certain amount of time after seeing Rantaro leave with the others? Would she have been willing to wait longer if she needed to for Kaede’s plan to either work or not work, or was she counting on it happening in that five minute span?

This was a pretty damn good set-up by Kaede.

I

CANNOT

BELIEVE EVEN NOW -

!!! New Act 5.

Also no shit he would’ve been surprised. Actually, I’d say that was an understatement. What a great expression by the artist - that is definitely the look of someone whose life or what he remembers of it is flashing before his eyes.

RANTARO

RANTARO DAMN IT

I GET YOU’RE IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SHOCK BUT

oh god I was gonna say ‘did he not hear Tsumugi right behind him’ but 1) the video was still blasting 2) no, seriously, he was probably in shock and still processing that he nearly died and was a sitting duck

WOW LOOKING REALLY CREEPY THERE MISS MASTERMIND

okay now the glasses still being there is kinda hilarious but I love it

SHE REALLY WAS.... RIGHT THERE....

This is another redundant picture because.... I’m not sure. I like this group together. We didn’t know anything about them at this point in the game, but they really did try so hard - and hell, Tenko, who I never got to know that well, was already putting aside her own bias this early in the game to work with Kaito for everyone’s sake. aaah now i’m getting sad

Which was so believable because even Kaede thought it was the truth! I’m so torn. I really like Kaede, and honestly? I like the fact that she was willing to go after the mastermind so aggressively. Tsumugi did twist the truth, sure, and we convicted the wrong person - but I don’t want to lose the fact that Kaede only didn’t kill Rantaro because her calculations were slightly off and Tsumugi cleaned up after her. I keep going back to it, but that line of Kokichi’s, telling Kaede she lost the moment she let murder into her heart, does still ring true to me...

THAT POSE.... I’d been waiting for her to make that type of pose all game. IS THIS WHY IT NEVER HAPPENED? BECAUSE YOU WERE SAVING IT FOR THIS DRAMATIC REVEAL?

Damn I love this picture, and I love how we’re finally getting to see the first hints of menace in her expression (outside of the ‘backflip into a minefield and die’ lol).

So.... now what....?

DO IT I’M BEGGING YOU PLEASE PRESS THE BUTTON

Aaaaw, even K1-b0 is willing to hear her out. :(

MAKI ON THE OTHER HAND LMAO

“I’m giving you 5 minutes. Oh, we’re down to 298 seconds now. Tick tock, motherfucker.”

And... she has nothing. Pretty much nothing. I mean, I guess she manages to throw the word ‘plain’ out one more time - literally just, “it’s plain to see I didn’t do it” - and that’s... it. Not exactly what one would expect of the mastermind who was able to throw this all together...

NO NOT THAT THING

“Tsumugi I swear to god -”

THAT’S NOT A GOOD REASON AT ALL!!! THAT’S THE OPPOSITE OF A GOOD REASON!!!

;LKDFJAS;KJ

SDKFLJ

kalsdjfsljf;sfj

f m l    that’s actually

amazing

thank you based tsumugi

Where are you going with this????

???????????

I think everyone who‘s played the game has this scene seared into their memories and for good reason.

HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME AGREE WITH MONOPHANIE DRV3 -

oh thank god

Wait no, Tsumugi. Wait. No, we’ve had something good going on between us, right? Right? Tsumugi please - please don’t -

TSUMUGI I AM BEGGING YOU

NO

TSUMUGI

TSUMUGI WHY

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS

FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

......

WAIT DID YOU LITERALLY JUST CHANGE IN THAT CLOUD OF DUST

HOW -

YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT shit she really is the Ultimate Analyst

Wait, the 53rd???

THE 53RD??? THERE’S BEEN 53 OF THEM??? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN UP YOUR MANTLE -

NO FUCK YOU IT’S TSUMUGI GIVE HER THE CREDIT SHE DESERVES

HOW DARE YOU

U-UM

UM WHAT JUST HAPPENED

first of all BITCH -

second of all HOW DID YOU

SWITCH BACK SO FAST WHAT IN THE WORLD

third of all, which is really just an expansion of first of all, I actually still managed to keep liking her despite everything! Even that damn love hotel scene! DESPITE ALL THE ODDS I STILL EXIST -

“I’m pretty sure Kokichi copyrighted that. You gotta wait at least 25 years before you can use it yourself, y’know.”

hHGHGH MEGANE MASTERMIND SPRITE

omfg they

they’ve been holding back on this pose for the entire game

just for this moment

just for glasses!junko

............

fml I’ll allow it but I’M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT

Also I... I still want to believe that this Junko persona was born from Tsumugi and not the other way around....

Wait, does that mean Maki and the others know what Junko sound like? How? Were there recordings of the final trial or something? This just makes me more curious about the time separation between the last two games and this one! Especially with the number ‘53′ dropped - that would mean someone’s picked up the mantle 53 times, right??? So shouldn’t it be at least 53 years? but then how old was Naegi in that flashback, and that’s assuming every person that took the role would last no longer than a year, but then - wait -

No, if I’m going to stick with the idea that these students were made to replace actual Ultimates... then maybe this is a lot farther back than I initially thought...?

DOES SHE HAVE A V   3 IN HER EYES

....

WAIT A SECOND

Which is why she’s calling herself the 53rd... So Junko Enoshima is a title that can be passed down. It’s officially bigger than the person herself - the same way ‘Ultimate Despair’ belonged to Junko (and she pretty much defined it), but was also a title that could be earned by other people... right?

“You literally keep bringing out your glasses. You can’t even see us properly from over there, can you?”

EXCEPT FOR YOUR DAMN EYES I CANNOT BELIEVE -

SHE’S THE 53RD JUNKO WHICH SHE HAS A V3 IN HER EYES BECAUSE V3 IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT 50 + 3 DAMN YOU DRV3

“Please, Shuichi? Please? Can I do it now?!”

omfg Maki why is the answer to everything murder ARE WE REALLY GOING TO DO ROUND THREE HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING -

......... b u t  on the other hand we actually do have the confirmed mastermind here. H M M M M ....

AAAAH IT’S THAT TSUMUGI POSE EXCEPT NOW IT’S OMINOUS AND SHE’S LOOKING AT US OH GOD

Sweetcheeks is staying on track! You’ve got her right where you want her, kiddo! :D

“..... like, do you wanna go get some food or coffee after this, or....?”

“I DON’T NEED YOUR STUPID COFFEE I NEED A GODDAMN NAP AND A CHANGE OF SCENERY!!!”

I’m... suddenly getting a terrible feeling that things won’t be that simple. We’re definitely not far enough into this trial for it to end...

W-Why do I feel like I’m facing a Tsumugi-Junko tag team right now?

FML I really like this transition between her initial sprite and this menacing one!

I-I... I guess we’re just going to let her exposition-dump now? O-Okay...

Ffffffuuuu where do the weird memory shenanigans mix into this and what part of this is the truth? Because Tsumugi clearly feels a deep connection to Junko (lmao inner Junko) but the flashback light machine showed us that we could literally choose scenarios where people other than us survived!

MAKI

MAKI NO

I THOUGHT WE HAD FINALLY GOTTEN SOMEWHERE ON THIS

.... Whoa this sprite looks really different from the rest. It’s ripped straight from the first game, right? I don’t know if the colours quite match up with the others. 8′D

I didn’t realize I could hate the Remnant of Despair Kokichi theory more than I already did but then he, with the supposed talent Supreme Leader, was relegated to a mere follower. 8′D

Unrelated but I lowkey love this ^ line.

... Do you ever just realize how small Kokichi was in a moment like this.

Anyway I thought we’d already drop-kicked Remnant!Kokichi into the sun but apparently we have to do it in-trial now. Or, well, soon, anyway.

Himiko and the others are trying to stay on track though - on the idea that there are viewers to the madness. At first I thought, ‘oh, that’s a bit of a tangent though’ then I remembered Kokichi was the one who gave us the tools to get all the evidence to prove that so it actually does make sense to bring it back up now!

Bullshit.

An intriguing line of thought, but bullshit.

THERE IS SO MUCH WRONG HERE THAT I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN -

so thank god for Shuichi, who can help us get started.

#Shuichi Saihara #Tsumugi Shirogane #Maki Harukawa #Himiko Yumeno #Ryou plays drv3 #K1-b0 #Kiibo #Keebo #drv3 spoilers #spoilers

[sofhyuck]

Terrace House!AU Haechan

Genre: fluff, bullet point scenario

Word Count: 1.8k

A/N please read the introduction first!

when you were dropped off at the house you completely expected to be the first to arrive seeing as it was 4 in the morning

but when you opened the door you saw another pair of shoes in the foyer and could hear someone moving around the kitchen

all previous fatigue left your body because shit you were not expecting human interaction this early in the morning you just wanted to slip into bed and s l e e p

your brain was going full throttle trying to think of ways to slip around the mystery person and just hide in your room when the front door slammed closed behind you, crushing all hopes of escape in its wake

you froze, luggage in hand, as the kitchen turned silent

a head slowly peaked around the corner and holy shit the sun rose early today because right in front of you was none other than lee donghyuck, sunny boi haechan himself

his smile nearly blinded you, a soft ‘hello’ fell past your lips

however, upon making eye contact with you, haechan’s smile faltered, a greeting failing to leave him

marking it up to a lack of sleep, you quickly introduced yourself before excusing yourself to your room

a few hours later and you finally felt rested enough to go out and meet the rest of your housemates, plus someone was cooking and it smelled absolutely wonderful

while making yourself presentable, you were able to meet your roommates as they were floating in and out of the bedroom

they were both lovely, one a fashion designer and the other a graduate student studying agriculture idk this was the first thing i thought of

after cleaning up a little you left the room and headed towards the kitchen where your roommates had informed you everyone had gathered

as soon as you entered the room you were once again greeted with haechan’s smiling face

he was sat at the table chatting with the fashion designer and another male figure who looked around your age

his eyes locked with yours and suddenly he froze, causing his two companions to turn and face you

your roommate’s face lit up in delight, glad that “you finally decided to grace us with your presence!” 

a small laugh escaped you and you settled into the only available seat left remaining, next to the male who introduced himself as jihoon, an aspiring artist, the same age as yourself

upon discovering you were the same age the table filled with teasing “ooh’s” from your surrounding housemates, all except haechan

he shifted uncomfortably in his seat while you hid your face in embarrassment

after everyone settled down, introductions were made and you all began to break off into your own conversations, all except for hyuck

every attempt you made to engage him was brushed off with one worded answers

you and jihoon found common ground in your love for hiking, your agriculture major roommate, aeri, joining the conversation halfway through

slowly the kitchen began to empty and you found yourself alone with hyuck

before you could even open your mouth, he stood up abruptly and rushed out of the room, mumbling something about being late for practice, leaving you flustered in your seat

weeks passed and your bond with jihoon and aeri grew, but still no luck with haechan

it seemed that everyone in the house except for you was his best friend

every time it was the two of you alone in a room, he suddenly became flustered and made up an excuse to leave

you did your best to remain unbothered, it would be a lie if you said you had no feelings for hyuck, i mean he was your bias but no one needed to know that 

all you could do was pray the production team wouldn’t make you look like an idiot once the footage aired nobody wants angry fangirls coming for their ass

you did your best to ignore the awkward interactions and hung out mostly with jihoon and aeri

you grew closer with each day, and when jihoon told you he liked aeri you almost woke the whole house with how loudly you fangirled

aeri had just told you she was gaining feelings for jihoon a few days before so obviously you took this as your initiative to set the two up since you had basically given up all hope on your love life rip hyuck wyd get your act together

so you decided to do something you all loved: hiking ik this a weird choice i just need it for the purpose of this fic and i now realize this could have worked with yuta better pls give me a break

so you find the perfect trail and plan everything out perfectly and you tell jihoon and aeri about this amazing new trail and you should all go together!!! and they’re like hell yEa!!!!

but then jihoon suggests you invite hyuck bc he happens to have a day off that day and he seems really stressed and a nice hike could help clear his mind lol @ hanbin and well you’d feel like an ass if you said no so you hesitantly agree

and jihoon’s all great!!! bc he sees this as his chance to set you and hyuck up he’s roommates with the kid he knows he has feelings for you silly kids so oblivious to each other’s feelings

so that’s how you end up on a hike with haechan while simultaneously trying to set up your two best friends

part of said plan was to tie your shoe and tell them to go ahead without you, leaving the two alone, but now you have no idea how to do that with hyuck there as well

the four of you begin your trek up the mountain making small talk aka jihoon trying to get hyuck to talk to you

and miraculously, somehow it works bc now you and hyuck are having a small conversation

but the whole time you’re glancing up at jihoon to make sure the two of you are falling behind

unbeknownst to you haechan is getting annoyed bc you’re talking to him pay attention to him >:( also he’s highkey jealous of your friendship with jihoon and he’s convinced you like jihoon despite him constantly telling hyuck it’s not like that

as the distance between the two groups grows you can feel hyuck growing more and more frustrated with you and he begins to speed up

assuming he’s frustrated because you’re slowing him down, you finally decide to reveal your plan to him

you scramble to catch up to him, not paying attention to the terrain and woops there goes your ankle

you let out a small cry and hyuck’s head whips around to see you sitting and cradling your foot

boi frEaks tf OuT

he turns to call for jihoon and aeri but they’re already out of sight and he doesn’t want to leave you alone so he zOOmS down to you

“don’t you hike all the time i thought you were supposed to be good at this?”

“ShuT UP hYUcK i’m in PAIN” you yell at him and he blushes bc a) you’re cute when angry and b) you called him hyuck omg he’s so soft for you

but he snaps out of it bc the love of his life you’re hurt!

since he’s a dancer he’s no stranger to injuries, especially rolled ankles

he props your ankle up while the camera crew calls for help

and you’re just sat there mumbling on about how “well this is one way to make the plan work”

and he looks over at you confused bc “what plan?? wait omg did you bring me out here to kiLL mE IS THAT WHY YOU WERE SLOWING US DOWN????”

but you’re just like omg no hyuck i was trying to get jihoon and aeri alone so they would cOnFEsS!

ad he’s just like...oh...but...don’t you like jihoon why would you want to set them up?

and at this point you completely forget about your ankle bc you want to slap the obliviousness out of his head

“no i don’t like him why would i be trying to set him up with aeri if i did??”

“well that’s wHY i was AsKInG!!!”

“ no i don’t like him i like you you idiot”

911 hyuck found dead on a mountain his heart exploded

you both just freeze while the production team is just smiling bc damn this episode is going to get the views to sKyrOCket

now hyuck is all (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ while you’re all (⊙ω⊙✿) bc fuck you just confessed to this boi who hasn’t even spoken to you before today

but hyuck just sits back on his heels and huffs and gets all pouty so now you’re all confusion bc y is this boy sad does he hAtE mE OH MY GOD

but then hyuck just goes “this whole time i thought you liked jihoon and i was too shy to talk to you so i thought i lost all chance with you but this whole time you liked me why am i so dumb oh my god the guys are never going to let me live this one down-”

and you know what you do to shut him up? a kiss on the CHEEk girlies not the lips consent is number one

and he blushes oooh boy and production crew is about to diE bc they know they’re getting a season renewal after this episode

eventually jihoon and aeri come down bc they noticed you guys went missing smh they were too wrapped up in each other

and they’re holding hands and smiling and you’re just like hell yea that’s my otp except they notice the paramedics around you so they’re all concerned but you’re just like nah fam it’s fine anyways tell me what happened on top of the mountain hmmmm ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

and they go on about how it was so romantic and you’re eating up until they noticed you and hyuck holding hands and now it’s their turn to interrogate you two

somehow you all make it off the mountain and your ankle was fine just need to ice it and you’ll be all good

a few days later after your ankle is 100% you and hyuck go on your first official date 

you get dinner and then walk around hongdae a bit before returning home and chill watching the tv

but hyuck can’t focus bc you just look so prEtTY and you can’t focus bc omg why is this boy staring at me???

you look over at him and make eye contact bc, well, he can’t take his eyes off of you

time freezes and you both slowly lean into each other until your lips meet

the kiss doesn’t last long bc you both can’t stop smiling

meanwhile the cameramen are all crying bc yall are just too cute and the producers are ready to be rolling in cash

the rest of the show is spent with you guys and jihoon and aeri fighting over who’s the real otp of the show while the other two housemates just watch in amusement like “oh these kids”

Masterlist

#ending is bad but idc at this point #look who's finally bringing this back lol #haechan imagine #haechan au #nct imagine #nct au #nct fluff #donghyuck au #donghyuck imagine #haechan #lee donghyuck #nct #nct scenario #haechan scenario #donghyuck scenario

[marinsawakening]

Romance and Sex Repulsion in the Aro-Spec Community Survey: Results

Here are the results from the survey about the feelings in the aro-spec community towards romance and sex (which I should’ve given a better name, in hindsight)!

@aromantic-official, would you mind boosting this?

I will put the raw data for this survey above the cut, and speculation, precise data analysis, and the discussion of sample bias and the ways I messed up while conducting this survey below the cut. 

Before we start, I’d like to emphasize that this survey was not professionally conducted, and the results will not be professionally presented. I am in no way a trained researcher (unless you count basic high school research as ‘trained’), and I did not set this survey up with the idea that it would be representative for the whole community. I was simply satisfying my own curiousity on the subject, and honestly did not expect to get more than a few dozen responses. Now that we’re well into the hundreds, many of the mistakes I flippantly made are really embarrassing, but moreover, the fact that I don’t actually know what I’m doing means that this survey should not be used in professional or scholarly essays. 

Instead, try to see this survey as preliminary research. I strongly encourage other people to recreate this research, to research any specific topics that they might find interesting that this survey already covers, and to use this survey’s results narrow down their field while researching similar topics. See these results as a basic start towards researching the aro-spec community’s feelings towards romance and sex, not the conclusive end (if there’s ever such a thing in research).

Now that we’ve gotten that disclaimer out of the way, let’s move on to the results.

Base Numbers

This section will contain the total number of participants, as well as the distribution of aro-spec identities of the people that took this survey. 

Total Number of Participants: 527

Aro-Spec Identities:

309 respondents described themselves as Aromantic, with no attraction at all, no matter how muddled or infrequent (originally described as ‘not on the spectrum’ which is obviously problematic, I’m very sorry for that, it’s discussed under the cut in the section ‘ways I messed up’). This was by far the largest group in the survey. 

135 respondents described themselves as Aromantic, as used as an umbrella term to simplify an aro-spec identity.

66 respondents described themselves as Questioning. 

48 respondents described themselves as Grayromantic. 

39 respondents described themselves as Demiromantic. 

24 respondents described themselves as Aroflux. 

21 respondents described themselves as Quoiromantic. 

15 respondents described themselves as Lithromantic. 

10 respondents described themselves as Arovague. 

and finally, 23 (4.4%) respondents described themselves with identities other than the ones listed above. This group contains all the identities only one or two people identified with. They were:

Nebularomantic (2 respondents)

Nonamorous (2 respondents) (note: nonamorous is not an aro-spec ID on its own, but it can be an important descriptor. One respondent gave no other descriptor, but they might very well still be aro. The other respondent had this in combination with other labels.)

Cupioromantic (2 respondents)

Frayromantic (1 respondent)

Cedromantic (1 respondent)

Aegoromantic (1 respondent)

Arofluid (1 respondent)

Akoiromantic (1 respondent) (note: this is a synonym for lithromantic, but the respondent did not check lithromantic, and I do not feel comfortable assigning this label when they specifically perfer the other term)

Idemromantic (1 respondent)

Recipromantic (1 respondent)

Queer (1 respondent)

‘I don’t care where I am on the spectrum’ (paraphrased) (1 respondent)

All other respondents were questioning and felt the need to describe their questioning status.

Note: this was a checkbox question, and quite a few respondents checked multiple options, which is why the total is more than 527 responses. 

Feelings Towards Romance

This section will examine the results to the four questions that centered around the participants’ feelings towards romance.

NOTE: I did not include any guidelines at all on what does and does not constitute romance-repulsion, romance-positive feelings, or being romance-neutral. This was done intentionally, because I wanted the participants to use their own definitions of the terms. These terms do not, to my knowledge, have any hard-and-fast rules set for them, and the results of this survey correlate with that statement. Many participants mentioned being confused as to what these terms actually meant, and different respondents used wildly different definitions of the terms while answering these questions. I believe that we might benefit from clearer definitions of romance-repulsed/positive/neutral and maybe some additional terms, but I am not comfortable creating those definitions myself without conversation in the community. More on that under the cut. 

Out of the participants, a majority of 43.8% identified as romance-neutral, with 28.3% identifying as romance-repulsed, and 15.7% identifying as romance-positive. 

In addition, 12.2% of the respondents identified as something ‘other’. Of those 64 respondents:

28 respondents (or 43.8%) stated that their feelings towards romance fluctuate

15 respondents (or 23.4%) stated that they felt different about romance under different circumstances (the most common being ‘neutral/positive when not directed at me, repulsed when directed at me’)

9 respondents (or 14.1%) stated that they were somewhere in between romance-repulsed/positive/neutral

12 respondents (or 18.8%) gave a completely different explanation, which included not understanding romance in general, being unsure about your feelings, etc. 

Regardless of their feelings towards romance, a majority of 65.8% of the respondents said that their feelings towards fictional romance are more positive than their feelings towards irl romance. In addition 23.8% said that they felt the same towards fictional and irl romance, and 7.2% said that they felt more positive towards irl romance than fictional romance. 16 people (3%) picked the ‘other’ option; the most frequent answers in that section were ‘it fluctuates’ and ‘it depends on the romance/situation’.

When asked if their aromanticism affects their feelings towards romance, 73.1% answered ‘yes’, 19% answered ‘I don’t know’, 6.5% answered ‘no’, and 1.3% (6 people) picked the ‘other’ option (one person probably answered this question by accident, and everyone else was either still questioning (could’ve picked the ‘I don’t know’ answer) or said it depended on the situation).

When asked if anything other than their aromanticism affects their feelings towars romance, 53.9% answered ‘yes’, 27.1% answered ‘I don’t know’, 17.1% answered ‘no’, and 10 people picked the ‘other’ option, but pretty much all of them were explaining what affected their feelings towards romance other than their aromanticism (which was what the next question asked), and the rest of them said things like ‘maybe’, ‘probably’, etc. 

For the open questions, I do not have precise figures, because, again, I thought I’d get way fewer responses than I actually got, and now I’m in a situation where I need to sort (in total) 1038 responses by hand, and uh. That’s not happening. Instead, I’ve read through the majority of them and picked out the common themes.

When asked how their aromanticism affects their feelings towards romance, people who answered that their aromanticism does affect their feelings towards romance had the following reoccuring reasons:

Romance-positive people named a fascination with romance because they are incapable of experiencing it themselves, an appreciation for the way it makes other people happy, an ability to distance themselves because they don’t experience romantic attraction, and amatonormativity (’society tells me I should be happy with romance, which has influenced me to the point where I am’) as reasons for feeling this way.

Romance-neutral people primarily named an apathy/confusion/inability to relate to romance as a result of their aromanticism as a reason for being romance-neutral. Other reoccuring reasons were: an appreciation for the way it makes other people happy while simultaneously not wanting it themselves, feeling repulsed but only when romance is directed towards themselves and still enjoying romance otherwise, and amatonormativity.

Romance-repulsed people primarily named a confusion/inability to relate to romance and amatonormativity (’society pressures me into a romantic relationship and forces me to see it everywhere, which has led me to despise it’) as reasons for their romance repulsion.

People who felt like they didn’t fit in the above categories didn’t answer this question frequently enough to draw any real results.

People who didn’t feel their aromanticism affected their feelings towards romance gave extremely conflicting accounts that have rendered pretty much all of their responses unusable. By that I mean that during this question, they started describing the ways aromanticism does affect their romance repulsion, only they stated that these reasons were ‘exceptions’. They generally did not give any account as to why they felt their aromanticism specifically didn’t affect their feelings towards romance. This could either be a problem with the way the question was structured, or it could be that the feelings for these respondents were just a lot more complex. For now, I do not feel like I have enough usable responses to notice patterns in their reasoning. I might later do a re-count just to be sure.

When asked if there were other factors affecting their feelings towards romance, the following reasons were given:

Romance-positive people mentioned neurodivergency, amtonormativity, asexuality, and romantic media as reasons.

Romance-neutral people mentioned amatonormativity, neurodivergency, their personality, and asexuality as reasons.

Romance-repulsed people mentioned amatonormativity, neurodivergency, asexuality, and their personality as reasons.

People who felt like they didn’t fit in the above categories mentioned trauma/previous negative experiences with romance, neurodivergency/mental illnesses, and amatonormativity as reasons. 

Feelings Towards Sex

This section will examine the results to the three questions that centered around the participants’ feelings towards sex.

NOTE: as with romance-repulsion/positive/neutrality, I did not provide any definitions for sex-repulsed/neutral/favorable. I also messed up a lot with this section, which will be discussed under the cut.

41.6% of the participants identified as sex-repulsed, making it the majority, followed by a 31.1% of participants who identified as sex-neutral, and 20.3% was sex-favorable. 6.6% (35) of the participants were something other, which most often (15 participants) meant that they fluctuated between two or all three states, were a mix of/somewhere in between two states (7 participants), or experienced different reactions to sex in different circumstances, or were unsure (five participants each). 

However, despite sex repulsion being the majority in the community, only 22.8% of the particpants felt like their aromanticism affected their romance repulsion. A majority of 46.1% felt that it did not, and 30.3% was unsure. For this question, only four people chose the ‘other’ option, one answering ‘possibly’ (aka ‘I don’t know’), and two people were already clarifying that their asexuality affected their romance repulsion, which wasn’t what I asked, so this data is negligible. 

When asked if they felt more positive towards irl or fictional sex, 48.2% stated that they felt more positive towards fictional sex, 44.9% stated that they felt the same towards fictional and irl sex, and only 5% said they felt more positive towards irl sex. Fourteen people used the ‘other’ option, but seven of those seemed to have misunderstood the purpose of the question (I wasn’t asking whether you weren’t repulsed towards either fictional or irl sex, I was asking if you had feelings that were more positive, one way or another) and were easily categorized elsewhere, which I took the liberty of doing, leaving only 1.3% of the participants with an answer that didn’t fall within the already presented categories.

Respondents who felt that their aromanticism didn’t affect their feelings towards sex mentioned the following reasons:

Sex-favourable people primarily mentioned that they distinguished between sex and romance (’you don’t have to be romantically attracted to someone to have sex, so romance and sex have little to do with each other’) and being allosexual as reasons.

Sex-neutral people also mentioned that romance =/= sex as a reason for their neutrality, and many also said that their asexuality affected their feelings towards sex, rather than their aromanticism.

Sex-repulsed people mainly said that they were also asexual and that this affected their feelings towards romance, rather than their aromanticism. Romance =/= sex was also given as a reason.

People who felt they didn’t fit in any of the above categories didn’t give enough answers to give accurate statements.

Respondents who felt that their aromanticism does affect their feelings towards sex mentioned the following reasons:

Sex-favourable respondents said that they associated sex with romance, and that their aromanticism does affect their feelings towards sex because of that.

Sex-neutral respondents noted that sex was normative in the same way that romance is, and that they felt that their aromanticism does affect the way they feel about sex because of that.

Sex-repulsed respondents said that they could only have sex with someone they are close with, and that this ability is affected by their aromanticism.

Respondents who didn’t feel like they fit in any of the above categories stated that they could only have sex with someone they are close with (which is affected by their aromanticism), and the fact that they don’t ‘catch feelings’ after sex in the same way alloro people sometimes do.

Please note that the sample-size for this question was small, and that results may be skewed because of that.

In addition, many aroace respondents mentioned that it was almost impossible to distinguish between their asexuality and aromanticism, and that they therefore didn’t know if their aromanticism affected their feelings towards sex.

And those are the raw results. Under the cut there is discussion about the results, and apologies for the ways I fucked up.

On The Terms Romance-Repulsed/Neutral/Positive 

As I’ve already stated, many of the respondents didn’t actually know what these terms meant, and expected me to provide definitions for them. I didn’t do this, specifically so people would be forced to use their own definitions of these terms. The results were... kind of worrying, honestly.

The vast majority of respondents had completely contradicting ideas of what romance-repulsion/neutrality/positive feelings actually meant. Respondents that felt positive towards fictional romance but repulsed by romance directed at them varied wildly in picking ‘romance-neutral’, ‘romance-repulsed’, and ‘romance-positive’. Many (maybe even the majority) of respondents who identified as romance-neutral specifically described very romance-repulsed feelings, but mentioned that they were okay with other people doing it as long as they kept it away from the respondent, which sounds like textbook repulsion to me. Romance-repulsed people often still described positive feelings towards either irl or fictional romance, and romance-positive people described repulsed feelings towards either irl or fictional romance. People who described the exact same feelings towards romance could either be using ‘romance-repulsed’, ‘romance-neutral’, or ‘romance-positive’ at any point.

What I’m getting at is that the responses were a genuine mess. While people over at the sex-repulsion/neutrality/favourable section at least seemed to have a general idea of what it meant, I honestly did not get that vibe from the romance section at all. In fact, I came extremely close to just declaring this entire survey null and void because of the contradicting definitions of the terms.

If this was just a small group of confused people who had probably not interacted much with the aro community prior to this point, I wouldn’t even be pointing this out. But it was the entire sample size of 527 people. Everyone had ideas that completely contradicted each other.

This speaks of either a lack of definitions, or a lack of proper education about those definitions. 

The main issue that I encountered in the survey was that many people experienced a dichotomy between their feelings towards romance when it was directed at them, and romance that wasn’t directed at them, either in fiction or in real life. To my knowledge, their currently isn’t a way to express this dichotomy, so many people forced themselves into a category that seemed to be picked at complete random.

Another reoccuring theme was of people asking me to use ‘romance-averse/neutral/favourable’ instead of the terms I was using. I have seen these terms used before with some frequency, but, to my knowledge, they are simply synonyms for the terms I was already using. I’ve never heard of a community consensus that we should use these terms instead of the ones that I was using, and I’ve only ever seen them used in ways that are completely interchangeable with repulsion/positive. Am I missing something? Because if so, my bad obviously, but I’m pretty involved in the aro community at this point, I like to think. If I don’t have any idea what the hell is going on here, then how are people newer to the community supposed to figure it out? I checked @aromantic-official‘s glossary and resources, and they say nothing about it. I’m really, really confused.

So, I guess the point I’m trying to make that we, as a community, need to look a little closer at the terms that we’re currently using. We need to start conversations towards a community consensus, because we currently don’t actually seem to have one (at least, according to this survey’s answers). 

I think that using ‘favourable/neutral/averse’ as a descriptor towards romance directed at a person themselves, while using ‘repulsed/neutral/positive’ towards romance not directed specifically at that person might be a decent solution, at least for the time being, but I’m not comfortable proposing that with confidence until I’m absolutely sure that I’m not missing something in the use of these terms.

tl;dr: this is a mess that we probably need to fix sometimes soon.

Discussion: Sample Bias

This section will discuss potential sample bias in the survey that could’ve skewed results.

This survey was only conducted on Tumblr, and as such, will probably have the sample bias that results when you do that (aka the majority of respondents will probably be afab nonbinary people or cis women). This seemed to be confirmed when I still had the question that asked respondents to list their gender (over half of the respondents, probably approaching 75% or even higher, were nonbinary or cis women). This means men and amab nonbinary people are probably underrepresented in this survey.

I never had a question asking about the ethnicity of respondents, meaning I have no way to confirm that there was a good representation for all ethnicities and races in this survey. 

I did, at one point, had a question asking whether or not respondents were on the ace-spectrum, and the vast majority of respondents were. I retracted this question at +- 300 respondents, meaning that I can probably conclude that even with the final numbers, allosexual aros are probably underrepresented in this survey.

The base results proved that the majority of respondents had no attraction whatsoever, meaning that aro-spec identities that still experience some form of attraction are underrepresented in this survey.

Discussion: I’m Not A Trained Researcher And Fucked Up

Alright. I’ll admit that I have not read through all the input people gave when I asked them to give me feedback to improve the survey. This is partially because it really flared up my RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria), which was incredibly not fun, and partially because conducting this survey really reminded me of why I hate doing research, and I do not plan on conducting follow-up research or any other type of research ever again (which was what I was going to use the feedback for).

That said, I still want to address some major issues with this survey.

The major one is the fact that I defined ‘Aromantic, without any romantic attraction, no matter how muddled or infrequent’ as ‘Aromantic, not on the spectrum’ for the vast majority of the time that this survey was up. This wasn’t out of any intent to devalue aro-spec identities that do experience some kind of romantic attraction, or to imply that they were somehow ‘less aro’, but because I simply didn’t know how to describe that particular type of aromanticism otherwise. It took me way too long to realize that I could literally just describe what I was talking about specifically not experiencing any attraction at all. 

Of course, regardless of intent, this way of describing aromanticism is inevitably dismissive towards aro-spec identities, and respondents were right to point this out and (in some instances) get angry about it. Intent =/= impact, and I sincerely apologize for dismissing and devaluing aro-spec identities. I have no other excuse than the fact that I’m a dumbass sometimes. I will attempt to be more inclusive and supportive of all aro-spec identities in the future, including those that aren’t my own.

Second problem with the survey was the fact that I didn’t originally intend for this to be about anything other than romance-repulsion, and made it a survey about general feelings towards romance at the last second. This is noticeable in both the title and the actual questions, and obviously doesn’t do the survey any favours, and may have skewed results for that. This is wholly my fault and I should’ve done better at proofreading the survey before going live.

The third problem is one I’ve been alluding to a lot alread: I did not expect or intend for this survey to get more than a hundred responses at most. A lot of the survey was based around the idea that I’d be able to spit through the responses by hand, and I ended up being completely overwhelmed when this wasn’t an option anymore. This survey was sloppily and unprofessionally conducted, and I apologize for vague questions, deleted questions, or any other problems that arose from this. 

And, lastly, I apologize for any rambling or vague statements in these results. I’m tired and already a week late and not going to proofread this more than once. If you need clarification, feel free to ask.

#aromantic #aro stuff #my posts #remind me never to do any research ever again #i mean it this time #aro survey adventures

[kokichiousama]

Hey @jacksmusesdrv3 I’ve been following your exchange with Skylar and I have something that I feel a third party has to address (with their blessing, just so I’m not accused of butting in):

You keep calling them out on ‘assuming‘ and ad hominems while your response is one of the rudest things I’ve seen. I won’t address any actual points properly since it’s not my lane but I will not hesitate to call you out (and Skylar, you’re allowed to reblog this if you want of course)

“I’m not saying your suggestion is a bad deduction because of course, his organisation isn’t as huge of a thing in terms of its influence, but again, this is a layer. One layer =/= the full package. We’re going to come across this issue a lot, so enough with ‘only reason’.“

The bold does jack shit to explain what you actually mean, as does everything else. Saying ‘enough with x‘ makes you sound like you believe you have control over the other side’s words, which you don’t, so I’d suggest being more polite. Additionally, this paragraph ofers no text-based explanation of there being more, it’s just you saying the other side doesn’t see everything you do.

“This is where you’re really starting to lose me. You think I’m assuming. That’s the same as assuming that I’m assuming. Besides, it’s not an assumption at all to suggest that say, ‘ten working under Ouma’ and ‘only nine being present’ is suspicious as all hell, and Shuichi should have questioned it at least once.”

I have to bounce the ball back - aren’t you assuming they’re assuming you’re assuming? It’s a childish game you’re playing to avoid actually addressing the point. For the record ‘I think you’re assuming...’ is not an insult. It’s an assertion based on what you said that you can easily prove wrong by explaining your reasoning. As for whether that specific point of yours is an assumption - it is. A detail lke that is easy to overlook, and it not being pointed out by anyone in the game points to it being a honest error and not a planned important point. But that’s just my assumption, that I admit is an assumption, just like Skylar did.

“So that’s a big ‘citation needed’ on your implied ‘coincidence’ or ‘irrelevant’ for starters. But that’s not all.”

It’s not really, no. I’m sure the actual point will be responded to in the response soon, but I just want to point out you come off as really aggressive and agitated in this paragraph, and there are less intimidating ways of asking for proof - which you yourself don’t provide.

“Like dude, if even Shuichi is thinking ‘hey something’s weird, is he really lying?’ that says entire omnibuses, and holds way more weight than your assumption that he ‘just gave up the jig’.”

Does it really? Saihara is inherently distrustful of Ouma and he doesn’t have access to all the same information genre-savvy, Ouma-loving audience does. At that point, he and a lot of other peoplre who don’t like him as much will have a hard time deciding if he’s lying or not. It’s not a matter of it actually meaning something. Your insistence on that is frankly insulting considering Skylar put a lot of thought into their interpretation bcause, spoilers, they love his character and can interpret if he meant something or not. Hell, I personally don’t agree with every interpretation but yours or Saihara’s (???????????) don’t inherently hold more weight.

“Besides that certain key hints actually are straight up smack bang in your face and you are in fact choosing to dismiss them (not even first narrative run, but on the analytical level even), you know what else this game encourages you to do, but doesn’t spoonfeed you into doing so, if you do not want to?

Research. Decode. Find what things mean.”

Okay so, this stuck out to me as the single rudest and least self-aware part of the entire post. I realise I can be rude too but my god, this is next level.

This would be rude under any circumstances, mind. You’re essenially calling your opponent stupid and willfuly ignorant for not seeing things the same way you do, and ‘dismissing’ things you deem important. It’s offensive and wrong on its own, but I want to point out two things here.

One, you yourself have thrown MASSIVE temper tantrums when someone pointed out things you missed, like anime references you didn’t realise were anime references. One could easily argue the references were put there to be recognised, or there are so many because the mastermind is an otaku. You chose to dismiss that because it doesn’‘t fit your view and exposes that you didn’t know something.

Two, the people who call you out and respond to you are, in fact, fans of the game who analysed it and came too their own conclusions based on their perspective an observations. They do, in fact, do their research, and they do in fact try too connect things logically. The game is so messy that multiple intelligent and dedicated people have come to multiple detailed conclusions.. But none of them ever get as rude at each other as you have at everyone who disagrees.

Side note, if the game doesn’t want to spoonfeed us information. why should anyon let you, ostensibly not the creator, someone with extremely questionable proof and attitude, spoonfeed us second-hand information? It’s good for everyone that you’re being questioned and disagreed with.

“Ouma intentionally says things in a manner that is confusing, yes.

But you don’t have a damn clue WHY he is doing it this way, do you?”

They do, actually, and have stated so multiple times.

Again, you’re not the creator. Your explanation is not the standard everyone should aspire to. Someone not agreeing with your interpretation is not clueless by default. That’s rude, presumptuous, and really arrogant.

“Gonna have to stop you there with a small clarification but also this is another assumption from you- I never once said the video itself was fake, just that there’s something fishy about it (the presentation).”

They said ‘I think you think‘, so yes, they admitted it’s an assumption. You don’t need to point that out. Just disprove it, like you did later anyway. People assume things all the time, and it’s normal to do so when you give every indication that that’s the case. It doesn’t make their case less legitimate.

“And please, ‘could be paid actors’ is an assumption in of itself given the circumstances so unless you’ve got something more solid than Kaede’s literal fragment memory of the sealing before she should even logically HAVE it in Tsumugi’s ‘narrative’, and Ouma’s group being bloodied while the others’ situations were obscured, then cool it with telling me I’m making assumptions.”

By this point I hope you realise how funny it is to see you call them out on saying you make assumptions when you called them out on it like 5 times, no? Also, yes. It is an assumption. That’s why the phrase used is ‘could be‘, and not ‘are‘ or even probably are‘. It’s an assumption that’s a counter to your assumption, given as an example. You have no reason to get woorked up over it. And again. You’re demanding proof in a really aggressive way, when there’s no reason to. You can and should be polite in a debate, and stay away from ad hominems.

“Speaking of ‘furthering agendas’ the one getting progressively more mad at the other over certain content used sounds like they’re harbouring more than just an agenda. But that’s none of my business. You have decided that my evidence is all arbitrary, that it’s based on agenda. On what authority exactly? Your own basis for this holds up about as well as a bridge made out of caster sugar.“

This is another disgusting ad hominem, and another example of you sounding aggressive over nothing - while calling Skylar out on sounding mad? They honestly don’t to me, call me out on a bias if you need, but I don’t see it. They just sound tired, and I would be too, if I had to base on ‘evidence‘ I find inherently unconvincing. Truth is, I can and will turn your question around: you have decided that all your evidence is irrefutable. On what authority exactly? You are the one who decided to share your theory with the world. We are your audience, and we don’t find your proof good enough. You can either try harder to convince us, accept that we may have a point too, or give up on us entirely. You opted to doo none of the above and instead insist that finding your evidence flimsy is 1. a personal insult 2 a sign that we weren’t paying attention to the game.

Nobody in the room sounds angrier than you, and I know for a fact that Skylar doesn’t have an agenda and didn’t even want to engage for the longest time. The only agenda here is an attempt at a fair debate.

“It’s a situation bred for making assumptions- which again, is what you’re doing in order to back your own claims in the first place. You do not know what their rule is based on objectively, you’re assuming a practicality based on your own take.”

Assumption accusation number who-the-hell-is-counting. And this one I can turn on you as well - you are making assumptions based on your take, too, except unlike Skylar, you don’t admit they’re assumptions, spitballing, one of many options, or look for proof of that assumption where you could find it. You treat your take as the only possibility, because you connected it to some other event that the game never did, or it reminded you of a book quote, and anybody who doesn’t see the connection is a shallow moron. You can’t call someone out on something when you’re doinng it too except worse in every way.

“Besides that once again, it’s not even solely ‘bonus shit’ that backs me up, exactly how is the conclusion ‘more reasonable’? At all? We’re supposed to buy that he goes around the world putting his and others’ life. in. danger just to make merry while… pretending to be a special kind of villain at the same time? What has this villain persona even got to do with funny crimes at all?

The problem with taking all this at face value is that it completely neglects any given context towards Ouma’s title, given by the god damned government, which unambiguously suggests ‘dictator’. There is a purpose for this ominous title that we are not spoonfed, suggesting Ouma’s role as Trojan horse more than simply a happenstance spark who… happened to go off and set all these things in motion because he happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right levels of skill and the right mindset for a sabotage, to boot.”

Hey Jacks, did you know that apparently when coming up with Ouma’s title, they never really considered it to be connected to dictatorship, but more of a director role? And its connection to dictatorship was more for a joke, and that’s why his official art is like that? Because Kodaka likes tasteless jokes? But I digress.

I’m sure this point will, again, be elaborated further in the rebuttal proper, but I want to point something out - ‘Ouma’s role as a Trojan horse‘ is entirely your invention. It is. He’s not called that anywhere, as far as I know. His role is, simply, a guy who lies a lot and makes himself sound evil and powerful, while turning out to be a benevolent leader of a group of pranksters by the end. That’s called a plot twst. And it’s a good one, at that. It’s not only reasonable, but it’s really good payoff imo. You seem dissatisfied with it for some reason, because you want it to be deeper - that’s fair. But you are using terms and points you INVENTED to discuss something that should be discussed purely based on what the game text shows us. We all have headcanons and personal interpretations, but you can’t bring them up in a debate about the actual text. And iif you do, explain them in excruciating detail so people unfamiliar with every post you ever made can understand what you mean.

“I put it to you, if Ouma just pulled the story out of his arse, explain Shuichi’s memory. Explain how this ‘wild story’ and Shuichi’s private thoughts in the main game both align with a situation geared around ‘metaphorical death’. I don’t think I need to say how big of a reach ‘coincidence’ is for something like that, especially since they allude to events pre-capture.“

Another unecessarily aggressive request for proof. I‘m sure you are likely to get it, considering that’s the point of a debate, but by god you can’t keep doing this.

“So if you don’t know where I’m getting the reading, then I’ll tell you, but cut it out with the ‘projection’ bullshit because that’s an unnecessary PERSONAL assumption that borders on ad hominem. At best.”

1. I’ve collected here at least 3 examples of you asking for proof in increasingly aggressive ways. What Skylar expressed here is simply confusion -  don’t know where you got the readings, it’s confusing, and seems like projecting. You are not one to shy away from making Oma personal. I’ve seen posts where you confessed borderline worrisome things, including projecting onto Ouma. It’s neither farfetched not out of line to assume it to be the case based on your own publiic posts.

2. I’ve also collected here a bunch of borderline ad hominems about Skylar’s assumed inability to read and analyse without being spoonfed so I’m not going to go over them again but here’s a bonus: remember when you called someone an idiot who’s more shallow than Tsumugi because she pointed out you missed a reference? or perhaps you just endorsed someone else calling her that? A stranger you knew nothing about? What about that time you vagued about people who call Ouma a prankster or a clown as if that cancels their love for him and the validity of their analysis? What about the time you put words in people’s mouths, making it seem like they have no idea what they’re talking about? Do you even know what an ad hominem IS?

Ad hominem (Latin for "to the person"), short for argumentum ad hominem, is a fallacious argumentative strategy whereby genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by instead attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument, or persons associated with the argument, rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself.

You’ve done nothing but that for most of the existence of this blog. You don’t get to use that card. Not ever.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

OK, I'LL TELL YOU YOU ABOUT STARTUP

VCs get rapidly dumber. What I found was that recognizing that last few percent of spams got very hard, and that you sometimes have to figure out where. Think about your own experience: most links you follow lead to something lame. Quiet is another matter. But I disagree with Caterina Fake when she says that makes this email a boring example of the organic method, you don't have to find a smoking gun, a passage in whatever you disagree with that you feel is mistaken, and then you realize the window has closed. This is the single most important ingredient is formidable founders. Some smart, nice guys turn out to be a token separator. Finally, they didn't bias against false positives. Empirically that seems to work. Indeed, almost pathologically so. The most diffident person would be puzzled and even slightly contemptuous if they told a VC one plus one is two and the VC reacted with skepticism. But what if you're investing by yourself?

It doesn't work well. An undergrad could build something better as a class project. They have so far been subjected to the same forces, they still seem to have some kind of company. We can of course counter by sending a crawler to the site, you wouldn't find a smoking statistical gun. How do you figure out what we do. But you should be spending your time on that's bullshit, you probably have to be able to carry it off. And that's also a sign that one is a good number to use. 99 and, say, $2 million, they generally expect to offer a significant amount of help along with the money. So as animals get bigger they have trouble radiating heat. They'll lie to you on this one. A particularly promising way to be unusual is to be decisive.

The reason I haven't done this is that when you look at it from the rich people's point of view, the picture is more encouraging. We were just able to develop software faster than anyone thought possible. And you'll do it best if you introduce the ulterior motive toward the end of that year we had about 70 stores online. The odds of finding smart professors are even better. Look at this, for example, is a huge time sink. Almost everyone's initial plan is broken. So we made some basic mistakes early on. And often these gaps won't seem to be counting multiple times tend to be different from the one we were expecting in 1970. In 1995 I started a company to do something grand or heroic about starting a startup is best seen not as a way to work faster. That m. By compressing the dull but necessary task of making a living into the smallest possible space.

But Dropbox was a much better idea, both in the absolute sense and also as a match for his skills. To make all this happen, you're going to succeed, just that you're a sufficiently good bet? So students who want to start a startup at 20 and you're sufficiently successful, you'll never get to do it. Specific spam features e. A formidable person is one who seems like they'll get what they want to know what the tricks are for convincing investors. But what people have now is often so bad that it doesn't matter much which you use. To some extent you have to be a startup, and misleading them about how far along you are with other investors seems the complementary countermove. After my mother died, I wished I'd spent more time with her. After you raise the first million dollars, the company is at least a handful of other smart students, and this variation is one of the things you learn when you analyze spam texts is how narrow a subset of a bigger problem you're trying to estimate is not just classification, because false positives are my bug list. You might say that it's an accident that it thus helps identify this spam. I don't know exactly how many users they have now, but the people who break rules that are the source of error, is not as simple as picking startups that are already making something wildly popular.

It generally takes a personal introduction with angels. I wrote for myself to figure out what. Do the founders of Google knew, brand is worth next to nothing in the search business. In later stage startups the questions are about deals, or hiring people, or raising money, or you're someone who can make a huge amount of money. But although I can't explain in the general sense: i. So if you want to go with Ron Conway and bet on people and those who prefer to bet on seems to be networks of small, autonomous groups whose performance is measured individually. The disadvantage of having a lot of people out there who have never even made an angel investment and yet are already better angel investors than they realize. An ambitious kid graduating from college now doesn't want to work that hard. If this were so, we could all probably move on to working on something else. I didn't ever quite understand these papers, but I can prove it's mistaken. Their expertise is mostly in business—as it should be, because that's implicit in making something customers want.

And because Lisp was so high-level languages in the early stages of a startup they have neglected the one thing that's actually essential: making something people want. Spreading your corpus out over more tokens has the same effect as making it smaller. Free! 99%. Because they begin by trying to think of the things they're doing is breaking up and misspelling words to prevent filters from recognizing them. In addition to formidable founders, a promising market, and if you're not convinced yourself. Microsoft was a well when they made Altair Basic. The reason startups no longer depend so much on VCs is one that everyone in the US, of ambitious people will start them, and then explain why it's mistaken. It doesn't sound obviously mistaken. And hackers are invariably smart-alecks.

There are many exceptions to this rule. Fortran isn't good enough at simulations. Google's secret weapon was simply that they understood search. What matters is what you make of yourself. When one company or industry replaces another, it usually comes in from the side. The author's main point seems to be networks of small, autonomous groups whose performance is measured individually. The most successful angel investors I know are all basically good people. But disappointing though it may be somewhat blurry at first. Larry and Sergey, for example, was simply to create a stampede, but merely to explain the forces that generate them. So you have two choices about the shape of hole you start with.

But spammers haven't yet made a serious effort to spoof statistical filters. Wall Street is collectively kicking itself. We were just able to develop software faster than anyone thought possible. This is probably what Eric Raymond meant about Lisp making you a better programmer. And not only will they give you this advice for free, they'll pay you. So of course your first impulse is to disregard them. DH5 we still sometimes see deliberate dishonesty, as when someone picks out minor points of an argument and refutes those.

#automatically generated text #Markov chains #Paul Graham #Python #Patrick Mooney #people #problem #sense #gun #project #effort #something #i #well #search #view #passage #picture #anyone #impulse #example #time #trouble #spams #lame #way #course #hackers #angels #one

[dear-jjh]

distractions | Enemies to Lovers | Bae Jinyoung

gif originally posted by baejinsgirl

requested: yes! “hi!!! can i request an enemies to lovers baejin scenario??? or rlly just something angsty but fluff in the end hehehe thank u” AND “hello can you please do classmate!bae jinyoung, bullet-form pls and everything else is up to you thank you” characters: bae jinyoung x reader, the rest of wanna one? word count: 1k genre: fluff, angst? hmm enemies to lovers au, classmate au author’s note: hello i am back! sorry it took me this long to actually post this but its finally here! baejin has been climbing up my bias list like theres no other lately but y’all know who will always be number 1 but um can baejin hold up for a minute… anyways, thank you to the anons who requested this but dw, i have plans for this specific scenario, so if i didn’t satisfy your request with this, don’t worry bc its not the end of it ;) let me know how i did or just say anything to me in my inbox! i enjoy “interacting” with you all hehe 

masterlist | part 2

it’s the first day of school

the bittersweet feeling hit you

its been a really good summer break and you felt as if it refreshed you for the upcoming school year

entering the doors with a smile on your face 

you hear murmurs and whispering in the hallway you were walking by this early in the morning

“did you hear the news” “yeah i did! i cant believe he’s moving here” “i know! he’s definitely gonna be a hot issue and topic for the next month or longer” “ i cant wait to see them, especially him! he’s so handsome from his pictures in his social media accounts”

your smile started to fade away

this was everything that you’ve heard about the girls in the hallway and you couldn’t help but get slightly annoyed because it was early and you just wanted it to be quiet

nothing new though, it’s the first day of school and obviously, people would act as if they haven’t seen each other during the summer break

who was this “him”, “he” they were talking about?

out of all the people in the school, shouldn’t you know about the news before everyone else? 

you were well-known throughout your school

you were popular for your good-looks, your intelligence, your good personality, the president of the student council, athletic, talented, you were all that

this was the first time that you didn’t know about “this news”

no one informed you about anything during the summer break

but it seems like a group of new guys will transfer to your school

whats with the big deal?

someone new always transfer to your school 

you were headed to your home classroom just by yourself since you haven’t seen your friends yet

you put your earphones on to listen to music but to also block out the noise and whispering that the other girls were making 

you were walking peacefully until,

someone yelled “GET OUT OF MY WAY!” from somewhere behind you

you took one bud out from your ear and looked back to see where it was coming from

you see a guy coming towards you while riding his skateboard so you immediately stepped to the side because he was already so close to crashing into you

but it was too late

he already crashed into you 

you fell

things happened so fast and you closed your eyes, ready for the floor to catch you 

but you didn’t fall to the floor

you felt two hands holding you and keeping you from actually falling down

you opened your right eye first

you blinked and had to even double take

you were now looking directly into this guy’s eyes and he was looking into yours too

you cleared your throat and got up from his arms that were supporting you 

you swept off his hands and he looked at you by the way you acted with a confusion in his face

“WHAT THE HELL? HOW COULD YOU EVEN USE YOUR SKATEBOARD IN THE HALLWAYS? DO YOU NOT KNOW THE RULES HERE?” you exclaimed to him

he scoffed, look down to the floor then looked back at you with a smirk on his face

“excuse me? but shouldn’t you be thankful that i caught you from falling?” he said, sounded like he was bragging about catching you from falling

you lightly laughed to yourself upon hearing his response

“EXCUSE ME TO YOU TOO BUT I WOULDN’T HAVE FELL IF IT WASNT BECAUSE OF YOU. YOU SHOULDNT BE RIDING YOUR SKATEBOARD INSIDE THE HALLWAYS ANYWAY” you said giving him a glare 

“DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM?” 

this was the first time you had to ask someone this question

it wasn’t that you were bragging about your position/status in the school but he had to know who he was messing with and how what he did can affect him

again, he scoffed while looking to the ground, hands in his pocket, he stepped closer to you 

now you and him were closer than before

he lifted his head and looked at you in your eyes and said

“Do you not know who I am?” in a cold tone 

you didn’t admit it but the way he talked to you and looked at you sent shivers down your spine

you sighed while you try to gather your words to talk back to him

“NO. And I’m not interested on finding out who you are. Now, If you’ll excuse me,  I have a class to get to” you exclaimed and walked out from where the scene happened

while you were walking away, you were extremely annoyed by what just happened

but at the same time when you were walking away

the guy stared by the way you walk with a smirk on his face

a few moments later, you finally reached your classroom

most of the seats were already taken except for some seats from the back and a few seats at the front

your fellow classmates greeted you good morning and you just smiled at them

you decided to sit on one of the empty chair in the second row while you wait for the class to start

the bell rang and while you were waiting for your teacher and your other classmates to get to the room and to their seats

you looked around the classroom to see some familiar and unfamiliar faces 

you opened your backpack to get your binder and notebooks 

while you were preparing for the other necessities that you needed for the class, 

loud murmurs and whispering spread throughout the classroom

the same whispering that you heard this morning on the way to class

“oh my god here they are” “i cant believe we have the same class as them” “they look so good”

you lifted your head up to see four manly figures 

three unfamiliar face, 

and one very familiar one

you sighed in disbelief

the one who had the familiar face

was the guy who you bumped into earlier

posted on: 171227

#bae jinyoung imagines #bae jinyoung scenarios #bae jinyoung au #bae jinyoung #baejin #wanna one scenarios #wanna one #wanna one imagines #produce 101 scenarios #produce 101 imagines #kpop scenarios #kpop imagines

[welovekpopscenarios]

The Stars Above the Chaos (Space/Halo!AU Mingyu x Reader)

Admin: Mimi

Earth is under attack, and Mingyu is being shipped out to war tomorrow. You don’t know if this will be his last one. Better make the night count. Space/Halo!AU

Fandom: Seventeen

Genre: Smut, teensy bit of angst

Pairing: Mingyu x Reader

Warnings: Language, slight mentions of death

Word Count: 3555

A/N: Don’t let all the terminology or Halo scare you off, it’s basically a smut with a bit of backstory. This was honestly just to feed my need to write for Mingyu seeing as he is my bias and Halo bc it was the game of my childhood and it will always be one of my top games (I even have a big book about it that my ex got me for Christmas haw haw). But yeah, this is essentially just a smut and can be taken as a basic Space!AU, so I hope you still read and enjoy regardless of the space/halo stuff in it! Happy reading! (Low key happy about this one LOL)

I made a little index with info and visuals, if you’re interested in the help!

The sound of mindless chatter and clinking metal sounded in your ears as you entered the canteen to collect your dinner for the day after training, nodding your head in hello at chefs and soldiers alike, the ships A.I Sasha even throwing a sweet wave as you passed the holographic screen. Your eyes searched the large space, table upon table filled with soldiers of every ranking; cadet to captain, private to sergeant, but you were only looking for one table in particular. Tucked away in the corner of the room, you found some of your friends sitting together and chatting amiably amongst one another, as usual around this time in the evening.

Seungkwan spotted you first, his head raising from the conversation to wave you over with his usual sweet smile. You headed towards the spot with hurried steps, ignoring the talks of the ongoing battle ensuing on Earth, the countless number of deaths and casualties occurring while you’re stuck here on this ship, waiting for the day when you get called to join the gruesome fight. Jeonghan greeted you with a smile and moved over on the bench, making room for you to sit, placing you directly in front of Mingyu who fixed you with a small smile and a subtle wink. The others – Seungkwan, Minghao and Wonwoo, to be exact – all gave you their own greetings before returning to their previous conversation.

“I don’t think I’ve ever fixed so much equipment before – seems like there’s something coming in nearly every hour to be worked on lately,” Wonwoo complained, playing idly with the food on the tray in front of him. “So many weapons and vehicles coming in, needing repairs. Some of them are so badly damaged, I don’t even know where to start with them.”

Jeonghan made a noise in agreement, shaking his head. “Tell me about it, the med wards are flooded here. It’s too hectic to keep up with, and we’re nearly running out of supplies.”

“We’re overloaded here,” Seungkwan piped up from beside Jeonghan. “I can’t even imagine what the situation on Earth looks like right now.”

The table grew quiet, the horrible elephant in the room ever present as you thought about the struggle on Earth. Just recently, as small fleet of Covenant ships exited slipspace and began to attack the African city of New Mombasa. During the ensuing battle, a Covenant Assault Carrier breached the orbital fortifications on the city and made its way to the surface. The ship, which carried the Covenant Hierarch known as the High Prophet of Regret, took position over New Mombasa, deploying troops and vehicles which occupied the city, and the city's civilians either evacuated, took shelter, or were killed.

Nobody could talk for too long on those who were lost to the hordes of aliens destroying the city, be it soldier or civilian. You felt useless, stuck on the UNSC Say My Name while others risked their lives to stop the invaders from controlling the city. But another part of you, hidden deep underneath your skin and making you sick with guilt, was slightly relieved your unit wasn’t shipped out to deal with the situation yet. The tales you heard from the returning soldiers; the frightening pincers of the Elites, the raw terrifying strength of the Brutes, even the swarms of Grunts and Jackals becoming too much to handle in the heat of the moment. Nobody knew exactly the intent of the invasion – just that if the Covenant managed to take control of New Mombasa with the fleet they have, more will come, and Earth will soon be in the hands of the enemy.

Minghao made a loud tutting and jabbed irritably at his food, scowl present on his otherwise pixie-like face.

“I wish they’d just send us out already. They clearly need us, and I’m sick of all this waiting. We should be going now instead of tomorrow” he grumbled, shovelling tasteless slop into his mouth hurriedly. Jeonghan gave a derisive snort, fixing Minghao with a level stare.

“You should wish they won’t have to send you out,” he retorted, to which Minghao gave another tut and a slight roll of his eyes. “To send the ODST’s out would mean that the situation really has gone to shit. And that’s when panic sets in,” he explained, picking up his cup to take a sip and raising a brow at the infamous ODST over the rim.

“ODST’s: Orbital Drop Shock Troopers,” you mused quietly, and looked forward to find Mingyu’s eyes already on you. “Things must be getting really bad down in New Mombasa if they’re gonna send out the ODST’s soon,” you said, and all heads at the table turned at your voice. “You’re practically a last resort when these things happen.”

Mingyu nodded seriously, shoulders heaving in a sigh the exited through his nose. “Yeah,” he agreed. “They say the fight’s getting pretty grizzly and they’re losing hope. The Covenant are pushing strong. Coups said we could be shipped out some time tomorrow,” he elaborated, and made eye contact with you to give you a heavy stare that put a dead weight in the pit of your stomach. It was a stare that said ‘I’m going away tomorrow, I don’t know when I’ll be back. I don’t know if I’ll be back.’

You always knew what would happen when one of you gave a stare like that, a sort of tradition between the pair of you after you began seeing each other in secret years ago. But it would have to wait until after dinner. You brushed your leg against Mingyu’s underneath the table.

Minghao gave a humourless smirk. “’Last resort’,” he repeated, shaking his head. “We’re the best of the best. They just don’t want to use us so early in the fight. They wanna see if they can pick them off without using all their resources first,” he said arrogantly, but you saw right through him as if he were glass. He might be an ODST like Mingyu, a soldier who went through tougher training than most, than yourself, but he was afraid. Just like everyone else was. One wrong move, and life as you knew it was gone.

“Actually, The8,” Wonwoo mocked Minghao’s notorious nickname as if it were an insult, and Minghao turned his head to his left to glare at the taller boy. “I wouldn’t consider ODST’s the best of the best. You’re good, yes, but you’re just that bit stronger than the average soldier, like Y/N,” he nodded his head in your direction, and you ducked yours when Minghao’s dark eyes flitted to your form. Mingyu stifled a giggle at Minghao’s enraged face, and instead paid attention to the rest of Wonwoo’s speech. “If you were to call on the best of the best, then the Spartan’s would have been sent. Those were the real super soldiers.”

Seungkwan cut off Minghao’s retort in an effort to keep the peace once he saw the ODST clenching his fists and flaring his nostrils. Minghao always got too fired up when danger was imminent, snapping at everyone without warning. “Spartans aren’t in use any more. Well, except for the Master Chief. He’s the last Spartan alive, apparently,” he said, checking his surroundings before leaning into the centre of the table, the rest of you following suit as he lowered his voice.

“I heard he was on the UNSC Pillar of Autumn when it exploded. He was supposed to be destroying a new alien threat that was released, something even worse than the Covenant. But that’s all I heard. There were a few units that came into contact with this new threat but…not many people made it back alive,” he gossiped, a grim look upon the nurse’s soft visage. Mingyu groaned, eyes darting to the ceiling, cracking his knuckles loudly that had you cringing at the sound.

“As if we need even more shit to deal with,” he whined, boots tapping yours in silent conversation. ‘I’m worried.’ You tapped back and gave a slight smile, one that felt weaker than intended. ‘I know. Me too.’

“Regardless,” Minghao clipped loudly, sitting upright once more as he spooned the last of his grub into his mouth, “we’re the next best thing. There are more of us than there are Spartan soldiers, isn’t that right, Gyu?” Mingyu nodded wordlessly, eyebrows nearly reaching his hairline as he sipped his water. “We’re the ones who are going to be doing most of the fighting. Master Chief can join whenever he wants, but he better not steal our glory.” And with that, he stood up from the bench, gathered his tray, and stormed away from the table. Wonwoo rubbed his eyes tiredly while Jeonghan shook his head disappointedly.

“Please, ignore him,” Mingyu apologised, resting his forearms on the table. “His feathers get a bit rustled when a fight is just around the corner. He doesn’t mean to snap.” The group just nodded in understanding. Truthfully, tensions were high with everyone now, stress piling on every time a new problem came up, which seemed to be nearly every second now.

The intercom above interrupted the chatter in the room, calling upon all available technicians to return to their work stations immediately, and Wonwoo placed his forehead on the table and gave a pitiful, exhausted groan. Mingyu laughed warmly and reached an arm around his friend’s shoulders, squeezing in sympathy. The leaner male simply sighed, and drug his body out of his seat on the bench. Lifting a weak arm in goodbye, he picked up his tray and headed in the direction of the technician’s labs.

“We should get going too, Y/N,” Mingyu announced, your attention aimed at him once more as he looked at you with a hard stare. “We need our rest as soldiers, don’t we?” he asked, and you nodded in agreement mutely, picking up the remainder of your food and standing up from the bench. Jeonghan gave you a knowing look, one that had you fighting the heat rising to your cheeks and scowling when he gave a light scoff. You curse the day you called him your friend and trusted him with the information about your secret relationship.

Before you could grab him by the throat and choke him out for being so obvious, Mingyu tilted his head in the direction and led you both out while you ignored the teasing “have fun” from Jeonghan’s sugared mouth. Mingyu guided you down the hallways of the ship while you saluted every passer-by, reminded of just how vast and lively this single airship can be. It was essentially a world of its own – each person a cog in the well-oiled machine that was the UNSC Say My Name, another fighter in the galactic war. Turning a corner in the metallic hallways, you came upon a rare occurrence of the hall being completely devoid of life. And just when you thought that Mingyu was leading you nowhere, you were suddenly dragged into what seemed to be a supply closet and promptly pressed up against the newly locked door.

You gasped as Mingyu’s sturdy body was flush against your own, his calloused hands trailing a rapid path across your skin as he attempted to feel as much of you as he possibly could, his hidden fear and his duty as a soldier causing him to panic and rush his actions. You grabbed a hold of his wrists to stop him and stared deep into his wide eyes, so beautifully dark and so tragically frightened. Your thumbs rubbed soothing circles over the veins, and you watched as he gradually relaxed and sighed out of his stiff posture, deflating like a balloon until he looked unbearably small in the cramped space of the closet, the light casting even darker shadows over his weary face. Bringing his wrists to your face, your lips skimmed the smooth surface, his pulse dancing beneath your mouth as he closed his eyes in peace.

Edging closer to you, he moved his arms to wrap around your form as you wrapped yours around his waist, holding him close to you as he rested his forehead atop the crown of your head, breathing in the scent of your hair and keeping you hidden in his longs arms for as long as he could. He’s not stupid. The situation on Earth is way worse than ONI or the UNSC are letting on. But for the sake of keeping their soldiers up for the fight, they’re staying quiet about how bad the devastation in New Mombasa is. And while he knows he’s one of the best ODST’s in the army right now, he isn’t sure if he’ll live to see another battle after he gets deployed and sent feet first into hell tomorrow. He knows when he sits in that pod and gets dropped into the heat of battle, there’s no going back for him. And the only thing that has been racing through his mind since the Covenant invaded the planet was you. Thoughts of you heading into the fight soon, thoughts of you being safe on the ship while he was doing heavy duty, thoughts of if he’ll get to see you again once everything’s been dealt with.

If everything’s dealt with.

And it’s with this in mind that he plans to go through with the unspoken tradition for when either one of you are set to leave. A moment of bittersweet release, one last night in paradise, as he bitterly jokes, a time for you both to feel alive and in love before it’s drained out of him in the coming hours.

He moves first, his lips pressing butterfly kisses to your forehead and moving them downwards; kissing your cheeks, your lids delicately, and even your nose before they finally reach your lips, where they seal over yours in a searing kiss, one that left your mind spinning and perfectly distracted you from the worries plaguing it. Your fingers trail through his hair, tugging at the soft strands and wrenching a delicious moan from deep within Mingyu’s chest.

You felt the ends of your standard tank top being tugged out of the confines of your cargo pants, but couldn’t think on it too long, not when Mingyu’s tongue was sweeping across the seam of your lips so wonderfully. You opened up for him and he dove in like a man starved of everything that was you, your tongues swirling and pushing in ways that had your knees turning to jelly. You think you would have fallen if not for Mingyu’s strong arms keeping you upright, hands working frantically to open the buttons on your pants.

You did the same, hands reaching beneath his shirt and brushing over his toned muscles, honed after years and years of training, your fingertips caressing the little bumps of scars, hard work and even harder memories painted across his skin. He tore his shirt off impatiently, the fabric pooling somewhere on the ground, and he did the same with yours, your arms raised high above your head as he near ripped the piece of clothing off your body, leaving you in your sports bra and pressing you to the door once more.

The cold sting of the metal against your flushed body wasn’t near enough to distract you from Mingyu’s ministrations of trailing kisses down your neck, his thick fingers dipping beneath the waistband of your bra behind your back. You made a light squeak when his lips touched the more sensitive parts of your neck, lust seeping over your mind like a cloud on a stormy day, and you could do nothing more than pull on Mingyu’s hair whenever he did something particularly pleasing. He was placing your pleasure above his own, like usual. He pulled your bra off until you were completely bare from the waist up, and Mingyu took the opportunity to place hidden nips and bites along your chest for only his eyes to see, sucking on your pert nipple and rolling the neglected one with his fingers.

You bit your lip to contain the moan threatening to leave your chest, feeling your arousement seeping through your underwear and your core throbbing annoyingly, desperate to be touched.

Mouth still lavishing your chest, Mingyu worked on getting your pants down and off your legs, pulling until the fabric piling around your ankles until you kicked them off along with your boots. You gasped aloud when his hand flew into your underwear and straight for your slit, fingers rubbing up and down the flesh before moving to your swollen bud, circling around the nub harshly that had stars as bright as the ones you’ve seen out of the docking bays windows flashing behind your closed lids.

But Mingyu knew there was no time, and so he tugged your underwear off and left you as naked as the day you were born, his hands shoving his own pants and boxers down his thighs. Without even taking them off, he lifted you up with ease, your legs wrapping automatically around his waist as his forearms kept you balanced beneath your rear. You reached between your bodies to grasp his member and gave it a few pumps, leaving Mingyu to grit his teeth at the sensation.

Once he reasoned he was fully hard, Mingyu moved his dick to your soaked folds, rubbing the tip up and down your core, drenching his member in your slick before he pushed in, moving you down his length slowly until he was fully sheathed in your heat. He allowed you a moment to breathe, peppering kisses on the underside of your jaw before you gave the go ahead, and next he was lifting you up and down his cock while you clung to his shoulders for dear life.

You could feel the rumble of his chest against yours with every grunt and pant he made, driving you even crazier as you watched him become more ruined the closer his orgasm came. Each thrust caused his abdomen to grind against your throbbing clit, and you were too weak to even keep your eyes open at the feeling, that knot in your stomach growing larger and more intense with each hard plunge of his shaft into your sensitive cunt. The lewd sounds of skin smacking against skin slapped around the metallic supply room, your moans lost to the wind in airy little whispers as Mingyu readjusted his position and hit that oh-so-special spot deep inside of you.

Your orgasm was approaching fast, too fast, but you were powerless to stop it when Mingyu sped up his thrusts and kissed you so hard you lost your breath. Your back arched as white heat washed over you, your nails biting into the bronzed skin of his shoulder blades while Mingyu hissed with pleasure, that knot finally unravelling and dragging you down into a plane of pure ecstasy. Your body twitched in satisfaction, feeling truly spent, and you coaxed Mingyu to his own end with whispers of praise in his ear, and when your walls clenched around him, he gave a whine and pulled out, hand rapidly pumping at his hand.

With furrowed brows and sweat lining his forehead he came, white strings of his seed spilling over his stomach and his hand, and with all the energy you could muster you bent down to grab your underwear for him to clean himself with. It was better than nothing.

You pulled back on your clothes groggily as Mingyu wiped down his hand, chest heaving from exertion, and soon he too was getting dressed in the dark space of the closet. Fully clothed, you stared at him for a moment before he dragged you in for a kiss, one so passionate and desperate, you swore you felt your heart break just a little bit. Pulling back to gasp for air, he leaned his forehead on yours and held you close to his body, rocking you back and forth in a way that seemed more soothing for him than you.

You wished you had more time, had an opportunity to have a proper night together, to lie peacefully in each other’s arms rather than a quick fuck in a dirty closet. You wanted to spend your life with him, a life of serenity, a home, with a child and a pet and-

Fuck, you just wanted a better life for him.

Your hands held either side of his face and forced him to gaze into your eyes, eyes that looked so heartbreakingly dismal that you wanted to cry right then and there. You steeled yourself - for his sake - and took a deep breath. You can do this.

“I want you to win this fight, Mingyu,” you said simply, and he stood still, emotionless, before resolve flooded his face, and with newfound determination and strength he nodded resolutely, pressing one more sweet kiss to your lips. And he’d make sure it wouldn’t be the last.

And when you both exited the supply closet, ignoring the curious looks of other soldiers and workers and watching as you headed in the other direction towards your sleeping quarters, Mingyu was certain of his decision to finally propose to you if he comes back from battle.

When he comes back from battle.

#mimi fics #mingyu #kim mingyu #mingyu scenarios #mingyu smut #mingyu angst #seventeen #seventeen scenarios #seventeen fic #seventeen smut #seventeen reactions #s.coups #wonwoo #vernon #hoshi #dino #the8 #minghao #jun #dk #seokmin #jeonghan #seungkwan #joshua #woozi #jihoon #soongyoung #seungcheol #chan #kpop

[gukyi]

practice makes perfect (or at least, significantly better) | kth

⇒ summary: taehyung’s the drummer in a local punk band, and you’re the university’s first chair flute. this is a love story that doesn’t exactly go as planned, but then again, does anything?

⇒ punk band!au

⇒ pairing: taehyung x female reader

⇒ word count: 7k

⇒ genre: fluff

⇒ warnings: alcohol consumption and jazz solos

⇒ a/n: written for the one and only, the real mvp, the cutest peach who told me not long ago she was desperate for a punk taehyung fic, @jingukz . for u! i am also tagging @seoulscapes bc we’re currently at fic/bias wrecker war. inspired by this photo, which ruined my life to an extent i didn’t even know was possible.

In the world of a music major, there are three things you must never turn down: 1) an empty practice room, 2) good music, and 3) free alcohol, and while your local bar doesn’t have any individual practice rooms, complete with relatively soundproof walls and really shitty old metal stands, it can offer you the latter two of the options, and that sounds good enough.

For no particular reason, your music major friends have invited you out for a night of mysterious shots and sweaty dancing, complete with a small town punk band you’d never heard of as the cherry on top, and while punk music isn’t really your cup of tea—you are a flute player, after all—it most certainly makes for good stage music.

Free alcohol would be a dumb thing to reject anyway, at your age, because it means drunken mistakes and a buzzed mind without depleting the bank, and you’re already poor as hell, thanks to the age-old millennial struggle known as college debt. Fuckin’ economy.

You’re just walking into the bar, taking off your light leather jacket—because despite the frostiness of late November nights, the room is already steamy from the bodies radiating heat and you can feel beads of sweat pooling at your hairline—when your friend comes up to you, face tinged red from what must be a couple shots, swirling a bright scarlet drink in her hand.

“Y/N! You made it!” She exclaims, stuffing the glass into your hand. “Here! Drink this. We got a good spot near the front, come on! The band’s about to start!”

You barely have time to get out a ‘hello’ before she’s tugging you towards the stage, the beverage sloshing around in the cup and spilling over the sides, onto the wooden floor below. Sure enough, she and the rest of your music major buddies have secured a very decent viewing space of the platform, a little round table by stage left, allowing for an optimal side-view of the band as they set up their amps.

“Hey, it’s Y/N!” The rowdy marching band drum major, Namjoon, says as you approach the table, a lopsided smile on his face. “Glad you could come.”

“Like I would ever turn down free drinks and some nice music,” you scoff, sitting down next to him as you down some of that alcohol in your glass. It stings your throat as it hits it, a tangy taste of fruit of vodka dancing on your tastebuds. “The fuck is this stuff?” You say, holding up the glass to eye level, like it’s going to help you determine the ingredients.

“I don’t know,” Namjoon tells you, holding up his glass so that it’s even with yours. He’s got the same mysterious concoction, only he’s already downed most of his. “All Joohyun told me was that it’d ‘get us drunk real fast’, and then she drank the entire thing in one gulp.”

You both turn to look at her, her face as cherry red as it was when she greeted you. She’s clapping along to something even though there’s no music playing, only the static of an amp echoing throughout the room and the occasional loud pop! of a wire getting plugged in.

“Joohyun?” You ask, a hand on her shoulder. “You good?”

“Peachy! Y/N, did you know that you’d look really good with a chrysanthemum in your hair? Because you would,” Joohyun says, and she’s normally very positive but this is just strangely optimistic, even for her. Before you know it, she’s producing an actual chrysanthemum from her bag—where from, you don’t really want to know—and placing it above your ear, in the crook between the skin and hair, and smiling to yourself. “There!”

“Thanks, Joohyun,” you say, never ceasing to be amazed by the purity that is drunk girls, but she interrupts you with a hand over your mouth, shushing you.

“Shh, the band’s about to play, shh,” she says, taking you by surprise as you protest her hand over your lips. When she lets go, you turn to Namjoon, who merely chuckles as he shifts his focus to the stage.

There’s not much light in the bar to begin with, only the dim multicolored bulbs in the ceiling and the ever-so-faint glow of the city streaming through the windows, but the band onstage doesn’t let that distract them, letting the metal chains and rings on their clothes, their bodies glint as they catch the light, just for a second. It’s the only hint that they’re setting up, about to perform, that is, until the airy sounds of a keyboard bounce off the walls and reverberate off the wooden planks, and then the music is in full swing.

You can always trust this bar, because there’s never a time you’re here that they don’t have good music, and the group on stage is no exception. You know good music from bad—you fucking study it, for God’s sake—and there’s never a time when you don’t appreciate good music, regardless of the genre. Punk has, what Namjoon likes to describe as “rage channelled into a melody of fatalistic and existential despair” and what Joohyun likes to call “intense anger”, and both of them are equally as correct. Punk isn’t punk without passion, and what fuels passion better than fury?

There’s five of them. You haven’t brushed up on punk band lingo in a while, sticking mainly to your concert band jargon, but you know that there’s two guitarists, a keyboardist, a bassist, and a drummer. That part is easy to guess, especially since each of the instruments are so vibrant in their own way, their notes that are distinct, yet blend together perfectly. You’d vibe to this, if you didn’t spend all your fucking free time listening to the sick beats of Bach and Handel.

“Isn’t this great?” Joohyun asks somewhere between the fourth and fifth song, clapping along to the beat as she moves from side to side. One thing is for certain, and it’s that all music majors have never been the most fantastic dancers. They’d rather transcribe the music than bop to it.

“Yeah, for you,” you scoff.

“Just because I play upright bass in the uni’s jazz band—”

“Whatever, string player!” You exclaim, waving her off and pretending to disregard her objection. She gasps in mock-offense, appalled that you would refer to her as such a scandalous name like string player, and you both hold your poses for a quick second before bursting into laughter. As you turn your focus back to the band in front of you, you make eye contact with the drummer, sitting in the back and casually drumming through the second verse of the song. God, you hate it when you awkwardly lock eyes with someone, because nine times out of ten both of you just tensely smile at each other and go on with your lives, and then the interaction is stuck in your head for the rest of the night. But this time is one of those rare occurrences, where in place of a tense smile rests a smirk on the offending drummer’s face and this awful glint in your eye that has your flirt radar going haywire.

You look away immediately, not wanting to prolong the eye contact any longer than you absolutely have to, eyes shifting to your half-finished drink sitting on the table. The look he sent you sends shivers down your spine, and not in a particularly good way (not in a bad way either, though). You direct your attention to another member, avoiding the gaze of the drummer until you’re absolutely certain he’s not looking at you anymore. You don’t know what he’s thinking in that brain of his, but you’d rather not find out.

The set ends after what you think is about seven songs, though it feels like a mere instant in your mind. You don’t know how the final song came so quickly, but it comes and goes in a flash, and suddenly Joohyun is applauding obnoxiously beside you.

“They were good,” Namjoon says. “But I bet Seokjin could do better.”

“Seokjin plays jazz guitar,” you comment, a skeptical look on your face. You highly doubt Seokjin would know the ways of punk sheet music. He sometimes has a difficult time with regular concert music.

“And he’s fucking great at it,” Namjoon tells you, and you concede, because his solos are the reason your jazz band always wins Districts.

“Y/N! Come on, we should try and meet the group!” Joohyun urges, getting you out of her seat with that wonderfully bubbly expression of hers.

You turn your attention to where Joohyun is looking, and see a hefty line of a bunch of people who seem to have the exact same idea as her, waiting by the hallway to see if they can catch a glimpse of the next big thing.

“I don’t know, don’t you think that the line is a bit… long?” You ask, hesitant. You came here for free drinks and good music, not an autograph.

“No! It’s only a couple of people,” Joohyun says, waving it off like it’s nothing.

“It’s not like they’re celebrities, they’re just average guys who play instruments,” you insist, really not keen on getting out of your seat and going to try and meet them. You’d rather not risk coming in contact with Smirking Drummer, if fate allows you to have any say in the matter. “We’re like them, only less metal.”

“But we’re music major geeks,” Joohyun says, and while you know she’s not upset that she’s a nerd who likes classical music, you’re also aware that punk band member and concert band member don’t exactly go hand in hand. “They’re the cooler version of us.”

“Do I really have to go?” You ask, whining at this point.

“I’ll buy you another drink.”

Rule Number 3: Never turn down free alcohol.

“Fine,” you say, getting up and flinging your leather jacket over your shoulder. “I’ll do it for the booze.”

“You girls let me know when you need a ride home,” Namjoon says. “I’ve only had one drink tonight, so I can drive you.”

“Thank you, big, strong, heavyweight drum major!” Joohyun singsongs, and you don’t get the chance to say anything before she’s pulling you away as you watch Namjoon chuckle to himself.

Joohyun gets you your drink as promised, and somewhere along the way after that you lose her to the crowd, watching her lavender hair bounce away under the light as you’re left by the bar, sipping your cocktail and waiting for a glimpse of her. You know she’ll come around, she won’t get sucked into the fifteen minutes of fame and traipse off with a guy, because even drunk she’s decently reasonable, and she also has a girlfriend in Fashion Merchandising whom she loves very much. You just have to wait for her, which is the (un)fun part.

You set your drink down on the counter and pull out your phone, letting Namjoon know that you’ve lost Joohyun entirely and that you might end up waiting a while, when a figure clad in black and silver casually stands next to you. You pay no attention to them, shrugging it off as another person desperate for a quick fix, when the voice speaks to you.

“Why’d you look away so soon?” It asks.

You turn and, just as fate would have it—you should have known you would end up meeting him, one way or another—next to you stands the very drummer.

“What do you mean?” You ask.

“When I looked at you,” he elaborates, “you looked away. Why? Scared?”

“Of who?” You ask, arms crossed. “Of you?”

“Of me. My music, my band, my charming smile,” the drummer says, flashing you that smirk he sent you from up on stage. It’s a look that he’s probably practiced a thousand times, a smirk that he knows will work.

“I’m not scared of you,” you say.

“What do you do, hmm? You look too young to be out of university,” he asks. “I’m gonna guess. Interior design? English? Philosophy?”

“Try music.”

That catches his attention. “Music, hmm? What is it? Violin? Cello? Flute?”

You stiffen at his words. “Why do you care so much?”

“Flute it is, then. Suits you, I think,” he confirms, a smug look written all over his face. “With that flower in your hair like a fairy. You’re soft.”

“I am not!” You object, scoffing as you reach a hand up to grab the flower, pulling it out of your hair and throwing it to the floor, stomping on it like you’re putting out a cigarette butt. Sorry, Joohyun. “If you thought I was a soft spoken, innocent flute major who’d love to get in your pants, then you’re picking on the wrong girl.”

“Ooh,” the drummer says, wincing. “She bites.”

“She’s not afraid to.”

“Alright then,” he says, hands up in surrender. “How about a friend to talk to instead? You can take another sip of your drink, loosen up, and we can chat. No sex required.”

“Sorry,” you say, raising a hand quickly to get the bartender’s attention. Once you’ve got it, you hand over the drink, making up some bullshit excuse about how you weren’t feeling it anymore, and turn back around. “But I can’t trust that. For all I know, you could have put something in my Sangria.”

“She’s smart, too,” he muses.

“Not smart, just aware. Thanks for the chat, but I have to go pick up my friend before she gets trampled by your fans. Maybe some other time?” You say, knowing that you have no intention of having ‘some other time’.

“For the record, I didn’t drug your drink,” he says, grabbing your wrist but not in a possessive way. Just so he can squeeze in another couple sentences. “But I’m Taehyung.”

“I’m not interested,” you say, and he easily lets you out of his grasp. You swear you see a head of lavender by the doorway.

“Alright, Not Interested,” Taehyung says, “I’ll see you around. We play here often, you know.”

“I don’t.”

“Well, now you do.” He smiles, and it’s not that classic, signature smirk that you’ve seen plenty of times, it’s a different type of grin, one that tells you that he’s enjoyed his time, however brief it was, with you tonight. “Looking forward to seeing you at another gig.”

“Don’t get your hopes up too high, Drummer Boy. They always say that you can never trust flute players.”

With that, you’re flagging down Joohyun with a call of her name, Taehyung the Drummer Boy getting pushed to the back of your mind.

Joohyun never ended up actually meeting them, you would find out, which is the exact reason why you’re back at that same bar, sitting in the same seats, waiting for them to get on stage. To be honest, you have no idea how you ended up here again, especially after insisting to Taehyung that you would not be back. Way to fucking eat your words.

“Can’t we just go?” You ask her, tugging on her arm and looking longingly towards the door. It’s not too late to back out now. “What if they play all of the same songs?”

“I bought their album on iTunes,” Joohyun says. “I don’t really mind if I hear the songs live again.”

“I do,” you say, desperate.

“Boohoo. I wanna meet them, Y/N,” she quips back, and you know you’ve lost this battle before the following words leave her mouth. “You’d never leave me alone in a bar to fend for myself, would you?”

“No,” you huff, slouching in your seat as you brace for the worst.

When the chatter dies down and the stage lights flicker on, you immediately duck your head down in an attempt to avoid getting recognized, but to no avail. Joohyun grabs your arm and pulls you up at the same time that Taehyung walks onto the stage, and it’s not very difficult to miss the cocky grin scrawled all over his lips as you meet eyes. Goddamnit.

Rather than look away, however, you roll your eyes dramatically, knowing that he’s still gazing at you from behind the drumset. He won’t intimidate you any longer. Your reaction makes Taehyung laugh, tossing his head back casually as he chuckles in response. Normally, when you see people on stage from where you’re seated below, they look ethereal, like gods, like immortals, but watching Taehyung laugh so normally, so easily, it doesn’t make him look like any of those things. He just looks human.

“Who are you staring at?” Joohyun asks, noticing how your eyes always seem to be drifting to one person in particular. “Oh! Is it the drummer? He’s cute, isn’t he?”

“A little.”

“Only a little?” Joohyun says, one eyebrow raised in a skeptical fashion. “Come on, Y/N. I know you.”

“He’s kinda cute,” you finally relent, admitting the statement more to yourself than to Joohyun. There’s no denying Taehyung’s attractiveness, even to a stickler such as yourself.

You don’t take your eyes off of Taehyung throughout his band’s entire set, sitting back in your seat with your arms crossed over your torso, a smirk playing on your lips. Every now and then, he will turn to look your way, letting his hands do the work for him as he gazes at you. At one point, he gets off beat while you two are having another one of your staring contests, and he only notices once you raise your eyebrows to remind him that he should be fucking paying attention to the music he plays. You: 1, Taehyung: 0.

Not unlike last time, the set whizzes by, your mind once again occupied with thoughts of Taehyung, and suddenly he’s joining the rest of his members at the front of the stage for a quick celebratory bow as the lights in the seating area flicker back on the the spotlights dim.

“Fuck, the line’s already piling up,” Joohyun says, whipping her head backwards to see a heap of people by the backstage door. “I’m gonna go. You stay here, okay? So I can find you afterwards.”

“Are you sure about that?” You ask, looking down at her very large and very empty glass.

“It’s fine! I’ll remember,” she says, quickly waving you off as she shuffles away, worming herself into the herd.

At least she didn’t make you come with.

Another sip of your martini hits your throat as you down it, thinking that it’ll be easier to pass the time a bit buzzed than totally sober. It’s calming, sitting here in the hazy purple lights of the bar as the world moves around you, especially with the knowledge that Taehyung is probably trapped in that crowd, surrounded by excited fans who just want a glimpse of him and his brown eyes.

“Is this seat taken?”

“This one? Yes, actually,” you say, not looking towards the owner of the voice, though it is strangely familiar. This isn’t a good sign. Strangely familiar voices asking if a seat next to you is taken is never a good sign. Someone plops down in the seat anyway, and you know who it is before you even turn to them.

“I looked pretty cool up there, didn’t I?” Taehyung asks, taking a long, slow sip of a bright green beverage. “Is that why you kept staring at me?”

“You only looked cool because the lights were so dark and no one could see your actual face,” you quip back.

“Aw, don’t be like that. Dim light looks good on me,” Taehyung says, pouting.

You scoff, forcing a chuckle from your throat. “Sure thing, Drummer Boy.”

“Well, Not Interested, I’m pretty impressed that you managed to show up to another one of my gigs. Thought I couldn’t trust flute players,” Taehyung says, the drink giving him this warm glow to his face.

“My friend didn’t get a chance to meet you guys last time, so she dragged me here again,” you explain, trying to get the message across that you most certainly Did Not Come For Him. “Don’t think you’re so special.”

“I kind of am, don’t you think?” Taehyung asks. “Special enough to warrant a return from the girl who isn’t interested.”

“I didn’t come here for you.”

“You got me anyway.”

Oh, he’s so unbearable. Unbearably cocky, unbearably flirty, unbearably cute. Wait, what?

“Don’t you have another person to try and charm?” You ask him, a little flustered that he’s got the perfect response to every single one of your comments. “Or am I the unlucky one?”

“I’m not trying to sleep with you. I just wanna get to know you a bit better. You’re an interesting one, Not Interested,” Taehyung says as he looks you up and down. “And not in a bad way.”

“Never met many flute players that wear leather jackets and take shit from nobody?”

“You’re the first one, believe it or not.”

“I’m in shock,” You deadpan.

“Do you have an actual name I can call you by, or is Not Interested satisfactory enough for you?” Taehyung asks, chugging down another gulp of his drink.

“I don’t know, Not Interested has kind of a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” You hum. “Really gets the message across.”

“Believe me, message received,” Taehyung says, and it’s actually quite comforting knowing Taehyung’s not one of those stubborn guys who won’t take no for an answer, not one of those ruthlessly persistent frat boys who just want a quick fuck for the night. He’s accepted your answer and he’s not trying to change it.

“In that case, I’m Y/N.”

“Y/N,” Taehyung repeats, like he’s testing how the name sounds flowing off of his tongue, seeing if it’s suitable for his golden lips to utter. “I think that has a much nicer ring to it.”

“Oh, really?”

“Really,” Taehyung says, leaning over towards you and swirling that fluorescent drink in his hands, eyelids hooded. “You should tell people your name more often. Don’t you want to hear them say it? Moan it?”

There it is, the moodwrecker. Surprisingly enough, Taehyung’s sultry voice doesn’t do much to deter you from talking to him like it normally would if he were, say, a sleazy frat boy. If he keeps it up, it might give him a leg up on the situation.

“Only the right people,” you murmur in response, letting Taehyung lean closer, closer, lips puckering up ever so slightly… before you prod his chest with your pointer finger, pushing him right back into his chair, listening to it skid across the wood.

Taehyung looks sort of winded after that, palm flat on his chest as he catches the breath he didn’t even know he lost. He looks up at you, dazed and stunned, with his mouth open in something akin to shock, perhaps? He runs a hand through that silky brown hair of his, letting his bangs flop over his forehead as they leave contact with his fingers, and he smiles. “Not me, then, I suppose?” He asks you.

“Not yet, I’m afraid,” you say, shrugging apologetically but with a cheeky little grin nonetheless.

“Yet?” Taehyung repeats like it’s a challenge. And it mostly is.

“I’m not partial to anyone in particular, you know,” you inform him.

“Guess I better work a little harder, then,” he replies, and if that isn’t flirting then you’ll never know what is.

It’s simultaneously a relief and a bummer to see Joohyun bouncing towards where you’re seated, steps light and airy despite the fact that, to your knowledge, she hasn’t had anything more to drink. She pauses right before she reaches you, and you don’t realize why until you follow her eyes straight to where they’re gazing, which just so happens to be Taehyung’s smirking face.

“Is that—”

“Taehyung, at your service. Is this your friend, Y/N? The one with good taste?” Taehyung says, and he’s got that flirty vibe to him, the same one that surrounded him when he first spoke to you. It must be second nature, at this point, to see a pretty girl and immediately his brain switches off, replaced by none other than his dick.

“If she’s looking at you, I’d hardly say she’s got good taste,” you mutter. “Though you must probably assume anybody who gives you the time of day has got excellent standards.”

“Do you know him or something, Y/N?” Joohyun asks, positively astounded at the fact that she’s watching the two of you banter like old friends.

“No,” you immediately tell her, “we just met recently.”

“But it feels like I’ve known her for a lifetime.”

God-fucking-damnit, he always has such a perfectly cheesy retort for everything that you say. It’s hard to keep on top with him, but you’ve never been one to back away from a challenge.

“Can’t relate,” you deadpan, shutting him down entirely. “Ready to go, Joohyun?”

“Sure, if that’s okay with Taehyung,” she says, looking awkwardly from you to him was that hesitant lilt to her voice. “If I’m interrupting something…”

“You two ladies have a wonderful rest of your night,” Taehyung says, tipping his head like he’s the lead in a 1920’s silent film. You watch him get up and send you a sneaky wink when he knows you’re gazing at him, and the action alone makes you scoff as you turn your head around.

“You know, I got to talking with Hoseok, he’s one of the guitarists, and apparently he knows Seokjin! Isn’t that cool?” Joohyun exclaims as you’re walking out of the bar, hitting your arm like she always does whenever she’s excited about something. “I had no idea.”

“Seokjin knows Hoseok? How?” Guess the man had more roots to punk music than you thought.

“Apparently they did this guitar thing together back in high school! We’ll have to invite Hoseok to one of our next jazz performances somewhere,” Joohyun says, and the very idea is so entertaining to the both of you that Taehyung and his flirty little self once again get lost in the crannies of your mind.

Taehyung means nothing to you.

Alright, he means something to you. But a very small, insignificant something. It’s got to be the drinks that are compelling you to return to that hazy purple bar, not anything (or anyone) else.

It doesn’t even matter, because this time, when you show up to the bar alone, Taehyung’s band isn’t playing. Not that you’re surprised, especially because you did walk in without any knowledge of his gig schedule, but it is strangely disappointing to not see them setting up on stage, preparing for another performance. Like it was the only thing you were looking forward to.

Well, you’re here now, and you don’t want to practice the flute solo that Joohyun and Seokjin are forcing you to play for the university’s jazz band thing on Friday, so there really is no better way to spend the night other than piss drunk, or at least mildly hammered.

This isn’t a club by any means, which equates to no dance floor for you to embarrass yourself at, thank God. Standing by the counter has always done you well, especially because you can easily see which creepy middle-aged man is trying to flirt with you, so you stick to your spot and let your mind get hazy.

At least you’re a little bit buzzed when you see him. You’ve finished the first glass but it’s not enough to have you on the floor, so while you’re still well aware of your surroundings, your brain is moving a little slower than top speed.

What also is moving a little slower than top speed is Taehyung as he tumbles out of a hallway near the back, where things wait that you don’t want to know about. He’s dizzy and loopy, feet stepping on top of each other, but you’re not paying much attention to that. Your eyes, however foggy they may be, are focused on the girl on his arm, and from her disheveled hair and his lack of balance to the hallway they just emerged from, it’s not very difficult to put two and two together, even for a drunk you.

Guess Taehyung decided to show up after all. Only, sans band. Because that’s a thing.

Well, whatever. He can do what he wants, can’t he? You came here to forget that awful flute solo you absolutely must practice, not for him.

Even so, you can’t help but let your eyes wander their way every now and then (every two seconds, give or take a few) as they drunkenly giggle before the girl is off of his shoulder, blending in with the rest of the desperate bar-goers who thought getting totally fucking zazzed on a Tuesday night would be a good idea. Like you. Like him.

You wonder how on Earth that one-night-stand was so short that it didn’t even last a full night, but that’s a 2AM question for another time. Right now, you’re a bit occupied with the fumbling drunk man who’s approaching you.

“Y/N?” Fumbling drunk man has approached. “What are you doing here?”

“Getting drunk,” you tell Taehyung, grabbing his arm so he can prop himself up on the counter to prevent him from toppling right over, which he very much looks like he’s about to do.

“I did that already,” Taehyung groans, and holy shit, he’s a whiny drunk. This you did not anticipate under every circumstance under the sun. “I wanna do something else.”

“Well, go do something else on that couch over there,” you say. “Like taking a nap, ‘cause you sure as hell need one right now.”

“Naps are boring,” he whines. You turn to the bartender and make a desperate ‘my-sort-of-friend-is-sloppy-drunk-may-I-please-get-some-water’ face, and it has to be a face that that poor bartender has seen often, because within another thirty seconds he’s handing over a fresh, cold glass of ice water.

“Drink this,” you say, shoving the water in Taehyung’s face. “Drink this and then I’m calling an Uber and I’m taking you and your post-sex self back home. Or at least to Hoseok’s place.”

Taehyung whines again, and it’s really not a good look for him when he’s dressed up in all of this black leather and silver chains, but he complies, taking a tiny little sip of water and letting it slowly begin to wash away the taste of vodka on his tongue.

“You know I think you’re pretty, right?” Taehyung slurs.

“Yes, I assumed so, otherwise you wouldn’t keep flirting with me every time you spot me from across the room,” you say, patting his back somewhat soothingly as he continues to lap up the condensation on the glass. There are things you thought you’d see tonight, and things like Taehyung licking all the way around his glass.

“Then why don’t you like me back,” he whines, and it doesn’t really sound like a lovesick puppy question when the words leave his lips. More like a childish complaint, only with sincerity.

“You are so fucking toast,” you mutter to yourself. Before he gets a chance to slur out another soppy sentence, you’re feeling around his body, patting your palms all over his lower torso and jeans so you can find his phone and get the hell out of here. Taehyung, ever the romantic, takes the gesture a different way.

“What’s this for, Y/N?” He murmurs, and you’d find it totally off-putting if the mood wasn’t ruined by the redness of his face.

“For you to shut the hell up,” you order, locating the device and pressing down on the Home button, commanding Siri’s attention. You manage to get Hoseok on the line, poor guy, awake at 2AM on a Tuesday.

“Taehyung? What are you calling me for now?”

“It’s not Taehyung, it’s Taehyung’s temporary guardian. Um, he’s totally hammered and I need to get him back to his place or yours or just… someone’s, so could you give me an address?”

You end up dropping Taehyung off at Hoseok’s doorstep (“There’s no way Taehyung would have remembered his own apartment key”, said Hoseok when you asked), watching him tumble out of the Uber and forcing him upright so he at least looks somewhat presentable for Hoseok at 2AM.

“Thanks for doing this,” Taehyung mutters as his head crashes onto your shoulder, making you jump at the sudden contact.

“'S my job,” you say, shrugging him as you buzz what you really hope is Hoseok’s apartment. “Someone’s gotta take care of you.”

Hoseok opens the door almost instantaneously, bags under his eyes prominent, but he’s awake and prepared to resolve all of Taehyung’s drunk problems for the next however many hours.

“You both look like wrecks,” Hoseok deadpans when he sees the both of you, and the statement is hardly far from the truth. Taehyung is a messy, whiny drunk and you were given the daunting task of making sure he doesn’t die, so neither of you are really up to par on your appearances at the given moment.

“Him more than I,” you say, pushing Taehyung towards Hoseok. He stumbles over to his band mate, grabbing onto the man’s shoulders for support so he doesn’t collapse. “At least he didn’t pass out.”

“I’ll sober him up. Taehyung doesn’t get super drunk like this very often, so I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Hoseok promises. “You’re…?”

“Y/N,” you finish with a yawn.

“Y/N…” Hoseok says, like the name rings a bell. “Oh, I know! You play with Seokjin, in your jazz band.”

“Only sometimes,” you insist, not trying to let the heathens of jazz band tarnish your good first-chair-concert-flutist name. “Just when they need me to.”

“You’re doing that show on Friday, right? I’m gonna try and come, catch up with Seokjin,” Hoseok says, and he’s doing quite a fine job of both holding Taehyung up with his entire body and maintaining a nice, un-awkward conversation with you.

“Oh, well I guess I’ll see you there, then,” you say, turning to walk down his front steps and find another way home, the Uber having long gone.

“Wait, Y/N,” Taehyung calls out, and oh no, oh God, this is gonna be some romance movie shit and you are entirely unprepared for it, especially with how rapid your heartbeat has become with his eyes on you. You turn around hesitantly, already internally wincing, only to see Taehyung looking both longingly and apologetically your way. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

The night is quiet, even in this city, but your heart is loud and it rings in your ears, over and over.

By Friday, you’ve got your solo down to a science. Or at least, most of it. It’s probably fine, since you aren’t being judged and are just doing this performance for the hell of it, a good chance for you to practice should you ever decide to join the barbarians of jazz band. Which you will not be doing, but Joohyun tried her very best.

The venue is this outdoors-y picnic area, but it’s been totally decked out for the music festival you’re participating in, a gathering of the community for some good times and good music. You’re surprised to see that Taehyung’s band isn’t on the list, though Hoseok did tell you he’d show up as a part of the audience, rather than the performers. Suppose the rest of the members had this day off to do whatever they want, a music festival not at the top of their radars.

You feel so out of place with the jazz band, though you often do as the only uninitiated True Jazz Member, with your tiny little flute case in comparison to their heavy bass drum boxes and huge baritone saxophone cases. It’s like walking into a classroom where everyone has at least four notebooks and two three-ring binders, and you’re the one with a simple folder and a pencil. You belong, but not really.

“You ready to go?” Joohyun asks, and she’s running off of that pre-performance high, all bubbly before the set.

“I couldn’t be any more ready,” you say, shrugging as you tug on your black jacket. There’s no dress code for this thing, but your university’s jazz band has a thing for black and white because they have no originality, so that’s what you’re wearing.

“Great! We’re on in three,” she exclaims.

Three minutes goes by, somehow, too quickly and not quick enough, and suddenly you’re seated right by the bari sax player with your flute resting awkwardly in your lap, fingers mindlessly tapping the keys as the announcer introduces you. It’s not the solo you’re worried about, since you could probably fuck up about 18 times and no one in the crowd would really notice, not unless they were a Music Professional, it’s more the fact that you know Hoseok is out there somewhere, sitting in the crowd and waiting for you.

You finally spot him, in the middle of the hubbub, but what has your eyes widening is the fact that Taehyung is right next to him, a lopsided grin on his face that totally juxtaposes his all black getup. He doesn’t see that you’ve noticed him from that far away, and thank God, because suddenly your heart is thumping against your chest and you don’t think you’ll be able to calm it down before you have to go up to the mic and do your solo.

Before you know it, the band is starting and the music is in full swing, Seokjin opening up with a sick couple of chords before the rest of the members join in, every beat in sync. It’s pretty easy to let yourself get drowned out by the rest of the instruments, especially those goddamn trumpets, but the alarms are going off in your brain, reminding you that Taehyung is very much here and very much about to hear you solo.

The clock ticks down with each song until it’s the ballad that they all forced you to solo for, and you let your body run on autopilot as your feet bring you towards the mic as the piano part begins, both in dynamics and in instruments. You allow yourself one more look Taehyung’s way, and he’s watching you with the stage lights reflected in his irises.

One deep breath, and you’re closing your eyes, letting yourself feel your way through the music. You’ve practiced this solo dozens of times, it’s practically muscle memory at this point, and maybe you do hit a wrong F# in the middle of it somewhere, but other than that it’s flawless and fast, even if you’re performing a ballad. Jazz flute solos are always weird because they’re soft but meant to be spruced up a bit so they don’t sound like classical music, but you execute yours with ease.

It’s muscle memory that drags you back to your seat once the solo has ended, and out of the corner of your eye you can see Taehyung applauding from his seat, a little smirk etched on his face, and even though you’re no longer in the spotlight your heart still pounds, slowly beating its way out of your chest.

With the big hullabaloo over, the set finishes in what feels like a total breeze, letting the jazz consume you as Seokjin takes a killer solo during the last song that makes everyone lose their damn minds. People just have a thing for guitar players, especially handsome ones.

Once you finish your final song and shuffle off the stage, sweaty and still bouncing from that adrenaline rush, Seokjin gives you a great big hug.

“I’m proud of you, Y/N. Your solo was fantastic,” Seokjin says. “Best flute solo I’ve ever heard.”

“Aren’t I the only flute soloist?”

“And that makes you the best.”

“Y/N!” Joohyun shrieks, wrapping her arms around you from behind as she nearly picks you up, toes almost off of the ground. “You were fantastic! You totally have to join jazz next year.”

“Over my dead body,” you retort back. Concert band is your one and only home.

When you’ve packed away all of your instruments and are free to roam, you end up losing Joohyun somewhere in the festivities, leaving you alone with Seokjin, who just so happens to drag you to Hoseok, who happens to be attending the festival with Taehyung. He’s always the endgame, goddamnit.

“Seokjin!” Hoseok shouts when he sees the taller boy, pulling him in for one of those grab-hands-then-pat-each-other-on-the-back-unceremoniously bro hugs. “You sounded killer. You should come practice with the band.”

“I don’t know if the punk life is for me,” Seokjin says, chuckling, but you stop paying attention to their conversation there, too distracted with a certain someone striding his way over to you, hands stuffed casually in the pockets of his ripped black jeans.

“Sounded good, flute player,” Taehyung says. “We should practice together, someday. Have one of those solo-offs.”

You scoff. “Please, I’d beat you in that so hard you’d get whiplash.”

“I see what you did there.”

You shoot a finger gun his way. It’s nice to see he’s got the same taste in movies as you.

“I’m serious, though. You’ll, uh, you’ll have to teach me a couple things on the flute,” Taehyung says, a hand flying up to rub the nape of his neck, chains clinking with the movement. “You looked badass up there.”

“Only if you’ll show me how to drum like a professional,” you bargain, a sly grin growing on your lips. “Is that a deal?”

“Deal,” Taehyung agrees with a firm nod of his head. “Is that a date?”

And honestly, what do you have to lose with him? He already makes your heart race more than you care to admit. “Deal.”

leave any feedback/requests here and check out my masterlist here!

#bangtan bookclub #bangtanwriters-net #bts writing squad #kwriterskollection #bts fluff #taehyung fluff #v fluff #bts imagine #taehyung imagine #bts oneshot #taehyung oneshot #bts scenarios #taehyung scenarios #bts au #taehyung au #bts punk au #punk taehyung #THIS WAS REALLY CHEESY AND SOFT HOW COME ALL OF MY CHARACTERS ARE FLUFFBALLS #*blows kiss* for u sarah! #*puts fists up* come at me NOW em #w: practice makes perfect

[andotherstoriespublishing]

A Woman’s World

On being a Male Book Publicist

Adam Howard is Publicist at independent publisher Scribe UK, working on media and marketing campaigns for books such as Universal Harvester by John Darnielle, Destined for War by Graham Allison and A World of Three Zeroes by Muhammad Yunus. He provides the most recent installment in our monthly series of insights into the publishing industry.

I’ve thought about it a lot and can’t for the life of me figure out why the vast majority of publicists in publishing are ladies. When I began my former job as events coordinator at Foyles and played host to a meeting of the networking group Publishers’ Publicity Circle (PPC) for the first time, I stood at the back of the auditorium and marvelled at the male-to-female ratio of people in the room — you can, at most meetings, count the number of men on one hand. I’ve always worked in jobs in creative industries that skewed towards women majorities and even went to university that, as rumour had it at the time, was 80% women and gay men, but I’d never realised quite how tilted the scales were in this particular area of the industry until I began working in it.

Most of my role as a publicist involves talking to editors, journalists, radio producers and bloggers, basically trying to convince them (begging, pleading) to say something nice about a book so that we can sell some more copies of it. Or, I'll be talking to bookshops, festivals and event programmers, convincing them that having my author talk about their book will draw a crowd. I'm lucky, I think, in that the quality of Scribe's list is exceptional, so it's easy to be passionate about the books I work on and I'm fulfilled, work-wise, by drumming up that passion in others.

Day-to-day, you don't interact very much with other publicists, but when you do it's rarely antagonistic — while technically we're all rivals competing for column inches and airtime, the mode of the industry is generally friendly and collaborative. But because your work is often isolated from others' it's only on occasions where large volumes of publicists come together — PPC meetings, conferences, festivals — that I’ll find myself being one of a only a handful of my gender in the room. It’s got to the point that I feel an automatic affinity when I meet another male publicist — our eyes will meet across the room and I’ll think to myself: ‘Is the fact that we’re both dudes enough to go on to start a conversation?’ But in the end I usually won’t because a) I’m pretty shy for a publicist and b) what if he wants to talk about football or something? I’m really not one to gravitate towards other men socially anyway. Growing up almost all my friends with girls, and now as an adult there’s at least a 50/50 split. I draw inspiration in both my social and professional spheres from the inspiring women around me – the amazing women I work with at Scribe and the women writers and musicians that I grew up reading and listening to — there has never and will never be an issue with me being the only man in the room.

My point, then, is we’re a rare breed, the Male Publicist — and that makes for a somewhat unique experience. Generally speaking, if you’re a white, middle-class, able-bodied, cisgender man (which I am, as are, to my knowledge, all the other male publicists that I’ve met — this is something that should certainly change ASAP), you don’t spend much time thinking about the intersections upon which your identity lays. So it's surprising when you’re suddenly at a conference that has a talk on navigating the workplace as a woman. I didn't begrudge it at all (it was very engaging!) but it was the first time I've ever been at an event that has presumed its audience would be women without marketing itself towards them explicitly. I'm almost certain that every woman in that audience has had the opposite experience on multiple occasions.

That’s not to say being a man in a woman-dominated industry puts me at any kind of advantage or disadvantage among my peers, but it does make me conscious of my position in relation to everyone else in a way that I’m rarely made aware of usually. And whilst being gay in an industry that is largely straight has made me feel a little alienated in the past, I wouldn’t suggest for a moment that being the only man in the room is akin to being a minority — of course it isn’t. What I do think the experience does, though, is act as an exercise for empathy. If being the only person ‘like you’ in one way or another in a throng of people makes you feel a little strange in spite of all you advantages, then imagine what it’s like having that experience as a part of a systemically disadvantaged group. I do often wonder if I'm treated differently, that I'm being oblivious to a male or female bias in the people I work with, but aside from the times where I've been mistaken for a friend of the author rather than a publicist, I don't really notice it. At most my experience is that of being a novelty, something different — not ideal, maybe, but far more benign than the experience of women working in male-dominated industries.

And at the end of the day, we’ll always have Cher:

#publishing insights #publishing industry #working in publishing #publicity #gender at work #scribe uk

[dweemeister]

The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

Like a security blanket to bundle into on a cold, distressed day, the Muppets have been a force of happiness and entertainment for several decades. 1979′s The Muppet Movie had been a rousing success, as had The Muppet Show – which had just completed its fifth and final season when Jim Henson directed (his directorial debut) The Great Muppet Caper. This second Muppets movie was an attempt to steer the franchise towards its future: feature films (Caper is the second of eight Muppets films so far) and television specials. The Great Muppet Caper does not result in a sophomore slump for the franchise, but there is an important tradeoff that occurs in the film. As Henson created the Muppets, it should be no surprise that this entry represents one of the more faithful portrayal of the Muppets as characters (to an extent). However, this comes at the expense of the heartwarming humanism and messages of perseverance that one comes to expect in a movie starring the Muppets.

More than any other movie in the Muppets franchise, The Great Muppet Caper topples the fourth wall repeatedly. In fact, it happens so often there might not be a fourth wall. Traveling by hot air balloon, Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo are commenting on the opening credits – yes you three, some weirdos out there read the opening credits (it includes yours truly, and like Kermit says, the people in the credits have families, too) – and land their balloon just outside their workplace: the Daily Chronicle. The trio are investigative reporters and are tasked with a London assignment where fashion designer Lady Holiday (Diana Rigg) has become victim to a headline-grabbing jewel robbery. With the Daily Chronicle refusing to cover expenses, our Muppet reporters fly in ninth-class (which apparently means the airplane’s cargo hold, with a dangerous method of disembarkation) and check into the battered, but free Happiness Hotel. There they meet up with the rest of tenants – which includes the rest of the Muppets, save one. That one is Miss Piggy, who Kermit mistakes as Lady Holiday and will ask out on a date.

The other human star of note is Charles Grodin as Nicky Holiday. Cameos include John Cleese, Joan Sanderson, Jack Warden, Peter Falk, Robert Morley, Peter Ustinov, and Muppet performers including Henson (Kermit, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, Swedish Chef), Richard Hunt (Scooter, Statler, Janice, Beaker, and Sweetums), and Jerry Nelson (Floyd Pepper; originated Sesame Street’s Mr. Snuffleupagus and played Count von Count from 1972-2012). One Sesame Street character makes a brief, hilarious cameo with Peter Ustinov.

There are running gags in The Great Muppet Caper that I should not describe in the slightest. In writing a movie for the Muppets, there are two formulae to choose from: the Muppets playing themselves as they look at a tricky situation through their point of view (think: The Muppet Movie and 2011′s The Muppets) and where the Muppets are playing characters that, though somewhat unlike them, retain a part of their Muppety essence (1992′s The Muppet Christmas Carol). The Great Muppet Caper is the latter (even after seeing four Muppet movies, some of the original television series, and the failed 2015 TV series, I’m not sure which I prefer; perhaps you have a preference). The most important joke running throughout the film is that the characters know that they are in a movie and the characters they are portraying are distinct from the Muppets themselves. For example, Kermit and Fozzie are supposed to be related and screenwriters Jerry Juhl (multiple Muppets movies), Tom Patchett (The Bob Newhart Show, ALF), Jack Rose (a longtime writer for Milton Berle and Bob Hope), and Jay Tarses (Bob Newhart, The Carol Burnett Show) – with their formidable, combined comedic writing experience – somehow keep that gag fresh, among others, for the entire ninety-seven minutes.

This film is clever as hell. Its screenplay lands its jabs to the funnybone cleanly, almost never missing. Yet that means as The Great Muppet Caper is reveling in its comedy, the Muppets themselves lose their trademark gentleness and belief that tomorrow is a fresh start to dream, laugh, and play. That positivity – with the exception of The Muppet Christmas Carol – is always embodied by the characters made of felt, fur, and fleece. The Muppets have become so familiar to those of us who have enjoyed their company, and that is why they are allowed to be as self-referential here as they are. Few other comedians or comedic pairings/groups could plausibly make a movie like this and inspire so much laughter.

I don’t mean to sell the writing short, so I will note that The Great Muppet Caper treats Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy with tremendous respect. These are the two people Kermit the Frog has always cared most about; through playing other characters, we see how that love is expressed.

Fozzie is not always effective in The Muppet Movie as he should be – that film portrays Fozzie’s inability to read social cues as a character quirk, not as something that brings disappointment, wrecking his self-confidence. Notice how Fozzie reacts when he believes that when Kermit is going on a date with Lady Holiday Miss Piggy – how innocent this misunderstanding is, how deeply Fozzie is hurt at first when Kermit says that his furry relative (remember, in this film, they are related) can’t come along.

For Miss Piggy, her vanity and volatility are more visible than her vulnerability. As Frank Oz (her performer) once said about Miss Piggy, “she is a seething mass of conflicts... It’s hard enough being a woman in our society. It’s even harder being a pig.” So determined is she to be successful in whatever she decides to pursue, she sometimes forgets the feelings of others she comes to care about. At a younger age, I found this behavior to be frustrating – I’m a guy, so a gendered bias is also involved. Thus, when her misunderstanding with Kermit comes, I felt a sadness there I might not have felt fifteen, maybe even five years ago. Her defenses have fallen, exposed and embarrassed. She and Kermit find a space to reconcile.

That reconciliation, and so many elements to the plot, is expressed through song. Composer Joe Raposo (various pre-Muppet Show Muppet specials, The Electric Company, Sesame Street) wrote all seven original songs appearing in The Great Muppet Caper – none of them mediocre, yet not a single one achieves the transcendence of “Rainbow Connection”. What makes Raposo’s musical score work is that – without the Muppets running around – if these songs were written for humans, they would still be as effective. Opening with “Hey, a Movie!” is a high-energy, exposition-hastening number, even if it might be a discount “That’s Entertainment!”. “Steppin’ Out with a Star” is a fun romp of what some men might do to prepare for a date – the dialogue and banter, of course, being G-rated. But the one song gifted with lush orchestrations is “The First Time It Happens”. It is played as a straight love song, with all the tenderness that Kermit and Miss Piggy can provide with their singing voices. Shortly afterward, Miss Piggy channels her inner Esther Williams in a synchronized swimming sequence entitled “Miss Piggy’s Fantasy” (complete with Dick Powell-like singing from someone dubbing Charles Grodin). Raposo’s familiarity with the Muppets pays dividends for The Great Muppet Caper.

That old saying about something not happening before pigs fly? You might need to update that to pigs performing complicated choreography in the pool. For this scene, eighteen professional swimmers were employed with all lighting, camerapersons, and speakers being placed underwater. Frank Oz had three days to learn scuba diving so that he could have Miss Piggy perform these sequences to perfection.

With Jim Henson directing, there are other ways in which the Muppet performers – Henson, Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, and Steve Whitmire – are allowed to show off. Where Kermit riding a bike impressed audiences and critics a few years prior, Henson figured that he might as well have all the Muppets riding bikes at the same time. For the musical number, “Couldn’t We Ride”, no computers were used. Instead, all of the Muppet performers clambered into cranes and rode bicycles of their own – attached to the Muppets’ bikes – while synchronizing their pedaling with the music and lyrics. Kermit’s stunt where he is riding his bike with only one hand included some complicated string puppetry. The final sequence where everybody is seen riding together saw Henson and two children (including one of his sons) riding oversize tricycles attached to the Muppets’ bikes with rods to complete the illusion.

Because The Great Muppet Caper knows that it is a movie and that it actively recalls Hollywood’s musical past, it comes off comforting nostalgia that neither alienates younger viewers or distracts older ones. It lacks that clear-eyed humanity of other Muppets movies, but this film has what one would want from Kermit, Miss Piggy, and company as it preserves what is essential to these characters: humor, vibrancy, and reassurance. Though we laugh at their pain (pain is funny), we witness how courageous they are in remaining optimistic through their struggles. As we watch the Muppets, we question if we are capable of such fortitude. I tend to think we already know the answer – sometimes, we just need a reminder.

My rating: 7.5/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. Half-points are always rounded down. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here. 

#The Great Muppet Caper #The Muppets #Jim Henson #Frank Oz #Jerry Nelson #Richard Hunt #Dave Goelz #Steve Whitmire #Diana Rigg #Charles Grodin #Jerry Juhl #Tom Patchett #Jack Rose #Jay Tarses #Joe Raposo #My Movie Odyssey

[junioradventure]

[FANACCT] IMFACT- Tension Up Fansign+Fanmeeting (IMFACTORY) 170521- PLUS tips for these events! (Fanboy)

Hi everyone~ I’m here to share my amazing experience at IMFACT’s Fansign + Fanmeeting Event! If you were looking for reasons to stan IMFACT, I’m here to help you. Simply put, IMFACT treats their fans very well, and especially care for their international fans, as they want to have many opportunities to perform in all the countries around the world. 

I love this concept; it’s so bright, vivid, and screams energetic!

TIME TO START THE FANACCOUNT! Information about this event: - IMFACT has not had an actual fansign event in Korea for a really long time, probably since “Feel So Good” era. They had a CD signing event in Japan not too long ago, but they said it was not the same as a real fansign event. So this was a special event prepared for fans, and doubled as a fanmeeting (involves live performances). - The event participation was carried out first-come first-serve to 120 people. - To apply for this event, the process was different from the traditional fansign process. Instead of buying an album on-site or online, two requirements had to be fulfilled: * We had to send Star Empire Ent. an email with the appropriate information (name, account number, Daum fancafe ID, etc.) before the deadline * We had to send the money (20,000 won) through an account transfer at the appropriate time slot. In this case, when it hit 8pm on the day the payment period started, we could proceed with the account transfer. Because of this, having a Korean bank account was extremely helpful and made the process much easier.  - The staff provided the CD on-site, which made sense because we had to do an account transfer instead of the usual process. The CD had no wrapper and might be a special edition for this event. Nothing seems different about this album than a normal one, except the fact that it seemed like it was opened (plus there was no photocard, idk if the actual album has one or not). I transferred my money right when it struck 8 and played the waiting game. After worrying about getting in, I finally found out that I had gotten in... Thank goodness. I was waiting for a chance to meet them since “In the Club” came out. ON THE DAY OF... Okay. So the event would start at around 2pm according to the post on the fancafe. I woke up at 10ish and left right before noon. The event was held at a Catholic Youth Center (of all places) in Hongdae. I knew Hongdae somewhat but not the exact whereabouts of this site, so I wanted to leave earlier just in case I wandered too much. It turns out, the location was very easy to find, so I grabbed a bite at the convenience store and then went to the Youth Center. I had to say, at first when everyone was lining up, things were a bit confusing. We were told to go down to the lobby floor (accessible by staircase) to check-in. Apparently, the staff were calling us in by numerical order, but on the fancafe post with the official list of participants, there weren’t any numbers by our names. Instead, we had to manually count down the list of people to find our number, and we would tell that to the staff. That must have been a bit annoying for the people who were farther down the list, especially in the 100′s. Luckily, I was only number 40. The order of our names was actually our seat order. That means I was in seat 40. The staff called us in by groups of 5-10. I confirmed my identity with only an ID needed to prove it. Once I was verified, the staff gave me a piece of paper with my seat number and a bottle of sparkling water (how thoughtful!) Then it was waiting time again.

Don’t lose any piece of paper, especially one with your seat number, given to you by staff at the event. They also gave us a complementary sticky note where we write our name. We would stick this on the inside of our albums, opposite of the photo pages for the members’ reference when they sign your album.  I brought extra sticky notes to mark where each member would sign. You should always bring spare notes because you can use this chance to ask the members a question or write a lovely note for them. Note: Some groups do not allow questions, so always follow the rules and read the information carefully on fancafe updates. After a bit more waiting, we could go in! I should probably get started on the actual event and the members. OK! We were waiting when all of a sudden, THE LIGHTS JUST DIMMED AND TURNED OFF. LIKE WHAT THE. The room was silent until “Please Be My First Love” CAME ON AND IMFACT WALKED ONSTAGE, SINGING IT LIVE! My heart died for a little instant, as my brain struggled to comprehend and process what was happening. Everyone seemed to be shook because there was not a single noise from the audience when IMFACT began singing. That was such a nice surprise and ahhhh I just love that song so much. Listen and love it lots.

After that impromptu performance, the boys sat at the table for the start of the fansigning. They greeted us and said a few words, thanking us for coming to this long-awaited event. Jian tried to add some things, but he kinda hesitated and seemed so cutely awkward like awww it’s okay, you’re so precious!!  ONE RANDOM CUTE NOTE: The members commented about how many people came to this event, specially international fans (there was a handful of English-speaking fans there, and a lot of Japanese fans ((yay!))) BUT SANG ACTUALLY ANNOUNCED, “There’s a male fan here too!” AND THAT WAS ME Y’ALL. I WAS THE ONLY MALE FAN THERE AND AHHH I FELT SO SPECIAL. I waved like crazy when Sang said that, and some fans laughed. Taeho and Jian seemed pleasantly amused at this. Soon, the fansigning portion officially began. Let’s move on to individual member interactions I had~ (warning: FEELS AHEAD!!) The order was like this: Jeup→Ungjae(bias!!)→Sang→Taeho→Jian HANDSOME MAIN VOCAL, PARK JEUP ★ Jeup was so friendly and talkative!! Even though my Korean isn’t perfect, we talked the whole time. What really makes me appreciate a group is when they take into consideration your level of Korean if you’re an international fan. Some groups (not going to name names) make the situation awkward for international fans because of the language barrier. I’m not bashing these groups just for that reason, but it still is disappointing when you want to be open and flexible to your diverse fanbase, wherever they may be from. What I mean is, I had an experience with an idol group or two where members did not talk to me much, in English nor Korean, even when I was trying my hardest to speak in Korean. Thankfully, Jeup complimented my Korean skills. Anyway, he asked when I became a fan of them. I told him ever since “Feel So Good” era, and that I especially liked that track. I asked him, what was his favorite song, and he first replied, “Tension Up”, but also added, “In the Club” and “Please Be My First Love”. I agreed, saying that the trio of songs were all great. I commented that I especially think of PBMFL as 강추 (strong recommendation). Jeup burst out in laughter and complimented me again, saying that I even knew slang like “강추".  He also asked where I came from, which is like a customary question we international fans get from idols. I told him America, specifically Hawaii, and pointed at the post-it note for him.

Translation- Q:This isn’t a question, but please come to Hawaii! A: All right. We’ll definitely go. (YAAAAAAAAAAAS PLEASE COME AND VACATION IN HAWAII!!) Jeup looked at the note and actually said he really wants to visit Hawaii. I advertised the islands to him, saying that the weather is nice, the sceneries are great, and he added, “the beaches are good too”. So, he expressed that he wants to take all of the members there to have fun. Please do, we’ll welcome you warmly~ Finally, I told him his hairstyle was really nice today. It was spiked up and it really suited him! He thanked me, and I asked what he personally thought of it. J: I like it. Styling the hair upward is very masculine. Me: Right, I agree. Do you prefer having your hair styled up or bangs down? J: *thinks for a bit* I think both is good, but now, having your hair styled up is rather cool now. So I personally like it this way. Me: Yeah! Especially since nowadays it’s quite hot, right? J: Right! Then I told him I’d continue supporting IMFACT in the future. Such a cool guy~ Gonna hold you to your words, Jeup. See you guys in Hawaii. A hui ho! BOYFRIEND MATERIAL/GENIUS LYRICIST/SHY CUTIE BIAS, NA UNGJAE!! ❤ Okay, I’m already dying of feels again and I haven’t even told you guys my interaction. So I can’t believe I was actually meeting Ungjae. I spazzed about him so much recently before and I had so many feels, but it’s always so different when you meet idols in real life. I told him I’m from Hawaii, like I always do.  U: Hawaii? Wow. Me: Am I the first fan from Hawaii? U: *kind of confused* Sorry? Me: Am I the first fan from Hawaii that you’ve met? U: Ah, yes *laughs* Me: *proud* U: And you’ve come all the way to Korea. Me: Yeah, I’m actually an exchange student. U: Wow, really? *impressed* You’re really good at Korean. Me: Ah, thank you. I still got a long way to go. But I’ve been in Korea for around 9 months.  And, since this was a golden opportunity, thanks to my friend’s suggestion, I decided to just wing it and see what would happen if I wrote my bias a cute joking question.

Translation: Ungjae-yah, I like you the best ㅎㅎ Wanna go shopping together later? (I’m older so I’m using banmal/informal language) Bottom right corner of signature: Thank you!! I WAS SO SHY WHEN HE KEPT LOOKING AT THE NOTE, I WAS LIKE OMG OKAY MAYBE I SHOULDN’T HAVE WRITTEN IT, WHAT IF HE REPLIES NEGATIVELY?! But that was just my panic mode. Most idols with a good heart would play along! But since this was the first time I met my bias face to face, I was slightly worried what he would think. This is how the convo basically went: U:  Ah, shopping? *curious* Me: Yeah *laughs uncomfortably, shy shy shy af* U: *genuinely interested* What kinds of clothes do you want? Me: I like casual clothes U: *smiles* Ah, casual? Ah, I like hip-hop style so... Hongdae has a few places, not a lot. But for casual clothes... *recommends some stuff but I forgot what he said exactly, sorry bb* We talked a bit more about stores and things. It felt more like he was giving me recommendations HAHA but since he wrote, “Cool~!” on my note, then I’ll take that as a yes ❤ Anyway, I got pretty bold at this point and thought, well, might as well just go all out. Me: Actually, you’re my favorite member. You’re really handsome. U: *shyly smiles* *bows head slowly in appreciation* AHHHHHH HE WAS SO ADORABLE WHEN HE WAS SHY, SUCH A QTPIE I SWEAR. SUCH CHARISMA ONSTAGE BUT IN PERSON HE’S JUST A CINNAMON ROLL AHHHH STAN UNGJAE STAN IMFACT EVERYONE. Lastly, I asked him about his work as IMFACT’s lyricist. Me: So, you’re in charge of composing lyrics? U: Of course. Me: When you write lyrics, where do you usually draw your inspiration? U: *thinks* hmm... Well, I just draw inspiration from real life. When I’m thinking about something or when I watch a show or drama, I just get thoughts and write them. It was time to move on, so I gave him one last firm handshake and moved on. Thanks to his sunny smile, I was able to feel accomplished after talking to him. I officially didn’t mess up royally in front of my bias! THE SUNSHINE OF IMFACT, LEE SANG ☀ LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS GUY. HE WAS SO NICE!! He already pointed me out in the beginning but seriously, this guy is awesome. Right when I moved to him, he extended his hand out and gave me a big, friendly handshake. He greeted me, “What’s up?!!” in English. S: Ah, Hawaii~ my sister went to America. (I love that random transition of topics) Me: Really? Where in America? S: *says in English* America. For study. Me: *internally: I know Sang, I’m asking where* Where, in America? *says it again* S: *I think he didn’t specify, or he forgot, but he said she just studied abroad, and came back. I just accepted that answer lol* Me: You should come visit Hawaii!! And then he proceeds to tell me that he really wants to go. He looks at my post-it.

Translation- Q: Do you have a favorite Nine Muses song? (NM and IMFACT are same company) I told him that I really like Namyu and that they’re my favorite group, and since the two groups are the same company, I wanted to ask him what his fave song from them was. He wrote Drama, and ofc I love that song too. Darn, I forgot some other little things I might have talked to him about. But here’s another thing~ (I was just speaking my mind at this point) Me: Since there’s a lot I don’t know, who is the visual in IMFACT? S: Actually, we leave it up to the fans, who see members as visuals in their own viewpoints. Like, if a fan watches us, they’ll think “Ah, I like this one! He’s a visual!” These kinds of thoughts. So it’s an individual’s preference. *how precious is this* Me: Really? Well, honestly, I think you’re the visual. S: Ah, really? *short shy moment, gives me another handshake for the compliment* Me: Yeah, you’re really, really handsome. I can’t stress this enough, THIS GUY IS SO GREAT!! I forget what else we talked about, but at the end, I got flustered lol just.... ahhhhhhh > < NEXT, MAIN DANCER BUT TRYNA SNATCH DAT MAIN VOCAL POSITION, KIM TAEHO ♦ Taeho is really cool and just polite and nice~ I just loved his reaction when I said I was from Hawaii. He was like, “Wa, Hawaii?” like aw. And I had to tell him about how cool it was that he got more lines this comeback. Seriously, seems like all the vocals in this group can be main.  Me: Also, I really like how you got a lot of parts this time around. T: Ah, really? *smiles* You like my vocals? Me: Yeah! Compared to the older songs, you got a lot of parts. Isn’t it nice?  T: Yep~ *high-five* Thank you~ Me: Hm, how are the parts distributed, anyway? T: Actually, we each get together and divide the parts based on who fits the lines the most. We come to an agreement and split the parts that way. Like we say, “Oh, I think you would fit this part well”, and so on. Me: Wow, that’s nice~ What do you honestly think of the title track, “Tension Up”? T: I do like it. It’s really exciting. I also like In the Club and especially Please Be My First Love. That kind of style. *sly self-promo as always* Me; I agree!  T: We have more songs in store, so please anticipate them. Me: Ah, could you give me a little hint about the next track? *COMEBACK SPOILER EXCLUSIVELY FROM TAEHO* T: Compared to “Tension Up”, the next one is a bit... slower tempo. It’s hip-hop, but more... relaxing? Chill? Me: Ah, really? Sounds exciting. I’ll continue supporting IMFACT in the future~

I don’t remember much else that we talked about, but that was still a lot~ Such a sweet guy. Really cares for his fans, like all of them.  THE AWKWARD BUT SWAG RAPPER LEADER, LEE JIAN ♠ Last but definitely not least, I met Jian~ Awkward little greetings ftw. Me: Hi~ Jian-ssi~ Oh, where’d your note go? JA: Hi, it’s right here~ *looks at said note* Me: Oh *flustered af, drops head in embarrassment*

Translation-  Q: Is an IMFACT X Nine Muses collab possible?? A: We’ve done one! On the picture: Nine Muses Noonas are coming back soon, so please give them lots of support, and if a chance for a collab presents itself, we’ll do it for sure! In response to my surprise at his answer, we had a convo. JA: We collaborated before. Me: Oh right, "Dream”, right? (referring to Sang x Keumjo’s duet) JA: Actually, during the Star Empire Family Concert in Japan. Me: Oh, really? JA: Yeah. It was me and Keumjo-noona, we did a collab. Me: Ah, which song? I didn’t know. JA: Taeyang-sunbaenim’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips”. Me: Oh, I’ve never seen it. Do you think it would be on YouTube? JA: I think it’ll come up if you search it there. I told him about Nine Muses being my favorite girl group, and he mentioned that they helped IMFACT a lot, and he really appreciates them. AND HERE’S WHEN I LITERALLY SAID WHAT HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME FOR SOME TIME LOL HEAR ME OUT, OKAY? Me: Okay, this isn’t an insult, but I have something to say... JA: Okay, what is it? Me: When I look at you, Jian, I think of Euaerin. You remind me of her a lot. Like your tone... And I remember when you impersonated her. JA: Ah, really?~ *smiling* Actually, I really look up to her. She’s helped me a lot. *I forgot what he said specifically, but he was really chill and nice about this LOL I hope it didn’t offend him cuz they could be counterparts! Killer rappers and amazing dancers.*

Like look at this goddess

And then look at this hunk! LOL. Their sharp features stand out, and they’re really charismatic. (God I miss Euaerin now).  And then it was time to continue my attack on Jian. But this time, I wanted to give him a direct compliment~ Me: But Jian-ssi. JA: *interested* yes? Me:You’re really handsome. JA: *amused at my straightforwardness* Ah, thank you~ *laughs* Me: Yeah, especially this... *gestures at the amazing tie he’s wearing, bless his outfit and his whole existence* It suits you very much. Did you pick it yourself? JA: Actually, the stylists did it...  Me: Oh, well it still looks good! Then it was time to go *sad face* Me: *reads Jian’s message on my album* Ah, but don’t worry~ I’m not just a Nine Muses fan, I’m also IMFACT’s fan~ I’ll support you in the future! JA: Thank you! See you! Me: Bye bye! JA: Bye~ Junior~~ Just the way he said my name at the end made me so warm on the inside hehehehe~ they are all sweethearts. It took a long while to go through all 120 fans, but it was great. They had a little game session with the fans, where they would draw something on a notepad and then the fans guess the answer. The ones who answered would get a chance to take a selca with them. *ahhh jelly* Honestly, during that game, I was confused AF about what they were drawing LMAO I did not know how the fans could get all the right answers! I was stumped. Then IMFACT performed some songs, as this was the “fanmeeting” part of the event. They performed some fan favorites- Tension Up (of course) and Lollipop. And during Lollipop, Sang was EXTRA and ran offstage momentarily and I GOT TO TOUCH HIS HAND AGAIN~! HE’S SO GREAT WITH FANSERVICE. LOVE YOU SANG!! Seriously, they know how to charm their fans and make them feel loved! It was almost time to go, but IMFACT asked the staff if they could do one more encore stage of Please Be My First Love. The fans were cheering, wanting it, AND SO WAS I, LIKE THIS SONG IS SUCH A TREASURE. BEST CHILL SONG RIGHT NOW. Refreshing like a breath of spring air~ Their vocals were on point and it was cute because in the middle, when Ungjae started rapping, his mic turned off for some reasons and had some difficulties but the members helped and lent him a mic until it started working again. So talented and thoughtful agh.  Then, it was time to go~ they waved goodbye and the lights dimmed and turned off again, just like the beginning. Just as they had come. They all disappeared backstage, except Jeup who straggled and stayed back a little to say one last cute farewell to the audience. And that was it. A great day well spent. It was so worth the trouble of applying, even if it was a different format than I was used to. IMFACT is so underrated, and I think Star Empire is not doing the best that they can to help them succeed. Like, the members are all charming and talented and exceptional, but their title songs are not innovative, unique, or otherwise outstanding to really catch the public’s eye. Star Empire failed ZE:A and they messed up Namyu, and I feel so bad for IMFACT. But hope remains, and I will keep supporting them in their journey. I wish them all the luck for stardom.  Please give IMFACT a try. Listen to their b-sides too, they have really good side tracks, which seem to be the real hidden gems of their music. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ME: Woo Please Be My First Love (If I didn’t stress this enough) In The Club (an excellent r&b, more somber song of theirs) Mirrorz Feel So Good (a really underrated title track, really hype-worthy) And that’s it for my fanaccount!! It’s super long but it’s all my thoughts~ I’m going to make a video for this whole experience, hopefully by tomorrow. I spent so much time on this, hahaha. Until next time~

#imfact #fansign #fanmeeting #fanaccount #fanboy #tensionup #kpop

[sarangscenarios-blog]

The First Time He... | Optional Bias Scenario [Series]

Part 1 | Part 2

The First Time He...Showed Up

Summary: You’re working the late shift at the convenience store when he walks in - and you can’t help but make a fool of yourself.

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 1,161

The fluorescent lights are anything but flattering. They cast an unhealthy pallor on your skin as you press your elbows onto the counter beside the register, eyes fixed on the window at the other end of the store. You all but beg in your mind for someone to come in off of the street and reprieve you momentarily from your boredom.

At this time of night, there isn’t a lot of foot traffic. You would almost prefer the early morning shift instead, when commuters stop in to buy coffee or ready-made meals and the line for the register reaches the door, but since you started your winter classes, this is the only shift that works with your schedule and you’re in desperate need of the extra money.

You sigh, drawing your eyes away from the window and instead turning them back to the notebook you’re supposed to be focusing on. The one upside of working at such odd, quiet hours is that you can study in relative peace, with few interruptions. Except, as the hours drag on from late night to early morning, your motivation to actually study decreases.

You contemplate getting another cup of crappy instant coffee for yourself when the digital chime indicating a new customer sends a shock of adrenaline through your body, all sleepiness forgotten.

The man’s hood is pulled fully over his head, casting a shadow across his face. He wears a mask that covers all but his eyes and keeps his head bowed as he skulks through the aisles toward the refrigerated drinks.

You can’t help but become a little uneasy at the sight. Your hand drifts toward the button located beneath the counter - just in case he decides to try something. You’ve never had something happen for as long as you’ve been working in the store, but you’ve heard about convenience store robberies on the news.

You watch in what you hope is a nonchalant manner, switching your gaze from the notebook to the man every few seconds, as he stares at the drinks for an exorbitantly long period. Your heart beats faster with every passing moment he spends just standing there, doing nothing. Then suddenly - he swivels and stalks up to the counter.

Your fingers are gripping the edge of the counter tightly by this point and your throat is dry, as if there are a million cotton balls shoved inside it. You swallow tightly as he comes to a stop. He says something, but the mask muffles his words. Shakily, you ask him to repeat himself - what if he’s asking you to empty the register? Would you do it? You don’t love your job enough to get assaulted protecting the register, but you also suspect you’ll get fired if you just hand the money over.

The man sighs, glances over his shoulder toward the door - is he making sure there’ll be no witnesses? - but instead of pulling out some weapon and threatening you, he pulls his mask down so you’ll hear him properly. Now you’re not staring wide-eyed at him because you’re scared he’s here to rob the store, but because you actually know who he is.

It would be hard not to know. His group’s faces are plastered on the calendar in the workroom courtesy of the girl who works the afternoon shift and you know for a fact that he’s her favourite member. You’re a fan yourself, so you almost miss his words for a second time because you’re a little starstruck.

“Did you stop carrying Cantata’s Premium Latte?”

You blink up at him for a moment and his brows furrow. He must be wondering if you still don’t understand him, or if you’re just a little slow. You feel your cheeks heat up as you force your gaze over his shoulder instead.

“We’ve got them in the heated section,” you say, gesturing toward the corner beside the register where the hot water heater also sits. “Since it’s colder out, most people want their coffee warm.”

He scrutinizes you for a moment longer before nodding once and shuffling over toward the coffee. It only takes him a second to find what he’s looking for - not long enough for you to get ahold of yourself by the time he returns to the counter. He slides the can toward you and you robotically go through the motions of cashing him out.

You’re handing him his change, trying to figure out if it would be creepy to ask for an autograph for your coworker, when he speaks again.

“You want me to sign something?”

Your fingers grow clumsy because of your surprise and you almost drop the coins all over the counter.

“No, I’m good,” you say, abandoning the idea. You just won’t tell your coworker that he stopped in the store in the first place. You know that he won’t believe you if you say you’re getting the autograph for a friend, so instead, “I’m not really a fan,” slips from your mouth.

You don’t know what possessed you to lie and you half-expect him to call you out on your bullshit, but he doesn’t.

“Oh.” He sounds a little surprised. “Any…any particular reason why?”

He must take your dismissal personally. A part of you wants to backtrack, but you don’t think you could withstand the embarrassment.

“What I’ve heard isn’t really my style, I guess.”

You shrug, avoiding his gaze, but from the corner of your eye you see him nod slowly, twisting his head a little as if he’s trying to wrap his mind around what you’ve said.

“Alright, well, see you around.”

He raises the can in farewell before leaving the store. As soon as the door shuts behind him and he disappears from your sight through the window, you collapse against the counter, replaying the interaction in your mind, lamenting the fact that you probably wasted your only chance meeting a member of your favourite group in person.

Even though he isn’t your bias, you could have still gotten his signature for your coworker. That would have earned you some brownie points - maybe she’d have even covered a shift or two of yours if you ever needed it.

You rest your forehead against the cool countertop and grumble to yourself about your stubborn nature which had gotten in your way. Next time - if there is a next time - you decide, you’ll tell him the truth, even if the thought makes you want the ground beneath you to swallow you whole.

You pull yourself off the counter and slam your notebook down in front of you, intent on erasing your embarrassment by focusing on your work instead, but one errant thought shoves its way into the forefront of your mind that you can’t ignore.

Even though you’d never given him much thought before, too focused on the other visual members of the group, you definitely can’t deny that up-close, in person, he’s ridiculously cute.

A/N: So this was originally just going to be one scenario, but the first part got kind of long so I’m making it into a short series! It’ll be all about “firsts” (if you couldn’t tell from the title) and there’s no set length or number of parts - so we’ll see how far I take this! As always - requests are open, who I write about is in my FAQ and I hope you liked the first part of this series even though nothing much happens :) - Fee x

#kpop scenarios #bts scenarios #monsta x scenarios #got7 scenarios