I write about asian people in unrealistic scenarios | This blog is dedicated to the Bane of my existence Jeong Jaehyun | NCT Masterlist | Recommended Reads
I put a lot of thought into this sentiment but not enough into this post. I will be replacing mentions of a certain person from my fics going forward but I just don't think it is feasible to go back and change every single fic to remove him.
After a lot of back and forth I even feel like I shouldn't have to. These are first and foremost my characters. But I do feel the need to give people this disclaimer. Anyone who has been around long enough knows that I absolutely loathe going back to re-read my fics. But maybe at some point, I will go and change the things that need to be changed. I am sorry to anybody who goes back to read or re-read my old things— or they don't because of this particular matter. But I have sat with this matter for a long time and I don't think I want to give up my writing over it.
Why did y/n leave Jaehyun 3 days before he left to study abroad? We need more of the backstory 😭
My Favorite Things
Starting to wonder if July becomes the month of being creatively reborn? Something something my month of birth something something. This has been sitting in my drafts for *checks absentmindedly* a whole year. Despicable behaviour. This isn't my best work, but I needed to get this out there. If for nothing, to remind myself that I can still write. I would love to hear from anybody who reads this, just to appreciate the ones who never give up on me.
_
Summary: What came before.
Warnings: none
WC: 3.6K
Mini Masterlist
In the semester that had passed since he started university, the record store outside campus became somewhat of a haven. The first time he passed it, Jaehyun wasn’t sure what he saw. The banner on top had worn with age and the shutters were down.
“There used to be a record store here.” Jaehyun spoke wistfully, wishing he could go in. Who knows when it had shut down.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it open before. It's just too late.” Johnny hummed, probably trying to recall. “Odd thing, to have a record store near the undergrad campus.” Johnny continued to muse,
That surprised Jaehyun, flooding him with relief that he hadn’t missed the opportunity.
“I would love to go in sometime.” Jaehyun smiled, making a mental note to look up the hours.
__
Jaehyun slid the rusted door open, walking into the small shop that had more records than it did space. The man at the counter looked up, sniggering almost immediately.
”It’s occupied again.” He grinned, pointing his chin to the descending stairs. Jaehyun nodded politely, making his way to the basement.
One of his favourite parts of this place was just how it embraced being out of place, a relic of a time that Jaehyun couldn’t imagine. The basement was even more so, all the unsold records since its inception relegated to this dusty, sunless room that seemed to hang somewhere outside space and time. Each shelf threatened to cave under the weight of all the music that came before, yet seemingly the sturdiest things he had ever seen. Everytime he entered this space, walked down those rotting wooden stairs, Jaehyun felt like he was in a museum. This is how a museum should make one feel, he figured. Like an insignificant speck amongst an ocean of relevance. All the records here felt to overwhelming to approach, the music in them meant to outlast even him. It almost felt wrong to touch them without knowing what they were, and there were far too many to ever make a satisfying random choice. But he liked the space enough, sheepishly carrying down some brand new records to listen to in the solitude, feeling like an imposter.
Most days he got to stew in that feeling by himself, not a lot of people came into the store on weekdays. Even less came down to the dusty, sunless basement, filled to the ceiling with records in yellowing sleeves. But the past month or so, a girl started coming in more and more, using the only player available on this floor, an old thing that felt out of place on the modern top floor, yet still too sturdy to throw away. He had started by using the time to finally look around the basement, to take in some of the records in hopes of being less daunted by them. But as the days passed, the girl seemed to spend more and more time on the player.
Unlike the last three or four times, the sight of the girl didn’t annoy him. Apart from being warned by the attendant, he realised that he had spent his walk to the record shop wondering about her.
As usual, she sat cross-legged on the dusty carpet, hunched over the player and cupping the headphones that were much too big for her head. The shell of a record lay beside her, Duke Ellington today.
It had been Coltrane last time, and Jaehyun dragged himself to where she usually shoved her records in after finishing. His fingers traced the red letters against the blue sleeve, the paper curling with age. When he turned it over he was almost shocked. Four songs, two on each side. He could listen to that. He grinned to himself at the initiative, pressing the record against his chest as he weaved into the shelves to explore some more.
Jaehyun hovered like he usually did, waiting just in case she was done with the player. He sighed as he pulled out a record absentmindedly, eyes honed in on her back like it would telepathically get his message across.
Air sliced beside him followed by a loud series of crashes. Two heads turned to the source.
Somehow, Jaehyun had managed to make an entire shelf of records come loose. He prayed to every god he could remember that they did not break. The sheer weight of that destruction would crush him.
”Are you okay?” The voice behind him sounded perturbed.
Jaehyun had to brush off his embarrassment, turning with his best charming smile.
“What the hell, dude?” Another voice made them both turn, the shop’s attendant leaning from the very top of the stairs.
”Sorry!” Jaehyun winced, “I’ll clean it up!” He chuckled unceremoniously, exhaling in relief when the man just huffed and went back to his counter.
A second pair of hands joined his effort. When he looked up, there were no headphones on her ear. Behind her the player finally left unattended.
”You’re always here.” She gave him a suspicious look that made Jaehyun’s ears heat up more than they already had.
”So are you,” He mumbled his shoddy defense.
”Yeah, but I don’t stare at you the entire time.” Her brows creased further, his ears now boiling.
”I want to use the player but you’re always on it.” He spoke after several moments, sounding to himself worthy of her suspicions.
”Oh,” She looked up briefly from sorting the records, “You should have just asked.” She mumbled, standing up with the last of the records.
Jaehyun had nothing to say to that, the silence eating away at his dignity.
She walked up to the player, removing the Ellington record and gathering her things.
”All yours.” She pointed at it before walking away.
”Thanks!” He announced for the back, “For the player and the help.” He pressed the Coltrane tighter against his chest, not even sure why he wanted her to notice. She did not, scurrying away instead. Jaehyun thought she nodded but she did not turn.
_
”I’m Jaehyun, by the way.” He announced the next time he saw her, reaching his hand out.
”I know who you are.” She spoke to the floor, removing the headphones and gathering her things, “You gave me your notes on Keynes last semester. I passed econ because of that.”
”Oh.” He failed to recall, feeling guilty for the slight. When she went to take out her record he stopped her.
”Do you mind if I listen to that?” He questioned, eyeing the record’s cover— “The Essential Glenn Miller”.
”Sure. It’s not mine.” She got up, brushing dust off her jeans.
He wanted to ask her if the two other records lying there were also her choice, but she didn’t look in the mood to converse.
_
The time after that, Jaehyun was in a café with Johnny between classes. She walked by them, earphones tucked in and chin tucked down. Jaehyun watched her walk by, idly wondering what she was listening to. Johnny seemed to catch the movement, making Jaehyun catch himself.
”Hey, (Y/N).” He stopped her with a raised arm hitting her belly, “I still have your pen.”
”You have more than one.” She frowned, before surprising Jaehyun by smiling at Johnny, “What’s up?”
”Just waiting for my next class,” He pointed at the table. She strayed a look at Jaehyun before turning back to Johnny, “Do you know if we have Dr Richard’s class today?” He asked.
”Cancelled.” She shrugged, “Didn’t you have a date today, anyway?”
Johnny laughed, “I can’t believe you remember that.”
”I wouldn’t know it at all if you learned to shut up during class.” She scoffed, earning a quick snigger from Johnny.
”You both don’t have classes together this time?” Johnny asked after a moment, pointing to Jaehyun.
”What business would I have sharing classes with someone in such a different major?”
”You mean, what business do you have sharing classes with a business major?” Johnny wiggled his brows, earning two independent scoffs.
”Okay, chuckles. It was nice catching up, but I have a class.” She put a hand on his shoulder, turning to give Jaehyun a single nod.
”Want me to set you up?” Johnny asked with his teasing tone, making Jaehyun’s ears heat.
”Like I have the time to date.” Jaehyun mumbled.
_
“Is that Spanish?” Jaehyun squinted at the record.
She nodded, handing him the headphones.
”Will you suggest something to listen to?”
”This is a nice record.” She pointed at the one in the player, turning behind her, “So is this but they’re not jazz.”
”That’s fine. I can trust your taste.” He said in stride, neck heating up when she looked up at him, “I mean–“
”I got what you mean.” She interjected, lips twitching.
She left the record in when she got up, giving him a nod to signal the passing of the baton, a ritual they had established in the past month or so. Jaehyun eyed the song list on the cover, deciding to start with the last track she left.
Jaehyun was enjoying orienting himself to the new style of music, looking up the ones he did like to save for later. He was so deep in this search that a hand on his shoulder made him jerk back with a gasp. He heard a string of apologies when he took the headphones off.
”Sorry, I didn’t want to disturb you but it's getting late and I need to get home,” She winced, a record in her hand, “You will like this I think, if the records you leave are any indicator.”
Jaehyun grinned at that, “Are we the only people who use this player?” He turned his amusement to her, glancing at the record— Amor, it read, with the name Eydie Gormé written in yellow beside what he assumed was the woman’s face.
”Yeah, mostly.” She gave him an awkward grin in return, “Track 10 on this is a personal favourite.” She nudged the vinyl in her hand, reminding Jaehyun to take it. “Enjoy.” She gave him an awkward wave to match, turning away. He tugged at her jeans, making her look down. When he patted on the floor she gave him a questioning brow.
In response Jaehyun turned to the player, smiling to himself as he pulled the headphones out and put his own wired earphones in. Putting one into his ear, he raised the other to her expectantly.
”Just want to get your run down on the basics. What are your favourites on the first two?” He smiled, putting all his charm into a smile she missed the first time. She looked like she wanted to say something, but sat down after a moment instead.
_
“At least I don’t listen to modern music on vinyl.” She said the words with a contempt that made Jaehyun’s side ache with an oncoming laugh.
”At least I am not a snob.” He retorted, making her swallow whatever words were going to come out. Jaehyun let his ensuing laugh spew out, lying down on the dusty carpet to ease the pain in his stomach.
”You don’t know enough to be a snob.” She said after several moments, the sting of the words fading with the delay.
”That’s true,” He spoke to the molding ceiling, looking up at her next, “That’s what you’re here for,” He ran his tongue under his cheeks, playing with a grin, “Snob.”
”Thanks.” She scoffed, bumping her knee into his abdomen. Jaehyun writhed at the action, sitting up with some new words that were interrupted by a knock on the ceiling. They turned to the stairs.
”Time to go, kids. I have to close shop.”
Jaehyun sighed under his breath.
”Can I drop you to your dorm?” He asked once they left the store, ready to walk in the opposite direction as usual.
She seemed to think over his words, lips parted with some unsaid answer. She swallowed, “I don’t live on campus.” She smiled after a second, “It’s really sweet of you to offer though.”
”Oh,” Jaehyun pondered over the words, “With your parents?”
”With my little brother actually. It isn’t too far from here actually, my parents were professors on campus so we still have the house.”
”Oh,” He noted the past tense and she noted his realisation.
”I inherited my music from my mother, actually. Literally because she left all her records. Our player broke last year so I come here now.”
”Quite the inheritance. I should be grateful to her.” He shuffled, unsure how to navigate the conversation. When she smiled he felt at ease.
“You absolutely should. She would turn in her grave if she was someone listening to, what was it?” She pretended to recall.
“Usher.” He tongued the inside if his cheek.
“Usher!” She gasped, “The horror would be too much.” She laughed.
“For a snob like you, maybe. I think your mother would have been more accommodating.”
She snorted, “That’s her alright,” Her tone was dripping in sarcasm, “accommodating.” Some thought seemed to leech the colour in her eyes before she slapped her thigh and took a step back, “I need to get to the bus stop in fifteen minutes. See you next week.”
“I lowballed by way into a car, so next week I might just drop you home, if you’re less of a snob about Usher.” Jaehyun grinned to mask the anticipation in his tone.
She smiled, her grin reaching her eyes in a way he hadn’t experienced before.
“In that case, neither of us should hold our breaths.”
_
"Have you finished applying?" (Y/N) asked when she remembered that Jaehyun's deadlines were near. When he didn't answer, she turned over.
"What's wrong?" She asked, inching a little closer when he avoided meeting her gaze.
"I've finished putting my applications together, I'm just waiting for the right time to send it." He spoke up after a moment, giving her a clipped smile and throwing an arm over her waist.
(Y/N) looked at his face carefully, tucking a hand between the cheek and pillow and taking in the skittish look in his eyes.
"You can't just hold your applications hostage because you're afraid of being rejected." She sighed, reading him like an open book.
Jaehyun looked a little conflicted at first, closing his eyes to avoid her piercing gaze and huffing in clear frustration.
(Y/N) wondered if she overstepped. It was easy to read his little tells for her by now, to categorise the things that made him Jaehyun. It was something she mostly tried to keep to herself, but this seemed important enough to make her speak. Yet now, with his eyes closed and brows squeezed, (Y/N) wondered if it simply wasn't her place as the fringe friend.
Her worries would have swallowed her whole, but then Jaehyun opened his eyes with a clear defeated look. "What if I'm not good enough?" He whispered, looking at her with palpable vulnerability that made her ribs shake.
Her smile was pained, the words resonating deep inside her. Yet what was a fear of possibility for him, was a reality for her.
"That, unfortunately, is not up to you to decide.” She cooed, pursing her lips when his eyes flung open. Clearly, he hadn’t expected that. Maybe he was hoping for a false lull of reassurance. She sighed, “There's always going to be something you aren't good enough at. That's just the way things are." She reached out to push his hair back, smiling fondly when he nuzzled into the touch like the creature of comfort he was. "Whether it's something you're incredible at or something that isn't for you, you won't know till you try. Will you?" She questioned, smiling when Jaehyun nodded with a pout. Like a child being encouraged.
"Anyway," She smiled, "You're not even close to not being good enough. Nobody works harder than you. It'll work out for you because you deserve it." She said with a certainty that came from an innate knowing.
(Y/N) firmly believed that people got what they deserved, no more no less. And having seen Jaehyun through the years, she knew he had earned his dream.
"As the gatekeeper of mediocrity," she nudged him, veiling her self assessment in a joke. She laughed when he clicked his tongue, "I refuse to accept you as a part of our community. You're just going to have to spend your days being extraordinary." She clicked her tongue back, squealing when his fingers dug into her side to press her against his chest.
"Who called you mediocre? Want me to pretend I'm mean and violent so I can scare them off?" Jaehyun nuzzled against her neck, nibbling the sensitive skin till she squirmed.
"You can try." She gasped when he replaced his teeth with an open mouthed kiss. "But it's unfortunate that I already know you're neither of those things."
Jaehyun groaned into her neck at the words and she had to laugh, choking on it the next moment when Jaehyun swiftly pushed her back into the mattress, his weight pressing down on her from above.
His kisses turned sloppier, leaving wet trails over her neck and shoulders till her gut churned and twisted.
Jaehyun kissed up her jaw, stopping to leave a lingering kiss at the corner of her mouth, "I'm not extraordinary. I'm just always scared to lose." His words were a timid confession, so soft that she would have missed it had he been a hair's length further.
She lowered her gaze, meeting his wary eyes so close. His candid mood was a rare one, hardly seen outside of the four corners of this mattress. But it was always so honest, so him. As two people who never voiced their grievances in fear of being perceived as weak, moments like this seemed to be a bigger secret between them than their strange relationship.
Jaehyun buried his head into her neck, arms holding her sides. It took another moment for her to get out of her thoughts, to realise that Jaehyun was hugging her.
"Life isn't a race, Jaehyun." She mumbled in his ear, hand coming up to card through his soft hair. "Not when everyone always tries to avoid the finish line." She laughed, earning a smile against her shoulder from him. "All we can do is go along for the ride, throw things at a wall and hope something sticks."
"When can I stop throwing things?" He mumbled along, voice small and still hiding in her neck.
"Whenever you want. I know what you'll say," She added when she heard him sucking in a breath, "It's not that easy. But it is. You can take a break, or stop throwing whenever you feel like it. Nobody will scold you, I can't speak for others but I'd never judge you." She dared to squeeze her arms around him, hugging him back.
"You can stop trying anytime if that's what you need." With a sigh, she rested her forehead against his cheek, "You've already done so much. You're already incredible, Jaehyun." A lump formed in her throat at the words, her own fear of losing him taking hold of her for just a moment.
"I just really want to go to this school. It's the best and I need to prove to myself that I deserve it. That I'm good enough to get in." His words got her out of her own selfish motivation. He wasn't hers to lose. Jaehyun belonged to his aspirations and she reminded herself that it was also one of the reasons she loved him.
"If you don't get in it won't be because you're not good enough. It'll be because someone was just better." She reassured, continuing to stroke his head.
"That is me not being good enough." His words were reluctant, like he himself could tell that he was being petulant.
"No it's just someone having different circumstances than you." She sighed, tone softening. "I know you won't listen, but I just want you to remember that. People don't have to always be better or worse than you. They can simply be different."
It was something she wondered all the time with him, a hint of her own insecurities making her sound cold. With how he saw the world, (Y/N) couldn't help but wonder how he placed her in his arbitrary list. Wherever she stood, it had to be lower than him. She preferred not to ponder over how that made her feel.
_
Jaehyun slid into the booth, grinning at her. Ever since his acceptance, he smiled a lot more.
”You sounded urgent on the phone, what’s up?” Jaehyun asked, sliding his foot forward to nudge hers.
”Umm,” She tried to meet his gaze but cowered, “You want a drink? I might get a beer.” She got out of her seat, “One for you too?”
Jaehyun nodded, a little confused and a little scared.
It came like a slap to his face. She said the words without any follow-up, no explanation. On Jaehyun’s part, he was too hesitant to ask. He was leaving after all. It shouldn’t have felt like it did, but the words rung in his ears just like a slap would. When the silent moments turned into minutes, she got out of the seat.
He should have said something, Jaehyun wanted to say something; anything at all. But his tongue felt like lead. After all, what was the point? This was what was supposed to happen.
He left that dingy bar with a bitter taste in his mouth that he carried to his new home.
im back on Tumblr so i decided to check on my fav accs right away and ofc ur top of my list omg i feel like so much has happened since my last ask. anw, i saw ur recent updates, how have u been? i hope ur doing better now. take care always! 🧡
(will most likely reread one of ur fics now bc ive missed reading good stuff on this app)
-🐻
You’re too kind to me😭
Seeing this after coming back to tumblr after months was true love. I hope you always have a good day
How are you doing? I hope everythings going well for you! 🤍
Hi I’m back😭
I have these phases where I think I have lost my touch and dont feel good enough. So I just need to let writing go for a while to feel myself beyond the weight of productivity.
would u indulge us with a lil teaser from an update ur working on? 👀🤲
So I wasn't sure if I should post this because idk if I'll finish it, it's mostly just a worldbuilding experiment. I was writing this to work on this world so it's just a bunch of scenes with no continuity. That being said, this is the thing I have written the most in the past few months so this will have to do.
_
Summary: "This better be good." (Y/N) sighed into her coffee cup, less from sleep and more because of how awful the station's coffee machine was. "You've called me in exactly 8 hours into the one day I took off in two months."
"Two officers on night duty picked up a suspect near the meatpacking factory. I thought you would like to interview the potential suspect. Since this is your case." Kun shrugged, his holster rattling at the movement.
Warnings: Excessive exposition, no payoff
Word Count: 1666
_
When her fingers wrapped around the doorknob, there was a small shake in them. Her knuckles tightened in an effort to hide it, flexing just to be sure.
She spoke the moment the interrogation room door pushed open, “Your lawyer wanted me to ask you if you still don’t want him in here.” Talking to the floor, she turned to shut the thing behind her. A good enough start, she told herself.
“I apologise for his persistence. I asked him to leave but he is wary of his job.”
“It would be unfortunate to lose a client like you, I assume.” Kun spoke with his signature interrogation voice, impassive but with an edge of sympathy. The man laughed as she turned to face the room. Despite preparing herself this entire detour to meet his gaze head on, she lost her nerve and looked to Kun for some reassurance. He caught on, turning and giving her a pursed smile.
“Mr. Suh was just telling me about why he was in the area this late in the night.” Kun pointed at his pad, letting her know that he’d been taking his statement.
“I am looking to buy two of the five abandoned factories in the district. I was just scouting the area to assess my options.” He spoke slowly, his gaze dragging away from Kun in a leisurely stride before landing on her.
“At two in the morning?” She asked, the solid question giving her the confidence to finally meet his gaze.
“I’m a busy man.” He answered with laidback ease. Like he was having a dinner table conversation instead of being suspected for murder.
“And what do busy men like you do that require you loitering on private property at questionable hours?” She asked the question in her mind.
In response, his lips lifted in an amused smirk.
“She’s new here.” Kun spoke with an awkward weight on his tongue. The man seemed amused by the information, giving her a questioning look as Kun turned, “Johnny Suh is the sole owner of the Miti Conglomerates, the largest transportation service this far out on the edge of the known universe.”
“Well, on Xohorat I am mostly the owner of the only hotel on the planet. I am sure you had to stay there since you are new here.” He asked her, visible humour illuminating his eyes.
She did have to stay in that hotel, almost a year ago— when she was actually new to the planet. The most luxurious stay at the end of the universe. That is what the fliers over town and her transfer officer had informed her. In reality the room she could afford was the equivalent of an airport hotel way out on the opposite side of the universe. Her home. Not bad but more practical than luxury. It also hosted an interesting bar. All of this, of course, Johnny Suh already knew.
"Where were you on the twenty-fifth evening?" She asked him, fixing a discerning eye squarely on him.
"In my office. Working. I can provide the surveillance footage by tomorrow if that will help your investigation."
Overeager. She deduced, still keeping her eyes on his every movement. Despite the words, his body language was completely disarmed. There was no nervous shifting, no restless tapping, not even a frown.
"Did you ever have an association with a Mr. Pilem?" She pretended to look for the name in the file.
"I've never heard that name in my life." He answered after a pause to consider it. Perfectly orchestrated or the truth, she deduced. Those were the only two options she had.
"He was fairly well off. I'm sure on a planet as small as Xohorat, your circles might have overlapped?"
"Your partner told me he is a legislative clown,” He dragged his gaze from him to her, fixing her in place, “I don't mix with reformists."
"We are all reformists in this universe, Mr Suh." Kun chimed in, sounding rather serious.
"So you're a factionist?" She moved on, "Any animosity towards the government? Is that why you live this far out?"
"You live here too. What are your allegiances?" He pointed a finger at her. Despite the jest in his tone, he seemed to want an answer, "I am a man of business. Xohorat is a cheap hub for storing ships. The people of this colony are born engineers. My ships are the best in the galaxy at the fraction of the cost of the ones stored on moons closer to the reformer capital.” He sat back.
"The centre of the universe." Kun corrected him. That is what the capital was, after all. (Y/N) really had to curb the urge to tell Kun to drop it.
The words made the man look at Kun, his scoff that of pity, "The universe is the largest thing to exist. It's ceaseless pride that makes us think that we've discovered the centre of it."
Kun, she noted, looked momentarily taken aback. In his entire life, no one had said those words out loud to him. So obvious when spoken but never questioned. The outer planets were quite religious, she'd been surprised to learn. This far away from the influence of the capital, the laws were bleak. Her being here alone was a laughable matter, as she had learned pretty early into the job. Cops here only patrolled in cars and caught petty thieves. Detectives were simply government sanctioned employees chosen by the federal state. It was an illusion of order to keep up the illusion of empire this far.
Yet the reformist religion was stronger here than it was amongst the capital elite. Growing up, it had looked to her like people merely followed the tenets of the religion as a social obligation. For reformers, Wednesday evenings were for breaking fast with the community, a religious practice that made the community come together in the middle of the week to remember the gift of prophecy. The one that led the first explorers to the very centre of the universe. In the capital, the centre of the prophecies, Wednesday was a weekly dinner party to negotiate the happenings of government.
But here in the fringes of the capital's grasp, the religion was followed in the strictest ways. Here they still worshipped the original sun. The source of all energy that allowed the universe to be what it is today— inhabited by human beings. It was as if the world here had not moved past the exploration age, stuck in the beliefs that stopped the space farers from going insane on their long, tireless journeys to reach here.
If Kun had anything to say, he must have swallowed it. Instead, getting out of his chair.
"Would you like a cup of coffee, Mr. Suh?" He asked him, getting a nod in response. When Kun looked at her, she shook her head.
"Some water." She told him.
She followed Kun's retreating frame, so aware of the other pair of eyes on her that, for a moment, she felt like the one under scrutiny. The halogen bulb above them buzzed obnoxiously, filling the room with a sound that resembled the one in her head.
"An odd place for a factionist." She said out loud, aware by now that Kun had taken his place behind the glass in the small room right down this one. Watching as she did her thing.
"Where are you from, Detective (Y/L/N)?" He questioned, splaying his hand across the table and landing close to hers.
"Way out in the western reaches." She thought of the place she was born, balmy all year round.
The man, Johnny Suh, hummed, "Nice place?" He inquired.
"It can be. Why are you trying to buy abandoned factories on the bad side of town?"
"It is no more a bad side than this is the good. These are just some people looking for jobs."
She stared at the man, perhaps trying to reconstruct him from memory.
"And what about this murder that took place in the area?" She asked point blank.
"It didn't happen on any of my properties. Present or future. I simply assume it comes with the territory. It can be rough to live in that much poverty."
All his answers were deliberately diverted. Her brain itched in unreachable corners. Everything seemed okay but something seemed not. Something did not feel right.
"These murders were all people who did not belong to that side of town. People who would not usually be there." She explained.
"Rich people?" He sounded amused.
"Reformists. The important kind." She frowned, "In the past few months, enough have turned out dead in those parts that it would be concerning to anybody. Even those with a knack for philanthropy."
Johnny's lips twitched, and she had to sit up straight. Despite having seen the man naked, she remembered with a current of warmth sliding down her spine, she only now realised that she'd never seen him smile.
"I'm afraid I was just minding my own business. You can send someone to take a look at the tapes, I can't hand them to you as it's against company policy. Beyond that I can let you know if I hear something. I hope that's all?"
She stared at him, the strings at the back of her mind tugging but being unable to find any visible suspicion to act on.
"It must feel nice, though." She caved and asked the question raking her mind, "As a factionist, watching them all found dead. The chief planet advisor, the official notary's son, the Sol Pastor. All essential members of reformist society. All important contributors to the southern edge system."
"My condolences to them and their family." He didn't sound apologetic, “But I am not a facionist, merely someone who thinks.” She wanted to scoff at the jab, knowing Kun heard him loud and clear. Out of everything he said today though, this one she was sure was a lie.
hiii finally finished reading Chance Encounter!!! (took awhile bc ive been preoccupied with uni lately) anywayss the way the oc's in ur fics keep finding themselves in crazy situationships omg! i just cant get enough of the way you write tension and yearning so muuuch its so subtle yet very in-your-face too? like, ugh! chefs kiss! i just love stubborn characters getting stuck in so much drama🫶 i love johnny's character here too omggg suit n tie johnny is such a hall-of-famer, he just fits that boss image so well (i think its the height lol) overall, its a 10/10 fic real kaepop-trash classic!!
-🐻
Putting difficult people in even more difficult situations is the best way to write if you don't make outlines or plan your stories. You make a strong personality and then put them in a weird situation and the story just writes itself.
Honestly I have a theory and a challenge for myself where I think I could feasibly make Johnny as a character work in multiple settings. It is to be seen if I succeed
I haven’t logged on in a while but I was really sad to see that Ambition was discontinued :( thank you for writing such an incredible story. I’ve still never read anything like it
I hope you know that I love every single person who loves this fic
