phoenix!seonghwa x supernatural!reader
you didn't have a snowball's chance in hell. unfortunately for you and seonghwa, the fates had other ideas
controller!hongjoong x mortal!reader
shadow!yunho x mortal!reader
if yunho appears before you, run in the opposite direction. the thing is, he only appears in front of those who are too weak to fight
angel!yeosang x motal!reader
your friend prays to god (or maybe makes a deal with the devil); yeosang's only job is to see that the deal goes through. what he doesn't expect, though, is you
you’re drunk, so alcohol mentions. a few curse words. part of the thrill ride collection
it's a total cliche when ordering food to be delivered: send your cutest delivery person. but it's stupidly late, you're maybe a little drunker than you should be, and let's be honest, feeling a little lonelier than you were a few minutes ago.
god, i need a dog.
so before you can sober up, before you can come to your senses, you place your order and in the little comment section request their cutest delivery boy. you giggle to yourself, because how pathetic.
but it's stupidly late and you're maybe a little drunker than you should be, so you down the last of your win and refill your glass, consequences be damned (for the moment, anyway).
you turn up the music and dance nonsensically in your tiny living room, thankful you live in a tiny stand-alone condo, so you don't have to worry (too much) about making too much noise.
your doorbell suddenly rings and you blink and look at the clock on the wall. has it really been twenty minutes? damn, times flies when you're dancing alone in your living room at eleven in the evening.
you turn down the music and set down your wine glass and search for your wallet before finally yanking open the door.
damn, he's cute, you think to yourself.
then, because you're a little drunk and don't really have a filter, you blurt out, "wow, they really read the comment section, huh."
the young man - eric, his neatly stitched name badge says - blinks and says, "uh...i guess so?"
you grin and pass him more than you probably need to for just a single pizza before waving and singing "too-da-loo!" and then closing the door loudly in his face.
eric remains on your tiny porch for a beat before chuckling and shaking his head a little. cute...
the next morning, you wake up with only a little headache but with the urge to stick your head in the sand for the next week. speaking of sand...
you groan and smack your lips at the grainy feeling lingering in your mouth and despite the pounding in your head, stumble into the bathroom to brush your teeth longer than the little automatic timer on the electric brush runs.
standing in the doorway of the bathroom, you blink as the fuzzy images of the night before come into focus.
you groan because god, did i really ask the pizza place to send their cutest delivery boy? gag...
you're a little embarrassed, but still too distracted by your headache to be completely mortified. you glance at the clock - noon - and decide you might as well swing by and see if you can apologize in person to the probably horribly-scarred delivery boy.
you pull up to the little brick building. there's only one car waiting to make a delivery, and you watch from your car as the delivery boy exits the pizzeria and gets into the car. you take a deep breath and exit the safety of your car.
the young man behind the counter has a name tag declaring him as kevin and he smiles when you walk up to the counter.
"what can i get ya?" he asks brightly.
you give him a small smile in reply and say, "actually, i'm looking for someone who works here? his name's eric."
kevin's eyes brighten and he nods. "yeah, he's in the back. i'll get him for you."
you try to tell him it's not necessary, but he smiles knowingly and assures you there's no worry, it's slow anyway.
you purse your lips and wait, growing more nervous by the second. this was a bad idea, you groan to yourself.
"what's the rush?" you hear someone ask and turn to see kevin practically pushing eric from the kitchen. his eyes land on you and he freezes. you smile awkwardly and lift your hand a little in a wave.
"i need to check inventory," kevin says, looking between you two. "it'll take me a minute...a long minute."
eric shoves kevin back into the kitchen, but his gleeful chortles can still be heard.
you and eric stand in silence for a few beats before you clear your throat and say, "about last night--"
"it's fine!" eric exclaims, startling you and him.
because it is. you were cute last night, with your glowing cheeks and slightly wild hair and big warm eyes. and you're just as captivating now, standing under the harsh florescent lights with the just-after-noon sun coming in through the windows and creating a halo of golden light around you.
"i'm eric," he says, unnecessarily, but you smile and introduce yourself, even though your name was on the pizza box he handed over to you last night.
he says "nice to meet you" and you ask him what time his shift ends and kevin yells from the depths of the kitchen that he can leave, it's slow, and chanhee should be back any minute. eric's cheeks flame but he yanks his silly little hat off his head and grabs your hand and rushes out of the store with you on his heel.
tbz thrill ride brain rot let's gooooo. also i assigned them their jobs based on the behind the scenes for thrill ride mv shoot
bellhops jacob, younghoon, and haknyeon who also take turns manning the front desk. jacob looks like an angel and smiles like an angel but he is also a stickler for the rules. if you are not in the lobby at the desk right in front of him with your bags ready to be loaded in your car by checkout time, well, sucks for you, looks like you're staying an extra day. but people don't really mind because that smile could melt an ice cream cone.
you look at younghoon and think how can that bean stalk possibly push my cart full of louis vuitton and gucci and chanel bags. secretly buff beneath the boxy bellhop uniform. also secretly a very shy and clumsy baby. gets tipped very well but is always so shocked and grateful. it is very easy to persuade him to extend your checkout time by a few minutes (honestly if you smiled at him prettily enough he would give you like an extra week)
haknyeon is very bright and outgoing that he makes people already happy to be on vacation even happier. very personable and can talk to just about anyone. (jacob swears he has video of a drunk haknyeon having a full-on conversation with one of the ficus trees in the lobby.) will overlook your late arrival at the front desk on checkout day but it will take bribing to do so, usually in the form of food (and maybe your number wink wink)
juice bar manager sangyeon who will jump in and help chanhee, changmin, and sunwoo when it's busy. with the way those three bicker, looks like a tired dad most of the time but will always put on a smile for the guests. definitely gets hit on by older guests. he's polite when he turns them down but oh by the way would you like a drink half off? then turns around and scolds sunwoo for constantly giving out drinks on the house for any and all reasons: birthdays, anniversaries, school graduates, wednesdays.
speaking of, newest employee sunwoo who was absolutely clueless his first few days. the rivalry between him and changmin all started because changmin could not understand how sunwoo couldn't even operate a blender like how do you get a job at a juice bar without knowing how to work a blender. likes to give out drinks for free. isn't picky about who or why he hands them out. just likes to see people's faces brighten at the sound of a free drink
employee of the month since he started changmin. runs the juice bar like a pro. likes to make it look like he's mixing cocktails. loves adding more stuff than necessary bloody mary style. as in will skewer as many fruit pieces as he can on one of those little paper umbrellas and then add like ten of those in your drink. his dolphin screech can be heard when sunwoo does something to stress him out. sangyeon has to come out and assure the guests that everything's fine, no one got murdered, and then politely but firmly suggests that changmin take his break now
chanhee who serves the drinks and also patrols the poolside with little menus to offer to guests who have yet to purchase something or who have an empty glass. can get intense about it. like yes, you just finished your watermelonade can i interest you in a refill or perhaps one of our other signature drinks like the cloudade or maybe something tangy like mango-pineapple or sweet like a classic strawberry-banana. can be kinda overbearing about it, very insistent, but he has such a sweet voice and cute face that guests overlook it and gladly add another like seven drinks to their tab.
sweetest lifeguard ever juyeon. he sits on his little chair under the little umbrella and keeps an eagle-eye out on the pool. will blow his whistle at anything less than proper pool etiquette. if you so much as speed walk he will tweet urgently at you and tell you to slow down and be careful and make sure you put on sunscreen! completely unaware that half of the guests are there just to drool over him and the other half are maybe thinking about accidentally-on-purpose 'drowning' to get mouth-to-mouth
kevin the lifeguard who spends more time letting kids splash him than actually guarding the pool. loves being put in charge of the kiddie pool for that reason. the parents love him because he's so good at entertaining the kids. guests love him because he's good at keeping the kids from screaming at absolutely nothing and everything. juyeon loves him because he doesn't have to worry about the kids running and possibly slipping and potentially dying or something dramatic like that
lifeguard hyunjae who is 970913% just a lifeguard to flex. sprawls out on the little lifeguard chair with his sunglasses barely hanging onto the end of his nose and the whistle hanging from his lips. winks at anyone and anything that so much looks in his general direction. juyeon lowkey wants him to get fired because THAT'S NOT WHAT BEING A LIFEGUARD IS ABOUT HYUNG
energetic lifeguard eric who likes to interact with pool-goers. always has a big smile on his face. like haknyeon, has a way of making happy guests even happier just by being in his presence. favorite part of the job is sneaking around the pool after hours with the other boyz. word gets around that the best rooms at the hotel are lower level and face the pool because sometimes you can catch hot shirtless hotel employees splashing around.
so, a different younghoon thing than i was originally working on?? but i just finished watching the boyz on weekly idol and he was just so cute and looked so happy rubbing his feet all over those blocks of ice that i thought of this! happy late younghoon day i guess 😆
[0204] you turn over in bed, pulling the comforter and blankets higher as you do. it's early winter, and according to meteorologists the first snow should be any day now.
a chill ghosts over your back as your shirt rides up slightly and you frown. it'd only be cold if younghoon was absent, and as far as you know, his schedule should have finished before midnight.
you feel around blindly at first, waving your arm in the spot he normally lies. when you come up empty, you sit up and reach for your phone. looking through the notifications, you see, indeed, younghoon had texted you just before midnight to let you know he was on his way over. a second text, though, makes you realize where he is.
snow is in the forecast in a couple hours!! 😃😃😃
you set your phone back on the nightstand and then turn on the bedside light. you begrudgingly leave the warmth of the bed and reach for your winter bathrobe and slippers. you shuffle out of your bedroom and toward the front door, trading your slippers for snow boots before stepping out of your apartment.
you lean against the elevator wall as it takes you to the ground floor, eyes already threatening to drop shut, but you push the sleepiness away as the doors slide open.
the lobby lights flicker brighter as you walk toward the entrance, where just beyond, you see the ground being blanketed by the season's first snow.
you open the door and walk out into the crips snow, which crunches slightly as you approach younghoon.
he's already buried up to his ankles in the stuff, which leads you to believe he hasn't moved since the snow started falling. you waddle up to him and he immediately wraps you in his coat.
"what are you doing up?" he asks softly.
"i could ask you the same thing," you mumble tiredly, already being coaxed back to sleep by younghoon's warmth.
"sorry," he chuckles. "it started snowing just as i arrived and i didn't want to miss it."
you just hum into his chest and remain bundled against his body. the two of you stand like this for a few minutes before younghoon leans back slightly so he can see your face clearly.
"do you want to go back inside?" he asks, stroking his thumb against your cheek.
"only if you want to," you reply, your words only a little slurred.
he chuckles again and turns back toward the building, keeping you close. while he could stand out in the snow forever, he knows that you are much less cold-tolerant than he.
besides, it's late, and right now, nothing sounds more appealing than snuggling in a nice warm bed with you.
my first timestamp/official blurb! i really wanted to write something, but i couldn't find the inspiration to work on my longer works. oops. anyway, here's soft!mafia seonghwa
[2234] the club is lively, as is expected on a friday evening. you sit at the bar, alone for the moment, since seonghwa is in the backroom conducting business of a different nature than pouring drinks for patrons.
jongho's doing that for you now, too novice to be privy to the secret talks, but content to pay his dues.
you're always aware that seonghwa specifically asked jongho to serve you exclusively while he's away, because while he has a youthful face, his stature and demeanor tells everyone not to mess with him.
you've told seonghwa, time and again, that it's unnecessary, that you can talk care of yourself, that no one would dare touch you in the bar owned by him. but he's cautious, or rather, distrustful of others in the presence of someone as marvelous as you, as he's said time and again.
but this particular friday is different. a group of businessmen are celebrating their successful business transaction. they're relatively young, and this is their first big deal. drinks are had and gazes wander.
one pair of eyes lands on you, currently alone due to a particularly large drink order mingi is struggling to fulfill by himself. the man grins sloppily and stumbles your way with encouraging calls from his friends.
you hear all this and sigh and sip your drink.
"hello, there," a tipsy voice purrs beside you. "surely someone so endearing isn't here alone?"
"they're not," a hard voice intercedes. you turn to see seonghwa striding your way, the other members flanking him as they stroll out of their meeting. his gaze is fixed squarely on the man hovering over you and you sigh once more and take another sip of your drink.
"do you know this joker?" the man just laughs and even you are slightly surprised. surely seonghwa and his family are well known throughout the country? this man is truly a fool.
"i should hope so," you drawl. "i spend most nights with him, after all."
that gets the man's attention. he glances between you and seonghwa, who is now pressed against your back, his fingers tracing patterns on your thigh.
"goodbye," you say jovially, raising your glass and then turning away. you smile up at seonghwa as he steps between your legs, his hand now resting on your hip. you lift your hand and make a show of brushing invisible lint off his expensive suit.
his eyes bore holes into the man with a smug smirk before his gaze softens, now completely unbothered. he sinks into the stool beside you, kissing your palm as your hand drifts to his cheek.
"i've told you," you say with a small laugh as your thumb strokes his cheekbone. "i can take care of myself."
"indeed," seonghwa chuckles, lifting your soft touch from his face so he can intertwince your fingers with his. "but you can't blame me for wanting to brag."
he presses a kiss to the back of your hand and you comb a hand through his raven-soft hair. he leans into your gentle touch with a content sigh and you smile.
because as feared as park seonghwa is, you and he and your closest friends know the truth: when it comes to you, he's really the softest boi.
group: the boyz
member: q (ji changmin)
genre: fluff
word count: 1.9k
warnings: implied sex, but only very very very; a couple swear words
pairing: q x gn!reader
part of the playlist series
note: the lyrics are out of song-order, but i pieced them together based on how i thought it best fit the flow of the story. also, since i do quote the lyrics, it's obviously being sung from a woman's perspective, but it definitely doesn't have to apply to the story itself
hustling for the good life
as a child, you had nothing
but you saw the glittering, beautiful, luxurious things that were always so far out of reach
and you decided at a young age that you would someday achieve those glittering, beautiful, luxurious heights
you watched your mother turn tricks growing up, charming her lovers into extra cash or little gifts
you watched your father pick pockets and work as a con artist on the streets, betting unsuspecting passersby he could beat them at games of chance
it taught you how powerful words can be
and that is the only lesson you bother to take away from your childhood
you're a young adult now and since leaving home years before, you haven't looked back
perched in the dark/telling all the rich folks anything they wanna hear like it could be love/i could be the way forward only if they pay for it
with your good looks and silver tongue, you quickly find yourself charming the riches out of the rich
it doesn't matter who they are, what their occupation or reputation, young or old
you sit back and watch your potential lover from afar, figuring how much you can milk and planning the perfect approach
then you charm your way into their lives and eventually into their bank accounts
and with their eyes full of stars, they're none the wiser
your most recent love affair, though, a man who is finally ready to settle down, is getting to be too...much
so you slip out in the middle of the night, taking a few knickknacks and jewels along the way
it's time for you to move on
and the tennis court was covered up with some tent-like thing
it's a beautiful day in early autumn
the trees are various shades of red and your path to the country club is paved with golden leaves that crunch just slightly under your feet
you show your expensive creme-colored invitation to the tall man who guards the elite from the plebians and are waved inside without a second glance
the charity event is taking place on the country club's multiple tennis courts
despite the weakening sun's rays, the rich want to protect their lily-white skin by covering the courts with lily-white cloth tents
you wouldn't mind the sun, but as you've learned during your rise from the bottom, the elite will do anything to protect their fair skin
you float around the crowd, sharing smiles and greetings with the other guests
you eventually find yourself at the open bar, where of course the only drinks being served are fancy cocktails, expensive wines, and top-shelf liquors
as you're waiting for your fancy expensive top-shelf drink, you spot a new face in the crowd
he looks to be your age, and is absolutely beautiful
strong eyebrows, soft cheekbones, full lips, and the most captivating cat-like eyes you've ever seen
he smiles at you and then politely excuses himself from the woman giggling girlishly at something he must have said
the woman watches him as he walks away and when she sees where he is headed, her eyes narrow at you
you just raise your just-served drink with a quirk of your lip and the young man striding toward you chuckles
"would you like to dance?" he asks you as soon as he reaches you
a string quartet is playing on a small stage and there's an area clear of tall tables made for standing
a few couples dance already
but you just sip your drink and say "i don't know...dancing is a dangerous game"
"doesn't make it any less fun, though, does it?"
you can't help but smile at his response and against your better judgement, you accept his hand
oh, i thought/this is gonna be one of those things
it's quiet once you reach the small dance floor
just the gentle string music and quiet hum of conversation
"i'm changmin, by the way. ji changmin."
you glance at him through your eyelashes and after a beat, you introduce yourself
he smiles once more and silence settles over you two again
you part once the quartet changes pieces
the rich flock to you and changmin, regardless of age or marital status
each of your attentions are occupied for the rest of the evening
but glances are spared throughout the night
the shared glances grow longer and heavier until you finally find yourself in a fancy hotel room without feeling like you need a shower first thing in the morning
you disappear before dawn, allowing yourself one brief moment to venerate changmin's lithe naked back which still bare evidence of your rather enjoyable evening together
you think that's that
i've got some tricks up my sleeve
your steps are as light as the pre-dawn autumn air
a small smile graces your lips and you admire the little trinket you slipped out of the hotel room: a tiger's eye-tipped tie pin
but as you're holding it up to watch the early-morning sunrays sparkle off the warm brown gem, you realize something
you're missing your silver pinky ring
you had some tricks up your sleeve
it's the only piece of your childhood you carry into adulthood and perhaps the only real item you've assigned sentimental value
you turn on your heel and march back toward the hotel entrance, intent on sneaking back into the hotel room to find that damn ring
but you hear someone call your name from above you
you look up and see changmin leaning out from a window, still bare-chested
something small is pinched between his fingers
you can't tell what it is from the ground
but the knowing smirk on his lips tells you all you need to know
takes one to know one
you consider turning your back to him
but that ring means a stupid amount to you
so you straighten your shoulders, hold you head high, and stride purposefully into the hotel lobby
because no way are you going to back down from someone like ji changmin
yo expect him to make you knock on the door, make you wait for him to answer
but the door is already propped open by the time you reach the room and you step inside to find him sitting on the couch in the in-suite living room (this time with a shirt), your small silver ring resting on the coffee table
you slowly sink into the chair across from him and silently place his tie pin on the table beside your ring
it's silent for a moment, you and changmin simply observing each other
"aren't you full of surprises" you finally say with a small quirk of your lips
changmin chuckles and pushes your ring toward you and you do the same with his pin
you each take your returned items and for a moment simply stare at them in your hands
you're uncertain what to do, and so is changmin
because this has never happened to either of you before
a con artist trying to pull one over another con artist
you glance up and catch his eye and you both can't help but laugh a little
because how ridiculous!
the silence returns and so does the uncertainty
changmin finally looks at the expansive, flashy watch on his wrist
you expect him to make some excuse about running late for some bullshit appointment
but instead he says "it's early. would you like to eat breakfast with me?"
much like the evening before, you find yourself nodding against your better judgement
you're a cowboy like me/never wanted love just a fancy car
and thus starts the most unexpected love affair of your life
because who knew ji changmin would turn out to be just like you
a suave, silver-tongued tempest who lives lover to lover, acquiring a small fortune in the process
he grew up poor, like you
he grew up resenting what his parents had to resort to in order to put food on the table, like you
he grew up deciding fancy things would be worth more than love in the long run
just like you
you laugh over that first shared breakfast about all the similarities you seem to share
all the similarities that led you to that moment
in that hotel room
with a fellow con artist
sharing a past you thought would stay firmly behind you
now i'm waiting by the phone like i'm waiting in an airport bar
you find yourself falling into a pattern with changmin
a pattern you've never had before
a pattern you never expected
it's new and exciting but also kinda scary because you never thought you'd feel this way about another person
more and more you find your evenings carrying over into the next morning
and then those next mornings turning into the next day
and then those next days melting into the next evening
soon, it's rarer to be without changmin than to be with him
and you hate that you find yourself wishing he was with you
because the L word was never supposed to be part of your vocabulary
of course what you don't realize is that changmin is feeling just as unexpectedly enamored by you
you're a bandit like me/eyes full of stars
you wake up one morning a tangle of limbs, changmin wrapped around you warmer than any of the numerous fur coats in your closet
his face is tucked into the crook of your neck and with each warm breath that ghosts across your skin, you feel your heart melt just a little more
there's a small mirror on the beside table and you happen to catch your reflection
the stars that you had always seen in your target's lover's eyes now fill your own
you bite your lip uncertainly because is this what love looks like?
you feel changmin's arm tighten around your waist as he begins to wake and you turn in his arms to face him
his eyes open slowly and when his gaze settles on you, a soft smile pulls at his lips and you feel his thumb stroke your lower back
"good morning" he says sleepily, his eyelids already dropping shut again
but you catch something in his dark eyes before they close that makes your heart skip a beat
because the stars you had seen in your reflection
you see the same stars in changmin's eyes
those stars in both your eyes remain
and you begin to grow used to them
you begin to grow to love them
we could be the way forward and i know i'll pay for it
you're waiting for the moment for it all to explode in your face
you're dreading that moment
you steel yourself for that inevitable ka-boom
you prepare yourself for life after changmin
in your weaker moments, you wonder if it was worth it
if loving changmin is worth what you know will be the greatest loss you have ever suffered
but you just have to take one look at his beautiful smile and those thoughts melt away
because no matter what happens, it will have been worth it
loving changmin will always be worth it
with your boots beneath my bed, forever is the sweetest con
but it never comes
and you find yourself relieved
because could you really have any sort of relationship after changmin, fake or not?
you don't think you ever want to find out
spoiler alert: you never have to
and i'm never gonna love again
note: i didn't even get to use some my favorite lyrics from the song ☹️ but i just couldn't find a way to fit into the flow of the story 😭 maybe i'll post another part that contains those lyrics?
summary: jeong yunho is tall and looks imposing, which is why your parents hire him. but there's something beneath his clean-cut facade that makes you insist he be your personal bodyguard
group: ateez
member: yunho with seonghwa and hongjoong
genre: dystopian
word count: 1.6k
warnings: none
pairing: tba
tag list: @seojonneh
let me know if you'd like to be added!
masterlist | previous | next
yunho doesn't like you
as a member of the black pirates, he hates everything your parents and their ilk stand for
when word spread that your parents were searching for a guard for their precious child, the black pirates decided it is the perfect opportunity to plant a spy
and when you insist on hiring him, yunho and the pirates think they hit the jackpot because wow was it easy to infiltrate the home of a very vocal supporter of the current government
yunho's cool, professional demeanor is his way to keep from sneering whenever he sees you or your parents
it's easy at first, since he's really only around you when you're outside the safety of your home
the other pirates urge him to find a way to spend more time with you, and more specifically, more time in your home, as anything about you or your parents' lives might provide an edge for their cause
yunho is against it, because does he really have to spend even more time around you?
but the two founders are adamant, and they have ultimate say in the group's actions
they decide to nudge your family into declaring you need protection at all times by slipping notes into the mailbox, insinuating a kidnapping is eminent, or that their gilded cage is only so protective, or they are the first on their list
that only seems to tighten the perimeter security, as well as severely cut down on your time outdoors, thus severely cutting down on yunho's interactions with you
finally, the leaders decide to take matters into their own hands
the other pirates are against it, because security has been heightened and what would happen to the cause if they are captured?
but they insist, and there's no changing their minds
they set out in the dead of night, dressed in dark clothes and dark caps covering their silver-blond and bright red hair
mingi and yeosang are put in charge of layout and security
san covers the comms
wooyoung provides distractions if needed while jongho is the extraction plan
yunho, they say, needs to go to the address listed as his residence in case the family decides to call for him right away
with their plan carefully laid out, seonghwa and hongjoong sneak over the wall surrounding your property
with a floorplan memorized with the help of yunho and yeosang, the leaders of the black pirates make a beeline for your room, which is located on the third floor
mingi, overseeing the security cameras, loops the feed so they can cross the expansive lawn
yeosang warns them of security patrols
san relays all of that over the comms
and wooyoung and jongho wait nervously in the unmarked van parked down the street
the exterior of your three-story home is old brick covered in trellises growing ivy and flowering vines
and just outside your bedroom window grows an old, sturdy tree
they put on their now-infamous attire of black spiked masks and wide-brimmed hats before seonghwa boosts hongjoong onto the lowest branch
once seonghwa is settled beside hongjoong, they begin their trek up the tree
despite the late hour, you're still awake, sitting at the small desk in your room
the lights are off save the small lamp beside you and beside your bed
you're reading a book of poems that have been banned but your grandmother had snuck you before she died
you take a break to stretch and rub the knots in your shoulders when you think you hear rustling outside your window
you freeze, uncertain if you're simply imagining things
but when you hear a quiet curse followed by a hissed "shush!" you realize several someones are just outside your window
before you can react, two heads pop into view
you recognize them immediately as members of the black pirates, with their signature hats and masks
which makes you pause
you make eye contact with one of them as you're halfway out of your chair
there's something familiar in the dark eyes that makes your heart clench
the second pirate raises something, you assume to smash your window
but you don't get a good look before a maid enters, presumably to remind you of the time
instead, she sees the two dark shapes in the window and screams
when you look back, they're gone
but the alarm has been sounded and now the entire household is awake
your parents rush into your room
your mother is in a panic and your father is yelling at the top of his lungs to catch those pirates goddammit!
once your mother has gotten over the shock she fawns and coos over you in a way she hasn't since you were five and scraped your knees trying to learn how to ride a bike
once your father has ordered the guards to search the grounds high and low he crouches in front of you and holds you tightly in an embrace you haven't been in since you were six and had woken up screaming from a nightmare
you appreciate their gestures, but you know they don't hold the same warmth they once had
and honestly, you don't need their comfort now
but they stay with you for the rest of the night despite your protests
they call yunho first thing in the morning and tell him to pack a bag; he's moving in
your father makes an announcement in front of your home, stating who is responsible for the near-kidnapping of his precious child
yo and your mother stand behind him, her arm around your shoulder
yunho stands just off to your side, as stoic as ever
just hours later, the black pirates respond, explaining they were serious in their threats and this wouldn't be their last attempt
yunho is now with you all day, every day, usually in your large bedroom or in the equally large study that is exclusively yours
he maintains the same distance as when he was just your guard for outdoor excursions
just sitting in the corner of the room, keeping a look out
you fall into a pattern over the next couple months
he rises early and takes all the notes he can about the details of your home, the staff members and their backgrounds, and most importantly, your father and his job
once you've been roused and dressed and made ready for the day by a maid, you step outside of your room to find yunho waiting outside
he'll escort you silently to the grand dining room, where it's just you eating because your father is off at his office and your mother is busy doing whatever socialite mothers do and yunho has already eaten
after that, you head back to your personal study, because where else can you go now that the pirates have resurfaced?
the rest of the large house is more for show than for living
so you've made your bedroom and your study the only real "lived in" rooms
sometimes you have tutors come over to teach you whatever new history the leaders have declared the true and only story of your country's creation
or the same handful of approved novels and poems are brought to you to analyze because perhaps now that you're older you'll find new meaning in the words
or you'll practice the same handful of approved piano pieces because you've mastered them years ago but practice makes perfect and what if you're asked one day to perform for guests and you don't want to be rusty now do you
today, though, your mother gives you permission to go out to the market
it's been nearly three months since the incidence with the pirates, and they have once again grown quiet
she insists though on making it a short outing, just in case they have people watching
yunho supposes she isn't as air-headed as he thought; the pirates are always watching
after almost an hour of mindlessly wandering through the stalls and simply enjoying your time outdoors, yunho suddenly stiffens
because what is seonghwa doing here? he hasn't forgotten a demonstration, has he?
you notice yunho is no longer walking beside you and turn to ask him what's wrong
he insists he's fine, nothing's wrong, but his gaze remains glued to the spot where seonghwa was just a moment before
you start to turn to see what the heck has gotten his attention but he puts his hands on your shoulders, preventing you from seeing what has spooked him
a leather-clad shoulder bumps into you suddenly, sending you stumbling forward a few steps
you stand on your tiptoes to peer over yunho's shoulder to see if you can catch the rude person who didn't even bother to apologize
through the sea of people, you see a figure that seems to be wearing the same type of leather you glimpsed out of the corner of your eye
but is that bright red hair you see peaking out from under his black cap?
bright red, clearly dyed, hair?
yunho immediately declares you've been out long enough, it's time to head home, it's not safe out in the open
you try to argue, saying you've been out for barely an hour, you're in a crowd of people, what trouble could you get into?
but yunho is adamant and refuses to let go of your shoulders as he steers you toward the car
it's not until later that night you realize there's a scrap of paper in your pant pocket
in neat scrawl are the words: trust yunho
it's signed your pirate prince
you gasp because it's been years since you've heard that phrase
you used to say it with such fondness to your next door neighbor and childhood crush: park seonghwa
it was you and him and your other best friend kim hongjoong against the world
the neighborhood parents used to watch you three with such amusement and called you the cutest trio they had ever seen
the black pirates couldn't be...that's too much of a coincidence...right?
you go to bed that night with that note clutched to your chest, your heart hammering, as you ponder what it could all possibly mean
note: the member won't appear until the very end, so why not keep it a surprise? xD
masterlist | next
you're the only child of a high-ranked government official
so you must play by the rules
the strict, unforgiving rules
except you remember a time of music and art and freedom of expression
and you miss it
of course, there's still music and writings and theatre and art
but all have been approved by the new government
and there are so few pieces that have survived the purge
that everything gets old quickly
very quickly
you were never a problem child before the coup, and you didn't become a problem child after
you were one of the lucky ones
because your status rocketed upward, which is stark contrast to the majority of the population
at first, you enjoyed your new position
what ten-year-old wouldn't enjoy learning that they could now have anything their little minds had dreamed of?
but it didn't take long before your blessing turned into a curse
because now instead of comfortable clothes you could run around in and get dirty without worry
you're forced into stiff formal wear and shiny black shoes
you can no longer meet up with your school friends
in fact, you can no longer go to school
instead, tutors are brought to you
and teach you things that make your head spin
because weren't you just learning about the founding of the country and those who helped establish it?
so why are you now learning about these mean-looking men like they lived centuries ago when you remember it happening just a few years prior?
your bubbly, happy-go-lucky personality and your desire to ask questions quickly disappeared
not that your parents noticed, or maybe they just didn't care anymore
you're now a young adult
and still as cooped up as when you were a child
your room is larger now than it was back then, just as your house is larger now than it was back then
but it's a cage
you long to go out to the central market, where most of the trading is done for goods and supplies
but it's too dangerous, you're parents declare
because there's a new threat
(as if there isn't a threat to the government popping up every other week)
but from the way your parents whisper nervously when they think you can't hear them, this threat is something to take seriously
the threat of the black pirates
it isn't until after the third boisterous demonstration they take responsibility for that the central government makes a statement
it's printed across the front page of the only newspaper in the country in big bold letters
THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HAS DEFINED THE BLACK PIRATES AS TERRORISTS
beneath is a grainy picture of eight figures garbed in black, their faces obscured by black spiked masks and wide-brimmed hats
beneath that is several paragraphs worth of information about what they have done and how they are a threat to this new peaceful society
on the back page is a wanted notice
in big bold letters: DEAD OR ALIVE
the black pirates...
the name flashes you back to when you're eight and playing make believe with the neighborhood children
you pretend you're pirates, enjoying the romantic idea of a wide-open ocean and endless possibilities
just you and your best friends against the world
but back then you were winning battles with your wooden swords
now, it's a cruel world, where your actions have consequences
after the government declares the black pirates as terrorists, everything settles down
your mother finally says it's safe enough for you and her to venture outdoors
and when you finally convince her to let you go by yourself, you stamp down your excitement and instead rush upstairs to get dressed
you know your mother would never allow you to step foot outside the house unless your appearance is perfect
so you stuff a change of clothes into a bag and then hurry out of the house
you blend in with the other marketgoers in your unapproved outfit
which is how you overhear the hushed conversations and nervous whispers about the black pirates
but it's not that the people are nervous about the pirates themselves
they're nervous they'll get caught supporting them and their actions
it doesn't surprise you
because you secretly wish they had stuck around as well
almost as if you willed it, the first inkling of the black pirates in weeks ripples through the market that day
someone bumps into you but doesn't stop to apologize
you just see the back of their head as they weave through the busy street
in your pocket, you realize, is a leaflet
and you see others have received them as well
ducking behind a stall, you get your first good look
the majority is taken up by a design of a big red A that extends past the circle that encloses it
on the left starting at the very edge is a T followed by an elongated E that stops at the A and then continues on the other side, where it comes to a stop at a Z on the far right
beneath are the words HEARTS AWAKEN LIVE ALIVE
and you feel your own heart flutter
you bite your lip to keep from grinning because the words stir something within you
hope
you school your expression before carefully folding up the leaflet and slipping back onto the main street
over the next few weeks you manage to slip back to the market
the whispers of the black pirates continue
no one is sure what their next big demonstration is, when it will take place, where to expect the chaos
but everyone is anticipating with bated breath
the whispers eventually makes its way to your parents and the others within your new circle
it's now significantly more difficult to sneak out
so you take every opportunity your mother lets you to go on errands
at first your parents are against the idea of you outside
but you manage to convince them that as long as you take a guard with you, you'll be safe
which is how jeong yunho comes into your family's employ
summary: you were a child when the government fell to the hands of extremists. now, thirteen years later, you're reminded of the vibrancy of life by an insurrectionist group calling themselves the black pirates
group: ateez
member: ot8
genre: dystopian
word count: 2.6k
warnings: posted with each part
pairing: tba
note: of course this is inspired by their kingdom stage! it kinda started off as just a little blurb, but it got away from me, and now i think it'll be a fairly full length thing. for now, what i have written is just in the bullet-point format, but that might change in the future
if you’d like to be added to the tag list, let me know!
mingi's back 🥰🥰🥰
you can read seonghwa’s part here and san’s part here
group: ateez
member: mingi feat hongjoong and jongho with seonghwa, yunho, yeosang, and wooyoung
genre: fluff 🥰
word count: 1.5k
warnings: none
pairing: mingi x gn!reader
note: i have no idea what goes on during a photoshoot and i have no idea what exactly a photographer does 🤷🏻♀️
also is this even rich boi au? or just fashion mingi au?
the type of new money maker who doesn't change a bit
he's just like i have this money but i don't know what to do with it so i guess i'll just leave it in my bank account
childhood friend yunho urges him to invest it
(and then prevents mischievous wooyoung from talking mingi in investing it all on a nonsense app that everyone knows is going to flop)
(yeosang almost manages to trick mingi into signing a fake contract that would sign over like a quarter of any future earnings to him)
(but seonghwa swoops in and scolds yeosang while explaining to mingi why you don't just sign whatever your friend tells you to)
(yeosang totally doesn't just shrug and say "at least i didn't ask for half)
earns his money through fashion
bs-s his way through school not because he's a terrible student but because he much prefers the practical side of things versus the theoretical
befriends double major theory sunbae hongjoong
collaborates during finals and earns high marks and praises
when hongjoong graduates he goes into music instead of fashion
but is always there to lend an ear or an eye when mingi is working on a project
whether for school or for himself
helps mingi generate buzz by wearing his designs to the studio
which piques the interest of the musicians and singers hongjoong works with
starts off in a small studio space creating custom designs for hongjoong and his friends
but as more and more people take notice of mingi's work, his studio and business grow
eventually is able to expand into marketable clothing
which is how he meets you
you're a photographer who has worked with hongjoong before and agrees to do a photoshoot at a discount
you arrive at the studio early to set up
mingi is already there with hongjoong, who took the day off to help
hongjoong introduces you to mingi, who is tall and lanky and looks like he could be a model himself with his proportions
but he has a sweet smile and a child-like innocence that makes you want to protect him from the every-man-for-himself world he's about to dive into
you have an aura about you that puts mingi to ease immediately
he's sat in on photoshoots before, where the models and the deisngers and the photographer don't see eye to eye and it takes hours just to get one good set up because no one can agree on a vision
but you take the time to look at all the clothes and listen to what mingi has in mind
once the models arrive it's go go go
you pose the models and make suggestions on hair and makeup but you always get mingi's approval before you start snapping away on your camera
it's the quickest, most painless photoshoot mingi or hongjoong have ever witnessed
you're the last one to leave besides the two men and you give them your card again and tell them to contact you if they're ever in need of your services
as mingi's brand grows, so does his need for photoshoots
he holds onto your card and you become the only photographer he'll work with
not in a snobby, demanding way
just in that he loves your work and your work ethic and maybe he loves you a little too
you become an even bigger success as people take note of the amazing shoots and their equally amazing photographer
soon you're working nearly nonstop, and it becomes increasingly harder to book you
the first time you're unavailable for a photoshoot for mingi, he pouts about it for the longest time
hongjoong refers him to another photographer that he assures his taller friend is just as hard-working and dedicated as you
and mingi has to agree that yes, this new photographer is good
but they're not you
at first mingi tells himself he misses your work, your dedication to your craft, the effort you put into making every photoshoot your best shoot ever
but as you miss more and more of his shoots, the more he realizes he just plain misses you
your upbeat but calm energy
the cute way you furrow your brow when you're thinking
the fierce look of determination you get when you're on the verge of capturing something magical on your precious camera
the satisfied expression when you get the shot that only lasts a moment because you have more perfection to capture
your exhausted but sweet smile as you say goodbye at the end of a long but satisfying day of work, when you remind him he has your number if he ever needs your services
hongjoong is in the back shaking his head because you're clearly hinting at something more but mingi is just too oblivious to notice
finally, after months and months of being booked solid, there's a hole in your schedule
when mingi hears about this from a friend of a friend of a friend, he nearly rushes his next line, hoping he can catch you while he still can
hongjoong walks in on mingi running around his workshop like a chicken with his head cut off and demands to know what all the fuss is about
his voice half muffled because he's buried under a pile of silk, mingi yells that he needs to make sure his next line is ready asap so that you can do the photoshoot
hongjoong rolls his eyes and shouts back that you're taking a two month break because you had been run to the ground with the constant back to back shoots
mingi reappears from the mountain of silk and just says "you couldn't have told me that sooner?"
"how did i know you'd try to rush your next line?"
anyway mingi takes the two months to make sure everything is perfect before the next launch and you take the two months to catch your breath and search for someone to help you
you hire jongho, a young, fresh-outta-college photography major who has admired your work since before you got famous
he's just as dedicated and hardworking as you, and you're satisfied that he understands the importance of the care you take in every shoot you do
when mingi is ready for his next clothing launch, he thanks whatever higher power there might be that you're available
(he doesn't find out until years later that hongjoong made certain mingi was your first client after your break)
(he only pouts about it for like a day)
mingi is definitely only mildly disappointed when it's not you who steps through the door but this buff kid who hauls in all the equipment with like just his pinky
mingi definitely doesn't nearly knock over jongho as he's setting up the camera when you walk in the door
(he also completely misses the deadpan stare jongho gives him and the muttering under his breath - something about how he could bench press like ten of these walking bean stalks)
you introduce mingi to your new assistant/apprentice jongho who mingi is definitely not even slightly scared of because wow his hands look like they could crush watermelons - effortlessly
the photoshoot runs smoothly, though jongho is very tempted to flick mingi very solidly in the forehead because why can't this tall bean stalk stop staring at my boss like a creep
as everything gets packed at the end of the long but successful shoot, jongho definitely does not purposefully trip mingi so that he crashes into you
mingi turns bright red and after apologizing over and over he glares at the young photographer who just smiles and shrugs innocently
you laugh it off and assure mingi you're fine and joke that it's a good thing you didn't have a camera in your hands otherwise you would definitely be sending him the bill
"or you know maybe i would find other ways for you to pay me back" you continue while looking mingi square in the eyes
his eyes go wide and his mouth falls open in shock and you laugh gently at his absolutely astonished expression
jongho can be heard snickering in the background but mingi doesn't care because did you just--are you saying--sorry what now
you smile at him and remind him that he has your number if he's ever in need of your services before waving and heading after jongho
the next time mingi calls you and asks when you're available you tell him that you're just finishing up a shoot and can be ready in a hour if that works for him
the san part to this fic which is inspired by this post by @warmau
read mingi’s part here
group: ateez
member: san feat mingi
genre: fluff? rich boi au
word count: 1.8k
warnings: a few curse words
pairing: san x gn!reader
made his money fast and dirty. like really dirty
the only rich people he knows and hangs out with regularly as sketchy as hell
the old money people look down their noses at his new money but still secretly want to buy his brand because wow it makes a lot of money
has the same dressing habits he did before he got rich, just with pricier clothes now. must pricier
those dressing habits: wears whatever he wakes up in or is pulled onto him by a frantic and always worried bodyguard wooyoung
usually what's pulled onto him is just as wrinkled and questionably clean as the clothes he wore to bed
*seonghwa's voice from that one daily log* young and rich
bling bling bitch
f-leeeeex
aka jewels in his mouth, chains worth more than a small country around his neck, rings on rings on rings
has about ten cars that he takes turns driving
all flashy speedy sports cars he enjoys weaving in and out of seoul traffic
a tattoo under his ribcage that says something no one but he understands the worth of
really only asked what it means by some of the people he's let sleep over
got annoyed when people would ask him about it and then tried to pretend they understood what it meant
now when a sleeping buddy asks what it means, he just laughs it off and gives a bullshit answer
even though it kinda kills him inside because it holds such importance to him
scars from all the dangerous shit he pays to do
never ask him about those adventures tho. he will go on and on and show you a slideshow of pics he took and most of those pics will be engrained in your brain for the rest of your life and possibly into the next one
scars from all the dangerous insane people he also does (though those he doesn't have to pay for)
never ask him about those adventures tho. he will get a devilish look in his eye and then proceed to explain in near-excruciating detail how each scar came to be
so how did you, a straight-laced, by-the-books college student, get swept up into san's crazy life?
you're mingi's childhood friend
and as children you swore to each other you would be by each other's side, no matter what, through thick and thin
boy do you want to slap some sense into child you
because when mingi gets swept up into san's whirlwind life, so do you
though you suppose there was some good that came of it
you met san, after all
it started out innocently enough
mingi has this brilliant idea he is convinced can make him the next san self-made millionaire
he just needs a loan
and san, understanding what it's like to start with nothing, offers to fund mingi
fine. great
except san isn't interested in being repaid conventionally
instead of asking for exorbitant interest or a large cut of shares, he asks for a favor
a simple favor, he swears
long story short: it wasn't a simple favor, and now mingi owes san more than just the loan
you don't find out about mingi's deal until after it's been made and he's gone through with the "simple favor"
you pace in your shared apartment, with mingi sitting on the lumpy couch with his head hanging low
you don't have the heart to curse him out
you never did
because who could yell at such a sweet angel?
but there's a first time for everything because what the hell was he thinking? why didn't he ask how he'd be expected to pay san back before accepting his money? who does this choi san think he is anyway? how does he have the money to fund a budding business while asking for crazy favors as means for repayment?
mingi, who has sat quietly through your ranting, snaps his head up and says in the most serious tone you've ever heard him use: "hope you never have that question answered"
his seriousness shakes you and you slowly sink onto the couch next to him and you whisper "what did you get into, mingi?"
things are quiet for several months after the favor is completed and as mingi prepares for launch of his business, you start to hope that that's the end of the choi san business
because you've done some digging after mingi told you what he'd done to secure the loan
and you can't help but be nervous
because this choi san guy suddenly came onto the scene with an obscene amount of cash and no one seems to really know how he earned so much so quickly
at first glance he's just an eccentric nuevo riche guy who likes to live on the edge and flaunt his wealth with flashy new things every other week and wrinkled designer brands
but the more you dig into him, the more whispers you hear about how he really makes his money
the few rumors that have been confirmed are sketchy as hell but nothing overtly illegal, but that doesn't bring you much comfort when you consider mingi made a deal with him
but the months drag on and still...nothing
you finally think that's the end of that
until you get home one day from class
you're exhausted
it's nearing finals and with summer just around the corner, it's practically impossible to concentrate on studying
you just want to take a long hot bath and then sleep for the next week
you kick off your shoes and step into your slippers before shuffling into the apartment, making a beeline for the bathroom
but you spot mingi sitting on the couch out of the corner of your eye and his posture is the same as the day he told you about san and it makes you stop dead in your tracks
"what's wrong?" you ask him slowly
he says nothing, just points to the black envelope that sits in the middle of the coffee table in front of him
you approach with trepidation and then grow nervous when you see that on the matte black surface, your name and mingi's are written in glittery gold script
you pick it up and turn it over and then sink to your knees when you see that on the glittery gold wax seal is the image of two mountains overlapped in such a way that makes them look like cat ears
you remember seeing that seal on the paperwork mingi had refused to show you even after he had told you about his deal
the mark of choi san
for a long time you and mingi just sit in silence
choi san confuses the hell out of you
there's the public image vs the rumors
both are outlandish but in very different ways
you abruptly get to your feet and with false bravado claim you just won't read the letter and go to toss it in the trash
mingi leaps off the sofa and uses his long limbs to scramble after you and snatch the ominous black envelope from your hand
"you have to," he insists
"i don't have to do anything," you insist back
"since it was also addressed to me, i already read it"
"then you've read it for the both of us!"
"it's a party invitation"
"so we just don't go!"
"i don't think this is something we can get out of"
you and mingi have a stare-down
you typically win, since mingi gets all giggly and blushy when he stares into your eyes too long
but he's determined and doesn't back down
with a huff you snatch the letter from him and pop the seal, which you see now has indeed already been broken
you understand mingi's insistence once you scan the letter
because the intention of the invitation is very clear: go to this roof party or else
"right, because i totally wasn't planning on studying this weekend anyway"
that saturday you spend more time than you care to admit standing in front of your closet
what do you wear to an eccentric millionaire's rooftop party?
when it gets dangerously close to the time you need to leave, mingi finally grabs a few random articles of clothing and tosses them at you
you huff but pull on the clothes because wow these actually go together how is mingi so good at that?
you and mingi are nervous the whole drive over and you're both reluctant to get out of the safety of the car
you finally gather your courage and drag mingi after you because you're both in this mess because of him he's not chickening out on you now!
you stand in front of the brick building with the glass front declaring it closed for a private event
a tall man stands at the door and as you and mingi approach, he asks for your invitation
you show him the black envelope and he unlocks the door for you before telling you to take the elevator to the top floor
you reach the top floor and then follow the arrows that lead you to the rooftop stairwell
as soon as the door to the roof is opened, mingi is whisked away and you catch the words "discuss some business" as you and he share startled looks
now all alone, you make a deep breath and glance around the roof
fairy lights are strung up, soft music is playing in the background, and flowers create a pathway straight to the neon bar...and choi san
he's wearing dark washed jeans and a purple button up with black leopard spots (that one from the vlive from say my name era with wooyoung and yunho) untucked with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and he's leaning against the bar sipping his drink and when your eyes meet he gives you a smirk you've only ever seen on a fox
you straighten your shoulders and approach him
once you're in front of him, you glance around at the empty roof
"so when does this party start?"
"do we need more than two people to have a good time?" that smirk is still on his face
"but there's all this space and all these decorations..."
he just shrugs and says "well i own the building, so it wasn't really a big deal"
with his drink in his hand he gestures to the seoul skyline and says "i also own that glass one and that tall one and see that construction in the distance? that's mine too. choose one you like and we can start a party there"
he looks back at you and a genuine smile crosses his lips and shows off his dimples and he leans closer and you find yourself unwilling to pull away
kaledo-art
2087
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