I Had a Dream About You

"Sorry about the blood in your mouth. I wish it was mine. I couldn't get the boy to kill me, but I wore his jacket for the longest time."   ──   "Little Beast" by Richard Siken.

[fatalmisery]

it's not sungha's best work. capturing the essense of another human being had never been his forte, the strokes of his paintings taking on a rather abstract approach, but the point of studying is to explore other areas of the same subject. while he wouldn't normally choose to challenge himself on this front, it's about time he does—what better way than to start now, with a companion he's still getting to know, bit by bit. conversations with wonhee have never been boring, albeit different than usual. it's easier like this though, no false pretenses and fake smiles in order to facilitate and insignificant small talk.

"i did figure that you're the type to keep going until you gain what you wanted," sungha comments, based off of the short time he has managed to acquaint himself with wonhee as a classmate, as an individual. "have i been boring you lately, then?" he asks, although there is no hint of malice or offence in the way he phrases his question. "i've never seen as myself as an entertaining person though." to any wandering ears, he sounds like a humble student seeking no praise to be sung in his name, but he uttered no lie. routine and order is all he needs to continue his day-to-day life, following a schedule he set for himself, like a robot following his own programming.

"i'm a little offended," he says, the only lie of the day. "being told i'm less charming than a rat hurts even my feelings, you know." he pauses for a moment, scanning his gaze over his efforts so far. in his opinion, it isn't up to par—but it's an unfinished piece, and sungha would have to keep going. "would you rather paint a rat instead of me?" he jokes, his tone levelheaded and calm, although his demeanor rarely strays from that state in the first place. "maybe that would be cuter, compared to me."

he moves to mix a few colors in his tray to achieve the one he desires, working slowly but surely. there's no pressure of a deadline, at least not yet. the blending of different colors is almost therapeutic to watch, but the serenity of the view is mildly cut short by wonhee's claims, which causes sungha to laugh a little. "i wouldn't call myself the nicest person around the block, but if a rat is smarter than me, i doubt i'd be able to pull off everything you're saying i'm capable of."

sungha hums though, not fully dismissing the light accusations that wonhee is making just yet. "i have no reason to pull such a grand scheme simply to get you to sympathize with me either. besides, eventually, that would only turn you against me once you break free from my supposed web of lies. i think making an enemy out of you would only disturb my peace in campus, more than anything." sungha peeks behind his canvas, catching a quick glance upon the other student. "i do apologize for not asking my own questions, i figured i'd learn more about you through the questions you ask, and how you respond to my answers."

once more, he returns his attention to the canvas. "i do wonder why you're curious though. am i someone that acts incredibly strange to you? too robotic? i've heard that comment before from someone else, though i always thought i was simply being a good student and establishing an easy-to-follow routine for myself."

[lovehighways]

when sungha asks if he's been boring lately, wonhee decides not to respond directly. instead, he shrugs one of his shoulders and smiles—listening as his new friend divulges that he doesn't feel entertaining, and that he's offended by earlier comments pertaining to rats. wonhee's not feeling any specific need to apologize to him or acknowledge his self-deprecation. rather, he chooses to ask another question. an annoying habit of his, sure, but more often than not, it works in his favor.

"have you ever interacted with a rat?" his query sounds inane when it leaves his mouth, which widens his smile a little. "my neighbor had one. they're actually quite intelligent. their cuteness is subjective, but they're honestly really cool little creatures." pausing for a moment, he turns back toward his canvas and hums. he eyes it for a few seconds, then decides it's time to start laying the foundation for sungha's facial features. carefully, he begins to map out the placement of his subject's nose.

focusing, he sketches a rough outline and nods along as sungha goes on with their conversation. "the thing is, i have a hard time believing that anyone is truly nice. well, actually, maybe they're nice, but they're seldom kind." with that, he sighs. he hates being so gloomy and cynical, but he can't help but feel like most people nowadays lack a sense of community. he's including himself in this, too. it makes him wonder if there's a deeper meaning in how unified people seem in this slightly individualistic era.

"good to know you wouldn't go to such lengths just to pull a fast one on me. also, you're not wrong. i much prefer to be the one to ask the questions instead of the one answering them. guess that'll make me a good therapist in the future..." maybe it's presumptuous of him to make such predictions, but wonhee likes to think that he'll get a lot out of his education; that he'll put all he's learned to work and be helpful someday.

that's his main goal, really. even now with sungha, he may be approaching this rather casually, but he does hope that he can prove that he's a safe space for him to talk about things. "i'm a curious person naturally. i wouldn't say you're too strange or robotic. well, some of our interactions have unsettled me a little, but not in a bad way. if anything, it's made you mysterious to me. i like solving mysteries." his intention isn't to be flirtatious, but he realizes that his comments could be interpreted that way. he's eager to see how sungha responds to it.

"has anyone ever told you that you have a nice nose?"

[lovehighways]

get you wild— make you leave prompt, sep. 2025

"they say, 'you're a little much for me— you're a liability. you're a little much for me...'"

wonhee remembers the first time he ever heard this song. he doesn't speak english, but the lyrics still hit him like a truck, one that speeds down the highway and impacts him brutally upon collision. he didn't need to know what all the words meant to understand her point; her feelings. the passion, the utter despair in her voice as she sings about having to rebuild herself time-and-time again after accidentally flying too close to the sun one too many times, is something he knows well. however, instead of translating his emotions into music and lyrics, he etches them into canvas and paper.

the song plays through speakers as he lingers in his home studio, going through old pieces that he can't decide if he wants to hang up on the walls or not. if he did, wonhee worries that they would only add to the unfortunately quite somber atmosphere of his house. it's no secret to anyone whose seen his work that it harbors a certain blue quality to it, and he's not referring to the color. if he were, it would be the hue of the deep, unsteady pool of water that his heart often sinks and drowns in.

as he cards through each painting and takes time to ponder between each of them, he eventually lands on one in particular that stings him a little extra in this moment. shockingly, he remembers working on this one. it was in the middle of the night just before sunrise when he finished it. admiring it back then yielded a similar sensation within his chest, but for some reason, it feels more heavy now because, even though time has passed and the world has moved forward, he's still stuck in the same place.

it depicts a pair of arms that are outstretched horizontally, their shape drawn out in charcoal and detailed with delicate brushstrokes of obsidian and onyx paint. they're reaching for something. the fingers carefully connected to the palms are clearly longing for someone to meet them halfway, but the way the elbows appear as though they're drooping slightly indicates they're getting weary. perhaps they've been waiting too long for reciprocation. though, there's another important meaning to this.

the arms are exhausted, but they still remain extended. they still yearn. they still crave to reach out and embrace someone, and to have that someone return their affection.

feeling tender, he decides to continue his selection later and turns off the music when the song ends. motioning to lie on the floor flat on his back, wonhee looks up toward the ceiling and inhales a deep breath. slowly, his arms coil around himself in a hug and in the next second, he rolls onto his side in a fetal position and lets his lashes flutter shut. it's hard for him not to feel like a failure whenever he faces the reality that, in truth, he is cause of his loneliness. wonhee is the liability, after all.

he's the one that burns too hot and scares people away. he's the one who gets angry at his boyfriends whenever he suspects their sights are on other people when they're out together. he's the person who launches into diatribes against his lovers whenever they trigger him, marring their once pure images into ones that are evil, horrific; vile. every time he finds someone willing to stay close, he loses control, so he loses them as a result—but regardless of his faults and flaws, he's still lonely, and lately, he's been convincing himself that he'll always, always feel this way; that no one will understand.

all he wants is for someone to understand. wonhee knows he can't beg for them to have patience with him, especially if he's hurting them—he's learning that in class and in therapy—but god... he just wishes that a man would stick around long enough to help him ride the tidal waves his emotions swirl up. he wishes he had a lighthouse that helps guide him home when he's lost at sea, in that vast pool of blue where his heart sinks. he's working on himself, and he hopes that all he's learning will be a cure-all, but despite his journey of growth, he still aches. he's still hungry for love, for stability.

until then, all he can do is better himself. luckily, wonhee refuses to give up.

[lovehighways]

need a spot? for dawson kim ♡

wonhee can't help that he's curious. curious about people, about the world; about the trends going on in the society around him; about how testosterone works wonders on a man's body and turns them into living, breathing statues of david if they apply the proper amount of effort. his curiosity is largely why he's even here at the gym in the first place. if it weren't for his friend, dj, he probably wouldn't dare show his face in an establishment like this. not only has he never been a fan of more traditional forms of exercise, but the truth is, workout centers are seldom safe places for guys like him.

as he's someone that has never been able to hide his queerness, the instant he's perceived by the other men in the weight room, he can physically feel a shift in energy; how now, they're the ones perceiving him in a way that unveils their insecurities, and well, insecurity can bring out the absolute worst in a man. whenever their minds sink into the abyss of their own fragile masculinity, their simplicity forces them to "prove" themselves. whether that be by hurling insults, making threats, becoming physical in the worst ways... it turns them into beasts.

this is something that he also knows quite well because, sadly, at the end of the day, regardless of his own experiences and how they color his world view, he, too, is just a man. he has also become a beast in certain situations, even if his outbursts and insecurities are written in a different font. it's a maddening head-space to be in. however, he's trying not to let his train of thought and internal dissection of the male species distract him from his new pal, so when he catches himself drifting inward, he snaps himself out of it; his gaze refocused on dj... specifically his arms, because of course that's where his eyes go.

sighing, he turns his sights away for a second, largely so he's not caught staring. "how often do you come and do this again?" he asks, knowing that he's been told already, but he definitely needs a reminder. "i've always been told that you should, like, give your muscles a break so they have time to heal and grow, but i guess if you work on arms, chest, and back one day, the next day, you just focus on legs, thighs, and all that, right?" wonhee feels like he's speaking a foreign language and laughs at himself.

"look, i'm sorry if i'm making you repeat yourself a lot, it's just... i'm more the type that phones it in and does some yoga at home, or like, goes on a walk around the neighborhood if i wanna be active."

[dragonshq]

Looks like three months have flown by already.

We know it sounds repetitive at this point, but when we first opened we never imagined the community would grow into what it is today. Thank you for your continued support, creativity, and dedication to making this space thrive. We’re so grateful to everyone who has been with us since the very beginning, and to all the new faces who have joined along the way.

For the three month anniversary, we’re introducing the Scrapbook Meme. Think of it as a keepsake for your muse: fragments, doodles, and little memories gathered from their time at Yeonhwa so far. By reblogging this post, you’re opening the door for others to send you emojis from the prompt list, and you can answer however you’d like: through writing, headcanons, edits, moodboards, whichever way you’d like. It’s open-ended and meant to be as creative as you want!

This meme will run from September 20th to October 4th, which will give you about 3 weeks to reblog. If you choose to participate, please ensure that you send a question to everyone who has reblogged the post as well, whether this be on your character’s account or on anon. Once again, thank you so much for the amazing three months and we hope you have fun with this meme!

📸 — A candid photo or photos. 🧸 — A doodle or margin note they’d make. 🍜 — A favorite food memory worth recording. 💌 — A letter to your “day one” self. 🖇️ — A receipt, object, or little thing you’d keep as a memento. 🌙 — A late-night moment you’d scribble down. 📝 — A secret written and then crossed out. 📷 — A snapshot of your favorite campus spot. 🎂 — A wish written for the next three months. ☕ — A drink order that defines you right now. 💡 — A random idea or half-thought scribbled down. ✨ — A memory that feels like a movie scene. 🐇 — A superstition, ritual, or lucky charm. 💤 — A dream or daydream you’d jot down. 🔮 — A prediction for what’s next. 🕊️ — A page that feels blank. Describe why. ✈️ — Something that made you feel far from home. 🏠 — Something that made you feel at home. 🥂 — A celebration. 📂 — Something you’d want to hide between the pages. 🧷 — A messy scrap, something torn or crumpled. 🍭 — A small indulgence or guilty pleasure. 📍 — A map, doodle, or set of directions to somewhere important. 📮 — A letter you’d never send. 🎁 — A gift from someone. 💭 — A freeform slot. Sender can come up with their own prompt!

[enhypendata]

SUNOO for ARENA HOMME+ (October, 2025)

[lovehighways]

[lovehighways]

back to friends for lee ji yul ♡

wonhee always has a hard time sleeping whenever he isn't in his own bed. it's one reason he hated having sleepovers as a kid, and it's the primary reason he's not fond of this camping trip either. whenever it comes time to retire, all he can do is stay up and think about how much he misses home. nothing beats the familiar scent of his blankets and pillows, the mattress that perfectly cradles his curvature, and the silence. that, and sharing a space with a bunch of other people is often overstimulating for him, so it makes it hard to truly settle into a restful slumber. suffice it to say, he's tired.

after tossing and turning for who knows how long, he decides to get up; noticing that it's still early enough in the morning for it to be dark out. it takes him only a few moments to put some clothes on, gather some of his things and head out the door, and because he hasn't spent a lot of time at the lake, that's where he'll go.

wonhee's largely been using his time in nature to paint, but the downside to that is that he's not taking the time to actually admire its beauty. he's too focused on translating it to a canvas. he's eager to change that this morning, but his plans of spending this time in solitude are interrupted when he notices that someone's already beaten him to the punch... and of course it's someone he recognizes immediately. the individual's identity rouses a sigh from him, one that's both pleasantly surprised and disappointed.

his feeling towards lee jiyul are complicated.

however, the disappointment is mostly because he knows he can't smoke a cigarette now. resigning himself to his reality, he wanders over to the other man and plops down beside him. there's enough distance between them to showcase their status is just friendly nowadays. he doesn't want to get wrapped up in emotions though, so he interrupts his train of thought by breaking the silence. "hi." his voice is soft, quiet, like usual. "i, uh—wasn't expecting anyone else to be out here at this hour, but i guess it makes sense that it would be you, of all people."

there's a part of him that's tempted to lean his head on his shoulder, but he refrains for the time being. "can't sleep either?"

[r4bbitsrun]

this is, hands down, the nicest restaurant that ilseong has ever stepped foot in. he finds himself awestruck, gazing at their surroundings—the brilliant decor, the tabletop candles, the perfectly-polished waitstaff—and thinking that this is what romance is supposed to be. this, this, this. nara across from him, the epitome of beauty. a simple word from her snaps him back to attention immediately.

he looks at the scene on the table, pretty art, pretty appetizers. "it is," he agrees easily. he doesn't share the sentiment of thinking it's too pretty to touch, but he shares her hesitation for other reasons. not wanting the night to progress, namely. wanting to stay here, with her, because he doesn't hold high expectations for the future. he chalks it up to luck that he's here with her tonight, not any personal kind of charm, and luck always runs out. the moment feels fragile.

but she reaches out and touches him. a welcome disturbance in the peace. it's almost embarrassing to be noticed—exciting that she'd recognized a difference from the one other interaction they've had, scary that she might think he'd tried too hard. does he look unnatural? does he look unpracticed? she gives him no reason to think so, but it's easy to feel inadequate in front of her. knowing she has other pursuers, knowing they're nothing like him. he relishes the fleeting touch. "thank you," he murmurs, deeply sincere. "it's just styled differently." styled, period. he'd tried to look good during yeonchella, but it hadn't been an easy task between camping and the heat.

"yeonchella was... something. i'm sure i looked crazy when we met," he suggests, smiling at her with something akin to sheepish amusement. he's not looking for reassurance—he knows it's true. it doesn't matter, anyway. what matters is that she'd still given him a chance.

he takes a long moment to look at her in all of her opulence. eyes drifting to her shoulder, the fabric resting on it. he meets her gaze again quickly. "you look really nice, too. that color looks great on you." spoken with a slightly larger degree of ease. he's settling in, slow as it goes. finally, he reaches for one of the tartlets, fingers hovering overhead. "shall we...?"

[lovehighways]

"i... wouldn't say you looked crazy," nara replies, guiding her hand back to her lap. "you looked good enough to get me to hangout with you. after i got home that night, i kept thinking that your approach felt like a movie. like, in a good way." the tone of her voice is warm, soft, just like the candlelight that paints them. she hopes that some reassurance helps him relax into their environment, as she can tell that he seems somewhat tense. it's not like she can blame him for possibly feeling that way either. "it definitely left an impression."

when the compliments are returned to her, she beams; happy to be noticed. "you think so?" she asks, gazing down at the blush-pink slip dress she selected for the night. it hangs off of her stunningly, the silk fabric reflective and romantic in a way that's almost begging him to lay his hands on her, which is partially why she chose it. "thanks! according to a friend of mine, i'm a bright summer, so cool pastels are meant to work best on me. good to know i can trust their advice." nara laughs, then follows his lead by picking up a tartlet, too.

"mm!" she hums in agreement, nods, then takes a bite; careful enough so that no crumbs remain stuck to her lip-gloss. the instant the flavor settles onto her taste buds, she coos in delight. "wow...." she doesn't waste time going in for more, finishing it off. now, her fingers search for the handle of her mug, washing down her food with the tea—an absolutely perfect combination. "that was incredible... i wish there were more." scrunching her nose, she laughs once more.

the attention to detail here is one she can appreciate. so far, the restaurant is doing a wonderful job. "i have a feeling that i'm going to be wowed by every course. there's nothing i love more than good food." using her comment as a jumping off point, she leans into him; curious. "what's your favorite type of food? ooh—or your favorite meal?" this answer to this question always says a lot about a person, at least in nara's opinion, so she's eager to hear his response.

[lxckystrike]

in his completely unbiased opinion, there’s no better live sporting experience than a football match. nothing quite like playing under the bright lights in a packed stadium and vibing with a hyped out crowd which rises and falls with every dazzling move or pass, bemoans every missed shot like a lost firstborn child and breaks out into fevered frenzy with every make. the atmosphere resonates a passion enough to make even his tired soul yearn a little, even in his n-th hundred time walking onto the pitch.

but begrudgingly, jinyoung must admit that baseball in korea was making quite a case for itself. an exceedingly pleasant spectator experience; if you weren’t a diehard or actively seeking to shorten your life expectancy, then baseball was a completely acceptable and enjoyable alternative. fun and punny cheers led by full blown cheerleading and pep squads, an endless variety of food and drinks, and a pace of play slow enough to accommodate friendly chitchat.

it was also novel to be at jamsil for once watching the show as opposed to being it. and he felt particularly lucky tonight to be lodged in arguably the best seats in the house with a date he had also largely lucked into. some combination of siri recommending he share with her, of all people, a reel of 'chiropractor asmr' which he fat thumbed and hit 'send'; and then had to make a pathetic attempt as explaining why he was up at 3am watching people get their necks cracked — and 'oh, by the way, did you want to hang out some time?'

somehow she says yes and comes back with a wonderful date idea. honestly jinyoung is intensely suspicious because it was as if the universe was tossing him soft balls for once, as opposed to the wicked knuckleballs and curveballs he was long accusomted to having chucked his way.

“oh. thank you,” he responds simply, but his his voice is light and bright. he’s always been pretty good at taking compliments, not too shy or awkward about it when he’s in the right mood. putting on a neat grin, he turns in his seat, in some ways offering his face to be examined at a more direct angle, but he also just wants to look at hers. the corner of his lips twitch slightly. “i’d tell you the same… but you always look good. no ‘clean up’ required.” that made more sense and sounded better in his head. again, fine at taking compliments; maybe not too natural giving them.

“but yes, let’s order. the chicken sounds great, and i'll definitely have a beer with you," he says with a light nod. well, it was chicken and beer -- an undefeated combo. "so do you come to baseball games often? your spectator sport of choice?"

[lovehighways]

she smiles at the compliment he gives her, glad that he seems to appreciate the efforts and lengths she goes to in order to maintain her aesthetic. as brutal as it can be, the world is just easier on a person when they're attractive. that's a reality that her mother taught her early on. while she was never held to immensely high standards or forced into a box she didn't want to be in by her own family, she took that advice seriously, holding those words near her heart, and has seen many rewards by heeding them. however, that doesn't mean there aren't downsides that come with being the prettiest girl in the room. nevertheless, she still deems self-care important for all.

thankfully, it seems like jinyoung does, too. that seems inherent for athletes though. with how active they are, they're naturally building their bodies up to a level of physical wonder that aids in appearances. taking this moment to continue her gaze at the man beside her, she lets her pupils pay close attention to his jawline, the length of his neck, the strength of his arms, and the shape of his hands... easily noticing that he definitely works hard to look incredible. sighing to herself, she finally turns her face toward the field and tries hard to stop envisioning what he looks like without a shirt on.

"you're cute," she coos, offering a grin. "i'll order our food!" taking a moment to select their desired items on the app, she sends it in then kicks back, settling her attention onto him once more. "i've been to my fair share, yeah. when i was little, my dad sometimes would get invited to throw the first pitch at the games and he would always bring us along. my mom's done it before, too." she loves her parents, but feels awkward talking about them. reminding people that they're celebrities is daunting, but she feels like jinyoung won't think much of it. she hopes he won't anyway.

"i'm guessing that you've always been more interested in football, but what about you? do you have any fun memories watching baseball?" it's a favorite pastime of many people in the city, so she'd be a little shocked if he says he's never been to a game before. "i have a feeling that once i go watch you on the field, my mind will change and i'll be much more invested in football, but you know." her tone is purposely teasing and affectionate, she wants to see what his response is.

just then, a server shows up with their chicken and beer, carefully setting them on the surface of the table before wandering off. the aroma of that delectable protein makes her stomach growl and she hums in delight, then hands jinyoung his frosted glass. "should we raise a glass to our date? i really am, like, so excited to be here with you. i just know we're gonna have the best time."

[emisoras]

Visit Original Link

[lovehighways]

it's very me to post a plot call right before an event gets launched... i think it happened last time, too. 🤣 anyway—despite having posted one a few days ago (and i'll still reach out and follow-up with everyone who liked that post, dw ❤️), i'm here to throw my hat in regarding the newly announced camping trip! i think this is a great opportunity for me + my muses to get back out there, so below, you'll find a brief list of what to expect from both of them. nara is significantly more excited than wonhee is, but he's along for the ride. if you'd love to plot with either of them, please give this post some love and i'll reach out to you asap ✨!

nara.

nara loves nature. she loves being outside, loves to go hiking, loves to "glamp", loves being able to reconnect with a more natural environment and setting, especially since she's been raised such a city girl. some of her favorite memories were from family camping trips whenever her parents were on extended breaks, so she's honestly really thrilled to be starting the year off like this. 🥰

she adores to cook, so in regard to meal preparations for the college of business & economics, nara is more than happy to take the lead if no one else will. when her mom scaled back her work obligations to care for her, the two of them learned how to cook together, as her mom never really learned how to do any of that herself when she was growing up. nara sees cooking for people as a big show of love, so she takes it quite seriously and pours a lot of effort into it.

she is also incredibly resourceful and probably spent way too long packing to go on this trip in the first place, so if you need extra travel-sized versions of literally anything, she's your girl. it's the good stuff, too—high-end skincare, cosmetics, and luxury scents, etc. she never goes anywhere unprepared.

at present, no one is seated beside her on the bus rides to or from the campground, so if your muse would like to share a seat with her, by all means, let her and i know! she's a bit chatty and would love to bond, but she's also happy using the extra space on her seat for her handbag and other essentials, too. 🤣

i honestly think she's interested in almost all of the events planned. she'd love playing some volleyball, she'd love going on hikes, she'd also love luxuriating in the tree-houses. her exuberance about all of this makes her an easy choice for plotting... basically anything, she's honestly rather chill despite the princess-coded energy. she'd also love someone to take pictures of her for her ig if anyone wants to follow her around to do any of that. she'll almost definitely pay you. 💖

wonhee.

wonhee's here because it gives him an opportunity to get out of the city and he's not as thrilled as nara is, but he still wants to take advantage of what's going on. spf is going to be his best friend, he sunburns easily, and he's not thrilled about the prospect of running into any man he used to date or sleep with, but he's excited about spending time with any new ones if they're interested. 🤣

he refuses to do anything athletic, so the sports courts are a dead-zone to him.

odds are he's going to be spending a ton of time painting—alone. he's so introverted that he really doesn't need anyone to hangout with most of the time, but if you wanna be his model, or you wanna paint with him, or whatever, he won't say no. he just won't really think to invite you. nothing personal, just... tea.

he doesn't have a bus buddy yet and honestly doesn't feel like he needs one, but he'd make a pretty quiet person to spend the trip with if your muse just wanted to put on an eye-mask and relax. he'd even be okay if your muse sat next to him and talked at him the entire time. he's a better listener than he is a talker.

he's in room 201 and doesn't really care where he sleeps. he thinks it's best not to make things weird and just do what he's told, but you know. he realizes that other people will have stronger opinions about all of this and he doesn't want to add anymore stress to the matter himself. he just wants to know where he can lie his head down at the end of the day. the room is just a place for rest, after all.

regarding cooking dinners, again, he'll do what he's told. he's way less of a 'leader' type than nara is, so if someone in the psych dept. is bossing him around and telling him to chop veggies, cook rice, or fry meat, he'll just do it—easy peasy.

he also wants to investigate the mysterious knocking on the doors, too, if he knows about any of that. anything he can do to dip his toes into the macabre or supernatural, he's down. wouldn't shock me if he recommends doing a seance.

[groupth1nk]

Tyson isn't sure of how to respond to Wonhee's flirtation. at least...he thinks that's what it is. It has to be, right? His superpower is obliviousness; there's been many a time in his life when someone has had to spell it out letter by letter for him that they were interested. Regardless of whether or not Wonhee meant it, Tyson's face goes hot—he swears he can feel every little capillary widen one by one, a thousand little pinpricks across his cheeks and chin. He wasn't used to this sort of thing. "Oh please, why would you want to look at me?" he mutters, although the smile that parts his lips makes it rather obvious that he is beyond pleased. He's happy not to linger too much on it lest he burst into flame and burn this lovely house down to its foundation.

He's relieved that Wonhee brings up claymation.

"It's a lot of fun. Especially like...me mostly having done 2D stuff my whole life, and doing illustration now, it's like...it forces you to think in a different way, because obviously the kind of designs that read well in two dimensions don't necessarily translate one to one to three. And character design..." he realizes he's about to start rambling, and cuts himself off, "Sorry. I shouldn't talk over the movie."

It usually took Tyson a while to get to this point with friends, to where he was mister motormouth blabbing on endlessly, but something about Wonhee really set him at ease.

"And nah. I don't know how you could drive anyone insane. Especially me. I'm like...forged in the fires of insanity. I am insanity."

He says this as he reaches down to pluck a chocolate-decorated strawberry from the charcuterie that Wonhee had so graciously laid out for the two of them, bringing it up to Wonhee's lips. He'd be lying if he said this was the first time he'd ever let his eyes linger on his friend's lips, delightfully plump, and so impossibly pink as they were. He watches a little too intently as those lips open and close about the fruit at his fingertips, trying to ignore the way his body reacts, lest he give away to Wonhee that he's a bit of a gross pervert.

[lovehighways]

wonhee both loves and loathes that there's already a certain level of heat between them. while his impulsive streak is begging him to kick things up a notch and occupy the space on tyson's lap, he's trying his best to spritz that temptation with cold water and simmer down. they have a movie to watch after all and as it's one that his date holds near his heart, wonhee would hate it if his hormones dramatically changed the course of their itinerary, at least this early on in their night. there's no telling what the two of them will get up to later, but that's a bridge they'll cross then. for now, he continues to keep his hands to himself (mostly anyway) and admire the man before him; grinning at what seems to be a blush overtaking his complexion.

there's part of him that wants to make the rosiness creeping over the apples of tyson's cheeks even more saturated, but he refrains. love-bombing doesn't seem like the vibe, especially since the conversation is flowing in a different direction now. wanting to get cozier, wonhee readjusts his position on the couch so that he's leaning against tyson; part of his back and his head resting upon the other's shoulder and chest. mmm, he's so warm... he thinks to himself, sighing. "you're fine," wonhee reassures him, not wanting him to feel bad for being enthusiastic about his passions.

"the good thing about movies is that we can go back and re-watch them over-and-over again, whenever we want to." so far though, he's enjoying what's being presented on the screen. he's finding that he relates to the main character a lot. frankly, he's glad that there are some distractions to keep his emotions more level. the fact that norman was once very close to his grandmother, who now visits him in ghost-form, was not something he was expecting and it dredges up some blueness in him, but not enough to fully tank his mood.

chocolate covered strawberries are the perfect cure-all for his woes though, so when tyson finally guides one over to his mouth, wonhee motions forward to take a bite of it. his lips curl around the shape of it in a way that he's aware of and he hums at the sweet flavor once he starts to chew it. his sensuousness makes him appreciate the taste of it in a deeper way, adoring the blend of rich dark cocoa and sweetly tart berries coming together on his tongue. "those are so good..." he lilts, glad that he thought to grab some. totally worth the splurge.

sadly, keeping his temptations at bay becomes exceedingly difficult when he notices that there's leftover remnants of chocolate on tyson's fingertips. "oh no," he muses, then acts. maybe it's a little too bold of a move to make, but wonhee decides to seize the moment, reaching a hand over to grab onto his date's. carefully, he brings the other's fingers to his mouth and mimics his motions from earlier, but now, with tyson's fingertips; suckling gently before pulling back. "there, all better. wouldn't want any of that to go to waste."

now, he waits for his senior's response. does he think what he did was gross? was he into it? will that break the dam on the tidal wave of hormones that they're both potentially feeling? wonhee has no idea and the ball is currently in tyson's court.

[grimbound]

"important, no. not yet at least." the last few words linger between them like a silent promise—a promise that lucas is certain to break. "but interesting? interesting, yes."

he doesn't mean half the things he says when he's talking someone up. sometimes, it can be obvious with a little smirk, all smug and full of shit. but other times, it's harder to tell with how he puts a spotlight on them, how he pins them with the intensity of his stare, unblinking and unyielding, as if he can't miss them for a second. this is how he looks at wonhee now.

wonhee is interesting. that much is true. he's quickly proving lucas's initial impression of him wrong; he's not awkward, or shy, or really trying to hide. if anything, he's presenting himself as a bit of a challenge.

lucas likes a challenge.

a stranger brushes up behind him. "mind if i—"

"sorry, my bad." lucas shifts out of the stranger's way, using that as the perfect excuse to move closer to wonhee—but not too close. he leaves just enough room to remain cordial in the public eye. his hand tells a different story, though; it rests at the edge of the refreshment table, having inched a little more into wonhee's space. this is how he actually plays, not brazen nor bold, but like smoke seeping in through the cracks. everything else is a distraction.

lucas holds his gaze for a second longer—and then he cracks. he breaks into a smile and a laugh, short. "i'm just messing with you. i mean no offense with the whole—" he makes a nonsensical gesture with his flute. "—psychoanalysis thing. my therapist does that a lot, so thought i'd try my hand at it. she's the one who told me to check this out, get out there, get talking to people, so this is me doing my homework like a good client. you being my type is just a bonus."

he cocks his head, an easy smile still riding his lips. "so how far off was i?"

[lovehighways]

the instant that his new "friend" clarifies that it isn't attraction that brought him here, but another unrelated supposed interest regardless, wonhee half-rolls his eyes. it isn't that he doesn't believe certain people don't become attracted to others until they've gotten to know them more, but his reasoning still feels farfetched somehow.

it's human nature to approach those you find attractive in some way. whether it's mental or physical, there's still a level of intrigue there. however, instead of being overly suspicious like he's been, he decides to humor the other man; sighing, his own gaze now latched onto him with a sly glint, deciding to take another sip of his juice.

though, just as he's about to comfortably settle deeper into their conversation, lucas' warmth enters wonhee's personal space; claiming part of it, which he isn't sure how to feel about. on one hand, it's nice to feel some level of contact, even if it's not as direct as the words that have been used on him. on the opposing hand, however, he still isn't sure if there's a specific motive at play here. his cohort insists that there isn't, but there's just something about him that wonhee finds hard to trust.

"don't worry, i'm not offended..." his response is curt, but not rude, and it's largely because lucas continues to speak even after the fact. the revelation of wonhee being 'his type' causes yet another roll of his eyes, his vulpine glare finding its way back to his face afterwards. "well, let's just say i think you should definitely leave the psychoanalyzing to the professionals. it's an artform that you for sure haven't mastered or even scratched the surface of yet."

a laugh escapes him and he shrugs his shoulders. "trust me, i'm brushing up my skills with all that, too, but that's largely because i study psych. i don't just do all this for fun." wonhee teases, licking over his lips. "so, you say you're not attracted to me, but you did just call me your 'type' a second ago. if this isn't about how i look, then what is it about then? do you have an affinity for the mentally ill?"

it's a teasing remark, one that he emphasizes with a snicker, and he hopes that lucas picks up on that. "that, or are you looking for someone to help 'fix' you?"

[lovehighways]

l'amant secret for ma il seong ♡

the instant they're seated at their table, nara begins to question whether or not this restaurant is a little too romantic for a first date. taking in the interior, she is absolutely stunned by its particularly sultry aesthetic, resembling paris or rome.

each table is draped in a pristine ivory cloth that's drenched in candle light, and there's a rose in a delicate glass vase on every one. the art on the walls is sensual and modern, and the music further setting the scene follows a similar pattern. this is a place where established couples come to celebrate milestones. this is where anniversaries are spent and where proposals are made, she's certain of it, but there's nothing she can do about any of that now. the reservation was difficult to arrange on short notice and they're already here, so all she hopes is that their surroundings aren't intimidating.

after niceties with the staff and the presentation of their first course, nara beholds the petit l'amant secret—an artful display of paper illustrated and designed to mirror a café in france, served with watermelon and rose infused tea, as well as tartlets in the shape of red roses. "it's almost too beautiful to touch..." she remarks, scared to reach for anything just yet. "don't you think it's pretty?" turning toward ilseong, she offers a warm smile; one rivaling the glow of the light that surrounds them.

during this minuscule intermission before digging in, nara takes in the sight of her date. similarly to how she felt upon first impressions, she finds him endearing. maybe it's because of the earnest, yet slightly awkward way in which he carries himself. it's honestly quite sweet. his face is interesting to gaze at, too, but in a good way. his features are all so prominent, they all ask for attention, which is to his favor because it means people spend a longer time admiring him; appreciating his handsomeness.

"did you get a haircut recently or is it just styled differently?" she asks, reaching one of her hand's across the table to card through the front portion, setting each strand in place with her french tips. "it looks good, whatever you did."

[lovehighways]

perfect catch for yoon jin young ♡

the weather is slowly but surely getting cooler, and being that their first date captured a more relaxed, albeit spontaneous vibe, nara thought it would be fun to up the ante with date number two, so once a day was finalized, she worked to arrange a late-afternoon at jamsil stadium for them.

as someone who adores to create plans and itineraries, she took the helm after she and jinyoung agreed to meet up again. like most men, he seemed rather clueless in suggesting what they do, which she isn't holding against him yet, but that gives her the impression that he isn't exactly romantic in that way. they're still getting to know one another, so she's sensitive to his actions and words; studying them to help her paint a clearer picture of him, his intentions, and his heart.

for the most part, her read on him is one that's positive, but she can never be too sure. sometimes a man will dupe her into thinking he's a gentleman only to show his true colors later on. all she can hope is that jinyoung doesn't end up that way, but if he does, she supposes she won't be too surprised. it's pretty typical behavior, after all.

not wanting to create a dark cloud with her thoughts, nara focuses on the moment; enjoying being at jinyoung's side as they settle into their seats at the stadium. her dad was able to get them into the premium vip section behind home-plate rather last minute, which she was grateful for as she felt that they could still enjoy all the fanfare around them, while still having their own slightly more private space. physical touch is one of her prominent love languages and she wants to test those waters a little more, but only if he's comfortable with it, too. for all she knows, he's skittish with that.

after getting situated, she turns to him and smiles; carefully lifting the bill of her ball-cap upward so she can get a better view of him. "sweet seats, right?" she chirps, then pulls out her phone. "it gives the best view of the stadium, and we can order food from here too so we don't have to stand in line." maybe he's been here before and knows the drill, but the point still stands. "are you feeling hungry or thirsty right now? i love the popcorn chicken here, and i might even get a beer... but i'm a lightweight and can probably only finish one." continuing to lock her sights on him, she's quick to notice how good he looks beneath the stadium lights. only natural for a football player.

"you look so handsome, by-the-way. you clean up well."

[moonmancy]

the vibration on his nightstand drags micah out of the edge of sleep, the kind where dreams haven’t fully claimed him yet. he stirs, scrunches his face in groggy irritation, then grabs the phone — the spot so familiar by now, his body knows where it is without opening his eyes. it takes another moment for him to open his eyes, then he blinks, forcing his eyes to get used to the sudden assault of light. his irritation at being waken up fades as soon as he sees the name wonhee on his screen, and the words that follow. by the time his eyes reach the attached location pin, his body is already moving. 

without a second thought, he grabs a hoodie to pull over his t-shirt, phone still clutched in one hand as the other grabs his keys. he types out a quick reply — on my way. stay where you are — and pulls on the first pair of pants he can find, a pair of grey sweatpants, before he’s out of his dorm, making sure to lock the door before leaving. he doesn’t bother with the elevator, instead half-runs down the stairs, and is soon met with the cool night air blowing against his face. the area around the inyeon building is quiet — a few stragglers around the gs25 next door, as usual, but nothing out of the ordinary. he places his keys in his left pocket, phone still in his hand as he looks over wonhee’s location again. it’s not too far away — he’d get there in a couple of minutes if he had a car, but a light jog shouldn’t take him too long. 

about five minutes later, he’s slowing his pace, scanning the street as he approaches the location of the pin wonhee had sent. a faint heat lingers in his lungs, his breath coming in steady but deeper pulls as he eases back into a walk. it takes a moment for him to spot wonhee — the street halfway filled with people out enjoying the nightlife, but he spots his friend standing alone, looking slightly out of place if only for how shaken he looks. 

“hey,” he breathes out as he approaches him, still somewhat catching his breath from the jog here. he reaches his arm out for a gentle squeeze to wonhee’s shoulder, hoping the touch will ground him, calm him down. “you okay? did something happen?”

[lovehighways]

his clumsy hand reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes, and though his motions aren't as steady as they would be if he were sober, he's able to light one up—taking a long, slow puff once its properly ablaze. as he exhales, he paints the air around him; perfumes it, too, with a scent that isn't favored by many, but is one he's always been oddly fond of. there's a certain density to it that he likes, especially when he splurges and gets the ones with high quality tobacco. it's masculine somehow, and the spark of fire only adds to the sensual experience.

thankfully this isn't an all-day-every-day type of affliction for him. he only really craves one whenever he's stressed and his emotions are at a high. the ritual of a smoke break helps him regulate. is it unfortunate for his health? sure, but it is what it is.

suddenly, he's greeted to the warmth of micah's chest. he's careful not to get any ashes or debris on his senior as he leans into the embrace, immediately feeling relieved that he's no longer alone. that, and well, this type of physical contact just feels really good when you're buzzed. at least in wonhee's opinion. "yeah. don't wanna talk about it though." he replies, taking a step back to reclaim his space; exposing how rosy his cheeks are from all the alcohol.

"m'honestly kinda glad that i had some drinks. if i were sober, i'd be in a much worse state right now..." he supposes that that's a slight positive, shrugging his shoulders. wonhee then takes pivots toward the direction of his house, tugging micah along with him. "c'mon. i wanna go home... just wanna take my pants off and go to sleep." his oversharing is more charming than it is flirtatious. that's quite literally his plan for whenever he's back in his bedroom.

he's having to lean on micah to ensure that he doesn't sway too much as he walks, but he tries to be mindful of just how much of his weight he's putting on him. "did i wake you up? m'sorry if i did. if you want, you can sleep over? up to you though." he has no idea what his friend has planned in the morning, but he'd hate to send him back out into the cold after potentially pulling him out of bed. "ooh, i just remembered... there's leftover jjajangmyeon in the fridge. yessss."

[ladyophe1ia]

aquamarine ♡ a starter for @lovehighways {nara}

The entrance to the café was set back off of the street behind what appeared to be at first glance a random outcropping of bamboo, its stalks hanging lanterns that glowed a dim sunset orange and cast the place in a dreamy sort of ambience. Through this bamboo was a stone step path that took one across a pond into the place's chic interior, a blend of hanok and modern cafe. They were sat beside a floor to ceiling window that looked out into the greenery of the small courtyard the café was built around, the babbling of the pond fountain a pleasant underscore to the hubbub of other conversations and fusion jazz.

"Let me see." She says, holding out her palms so Nara could place her hands on them—the two of them saw the same nail tech and today they'd just so happened to have appointments around the same time, so Trina'd done a bit of shopping while Nara had hers done so they could make a date of it and grab something nice afterwards, "She really does a good job..." she mutters almost to herself.

Nara had an elegance to her that almost felt natural, and the relative austerity of her manicure was a reflection of that, Katrina thinks—she'd opted for a simple French tip ombre, the base color a pretty peach, in a ballerina shape—cute, but not too far beyond classic. To a lesser eye, a male one, Katrina is sure Nara's poise seems easy.

Katrina allows Nara to take her hands back, lest they start summoning spirits, and she warily eyes the black sesame fromage soufflé and pair of aggressively postable beverages that sat on the table betwixt them, sweating beads of cold water—she was very familiar with the concept of cutesy cafés that placed Instagram worthiness over taste, but she'd been burned on that front more times in her brief time in Korea than in almost two decades in the Bay Area. Hopefully this tasted as good as it looked.

"What's up with that guy?" she asks, stirring her straw and watching as the green of her matcha disintegrated into the cream, "Is that still a thing?"

[lovehighways]

nara feels a sense of pride as katrina admires her nails, happy to know that the two of them have the same great taste in nail technician. this is a woman that nara only recently discovered, but every time she requests literally any style or aesthetic from her, it's done with precise attention to detail, all while being infused with her own unique artistry. she loves to study her while she works, noticing how deeply focused she is and how intricate her motions are. it's a true marvel. her price isn't cheap, but nara doesn't care. she would pay literally any amount her tech charges as she consistently leaves the salon with a fresh set that isn't only a visual masterpiece, but long-lasting and durable, as well.

taking her hand back, she guides it toward her cup of coffee on the table; its cat-silhouetted latte art still intact. instead of lifting it for a sip, she simply drapes her fingers around it, letting the mug warm her palms. "isn't she the best?" nara muses, taking a gander at the space around them. she's only been in here once before, but after this visit, she's confident that her patronage will increase going forward. "i don't even remember how i found her, but i'm so glad i did. i'm glad you did, too! has she included you on her insta yet?"

nara has always liked katrina. they've not been friends for long, but the way that they've bonded within that time-frame makes it feel like they've been in one another's lives forever and ever. they have a lot in common, their personalities are seamlessly compatible, and somehow, their trains of thought always seem to be going in the same direction, as if they're guided by the same moral compass pointing them due north. hell, nara's mom even likes katrina, an honor that isn't bestowed upon many. her mother isn't easy to please. she only wants what's best for nara.

her attention is swayed by her comrade's question, one that immediately rouses a smile from her. "which guy?" she teases, even though she knows full-well who katrina is referring to. the last time they spoke, she told her about how she ran into jinyoung after practice and they went on a spontaneous kimbap date. "he finally texted me and we're gonna meet up again soon. he... is very much a man." she pauses to laugh and affectionately roll her eyes. "like, he's not a great texter, at least not all the time, and he seems a little clueless in general, but like, he's hot? i liked talking to him in person, too, which is more important than over the phone anyway."

pausing, she finally takes a sip of her beverage; humming at its flavor. "what about you? didn't you say something about a guy from japan the last time i saw you, or did i dream that?"