SWEET CHAOS.

❝ 1000 pink balloons dj with your favorite tunes ❞

[pinklisted]

MIN TAERI. the event planner. constantly planning kickbacks and parties. always looks for an excuse to celebrate. hit them up for a good time.

intro - about - background - plots - pinterest

[saltyxsweetx]

"trust me, i've attended plenty of parties in the past, taeri. it's not that i can't, it's that i choose my studies most days." after her parents had threats to remove her from school and place her home with her least favorite aunt, akari buckled down and made sure she was more serious about her work. tapping her pencil down onto the table, her eyes fell in line with taeri's then, curious as to why she bothered. "is there some point to this conversation besides you getting on my nerves?" despite her snarky question, her words came out delicately like she were still friendly. akari is finding the exchange quite annoying, but not enough to leave just yet.

"hmm, i'll definitely keep you in mind, taeri." there's an air about how the woman likes to pronounce the other classmate's name. "but if i happen to come back empty handed, i do apologize." keeping up appearances was important in front of the rest who were within ear shot. "so, don't be too disappointed." although, grabbing a shot glass just to spite taeri did sound like a good time to akari. it could be a constant reminder of her within taeri's personal space and that brought a wicked smile to the photographer's face.

"i never thought of it as a hard reset, to be honest. i just thought it would be nice to finally see my roots as an adult. i haven't been home since i was five." her explanation brief, since the other woman not need more ammunition or insight into akari's life. "have you ever been yourself? to tokyo?" her eyes finally flash away from taeri and back to her paper, keeping her core centered on her work. "because if not, i highly recommend it." another smile claims her lips, edges curling gently in amusement before she taps the end of her pencil eraser against the table.

it wasn't that akari necessarily hated taeri, they just didn't seem to mesh for some reason. not even since the first day they met, causing akari to see red nearly every time her space was invaded by the other woman.

[pinklisted]

taeri let the pencil tap and the word point sit between them a second longer than necessary. well, she didn't have a point when she first started the conversation, but now it was because it was annoying her that her point was getting twisted. "i never said you couldn't or that you don't," she said. "i'm saying you don't need it to have a good night. that's the point." she smoothed a stray hair behind her ear, patience worn thin but still somewhat intact. "you probably have your other hobbies and things that you do that'd make you happy, but for me, it's only worthwhile if a large gathering is involved. i breathe better when the room is loud." the corner of her mouth lifted in an attempt to keep something resembling a smile on her face. "and since you asked about the point. no, there isn't any point besides that and other the obvious one."

she let a small breath out, almost amused. "surprise me or don't. i'll be fine either way since i already have practically anything i could possibly need."she said, even, leaving very little for anyone nearby to read into. "but if you do bring something, i'll make room for it." she didn't add where. and she didn't have to explain herself since akari hadn't asked, and taeri didn't plan to volunteer the information either. it was easy enough to let people fill in the blanks when it suited her. who's to say she wouldn't "misplace" it within the first hour of receiving it, becoming a casualty of taeri's "scatterbrained" tendencies.

"then call it whatever fits when you get there. who am i to dictate what it is for you. hope you have safe travels whenever you go." she said, easy. this was as cordial as she could get with akari without having any hidden meanings in her words. taeri didn't bother trying to make herself seem bigger than she was; truthfully, she hadn't traveled much. she had a list of places she wanted to go but never actually made plans, thanks to a few private phobias she had no interest in naming out loud. "i haven't been," she admitted, "but i'm sure i will at some point." she added. she didn't need akari to tell her that it was a good place to visit. she had been told she should visit by a friend in the past, but she kept her feet planted in the same city she'd always known.

[0hw3llw0rld]

minhyun narrows his eyes at her, brow raised slightly "me? lose a bet? come on, i thought you knew me better." he says, unable to remember the last time he lost a bet. then again, some weren't worth remembering really, those were bad bets that he still won. "nah, been a long week you know. assignments, graduation looming, parents being parents." he can't help but shudder at the last part of that statement. horrifying talks to say the least, he needs more alcohol to forget them. asap. "yeah, that's what being so close to graduation does to you. plus, i haven't been to a party in a while, been trying oh so desperately to stop this." he shrugs his shoulders, grinning sheepishly "failing miserably actually. so you are right, not very big boy of me." 

he is being babied, he can tell, the way taeri had  to make sure he was okay and not pressured "if i felt pressured it would be you suggesting the round of shots, not me. come on, humour me a bit." he whines, it almost gets swallowed by the music in the apartment, but it's still evident at the way he pouts at her. "fine, b-game it is. you must remember, i am very good at this shot thing, my b game is most peoples a game." minhyun feels like he has to remind people, even if its someone he has been to plenty of parties with, taeri seems to forget that he has a reputation on this campus, involving parties, drinking games and bad decisions. oh well, he was still at uni it didn't matter.

minhyun is already dragging her to the kitchen, hand gently holding her arm, because that was where he last saw shot glasses and alcohol. he hopes that is still the case, but he listens to her speak, rolls his eyes about the ghost story "the bathroom should be safe space to cry in, come on, you can't scare them from the only place they can lock themselves in." though, maybe it was for the best, no needing to break the door down.. "hmm, so you were biased? unbelievable, i think she deserves to be re-evaluated by me so the results are unbiased." he jokes, grin pulling wide on his lips as he looks over his shoulder to taeri "seven is good, i take it. better bare minimum than throwing out a perfectly nice pair of shoes because someone spilled half a liter of grenadine on me." he almost shudders at the thought, he looked like he had walked out of a crime scene.

they make their way to the kitchen way quicker and minhyun finally lets go of taeri, picking up a few of the plastic shot glasses up and lining three each on the counter top "what alcohol would you pick then? since you know, only your pockets are keeping track of how much i drink?" he asks, hip leaning onto the same counter and waiting patiently.

[pinklisted]

taeri didn't say much at first. she just let him talk, listened with that kind of casual attentiveness she was known for: half-lidded eyes as her body leaning slightly with the motion of the room. but she caught every word. the way he said assignments, graduation, parents hits a little close to home, as she was in a similar spot years ago. though, from what she' knows minhyun is handling it ten times better than she did. those were memories she doesn't really want to think about. despite the unpleasant recollection of events running through her mind, her expression didn't change much. "ah, don't remind me of those days. this topic is not.. fun." if they weren't in the middle of a party, she'd be willing to share moments of her spiraling during her last year of undergrad. "but thanks for confirming it. 'm not even worried anymore."

taeri rolled her eyes like she hadn't just watched him pout through half that sentence. or the fact that he had a point. "you're really using your campus legacy to convince me of all people? you're lucky i'm feeling extremely generous, otherwise that'd be embarrassing," she replied, though her tone gave away the fact she was actually endeared by the display (if the smile that grew on her face wasn't enough of a sign). taeri had been to enough parties with him to know he wasn't all talk, and was well aware of that. it's just that her ego refused to admit that other people in the world can keep up with her. "if you tap out, i'm never letting you live it down. and your contact will be changed to the washed-up party king."

she let herself be pulled through the crowd as she listen to him critique about the ghost bit like it was some great injustice. "the bathroom is a safe space. for me. they can cry in their own bathrooms unless there's an excusable reason." the way she said it was borderline dry, but she wasn't as much of a hard-ass she was making herself to be. she understood that sometimes thing unexpectedly happen and may occasionally need to be somewhere quiet. and maybe she made it a joke because it was easier than talking about how she'd cleaned up numerous mascara stains or became a pseudo therapist for strangers. when he called her biased, she scoffed. "can you blame me for being biased?" she said. "it's not like i gave my opinion unprovoked. i was asked and i was honest!" her gaze flicked toward him as he threw back another comment, and she couldn’t help but grin. "i swear if i end up cleaning up anything remotely close to grenadine off the floor, i'll use you as a mop for manifesting it."

she watched him line up the shots as her fingers tapped idly against the edge of the counter, considering the options. "mm, let's not kill each other," she said, eyes scanning the bottles with mock seriousness. "we'll start with tequila, obviously." she moved to grab one of the bottles and poured carefully into the plastic cups. "if i wasn't in the middle of hosting a party, i'd mix a special shot for us. maybe next time?" she was skilled due to her past as a bartender, but she just didn't want to get spotted by another partygoer and have someone ask her to make them a drink as well. "and my pockets are only keeping track of how much alcohol i'll need to replace. you just could've picked for both of us." she smirked, but there was warmth behind it. she lifted a shot glass and met his gaze. "i'm ready when you are."

[typicaljisung]

he didn't really mean for any of this to start? it wasn't his goal when meeting her at that first party; every laugh, every little touch aided by alcohol and each easy moment his laughter eased into place. his goal hadn't been to break down the wall, to tumble into her bedroom and then right into her bed on the other side.

most certainly, it hadn't been the plan to do so twice, three times. how many times has it been? he didn't want to count because counting made it real, counting made him wonder whether it was bypassing coincidence or convenience and becoming pattern.

he hadn't expected her to show up... he was pretty sure yeonwoo was home, in his own room. and jisung had been spending the last 3 hours banging his metaphorical head against a coding brick wall that was his computer science homework. when he went to answer, he expected one of his other friends, maybe. or anyone? the landlord.

anyone but her. anyone but taeri, really. his speechless expression said as much. jaw a little slack, big eyes made bigger by his prescription glasses that were being half swallow behind his messy hair.

"noona," he blinked, then shook himself out of the haze, a somewhat soft smile fixed into place. "i... yeah, i do. what are you doing here?" there's chill down his spine at that tone of her voice, never before heard (he had gotten quite used to drunken slur, pretty sounds against his kissing lips and the way he imagined her to sound through text messages before he locked his phone not to answer). "i'm not ignoring you. don't say things like that." he sighs a bit, his smile cringing a bit crooked, (it is not the truth, but it isn't a whole lie, there's something more complicated to it, perhaps, not that it matters, not that it looks any better). "just come in, is that ok? come on, noona," he tugs at her arm gently, pulling her into the threshold and shutting the door behind her.

the common area of his dorm was quite clean, all things considered— certainly the way things tended to pile up when he was at his worst. he backtracks to her words, a sparkle in his eye that's doing its best routine to hide the odd discomfort he feels (had he upset her? there's no other reason she would find him, right?)— "so... make you only concern, huh." he reaches out and grabs her palm to pull her towards his bedroom (sparkling clean, overpriced and exceptionally beautiful pc set up, slightly rumbled bed from the frustration nap he had taken a few hours before cramming). "did you miss me this much?" he teases, quiet voice, stupid grin on his face as he closes the door behind her, shuts her 2 doors away from freedom and in with him.

[pinklisted]

taeri let him guide her into his room without a word, her feet moving but her body stiff with reluctance. the silence stretched on as the door finally clicked shut behind her, sealing her in with him and his stupid grin. she stood there for a second, arms crossed, eyes scanning the space. she could almost laugh at the absurdity of the situation. he was likely sitting here, unbothered, while she had spent the last day turning herself inside out, wondering why he wasn't responding. when her focus finally returned to him, she felt the irritation swell up again.

when he teased her about missing him, her expression flattened completely. "miss you?" she repeated in disbelief. "i did not miss you. i do not miss people who make me feel like-" she cut herself off quickly, biting her tongue before the words slipped free. instead she exhaled and put more space between them. "just... do not flatter yourself. i did not come here because i missed you. i came here because you're clearly ignoring me even if you say you aren't." she tightly folded her arms across her chest and tapped her fingers against her arm, the only thing breaking her otherwise rigid posture.

"so do not tell me you were not ignoring me," she continued, "i'm not stupid jisung. i know what it looks like when someone's avoiding me, and it's you each time it happens. i gave you the benefit of the doubt. i gave you time. more than i should've, really." she let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "i felt pathetic sitting there checking my phone for nothing. i do not care if you were coding, saving the world, or taking a nap. i wasn't asking you for a lot. you could have spared a second and sent one message. but you didn't. you chose not to." she moved again, drifting back toward the door this time as though she had already decided the conversation was over for both of them.

the thing that bothered taeri most was that she should have known better. she was not built for casual, no matter how hard she pretended to be. knowing that, she should have kept that friendship line in place. any situation like the one she currently had with jisung typically ended in flames because one person always cared more, and usually, it was her. and she always hated that it was her every time. being irritated by it was easier to handle than being hurt, so she focused more on the anger and frustration. "honestly, maybe it was a mistake. if this is how you handle it, then i regret it. i'd rather not have someone who's supposed to be one of my friends treat me like i don't exist." her eyes lingered on him, searching his face for any sign that her words mattered at all. "be honest with me, jisung. if this is too much for you or if you don't want to do that again, just say it. i will respect that. but what i will not do is sit around guessing while you disappear on me, only to bump into you at another party and end up right back in the same spot i am now."

[pinklisted]

hi... it's me again.... yes, taeri underwent a change as well..... a fc change and an adjusted birth year.

updated faceclaim: fromis_9's park jiwon → aespa's kim minjeong / winter updated birth year: 1998 → 2000

.......... i'll also be updating pages and graphics with the relevant information.

[pinklisted]

What's on Taeri's Phone? aka that one person who excuses her screentime as "networking and research."

Q&A

What is your muse’s favorite and least favorite social media app? Why?  some may think it's instagram, but she doesn't actually like it that much. she only uses it because she's had her account for over a decade now. i general, she's not that big on using social media for entertainment in general. if she had to say what was her favorite app, it'd be melon music. least favorite would be twitter since she could never really get into it.

What app or platform does your muse spend the most time on vs. the one they actually enjoy the most? she spends the most time on instagram because she keeps forgetting to turn off notifications so she clicks on each one she gets about new posts. she gets the most joy from her naver blog and playlists on melon.

What time of day are they most active online? she doesn't really have a set time for when she's active since she always has her phone on her. so, really you can see her online at any time of day as long as she's not preoccupied with something else.

Are they silent lurkers or actively engaging? extremely active for someone who doesn't really enjoy social media. it's not surprising to see that she's liked your post and left a comment within the hour you post.

What’s your muses screen time like, and how do they feel about it? she vows to cut back every sunday, and forgets by tuesday. but that's not because of her social media usage. she's someone who likes to live in the moment, so she's not live posting what she's doing. the culprit is the messages and the phone app. yes she's a chatterbox that likes to talk.

What was the last thing they took a screenshot of on their phone? a pair of slingbacks she wants. currently negotiating with someone to buy them for her.

What does their camera roll look like? her camera roll is very taeri. before and after party photos, group mirror selfies, outfit checks, table spreads, receipt screenshots, candids of her friends, and ten nearly identical boomerangs she gave up on.

If they had to delete all but one app, which one would survive? melon music. she cannot live without her playlists.

What app on their phone is the most embarrassing or least expected one? a karaoke app like smule. she doesn't even use it anymore but she rarely (if ever) deletes apps. so if someone has her phone and notices it... she has nothing to say.

How does your muse decide what/what not to post on social media?  is it cute? is it fun? does it sell the vibe she's trying to give off? if two out of three, post. if not, it'll never get posted.

How often does your muse delete or archive old posts? What’s the thought process behind those decisions? i think she lives without shame so most of her posts stay up as they originally were. but maybe once every three months she'll go back through them and see if everything still feels true to her. if not, she'll just archive the post and quickly put up another to replace it.

Does your muse use their real name and image online? If not, how different is their online persona from their real-life persona? yes, real name and face everywhere. sure, it may be a little embellished and the online version may be about 10% livelier, but it's still basically her.

finding taeri's notable social media accounts...

INSTAGRAM

for taeri, this app should've burned in flames with twitter/x, but there's something about being able to see what other people are getting up to in their lives without having to ask that scratches an itch.

@/from_taeri

her one and only account, and it's public for anyone to follow. she may have one of the most uncoordinated feeds on the platform. her posts are essentially her face + whatever is in her camera roll as long as it meets her criteria. captions are typically just emojis (she saves longer thoughts for her naver blog)

NAVER BLOG

not only does she like posting to her own blog, she likes reading others. on the rare occasion she stays in, her bedtime routine consists of tea and scrolling through other people's blogs until her eyes feel too heavy to keep open. she has memorized some of her favorite blogs and loves to check for new posts whenever she has the time.

it's her honest, personal diary-like corner that she's had since she was a pre-teen and never grew out of. it's filled with long, chatty posts with a pile of photos. the posts range from artists she was unwell about, party debriefs, to all the mini crises that weren't actually crises. since it was treated like a diary, it's very informal. it's honest, but it doesn't contain anything vulgar or offensive. the posts read as if you're on the phone with her while she's getting ready for bed. it's truly an interesting study of her character development, but she hasn't shared this with anyone and is her best kept secret.

TWITTER/X

THIS ACCOUNT DOESN'T EXIST yes, she deleted her account ages ago. if you think you found her, you didn't. there is no alt, no burner, nothing.

[r4bbitsrun]

“you… you…” mouse found himself grasping for words as he slowly pieced together the insane reality. he couldn’t help but wonder if everyone who slept over in taeri’s apartment got this treatment or if it was just another one of life’s wonders that only he got to experience. it was too early for this. or was it even still early? a part of him wanted to be annoyed at her, but the feeling couldn’t fully form—nothing but a loose idea faded out. he could be annoyed, or he could be grateful that she’d let him stay over. he could be grateful for the insinuation that he can stay for a while, and that it didn’t have to be the last time he stayed over. he chose to be grateful.

still, the situation was… outrageous. “i’ll… i’ll choose two,” he decided reluctantly. really, he was already planning on holding a grudge. not a real one, but substantial enough to eventually remind taeri that she owed him two now, not just one. for now, he’d rather put the emphasis on there being a next time. a peaceful next time.

he took the lifesaver from her as he sat up on the couch. he wasn’t usually a fan of the candies, but he could only imagine how powerful his morning breath was between his long rest and the drinks he’d had before going to sleep. his mouth felt uncomfortably dry. so he unwrapped the candy, popped it into his mouth and held the plastic wrapper out for her to take. it was her apartment, after all.

“um… is food still on the table?” he asked pathetically, lifesaver temporarily tucked into his cheek. “or was that sacrificed when you decided to... not be normal?"

[pinklisted]

taeri took the wrapper from his outstretched hand with two fingers and a scrunched nose "ew," she scoffed, "what am i supposed to do with this? you literally just handed me garbage." despite the disgust in her tone, she turned on her heel and walked it over to the trash can anyway. once she dropped it in, she looked over her shoulder at him. "thank you for not just tossing it, though," she added, "as you can tell, the bar is in hell around here, but still. manners." and that was all she said before turning away again and walking towards the kitchen. she stretched her arms overhead mid-walk, preparing herself for the task of cooking. "i'm ignoring the implication that i'm not normal. yes, food is still on the table because i am a generous host."

she didn't bother to wait and see if he was following her into the kitchen either. maybe mouse wasn't lying. she's not being entirely normal. she moved around her kitchen like she expected him to find a seat at the counter or hover nearby and steal bites before things hit the plate. kind of like he lived here. the pans she pulled out clattered softly as she set them down on the burner. "so... any special requests this morning? or should i surprise you?" she wouldn't blame him if he didn't entirely trust the surprise option given how he woke up... or her track record in general being a little scatterbrained, but she was honestly a pretty good cook despite being a mess in nearly every other area of her life. "luckily for you, i give the best food to people i threaten. but you only have like five minutes to decide before i make you burnt toast."

she moved to the fridge, opening it with a hand on her hip as she scanned the shelves. taeri still hasn't looked to see if mouse followed her, so she's continuing to speak as if she needed her voice to travel through a wall or two. "just so you know, i'm not taking complaints once the food hits the table. otherwise, you'll get a lifetime ban."

[saltyxsweetx]

there's obvious tension between the pair, even with the feigning of smiles and polite chatter. "and just what do you think my idea of fun is, taeri? living under a rock?" blunt, even a bit harsher then, akari chuckles at the other girl's description of partying until she forgets. "wow, you must be like the energizer bunny or something then." her comment is snide but hidden with a delicate voice laced behind it. it is a silent war the pair had going on, akari never minds riling up taeri and getting under her skin. "i haven't done as much of that these days, sorry to disappoint." exhaling softly, her amber eyes flick to taeri and she marginally narrows them again.

placing her pencil down finally, she isn't able to focus on her work with taeri there but appareances had to be kept. "yep, tokyo." she turns a bit in her seat, to face the other woman. placing her chin on her palm, akari smiles brightly then. "it will be good for me. thank you." no quivers in her tone, firm, akari means business around taeri. "i'd like a hard reset. i haven't been home since i left." the brunette admits, almost sadly but definitely not in front of her nemesis. why were they even at this? tilting her head, she nods then with confidence once more. "very." response brief, not filtered in the bitterness anymore.

"would you like me to bring you back something? maybe some foreign treats or a little trinket?" that's when her lips curl upwards higher, knowing she's got her by the rope. "i mean, that's what friends are for, right, taeri?" her fingers then in her free hand rap against the table, random patterns. "just give me some idea of what you like and i'll keep you in mind." not that she would think about taeri all that much on her visit.

[pinklisted]

taeri blinked once, letting the question hang in the air as she gathered her thoughts. she knew better than to reply with the first thing that came to mind. "no, not at all! i just think our perfect evenings are very different. i know mine isnt suited for everyone. but if under a rock is where yours would be, then it's drastically different." the energizer bunny line drew a genuine laugh from her. "energizer bunny? that's a first. could be worse," she said with a shrug. "why would that disappoint? it's not like you're getting graded on the amount of parties you attended." she's still a little irritated, but right now she's more amused with the current topic.

she observed akari for a moment as the other shifted. "a hard reset is... necessary sometimes," she said after a pause, choosing her words carefully. she's not mocking akari but she's also being careful to not reveal her own cards in the process. "and sometimes being away from a place makes it easier to come back to it." rich coming from someone who retured for their masters just because they missed campus life. so she's not sure she believes her own words for akari's case, but it sounded nice enough to offer.

and then came the offer. taeri's brows lifted just barely. the words had caught her off guard, but she didn't react. "that's thoughtful of you," she commented, "surprise me. wise option would be a shot glass, but even wiser option would be nothing.” she wanted to say there was no point because she wouldn't use it, but in the event anyone was listening in, she didn't want to come off as hostile. "friends do look out for each other. and they definitely wouldn't add onto my already extensive collection of shot glasses."

[0hw3llw0rld]

minhyun was a regular at taeri's parties. and always will be despite his lack of attendance as of the start of his last year at university. he was trying, a huge key word, to be better and to do his work and to focus on whatever the fuck the next step was, maybe appeal to his parents so that software engineering job his dad had promised him actually comes to fruition. just the thought is enough to make him sigh and despite the music potentially being loud enough to drown whatever thoughts he had, the alcohol in his system clearly wasn't enough. so yes, he has been sulking at the same spot he had occupied since getting here.

the whiskey coke was getting lukewarm at best and maybe downing it would brighten up minhyun's night just enough, but his eyes catch taeri very evidently making a b-line for him and he takes the leap of faith, downing the majority of his drink before she even gets a step away. "i know i am tall, but am i that lanky?" he laughs at her comment, arm wrapping around her to pull her into his side once she bumps shoulders with him. she's bombarding him with questions and he shakes his head as an answer to everything "i'm good, no need to baby me, i'm a big boy taeri." he teases, squeezing her closer to him. his eyes glance at her drink, then to his nearly empty plastic glass "might go and get another drink in a few, you down to do some shots? i fee like i am way behind some people here." he raises a brow at him, smile pulling at the corners of his lips. doing shots alone was boring, but if she didn't want any he is sure he can find someone else to drink with.

minhyun raises his own glass, lightly tapping taeri's before downing the rest of his drink in one big gulp, nose scrunching at the large hit of alcohol that was lingering at the bottom. he listens to her explain her endeavours and can't help but laugh about the haunting bit "well, is it? did you lie to them that there are in fact no ghost or ghouls here?" he thinks the place is nice enough to not be haunted, but maybe he was wrong "who was it? was their outfit nice enough to deserve all the nines you apparently gave them?" he asks as he finally pulls his arm away from her "what about my outfit? it better be a ten out of ten." he knows its not, but its worth teasing her about it. plain white tank top under his big gray hoodie and black jeans weren't really the embodiment of fashion but he has been to enough parties to know his expensive clothes were not worth being ruined by one unfortunate event.

[pinklisted]

minhyun said he was good, so she didn't push. but that doesn't mean the worry disappeared entirely. minhyun didn't look completely miserable, and she figured that was just what being in your fourth year did to people. it happened to her a couple of years ago. "you're not that lanky," she started, "but you were standing in the corner like you lost a bet and someone made you show up here." she let the corners of her mouth lift just slightly as she leaned into him, kind of like a 'hey, i see you' without putting those words out into the air. "and i'm not babying you... i'm just... checking on a guest who look like they've been staring into the distance for twenty minutes straight. which, by the way, didn't exactly scream 'big boy' to me. sorry."

the invitation to do shots earned him a raised brow and a brief pause as her gaze flicking between the two drinks. truthfully, she was more tired than tipsy, which was rare for her. "i could do a round," she said, drawing the words out like she hadn't already made up her mind. "but only if you say that you know that you don't have to drink and play 'catch up.' everyone goes at their own pace, and only my pockets are keeping track of how much you drink." the corner of her mouth pulled into a lopsided smile. "but if you want to drink, i think i got a few minutes before something else will need my attention. you've got me until then, so you better bring your a-game. or at least your b-minus game." she tapped her fingers lightly against the side of her cup. taeri didn't always say it out loud, but she noticed more than she let on about those she considered her friends. no matter how preoccupied she may be, she would notice when someone's slightly off.

taeri watched him for a second, letting the noise of the party hum in the background. it felt like she could finally take a breath, and she was taking advantage of all the time she could get before she had to return to being a host. when she finally spoke again, her words were laced with something lighter than sarcasm and softer than teasing. "you'll be happy to know i didn't completely lie this time. told them the bathroom ghost is chill. only judges you a little if you cry in there." she paused, eyes flicking toward his with a hint of dry amusement. "and if it wasn't obvious, the bathroom ghost is me. and the outfit girl? dont even remember her name, but the outfit was nice. just wasn't something i'd wear, so i docked off a point or a few for that. maybe that's unfair..." when he pulled his arm away, she shifted slightly to face him more fully, giving him a once-over at his request. "as for you…" she hummed, dragging out the pause just to mess with him. "the whole outfit says 'bare minimum,' but your energy's solid. i'll give you a solid seven." she raised her cup in his direction and took another sip. "you get a ten for showing up, though."

[r4bbitsrun]

mouse was getting the best sleep of his life. if not his entire life, then at least the past six months. it had nothing to do with where he had fallen asleep (taeri's couch, if it matters) because, truth be told, it wasn't that comfortable. it was just nice to not be completely fucking alone. he slept heavy knowing that there was another living being in the same space as him, someone he could sacrifice should the need arise, because the 'living being' in question owed him one. it was comforting to fall asleep in the home of someone who owed him.

his body must've been catching up on its sleep debt, because an unnatural amount of hours had passed, unbeknownst to him. maybe twelve, maybe thirteen. he could feel it when his eyes finally cracked open - it was tough to open them, like they'd rusted shut after years of not moving.

it took him a moment to fully come to, but once he noticed taeri's ominous presence right beside him, he flinched. "wh.. taeri," he mumbled dumbly. he raised a hand to wipe the sleep from his eyes, but in the same motion he disturbed the balance of the lifesavers arranged on his forehead. not that he'd had any idea that they were there, of course, but he became uncomfortably aware when they scattered. a couple on one side of his head, a couple on the other. one sliding right into the valley between the bridge of his nose and his inner eye.

"what the fuck." he grabbed the object off his face, took a minute to examine it. "a lifesaver?"

he couldn't really piece together what was going on. the lifesavers explained the faint minty-ness in the air, but he didn't understand why they were... on him. or why taeri was right beside him, seemingly amused.

finally, he noticed the bowl almost full of lifesavers. "did you spill lifesavers on me?" he asked, baffled, taken aback.

[pinklisted]

taeri didn't move much when mouse started to stir. the tiniest adjustment she made was leaning back slightly, just enough so she wasn't directly hovering over his face. if there was any guilt about waking him up in the dumbest possible way, it wasn't obvious. with the way her grin was now stretched across her face, she onestly looked too proud. her eyes tracked the scattered candies on the couch and the few that fell on the floor (because she was fully intending on putting each one back in the bowl). when mouse finally spoke, she looked at him, blinked once, and shrugged. "spill is not the word i'd choose," she said mildly, a little too satisfied with herself for someone caught mid-crime. "kind of implies what i did wasn't on purpose." she didn't offer any answers he may have been looking for—just raised her eyebrows a little, like well? this is what happens when you spend the night in her apartment.

"you looked like you were sleeping well," she continued, "i was gonna wake you up and ask if you were sticking around or wanted food like a normal person, but i was bored." her fingers drummed lightly on the rim of the bowl. only a few candies had actually made it into his forehead, which, in her mind, showed some restraint. "you didn't even flinch when i put the first one down... and i don’t know, it just kind of turned into a thing after that." she was trying very hard not to giggle at the absurdity of the situation.

she plucked a lifesaver from the bowl, turned it slowly between her fingers, then offered it up to him like a peace offering. "breakfast candy... or bribe candy. depending if you plan on holding a grudge over this." the tone of her voice was annoyingly sweet for someone who intentionally disturbed his sleep for her own enjoyment. "it can also be accepted as an one-time offer to leave you alone the next time you decide to sleep here." she placed the lifesaver on the edge of the couch cushion beside him. "so what's it going to be, mouse? for one or for two? i can pour this entire bowl on you to really wake you up if you need a minute to decide."

[pinklisted]

easy bait for @legalbrat

taeri had her notebook open, pen hovering above the page like she was making the most important decision of her life. in reality, she wasn't even trying to make the list good. the more questionable the snacks looked, the better, because she already knew exactly what kind of reaction it would earn. she scribbled down "saltine crackers" in big letters, followed by "???," biting back a grin as she imagined the look on minseong's face. she knew it would end in them bickering, but that was the point. she liked the way their conversations often turned into a kind of sparring match with no real winner. "don’t even start," she murmured more to the page than minseong, though in truth, she couldn't wait to hear what he had to say.

she wasn't planning on sticking with anything on this list, but there was no fun in a plan without someone trying to poke holes in it. food had never been the main selling point of her parties and everyone knew it, but right now? she'll pretend it was the hill she was willing to die on just for minseong. finishing the list, she circled "black licorice" twice just to make it look like a serious choice. "here you go," she said out loud now, flipping the notebook toward him. "tell me what's wrong with this. and make it quick. i'll only pretend to listen for the first thirty seconds."

the words carried more amusement than they probably should, but can she really be blamed? she liked giving him the chance to argue because she herself liked to argue. leaning back in her chair, she folded her arms like she gave him the best assortment of refreshments. (really, anyone could see how bad the list was. while some options were fine on their own, nearly nothing went together.) "go ahead," she added, daring him to take the bait. "take your best shot. i know you want to."

[pinklisted]

the guessing game for @typicaljisung

taeri had given jisung a full twenty-four hours. that was more than generous, in her opinion. saintly, even, considering the circumstances. that was a whole day to text back, call, or hell, even just a period if words were too much work. she told herself that she wasn't bothered, and for the first few hours, she played it cool in her head. maybe he was buried in work? or maybe he'd lost his phone... or maybe he was just sleeping in. she even entertained the thought of him dropping his phone in a river and was on an epic quest to save it. anything to keep from admitting what she didn't want to accept: that he might just be ignoring her.

by hour six, she started replaying the entire night in her head, because her brain apparently loved making her miserable. she tried to convince herself she was just curious, but really, she was looking for the exact moment things had gone wrong. maybe she'd said something stupid. or maybe this was exactly why you didn’t sleep with your friends if the word casual wasn’t in your vocabulary. by hour twelve, the sting started to seep in under the irritation, and she hated that. she didn't want to feel hurt over something like this. it was easier to be pissed, so she leaned into that instead. her phone stayed in her pocket for the rest of the day, even though she still checked it when no one was looking.

by hour eighteen, she'd decided she wasn't going to wait for the answer to arrive. why wait? she wasn't ever a patient person, and she sure as hell wasn't going to sit around hoping he eventually remembered she existed. by hour twenty-four, time was up. she was feeling too many emotions. irritation, sure. curiosity, definitely. and something else she didn't feel like naming. so she grabbed her purse, left without telling anyone where she was going, and walked across campus. the walk gave her just enough time for the irritation to take the lead. she stopped in front of his door and knocked. then knocked again. and again. by the third time, it was loud enough that she was pretty sure half the floor heard. good.

when the door finally opened, she didn't bother with pleasantries. "well, look at that. you do still exist," she said with a faint, tight smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "clear your schedule. forget whatever you were doing. your only concern right now should be me." there was no hesitation in her voice. it was an order she fully expected him to follow. she leaned into the doorframe and crossed her arms. "so… are you going to let me in to talk about why you've been ignoring me, or should i just start guessing now? because i have a lot of theories, and honestly, most of them aren't flattering for you." her voice stayed light enough to pass as joking, but the lack of smile didn't match. "and before you try the whole 'i was busy' thing, don't."

[pinklisted]

party patrol for @0hw3llw0rld

taeri had been on her way to the kitchen for a quick break (and maybe fix the string lights for the third time) when the sight of minhyun caught her attention. he looked comfortable enough that if this was any other party, she'd just carry on with the task at hand. but as far as her memory served her, taeri hadn't talked to him yet tonight. and as a good host does, she wanted to change that. so, she moved toward him without hesitation, slipping past someone in the middle of a long-winded story and ignoring the gentle pull of another friend trying to get her attention. she could circle back later. right now, she wanted to check in.

"you've officially been in one spot long enough that someone's gonna try to use you as a coat rack. spoiler: the someone is me." she teased as she sidled up next to him. the corners of her mouth curled up in a soft and genuine half-smile. she bumped his shoulder lightly with hers, a playful gesture that wasn't enough to disrupt his space. "you doing okay? need anything? water, food, like… five minutes of silence in the hallway? though i don't know if you can actually get silence anywhere in this house..." taeri cared a lot more about the people around her than she'd like to admit. especially with friends like minhyun, the kind she didn’t see all the time anymore, but always had space for. she took a sip of her own drink, half-melted ice clinking against the plastic, and scanned the room while checking her mental list of things still running smoothly. the music was still good. no one had broken anything (yet). she hadn’t had to kick anyone out. leaning towards success, by her standards.

she glanced over at him again, the edge of her smile lingering as she tipped her drink slightly in his direction. "i would've come bug you earlier, but someone couldn't figure out how to get the bathroom light to turn on and thought the house was haunted. which, in their defense, is not an unreasonable conclusion, but still." she never complains about the chaos that came with hosting, even when it pulled her in five different directions. "and then i got cornered by a friend of a friend who wanted me to rate their outfit in five categories and wouldn’t accept anything under a nine." she laughed, amused. taeri shifted just slightly to face him more fully. "but i realized i hadn't talked to you yet, and i'm trying this new thing where i actually talk to my favorite people before the night ends." she didn’t need a big reason to come talk to him. he was here, she was here, and that was enough.

[pinklisted]

taeri almost felt her eye twitch. the line was so casual and intentional that it nearly pulled a reaction from her. just not talking to you. god. her jaw tightened just briefly, barely enough to be noticeable, and she bit the inside of her cheek to steady herself. it would’ve been easy to snap back. too easy, actually. she already had the words lined up, but she let them sit in her head instead. while the younger her would've said it with no hesitation, she’d learned from a lifetime of conversations that felt more like competitions of picking and choosing her battles. she smoothed it all over with a practiced blink and the kind of easy smile that came out when she needed it to, surprisingly untouched by the sudden spike in irritation curling under her skin.

"that depends on what you define as fun," she replied, just slightly amused. taeri was ninety-nine percent sure they had different definitions of what's fun. well, anyone who know of taeri knew what her definition of fun was, and probably could predict what she'd be doing or where she'd be. "but if you mean staying out too late, seeing too much, forgetting what day it is… then sure. i've been having plenty of fun. making the most of summer and its long days." she wasn't exaggerating, but she also wasn't about to offer akari anything of substance, because that meant something a little more grounded and vulnerable. taeri would rather have akari picture her floating from one night to the next because that version of the truth was easier to weaponize anyway. "and somehow," she added, "i still have enough energy to enjoy the mornings after. a miracle." her hand lifted to brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "i guess i just recharge fast or something."

she didn't wait for a reply or comment before shifting her weight slightly, posture relaxed like she had nowhere better to be (she didn't). the air between them still felt too heavy for how polite their words were, but taeri didn’t mind it. she was the type of person who liked seeing how long she could hold eye contact before the other person looked away first. "tokyo," she repeated, the word slipping off her tongue like an idle thought. her gaze drifted for a moment, not really landing on anything, before she looked back at akari. "that'll be good for you. kind of like a reset, probably," she said eventually, as if she meant it. she had no idea if it was actually a good thing, but it's a change of scenery, and that sounded nice, so she assumed it was. "are you leaving soon?" she asked, though the question sounded more a filler than her genuinely curious.

[pinklisted]

candied threats for @r4bbitsrun

taeri's mornings were typically a mess of half-finished routines. her music blasted a recent earworm from a speaker in her bedroom while she sang along from somewhere entirely different. she'd trip over her slippers with her hair haphazardly wrapped in a towel, or brew coffee while forgetting the toast in the toaster all over again. she moved fast, sang louder than necessary, and never quite finished one thing before starting the next. that was the norm—unless someone else was there. she still did all the same things, but her steps became unhurried, her volume dialed down. she was careful not to drop anything, not to let a cupboard slam. her place was open-door, always, but with that came a kind of unspoken promise: if you trusted her and her space enough to rest in it, she'd do her best not to break the peace.

mouse was still passed out on her couch, just as he'd been when the previously few times she tiptoed past him. she paused again in the doorway now, coffee in hand, and stood there for a moment, looking at him. the sight made her grin without meaning to, small and crooked, like a secret. he looked comfortable. and that made her feel good. technically, she owed him a favor—one she'd promised him what felt like ages ago and was very much still avoiding. if she wanted to, she could count this as repayment... but she didn't. letting someone crash here wasn't a favor in her eyes. this was just what she offered freely to anyone who needed it, no questions asked. if she started turning her hospitality into a favor, it wouldn't feel the same anymore. and she liked what it was.

she took another sip of coffee and lingered a little longer. she'd wanted to ask if he planned to stick around for breakfast, and if he did, what he'd want. it was a fair question, a normal reason to nudge someone awake. but instead of calling his name or gently shaking his shoulder, she turned on her heel and walked straight to the shelf where she kept her candy bowls. there were two. one was a rotating variety of candy to help placate her ever-present sweet tooth. the other was dedicated entirely to lifesavers. and this morning? it was going to serve a higher purpose.

she placed her mug on the corner of the shelf, effectively trading half of her coffee for the entire bucket of lifesavers. now armed with sugar and zero shame, she padded back toward the couch with a quiet hum, crouching beside him like she was about to deliver a serious diagnosis. instead, she got to work. she started with a few placed gently in a circle at the center of his forehead. from there, she began stacking upward, carefully balancing one on top of the next until it resembled a small, colorful mountain. she paused to admire her work, head tilted, lips pursed like a very serious candy architect. but just as she reached for another, it slipped from her fingers and landed square on his cheek with a soft smack.

taeri froze, lips parted in mock horror, then broke into a muffled laugh that she smothered with the back of her hand. "okay," she whispered through a grin, barely containing herself, "that one doesn’t count. that was gravity." her hand was already fishing through the bucket again. "last chance to wake up, mouse," she halfheartedly warned in a sing-song, threatening manner.. "or i will bury you with lifesavers.”

[pinklisted]

a quiet war for @saltyxsweet

taeri always kept something small on her person for days like this to keep herself grounded. today, inconvenience after inconvenience kept occurring, and it was merely a pen that was already halfway pressed to death keeping her from snapping. she wasn't looking for anything else to go wrong, but of course the universe always has other plans in store for her. she was currently standing across from someone she swore was her mortal enemy. it wasn't anything she could rationally explain because akari hadn't done anything to her. and that was what made it worse, because it meant she couldn’t complain without sounding petty or roll her eyes without someone wondering if she was jealous—which she totally wasn't because why would she ever be jealous of anyone?

with a final click, taeri slid the pen back into her bag and let a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes grow on her face. she shifted closer to the other, placing herself close enough to look like they were friends, but not too close. her posture stayed relaxed, her expression open, and yet every fiber of her being felt on edge. "akari," she said in the same way she'd greet someone she actually liked. "have you been busy? i feel like i haven't seen you around lately." she tilted her head just slightly enough to seem interested in the response.

but she hoped it would stay that way. maybe she'd get at least another week-long break from pretending they were friends if it did. taeri had always been the type to wear her emotions on her face, so the fact that she’d managed to conceal how she actually felt about akari for this long was a feat in itself. she never really had the self-control for things like this, but she kept it up anyway because that was the entire point of whatever friendship they had.

[pinklisted]

this was long overdue... but it's finally happening hi everyone! @everafterless's mun back again and super excited to finally introduce the event planner of your dreams (and nightmares), min taeri. you can check out her info here, and i’ll leave more info about her under the cut. feel free to like this post if you’d like to plot, and i’ll slide into your ims soon!

min taeri was never the quiet type. not as a kid, not as a teenager, and definitely not as a young adult. she has always been described as "a lot." she likes to interpret that as a lot of voice/a lot of presence/a lot of color. the kind of person who fills every room she walks into without meaning to. she laughs too loudly, talks with her hands, and has a habit of pulling people into conversations without realizing she's doing it. people remember her, even when she doesn't say much and most of the time, she says too much.

she grew up in seoul, the youngest in a well-connected but traditional family who liked things neat, polished, and predictable. and to their dismay, taeri was none of those things. she was curious and chaotic, always touching things she wasn't supposed to, asking questions with too much attitude, pushing every limit just to see what would happen. the root of all of her defiance came from the fact she just hated being told who to be. which her parents eventually stopped placing expectations on her. her mom used to say she was exhausting to raise. her dad used to laugh like he agreed. but through all the boundary testing over the years, taeri learned early on that charm could smooth over a lot of mistakes. so she leaned into it. if she couldn't be the perfect daughter, she could be unforgettable instead. and she was.

in school, taeri was the girl people liked but hated to be partnered up with. she wasn't a good student by most people's standards. her grades were average at best, and her attention span left a lot to be desired. she got bored easily, zoned out in class, and did the bare minimum to scrape by. deadlines blurred together, readings stayed unread, and most of her "studying" happened in the hours right before an exam. she wasn't proud of it, but she wasn't ashamed either. she knew how to play the game just well enough to stay afloat. and this continued on into her university days, as she was the girl who sat in the back with sunglasses on and an iced coffee in hand, pretending not to be hungover. and even if she wasn't hungover, her notebooks were still half-empty and her mind continued wandering even when she really did want to pay attention. she skipped lectures for brunch, missed deadlines for concerts, and made group projects harder than they had to be. but like always, she always passed. some of her friends still joke about how she coasted through every term like a magician pulling passing grades out of a hat. and taeri laughs along with them because she never claimed to care about grades. she only cared about getting by, and maybe having fun while doing it.

and if she wasn't known for her academic brilliance, at least she was unforgettable for everything else. taeri lived in the center of every social scene. she was at every event, knew (mostly) everyone's name, and had a sixth sense for where the party was going to be before it even got planned. it started with her just wanting to be around people. then it turned into her making sure people had somewhere to go if they were feeling lonely. she was the one texting everyone to come out, the one turning tuesday nights into rooftop karaoke, the one who remembered someone's birthday even when they forgot to mention it. every event organized just because she felt like people needed something to look forward to.

but for someone who gave so much of her time and energy away, taeri was surprisingly hard to know despite being so "open." she listened well, gave advice to whoever asked, remembered the smallest things people said to her weeks ago... but when it came to her? she kept most things to herself. she was the friend who remembered the smallest details about you, but deflected when you asked about her. she always avoided it. smiled instead. poured another drink. changed the subject. most people assumed she was just easygoing as a result, but that was the furthest from the truth.

after graduation, she did what people told her she should do. she tried the full-time job thing and got a job in marketing, wore the right outfits, sat in the right meetings, played the part. and she was good at it. she hit her deadlines, built her campaigns, kept her calendar full. but the work felt cold. something about the routine made her feel like she was pretending to be someone else. kind of like every part of her that used to be full color had been muted. she started missing the version of herself that felt most alive, the one who thrived in being surrounded by people, moving from one plan to the next with her phone at 10 percent and a dozen things to do. that version existed on campus. so when the opportunity came to return for grad school, she took it.

so she came back. not to chase some dream or prove anything, but because it felt like the only thing that made sense. now she's a first-year mba student in marketing and somewhat still the same taeri. a little older. a little more jaded. still terrible at showing up on time. still good at showing up when it counts. she's still that girl who shows up late with a half-assed assignment and three social events planned for the week. she's still the person people come to when they need a break or a good time. but she's slowly learning how to care about things outside of the rush she gets from partying again. she's really uncertain about her next steps after completing her program, but she's (hopefully) building something piece by messy piece.

once again... for plots, i like brainstorming something together but i also have put together a few ideas i'd like for taeri on her plots page, but connections are not limited to those on the page! taeri is a mess in the fun way, and i'm happy to throw her at almost any dynamic. feel free to message me if anything comes to mind! ♡