current projects:
- whatever inspo strikes
- too many collabs
most recent:
- jaded (mingyu)
- bare your soul (chan)
- under the starlight (joshua)
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networks: @studiosvt | @thediamondlifenetwork | k-vanity | ateez pirate ship
this is an 18+ blog. i do not welcome minors here. most of my writing is nsfw. if you don’t have an age indicator (even just saying 18+) on your blog, you’ll be blocked. this blog also does not support the use of AI and you shouldn't either.
(where mingyu is a little jaded about his relationships until he meets the lead singer in a band that changes it all)
pairing: radio host!mingyu x singer!reader
genre: strangers to lovers | fluff, tiny bit of angst, smut
rating: 18+
wc: 6.5k (final count tbd)
warnings: this is vaguely set in 2008, mingyu works for a satellite radio channel, reader is in a band, mentions of past relationships, mingyu is over relationships, kissing, fingering, protected missionary sex, multiple orgasms, that's kind it there will be more in the second part
a/n: writing has been insanely hard for me lately and i'm not really sure why. i absolutely hate splitting this up but i really didn't have a choice. this is for first time caller hosted by @studiosvt and i'm always so happy to be part of these collabs. thank you to the amazingly talented @joshujin for this banner, i'm obsessed.
a/n 2: this is unedited and i will come back for it so i'm sorry
Mingyu looks at the mic in front of him and sighs. He knows that he needs to put on a smile and get into character, but it feels harder than normal lately. When he first started working for Alt Nation, he knew it would be important to find a way to set himself apart. Satellite radio isn’t like regular radio and people don’t necessarily get to know the DJs because they don’t talk as much. Still, Mingyu wants to make sure people know who he is. That they can talk about him specifically and for more than just playing good music. Besides, the channel has a general list of songs to queue from. So, when he interviewed, he leaned into a version of himself. The eternal optimist. The twentysomething dating in LA that’s going to be willing to share those stories in between playing music. The station actually loved the idea of a guy talking about his relationships because it was clear how much he just loved the idea of love. Something different. It took a little bit to find the right balance when he first started. But, then he settled into a rhythm. Just quick stories placed carefully, like when he first comes on or after a song that ties in. Some people still complain that they don’t want to listen to Alt Nation for any level of chatter, but more people are listening during Mingyu’s time slot than before. Listeners know him by name. Even comment on the channel’s Facebook page in response to stories he tells. It’s a big deal to be known by name on satellite radio.
There aren’t any good stories from people he’s gone out with recently, though. No moments of happiness that he can share. No upbeat stories about what it’s like to date while living in LA. His last girlfriend, if he could even call her that, had seen to that. And it’s starting to get hard not to feel like it’s his fault. He hears it all. Too energetic. Too happy. Too optimistic. That he gets too invested too quickly. It feels like a list of things that people say they want being thrown back in his face. He can’t help but replay the scene from a few nights ago. He hadn’t heard from Carly much during the day, which wasn’t entirely unusual when she was stressed at work. Things had been tense for her lately, so he did what he would do for anyone he cared about. Ordered food from her favorite restaurant by her office to be delivered for lunch and sent her a message to say he’d done that. Then, later, he went to the store to buy the ingredients for her favorite dinner, some wine, and her favorite ice cream so that he could go and help her unwind from a bad week. If he’s being honest, he didn’t necessarily expect anything from it except maybe a thank you. What he got instead was her telling him that it was too much. That he was smothering her. That it was embarrassing to have him doing all these things and then talking about their relationship on his show.
That last one stings. He’s always very careful when he talks about relationships on his show. The stories are incredibly short and never have any sort of identifiable information. He never uses names. Never includes any other personal information. He’s telling stories in 30 second clips most of the time. So, when Carly says that she needs space and lists all the reasons, well, Mingyu knows what that means too. Has heard the same thing before. Isn’t going to hold out hope this time. Everything just has him feeling jaded.
This isn’t really the most ideal walk down memory lane as he’s preparing to start his segment.
With a sigh, he puts on a smile, even though nobody listening can see him. Once, he read that people can hear if you’re smiling and it’s stuck with him ever since. It feels a little false this time. And that’s when he makes a split decision that he knows his manager is going to hate. Lets the smile fall, takes a deep breath, and decides instead to just be honest. Instead of the usual upbeat, positivity, he starts his segment by saying that he’s finding it a little hard to be as optimistic lately. That his dating life hasn’t been exactly what he wants and that he’s feeling kind of down about it. A message pops up from his manager immediately on the screen in front of him, but he ignores it. It’s too late for him to change tactics so his manager is going to have to deal with it anyway. Tells a quick story about breakups in general, carefully avoiding making it about Carly specifically, and hopes that it isn’t a mistake.
By the time he finishes queueing up the first songs, and the first one starts – Decode by Paramore – his manager is standing in his door looking stern. The downside to working in the LA studios. His manager is right here to keep an eye on him. Wonwoo crosses his arms and tries to look like a parent about to reprimand his child even though they’re only about a year apart in age. Holding up a hand, Mingyu checks to make sure the songs are queued properly and that his mic is off. Then, he turns to find Wonwoo still standing in the doorway frowning.
“What the hell was that?”
“Me doing my intro,” Mingyu answers a little more sharply than usual.
“Is this some kinda weird alternative universe? Do you have a twin you’ve never mentioned?”
Mingyu rolls his eyes. “Bite me.”
“What’s got you so salty?”
“Thought you listened to the intro and that was why you were here,” Mingyu says, earning him an unimpressed glare. “Carly broke up with me.”
Wonwoo softens, blink and you miss it, before stepping into the studio. “Sorry, bro.”
“It’s fine she was being hella sketchy if I actually think about it,” Mingyu says in an obvious attempt to brush it off. Wonwoo lets him. A mark that they are actually friends beyond working together.
“Just don’t play all heavy songs.”
“I’m no-”
Another unimpressed glare. “You started with Decode.”
“It’s a good song and it’s on the approved -”
“Mingyu.”
A sigh, this time from Mingyu. “Fine. Am I in trouble?”
Wonwoo shrugs. “Probably not. I’ll keep an eye on the Facebook comments and let you know. But people expect you to be all upbeat about dating.”
“My bad,” Mingyu says and Wonwoo just shakes his head. “Maybe it’ll still be relatable because it’s still about dating, just a different side to it.”
“Worst case, I’ll just post a picture of you so people can see what you look like while you’re depressing them,” Wonwoo shares with a smirk that says he knows he’s being a shithead.
“Cool story bro,” Mingyu retorts and reaches for a piece of paper. Wads it up. Wonwoo dodges it easily when Mingyu tosses it in his direction, cracking a real smile.
“We’re deciding on our next in-studio session and just a head’s up, it’s probably gonna be you,” Wonwoo says as he moves towards the door. Something about the way he throws it out like that has Mingyu paying closer attention.
“I’ve never done one before…”
His manager hesitates when he reaches the door and turns around wearing a smile that Mingyu doesn’t like. A second later his look is neutral again and he shrugs. “They think it would make sense coming from you.”
“Who’re they bringing in?” Mingyu asks skeptically.
“The Ivy Lips,” Wonwoo says and Mingyu closes his eyes for a second. Of course. “Try not to get too deep the rest of your show!”
Before Mingyu can even open his eyes and form a retort, his manager is gone. The air doesn’t feel any less heavy, though. Getting the chance to handle the in-studio session is huge. Usually one of the more senior DJs takes it. And it’ll probably mean coming in for an extra segment for it. But, Mingyu has been getting a lot more popular, even though he’s still kind of young for this. It’s also one of the biggest segments that the channel does. They invite everyone in from newer artists that are just getting more airplay to groups that have been doing it for years. It’s structured as a more casual conversation. A chance for a band to talk about their recent music, but also just to share pieces of themselves. The bands also usually do a few of their songs stripped down right in the studio and it’s a cool chance for listeners to hear something different. Sometimes the group will even go outside the box and play a cover of something. Since it’s so relaxed, there aren’t really set questions. It’s just kind of up to however it flows. It’s a huge opportunity for Mingyu.
Except, it’s also the last thing he wants with his current headspace.
The Ivy Lips are a new group, at least to the channel. All the DJs have been playing the single off their first studio album and everyone seems to want to hear more from them. Mingyu knows that they first started getting attention a few years ago using MySpace before landing a record deal more recently. Alt Nation had been the first one of the satellite stations to start playing the lead single and Mingyu had definitely been part of that. After hearing their song while he was poking around looking for new music, he shared it with the station and they agreed it fit. Which would definitely make it seem like he’s the obvious choice. He’s listened to the whole album through more times than he can count. He’s told his friends about it. Told dates about it. Talked about what an amazing job the band does at storytelling. Even given really thoughtful intros before playing the song on the channel.
Except…
It’s a whole album about the optimism behind love and relationships. It feels like a love letter to someone the lead singer is either currently dating or dated in the past. Like a whole story from the first time seeing someone to the first conversations to the first time realizing it was love. It’s a very optimistic take. Which is why it initially drew Mingyu in. it felt like someone else with the same outlook as him. Someone that wouldn’t accuse their partner of being too much for showing they care. Now, after yet another failed relationship with that very optimism at the core, it kind of feels like a slap in the face. For the first time since he started at the channel, he actually finds himself hoping that he’ll be passed over for an opportunity. The last thing he wants right now is to try and put that persona on and talk all about how staying positive will always bring the right person to you. It hasn’t brought anyone lasting to Mingyu yet. It’s been the opposite, really. Yet another person told Mingyu that they just wished he’d get mad about things. Wished he’d fight. Wished he’d stop being so damn positive about everything. Someone else saying that there has to be something wrong with him to be that optimistic and supportive. Honestly, it’s enough to make anyone wonder if love actually exists.
Despite his wishes, the in-studio session with The Ivy Lips does fall onto Mingyu. The channel directors have heard his recent segments and they’re not thrilled he’s been so much more pessimistic. The saving grace has been that it doesn’t seem to change the listener counts by much. Some comments on the Facebook page are even asking if he’s okay and sending positive thoughts. And the executives figure that maybe this in-studio session will get Mingyu back on track. For all he knows, they could be right. This just isn’t the way he wanted to get the opportunity. Then again, you can’t always control things like that. He knows that he should just embrace it. Be professional and handle the interview with a band he does actually like when he’s not being difficult. Be thankful that it’s a serious opportunity for growth.
Like the true traitor he is, Wonwoo also manages to snap a photo of Mingyu in the studio to post to the channel’s Facebook page. Shares that he wants people to know what the guy behind the segment looks like while he’s being a downer. And, okay, the comments are definitely a bit of a temporary boost to his ego. It’s at least entertaining to see the new flood of comments talking about his looks. And even more comments asking if he’s okay or, more entertainingly for Wonwoo, if he’s actually single pour in. The influx of endorphins is short lived, though, because it does remind Mingyu that he is still single and none of it has been enough.
Heading into the interview, Mingyu tries to take his time to prepare the way that he knows that he should. He listens through the entire album multiple times, reading through lyrics as he goes, despite feeling like he knows it by heart. He pulls up other interviews that he can find to see what you and the group have said, though there aren’t all that many. He scrolls through the MySpace page, though it’s clear it’s getting less active. The band’s Facebook page is a little more active. Despite feeling jaded about love, he can admit there’s obvious talent with The Ivy Lips. It’s almost enough to have him thinking about giving it all a try again. Almost.
By the time the interview comes around, Mingyu is feeling prepared and a little nervous because it’s his first time getting to do something like this for the channel. It’s also something that they air live as they’re recording it. The channel thinks it’s best to make it feel more authentic. It also gives the DJ a chance to chat with the group off air while playing some other songs. It makes sure listeners still get to hear the music they normally tune in for, but gives the DJ and the band a chance to get back on track if things are going in the wrong direction. Mingyu has some questions that he jotted down, but he’s hoping that he’ll be able to rely more on the flow of the conversation. After all, he does like The Ivy Lips, even if his personal life has taken a turn lately.
Mingyu hears Wonwoo before the door opens, leading the group into the studio while Mingyu makes sure he’s got songs queued up. Or rather, he hears voices responding to his manager. A moment later, Wonwoo steps in, chatting with someone Mingyu recognizes as you, the lead singer of The Ivy Lips, from your MySpace page. It’s surprising to see his normally serious manager laugh at something you say. Mingyu doesn’t quite catch it, yet still feels himself smiling along. There’s something immediately infectious about you. Behind you and Wonwoo, Mingyu notices the drummer, Soonyoung, the bass guitarist, Corey, and the lead guitarist and back up singer, Joshua. Somehow the four of you give the impression of all being very different, yet in a way that compliments each other. Or maybe that’s just because Mingyu feels like he knows the band from the research.
Wonwoo makes quick introductions and Mingyu shakes hands with everyone in turn. And then Wonwoo is making his exit to leave things in Mingyu’s hands. The band sets down the acoustic guitars they have with them. You look around at the studio, a larger one than Mingyu would normally be in so there’s enough room, before settling down in a seat closest to him.
“I was surprised when they said you’d be the one doing the interview,” you start, regarding Mingyu. It disarms him, a little, having your gaze on him after a comment he can’t quite discern.
“Oh, uh, I don’t usually do these but I promise that…” Mingyu starts.
“No, no,” you say breezily, waving him off. “I just meant that, like, you’ve been different on your segment lately. I wasn’t sure this album would still be your thing.”
“Ah,” Mingyu says to buy a moment. The guitarist, Joshua, chuckles.
“Don’t mind her. She’s just very direct,” Joshua says.
“Do you listen to my segment on the channel?” Mingyu wonders, trying to look at the other members. They all nod and look back at you, forcing Mingyu to do the same.
“I mean aside from you being the first one to play our single, I like your segment,” you say with a shrug.
“Yeah, well, things have been tough lately,” Mingyu says and shakes his head to clear it. “But, we’re not here to talk about me.”
“Yeah don’t deflect,” Soonyoung says and nudges you, earning a smile out of you.
You throw up your hands with a smile. “Fine.”
“Did Wonwoo tell you kind of how this all works?” Mingyu asks and there’s a chorus of agreements. “Okay so at the end of this next song, I’m gonna do a little intro and then we’ll get started.”
“Let’s do it,” Joshua agrees.
Mingyu tries to remind himself that it’s like any other segment. He already talks a little more than most DJs on satellite radio, this is just expanding on that. Sure, he has people in there with him. Still, though, he can do this. He’s prepared and it’s a great opportunity. When the song ends, he falls into his radio voice and goes through the introduction he prepared for The Ivy Lips. And then he turns back to the band with a smile.
“Thanks again for coming by,” Mingyu says to nobody in particular.
“Thanks for having us,” Joshua says earnestly.
“Yeah, Alt Nation has been great for us. So, we really owe you guys for finding our single so fast and putting it on the channel,” you add on.
“It’s a great song. The whole album is special, really. When I heard that single, though…” Mingyu starts.
“Was it you that first heard it, then, and decided to play it?” you ask and Mingyu notices the way that Joshua conceals a little bit of a snort.
Mingyu hesitates, just for a moment. He can’t afford dead air in the middle of an interview. He’s also not sure if he should be completely honest.. Finally just decides to go for it. “Yeah, actually.”
“Oh, no way!” Soonyoung exclaims excitedly.
“We thought it was just someone behind the scenes or something,” Joshua adds on.
“No, uh, we’re all always listening to new music and I just thought you had the kind of sound that fits in with what the channel plays,” Mingyu says and chuckles a little.
“Thanks, bro,” Joshua says.
“Hey, it’s us that should be thanking you. Our listeners are loving it,” Mingyu says. It feels almost like settling in with friends.
“Yeah we’ve seen more people on our pages so it’s great,” Joshua agrees.
“Might as well jump right in and ask about the writing process for this album. It feels…very personal. How did the idea for the album come about?”
You and Joshua look at each other for a moment, a silent kind of conversation, then you look back at Mingyu with a smile. “Thank you, it’s supposed to feel very personal. That’s what we were going for, anyway. Joshua and I write most of our music together.”
“Yeah, it’s like we just speak our own language at this point,” Joshua agrees with a soft smile.
“I don’t really understand it. Can’t argue with the results, though,” Soonyoung chimes in, earning a laugh.
“This one came more so from our fearless leader,” Joshua says and nudges you playfully. “I just helped kind of fine tune some of the verses as we went.”
“So, was this album personal for any of you? Maybe drawing from a past or current relationship?” Mingyu asks.
For some reason, that earns a loud, genuine laugh from you and a softer laugh out of Joshua. It feels like missing a joke until you pull yourself together a second later. “No, actually. We write all our songs in first person, but the stories are actually about a couple. Not any of us. Just a couple that’s…entirely made up. They only exist in my head. Well, mine and Joshua’s.”
“Really?” Mingyu asks incredulously before he can stop himself. The band all laugh at that, likely anticipating the reaction.
“Yeah,” you say easily. “I don’t know. There are all these albums about heartbreak, and I’ve certainly had some experience with that. We all have.”
“Seriously,” Joshua agrees under his breath, just loud enough for the mic to still pick it up.
“But, I don’t know, I wanted to play with the idea of writing about a totally made up couple that still felt real and personal and relatable. I listened to a lot of things while we were writing this album. Other music. Shows and movies. Radio stations, even,” you say and give him a slight look. “Songs about relationships are everywhere, but I just thought it would be really interesting to use an album to tell a story like this. In another life, I think I was a writer.”
“Still could be,” Joshua says with a shrug and you laugh.
“What made you want to write this album instead of one inspired by something one of you had gone through?” Mingyu asks.
“I think sometimes those kinds of songs can be harder to perform night in and night out,” Joshua says, surprising Mingyu a little at being the one to answer first.
“Yeah, like they can feel so personal and to really perform them well, you have to put yourself back in that place every time. It almost makes it feel like it’s harder to process and move on, if that makes sense. For me, at least. Some of our earlier songs that came out before our record deal are like that and I don’t love playing them. So I thought, well if we decide to tell an entire story instead of writing about our own love lives, maybe it’ll be easier to perform it,” you add on.
“Do you think this album reflects the band's thoughts on love and relationships?” Mingyu asks.
Joshua, Soonyoung, and Corey all laugh and say ‘no’ nearly at the same time, looking over at you. For your part, you seem unbothered by it. Only stick your tongue out at your band members and then turn back to Mingyu. “Nope, just mine. The rest of these guys are cynics. But me, I don’t know, I love the idea of love even if I’ve probably had my heart broken more than the rest combined.”
“It’s a great way to be and we love you for it,” Joshua says and nudges you.
“It definitely is. We need more of those optimistic takes on love. And it seems that people are loving listening to it,” Mingyu agrees and you give him a curious look.
“Thank you,” you say, though it’s clear there’s more on your mind.
Mingyu clears his throat and turns away for a second, addressing just the mic. “Okay, we’re gonna take a quick break and play some songs, but stick around because we’ll have more with The Ivy Lips.”
As soon as Mingyu flips the switch for the songs in the queue, he finds out what you hadn’t said. “I’m surprised you think it’s a good way to be. The optimism on relationships.”
“There she goes,” Joshua chuckles and sends a sympathetic look to Mingyu.
“Why’s that?” Mingyu asks.
“I listen to your show. You’ve been very…pessismistic about relationships lately,” you say and your bandmates laugh.
“Ah, well, I’ve had some bad experiences lately,” he says and you go to open your mouth again. Joshua nudges you.
“Let the man breathe,” Joshua says.
“No, no, it’s fine,” Mingyu laughs a little awkwardly. “I kinda opened myself up to that.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” Soonyoung chimes in.
You regard Mingyu for a second. “I think we’re kind of alike, you know. I think you still want to be optimistic, you’re just a little hurt over whatever break up you’re dealing with.”
“It hasn’t just been one,” Mingyu says and you shrug.
“We’ve all got shit,” you counter. “It takes more strength to keep being positive about it.”
“Okay, give him a break,” Joshua says when Mingyu hesitates.
“Fine,” you concede for the second time.
This is already more interesting than Mingyu could have possibly imagined and he still has a lot of the interview to get through. He can tell it’s the kind of thing that’s going to stick with him for weeks after you and the band leave.
You end up staying in the studio with Mingyu even after the interview with your band ends and after the rest of them make their excuses to leave. It’s not exactly normal and he should probably tell you that you need to leave. Except, well, he doesn’t really want you to. Hearing all your thoughts on relationships has him intrigued. And, yes, the rest of the interview is great as well. Your voice is even better live and acoustic. The dynamic with you and the rest of the band says how much you all genuinely like each other. There’s somehow a polished easiness about the band and raw emotion all at once. It’s easy to forget this is technically just your debut album.
Really, though, what sticks out the most is how steadfast you are in defending your thoughts about love and relationships, most of which happens in the breaks while Mingyu plays songs for the listeners. It is more personal, after all. Once the rest of your band leaves, you carry on with more emphasis. Acknowledge that you, like Mingyu, have had your heart broken over things that don’t seem like they should create issues. However, you, unlike Mingyu, are choosing to keep channeling it into something positive. You’re not shy about giving him a hard time over building his show talking about a positive outlook on love, only to turn it all around because things have been a little hard. There is a certain amount of logic in you saying that it’s stronger to keep going when you want to give up. There’s a depth to you. Layers. Something that makes him want to learn more. You happily debate him each time he queues up songs and keep perfectly quiet when he’s on air. (You also laugh when Wonwoo comes in and tries to subtly tell Mingyu that you need to leave, only to give in and let you stay.)
The rest of his segment passes faster than he can remember it passing in a long time and it’s clear that’s down to you. There’s something that makes Mingyu feel like he’s known you for months rather than hours. Maybe that’s just how you are. Maybe you just make people feel at ease around you and that’s why you can stay so optimistic about love despite the heartbreaks. When you say goodbye and that it was fun to get to hang out after the interview, Mingyu even wonders if he’s going to run into you again. Which is crazy, isn’t it? Yesterday, he didn’t know you personally. Tomorrow, he’ll have something new to distract him. This is just a blip.
Except, it isn’t. Not really. You’re going to be all Mingyu thinks about for the next few weeks. Either your thoughts on relationships, your approach to the album, or anything else you said without realizing you could turn his whole world upside down.
Of all the ways that Mingyu expects to run into you again, he definitely doesn’t think that it’s going to be at a coffee shop around the corner from the studio. Honestly, he’s not even sure he’s going to run into you again. Not that he’ll admit how much he’s been thinking about you. And there you are, sitting by the window of his favorite coffee shop when he’s sure he’s never seen you there before. You look up as he approaches the counter and smile. Mouth a quick ‘hi’ and then turn back to the book you’re reading. Mingyu orders something to drink and waits at the other end of the counter. Tries not to look over at you. Once he has his drink in hand, he walks over to your table and smiles when you look up again.
“Hey,” Mingyu says.
“Hey back.”
“Can I sit for a minute?”
You look up at him before marking a spot in your book and setting it down. “Yeah, sure.”
He takes the seat opposite you and feels a little nervous. A little awkward. Somehow, it doesn’t feel quite as easy as when he had you in the studio with him. A million conversation starters seem to flash into his mind in rapid succession. None really seem to stick. And that’s when you seem to read his mind and take pity on him.
“Something on your mind?” you ask.
“I guess, yeah,” he admits after a moment. You’re patient. “I’ve just been thinking a lot about when you guys were in the studio and everything you said about the album.”
“I could see how that stuck with you.”
“It’s just…I guess I don’t know how you keep that mindset despite the heartbreak.”
You study him for a moment. “I think I keep it because of the heartbreak.”
“What?”
“Your face,” you say with a light laugh. “I just mean I see it all as learning. It sucks and it hurts, but then I also learn who to look out for next time.”
“I guess that makes sense,” he says, though it comes out a little skeptical.
“Maybe you just need to learn to read the signs a little better and realize who’s not going to match your energy,” you suggest.
“Easier said than done,” he grumbles and you laugh.
“Maybe you should try asking someone out that you just like hanging out with even when it’s not a date,” you say with a casual air. And that’s when it finally clicks for him.
“Do you want to get dinner some time?”
A smile from you, so genuine that it lights up your face. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
Unlike the start of the conversation in the coffee shop, dinner is much easier. There’s no awkwardness. Not weird pauses. None of those first date jitters. Even though Mingyu doesn’t know you that well yet, he feels comfortable with you. At ease. Like you and him know what you’re getting with the other one and it makes it easier to just focus on the actual conversation. You know enough about how he is in relationships because you’ve heard it on his show. He knows enough about your approach to love because he’s heard it on your album.
That leads to another thing that Mingyu doesn’t ever do. After dinner, he invites you back to his apartment. A little nervous for the first time, though you agree right away. And the nerves disappear when he sees you in his space. He watches the way you run your fingers over his CD collection or pause to look at pictures of him with his friends. If you’re nervous, he definitely can’t tell. There’s just something about you that puts him at ease. That feels like everything is just natural.
The next part comes just as naturally.
You step into his space and run a hand up his neck to rest on his cheek, guiding his lips to yours. And he knows he’s in trouble right away. It’s the kind of kiss that feels like the person already knows you completely. You melt against Mingyu’s body and he’s not sure if he ever wants to let you go. It’s both slow and desperate at the same time. Like you’re showing him that you’re on the same page. That you see him and you like him just the way he is. It’s overwhelming, though not in a bad way.
Slowly, he leads you back into his bedroom. It’s careful. Like he knows that he can trust you. Knows that you see him. Yet, there’s still a hesitation. Or maybe he’s just not sure how to act with someone who isn’t going to tell him that it’s all too much. You peel your own clothes off and then turn to his while you can feel his eyes on you. Taking you in. Appreciating you before him. There’s something almost powerful about it to you because you already know that he’s always got something to say. And yet, now he’s quiet. Now he can’t seem to do much other than drink you in.
So, you take the lead. You sit back onto his bed and slide backwards until you hit the pillows. Beckon him forward. And he complies immediately. Almost like he’s following directions that he can’t ignore. He slots his body against yours and kisses you again. Harder this time. Almost possessively. Like you’re finally giving him permission to just be whatever version of himself he wants to be without worrying. It unlocks something in you. You wrap your arms around him to keep him pressed against your body. Let his tongue into your mouth as you continue kissing him.
When you moan into the kiss, it’s like it finally spurs him on. He snakes a hand down between your bodies and between your legs. Teases your entrance as he collects some of the wetness there. You moan again when his finger slowly runs up you. He teases your clit for a second before returning his fingers to your entrance. Without stopping the kiss, he presses a finger inside your wet cunt. Groans at the feeling of you around his finger. You arch into him as he starts pumping his finger. And then he adds another finger and you know you’re in trouble.
“Mingyu, please,” you whine, breaking the kiss. You’re breathy and a little needy and you don’t really care.
“Please what?” he asks. His pupils are wide and his eyes are dark with the same need you feel.
“Please just…I want to feel you. You can take your time later, I want to feel you now,” you say and watch as he swallows hard. All he can do is nod as he rolls slightly off you to reach for his nightstand. You prop yourself on your elbows and watch the way he rips the wrapper open and pumps himself a couple times. Then he’s sliding the condom on and returning to you.
“Are you sure?” he asks and you nod.
“Yes,” is all you say before his lips are on yours again.
It’s all you manage to say before he lines himself up and presses into you. Pumping shallow for the first few times as you wiggle and adjust. But, then he does just what you ask him. He snaps his hips into you and you break off the kiss with a loud curse. Mingyu props himself over you and sets a steady rhythm thrusting into you. All the while, he looks down at you like you’re the only thing that matters in the world. The only thing tethering him to reality. Maybe you’re looking back at him the same way, you’re not sure. All you know is that this moment is exactly what you need. Exactly what you’ve been thinking about since that interview he did in the studio. Exactly what you’ve been thinking about each time you tuned into his program since then. So, you cling to whatever part of him that you can grab and meet his rhythm. Let yourself get lost in the moment of something that feels easy for once. Let yourself give in to something you wouldn’t normally do like this.
Entirely too quickly, Mingyu is pushing you over the edge. Making you shake beneath him as he whispers praises into your skin. Keeping up a slower rhythm to allow you to have your high. It takes a second for you to come back down and release he’s still thrusting slowly into you and that he’s still hard. You take another moment to catch your breath and brush his hair off his face.
“You can keep going,” you say.
“Are you sure?” he asks and you nearly laugh. His face is so cute which is a crazy thing to be thinking at this moment.
“Yes,” you say and he leans forward to kiss you again.
But, then he stops being quite so soft. He picks up the pace again and it’s much faster. Or maybe it feels that way because you’re sensitive. In any case, you don’t really care. Watching this beautiful man come apart on top of you is plenty to make up for anything else. The way he feels inside you keeps you from thinking about anything else. The room is full of the sounds of your skin slapping together mixed with your moans. It’s criminal how quickly you can feel yourself approaching the edge again. Except, this time you can tell that he’s there too.
“Come with me, Mingyu,” you whimper.
“Fuck, yes, I’m going to,” he groans. He moves a hand to start rubbing your clit and it makes you clench around him as you come again. But this time, you can feel him losing it too. Know that he came with you just like he said he was going to.
Mingyu keeps himself propped over you until the last thrust and then collapses with his weight offset. Not really ready to pull out but not wanting to crush you either. You don’t mind. You’re fine just lying there and running your fingers along his skin. Watching the way goosebumps form under your touch. After another minute, he carefully pulls out and smiles at you. Gives you the gentlest kiss before he gets up to clean himself up.
It’s hard to stop yourself from watching him as he walks away to the bathroom. Hard not to think about how beautiful he is. Hard not to think about how you both have the same views on love and relationships, even if he’s been a little jaded recently. Hard not to think that nothing could really screw this up.
(where mingyu is a little jaded about his relationships until he meets the lead singer in a band that changes it all)
pairing: radio host!mingyu x singer!reader
genre: strangers to lovers | fluff, tiny bit of angst, smut
rating: 18+
wc: 6.5k (final count tbd)
warnings: this is vaguely set in 2008, mingyu works for a satellite radio channel, reader is in a band, mentions of past relationships, mingyu is over relationships, kissing, fingering, protected missionary sex, multiple orgasms, that's kind it there will be more in the second part
a/n: writing has been insanely hard for me lately and i'm not really sure why. i absolutely hate splitting this up but i really didn't have a choice. this is for first time caller hosted by @studiosvt and i'm always so happy to be part of these collabs. thank you to the amazingly talented @joshujin for this banner, i'm obsessed.
a/n 2: this is unedited and i will come back for it so i'm sorry
Mingyu looks at the mic in front of him and sighs. He knows that he needs to put on a smile and get into character, but it feels harder than normal lately. When he first started working for Alt Nation, he knew it would be important to find a way to set himself apart. Satellite radio isn’t like regular radio and people don’t necessarily get to know the DJs because they don’t talk as much. Still, Mingyu wants to make sure people know who he is. That they can talk about him specifically and for more than just playing good music. Besides, the channel has a general list of songs to queue from. So, when he interviewed, he leaned into a version of himself. The eternal optimist. The twentysomething dating in LA that’s going to be willing to share those stories in between playing music. The station actually loved the idea of a guy talking about his relationships because it was clear how much he just loved the idea of love. Something different. It took a little bit to find the right balance when he first started. But, then he settled into a rhythm. Just quick stories placed carefully, like when he first comes on or after a song that ties in. Some people still complain that they don’t want to listen to Alt Nation for any level of chatter, but more people are listening during Mingyu’s time slot than before. Listeners know him by name. Even comment on the channel’s Facebook page in response to stories he tells. It’s a big deal to be known by name on satellite radio.
There aren’t any good stories from people he’s gone out with recently, though. No moments of happiness that he can share. No upbeat stories about what it’s like to date while living in LA. His last girlfriend, if he could even call her that, had seen to that. And it’s starting to get hard not to feel like it’s his fault. He hears it all. Too energetic. Too happy. Too optimistic. That he gets too invested too quickly. It feels like a list of things that people say they want being thrown back in his face. He can’t help but replay the scene from a few nights ago. He hadn’t heard from Carly much during the day, which wasn’t entirely unusual when she was stressed at work. Things had been tense for her lately, so he did what he would do for anyone he cared about. Ordered food from her favorite restaurant by her office to be delivered for lunch and sent her a message to say he’d done that. Then, later, he went to the store to buy the ingredients for her favorite dinner, some wine, and her favorite ice cream so that he could go and help her unwind from a bad week. If he’s being honest, he didn’t necessarily expect anything from it except maybe a thank you. What he got instead was her telling him that it was too much. That he was smothering her. That it was embarrassing to have him doing all these things and then talking about their relationship on his show.
That last one stings. He’s always very careful when he talks about relationships on his show. The stories are incredibly short and never have any sort of identifiable information. He never uses names. Never includes any other personal information. He’s telling stories in 30 second clips most of the time. So, when Carly says that she needs space and lists all the reasons, well, Mingyu knows what that means too. Has heard the same thing before. Isn’t going to hold out hope this time. Everything just has him feeling jaded.
This isn’t really the most ideal walk down memory lane as he’s preparing to start his segment.
With a sigh, he puts on a smile, even though nobody listening can see him. Once, he read that people can hear if you’re smiling and it’s stuck with him ever since. It feels a little false this time. And that’s when he makes a split decision that he knows his manager is going to hate. Lets the smile fall, takes a deep breath, and decides instead to just be honest. Instead of the usual upbeat, positivity, he starts his segment by saying that he’s finding it a little hard to be as optimistic lately. That his dating life hasn’t been exactly what he wants and that he’s feeling kind of down about it. A message pops up from his manager immediately on the screen in front of him, but he ignores it. It’s too late for him to change tactics so his manager is going to have to deal with it anyway. Tells a quick story about breakups in general, carefully avoiding making it about Carly specifically, and hopes that it isn’t a mistake.
By the time he finishes queueing up the first songs, and the first one starts – Decode by Paramore – his manager is standing in his door looking stern. The downside to working in the LA studios. His manager is right here to keep an eye on him. Wonwoo crosses his arms and tries to look like a parent about to reprimand his child even though they’re only about a year apart in age. Holding up a hand, Mingyu checks to make sure the songs are queued properly and that his mic is off. Then, he turns to find Wonwoo still standing in the doorway frowning.
“What the hell was that?”
“Me doing my intro,” Mingyu answers a little more sharply than usual.
“Is this some kinda weird alternative universe? Do you have a twin you’ve never mentioned?”
Mingyu rolls his eyes. “Bite me.”
“What’s got you so salty?”
“Thought you listened to the intro and that was why you were here,” Mingyu says, earning him an unimpressed glare. “Carly broke up with me.”
Wonwoo softens, blink and you miss it, before stepping into the studio. “Sorry, bro.”
“It’s fine she was being hella sketchy if I actually think about it,” Mingyu says in an obvious attempt to brush it off. Wonwoo lets him. A mark that they are actually friends beyond working together.
“Just don’t play all heavy songs.”
“I’m no-”
Another unimpressed glare. “You started with Decode.”
“It’s a good song and it’s on the approved -”
“Mingyu.”
A sigh, this time from Mingyu. “Fine. Am I in trouble?”
Wonwoo shrugs. “Probably not. I’ll keep an eye on the Facebook comments and let you know. But people expect you to be all upbeat about dating.”
“My bad,” Mingyu says and Wonwoo just shakes his head. “Maybe it’ll still be relatable because it’s still about dating, just a different side to it.”
“Worst case, I’ll just post a picture of you so people can see what you look like while you’re depressing them,” Wonwoo shares with a smirk that says he knows he’s being a shithead.
“Cool story bro,” Mingyu retorts and reaches for a piece of paper. Wads it up. Wonwoo dodges it easily when Mingyu tosses it in his direction, cracking a real smile.
“We’re deciding on our next in-studio session and just a head’s up, it’s probably gonna be you,” Wonwoo says as he moves towards the door. Something about the way he throws it out like that has Mingyu paying closer attention.
“I’ve never done one before…”
His manager hesitates when he reaches the door and turns around wearing a smile that Mingyu doesn’t like. A second later his look is neutral again and he shrugs. “They think it would make sense coming from you.”
“Who’re they bringing in?” Mingyu asks skeptically.
“The Ivy Lips,” Wonwoo says and Mingyu closes his eyes for a second. Of course. “Try not to get too deep the rest of your show!”
Before Mingyu can even open his eyes and form a retort, his manager is gone. The air doesn’t feel any less heavy, though. Getting the chance to handle the in-studio session is huge. Usually one of the more senior DJs takes it. And it’ll probably mean coming in for an extra segment for it. But, Mingyu has been getting a lot more popular, even though he’s still kind of young for this. It’s also one of the biggest segments that the channel does. They invite everyone in from newer artists that are just getting more airplay to groups that have been doing it for years. It’s structured as a more casual conversation. A chance for a band to talk about their recent music, but also just to share pieces of themselves. The bands also usually do a few of their songs stripped down right in the studio and it’s a cool chance for listeners to hear something different. Sometimes the group will even go outside the box and play a cover of something. Since it’s so relaxed, there aren’t really set questions. It’s just kind of up to however it flows. It’s a huge opportunity for Mingyu.
Except, it’s also the last thing he wants with his current headspace.
The Ivy Lips are a new group, at least to the channel. All the DJs have been playing the single off their first studio album and everyone seems to want to hear more from them. Mingyu knows that they first started getting attention a few years ago using MySpace before landing a record deal more recently. Alt Nation had been the first one of the satellite stations to start playing the lead single and Mingyu had definitely been part of that. After hearing their song while he was poking around looking for new music, he shared it with the station and they agreed it fit. Which would definitely make it seem like he’s the obvious choice. He’s listened to the whole album through more times than he can count. He’s told his friends about it. Told dates about it. Talked about what an amazing job the band does at storytelling. Even given really thoughtful intros before playing the song on the channel.
Except…
It’s a whole album about the optimism behind love and relationships. It feels like a love letter to someone the lead singer is either currently dating or dated in the past. Like a whole story from the first time seeing someone to the first conversations to the first time realizing it was love. It’s a very optimistic take. Which is why it initially drew Mingyu in. it felt like someone else with the same outlook as him. Someone that wouldn’t accuse their partner of being too much for showing they care. Now, after yet another failed relationship with that very optimism at the core, it kind of feels like a slap in the face. For the first time since he started at the channel, he actually finds himself hoping that he’ll be passed over for an opportunity. The last thing he wants right now is to try and put that persona on and talk all about how staying positive will always bring the right person to you. It hasn’t brought anyone lasting to Mingyu yet. It’s been the opposite, really. Yet another person told Mingyu that they just wished he’d get mad about things. Wished he’d fight. Wished he’d stop being so damn positive about everything. Someone else saying that there has to be something wrong with him to be that optimistic and supportive. Honestly, it’s enough to make anyone wonder if love actually exists.
Despite his wishes, the in-studio session with The Ivy Lips does fall onto Mingyu. The channel directors have heard his recent segments and they’re not thrilled he’s been so much more pessimistic. The saving grace has been that it doesn’t seem to change the listener counts by much. Some comments on the Facebook page are even asking if he’s okay and sending positive thoughts. And the executives figure that maybe this in-studio session will get Mingyu back on track. For all he knows, they could be right. This just isn’t the way he wanted to get the opportunity. Then again, you can’t always control things like that. He knows that he should just embrace it. Be professional and handle the interview with a band he does actually like when he’s not being difficult. Be thankful that it’s a serious opportunity for growth.
Like the true traitor he is, Wonwoo also manages to snap a photo of Mingyu in the studio to post to the channel’s Facebook page. Shares that he wants people to know what the guy behind the segment looks like while he’s being a downer. And, okay, the comments are definitely a bit of a temporary boost to his ego. It’s at least entertaining to see the new flood of comments talking about his looks. And even more comments asking if he’s okay or, more entertainingly for Wonwoo, if he’s actually single pour in. The influx of endorphins is short lived, though, because it does remind Mingyu that he is still single and none of it has been enough.
Heading into the interview, Mingyu tries to take his time to prepare the way that he knows that he should. He listens through the entire album multiple times, reading through lyrics as he goes, despite feeling like he knows it by heart. He pulls up other interviews that he can find to see what you and the group have said, though there aren’t all that many. He scrolls through the MySpace page, though it’s clear it’s getting less active. The band’s Facebook page is a little more active. Despite feeling jaded about love, he can admit there’s obvious talent with The Ivy Lips. It’s almost enough to have him thinking about giving it all a try again. Almost.
By the time the interview comes around, Mingyu is feeling prepared and a little nervous because it’s his first time getting to do something like this for the channel. It’s also something that they air live as they’re recording it. The channel thinks it’s best to make it feel more authentic. It also gives the DJ a chance to chat with the group off air while playing some other songs. It makes sure listeners still get to hear the music they normally tune in for, but gives the DJ and the band a chance to get back on track if things are going in the wrong direction. Mingyu has some questions that he jotted down, but he’s hoping that he’ll be able to rely more on the flow of the conversation. After all, he does like The Ivy Lips, even if his personal life has taken a turn lately.
Mingyu hears Wonwoo before the door opens, leading the group into the studio while Mingyu makes sure he’s got songs queued up. Or rather, he hears voices responding to his manager. A moment later, Wonwoo steps in, chatting with someone Mingyu recognizes as you, the lead singer of The Ivy Lips, from your MySpace page. It’s surprising to see his normally serious manager laugh at something you say. Mingyu doesn’t quite catch it, yet still feels himself smiling along. There’s something immediately infectious about you. Behind you and Wonwoo, Mingyu notices the drummer, Soonyoung, the bass guitarist, Corey, and the lead guitarist and back up singer, Joshua. Somehow the four of you give the impression of all being very different, yet in a way that compliments each other. Or maybe that’s just because Mingyu feels like he knows the band from the research.
Wonwoo makes quick introductions and Mingyu shakes hands with everyone in turn. And then Wonwoo is making his exit to leave things in Mingyu’s hands. The band sets down the acoustic guitars they have with them. You look around at the studio, a larger one than Mingyu would normally be in so there’s enough room, before settling down in a seat closest to him.
“I was surprised when they said you’d be the one doing the interview,” you start, regarding Mingyu. It disarms him, a little, having your gaze on him after a comment he can’t quite discern.
“Oh, uh, I don’t usually do these but I promise that…” Mingyu starts.
“No, no,” you say breezily, waving him off. “I just meant that, like, you’ve been different on your segment lately. I wasn’t sure this album would still be your thing.”
“Ah,” Mingyu says to buy a moment. The guitarist, Joshua, chuckles.
“Don’t mind her. She’s just very direct,” Joshua says.
“Do you listen to my segment on the channel?” Mingyu wonders, trying to look at the other members. They all nod and look back at you, forcing Mingyu to do the same.
“I mean aside from you being the first one to play our single, I like your segment,” you say with a shrug.
“Yeah, well, things have been tough lately,” Mingyu says and shakes his head to clear it. “But, we’re not here to talk about me.”
“Yeah don’t deflect,” Soonyoung says and nudges you, earning a smile out of you.
You throw up your hands with a smile. “Fine.”
“Did Wonwoo tell you kind of how this all works?” Mingyu asks and there’s a chorus of agreements. “Okay so at the end of this next song, I’m gonna do a little intro and then we’ll get started.”
“Let’s do it,” Joshua agrees.
Mingyu tries to remind himself that it’s like any other segment. He already talks a little more than most DJs on satellite radio, this is just expanding on that. Sure, he has people in there with him. Still, though, he can do this. He’s prepared and it’s a great opportunity. When the song ends, he falls into his radio voice and goes through the introduction he prepared for The Ivy Lips. And then he turns back to the band with a smile.
“Thanks again for coming by,” Mingyu says to nobody in particular.
“Thanks for having us,” Joshua says earnestly.
“Yeah, Alt Nation has been great for us. So, we really owe you guys for finding our single so fast and putting it on the channel,” you add on.
“It’s a great song. The whole album is special, really. When I heard that single, though…” Mingyu starts.
“Was it you that first heard it, then, and decided to play it?” you ask and Mingyu notices the way that Joshua conceals a little bit of a snort.
Mingyu hesitates, just for a moment. He can’t afford dead air in the middle of an interview. He’s also not sure if he should be completely honest.. Finally just decides to go for it. “Yeah, actually.”
“Oh, no way!” Soonyoung exclaims excitedly.
“We thought it was just someone behind the scenes or something,” Joshua adds on.
“No, uh, we’re all always listening to new music and I just thought you had the kind of sound that fits in with what the channel plays,” Mingyu says and chuckles a little.
“Thanks, bro,” Joshua says.
“Hey, it’s us that should be thanking you. Our listeners are loving it,” Mingyu says. It feels almost like settling in with friends.
“Yeah we’ve seen more people on our pages so it’s great,” Joshua agrees.
“Might as well jump right in and ask about the writing process for this album. It feels…very personal. How did the idea for the album come about?”
You and Joshua look at each other for a moment, a silent kind of conversation, then you look back at Mingyu with a smile. “Thank you, it’s supposed to feel very personal. That’s what we were going for, anyway. Joshua and I write most of our music together.”
“Yeah, it’s like we just speak our own language at this point,” Joshua agrees with a soft smile.
“I don’t really understand it. Can’t argue with the results, though,” Soonyoung chimes in, earning a laugh.
“This one came more so from our fearless leader,” Joshua says and nudges you playfully. “I just helped kind of fine tune some of the verses as we went.”
“So, was this album personal for any of you? Maybe drawing from a past or current relationship?” Mingyu asks.
For some reason, that earns a loud, genuine laugh from you and a softer laugh out of Joshua. It feels like missing a joke until you pull yourself together a second later. “No, actually. We write all our songs in first person, but the stories are actually about a couple. Not any of us. Just a couple that’s…entirely made up. They only exist in my head. Well, mine and Joshua’s.”
“Really?” Mingyu asks incredulously before he can stop himself. The band all laugh at that, likely anticipating the reaction.
“Yeah,” you say easily. “I don’t know. There are all these albums about heartbreak, and I’ve certainly had some experience with that. We all have.”
“Seriously,” Joshua agrees under his breath, just loud enough for the mic to still pick it up.
“But, I don’t know, I wanted to play with the idea of writing about a totally made up couple that still felt real and personal and relatable. I listened to a lot of things while we were writing this album. Other music. Shows and movies. Radio stations, even,” you say and give him a slight look. “Songs about relationships are everywhere, but I just thought it would be really interesting to use an album to tell a story like this. In another life, I think I was a writer.”
“Still could be,” Joshua says with a shrug and you laugh.
“What made you want to write this album instead of one inspired by something one of you had gone through?” Mingyu asks.
“I think sometimes those kinds of songs can be harder to perform night in and night out,” Joshua says, surprising Mingyu a little at being the one to answer first.
“Yeah, like they can feel so personal and to really perform them well, you have to put yourself back in that place every time. It almost makes it feel like it’s harder to process and move on, if that makes sense. For me, at least. Some of our earlier songs that came out before our record deal are like that and I don’t love playing them. So I thought, well if we decide to tell an entire story instead of writing about our own love lives, maybe it’ll be easier to perform it,” you add on.
“Do you think this album reflects the band's thoughts on love and relationships?” Mingyu asks.
Joshua, Soonyoung, and Corey all laugh and say ‘no’ nearly at the same time, looking over at you. For your part, you seem unbothered by it. Only stick your tongue out at your band members and then turn back to Mingyu. “Nope, just mine. The rest of these guys are cynics. But me, I don’t know, I love the idea of love even if I’ve probably had my heart broken more than the rest combined.”
“It’s a great way to be and we love you for it,” Joshua says and nudges you.
“It definitely is. We need more of those optimistic takes on love. And it seems that people are loving listening to it,” Mingyu agrees and you give him a curious look.
“Thank you,” you say, though it’s clear there’s more on your mind.
Mingyu clears his throat and turns away for a second, addressing just the mic. “Okay, we’re gonna take a quick break and play some songs, but stick around because we’ll have more with The Ivy Lips.”
As soon as Mingyu flips the switch for the songs in the queue, he finds out what you hadn’t said. “I’m surprised you think it’s a good way to be. The optimism on relationships.”
“There she goes,” Joshua chuckles and sends a sympathetic look to Mingyu.
“Why’s that?” Mingyu asks.
“I listen to your show. You’ve been very…pessismistic about relationships lately,” you say and your bandmates laugh.
“Ah, well, I’ve had some bad experiences lately,” he says and you go to open your mouth again. Joshua nudges you.
“Let the man breathe,” Joshua says.
“No, no, it’s fine,” Mingyu laughs a little awkwardly. “I kinda opened myself up to that.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” Soonyoung chimes in.
You regard Mingyu for a second. “I think we’re kind of alike, you know. I think you still want to be optimistic, you’re just a little hurt over whatever break up you’re dealing with.”
“It hasn’t just been one,” Mingyu says and you shrug.
“We’ve all got shit,” you counter. “It takes more strength to keep being positive about it.”
“Okay, give him a break,” Joshua says when Mingyu hesitates.
“Fine,” you concede for the second time.
This is already more interesting than Mingyu could have possibly imagined and he still has a lot of the interview to get through. He can tell it’s the kind of thing that’s going to stick with him for weeks after you and the band leave.
You end up staying in the studio with Mingyu even after the interview with your band ends and after the rest of them make their excuses to leave. It’s not exactly normal and he should probably tell you that you need to leave. Except, well, he doesn’t really want you to. Hearing all your thoughts on relationships has him intrigued. And, yes, the rest of the interview is great as well. Your voice is even better live and acoustic. The dynamic with you and the rest of the band says how much you all genuinely like each other. There’s somehow a polished easiness about the band and raw emotion all at once. It’s easy to forget this is technically just your debut album.
Really, though, what sticks out the most is how steadfast you are in defending your thoughts about love and relationships, most of which happens in the breaks while Mingyu plays songs for the listeners. It is more personal, after all. Once the rest of your band leaves, you carry on with more emphasis. Acknowledge that you, like Mingyu, have had your heart broken over things that don’t seem like they should create issues. However, you, unlike Mingyu, are choosing to keep channeling it into something positive. You’re not shy about giving him a hard time over building his show talking about a positive outlook on love, only to turn it all around because things have been a little hard. There is a certain amount of logic in you saying that it’s stronger to keep going when you want to give up. There’s a depth to you. Layers. Something that makes him want to learn more. You happily debate him each time he queues up songs and keep perfectly quiet when he’s on air. (You also laugh when Wonwoo comes in and tries to subtly tell Mingyu that you need to leave, only to give in and let you stay.)
The rest of his segment passes faster than he can remember it passing in a long time and it’s clear that’s down to you. There’s something that makes Mingyu feel like he’s known you for months rather than hours. Maybe that’s just how you are. Maybe you just make people feel at ease around you and that’s why you can stay so optimistic about love despite the heartbreaks. When you say goodbye and that it was fun to get to hang out after the interview, Mingyu even wonders if he’s going to run into you again. Which is crazy, isn’t it? Yesterday, he didn’t know you personally. Tomorrow, he’ll have something new to distract him. This is just a blip.
Except, it isn’t. Not really. You’re going to be all Mingyu thinks about for the next few weeks. Either your thoughts on relationships, your approach to the album, or anything else you said without realizing you could turn his whole world upside down.
Of all the ways that Mingyu expects to run into you again, he definitely doesn’t think that it’s going to be at a coffee shop around the corner from the studio. Honestly, he’s not even sure he’s going to run into you again. Not that he’ll admit how much he’s been thinking about you. And there you are, sitting by the window of his favorite coffee shop when he’s sure he’s never seen you there before. You look up as he approaches the counter and smile. Mouth a quick ‘hi’ and then turn back to the book you’re reading. Mingyu orders something to drink and waits at the other end of the counter. Tries not to look over at you. Once he has his drink in hand, he walks over to your table and smiles when you look up again.
“Hey,” Mingyu says.
“Hey back.”
“Can I sit for a minute?”
You look up at him before marking a spot in your book and setting it down. “Yeah, sure.”
He takes the seat opposite you and feels a little nervous. A little awkward. Somehow, it doesn’t feel quite as easy as when he had you in the studio with him. A million conversation starters seem to flash into his mind in rapid succession. None really seem to stick. And that’s when you seem to read his mind and take pity on him.
“Something on your mind?” you ask.
“I guess, yeah,” he admits after a moment. You’re patient. “I’ve just been thinking a lot about when you guys were in the studio and everything you said about the album.”
“I could see how that stuck with you.”
“It’s just…I guess I don’t know how you keep that mindset despite the heartbreak.”
You study him for a moment. “I think I keep it because of the heartbreak.”
“What?”
“Your face,” you say with a light laugh. “I just mean I see it all as learning. It sucks and it hurts, but then I also learn who to look out for next time.”
“I guess that makes sense,” he says, though it comes out a little skeptical.
“Maybe you just need to learn to read the signs a little better and realize who’s not going to match your energy,” you suggest.
“Easier said than done,” he grumbles and you laugh.
“Maybe you should try asking someone out that you just like hanging out with even when it’s not a date,” you say with a casual air. And that’s when it finally clicks for him.
“Do you want to get dinner some time?”
A smile from you, so genuine that it lights up your face. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
Unlike the start of the conversation in the coffee shop, dinner is much easier. There’s no awkwardness. Not weird pauses. None of those first date jitters. Even though Mingyu doesn’t know you that well yet, he feels comfortable with you. At ease. Like you and him know what you’re getting with the other one and it makes it easier to just focus on the actual conversation. You know enough about how he is in relationships because you’ve heard it on his show. He knows enough about your approach to love because he’s heard it on your album.
That leads to another thing that Mingyu doesn’t ever do. After dinner, he invites you back to his apartment. A little nervous for the first time, though you agree right away. And the nerves disappear when he sees you in his space. He watches the way you run your fingers over his CD collection or pause to look at pictures of him with his friends. If you’re nervous, he definitely can’t tell. There’s just something about you that puts him at ease. That feels like everything is just natural.
The next part comes just as naturally.
You step into his space and run a hand up his neck to rest on his cheek, guiding his lips to yours. And he knows he’s in trouble right away. It’s the kind of kiss that feels like the person already knows you completely. You melt against Mingyu’s body and he’s not sure if he ever wants to let you go. It’s both slow and desperate at the same time. Like you’re showing him that you’re on the same page. That you see him and you like him just the way he is. It’s overwhelming, though not in a bad way.
Slowly, he leads you back into his bedroom. It’s careful. Like he knows that he can trust you. Knows that you see him. Yet, there’s still a hesitation. Or maybe he’s just not sure how to act with someone who isn’t going to tell him that it’s all too much. You peel your own clothes off and then turn to his while you can feel his eyes on you. Taking you in. Appreciating you before him. There’s something almost powerful about it to you because you already know that he’s always got something to say. And yet, now he’s quiet. Now he can’t seem to do much other than drink you in.
So, you take the lead. You sit back onto his bed and slide backwards until you hit the pillows. Beckon him forward. And he complies immediately. Almost like he’s following directions that he can’t ignore. He slots his body against yours and kisses you again. Harder this time. Almost possessively. Like you’re finally giving him permission to just be whatever version of himself he wants to be without worrying. It unlocks something in you. You wrap your arms around him to keep him pressed against your body. Let his tongue into your mouth as you continue kissing him.
When you moan into the kiss, it’s like it finally spurs him on. He snakes a hand down between your bodies and between your legs. Teases your entrance as he collects some of the wetness there. You moan again when his finger slowly runs up you. He teases your clit for a second before returning his fingers to your entrance. Without stopping the kiss, he presses a finger inside your wet cunt. Groans at the feeling of you around his finger. You arch into him as he starts pumping his finger. And then he adds another finger and you know you’re in trouble.
“Mingyu, please,” you whine, breaking the kiss. You’re breathy and a little needy and you don’t really care.
“Please what?” he asks. His pupils are wide and his eyes are dark with the same need you feel.
“Please just…I want to feel you. You can take your time later, I want to feel you now,” you say and watch as he swallows hard. All he can do is nod as he rolls slightly off you to reach for his nightstand. You prop yourself on your elbows and watch the way he rips the wrapper open and pumps himself a couple times. Then he’s sliding the condom on and returning to you.
“Are you sure?” he asks and you nod.
“Yes,” is all you say before his lips are on yours again.
It’s all you manage to say before he lines himself up and presses into you. Pumping shallow for the first few times as you wiggle and adjust. But, then he does just what you ask him. He snaps his hips into you and you break off the kiss with a loud curse. Mingyu props himself over you and sets a steady rhythm thrusting into you. All the while, he looks down at you like you’re the only thing that matters in the world. The only thing tethering him to reality. Maybe you’re looking back at him the same way, you’re not sure. All you know is that this moment is exactly what you need. Exactly what you’ve been thinking about since that interview he did in the studio. Exactly what you’ve been thinking about each time you tuned into his program since then. So, you cling to whatever part of him that you can grab and meet his rhythm. Let yourself get lost in the moment of something that feels easy for once. Let yourself give in to something you wouldn’t normally do like this.
Entirely too quickly, Mingyu is pushing you over the edge. Making you shake beneath him as he whispers praises into your skin. Keeping up a slower rhythm to allow you to have your high. It takes a second for you to come back down and release he’s still thrusting slowly into you and that he’s still hard. You take another moment to catch your breath and brush his hair off his face.
“You can keep going,” you say.
“Are you sure?” he asks and you nearly laugh. His face is so cute which is a crazy thing to be thinking at this moment.
“Yes,” you say and he leans forward to kiss you again.
But, then he stops being quite so soft. He picks up the pace again and it’s much faster. Or maybe it feels that way because you’re sensitive. In any case, you don’t really care. Watching this beautiful man come apart on top of you is plenty to make up for anything else. The way he feels inside you keeps you from thinking about anything else. The room is full of the sounds of your skin slapping together mixed with your moans. It’s criminal how quickly you can feel yourself approaching the edge again. Except, this time you can tell that he’s there too.
“Come with me, Mingyu,” you whimper.
“Fuck, yes, I’m going to,” he groans. He moves a hand to start rubbing your clit and it makes you clench around him as you come again. But this time, you can feel him losing it too. Know that he came with you just like he said he was going to.
Mingyu keeps himself propped over you until the last thrust and then collapses with his weight offset. Not really ready to pull out but not wanting to crush you either. You don’t mind. You’re fine just lying there and running your fingers along his skin. Watching the way goosebumps form under your touch. After another minute, he carefully pulls out and smiles at you. Gives you the gentlest kiss before he gets up to clean himself up.
It’s hard to stop yourself from watching him as he walks away to the bathroom. Hard not to think about how beautiful he is. Hard not to think about how you both have the same views on love and relationships, even if he’s been a little jaded recently. Hard not to think that nothing could really screw this up.
Settle in with your coziest blanket and grab some popcorn, because it's time to SVTFLIX & chill! Hosted by @100vern, SVTFLIX is a Seventeen collab inspired by all of our favorite K-dramas. Whether you're in the mood for a romantic comedy that breaks the fourth wall or angsty magical fantasy, our talented cast of writers has you covered.
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📺 ADD TO WATCHLIST ✷ Posting period is May 15th — July 15th.
Most of these titles include adult content, which is restricted to those 18 years of age or older. Minors are not welcome to engage with this content and will not be tagged in fics that contain it, even if requested.
📺 True Romance, starring Choi Seungcheol
after going on a blind date with false pretenses with the ceo of your company, things take a turn when he asks you to marry him to keep himself from ending up in an arranged marriage.
pairing: ceo!seungcheol x f. reader
genre: romance, smut, fluff, fake engagement, rom com at times, angst
rating: 18+
warnings: cussing, explicit sexual content, lying
✷ director: @straylightdream | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: business proposal
📺 Business Proposal, starring Yoon Jeonghan
finding out your boss is a misogynistic pig when you're up for the biggest promotion of your life is, to put it mildly, minorly inconvenient. finding out your ex is also a candidate? majorly infuriating. sometimes the only way to win is to not play… but other times the guy working a dead-end job at the convenience store near your apartment agrees to fake marry you so long as he gets what he wants out of the deal. too bad you can't stand each other.
pairing: jeonghan x f. reader
genre: fake dating, marriage of convenience au; mutual annoyances to lovers, miscommunication; crack, fluff, angst, smut
rating: 18+
warnings: capitalism, misogyny, adult content
✷ director: @100vern | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: no gain no love
📺 Guard of the Heart, starring Joshua Hong
You have a lot of standards to meet. You’ve always had. Your family, your company, your fans, they all expect the best from you. And while it is your company who signs your checks, you have yet to disobey your family. So, when your mother demands you go on a blind date to find yourself a competent husband to take over the family business, you listen. You go on a blind date and meet with the worst possible man you could imagine — Joshua Hong. Annoying, careless, Joshua, who manages to make an impression on you nonetheless. But you refuse to fall for him or his shenanigans, especially after the series of events following your first meeting.
pairing: demon!joshua x idol!f. reader
genre: romance, strangers to lovers, bodyguard romance, magic
rating: 18+
warnings: smut, blood, graphic descriptions of violence, obsessive fans, death threats
✷ director: @jakedustry | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: my demon
📺 You Again, starring Wen Junhui
it's been 10 years. since you last saw jun. since the break up that rocked you. since you've been back to this town. since you thought about any of this. but leave it to one of your closest friends to draw both you and jun back in and send your world spiraling again.
pairing: jun x f!reader
genre: attempts at humor, fluff, angst, smut, exes to ?
rating: 18+
warnings: smut, past relationship issues
✷ director: @starlightkyeom | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: our beloved summer
📺 Our Rented Marriage, starring Kwon Soonyoung
out of options when your roommate becomes engaged to her boyfriend, you find hope that maybe there you'll find your ground when you meet kwon soonyoung, your landlord, and the man who asked you to marry him for the sake of rent.
pairing: soonyoung x f. reader
genre: slice of life, romantic comedy, angst, marriage of convenience, strangers to lovers, slow burn, suggestive
rating: 18+
warnings: alcohol, smoking, miscommunication, harassment, misogynistic environments/workplace
✷ director: @mellow-wishes | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: because this is my first life
📺 Truly Madly Deeply, starring Jeon Wonwoo
Jeon Wonwoo is a brilliant programmer. The "what if" of your college years, he's back in your life in the most dramatic way. Yours and Wonwoo's internal Cells villages get into a state of chaotic, hilarious situations and things get interesting. Your Love Cell finally started to wake up from its deep slumber after your last devastating heartbreak. Jeon Wonwoo, has come to wake up every single Cell in your brain in the best way possible, to heal and to learn. To love again.
pairing: wonwoo x reader
genre: friends? to lovers, romance, fluff, slight angst, comedy, fantasy au, mutual pining
rating: 18+
warnings: strong language working environment, mentions of eating due to stress, past relationships, suggestive, a tiny little miscommunication, wonwoo is down bad
✷ director: @lovelylonelinesssvt | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: yumi's cells
📺 Crossing the Bridge to You, starring Lee Jihoon
When Jihoon returns to Daeho after three years, the last thing he expects is running into a woman who claims to be his fiancé. You, who have been stuck in Jinyowon for the past three years, rattle his world with your eccentric yet kind nature. Your boldness is new to him but so is your naivety; will he get his happy ending despite the tragedy that has bound him to guilt? Will you get yours after opposing your mother? Only time will tell.
pairing: sorcerer!jihoon x priestess!f. reader
genre: angst, fluff, fantasy, strangers to lovers, marriage of convenience
rating: 18+
warnings: graphic descriptions of violence, near death situation, memory loss, constant suffering, blood, posession and usage of weapons (swords, bow and arrow), murder, corpses, mentions of suicide, self-blame, lack of freedom and being locked up, messed up timeline of AOS s2 plot
✷ director: @cherrymayz | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: alchemy of souls
📺 Crumpled Paper and Metal Stars, starring Lee Seokmin
Your second semester of grad school has begun. Everything should be relatively easy, you've completed a semester and most of the people in your cohort adore your kindness and sunshine like disposition. Just as you're getting settled, an anonymous post ignites your semester. Instead of an easy sixteen weeks of learning, you're balancing teaching, a post that has the attention of literally everyone, and the personification of a gray cloud: Lee Seokmin.
pairing: grad student!seokmin x grad student!f. reader
genre: grumpy x sunshine, angst, university au, cohorts to lovers, fluff, secret relationship and the angst that comes with it, anonymous confession
rating: 18+
warnings: alcohol, seokmin is the grumpiest (lowk to the point where he's an asshole), mentions of academic burnout, mentions of a sick parent, suggestive scenes
✷ director: @gentleisa | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: dear m
📺 Oops!! We Broke the Plot, starring Kim Mingyu
You and Mingyu are childhood friends and two self‑aware comic characters that are forced into clichéd romcom roles you both hate. On the page, he’s the perfect jock and you’re the villainess; off the page, you’re a nerd–queen duo secretly in love. Fed up with scripted drama and unwanted love triangles, you rebel, glitching the comic as the Writer fights to force you back into place. What follows isn’t a romcom but a battle for agency, freedom, and the right to choose each other.
pairing: mingyu x f. reader
genre: romantic comedy, smut, angst, drama, childhood friends to lovers, meta, breaking the fourth wall(?)
rating: 18+
warnings: smut/nsfw content
✷ director: @xomakara | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: extra-ordinary you
📺 Universal Error, starring Xu Minghao
Being a doctor is hard work. Running your own fan page with over a thousand followers and translating a Chinese webtoon every week? Even harder. Being an avid reader and fan girl of the popular Chinese Webtoon, "Universal Error" turns your life upside down for the better as you translate it every week for your leaks page. However, when the finale turns dark and the main character, Xu Minghao's ending is left open-ended and undetermined. You thought your life couldn't get any worse, until an unforeseen circumstance happens that ends with you waking up in an alternate reality with Xu Minghao's life in your hands. Will you be able to change his reality or would you be left with a Universal Error yourself?
pairing: xu minghao x f. reader
genre: fluff, angst, smut, strangers to lovers, thriller, suspense, fantasy
rating: 18+
warnings: smut/nsfw content, talks about murder, weapons, blood
✷ director: @livmarauder | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: w: two worlds apart
📺 Cyber Love is Bullshit, starring Boo Seungkwan
You hate Love Alarm and everything that it stands for, especially since it's the reason why your last relationship ended. Now navigating through a society where people rely a machine to dictate who you fall for, you find a lone soul like yours who makes you believe in love again.
pairing: seungkwan x reader
genre: fluff, angst, smut, strangers to lovers, found family?
rating: 18+
warnings: talks of infidelity, sexual content
✷ director: @aeristudios | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: love alarm
📺 Rabbit, starring Vernon Chwe
Revenge is the only thing that kept you alive after your family’s betrayal. When the police force you to earn your place by infiltrating the same syndicate that destroyed you, you step back into a world that feels far too familiar - especially Vernon, who seems to see right through you.
pairing: vernon x f. reader
genre: mafia, criminal, angst, smut
ratings: 18+
warnings: violence, criminal behavior, explicit language, explicit content
✷ director: @sailorsoons | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: my name
📺 You Think You Know a Guy, starring Lee Chan
Chan’s grandmother says she disapproves, but he knows she doesn’t mind so long as he proves he can turn a profit before he's given a role in the family business. That’s the easy part, Chan thinks, since a friend in Tokyo says business is booming for his own boyfriend rental service. So he hires four good looking guys— the himbo, the stoic romantic, the playboy, and you, the pretty one. The hardest part, Chan thinks later, is stopping himself from looking your way. (Or: allegedly straight Chan questions his sexuality when all he can think about is the guy who works for him.)
pairing: boss!chan x afab reader
genre: fluff, angst, smut, strangers to lovers
rating: 18+
warnings: questioning sexuality and gender, employer/ee dynamic, queer themes, accepting family/friend group, accidental but non-malicious misgendering; reader is afab, uses she/they pronouns, and looks androgynous
✷ director: @imnotshua | pilot | full series
✷ inspired by: coffee prince
Please note that all information above is subject to change, including story content and posting deadlines. Writing is meant to be fun, so while all involved are encouraged to post by the deadline, we understand that shit happens! Our talented group of authors are as excited to release their work as you are to read it, so please be patient and kind. Thank you so much for your interest! ✷
