considering that ji-yeong was at most a teenager if not a literal child — at any rate, she was a minor — when she (justifiably) killed her abuser, there must have been a lot of media coverage about it
do you think the squid game recruiters started following the case, kept track of the sentencing when it was handed down, knowing she’d be a prime candidate in several years when she got out as an adult, having no home or family
she entered the games as an adult, but they knew where to find her as soon as she got out of prison. they’d been watching her for years
of all the ‘doomed by the narrative’ characters, ji-yeong has the worst of it
her fate was sealed long before she knew anything about it, but when death came for her she met it on her own terms
she’s such a tragic character and really, her choosing to die when she did was one of the first times in her life when she had a choice
kang sae byeok x f!reader, kang no-eul x f!reader, ji-yeong x f!reader, cho hyun-ju x f!reader, se-mi x f!reader
how going through reciprocal IVF, and pregnancy, would go with these partners <3
warnings: reciprocal IVF is when one woman takes her egg, along with a sperm donor to create an embryo, then implants it into the other woman to carry :D hyun ju can't go through reciprocal IVF so she is the only exception on here
this is for my sapphics and lesbians
kang sae-byeok x you
deciding to go through reciprocal ivf is something you and sae-byeok talk about for a long time.
you've been with your fiancée for seven years, you know how kind she is underneath her tough persona.
you love the idea of carrying a child that is biologically hers, and she loves that you want to do this together.
the vice versa will happen someday, but you'd happy to be the carrier for the first.
from the moment you start treatments, sae-byeok becomes incredibly protective.
she reads everything she can find.
hormone injections, side effects, potential risks.
she may not always express emotions openly, but she wants to be prepared to support you in every way.
the process is nerve-wracking. when it’s time for the embryo transfer, she holds your hand tightly, squeezing just enough to ground you.
she whispers reassurances, telling you no matter what happens, you’ll go through it together.
the two-week wait to see if the transfer was successful is agonizing.
you analyze every little symptom, overthinking, doubting. sae-byeok keeps you grounded, reminding you not to stress, even though she’s secretly just as anxious.
when the test comes back positive, she doesn’t cry, but her arms wrap around you tightly, her forehead resting against yours.
“we’re going to be someone's parents,”
she murmurs, gripping you like she never wants to let go.
the journey :D
sae-byeok becomes hyper-aware of your needs.
she always makes sure that you eat properly, stay hydrated, and rest enough.
you tease her about being overly protective, but truthfully, it makes you feel so safe.
the morning sickness hits hard, and though she hates seeing you suffer, she does not let you go through it alone.
she researches what helps, keeps crackers by the bed, rubs your back when you lean over the toilet.
“breathe, baby. you’re doing amazing.”
as your belly grows, she watches in fascination.
she loves pressing her hand over your bump, thumb stroking the skin absentmindedly.
the first time she feels the baby kick, she freezes.
afterwards she beams.
its the brightest smile you’ve ever seen on her face.
every night, she talks to the baby.
at first, she’s hesitant, voice shy, but soon, she grows into it.
“hey, little one. it’s me, your eomma. i can’t wait to meet you, okay? you’re already so loved.”
when you find out you’re having a boy, sae-byeok lights up.
she was excited regardless, but now, knowing it’s a boy, she’s thrilled.
she’s raised cheol and loved every second of it.
now, she gets to do it again with your shared child.
you cry during the ultrasound, overwhelmed by the sight of your baby.
sae-byeok wipes your tears with gentle fingers, pressing a kiss to your forehead.
“he’s going to be perfect,”
she whispers.
she takes on assembling the nursery all on her own.
you come home to find her halfway through building the crib, looking so concentrated, muttering curses in korean when the pieces don’t fit.
she loves buying little outfits, especially tiny sneakers.
“look at these,”
she says, holding up a pair of mini adidas.
“he’s going to be stylish like his eomma.”
many nights, you and your woman loves to ask many questions.
“what if he has your nose?”
you wonder aloud.
sae-byeok smirks.
“i hope he has your smile.”
when the contractions start at 37 weeks, sae-byeok is calm.
she might be panicking inside, but she doesn’t let it show, keeping you focused, helping you breathe.
at the hospital, she doesn’t leave your side.
not for a second.
she holds your hand through every contraction, the other hand smoothing sweaty hair from your forehead.
labor is long, exhausting, intense, but she is your rock.
“i know it hurts,”
she murmurs, pressing soft kisses to your knuckles.
“you’re the strongest person i know, baby. i’m right here.”
when it’s finally time to push, she’s right there, whispering,
“you can do this. i know you can.”
the moment your son is born, his cries fill the room, and your own tears spill.
you’re exhausted but relieved, and then you see sae-byeok’s expression.
she’s stunned. completely awestruck. when the nurse places your son on your chest, sae-byeok gently reaches out, tracing his tiny fingers.
“he looks just like you,”
you whisper breathlessly, staring at his delicate features.
he does.
the little boy's almond-shaped eyes, the curve of his lips...they are all sae-byeok. it’s uncanny.
sae-byeok chokes up. you see it in the way she swallows thickly, eyes glassy.
“he’s perfect,”
she whispers.
she watches as you hold your son, love and admiration evident in her gaze.
when it’s her turn to hold him, she’s hesitant, as if afraid she’ll break him.
the second he’s in her arms, something shifts.
“hi, little one,”
she whispers, brushing her fingers across his chubby cheeks.
he squirms but doesn’t cry, almost as if recognizing her already.
“you’re so beautiful,”
she says softly, in absolute awe.
you watch her cradle him, murmuring in korean, and your heart nearly bursts.
ji-yeong x you
ji-yeong never thought she’d be here.
she never thought she’d want this, wanted parenthood.
for most of her life, she never imagined being a mother, never let herself dream of having a family.
there was too much pain involved and too much loss.
why bring a child into a world that once showed her nothing but cruelty?
after surviving the games, something changed.
she was given a second chance and with you by her side, she started seeing the world differently.
ji-yeong did not see it as just as a place of suffering, but as a place where love could exist, where healing was possible.
the woman still hesitated, though.
she was scared.
when you told her you wanted to carry her child, that you wanted a piece of her to live on in something beautiful, she felt something in her chest crack open.
she wanted this.
she wanted this with you.
the ivf process was overwhelming, and ji-yeong wasn’t great at handling emotions, but she was there for you.
she researched everything, attended every appointment, held your hand through every step.
when you got the positive test, she froze.
ji-yeong didn’t cry, she didn’t speak.
all she did was just pulled you into her arms, burying her face into your shoulder, breathing in the moment like she needed it to survive.
the journey :D
ji-yeong was so nervous in the beginning.
she worried she wouldn’t know how to be a good partner, how to support you properly.
she overcompensated by bringing you things all the time.
snacks, warm blankets, flowers for no reason.
“you’re taking care of two now,”
she’d mumble, placing another snack in front of you.
you’d laugh, shaking your head, but appreciating her attentiveness.
the first ultrasound changed something in her.
she saw the tiny flicker of a heartbeat on the screen, and for the first time, she felt it.
this wasn’t just a decision.
this was real.
this was her baby that you were carrying.
when you found out it was a girl, ji-yeong actually let out a breath of relief.
an all-girl family.
there was no father figure to fear, no possibility of the life she lived repeating itself.
she felt safer knowing it was a daughter.
she always said she didn’t care about the gender, but deep down, she needed this.
“she’s gonna be so cool,”
ji-yeong would say, resting her head on your belly.
“we’ll teach her about music, and video games, and—oh, she’s gonna have the best style. no baby frilly pink stuff, i’m serious.”
she was so soft with you.
ji-yeong, who always acted aloof, who always teased and played things off, was suddenly waking up earlier just to make sure you ate breakfast.
she’d read to the baby sometimes, though she tried to act nonchalant about it.
you’d catch her mumbling stories late at night, one hand resting over your belly, as if she was already bonding with your daughter.
after 39 weeks... ji-yeong was terrified when the contractions started.
she kept it together for you, but internally? she was freaking out.
ji-yeong hated seeing you in pain.
the woman held your hand the entire time, whispering quiet encouragements even though her voice was shaking.
she didn’t cry, but her eyes were glassy, focused entirely on you, as if she could transfer all your pain onto herself if she tried hard enough.
finally after some time.. your daughter was here.
ji-yeong’s world stopped when she heard the first tiny cry. she barely registered the doctor announcing,
“it’s a girl,” since she already knew.
when they placed your daughter on your chest, ji-yeong hesitated.
she wanted to reach out, to touch her, to hold her, but suddenly, a crushing fear settled in.
"what if i can’t protect her? what if she ends up hurt, alone, abandoned? what if history repeats itself?"
ji-yeong wanted this.
she knew that but staring at her daughter, so small, so fragile, she felt terrified.
you noticed the way ji-yeong stared, her eyes distant, fear creeping in.
you squeezed her hand, bringing her back.
“she’s going to be okay,”
you whispered, voice steady despite your exhaustion.
“because she has us.”
ji-yeong let out a shaky breath, her fingers twitching before she finally reached out, brushing her daughter’s tiny hand with her fingertips.
your daughter’s fingers curled slightly around hers, and ji-yeong broke.
she leaned in, pressing the softest kiss to her baby’s forehead, her eyes shining with something raw and real.
as you watched her, you knew ji-yeong was going to be the best mom in the world.
even if she never expected to be one.
kang no-eul x you
no-eul never thought she would have another child.
after everything she went through to get seo-yeon back, she swore she would never go through that kind of pain again.
she didn't need anything else.
seo-yeon was enough.
however, there was you.
you had been there for her through everything.
you've been with her through the long nights of waiting, the uncertainty, the frustration.
you held her through the tears, reassured her when she felt like she’d never see her daughter again.
when she did, you were there too. right beside her.
seo-yeon was two when the conversation started.
it was casual at first...something small, something distant.
“i think… i’d like for her to have a sibling,”
no-eul admitted one night, her fingers brushing against your hand.
you agreed but you both knew you wanted this to be together, something that tied both of you into this growing family.
after a long discussion, you both decided that no-eul would carry your egg.
“you’ve done this before,”
you said softly.
“and i think it would be nice, having a little girl that’s biologically mine.”
she nodded, lips pressed together, but you could see the emotions in her eyes.
this was a big step, one she never thought she’d take.
she wanted this.
she wanted this with you.
the journey :D
from the moment the pregnancy test turned positive, you spoiled no-eul.
she didn’t ask for it.
she never asked for anything.
however, you could see the way her body adjusted, the way she carried herself differently, the quiet discomfort she tried to hide.
“i’m fine,”
she would say, but you knew better.
you weren’t letting her go through this without being treated like a queen.
the morning sickness hit her hard, and you were on it.
herbal teas, cool washcloths, soft touches along her back as she leaned over the sink.
“you don’t have to do all this,”
she mumbled one morning, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
you kissed her temple, brushing stray strands of hair behind her ear.
“i want to.”
no-eul was never one for outward affection, but pregnancy softened her in ways neither of you expected.
she let herself be comforted.
no-eul let herself lean into your warmth instead of pushing it away.
she rested against you more often, let you rub her swollen feet, let you hold her when exhaustion settled deep into her bones.
seo-yeon was fascinated by the pregnancy, constantly asking questions, resting her small hands on no-eul’s belly, talking to the baby like they could understand.
“i think she’ll be bossy,”
you teased, watching seo-yeon give a full speech to her future sibling.
no-eul chuckled, running a hand through her daughter’s hair.
“she gets that from you.”
when the ultrasound revealed you were having another girl, no-eul let out a soft breath. a smile stretched across her lips, small but real.
you squeezed her hand.
“you okay?”
she nodded.
“yeah… i’m happy.”
no-eul was never one to show fear, but as labor began, you saw it aka the slight tremor in her hands, and the deep breaths she took to steady herself.
she had done this before, but it had been different.
this time, she wasn’t alone.
this time, she had you.
you held her hand through every contraction, whispering soft encouragements, pressing kisses to her temple.
“you’ve got this, baby. i’m right here.”
it was long and exhausting.
no-eul was strong and you had never seen her stronger.
when your daughter finally entered the world, a small cry filling the room, no-eul broke.
the woman's hands trembled as they placed the baby on her chest.
she stared down at her daughter, the tiny life she had carried.
its your daughter, and no-eul's lips parted, her breath shaky.
“she looks just like you,”
she whispered, voice thick with emotion.
she did.
the shape of her nose, the curve of her lips.
your daughter was undeniably yours.
you brushed damp hair from no-eul’s forehead, pressing a lingering kiss there.
“she’s perfect.”
no-eul nodded, but she was speechless.
you had never seen her this quiet, this soft.
she cradled the baby carefully, as if afraid she might disappear if she held on too tightly.
se-mi x you
se-mi had always been cool about things.
she didn’t get overly emotional, didn’t overthink the future, semi just lived.
when you started talking about ivf and the possibility of having kids, something in her shifted.
you've been with se-mi for about five years.
the woman wasn’t the type to voice big, sappy declarations, but when you told her you wanted to carry her children, she simply nodded and said,
“okay. let’s do it.”
she thought the idea of you carrying her babies was not only hot, but loving.
se-mi's confidence kept you grounded.
she never wavered, never second-guessed.
when you were nervous about the process, she squeezed your hand and said,
“whatever happens, we’re in this together and I am here for you, okay?”
she was always calm, always composed.
when the doctor told you both that two embryos had implanted successfully, her eyebrows lifted slightly.
“twins?”
she asked, as if double-checking.
when the doctor confirmed, she just smirked.
“guess we’re going big, huh?”
despite her casual demeanor, she was so excited.
she didn’t say it outright, but you could tell. s
he was always looking up twin-related stuff, researching double strollers, subtly adjusting things around the house to prepare.
the journey :D
se-mi showed her love through acts of service.
she wasn’t overly vocal about her feelings, but she made sure you were always taken care of.
craving something at 3 a.m.?
she was already on her way to get it.
too tired to get up?
she carried you to bed with zero effort.
swollen feet? she had ice packs and a foot massage ready.
“babe, you don’t have to—”
“shh,”
she’d say, pressing a cool water bottle into your hand.
“just take it.”
she never freaked out.
not when you got sick, not when the back pain kicked in, not even when you had a full-blown pregnancy meltdown over a broken shoelace.
she just handed you a new pair of shoes and pulled you in for a hug.
se-mi was always touching your belly.
she did it absentmindedly.
when you were watching tv, when you were cooking, when she was half-asleep in bed.
se-mi's hand would just naturally find its way there.
she loved feeling the twins kick.
she’d rest her palm against your stomach, feeling the movement, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“they’re strong,”
she murmured one night.
you raised a brow.
“like you?”
she smirked.
“like us.”
the moment your water broke at 34 weeks, se-mi was ready.
no panic, no scrambling.
she had the hospital bag, the car keys, and a calm but firm presence that made you feel safe.
at the hospital, she stayed by your side through everything.
se-mi held your hand during contractions, helped you breathe, brushed damp hair from your face.
“you’re doing amazing, baby,”
she murmured, voice steady as always.
“just a little longer.”
when the twins finally arrived, a boy and a girl, se-mi’s cool demeanor cracked just slightly.
she was still composed, but you saw the way her throat bobbed, the way her fingers trembled when she reached out to touch them for the first time.
“they’re beautiful,”
she whispered.
the boy had her nose, the girl had her sharp eyes.
she just stared at them, completely in awe.
cho hyun-ju x you
hyun ju and you are the exception on this thread.
the both of you went through natural conception, since hyun ju never had bottom surgery yet.
the thing is that a child together wasn’t something you and hyun-ju rushed into.
you've been with hyun ju for a very long time. seven years.
the idea of having childern came with deep conversations and quiet reassurances that no matter what, you’d face everything together.
hyun-ju was so thoughtful from the very beginning.
she made sure you felt comfortable, safe, and loved through every step of the journey.
she always asked what you needed, always reminded you that your body was incredible for doing this.
sometimes, hyun ju remembers that she doesn't have the body that you have to carry a pregnancy, but you always remind her that she is still a woman and a complete woman, the woman that you will always love.
when you found out you were expecting a girl, your heart swelled. you knew she was going to be so loved.
“she’s going to have the best mommies,”
you whispered, pressing a hand to your belly.
hyun-ju kissed your forehead and smiled.
“she really is.”
she was so soft throughout your pregnancy.
hyun ju always rubbed your back when you were sore, making sure you were eating well, constantly checking in without being overbearing.
“do you need anything, baby?”
she’d ask at random times, even if you were perfectly fine.
“just you,”
you’d reply, and she’d smile, pulling you close.
you often wondered what your daughter would look like.
would she have your eyes and hyun-ju’s nose?
or the other way around?
hyun-ju would laugh when you brought it up.
“either way, she’s going to be beautiful,”
she’d say, her hand resting protectively over your belly.
she talked to the baby all the time.
the taller woman's voice was so gentle, so full of love.
“hey, little one. we can’t wait to meet you. your mama is so strong, you know that?”
she wasn’t super vocal about her emotions, but she showed them in every action.
whether it was holding you a little longer when you felt emotional, or putting together the nursery late at night while humming softly to herself.
“you should rest,”
you’d say, watching her adjust the baby’s crib for the tenth time.
she’d glance at you with a smile.
“i just want everything to be perfect for her.”
when the contractions started at 40 weeks, hyun-ju was calm.
she had that calmness and patience thanks to the military.
hyun-ju's hand was steady in yours, her voice soft as she helped you breathe through the pain.
“you’ve got this, mama,”
she whispered, pressing kisses to your temple between contractions.
“you’re so strong.”
she never left your side through every moment of labor.
hyun ju was always right there and squeezing your hand, reminding you how incredible you were.
when your daughter was born, hyun-ju’s breath hitched.
the second she saw her, she went completely silent, just staring in awe.
the nurse placed the baby on your chest, and you both just stared.
she was perfect.
the perfect mix of you and hyun-ju.
the girl was biologically yours and hyun-jus!
“she’s so beautiful,”
you murmured, your voice breaking with emotion.
hyun-ju wiped at her eyes, smiling softly.
“she really is.”
after everything had settled, you caught hyun-ju sitting beside the hospital bed, your daughter cradled carefully in her strong arms.
she was so gentle, looking down at her with the softest expression you had ever seen.
“you okay?”
you whispered, watching her from the bed.
she nodded, swallowing hard.
“i just… i love her so much already.”
your heart melted.
“she’s going to be so lucky. she has you as her mommy.”
hyun-ju looked up at you, eyes full of warmth. she leaned over, pressing the softest kiss to your lips.
I think the fandom doesn't talks about the female characters enough. And by that I mean, doesn't talks in depth about them.
It's mostly just "Diva", "Girlboss", "Badass", "Icon", which is good but it shouldn't be limited to just that, especially when most of them have good backstories and matter to the plot.
This also kind of paints all female characters in one colour, like player 196 is "Diva" and so is Hyunju, and while that can be true (no hate to 196) but one them has an impact on the plot which should be discussed. Same for Noeul and Ji-yeong, their backstories are rarely mentioned, and it's obvious Noeul will have important role in S3 but it's rarely talked about.
There is not enough in-depth analysis of them as we see for other characters. And while some fandoms can excuse it saying they don't have well-written women in the show but squid game does and it's not appreciated enough.
