PAUL: Yo, you waste way too much time following arbitrary rules.
DANNY: Why're you talking all weird?
PAUL: "I gotta build my business before I start a family. I gotta listen to Mom and Dad and bring home a nice Korean girl." Bro, just—just live.
↳ BEEF, S1 E2, "The Rapture of Being Alive."
starting to get to you — 9. Paul Cho (beef) [Winter Prompts]
A/N: Y’all have been asking for more Paul since forever and here’s me delivering it year(s)later. My concept of time has been trash since 2020 don’t mind me. I know this won’t probably do much in the notes department but I don’t really have anybody else to write about tbh. Also haven’t heard anything else on season 2 and if that’s still a go but they’re changing the storylines to anthology anyway which is unfortunate for Danny & Paul’s story and ironic since that’s pretty much all I write. At least we get to see YM in the last of us? Anyways! Happy new year to you all 🩵
~ @cigarettesandcoffeex I thought you might like a tag 😊
PROMPTS ARE FROM HERE & I’m using: DIALOGUE PROMPTS — "Someone spiked the eggnog!" + “Yeah, yeah i know, you hate Christmas.”
WARNINGS: language + innuendos, grumpy reader! & minor use of possible incorrect German.
<- read my previous winter anthology prompt here.
⛇･:*౨ৎ ⛇･:*౨ৎ ⛇･:*౨ৎ ⛇･:*౨ৎ ⛇･:*౨ৎ ⛇･:*౨ৎ ⛇･
At the holiday market was honestly the last place you wanted to be but having a best friend—who was broke mind you—who also adored Christmas was basically a set up to begin with. The both of you arrived to the festivities right before the sun set, since you had to go to work and Paul was gracious enough to give you an hour to decompress before bringing you out to interact with more humans.
You were content staying in, hate watching crappy Christmas rom coms, having some snacks, catching a few naps that you knew would hit perfectly since you had the day off tomorrow but you should have known Paul would make you his number one target to hang out with him. It’s not like you hated Paul’s presence by any means, he wouldn’t be your friend if you did, it’s just that Christmas wasn’t your thing.
And this year in particular felt heavier for some reason. Like you weren’t meant to enjoy the gift that is Christmas but you put on a happy face, caught an uber together down where the holiday market was held, and braced yourself against the chill in the California air.
It felt like the both of you had been here for hours, walking down the large street of vendors filled with too many people. Paul ended up pulling you off to a less crowded area so you could try the beverage he brought without anyone bumping your elbow in the process. Placing your lips against the rim, Paul watched you as if you were his favorite tv show, anticipating your reaction as you tasted the contents.
You’re coughing as soon as you do, “Someone spiked the eggnog!"
Paul furrows his brows first, plucking the cup from your hand and sips himself, before a grin appears on his face, “Whoa, you’re right! Guess that’s why this was called: Esther’s spunky Nog.”
Giving him a blank expression, Paul just laughs further before shoving a hand into the pocket of his hoodie and nudging his head for the both of you to continue, “C‘Mon, I heard there’s a mini tree decoration competition. Maybe that’s more your vibe.”
“Maybe if I get to stomp them out after everyone puts up the decorations?” You countered as you fall into step with Paul.
He rolls his eyes at you, taking another sip of the disgusting beverage, “I forgot how much of a grinch you are…you’re worse than Danny and that says a lot.”
Scoffing you say, “Am I supposed to be offended?”
“…I would be.” Paul mutters just for you to jam your elbow into his hip, “Ow! Hey! I’m just being honest.”
“And I’m being honest about Christmas being too much that it actually makes me want to gag.”
“I thought you didn’t have a gag reflex?” The twenty something year old man jokes, which immediately makes you walk off ahead of him.
Yet he didn’t want to lose you in the sea of people, however due to his height, he had the advantage if he did. Paul gives you your space for a little, enjoying the soft bells of music that plays from overhead speakers tucked somewhere above your heads, embracing the chilly air that Californians would often label as cold but wouldn’t last a day in areas that actually were in the winter, and he did find himself smiling at a family in particular that felt familiar until his senses pull him back to you.
You’re being led off to one of the stalls, disappearing beneath the tent and Paul has no problem pushing through people to get to you. Once inside the surprisingly warm tent, he sees you sitting in a chair chatting with a woman who has a heavy German accent, holding up a gingerbread heart.
“You good?” Paul questions, making your attention shift from the woman to him.
The heavy set woman who is dressed traditionally beams at the sight of Paul as she winks at you, “Liebling.”
Is all Paul catches and you’re shaking your head, which lets Paul know that you understand what’s being said and he’s out of the loop. The German woman pulls Paul by the wrist and shoves him into the space beside you.
“Nice to meet you too.” Paul snorts as the woman yells for the young man with the camera, while Paul slouched down beside you and leans towards you, “Guess you really have no choice but to get in the Christmas spirit now, huh?”
Crossing your arms you side eyed the man in the rolled beanie, “Little do you know, I already asked Mrs. Adelheid if she has any Krampus masks.”
It was Paul’s turn to give you a blank stare while you smiled sweetly at him, “What the fuck? That’s not very Christmas of you.”
“It is in Germany.” You bump his shoulder, smiling to yourself while Paul rolls his eyes.
Mrs. Adelheid comes back questioning and motioning what you two wanted on the gingerbread heart. Paul got the gist, pressing his elbows into his knees and letting a smirk grace his lips, “What about…y/n loves Paul? X-Mas ‘22.”
The annoyance on your face is evident while Mrs. Adelheid smiles at you two, before letting out a yell for the young teen to step forward and take their picture. Paul tosses an arm across your shoulder, leaning back against the chair and grinning while roughly pulling you into his side that you have to hold onto his chest so you don’t double over as you quickly look up at him. The camera flashes before you know it, making you call out to the anxious teen.
“Hey, I wasn’t ready!”
Before you translate it into the bit of German that you know. Studying photo journalism abroad in Germany was a tale within itself but it was definitely a learning experience.
“1 hour.” Mrs. Adelheid informs the two after shooing her son off, “You’re welcome to stay and browse.”
Paul dips his head at the woman while you pull yourself away from under his arm. He lets his hand rest against his thigh, taking another sip of the warm spiked drink, smiling in secret amusement.
“How many likes do you think our gingerbread heart is going to get?” He asks.
Shaking your head you immediately reply, “You’re not posting that. We don’t even know how the picture came out.”
You understand getting raw footage but you can only wonder how this footage appeared.
“Quit your worrying, we’re hot and there’s no such thing as bad photos if you know your angles. And I would hope the kid would.”
“Seems like he’s forced to be here…something I can relate to so who knows?!” You throw your hands up in the air, “And I don’t need a repeat of your little fangirls threatening me on every social media account they stalk me on.”
Paul rubs at the back of his neck, “I did say I was sorry about that and made it clear to stream that no harassment towards you is cool…unless it’s from me of course.”
Your best friend was doing so well until he threw that last bit into it. It was during the summer time when Paul’s content creation slowly started to take off and people on the internet can definitely be more vicious since they felt like they had a screen that protects them. Even had a few “dedicated” fans pull up on you at work once, which was honestly the last straw and caused you to not want to be part of any streams Paul had going on.
He definitely understood and didn’t blame you.
The both of you sat in silence for a while, seeing the constant movement of attendees from outside the open tent. A few people would come in to browse and one ended up purchasing a wooden toy for their twins before it became quiet once more. Paul eventually got to his feet, looking around the vendor himself, knowing he couldn’t afford to purchase anything else right now but window shopping didn’t hurt.
You decided to browse your phone instead until you heard Paul’s booming voice, “Oh this turned out sick!”
That got you to your feet, moving to see the artwork. It was your photo in faded black and white placed in the shape of the gingerbread heart cookie, red frosting along the trimming, and a white string for it to be hung up. You peeked at Paul who appeared just like a kid on Christmas Day with stars in his eyes. Something so small brought him the biggest amount of joy and you were included on that.
The way your heart seemed to skip at the sight was something you’d never share.
“You like?” Mrs. Adelheid asks, “If not he will do it again.”
Paul shakes his head, “No! We love it, right?”
He glanced at you, hopeful.
A crooked smile appears on your lips, “We do. We’ll take it, you two do incredible work.”
Mrs. Adelheid smiles followed by a laugh at her own pun, “Herzlichen Dank.”
“Danke.” You still have a small smile on your lips, as Paul is holding onto the gingerbread heart by the string and the woman leaves to retrieve a padded box to protect it on your way home.
Your chin is hovering over Paul’s arm as he can’t seem to take his eyes off the cookie, “I told you we would look good as fuck. Or we ate down as you like to say. This is going to look fire hanging in the window…whoever decides to keep this and takes this home that is.”
Sighing, your lips part but Paul interrupts already having an idea of what you’re going to say,“Yeah, yeah I know, you hate Christmas.”
The longer you stare at the picture of you two together on this stiff cookie, the warmth that’s radiating from just standing beside your best friend, his soothing scent of ginger, mint, and cedar, and the way his own eyes are studying your gaze makes you appreciate the moment he’s loved all along.
Being around someone that mattered was perhaps maybe the only gift that you need.
“…I tolerate it because you love it.” Is what you come up with as your eyes meet his.
A stupid grin shines all over his features quicker than the glance he sends to your lips, “I’ve always known you were mushy underneath it all.”
“Don’t ruin it.” You shush with a finger to your lips.
Paul chuckles, “I won’t. It only lasts for a few seconds anyway.”
“Aw…you shouldn’t talk so low of yourself. It’s all about stamina.” You tease.
Paul scoffs, “Trust me, you don’t ever have to worry about that inside or outside the bedroom.”
Grimacing you lightly shove him, “Shut up, Paul.”
“You started it.”
Before you could get into a bickering match, the mother and son are back, wrapping and placing your gift into the box, collecting payment and wishing you a happy holiday before you’re blending back into the crowd. Paul’s holding onto the box underneath his arm, your arm is linked with his other now, and you’re stuck holding onto the eggnog that you’re occasionally sipping on to keep warm.
You don’t have much trouble doing that as your laughter echoes with Paul into the all and good night.
BEEF on Netflix is soooo good! I can't be surprised though because A24 is really good at doing things differently (e.g Euphoria, Moonlight, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Midsommer, Hereditary, Pearl, etc)
I don't know what I loved the most - Touching in mental health, complicated family dynamics, people getting absurd revenge or phenomenal Asian representation? It was as all amazing!!
That being said, we need to address the fact that Danny was fucking awful. He was so selfish and shortsighted and no matter how much context we have on why he is the way he is, he is unforgivable and I'm glad that Paul finally cut him off. Choosing to involve himself with Isaac again and again just showed me how useless he was
On the other hand, despite some bad choices that Amy made - most of what she did wasn't that bad to me 😭😭 I support women's rights and wrongs unfortunately - also I hated George so that helped lmao
Basically the whole show was incredible, and whether I was angry at Naomi and Jordan, or learning to like Fumi - I was having a great time!
Watch our YouTube video and let us know what you think! Do you agree or disagree with out opinions? I wanna know ☺️
