UP ALL NIGHT (WITH YOU)

he’s close enough to speak, chest warm with gin and the way the bass is crawling up his spine, when the guy turns and says it, mindeulle’s name, all wrong. it stalls him, just for a second.

"fuck," myungsoo says, smile curling lazy at the corners like he knows a secret. he tips his head, lets the sweat at his temple glint under the light. leans in, "don't worry, i'm not here to haunt you. unless you're into that."

he doesn't touch him yet, just lets the space between them thrum. god, he's cute. like mindeulle, but rougher around the edges.

"what?" he asks plainly, his brows furrowing and his mouth angling into a soft scowl. he's not trying to start any fights, he just doesn't want to be fucked around with. besides, now that he's getting a good look at this person under new lighting, it hits him that he's, in fact, not actually mindeulle. thank god. this stranger is nowhere near as attractive as his twin, even in vibe and spirit.

though, more information is unveiled when myungsoo exposes that he knows mindeulle, making this encounter all the more confusing. jindallae regrets saying no to the psychedelics he was offered earlier. maybe they'd help make all of this make sense. "i'm going nowhere with you until you tell me what you're talkin' about, man. you tell me your name, but that doesn't tell me shit about you... like how you seem to know who i'm talking about, for one thing."

he doesn't cross his arms over his torso. he's not feeling insecure, nor does he want to give the impression that he's shrinking. if anything, he's saying all of this with his whole chest; his chin held high to further drive home the point that he's not interested in whatever game the other man is playing. "you know my brother. how? why?" if myungsoo wants to continue pussyfooting around the question, then jindallae will pretend like he doesn't exist and that'll be that, but he hopes that there'll be some authenticity and honesty from him.

"good!" stevie beams. "i always want you to be comfortable with me! i like chill vibes, nice vibes. life's too short to not spend every moment enjoying it, y'know?" he leans back comfortably into the older, humming. even now-- it's so nice. stevie does love having confirmation that jindallae likes it too, which makes him bask in the moment even more. to just exist in this space and time with someone he cherishes; it's not often they get these moments.

"thank you," he says after a moment of silence, reaching up to place his hand on jindallae's nape, thumb rubbing against the skin there affectionately. stevie still feels a bit clumsy, the tenderness and appreciation in his motions coming in the form of instinct rather than thought. his hand stays there for a moment, in a weird half-hug before he drops his arm with a happy hum.

"you got that right." the grin that pulls at his mouth is proud. he knows that his boyfriend puts great attention and detail in his cooking, his own personal artistry stevie would never have the patience or the skill for. "that's what i'm talking about! be confident! own it. when you're that good at what you do, you've gotta let the whole world know."

stevie lets out a long hmmmm of contemplation, thinking about what he does want to do for the rest of the day. truth be told, stevie would be content here to lay in the park with jindallae. maybe take a nap under the sunrays peeking through the trees; even more so, he's just happy to be with his boyfriend. stevie does perk up considerably at the idea of getting to look through jindallae's recipe books, head twisting to look up at him with near stars in his eyes. "really?" the english slips out of him in his surprise. "really? i'd love that! i'm so curious what else you're hiding in that genius chef brain of yours." his smile grows even wider, if possible. "can i help you cook too?" stevie follows up, blinking up at the older. "or at least help with something?"

he hopes that stevie feels that way, too. loyalty is huge for him. it always has been. as he intends to extend a herculean level of devotion to his boyfriend, all he can hope is that he receives it back. it's a pretty big ask, but he's never been able to understand why people can't come at romantic unions with as much passion as he does. if he can do it, why can't they? jindallae knows it's not that simple, everyone has baggage, but his point still stands.

the way stevie touches him, leans against him, and amplifies their physical affection elicits a deep, content sigh from jindallae. he feels every muscle in his body release any tension they were holding onto, which is a shocking feat for him. this sensation is so foreign, but he's learning to call it home little-by-little. "you know how they say that, when people are really cute, it makes you want to eat them?" he asks, then pauses, rhetorical. "well, i wanna eat you." he teases, then motions over to stamp a kiss onto stevie's cheek, then 'bites' it with his lips, kind of as if he's 'biting' into some ice cream, so he doesn't hurt him at all.

"i'm the best chef in korea and you're my favorite food. a mighty high honor, if i do say so myself..." jindallae laughs, then is overjoyed to see how stevie alights whenever he mentions showing him secret recipes and cooking some for him. the fact that his boyfriend wants to be involved in his craft means the world to him. he can never say no to him either, so when stevie asks if he can help, jindallae shrugs and nods his head. "yeah, you can be my sous-chef. we'll get you an apron and a hat; whatever you need. i've been told i'm a decent teacher, too, so who knows? maybe you'll become a chef someday too."

written as 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 ♡

The pounding bass ripples through the air like a heartbeat, lights flash in erratic patterns across the sea of writhing bodies. Myungsoo wipes the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, his white shirt clinging to his muscles and back as he looks around. He spots a familiar face leaning against the bar, illuminated by the glow of the neon lights overhead. He can’t quite read him yet, unsure whether the boy is enjoying himself or just enduring the chaos.

Myungsoo pushes through the crowd, brushing his damp hair back from his forehead as he approaches. “Hey!” he calls out, raising his voice to compete with the music. “Everything okay? This wasn’t exactly my idea of a Saturday night either, by the way. I was... invited last minute, too.”

when he was single, parties like this were a weekly occurrence. he loved the almost uncomfortably warm atmosphere, the smoke that's painted by neon, and the uninhibited partygoers seeking pleasure after a week of selling their souls to 'the man'; unwinding with the help of substances, or sex, or whatever they're yearning for.

however, he's been here for quite sometime now, and he's finding that, unlike before, he's not enjoying it as much as he once did. instead, he's being kind of a wallflower. though, he's not exactly unnoticeable. his height alone has always made him stand out, and now that he's gained a lot more muscle, his presence is even more obvious than before. pair his visual with his mysterious aura, one that he's learned to weaponize if need be, and it creates a magnetic pull, so when a man approaches him, he's not exactly shocked.

what does shock him though is the fact that this man looks almost identical to his twin brother, so much so that jindallae physically takes a step back and narrows his sights on him. "mindeulle?" he asks, dumbfounded. "wait, is that you? what the fuck is going on..." he could've sworn that he didn't take any drugs, but at parties like these, one can never be sure if something was slipped into their drink without their knowledge. it's disgusting, but a very sad reality.

or maybe he really does, even if he can't quite comprehend how it helps jindallae. his vibes? positivity? how laidback he is? his charming wit? "am i just a healing person?" he asks in jest, tacking on a laugh.

despite him initiating the affection this time, stevie still lets out a shy noise akin to a squawk when his boyfriend leans in to kiss him, laughing into it. "hey," he gives a half-hearted protest, giving a happy hum at the kiss on his forehead. this is awesome, stevie thinks, content and comfortable next to jindallae. he chuffs out a laugh, shaking his head at the older's comment.

stevie leans back a bit, going cross-eyed for a moment, staring at the kimbap that jindallae presents to him. his cheeks turn an even more red of a color, shooting the taller an exasperated expression. "hey now, we're in public," he says, but he acquises easily and takes a bite.

as jindallae explains, and stevie lets his tastebuds process-- he gives a happy nod, savoring the bite. his facial features shift into something pleased, his happy hum the only answer for a moment. "how can you be a tool if it's like, kinda true though...? this is--" stevie lifts his hand to his mouth and makes a kissing noise with the notion. "delicious! magnifique!"

once he swallows back the bite, stevie tosses jindallae a shocked look. "what?" he asks, brows pinched and furrowed as he pouts. "i don't even get boyfriend priveleges for the knowledge? c'mon..." jindallae will tell him eventually, right? or stevie guesses he can peer in one day when he's cooking, catch him in the act.

"it is really good though. i mean that." stevie reassures, reaching up with his hand to direct the kimbap closer so he can take another bite. it really is good, not that stevie was expecting anything less. he's always been more than satisfied with jindallae's cooking-- taken care of in that department splendidly so.

ultimately, the fact that stevie seems to trust him to take the lead means a lot to him. he knows it isn't easy to do that, or rather, he knows that it wouldn't easy for someone like him to do that, and he appreciates stevie's willingness to be on the receiving end. "you are a healing person. even before we officially got together, i loved chillin' with you because i always felt relaxed. i'm not someone who relaxes easily like that, m'always on guard, but i calm down around you."

it's also not like him to open up like this so much and yet, here he is, heart on his sleeve and feeling perfectly comfortable being real. the way stevie laughs, and coos, and melts into his touch only tells him, albeit nonverbally, that he's perfectly content how they are, too. the quiet returned reassurance has a strong impact on him, and so does his boyfriend's reaction to the kimbap that jindallae worked on all day. the sheer pleasure in knowing that what he does, and what he makes, satisfies stevie is better than any high he's ever felt. being the one to give his lover sustenance is huge for him. it's an honor.

though, when his hand is redirected toward himself, he takes a healthy bite of the food himself; humming at the flavor. "yeah... this is the best bulgogi in the city," he laughs, rolling his eyes at himself. "i'll trust your review, too. maybe i'll start marketing it that way online." it's a bit risky to advertise his food like that, as it means he needs to make sure it's perfect every single time it's served to someone, but he's up for the challenge. being somewhat greedy, he pops the remaining bit of kimbap into his mouth and chews, really loving how the sweetness, spiciness, and savory elements mingle together to create such a complex, delicious sensation. "you know what, fuck it, i'll be a tool. i'm a damn good chef."

with that, he laughs, then returns his attention back to stevie; admiring him, keeping him close. "what do you wanna do with the rest of our day? i figure we can camp out here for awhile, ride back, but i wanna know what you wanna do, too. we have the entire evening to play around with after all this... if you want, i can show you my book of secret recipes and you can pick one that i can make us for dinner?" jindallae took the reins for their picnic, but being that stevie had to work earlier, if all he wants to do is go home and rest up before training tomorrow, jindallae gets it. they've both got busy schedules, so some r&r is never a bad idea.

jindallae talking about going to stevie's hometown makes him feel fuzzy inside, his smile taking on a dopey, almost dreamy twist to it. "yeah," he hums softly, thinking about it. bringing jindallae to all of his favorite hangout spots-- even the secret ones he only told one or two people about. surfing back home with him. "i do look best when it looks like i've just crawled out of the sea. you're so right." stevie laughs, tilting his head back up to grin up at his boyfriend. it's a bit unrealistic, sure, and probably a far off dream. but one day, maybe. and stevie will hope for it to happen sooner rather than later. "i'll show you around to all the best places too. i know home like the back of hand. you'll become like a local in no time with me." home. because at the core, it always will be, for stevie.

stevie follows jindallae through setting up, letting out interested little ooh and aahs as he sees everything the older has prepared. his facial expressions shift more and more into surprise and awe, then to excitement as he gets himself comfortable next to the taller. his eyes dart over the food, already feeling his stomach start to grumble as he looks over it. "wah..." stevie comments, awed. "this looks so good. you really outdid yourself, jin." he leans over to knock his shoulder into the other, then proceeds to stay there, looking over the spread.

"it is a lot, but it's okay! we're big eaters, aren't we?" stevie hums, non-plussed, leaning back over for the thermos jindallae pointed out. he can eat, and it's true-- anything they don't finish they can save for later. stevie resists the urge to kick out his feet in glee, and instead returns back to his very comfortable position leaning up against his boyfriend.

you mean a lot to me, he says, and stevie pauses, looking up at the older with eyebrows raised. a slow, steady flush begins to cross his cheeks, then his ears, but the smile on his face is bashful. his stomach does a little flip and a dive-- oof, are these what butterflies are like?

for some reason, it seems like he's always taken everything rather seriously; the expressions on his face etched by broody angles and scowling glares instead of made gold by smiles and laughter. he's ashamed of having been such an angry boy. he also thinks that the circumstances of his life made it all too easy to fall down that pit of despair, too, and instead of rising above it or clawing his way out, he chose to stay there. now, here with stevie, he's finally able to make up for the lost time.

jindallae hears him talking about his home, and crawling out of the sea, and showing him around to new places, and grins fondly at all their dreams for plans. in truth, neither of them know when these things will happen, but he knows that they will. he'll make them a reality himself, if he must. for now, he's overjoyed (even if he doesn't show it physically or obviously) that stevie is so pleased with their picnic; the spread is certainly hearty, but he wanted to make sure that, even if they didn't finish everything in one go, they can still pack it up and snack on it later.

wrapping an arm around him, he pulls stevie in even closer after he's lean on and gives him a kiss on his temple; letting his hand settle on the other's hip somewhat possessively. "i wanted to make it special for you. for us." he reconfirms, so glad to see that his efforts are appreciated. "it's important to me that you eat well and are in good health. i wanna take care of you." the admission makes him cringe at himself a little, but it's his truth. "you may not realize it, but you take care of me in your own way, too. it's only fair i return the favor."

in that moment, he's taken by surprise when the strength of his jawline is cradled so tenderly by stevie's hand, and when his face is kissed, he lets out a content breath; relaxed. before answering his boyfriend's question, jindallae leans in and gives him a proper kiss on the lips, then one on his forehead; always eager for more. "hm, well, i think it's proper to save the dessert for last, so..." with that, he reaches forward and grabs one of the triangle-shaped kimbap, then guides it over to stevie's mouth, rubbing one of the pointed edges along his pouty lips for fun.

maybe it's lewd, even crude, of him to mess around in that way, but he hopes that it's obvious that his intentions are playful. he drives that point home by scrunching his nose at him, then laughing. "sorry..." he utters, shaking his head. "i'll get my mind outta the gutter, i promise."

stevie's head swivels to see where the older is gesturing, squinting as if that would help him see better. "oh! yeah," he nods his head, but blinks in surprise at jindallae's follow-up. another snort leaves him, this time with the flushing of his cheeks. "jeez," stevie laughs, properly steering the bike towards that area. "we haven't even been biking that long!"

he doesn't mind it, though. to know jindallae just wants to hold him. stevie loves the easy and constant affection the other is all too willing to give him. he thrives off the contact, the doting.

as the bike settles to a stop, stevie's rapid peddling slowing down as he makes sure he doesn't topple over trying to get to a stopping point. his excitement is only growing and growing-- the spot jindallae has picked is movie-esque, set up in a way that he's only seen in film. part of him wonders if jindallae has arms and hands working behind the scenes, setting all of this up so stevie can have a perfect date.

"i like it," stevie assures nodding his head as he begins to get off the bike. "parking the bike here is probably fine, yeah?" he asks, taking a glance around. he doesn't seen any signs saying no, so stevie shrugs-- stretching out his limbs as he moves his attention to their decided spot.

a deep, content sigh escapes him; his intimidating frame loosening any tension that once existed in it as they pump the brakes, post their bike up, and start taking in the vibe around them. "yeah, we can leave it wherever, i think, as long as it's not in anyone's way," he reassures, wanting to quell any worries stevie might have. "i agree, though. m'glad we get our spot to ourselves, for the most part. there's some bushes and trees for coverage, too." he realizes that they're in a public space, so it's natural for others to be hanging around, too. all he can hope is that they mind their fuckin' business. if they don't, though, he's still not worried.

"someday soon, we'll have to pay a visit to huntington beach. check out the waves, grab some tacos from the taco truck, get a tan. it'll be nice to see you with some sea mist in your hair again." he knows how much stevie loves the beach, and he's already planning on how to make his beach-bum dreams come true. it'd be hard to relocate from south korea, but if it meant that stevie gets to live his ideal life, then it'll all be worth it. he can open up a small restaurant on the coast, maybe a cart or truck of his own, slinging traditional korean eats the locals become obsessed with to keep them housed and happy.

honestly speaking, the longer he thinks about it, the more he wants to make that a reality for himself, too. it sounds peaceful. grinning at the could-be's, he sets their picnic basket down, straightens out their blanket, spreads everything out, ensures that everything is where it ought to be, and when he's happy with the display, he takes a seat and pats the spot beside him. "so, as you can see, we've got quite the spread..." to be specific, it's bulgogi kimbap in two shapes; a fruit-charcuterie tray of seasonal varieties, adorned with petals of edible flowers and squares of chocolate; a box of a dozen glazed donuts; and a spicy cucumber and kimchi salad. he made everything himself, except the donuts.

"oh, and in that thermos over there is green tea lemonade. you're probably thirsty after the ride. i... know it's kind of a lot, but i had the time, and i enjoyed putting it all together for us. we can always pack up what we didn't eat and have it later." with that, he looks over to stevie and smiles; sweet, especially for him.

but it's a nice hope. a promise even. a bigger smile curves and blooms on stevie's face, and he's unable to help himself to nudge his shoulder into the other. "i like the sound of that." his voice is softer this time, and the pleased twist to his grin stays on his face even in the silence after.

he thinks about it. tilts his head to the side and imagines it. "the spring would be nice. oh man, the breeze would be so refreshing. before the sun starts to come back with a vengeance. oof." stevie can still remember how unbearable the last summer was-- the heat terrible. he grimaces at the thought of it, shaking his head.

stevie's shoulders shake with mirth, smiling to himself as he settles himself in the seat. "we're starting to have a lot of those. our things. a whole collection soon." stevie comments. it's nice though. he looks forward to them. stevie kicks his feet around in idle wait, humming as jindallae sets everything up.

once they're settled, stevie's grin widens-- his body straightening up as he gears himself to start pedaling. once they're going, stevie focuses his attention on in front of him, glancing around as he navigates them forward.

"oh man...i bet that looks incredible." it's always pretty, beautiful even; but on a bike ride, it's likely to elevate it. living in the moment-- it's picturesque, romantic in thought. it makes his gut flip and his smile to widen. "sounds like a date."

not wanting to get too distracted by negative wonderings, he shakes his head free of thoughts and narrows his sights in on stevie. now, he is the only 'sunshine' that jindallae needs, as cheesy as that is. he'll gladly handle the heat, so long as it's coming from him. he'll suffer through any burns if they happen, he doesn't care. he'll fully embrace the sun, in this case. no questions asked, no hesitation whatsoever.

then, stevie mentions the fact that they're starting to collect "things" together. inside-jokes are being created, shared-favorite restaurants are being selected, jindallae is learning how stevie likes all of his food prepared so he can ensure that everything he makes him is as close to perfection as possible, and the longer they remain in one another's orbit, the more their world will start filling out. it's been fun to witness, and he can't wait to see what else comes up along the way.

honestly, this is the first time he's ever felt this level of peace in a relationship. it's still crazy to him that he feels so at ease. even now, he's coasting behind stevie, keeping the bike anchored and balanced, helping him steer. it's so simple, but it brings him so much joy. it's as if he's finally figured out what relationships are supposed to be, and feel, like and he couldn't be more thankful. smiling like a dope, his thoughts are interrupted when stevie asks him if he's taken this route before, and after a breath, he shrugs his shoulders.

"maybe once or twice, but this is definitely the best time... i'm sure you can guess why," he teases, licking over his lips. it's then when he eyes a vacant spot in the grass, one surrounded by local flowers and in partial shade from a nearby fruit tree. "that look good to you?" he asks, stretching one of his arms out to point at it; its length long enough to reach past stevie's head. "not gonna lie, seems like the perfect spot to cuddle up in... and i kind of can't wait any longer to have you pressed up against me."

the admission is bold, but honest. he's been thinking about it all day.

ah, she'll admit to a bit of homesickness though. she doesn't think about it often, she's content with her life here after all, but especially as family holidays approach she can't help but think about all the fond memories of home, the special events they'd put on and decorations they'd hang up at the bar and brewery, the staff who were just as much her aunts and uncles as those who actually share her blood. and yes, the homemade meals. korean food isn't that much different in a lot of ways, but no one here knows how to capture the sentimentality of stewed vegetables cooked just a minute too long so grandmother can chew more easily when taking meals with the family. she's not sure how to describe the heat level her father liked, enough to 'make his mouth happy' without burning for hours afterwards.

she's not one to wallow in negativity, to let the weight of the world push her down. so yinuo tries to shove the homesickness away, back down in the box where it came from, and put a convincing smile on her face. even as close of a friend as she considers jindallae, it's not something she wants to talk about with him. ah, but if only she had the time and money for a trip back home, just for a week or two... no, it's just not in the cards right now, and yinuo can accept that.

the woman doesn't remark further on the topic, but she knows jin will make the dish for her when he has the time. nothing more needs to be said. instead, she hones in on the upcoming holidays. "no budget as in i can do whatever i want and you'll cover it all?" her eyes gleam, anticipation showing through even though she knows, realistically, what her boss means is 'no budget as in you have a handful of change and a dream.' "we can do all out for both, you know. there's no rule about that. and i'll do all the work, you and everyone else can just rest. c'mon, please? it'll be fun."

it's because of this that he begins to internally question why she seems so adamant on celebrating christmas at the restaurant. yinuo is often this headstrong as it is, but the fact that she simply won't let this go, especially since he's told her 'no' in many ways, makes him curious. he doesn't want to psychoanalyze her, but his mind naturally tries to search for hidden meanings. it's a personal belief of his that there's always a codded message written between the lines.

now, does this make him a rather suspicious person? yes, but he likes to think that it's for good reason. so far, most of his suspicions have been correct, so it can't be that much of a flaw. "yinuo..." he starts, his voice low and tired, but still warm. "look, if you want to do all of the work, then i won't say no, and because our budget is limited, you can't get too crazy. okay?" jindallae relents, hoping that he's pleased. yet again he strokes her ego, but he can't help it.

in some ways, she's like the little sister he never had.

a year before, jay strolled through the snow thinking he's seeing and listening to hallucinations of his past beyond. as if it haunts him, follows him wherever he goes, comes to him when jay is vulnerable in solitude. headphones covering his ears, his only viable shield in those horrible moments. coming into 2024, he believed that lonely december would repeat itself. to his surprise, this december shows no sign of being drowned out by colorless white. it's different now, his chest doesn't ache with the need to lose himself in his imaginations and the melodies he'd fill up in his head. for once, reality is nice, kinder, warmer.

unfortunately, the natural responses to everything getting better is to wonder whether everything that he had received would eventually be ripped away from him. still, there's a lot going on that he doesn't even have time to think about that. with the christmas concert finally coming to a close, he can finally kickstart his holiday properly. it feels long overdue, he'd gotten used to the concept of training day in and day out with little to no breaks. now though, as he's walking through the christmas market, he doesn't feel that sense of dread that he felt last year. it's comfortable, it's nice.

that only lasts for what felt like a swift moment, when jay feels something soft colliding with the back of his head. he blinks—once, then twice—before he finally registers what had just transpired. he turns around rather dramatically, knowing that the culprit isn't a one hit wonder after what was pulled. his eyes meet jindallae's, causing a grin to spread across his face. "what the hell, it's you!" jay exclaims, shaking his head a little to get rid of the remaining snow stuck to his hair. most of them had probably melted.

"saw you the other day too, since you were sticking out like a sore thumb in the audience! was seeing the line-up eye-opening to you?" he quickly reaches to the mountain of snow behind him, sticking his tongue out in an act of defiance and to annoy jindallae, gathering enough snow to fit into his balled fists. bigger, grander. it has to be a proper circle too. "is that how you wanna greet me? fine!"

maybe instead of meeting the strokes of lightning with further sparks, he needs to work as a rod that anchors it; electrified in the best way.

at jay's quick, he rolls his eyes and grins; finding it amusing that his suspicions of sticking out like a sore thumb at the christmas concert are now confirmed. "you know..." he begins, watching as his comrade works hard to form the perfect snowball. "while you're busy with all that, i could just..." jindallae pauses, then quickly clutches onto more snow himself; launching it jay's way with swiftness, hitting him in the shoulder before he's able to throw his first one.

when that eventually happens though, he moves his face out of the way, then charges at him; careful not to ram into anyone else in their vicinity. when he reaches him, he's quick to lift him off the ground and tackle him into the huge pile of snow behind him; getting them both covered in the fresh powder now. jindallae laughed all the while, and it only continues as he lifts himself up only to stare down at jay.

stevie gives a sheepish laugh, resisting the urge to fiddle with his earrings, and instead nudges into jindallae's side. "sorry, i didn't think about it. and besides..." he trails off. "how am i supposed to eat anything else when you spoil me with such good food?" stevie playfully argues.

he's impressed, honestly. jindallae must have been in a lot of work for their day today, which makes stevie already more and more excited for what's to come. a smile already begins to tug on his mouth, humming a tune under his breath. "why you so obsessed with me~" he sings the familiar mariah carey tune, knocking into jindallae's body playfully with a happy laugh. "well, i'm here now! so you don't have to miss me anymore."

stevie stands back and observes jindallae set up the bike, pursing his lips at the question as he thinks about it. he eyes the front of the bike critically, then the back-- his expression thoughtful. "i can take the front?" he offers first, nodding his head, settling with the idea. he ambles over, reaching out to hold on to the handlebar. "you can anchor me, can't you?" stevie pats the taller's shoulder, hand lingering for a moment. "i was thinking about getting back into biking," he adds as an afterthought, his brain wandering off. biking is a safer option than skateboarding, even if he really enjoys the other more. "and these double bikes are kinda cute. it's making me consider it more."

whenever someone can take his words lightly, and he can do the same with theirs, depending on context, it means that they don't doubt their love. there's no need to become insecure and get defensive because, unless otherwise specified, the snarking and taunting is lighthearted; playful. there's a level of trust there. trust that neither one of you will purposely say anything to harm the other.

besides, it's not like there isn't truth to what stevie's teasing him about. jindallae is obsessed with him; he does make incredible food; he is kind-of-a-gentleman. are these phrases spoken in a ribbing tone? of course, but that's what adds the adorability, especially whenever he can catch stevie's devilish grins between them.

honestly, seeing him smile sets jindallae at ease in a way that he's never really felt before. it sounds corny, but to him, making someone happy, and being made happy in return, is one of the best things a human being can experience. straight up.

"don't worry," he replies, smirking. "i can anchor you." his pupils dilate as he takes in his lover's face bathed in the aurulent beams of the sun; its warmth further accentuated by the shades of autumn that surround them. "why don't we pick up biking together in the spring? we can do that on sundays, too. it can be one of our things." then, when stevie mounts his seat on the bike, jindallae keeps his sights glued to his physique as he moves; "taking in the view," per usual.

humming to himself, he secures the picnic basket to the bike, then joins stevie by getting into his position, too; nodding at his question. "let's! we can ride around until we find a good place to chill. luckily, it's not that busy here today, so we'll have more options." with that, they push off the ground and remain upright as they begin their trek. jindallae's glad that he's on the back seat. it gives him more opportunities to admire stevie from behind.

a second wind seems to hit the girl as she sits up a little straighter, eyebrows raising. "you have doubanjiang?" she's shocked, genuinely. "where did you find it? or is it under a different name here or something? i swear i've been looking and haven't seen it anywhere. oh, but i guess i don't have your culinary connections either. anyway, spill." yinuo is no chef, she's not making elaborate meals for anyone, but living alone means she cooks for herself for the meals she doesn't eat here at the restaurant, and an extra taste of home in her cuisine would never go amiss. "my mom's the pro, actually. i'd ask her to send me the recipe but i don't think anything is actually measured out. you can try to do it as good as her, though. i don't think you'll win."

maybe she should be more concerned about her boss inviting her back to his place, but the situation isn't like that at all. yinuo knows jindallae's boyfriend, for crying out loud, and jindallae in turn knows about yinuo's blatant preference for the company of women. there's nothing weird about it, especially when she would consider the two of them friends after working with each other for this long.

a gasp escapes the girl. as much as she joked about a christmas rush and gimmicky decorations, she's shocked and horrified that jindallae won't even try to indulge in the commercialized, secular version of the holiday. "really? no garland? not even a little?" she acts scandalized. "i guess this place really does need a woman's touch. okay, give me a christmas decoration budget and i'll take care of it. i'll do it in place of that extra bonus." it's a missed opportunity, in her opinion, if they do nothing in recognition of the winter festivities. it's a romantic holiday, one often spent between couples and lovers, and what's better than a fancy dinner date? no, doing nothing simply will not do and yinuo has always been the type to take matters into her own hands, warranted or not.

not everyone is cool with his sense of humor, but he's glad that yinuo is. it makes their friendship feel all the more real, even if he's technically a senior employee to her.

"yeah, a pal of mine whose been in the mainland for awhile sent me some in a care package. he packed up a bunch of cool food-finds and sent 'em my way, tellin' me to fuck around with 'em to see if i can come up with new takes on recipes." thinking of it now, he feels lucky to have such good friends in his life; ones that encourage him to keep evolving as a chef. "i can see if he can send some more, though. he's in the industry, too, so it shouldn't be too hard."

when yinuo speaks of her mother, jindallae half-smiles. he's glad that she can speak so fondly of her mom like that, that she has fond memories of her mom like that. he's happy for her. "i definitely won't beat your mom's, i know that for sure, but you never know. maybe mine'll be decent enough that it'll scratch the itch for you. though, food that's made purely from muscle-memory is the best kind. you know a person's got that recipe in their soul for life in that way."

honestly, he's got quite a few meals he can whip up without thinking. so long as he has the supplies, they come together like magic. most of the menu items at the restaurant are those he considers to be in this category. however, before he's able to nerd out about culinary arts any further, the talk of yuletide decorations and festivities distracts him. the thought of it causes him to take yet another swig of his seoul mule before responding. "what if i told you that we have no budget for this?"