›› 2nd round

[regressive]

Who ■ Joonghyuk & others
What ■ Catch-all
When ■ Second month
Where ■ All over
Content Warnings ■ YJH as usual

Feel free to hit me up on plurk @ biyoo / discord @ biyoos if you'd like a thread with Mr. Punisher!!

Comments

[regressive]

Why it's not important?

[ Guess who's going to be very adamant to pursue this topic and find out why Brambles can't marry!!! ⬆️ THIS GUY ]

[dapples]

[ Sigh. ]

Because you might stop playing with me.

[regressive]

I might stop playing with you because you're married? Ridiculous.

[ Well, Brambles denied that, but... he can't think of any other reason. ]

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I doubt there's anything that would make me stop playing this game with you.

[dapples]

[ He pauses. ]

Do you promise?

[regressive]

I promise.

[ He's not sure what kind of information Brambles is about to share with him, but as long as he didn't murder someone it should be fine. ]

[dapples]

[ He can only hope that Joonghyuk stays true to his word. Brambles is a cheerful man, but he does have his vulnerabilities. His sexual orientation always attracted bullies despite the fact that he never told anyone. How will things go when he does? ]

I can't get married because ... [ He looks away. ] I am gay.

So, yeah. Now you know.

[regressive]

Doesn't that mean you can't marry in your country? Well, Korea isn't better in that regard, but... it doesn't mean you can't marry.

[ Joonghyuk frowns, but hopes that Brambles will consider a different angle. ]

[dapples]

[ He nods. ]

It's illegal here.

[regressive]

There are other places.

[ Joonghyuk pauses—why is he even trying to convince Brambles that there are other options? It's not his business, really. ]

Being gay won't make me stop playing with you, though.

[dapples]

[ His red eyes become glassy and swell, with a tear breaking free and rolling down his cheek. ]

Ngh-- [ Sniff ] S-Sorry.

[ He wipes his cheek with his hand, not anticipating how this would feel. Was he so prepared for rejection that immediate acceptance has taken his breath away? Definitely. He's not a stranger to the internet and he knows that it can be a very unkind and hostile place.

God, he's lucky. ]

[regressive]

[ Ah, did he made Brambles cry? That wasn't his intention, but he can't ignore that tear either. ]

Don't apologize. Umm, I'm not sure if this game has tissues...

[ It certainly has ISSUES. Close enough. ]

People are shitty about this kind of thing, so... I get it.

[dapples]

It's okay. [ God, how embarrassing ... ]

Yeah. They are. And I'm really glad that you aren't ... so, thank you.

[ For him, it's a rarity. ]

[regressive]

If someone ever bothers you over that, I'm going to beat them up.

[ It'll be punishment time. The unfun punishment. ]

[dapples]

[ Brambles just gazes up at him, wiping away his last tear. ]

Thank you. I try to keep it as low-key as I can, so ... hopefully it won't be necessary.

[regressive]

Necessary or not, you can count on me.

[ After a moment of silence, Joonghyuk gives Brambles a head pat in an attempt to offer him a comforting gesture. ]

You'd look nice in a suit.

[dapples]

[ His gaze lingers. ]

... Thanks.

[ He's still holding the bouquet. ]

[regressive]

If I make a bouquet as good as this one, will you take it?

[ Brambles might need some cheering up, so...!! ]

[dapples]

[ Why does this sound like a proposal of sorts? ]

Wha--? I ... yes, of course.

[regressive]

[ Because yaoi power dwells within him. ]

All right.

[ Joonghyuk has the other sunflower and some of the daisies. He's been watching Brambles arrange this bouquet carefully, so doing the exact same one shouldn't be too difficult. Well... that's in theory.

In practice, the flowers are tied up a bit too tight and it simply doesn't look as good as the one Brambles made. It's not far too off and it's an earnest attempt, but... ]

I'm not sure if I should give it to you.

[dapples]

Why’s that?

[ Let him see! ]

[regressive]

It's...

[ He doesn't like the composition, but at the same time he's not sure what he could fix here. Loosen the knot? That would probably mean starting over. Maybe it's not a bad idea, after all.

Nonetheless, he shows the bouquet to Brambles and gazes away. ]

[dapples]

[ Earnestly, genuinely, he looks up at him with a bright smile. Whether Joonghyuk expects this reaction or not, Brambles only has one thing to declare: ]

I love it!

[ He reaches forward to study it in his hands. Yes, it's not like a standard bouquet he would sell in his shop. But that's exactly why he loves it. It's original and filled with personality, just like the man who made it. ]

Oh, I want to keep it forever and ever!

[regressive]

It's yours, then.

[ He's not sure if Brambles is doing it to make him feel better or not, but there's no reason not to give it to him. Joonghyuk chokes down the urge to say that these are just a bunch of pixels because...

Brambles seems to be genuinely happy, even if this is just a virtual world. Without realizing it, Joonghyuk rests his hand on top of his head and gently ruffles it. ]

[dapples]

Thank y-- Ohh...!

[ That ... hair ruffle was very unexpected! But is he complaining? Absolutely not. Although he does blush for a moment before bursting into a bright, joyous giggle. ]

Hehehe! That tickles!

[regressive]

Does it?

[ This time, he's just giving Brambles an old-fashioned head pat. ]

I guess I found your weak spot, then.

[ He's unapologetically pleased. ]