ZEROBASEONE / Devil Game (250227)

[I just want you to know who I am]

INTRO: " and I give up forever to touch you" Is all I need to explain this short story

NOTE: This imagine is inspired by the song "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls.

—————

Soulmates.

In this world, everything revolves around soulmates.

On your 18th birthday, a small tattoo appears on your wrist — a clue to guide you to your other half.

If you can't find them within five years, the universe steps in, etching their full name into your skin, giving a final chance.

But fate isn’t always kind.

If you still can’t find them, or if they’re no longer alive, your heart protects itself the only way it can. It strips you of every emotion, leaving you numb to the world.

—————

It was a normal Tuesday.

The café buzzed with quiet conversations, the low hum of life moving on without you. The cold coffee in front of you sat untouched, the bitter liquid half-empty, half-full — a perfect reflection of how you felt. Or maybe, how you didn’t feel at all.

You lifted your gaze, watching the world through tired eyes. Couples lingered at tables, fingers intertwined, matching tattoos peeking out from beneath sleeves like little promises from the universe. Soulmates. Everywhere you looked, love clung to people like second skin, a reminder of what you never had.

It had been almost eight years. Eight years of searching, hoping, breaking. And still, you were alone.

The universe, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor. You traced your fingers over the faded star on your left wrist, the skin warm beneath your touch. Below it, a name curved along your bone in delicate ink: Mark Lee.

The name appeared three years ago, a lifeline you clung to with trembling hands. You tried. For two relentless years, you chased every lead, whispered his name like a prayer, hoping fate would answer. But fate stayed silent. And eventually, you stopped asking.

Now, the countdown pressed against your chest like a weight. In a few months, your time would run out, and whatever fragile piece of you still clung to hope would shatter. You’d wake up, and everything would be gone. No more sadness, no more longing. No more anything.

Maybe that wasn’t so bad.

Life had already unraveled beneath your feet. You lost your job. Friends faded away like ghosts. Each day bled into the next, an endless loop of empty routines. Maybe losing your emotions was just the final step — maybe the universe was doing you a kindness.

You let out a shaky breath, fingers curling around the coffee cup just to feel something, anything. The porcelain burned against your skin, but the ache was muted, distant. Like it didn’t really belong to you anymore.

Maybe it never did.

You looked at the watch on your right wrist, it was time to go back home. You stood up and after a few seconds you were already out.

The door swung shut behind you with a hollow thud, sealing in the hum of conversation and the clink of cups. Outside, the world was gray. The sky hung low, bloated with heavy clouds, and the air smelled like rain — sharp, metallic, inevitable.

You stepped onto the sidewalk just as the first drop hit your cheek, a cold kiss from the sky. Then another. And another. Within moments, the heavens split open, and the rain poured down in relentless sheets, drenching you in seconds.

You didn’t run. Didn’t flinch.

You just stood there, letting the water seep into your clothes, cling to your skin, blur the world around you. People rushed past, huddled under umbrellas, ducking into doorways, laughter and shouts echoing through the downpour. But no one noticed you.

Of course they didn’t.

You tilted your head back, eyes fluttering shut as raindrops slid down your face like mock tears. It had been so long since you’d cried, you almost forgot what it felt like. Maybe this was the closest you’d get.

The weight in your chest throbbed, an ache so familiar it almost felt like comfort. You pressed your hand against your wrist, fingers brushing over the inked name — Mark Lee — the letters raised like a scar.

Somewhere out there, he existed. Or maybe he didn’t. Maybe he was already gone, and you were mourning a ghost you never got to meet.

Maybe that was why the universe made you wait so long. To break you slowly, piece by piece, until you didn’t care anymore.

Until losing your emotions felt like mercy.

The rain clung to your lashes, blurred the streetlights into smudges of gold. You couldn’t tell if your chest felt heavy or hollow, only that something inside you was slipping, dissolving like sugar in water.

And still, you didn’t move.

Because standing there, soaked and shivering, with the name of a stranger etched into your skin, felt more real than anything had in years.

—————

You decided you were going to appreciate the world one last time before it faded away. Before the colors dulled, and the weight of existence slipped from your grasp. A few more days, and everything you’d ever felt — every scrap of joy, pain, and longing — would be gone.

And now, you were finally in Paris.

You wore a black dress, something delicate and simple, but you’d taken the time to fix your hair, to put on makeup. If this was your last chance to feel, to see beauty, you wanted to face it with grace.

The Musée d'Orsay hummed with quiet life, footsteps echoing against marble floors as visitors admired the art. You stood in front of Van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhône, the deep blues and swirling stars pulling you in.

You traced the brushstrokes with your eyes, imagining his hands painting each one — the desperation, the need to pour his heart onto the canvas. Did he feel like this, too? Like his soul was slipping away?

The painting was beautiful, painfully so. It made your chest ache.

"It’s a pretty painting, isn’t it?"

The voice behind you was warm, low, and gentle enough to make your breath catch.

You turned slowly, and your heart nearly stopped.

He was the most beautiful man you’d ever seen. Dark hair clung to his forehead, and his eyes — soft, dark, and deep enough to drown in — studied you with quiet curiosity.

"Indeed” you whispered, your eyes tracing the swirling night sky. "But… sad."

"Sad?" he echoed, stepping closer.

You swallowed, your fingers twitching at your side. "The stars are so bright, but they feel… unreachable. Like they’re shining for a world they can never touch." You exhaled shakily. "It’s lonely."

He was quiet for a moment, studying the painting like he was trying to see it through your eyes.

"I think the stars are hopeful” he said softly, his voice like a steadying hand. "They can’t touch the world, but they still light it up. Even if no one notices, they just… keep shining."

Your throat tightened. "Even if it doesn’t change anything?"

He nodded. "Even then."

You blinked back tears, staring at the painting until your vision blurred.

"I wish I could be like that” you whispered.

His voice dropped, gentle and almost unbearably kind.

"Maybe you already are."

He smiled, the kind of smile that felt like it could thaw something frozen inside you.

"You’re not from here, are you?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

You shook your head, words sticking to your throat.

"I’m Mark. Nice to meet you."

The world tilted.

Mark.

The name echoed through your skull like a thunderclap. Your pulse roared in your ears, your fingers curling into your dress as panic and hope collided so violently you thought you might shatter.

"I…" Your voice trembled. "I’m sorry if this sounds insane, but… can I ask your last name?"

His brows furrowed, confusion flickering across his face.

"It’s Lee” he said slowly. "Why?"

The room blurred. The painting, the people, Paris itself — it all disappeared.

Mark Lee.

Mark Lee.

The name carved into your wrist like a cruel joke. The name you’d chased for years, across cities and continents, only to end up here, on the other side of the world, face to face with the stranger the universe had promised you.

Your chest caved, and tears welled in your eyes before you could stop them.

"Hi, Mark” you breathed, voice breaking. "I’m Y/N”

His entire body stiffened. His eyes, those gentle eyes, went wide with shock as his lips parted, struggling to form words.

"It’s you?" he whispered, barely believing it himself.

You nodded, the weight of years crashing down on you all at once. The failed searches, the hopeless nights, the slow descent into numbness. All of it had led here.

And he was real.

Mark exhaled sharply, like he’d been holding his breath for years. Without thinking, he reached for your wrist, his fingers brushing over the faded star tattoo. His touch was so careful, so reverent, like he thought you might disappear.

"I looked for you” he said, voice rough. "I thought I’d lost you."

Your heart shattered.

"I thought I’d never find you” you whispered, tears slipping down your cheeks. "I thought I’d wake up and never feel anything again."

Mark let out a shaky laugh, swiping at his own damp face as he stared at you, overwhelmed.

"You found me” he whispered, like he was convincing himself. "We made it."

He pulled you into his arms, holding you as tightly as he could, and for the first time in years, you felt something other than despair.

You felt whole.

LIGHTS OUT PT.1

glossary

a/n: its here after so long cries. I loved writing this so much!! it's heavy on the f1 technicalities and races and stuff so I hope I've done justice to that. So excited for this season to start (not a red bull fan so in no way am I manifesting max 5th but !!! haechan <3). The number of tabs and informatory articles and vids I watched to make this as authentic and real as possible will haunt me but I would not have it any other way. This is for all my f1 + kpop fans, but to those who are only a part of one, hopefully you will fall in love with the other. The glossary, I think, will help a lot for those who don't watch f1 so I'd suggest keeping that tab open as you read this. I truly hope you guys love this as much as I do! comments and reblogs are always appreciated <3 (if you want to be notified for pt 2, i don't have a taglist yet so u can just write a comment/dm/ask!)

BAHRAIN, PRE-SEASON TESTING, DAY-1

 February 26th

Well, that Mercedes is fast on the straights, Haechan thinks as he swoops into the slipstream. The heat is already getting to him. He’s sure he had asked for the evening time slot. Maybe he’ll talk with his engineer about this as soon as he gets out of this godforsaken car. To be fair, it isn’t godforsaken, not really. In fact he has an inkling that it’s far from that as he watches his delta on the screen blink green— faster than his last lap— but nowhere near the times posted by Mercedes and Ferrari. 

“Am I good to overtake?” Haechan speaks into his radio.

“Let’s take it easy. No need to exert too much Haechan. Sector 1 and 2 look good, let’s shave a tenth off in sector 3 and we’ll box to check the metrics.”

KIM JIWOONG EN MNET PLUS CHAT

These guys need another series

Elope.

okay i finished watching ep 33-38 of twot and all i want to do is cry and cry and then cry some more. i literally watched 33-35 in anxiety, knowing what was supposed to come. it felt so damn cruel how they were going to go home if it wasn’t for Shen Bei asking Song Ran to stay back. they said their goodbyes and were finally being a tiny bit “selfish” and choosing themselves.

and yet here we are. i’m so heartbroken for them and how they didn’t get even 1/10th of the good karma they both had. it’s just — too much. all of it. they deserved better even when all odds were against them.

if there was one phrase / advice that fits Li Zan, it’d be “don’t light yourself on fire trying to keep others warm” bec that’s literally what he kept doing, over and over again. that’s who he is and one time he tried otherwise, he still lost.

i just wish they had gone back the day they had planned.

Now that I think about it, their first meeting, with her literally stepping on a landmine and him promising to not leave her alone even after she asks him to do so, was really indicative of how their relationship was going to pan out.

That was when she decided that she's willing to even travel to the depths of hell, if only it meant being with him, and the remainder of the show is just her making good on that sentiment.

Scenes I loved in The White Olive Tree

Since it’s been more than a day and i feel less awful (the key is to try and not think about it) about The White Olive Tree, I’m gonna do a list of my fav scenes to make myself feel better.

- their first meeting simply bec it set the tone for their relationship and narrative. they both were doomed the moment she stepped on the landmine.

- the dance outside the bar, among the ruins (fr finding happiness and creating beauty amongst the ruins). this also sets the tone for their relationship bec well that’s what their entire arc has been. it’s another point in favour of them living after eloping and finding solace in each other despite their struggles.

- taking each other’s wrist sizes

- when she’s drunk with Dr Pei and writes his name within a heart.

- when he finds Song Ran at the orphanage explosion and how it’s shot / edited bec even though they weren’t official, they still sought comfort and safety from each other.

- when they see each other at the airport (loved how it was so visible he wasn’t the same just through his smile and eyes alone)

- when he’s having a breakdown and collapses but listens to her voice notes and it calms him down. all the scenes with her being his anchor were stunning honestly. it truly was a peek into the depth of his feelings for her even if it wasn’t that apparent or obvious (goes back to his privacy and gentle quietness).

- when he finds out about Zorro’s death (it broke my heart in the worst way possible because of how real that was)

- the dance on their balcony when she fears she’ll actually go blind and want to store their memories away for later (I can’t believe he never finds out the extent of how worse it was for her eyes). also the next morning bit - he wasn’t magically healed and it was a reminder of his good-bad days were on two extreme ends.

- the Matuman mission when he’s having a ptsd episode and she’s repeatedly saying “A’Zan” and he finally snaps out. He doesn’t know she’s there and she’s not saying it bec she knows he’s going through it but it’s a nod to their soulmatism in a very real context and it doesn’t come off as fake or dramatic.

- when they make up in her hotel room and Li Zan finds out about her antidepressants and that entire conversation was just everything (CZY was so brilliant ugh he has made this show worth the sadness for me).

- the cheek kiss before he’s about to leave simply bec they both are so in love and so happy (we deserved more of their happiness but sigh)

- when she hugs him while he can’t get himself to differentiate between present and past while diffusing the bomb. it was perfect, no notes. special mention to his breakdown in her arms right after + the conversation by the tree and making the best choices we can in a high stakes situation.

- ep 36 bit when she stabs herself and his tiny smile when he sees her hands twitching (it’s painful and I don’t want to think about this)

- when she asks him to kiss her again in their kitchen in ep 37-38. that entire scene is tragic beautiful but something about that specific bit has me. it’s one of those first moments post incident when you see her vulnerability and how she’s also hanging by a thread no matter how much she pretends to otherwise.

- his voice over when he leaves her and her reading his diary out loud to him. and then the proposal - her words are exactly the same as what he says in his voice over even though he doesn’t say that to her? She answers each of his concern and stakes her claim on him and it’s just one of those moments when you know they fit each other like two puzzle pieces.

- their wedding and the night. yes it was sad but their wedding was a glimpse of hope and real happiness and Li Zan’s assurance that they could have easy and free lives and they didn’t have to wait for reincarnation was needed for both Song Ran and us.

Special mention to a ton little things that they focused on honestly. I love when shows focus on the tiniest things especially ones that I notice before they’re even mentioned and then the characters take note of that. So many times I’ve been left disappointed but twot got every single one of those and my heart did a happy little dance at each one of them. There are too many for me to list or remember but some: Li Zan catching a tear on her chin after the bomb disposal, Song Ran noticing the glass wounds on his neck (it was barely visible) or the blood on his shoulder when they kissed. It’s like these little things I’m noticing are real and it brings me into their narrative before they are mentioned.

Also another important thing that I loved was that all the decisions taken by the characters make sense given how they are. Twot uses many tropes that you’d find in lots of other shows but what’s different is that they make sense given how the characters are as people. Li Zan’s saviour complex isn’t annoying or comes off as holier than thou attitude but rather it’s coming from a place of empathy, understanding and sense of responsibility (taken too far). Song Ran’s independence makes perfect sense bec she doesn’t want to burden him with her issues since she’s never had that kind of support system. Their lack of communication isn’t just a trope but makes complete sense for them as two people who have fallen in love with each other and are dealing with a crazy ton of serious issues with minimal healing success.

It’s realistic, through and through, and each decision adds up from a character’s point of view.

These two are in their own BL...

Just thinking about Fratboy!Jaehyun... who yes, of course he knows his birthday is on Valentine's Day, but that doesn't mean he's not going to ask you, his girlfriend, to be his valentine. He doesn't care that it's his birthday all that much because at the end of the day, he still wants you to feel special and loved.

So on February 13th, he comes home from his classes with a pretty bouquet of roses in his hands and a card with some cheesy pun and a smile on his face. Who would have guessed that the former fuckboy of Nu Chi Theta would be so excited to be in a committed, loving relationship and excited to ask his girlfriend of over a year to be his for a day that was usually all about him?

He comes into the frat house, sets his backpack near the staircase and finds you sitting on a couch far too dirty and unworthy of someone as precious as you and simply smiles. He loves how comfortable you are in a house that was once drowning in testosterone, you made it better for everyone.

"Sweetheart," he starts, entering your line of sight, "I know Valentine's Day is a little different for us, but I still wanted to ask, like I have before, if you'd like to be my valentine?"

You pout at Jaehyun with pure and utter affection, "Baby! I'd love to!"

Jaehyun leans down to press a kiss against your lips and hands you the bouquet and the card, "perfect, we can celebrate the day after tomorrow-"

"Well, I didn't finish," you reply awkwardly, "Haechan kind of already asked me to be his valentine..."

Jaehyun's face falls, "tell me you said no."

"Baby," you whine, cupping his face, "he's one of my best friends!"

"And I'm your boyfriend! Hello?! You can't be another guy's valentine on my birthday!"

"Well, it's not like we'll be going on a date or anything! We're just making each other valentine's baskets and that's it," you explain, pressing what you hope is a calming kiss against his lips.

"But it's my birthday," Jaehyun protests with a pout.

"Exactly, my love, so you know I like to treat you on your birthday. I'll spend the night tonight, tell you happy birthday right when the clock strikes midnight, we can put some of these flower petals to good use, and I have a special surprise for your eyes only," you whisper huskily, eyes dark while you trail soft, teasing kisses up the side of Jaehyun's neck.

He feels himself melting against the stained cushions of the couch, finding that in this moment he would say yes to anything you say or ask. His eyes fall shut, enjoying the feel of your soft lips against his sensitive skin while one of your hands finds its way under the worn cotton of his t-shirt, nails trailing over the pale skin of his abs. You smirk against his skin as a shiver runs down his spine, he's so pliable and docile in your hands when he's like this.

The make out session, foreplay, teasing— whatever, is interrupted when you both hear a sing songy, "oh, Sweetheart!"

You pull away from you boyfriend with a confused pinch in your brows. It comes as a surprise to both you and Jaehyun when you find the Jaehyun's core frat brothers walking toward the two of you all holding beautiful flower arrangements in their hands, your favorite snacks, and stuffed animals.

"What is going on?" Jaehyun breathes out, eyes zeroed in on his frat brothers with a matching look of confusion on his face.

"Sweetheart," Yuta starts.

"Will you," Johnny carries on.

"Be our," Jungwoo continues.

"Valentine?" Mark finishes off.

"God, another 7 guys to share you with?" Jaehyun breathes under his breath before turning his attention to the guys, "you guys know she's my girlfriend, right?"

"Jaehyun, she's frat sweetheart. This is literally the least we can do," Doyoung explains with a look that leaves no room for complaints.

And Jaehyun can't even find it in himself to complain, not when he sees the look of pure joy and the tears of happiness in your eyes as you go down the line and hug your friends one by one while accepting the gifts. He's so in love with you.

a/n: trying out a bit of a different format here

Johnny – Fake Offended, Actually Proud

Taeyong – Soft and Flustered

Yuta – Finds It Hot Immediately

Doyoung – Pretends To Be Annoyed

Jaehyun – Casually Obsessed

Jungwoo – Freaks Out (In A Cute Way)

Mark – Gets Shy but Loves It

Haechan – Uses It Against You Immediately

250216 MARK, DOYOUNG & JOHNNY Weverse Live Thumbnail

250218 emk_musical IG Update with DOYOUNG