Hoseok knows that the building block for any human behaviour is greed, be it his own or anyone else’s. blocks build foundations, foundations - plans, plans - the future he wants to see. but ask any strategist and they’ll say that the most dangerous thing is not the failure itself, but a rogue statistical outlier, for it can ruin your plans one after the next and force you to confront the dreadful truth - is this reason or are you just in love?
•type: mystic strategist! Hoseok x fem! reader • genre: criminal underworld! au (literally), dystopian world, angst, childhood friends to petty enemies/lovers, very Hoseok centred, like extremely, it’s a characterization piece almost
•header credits go to @moon-write thank you so much for indulging my nonsense, I hope this does fit all the guidelines
•rating: mature • w/c: 15k • t/w: implied murder, implied brainwashing, cults, explosions, mentions of claustrophobic environments, mentions of animal experiments, stabbing, near-death experience, collapse of a society
•other warnings + about: upper-class bullshit (yes, it deserves a warning), Darja got very heated about the rich, Hoseok is trying so hard not to simp that once in a while he becomes a little bit of a prick. All in all, this is a dystopian world and while I didn’t want to go too overboard, there are ongoing heavy thematics
•a/n: since essentially being bed-ridden for some time now, I skimmed over old books and that will reflect in this through weird phrasing, word choice and the fact that this is going to be so boring and sort of formless? ಥ_ಥ like she really said, let’s read the classics and drone on and on about wind and such.
During the spring of 1887, officers of her Majesty’s government made a strange and bedimmed discovery in what previously was thought of as an abandoned factory complex. Though the news of it was never made public, the reports discussed by the initial investigators didnot only reach the ears of Her Majesty but also of the general governance. Those who had already exhibited particularly keen interest were the first to link the two questions together that took place around the time - what was the nature of the discovery and was it connected to the missing prisoners? Indeed the question had been mulled for nearly a decade without any definite or even indefinite answer, no one seemed to have the slightest notion of what happened to the rather abnormal number of incarcerated, recorded but unseen. Jails did not report to be overcrowded and there were no rumours of a mass escape. Whereabouts of nearly three hundred people were shrouded by the most intricate secrecies as they were not to be found in any known prisons, military confinement, records of the deceased, even katorgas or nameless graves by any power that was decisive enough to take up the exploration into the query.
The discovery of 1887 was of the fact that underneath the abandoned factory complex there sprawled man-made tunnels and astoundingly spacious caverns where indeed signs of civilized life could be found, though the sitings of the settlers were never established. The investigation reached no further than that, the main leaders of the supposed expedition that was to happen befell into quick and unexplained deaths, additionally, it being a time of great unrest in the country, the subject was laid to rest.
And the sensation became a conspiracy, conspiracy - a tall tale and that a piece of odd but fanciful folklore after enough time had passed.
The existence of Orchid District, as it was dubbed to honour the first officer who made the discovery - Hiram Orchid, was officially discarded in 1962 when such a conception - a literal criminal underground living beneath millions of unsuspecting feet was pronounced a delusional fancy. An improbability within an impossibility concocted by irrational and bored minds.
4. The Charm Offensive, Alice Cochrun — ★ 4/5 stars ★
Happy Pride! Today is also the one year anniversary of this blog! In honor of the occasion, I updated the web version, so it’s acceptable — or at the very least, tolerable — for those of you who use tumblr web. <3
We also reached 500+ followers this month! Welcome to those of you who are new. My asks are always open, so don’t hesitate to leave me an ask or comment. <3
Keep reading for my unsolicited opinion on what I read this month.
Like the last months, I wasn’t able to use the “Keep reading” feature without it duplicating or outright deleting my reviews, so I apologize in advance for the lengthy post. <3
2. Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
Winter’s Orbit had galactic politics, mystery, and, of course, romance. It had all of my favorite tropes: queer arranged marriage, gruding allies to lovers, only one bed, and forced proximity. Kiem and Taam’s relationship was full of angst and misunderstanding, but contained surprising depth. Although the mystery was not as complex as their relationship, it provided the perfect backdrop for these grudging allies to fall in love.
3. The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
I picked up The Darkness Outside Us for the slow burn enemies to lovers romance — which it delivered! — but I stayed for the spectacular science-fiction thriller. The mystery of their existence forces Ambrose and Kodiak to depend on one another in a brilliant depiction of human fragility, vulnerability, and intimacy. The Darkness Outside Us argues for the need for vulnerability and intimacy (in whatever form it should take, whether it be platonic, romantic, and/or sexual) in order to prevent insanity. It also argues that we should accept the inevitability of death as we must die in order for future generations to live. Ultimately, it is not a romance, thriller, or mystery, but a poignant portrayal of life, death, and the depth of human connection.
4. The Charm Offensive by Alice Cochrun
The Charm Offensive portrayed love after heartbreak, vulnerability, and intimacy. Dev and Charlie’s relationship felt incredibly real, despite the fact that it was set against the backdrop of a heavily-faked reality TV show. I appreciated the sensitive depiction of depression, anxiety, and OCD. I also appreciated the demisexual representation. Altogether, it was a wonderfully wholesome read.
