Tagged By @bangtan-writing. Thanks Sweetie!

Tagged by @bangtan-writing. Thanks sweetie!

BOLD if the answer is yes

You have a problem with bias wreckers.

Being attacked by Taehyung every single damn day ain’t right for a 70 year old’s heart.

You get jealous when other people like your bias

You have at least one poster of your bias

Bless my lovely friend who gave me a poster of Jin and Yoongi during their WOH era.

You are a fan of Kpop for more than 4 years

You have a blog only about Kpop

My blog is mostly about indie bands tbh idk a kpop???

You have at least one friend who likes Kpop

Which include the lovely admins and all my mutuals whom I love a lot.

You have imagined your bias naked at least once...(I have now, thanks)

….. I’m an innocent child (((:

You have written at least one fanfiction about Kpop idol/s

You have read at least one fanfiction about Kpop idol/s

I’ve read so many I’ve lost count tbh

You have read at least one smutty fanfiction about Kpop idol/s

Child of god (((:

You follow at least one Kpop reaction blog

You have had at least one dream about your bias marrying you

You don’t mind sexualization in Kpop videos  

Most groups you like are from SM entertainment

Most groups you like are from YG entertainment

You have named something after kpop idol

You live in S.Korea

You would like to live in S.Korea

Your first Korean song was “PSY - Gangnam Style”

You watched a drama with your bias starring in it

You have watched “To The Beautiful You”

You have watched “I Remember You”

You have not watched a Kdrama before  

You have seen your ultimate bias shirtless

You have seen your ultimate bias in a dress (”Hip hop is dead”)

You have introduced someone to Kpop by playing “SHINee - Ring Ding Dong”

You have had dirty thoughts about BTS’ Jungkook

He’s a lil shit i hate h.i.m.

You have other interests outside of Kpop

My dogs are my other interest I’m a very boring person this is why I’m known as a soccer mom.

You have told your parents/guardians about your ultimate bias

I’ve shown them pictures of Minghao and they thought he was the cutest thank!

You have been to a Kpop concert at least once

EXO’LUXION LA BIH IT WAS SO LIT I LOVE MY LIFE I SAW WHAT GODS LOOK LIKE IRL ALSO WENT TO AOMG CONCERT LAST THURSDAY WHICH WAS GR8 ALSO BUT THEY AIN’T KPOP BUT STILL I SAW GODS SPIT STRAIGHT FIRE AND YEA I THINK THAT ADDED 50 MORE YEARS TO MY LIFE SADLY.

You have voted on MAMA at least once

I voted nonstop last year

You know more than 10 Korean words

I still can’t speak a complete sentence though .-.

You use at least one Korean word on a daily basis

You are learning Korean

Even though I’ve stopped for quite some time now I need to stop procrastinating.

You found out about Kpop by yourself

Sorta?? Like my friend showed me a bit of BTS Dope but I didn’t really get into it that much until last summer that’s when I truly listened to it and actually got on YouTube and listened more to it. (actually first encounter would have been Wedding Dress by Taeyang eons ago..)

You are listening to Kpop right now

9muses- Yes or No (Please stan these beautiful women they’re honestly so underrated but they have such a1 songs)

You are listening to Girls’ Generation right now

You are listening to Big Bang right now

You have regretted getting into Kpop at least once

Every single day bc they are the reason why I’m broke

You are in more than ten fandoms

You own any group’s lightstick

You have more than 100 pictures of your ultimate bias saved

I need to make more space bc they’re all have a comeback this week

You watch Eat Your Kimchi

(I hate EYK they’re very messy)

You know someone who does not like Kpop

You have an OTP

You have made a ship name for you and a Kpop idol

Your ultimate bias has a solo album

Your ultimate bias is younger than you

I tag @an-exotic-writer @btsvines @infires-by-bts @lovely-bts @bangtanbighit. Have fun!

Fourth Year of Hogwarts | BTS Hogwarts AU

Last Year

The Hogsmeade incident happened sometime in the second half of the third year. This is the year that the boys really bonded.

In Quidditch, Namjoon was the announcer and he always made comments about his friends, but he didn’t take it too far lest he be kicked out of being an announcer.

Ladies, Seokjin is a handsome and pale man at the ripe age of 15. Look at that beautiful save against the Slytherin’s attack at his hoops. Isn’t he protective? Yoongi better step up his game if he wants his team to win, because he really can’t count on the rest of his teammates, especially with Taehyung’s precise bludger interceptions at the chasers. Anyway, back to Seokjin, he’s 179cm. He loves food and cares a lot about his friends. He’s a true gentleman and will do couple matches with you, as long as you’re okay with him wearing pink with you.

You can hear protests coming from the professors about him needing to pay attention to the actual game.

Jimin was once knocked off his broom by a Ravenclaw seeker who was on his way to catch the snitch. He was bedridden for a week. If it wasn’t for his kindness and forgiveness, the rest of the boys would have made sure that seeker would even feel sick at the mention of the Quidditch field again.

Taehyung didn’t care and would skip many classes to hang out with Jimin in the hospital wing. Jimin was the one who pushed him out because he didn’t want his friend to fail.

Seokjin secretly came to check on him at night, sharing his secret about the tickling pear and snacking all night.

Namjoon would outwardly write him detailed class notes in all the classes that he was with Jimin. He never revealed his secret about the time-turner, but he did end up breaking a rule and using it to secretly attend the classes Jimin didn’t have with him and still wrote him notes. When asked about them, he only smiled and said he had his ways.

Hoseok always cheered Jimin up whenever he visited and helped him catch up with what was going on outside of the hospital wing.

Jungkook checked up with Jimin after every class, even if the hospital wing was out of his way. He showed him new things he learned in class, earning awes from Jimin. He brought many things from the Zonko’s Joke shop to entertain Jimin.

Yoongi thought Jimin far too kind within his circle of friends and he would always talk to Taehyung about getting revenge, but Jimin always told him to let it go. Yoongi was a quiet companion with Jimin in the hospital wing, but he always stayed the longest and returned the most frequently.

Jimin wrote a thank you letter to all his friends.

Jungkook and Yoongi’s competition in the field brought a lot more attention now that they were friends and could outwardly taunt each other. They always played fair and won almost an equal amount of times. Jungkook still won more because he was much more outwardly competitive.

Taehyung and Jimin revealed their interest in animagi and caught the rest of the boy’s interests. In their third year, they were only gathering information, this year, they were really going to start trying to transform.

Since one of the steps is to hold a leaf of mandrake in their mouth for an entire month, the boys took turns to do that and have the rest of the boys be as loud as possible to steer away from the fact that one of them was quieter than a mouse for a month.

Getting the mandrake leaf was the funniest thing. Every one decided to get their own leaf. The rest of them would spectate and just crack up so hard at the attempts.

In the dead of night

Jimin was timid but he was pushed to do it first. Jimin would say kind words to the mandrake to be quiet when he first touched the mandrake. He freaked out by the first cry and ripped away half a leaf. He started running but realized he only ripped a half and had to run back for a full one.

Seokjin was next and he was very good in the very beginning, all his mandrake did was whimper, but then it started shrieking and it freaked him out. Was able to get a full leaf on first try, unlike Jimin.

Namjoon charmed a silence spell over the whole greenhouse. He didn’t charm the silence on the mandrake so he wouldn’t interfere with the natural mandrake.

Yoongi charmed the greenhouse and his own ears because he cared for the quiet the most. He didn’t want to use the earmuffs. He took his time and freaked out the others because he took so long and they couldn’t hear anything.

Hoseok was so nervous. It took him a long time to actually make contact with the mandrake, but he made it quick. His heart still thumped the loudest after 20 minutes.

Taehyung was most skilled at dealing with the mandrake and was in and out in the quickest amount of time. His mandrake cried the quietest.

Jungkook had done a clean and swift job. His mandrake cried the least.

Out of genuine friendship and proof of it, Yoongi disclosed the secret of the Room of Requirement to the rest of the boys. They now had a place to practice transforming.

They all drew their heads in together to create the best room to match the seven of them. Unfortunately, Yoongi notified Seokjin that the Room of Requirement couldn’t conjure food. It made Seokjin disappointed but Jimin quietly reminded Seokjin about his own secret. That being said, Seokjin decided to trust the rest of his friends about his secret too. Food stock is not a problem.

They obviously kept Yoongi’s permanent music player. Only their room would keep this item and would transform with it.

Namjoon was very practical and declared that they needed large space and an emergency medical kit on standby in case of any accidents.

Hoseok wanted mirrors so he can continuously monitor the transformations in every angle and make sure nothing went wrong.

Jimin was a little more on the comfort angle and came up with the hang out corner for everyone to relax. Taehyung, Jungkook, and Jimin were put in charge of coming up with the comfort corner. Resting area, games, and many muggle items Jimin introduced the pureblood elder brothers to.

They disappeared from the rest of the school very often, but it was clear to everyone else of their group. They were by far the most diverse group, save for Ravenclaw but their parent’s legacy proved their diversity.

Animagi:

Taehyung

He was the first to succeed transformation. For sure, being a lion was cool and all, but it lacked the stealth he wanted to muster up for pranks.

Oh, but imagine people seeing a random lion around. Is he the physical manifestation of all that is Gryffindor? He could lead Gryffindor into a riot at the Great Hall.

He could sit on the professor’s desk before class begins and everyone will just have to deal with it. Just not in Transfiguration. The professor would see right through it. But in truth, he didn’t want to register his animagi form just yet, maybe when he graduated. If that was the case, it’s best that he kept his animagus away from the rest of the students and staff. His animal was the most conspicuous.

Maybe a lion wouldn’t be all that bad in the scheme of things…

All in all, he’s actually quite relieved to see himself as a lion because this whole time, he felt a little out of place in Gryffindor. Now, he will never doubt again.

Namjoon

Why? Why a penguin?

Was it because he was a seemingly cold person compared to the fiery hearts in Gryffindor?

Was it because he used to awkwardly waddle secretly at home when he was a child, and now his past has come back to haunt him?

Was it because a penguin was both black and white, a well-balanced animal?

Was it because penguins are witty, meticulous, and inscrutable. Deep creatures of the south that everyone cannot compare?

Yes…yes a penguin….he can feel it!

Yoongi

Man, changing into an animagus was such hard work. When he finally changed, he was relieved that he had reached his end goal.

Would have fallen asleep right away after he changed out of exhaustion if his curiosity didn’t get the better of him.

A porcupine, huh?

Quite fitting, seeing how many people felt like it was so hard to approach him. Even though he didn’t mean to, he’s naturally like this.

His animal was witty and resourceful. He had nothing to complain.

Seokjin

Such a pretty stag. He loved every bit of himself.

Graceful and serene

He felt elusive, beautiful, and dignified

He’ll explore the forbidden forest

He’ll explore the far grounds of Hogwarts

No one can ever catch this seemingly underestimated animal to be the most handsome man in all of Gryffindor

Hoseok

Could he be any cuter?

Prairie dogs are so fun-loving, affectionate, and generous. He didn’t see anything that would suit him better.

His prairie dog will help him exert his energy all over the place.

He felt out-of-bounds in his animagus form, running around with his friends on the grounds when no one was paying attention to the seven animals who had no natural business to be with each other.

He felt free

Jimin

Foxes are perfect. Such a beautiful creature fully of loyalty and fun-loving passion.

He would always joke around with his friends and ladies passing by that he’s actually “quite foxy”

Sly creature with creativity would best suit him when pulling pranks with Taehyung

His agility will suit his escaping purposes. He would race his lion-hearted friend. It’s such a sight to imagine

Jungkook

Determined, untamed, and dynamic. These were the three things he told himself when he first looked in the mirror

These three things could prove all his amazing qualities

But granted, zebras had its aggressive moments. Luckily he had friends whose animagi were just as well, helping him settle down, as untamed as he could be sometimes.

But also peaceful and self-contained when he’s in the environment most comfortable to him. And being in Hufflepuff had been feeling just like that.

Next year

A Confidence Game 1.4 | BTS Mafia and Con Artist AU

Plot: Hoseok and Minsuk’s parents have died 11 years ago and they have been con artists for 8 years now. The moment Hoseok wants Minsuk to have a chance to start a new life, the Bangtan mafia approaches them to pull one last con.

Words: 5,174

Drama/angst/violence (at some point. we’re dealing with the mafia and con artists here)

Warnings: (M) mature themes

Character Profiles | Previous chapter

Part 1: Foundation Work: The preparations, which are made before the scheme is put in motion, including the elaboration of the plan, the employment of assistants, and so forth.

Minsuk sighs as she plops file over file on top of one another. She and Hoseok took all the documents home that night. Hoseok is currently reviewing the contract with Bangtan as she maps out the important information; the things that were vital to know about the con.

“Honestly, all these information, they’re good, but they’re just scratching the surface. They’re still not as in-depth as you usually can pull up for us. You might have to do some extra digging.” She mumbles and hears Hoseok’s hum as a reply. She looks up. His eyebrows knit together as he analyzes every word.

“Relax. I trust that they need us more than we need them. They tailored this contract for us. You even watched them write it out, print it, staple it, and put it in the folder, before passing it on to you. It hasn’t left her hand since then. Have a little faith.” Hoseok snorts at her last words.

“Faith? In the mafia?” He raises his eyebrows at her, “Minsuk, the world cannot always be trusted, especially not the underworld. It’s because they need us more than we need them that they could trap us. We tripped at our own finish line for them and now we’ve started another race. I need to make sure we finish this and there will be nothing else. I will not allow us to be blindsided by what they’ve offered, which really isn’t enough anyway.”

“You could have given them an outrageous term. You know, throw them off and decide they don’t want to work with us.”

“If they thought I’m just toying with them, they could kill me and sell you.”

“I guess so. Then I’m glad you were cooperative to them.”

“It’s because, beyond me, I know you want to do this.” He reaches out for her hand.

“I know you’re excited that I can be in Seoul with you, but it’s at such a dangerous price. We never mingle ourselves with the depths of the underworld. We don’t know what we’re dealing with. So I want you to promise me.” He makes her look at him dead-straight in the eyes.

“We’re going to keep each other in check to stay safe. We’re going to stay sharp against the mafia. We’re partners for one con with them, but they’re not our family, we are. Family is always going to be the priority here. The moment we are in too deep, we stop. Between the law and the mafia, I’d rather be in trouble with the law.” She inhales sharply.

She knows that the checking on each other is really him checking up on her. She’s more of what Hoseok would call “impulsive”. She’s pulled extemporaneous stunts that could have literally stopped her heart on several occasions, not to mention break his. Not only is Hoseok primarily a planner, he is the one who takes the background roles while she is the main face of each con. He has every right to act cautious for her sake since she isn’t.

Hoseok’s right to not underestimate the mafia’s ruthlessness. But even though they don’t dabble with the rest of the underworld, she knows the common rules. Partnership requires a certain amount of accountability between two parties to pull through; it’s good business. 

Bangtan had a strong name on a global scale, how else can they get there without a fair bit of accountability and efficiency? It’s their good name that had them climb up the ladder. Such reliability doesn’t spout out of nowhere without some truth.

She doesn’t know if there’s an official reason why they spotted them out of all the con artists in South Korea, but it’s true that there have been whispers of their M.O.; but no names, thanks to Hoseok. This matters to Hoseok, but not Minsuk necessarily. At this point, Hoseok is going to keep his sister close and his enemies just as close. Given that she is the closest thing he’s got, it’s saying something.

Maybe she is crazy, getting high off of the thrill. She isn’t sure whether she’s greedy for the rewards or prideful of her work, but there’s some sense of accomplishment at the end of every trick that she can’t find anywhere else. Granted, she’s never really put herself out there to experience anything else that can give her the same feeling. 

Maybe she’s far deeper than her brother hoped and he doesn’t see that because he doesn’t want to. Whatever the case, she knows she has to appease her brother in order to see this through.

“I promise. But you will also promise me. Ever con is dangerous, we both know that. You can’t expect everything to be smooth sailing in this one, even if we have more help, especially because they’re from the mafia. When we do dangerous things, we still need to stay and stick it out to get it done, so we don’t get stuck in a dangerous position. We’re going to put our best efforts because of three reasons: 1) this is our last con, so we need to do this right for ourselves. 2) Even if we don’t care about the mafia and their reasons, we need to execute this con the best we can so there’s no backlash from them. They are technically our first and last client. 3) Clean job is our M.O. We will not allow ourselves to have repercussions from the mafia or the law. We never left any unfinished business, and we will not start now.” she holds out her pinkie. He looks at her pinkie and smiles at her childish gesture, but one she still uses quite often.

“Deal.” He hooks his pinkie on hers and stamp her thumb with his to seal the deal.

The next day, they introduce their proposed con to the mafia.

“We’ve thought it through last night. You said that you would prefer that he is under your thumb, but we’ve already established that you can’t do that because he’ll probably figure a way out. So what we should do is essentially just take him out of the political game. Since he can see past direct attempts, we need to look for someone in his life who can’t. When that person gets backed into your corner and he feels like he needs to help him out, then he consciously chooses to plunge his hands into the filth. He’s in such a pedestal to the public. The moment he falls, he has everything to lose.” Hoseok begins.

“What’s the bad choice he has to make?” Yoongi asks.

“Don’t know yet. We’re still digging through for more information. Somehow, you’ll make a deal with him that he can’t say no to because of that person he’s helping out. It needs to be a deal that you can attempt to rationalize for his benefit though. This is essentially a con within a con.” Minsuk folds her hands and smiles at everyone.

“A dream within a dream.” Jimin mumbles through his fingers and gives a sly smile at Yoongi like some sort of inside joke. Yoongi just grunts and gestures to Hoseok to continue.

“Who’s the person you are corrupting?” Namjoon asks Minsuk.

“His son.” Hoseok took out a folder and slid it over to Namjoon.

“He’s a third year at SNU, majoring in photography and journalism. I’m still working on how to approach him though. The idea is in here,” she taps her skull, “but I’m still working out the plan.”

“What are you doing while she’s working on her mark?” Seokjin points to Hoseok.

“I’m going to be on Kang’s side. Working out the politics, keeping an eye on him, and figuring out a way to find a “beneficial” deal for you to give to him.”

“How long will all of this take?” Yoongi asks.

“The university semester starts in the beginning of March. Elections are mid-April and it’s cleaner to just have him drop out of the race before then. Right now is just the beginning of January. We’re looking at three and a half months. But since March is when semester starts, we actually have a month and a half to actually con Mark and his father.

“Since the semester starts in March, what are you going to be doing now?” Namjoon asks.

Minsuk looked at Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook.

“I’d like to get to know you.”

The first person she goes along with is Jimin back to the first hotel they met. She looks at the different cameras in front of her. They’re currently in the security office, watching the people gambling their lives away in the casino.

“Why gambling? I mean, Koreans aren’t known for their gambling.”

“You’re right, but how many Koreans do you see down there, other than those who work for me? It’s very few. Most of the people who enter in are tourists. We’ve landed casinos in Las Vegas, Macau, Atlantic City, Monte Carlo, Reno, and other places with a high gambling reputation. They all highly recommend ours back in this country and so we technically monopolize majority of the gambling joints in Korea, and we’re in Seoul so there’s a lot of people who pass by. We’ve got other smaller casinos all around the country as well, so I don’t have to stay in one place all the time. Since we have the ability to monopolize it, why not? It’s a market others can’t compete with us.”

“Do you personally enjoy gambling?” She asks.

“Being a firsthand observer of those addicted, I’m not tempted. But I’m not really in it for the gambling aspect.” Before she can ask for further explanation, his phone alerts him something. He looks at the notification and smirks.

He looks at her, “Do you want to know what I’m talking about? Fair warning, it’s a long drive.” She nods and goes along with him.

“Stay in the car. Wouldn’t want your brother putting me in a headlock for bringing you to some place dangerous. You can observe through the tinted windows.” Jimin doesn’t look at her and slides out of the car and closes the door before anyone outside can sneak a peek to know she’s still inside.

She cracks open the sunroof to hear the conversation outside and scoots closer to the window. She looks at the driver who quickly glances at her through the rearview mirror but angles his head so it won’t look like he’s looking at anyone in the back of the car. She stares at him until he looks away and so did she.

“Mr. Park.” The man walks towards Jimin and they meet halfway.

“Mr. Long, I heard you were in a fair bit of trouble. What’s going on? Tell me everything” Jimin shakes the hand of the man who’s already shaking. Mr. Long sniffs as he looks left and right, and then to the car.

“Can we go inside? It’s a little cold out.”

“Sure.” Jimin turns towards the car and walks towards it with Mr. Long tailing behind him. His piercing stare made Minsuk feel like he can see her even through the darkened windows. Passenger’s seat, he mouths.

She quickly hurdles herself forward and climbs to the front passenger’s seat. She slouches as low as she can and raises the privacy window between the driver and the backseats. She looks at the driver, again with another awkward stare until he looks away.

She hears the car door in the back open and close. The weight of two men shift the car.

“How about some brandy to warm up?” Jimin takes the brandy bottle in the back and a glass.

“Thank you.” When Jimin hands him the glass, Jimin shifts himself to face the man and stretches his arm to rest on the back of the seat.

“What’s going on?”

“So I’m here on vacation, right? I stayed at the casino hotel nearby and I kind of spent the past four days gambling. A couple hours ago, I realized I’ve gambled away everything except for 600k won. I played my last game of black jack with the ante starting at 295k won. I had 19 and I kept raising, hoping to buy the pot but the dealer had a 20. I lost to a damn 20. The pot was 2.4 million won…”

“So now you own the casino 2.4 million won.” Jimin plays with the rings on his finger while expressing concern in his eyes.

“Yeah. Look, I know we haven’t met long, but seriously, you introduced me to the hotel. I need some fast money. I can’t get the money from home, that account is being watched by my wife. Luckily, I already have my round trip ticket home, but I know I can’t leave until I pay.” Jimin looks stressed as he rubs his eyebrow and puts a finger to his lips.

“So let me get this straight. You actually do have the money at home, but you can’t get it? It’s just a matter of your wife right? You can convince her, can’t you? It’s a problem stuck in whether or not you can convince her. It’s not necessarily that you don’t have the money.” Jimin clarifies.

“My wife can’t know I’ve been gambling here. She thinks I’ve been clean for half a year. Look buddy, you introduced me to the hotel, you got me that escort that used up a good fraction in one night. You need to help me.”

“You’re putting the blame on me, huh? It’s your own damn fault for giving in. Who told you to listen to me? We met at the bar in an airport.” Jimin slowly shows his true colors.

“I – well, you told me that if anything happens, come to you.” She raises her eyebrows at the sound of that. It sounds very familiar because she’s heard it many times in her own cons. Jeez, people are stupid.

“I did. And I did say that I’ll help. But I never said I’m helping you. You’re asking me to help you pay myself back. What idiot would do that?” Jimin tilts his head at Mr. Long and gives him silence to figure it out.

“You – you’re –“ Mr. Long puts the pieces together and turns around to open the door and scramble out, but Jimin quickly locks the door on his side and lunges towards Mr. Long. Jimin puts his arm horizontally to lock Mr. Long from moving his arms to defend himself and gives him a few solid punches. Jimin rams his knee to the man’s right gut. He rams Mr. Long’s head against the window and the window cracks. He throws him to the other side and elbows the man’s calf. Minsuk winces when she hears a sickening crack.

Mr. Long shakes as he unlocks the door and opens it, rolling out of the car. He crawls forward as he cries and Jimin leisurely steps out of the car, playing with his rings again. Minsuk raises her head slightly to see Jimin’s back as he crouches down to Mr. Long and gives him a pat on the back.

“Look, all you have to do is fess up to your wife. It sucks, no doubt. But consider the alternative: me. How much is 2.4 million won in your country? $2000, give or take? It could be worse. You have two more days until your flight back home. I suggest you convince your wife to transfer the money to you overnight. The mafia isn’t patient or lenient with people who don’t pay their dues.”

“The ma–mafia?” Mr. Long sputters and finally sees the shadows on Jimin’s face, seeing his true nature.

“Yeah, uh, the hotel? It’s owned by Bangtan. If you don’t know who that is…jeez, have you been living under a rock? Pay the casino tomorrow by 4pm. If not, let’s just say you’re far too easy to find. I don’t need you to message me to know where you were, just saying.” Jimin stands up and takes in the surroundings. He exhales and runs a hand through his hair.

“You’re right, it’s pretty cold. Here.” Jimin goes to the back trunk and pulls out an extra coat and throws it on top of Mr. Long.

“Wouldn’t want you to freeze to death before you paid. If it’s after 4pm tomorrow and you haven’t paid yet, well then, I’ll be taking the coat back.” Jimin turns his heel and goes into the car, signaling the driver to go, leaving Mr. Long.

Minsuk lowers the privacy window and turns her body to look at him. She peeks through her seat to look at him and he looks at her, or only up to her nose.

“You look cute.”

“You look scary. It wouldn’t truly faze you if my brother did put you in a headlock, would it?” Jimin barks in laughter as he rubs his rings again. He kisses them even though she’s pretty sure there was some blood on it.

“What did you expect? I’m a part of the Bangtan.”

“I don’t know. I don’t really have any expectations.” He stares at her for a second. Sure, she admits that she thinks he’s scary, but she really doesn’t show that she’s actually afraid. If anything, he thinks she’s intrigued.

“Well, now you know me. Did you get what you wanted? What did you want anyway?”

“I guess so. I’m trying to see how I can integrate you, Taehyung, and Jungkook into the job. If I figure your strengths and weaknesses, I can put you in a place where it’s best for you so you can be as natural in your roles as you can.”

“I see. Well good luck in doing that. And trust me; I’m not the worst one out of the three of us.” Jimin looks out the window. Minsuk turns her body to face the front again.

The next one is Taehyung. His “home” is an unassuming small medical facility in Daegu. In there, Minsuk finds many of Bangtan’s soldiers in one side of the medical facility, getting treated and checked up. Apparently, they come with their own medical insurance and hospital. It actually has all the technology for any health related conditions ready for emergencies.

The other side of the facility is open to the public, sort of.

Taehyung is the drug dealer for Bangtan, dabbling in all sorts of narcotics and stimulants. Minsuk wonders if any of that could account for the strange extra bounce in his stride. He has her walk beside him as he strolls through the facility to the employee’s only door in the back. He swipes his card key, punches in a code, and uses an actual key inserted into the door before opening it.

“So much security.” Minsuk notes as they go through and pass a cold hallway into a hot boiler room. They descended underground of the facility and finally came to her destination.

“Welcome, to my lab.” Taehyung exclaims and bounces down the metal stairs and she follows him.

Many people are in confined glass cubicles and it seems that they are doing chemical tests. At the top of every cubicle’s door, there is a series of different symbols.

“I made that. It’s my own language.” Taehyung says proudly when he turns around and sees MInsuk trying to make sense of it.

“What are they supposed to stand for?”

“Only those in the cubicles and I know. But I’m sure you’ll figure it out, it’s fairly easy. Just don’t say anything.”

She observes the people through the glass but doesn’t say anything.

Taehyung moves on without another word either and she knows that he’s going to leave her here if she doesn’t recognize that she needs to follow him. She’s supposed to be the well-trained puppy that follows its master without a leash.

They come to the end where there is another door. She follows him into a tunnel. The end is into a bright, white clean room with just three people working there. They walk up to the three people in the room and see one of them working on drug pills, one on powder, and the last one working with liquids.

“Are these all the same drug?” MInsuk asks.

“Correctamundo!” He exclaims and takes a pill to show her.

“This is the Victory drug. It’s from a Russian plant which thrives in harsh conditions, thus named as the Victorious Flower. I would show you the flower, but we don’t have it right now. It’s currently being imported here though.”

“What kind of drug is it?”

“It’s a stimulant drug. Major effects include euphoria, pain-numbing, and hallucinations. Interesting isn’t it?”

“What are the side effects?”

“Victory is not for everyone. Do not consume it if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Side effects may include excessive sweating, aggression, nausea, anxiety, paranoia, short term memory loss, increased blood pressure and heart rate, increased body temperatures, tremors, seizures, or even death. Consult your doctor before taking Victory.” He speaks quickly and smoothly like a detached pharmaceutical commercial that makes her laugh.

“For real though, you need to be in a safe environment if you ever do consume it.” He puts it down and she follows him back upstairs.

She goes to the second half of the medical facility where there are a few people around.

“They’re here for…medication?” She asks quietly as they pass some people. She can see the restlessness and dark circles in some of their faces.

“Yup. And they aren’t allowed to leave with Victory. That’s why we have this room for them to stay in until they’re done. Because of the increase in body temperature, we have a cold room for them to make them feel more comfortable.” Taehyung opens the door for her and she goes in. He closes the door on her and watches her from the window. She turns her head to look at him and then back at the rest of the room.

People are sprawled on the floor, the chairs, couches, tables, corners; anywhere and everywhere. Everyone is drugged and experiencing the high of it. The room is cold and bare other than the simple furniture for the people to relax on. Everything is bolted down on the floor though, so there’s no throwing chairs or overturning tables. On the wall, there is a sign that says no weapons.

There’s a guy squatted on the floor against a wall. He looks up to Minsuk with his head tilted and lolling around. He gets up and staggers towards her. He takes out a knife in his pocket and screams, running towards her. She backs up to the door and bangs on it, screaming to be let out. When the man gets to her, his movements are rather slow enough for her to grab his wrist to keep him from stabbing her.

“Let me out, Taehyung!” She yells behind her. The man wretches his wrist out of her grasps and throws her on the floor.

“The symbols mean what drugs you have in your lab!” She yells. The moment the man is about to stab her, Taehyung steps in and grabs his wrist. He twists his wrist and the man dropped the knife. Taehyung catches the knife in midair and spins the man. Taehyung knees his back and the man falls forwards to the wall. He’s taken out of the room by other men.

“I thought you’re not supposed to have weapons in here.”

Taehyung looks down at her with a glare. He pulls her up and holds the knife up to her.

“I thought I told you to not say anything. You don’t know how to follow the rules.” he threatens her.

“You don’t either!” she yells back.

“You don’t get to consult the doctor before taking Victory.” He says lowly. Taehyung pulls her out of the room and back to the lab where he takes liquefied Victory in a syringe needle and walks towards her. He traps her on a chair and has the needle looming over her collar bone.

“I’ll give you one more chance.” He says. He rests his cheek on his hand as he looks at his needle dancing above her skin. What chance? What did he want?

“Name the first drugs in the cubicles on the right and left. Get it wrong, then this goes into you, and you go in the boiler room.” He explains. He’s a little irritated that she doesn’t know what he was talking about. Too slow.

She closes her eyes and tries to flashback to the symbols but it’s too difficult, especially when there’s a needle with a drug about to be inserted into her. Instead, she decides to remember inside the glass cubicles. She at least knows the first cubicle because of the identifiable black sticky mush on the table. She tries to remember the left cubicle but she can’t. She doesn’t even remember what the drug looked like.

She feels the needle poking at you, but not breaking skin yet. She can’t wait and guesses.

“Meth and opium!” She yells. She feels the needle move away from her and the pressure of his arm is lifted off her chest.

“Did you deduce it from the drug itself or the symbols?”

“I’m not telling you.” she looks at him. He raises his eyebrows and shrugs. He turns away and puts the needle down on the table.

“There’s a car waiting outside for you. You’re done here.”

Jungkook silently goes about his way, ignoring Minsuk. He doesn’t slow down for her to keep up with him, he glares at anyone passing by who looks at her longer than they should, and she almost has the door close on her face.

“Slow down.” she calls after him, picking up her pace again. He only walks faster.

“What is this place? Hey, I’m talking to you. I know you don’t like me. I don’t know why so you should at least tell me that.” She tries again. He stops in his tracks and turns around to look at her with his biggest glare.

“I’ve lost men because of you.”

“Huh?” she tilts her head in confusion. This is the second day they have met and she’s been unaffiliated with Bangtan before that.

“Do you know why you were picked? I don’t know either! You’ve got in the way of several payments that I couldn’t collect because your cons were directed at my clients. I can’t complete deals in my business because someone had already drained my potential clients of all they’re worth. I get my men in a lot of trouble and hassle in order to get things done and you are an inconsistency that I can’t seem to escape from. We’ve gotten caught from the police because you heightened the senses of my clients and they’ve been able to catch a few of my men. My ass gets chewed while they purposefully locate you and hire you!”

“Hey, don’t blame me for not being able to do your job right. It’s not my job to make sure I don’t hurt anyone else’s agenda in the process of feeding me and my brother. What the hell do you think I do for a living?” she shoots back at him. He shakes his head at her with a glare.

“It’s exactly that I know what you do that I don’t trust you. You’re a con artist. I don’t know what you could do to us, but I know what we have to offer. Any idiot who’s greedy enough will try to take it and I know you’re that greedy idiot. I won’t let you do that. You are not going to break Bangtan, do you hear me? And I will not be ordered around by you. You are not the authority over me. Stay away from me.”

She raises her eyebrows at him. This is his real concern; not the fact that she’s messed up his plans on several occasions, even if she had no knowledge of it. His real concern is that she would mess up the actual organization.

This guy is delusional! She barely acknowledged their name before they approached her, let alone come up with some hidden agenda in the span of two days. She has the ability to do so, but Hoseok wants to finish the mission and be done with it. As much as she enjoys being a con artist, she knows he’s right and she’s willing to finish this and be rid of Bangtan forever.

“Look, I don’t want to cause trouble. If I did, I’m sure you or Bangtan would have no problem getting rid of me or my brother. But here I am and here you are. If we both want to not have to see each other again, we need to be efficient and cooperate so the job is done as soon as possible. I’ll do my best to not order you around, but remember, we’re here only for a job. It’s your bosses’ request, so at least respect that and try to work with me. Just a little while. Just three and a half months, if that.”

Normally, it’s probably not a good idea to stare at the mafia straight in the eye, in case they take it as some sort of defiance or challenge, but she usually does so people would trust her through eye contact.

He just looks at her for several moments before turning his heel, “We’re going down to my warehouse.”

She lets out a silent breath and follows him. His steps are still fast, but at least he doesn’t pick up the pace when she catches up to him.

Underground is his warehouse. Men in black walk around carrying large wooden cases. Jungkook has one of them crank open the case and takes out a firearm. Minsuk quietly observes him with his men surrounding him as he checks through the product.  She looks at other open cases. Grenades, hand guns, rifles, shot guns, machine guns, anything with fire power really. He gives a head nod to them and puts it back in the case, having his men take it away.

“Who do you sell these to?” She asks. She sees Jungkook’s shoulders rise and fall from his heavy breathing.

“Overseas organizations, overseas mafia, and individual consumers.” He answers quickly. She looks around the warehouse. This place must be over several hundred acres and three stories high worth of weapons in this place. Enough for the whole army and then some.

“I got to go. Thanks!” Minsuk runs up the stairs and Jungkook turns around to see her walk out of the door. 

He clenches his teeth. He takes the firearm in the case, cocks it, and shoots at the door where her head was just moments ago.

A/N: Finally finished this chapter! Yay!

Brownie points to you if you can figure out why I named it Victory ;)

Next Chapter

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A Confidence Game 1.2 | BTS Mafia and Con Artist AU

Plot: Hoseok and Minsuk’s parents have died 11 years ago and they have been con artists for 8 years now. The moment Hoseok wants Minsuk to have a chance to start a new life, the Bangtan mafia approaches them to pull one last con.

Words:3,298

Drama/angst/violence (at some point. we’re dealing with the mafia and con artists here)

Warnings: (M) mature themes

Character Profiles | Previous chapter

Part 1: Foundation Work: The preparations, which are made before the scheme is put in motion, including the elaboration of the plan, the employment of assistants, and so forth.

Over the weekend, Minsuk and Hoseok go to Seoul to get to know the university, the area, and go to the bank to make some bank-to-bank transfers. Minsuk already layered the last bit of the money through online banking in one account. This time she’s going to layer some in person from a different account. This con was the biggest one the two of them have ever pulled; kind of as the last hurrah before they leave the game for good and also for raising Minsuk’s college fund. 

Since it is first time they conned such a large amount, she and Hoseok have set up numerous accounts in different countries, aside from the ones they already have. Majority of the money are in off-shore accounts in those countries and they have accountants there on high authority of secrecy that help them launder those thoroughly. They basically help set up regular transfers in-and-out of those accounts to give the impression of income and investments. Each transfer in each account has varied amounts and they cover its origins to be from its own country. After this, the pair will go on a wonderful shopping spree, to launder a small amount through purchasing assets and also a way to celebrate.

“Gangnam prices are crazy.” Minsuk mumbles as Hoseok hands his card over to the waiter to pay for the lunch.

“It’s not that much more expensive, food-wise. Not like we don’t have the money for it. And it was well spent. Look at your plate! You practically licked it clean.” Hoseok laughs at her as he stuffs his wallet into his back pocket. She looks at her plate.

The restaurant has a dark atmosphere with one lamp over every table. The light is blinding through the reflection of her large white plate. Food residue is apparent, but Hoseok is right, she had taken her finger to wipe the last bit of sauce off the plate.

“If I don’t have you with me, I probably wouldn’t come to such an expensive place though.” she sighs, subtly reminding him how much of an impact it was for her that he wouldn’t be with her. He caught it, but he isn’t going to let her off like that.

“Well, you will be once a week. Remember? I will visit you all the time.” He grins. She returns a half smile. She’s normally more stubborn than he is, but this is one thing the two of them have argued time and time again. If he put his foot down so many times, she knows he will out-stubborn her on this one.

He isn’t just arguing with her though, he knows that if he wants her to see it through his way, she needs to see what is offered in his ideas. They have visited the university campus and to be honest, the both of them really had a blast. He got her excited about going back to school and learning everything in a more formal, but casual setting.

They walked into one of the summer classes, and since it was college, no one really cares. She loves the feeling of anonymity but also being of something bigger, it was being in a con to her. He told her to have fun. She could even go in with different personalities. He played on her playful and creative spirit she indulges in whenever she has to pull a con; just as long as the teachers who actually takes attendance knows who she is. He made her laugh and get embarrassed when he winked at some college girls in passing. She’s going to have to keep him off campus, for college girls’ sake.

“Where to next?” she asks when the two of them step out of the restaurant.

“I think, we should go invest in some stocks.” He winks. They hop onto a train to make their way to the stock exchange.

Today is super packed and they have to squish themselves in the middle; but with Hoseok, Minsuk is still content.

Hoseok is her pillar of strength wherever she goes and she will comfortably admit her dependence on her brother. As much as he enjoys her dependence on him, he often feels the complete opposite. Minsuk gives him something to live for. He honestly feels dependent on her, for her dependence on him. He loves the fact that it has always the two of them against the world. But when two people are co-dependent on each other, they will spiral down into reclusive existence. He can’t allow that to happen to her. She has a lot to offer to this world and he needs others to see her. He needs her to see that. The cons had implanted darkness in her like a parasite. He’s so afraid that it will be all that she ever knows. She has to see what else she can do with her life.

The overhead voice in the train notifies them of their stop, but it is also for just about everyone else. At first, there is not much to think about, just to keep herself from tripping over, but Minsuk starts to notice some sort of pattern that has everyone moving her along, farther than Hoseok, him being forced back. She wants to turn her head, but with everyone forcing her body forward, she can’t orient herself properly. She feels like Batman in a stiff suit.

Hoseok notices the pattern too and senses intention to it. He starts to assert himself to shove through everyone. His heart rate and breath quickens as strangers’ heads disorient his vision of Minsuk getting farther and farther away. When he finally makes his way through, she’s gone. 

He has his hands up in his hair as he feels anxiety. When the two of them were still starting out as amateurs, not every paper trail was burned. Not every con from start to finish had been finished completely clean and they both had their fair share of repercussions. Since eight years ago, the two of them have been able to improve their act for clean executions but they can’t be sure if they are able to cover all their past tracks. For all he knows, this is another person who had finally tracked them down.

His phone rings and he knows it was Minsuk. He picks it up without looking and keeps looking around.

“Where did you go?”

“Calm down.” her voice is far too calm, it’s rigid. He looks at the phone and it’s Minsuk’s number. So at least she can communicate.

“Where are you?” He takes a deep breath and asks a little more calmly this time. Whoever has her, they want him to cooperate.

“The information of where they’re taking me is stored in my phone. Hack into it and you will figure out where I’m going. I’ll see you later.” And then the phone is cut off. Hoseok closes his eyes and sighs. This is a test. If it is a test, then this isn’t going to be the end of it. Either way, he needs to find Minsuk before anything else.

He quickly sets himself aside to a corner and opens his bag to take out his laptop. He hacks into Minsuk’s phone too many times for cyber security purposes; he basically created his own security system in her phone to keep her phone from being hacked. He keeps hacking into her phone in order to know how to improve its system; so at this point, only he knows how to get into her phone and all her history. Luckily she doesn’t have anything to hide from him, especially when they agreed for him to do so on her phone. 

It takes him 2 minutes to hack into Minsuk’s phone. She doesn’t have any files, no new contact information, where is he going to find the information? He searches her browsing history and finds two paired sets of three and four digits. He instantly clicks that they are phone numbers but the pairs are obviously scrambled. He fixes the numbers and gets two phone numbers. He hacks the two phone numbers and although they are obviously just disposable, they also have a security system from being hacked. But they are next to nothing compared to his hacking system. 

He quickly gets in and finds one latitude coordinate and one longitude coordinate on the two different numbers. The moment he gets the two coordinates, the phones disappear from his screen; they are destroyed. He plugs in the two coordinates on an online map and finds the address. He looks up and sees that the train that is about to leave is the one he needs to take. He jumps up with all his stuff and scrambles his way, luckily there are less people and he makes it in time.

When he settles himself, he looks at the address more closely. It is a hotel in Gangnam; they were just there in the restaurant of that hotel. It’s possible that the two of them had been followed since then. But if someone has worked their way into phones and kidnapping, obviously they’ve been watching them for a while. All of this is premeditated.

He rubs his face and puts away his computer; he knows where he needs to go now. He watches the train map above the door. The blinking light indicates that he has two more stops. That’s two stops too many.

The moment he steps into the hotel, he realizes he is still missing one more crucial piece of information. This hotel is big. He doesn’t know her exact location.

He hacks into her phone again, hoping to look for any new information. There is a new memo note on her phone with 7 symbols. He breaks the encryption to turn the symbols into numbers and hacks into the new number. Once again, there is another memo note on the new number: 1164-816.

He rushes to the elevator to the top floor, where the room numbers starts on 1100’s.

On the top floor, he finds the room which is the penthouse suite with a number keypad. He punches in 816 and enters.

His first instinct is to focus on Minsuk and he sees her sitting on a chair with her legs crossed and her hands resting in her lap. Her head whips to the sound of the door opening. Her nervousness turns into relief. He rushes his way towards you but is stopped by men.

“Hello, Mr. Jung. Let him go, boys.” Hoseok looks to the man who had given the orders. He is a young man, probably younger than Hoseok. He has orange hair that is parted in the middle and his hair waves out. He is shorter than him, but most definitely more built than him. He is obviously a fighting type. By strength, this man overpowers Hoseok, but Hoseok is an accurate speedster. He wonders how he would fair in a fight with this man. But something tells Hoseok that he won’t fight him unless Hoseok throws the first punch. Either that or he was given an order.

This man has the mark of the mafia. The man has many thick and heavy rings on his fingers, but there is a gold one that stands out. There is probably an insignia on it but Hoseok is too far away to see it clearly. If only he sees it, he’d know which mafia they are dealing with.

Hoseok walks slower this time to reach Minsuk. She holds her hands out and he connects with her as soon as he gets close enough. Her hands are still warm; that is a good sign.

“Get Mr. Jung a chair; he’s been running all over the place. How are you? Do you need some water?” Hoseok looks to Minsuk’s side to see her glass of water. She obviously drank some, so the water is safe. Even so.

“No, thank you.” One of the men sets a chair next to Minsuk and Hoseok slowly sits down. His hand never leaves hers. He looks to her and her eyes speak only confusion. If her eyes still holds confusion, that means that she hasn’t been able to obtain any information about why they took her and why the two of them are here. Either she is too cautious or they won’t budge. At least her eyes don’t hold any fear.

“Now that you two are here. Let me just say, it is incredible to see you work, Mr. Jung. And the swiftness when you rushed through those train doors. Talk about cutting it close. I was actually really nervous, I wasn’t sure if you’d notice that it was the train you had to take. It was like watching a movie.” This man was watching him?

“Oh, by the way. I’m Jimin.” The orange top finally introduces himself.

“Why are we here?” Hoseok asks directly.

“You’re not nearly as tactful as your sister.  She at least tried to have a regular conversation first.” Jimin shakes his head in disapproval. He grabs a chair and sits down in front of them two; very casually to keep the mood light.

“Anyway, it’s been an honor to see your work. I wanted to ask you, why do you think you’re here? I mean, you came so willingly. I know it was for your sister and she must be your everything, but there was absolutely no hesitation. All for your sister. I’ll admit, I find that very admirable of you.” Jimin goes on talking about the two of them until he realizes he isn’t getting any reaction out of either of them.

“So, I mean, back to our topic. Take a guess. Why are you here? I bet you noticed by now, I’m in the mafia, Bangtan to be exact.” Hoseok stiffens in his seat now that his speculation is confirmed. Bangtan mafia is quite big, as far as their influence goes. Even when they went over to the States to set up accounts, they heard whispers of Bangtan’s name. It’s a big deal that a big mafia group would spot out the two of them; unsuspecting con artists who works for themselves.

“Who was it?” Hoseok asks, “Who did we con that made you notice us? Was it an associate of yours? Another member? I’m sorry. But let my sister go. I’m the one that plans our cons, not her. She’s usually the one who executes it, that’s all.”

“But isn’t she the one who picks your mark first?” Jimin points out. He knows that she’s the picker. So that must mean that they’ve been followed for a while.

“It’s okay. It’s not the point. I mean, yes. A lot of your cons deal with the rich, and well, you’ve crossed us before. Do you know how much you took from us? We saw them first, but you two strike faster than a King Cobra. Once again though, I applaud your eye for the ignorant. It would seem that you two are very compatible with our vision, our targets.” It clicks into Hoseok that this isn’t about revenge. Something about Jimin’s demeanor that tells Hoseok that today is not about murder or revenge. He sees Minsuk shift in her seat. She’s caught on as well; probably a little earlier than Hoseok because she’s been here longer, just needed more evidence.

“You want us to do a job.” Minsuk finally speaks up, declaratively more than interrogatively. This whole time, they aren’t watching the two of them, per say, they are watching their work. The mafia is very business-like. Her guess is that they are looking for potential associates.

Jimin looks at her and throws his head back in laughter, “Very intuitive, Ms. Jung. Yes, we do. We need someone of your talents. You see, there’s a po – “

“No.” Hoseok declines, cutting off Jimin. Jimin looks at Hoseok in surprise. Hoseok’s not sure if it’s because Hoseok declines, or because he interrupted Jimin.

“We are not con artists for-hire. And we just did our last con.” Hoseok is going to put his foot down. He already doesn’t want Minsuk to mess around in this life anymore. And it’s even worse now. 

The mafia wants her to plunge her hands in filth again. They will want to control the con, not her. They will keep her in their books longer than she will live. All this time, the two of them have been doing all of this for survival, not for money; at least Hoseok wasn’t. Minsuk isn’t doing it for the money either, but she might have taken to the thrill of a con. He needs that to stop. There will be no turning back with the mafia.

“I know. Your sister is going off to college, you have a stable job. I get it. It sounds like a great time to start anew. We can help you. We can pay for your sister’s college.” Minsuk perks up at the mention of that. That would mean the money they saved up for her college could be used for something else. Say, an apartment in Seoul for Hoseok.

“We only need one job from you guys. This is a make-it-or-break-it on our end so after this, there’s no point in asking for more help from you two. Not that we will cut you out after helping us, no, no. We never forget the help, we don’t hurt those who help us. We simply want your help on one job. Afterwards, your life is still yours to live. Not ours. We will not hold anything against you. We will burn every paper trail of your existence that will connect to us in anyway. If we ever get caught and give names, not that we ever will in general, but your name goes to the grave with us. We can promise on that.” Jimin looks at the pair seriously.

The funny thing about the underbelly of every society, there is like some sort of code for the evil.  The rest of the society always gets hurt because they don’t retaliate; no eye for eye. But every criminal has their individual abilities to hurt another, and they’re not afraid to do so if anyone ever crosses them. It’s the reason why there are no secrets. One will never hurt anyone who has the ability to hurt one back, and possibly twice as hard. But criminals are still skeptical in every corner, believing it’s the way to stay alive. If one wants cooperation, it’s best to keep one-self open and loyal, put honesty in every word.

Still, the two of them are con artists. Hoseok is right, they never did a job for anyone else, so why start now, when they want to end this career? Jimin personally thinks that they contacted them a little too late, but it isn’t his job to speak up about that. He looks back and forth between them too. Minsuk obviously shows interest, but still wants to know more. Hoseok just looks stern.

Jimin sighs; the administration really should have asked Tae to do this. He gets up to go to the next room and speed-dials.

“Yoongi, it seems that the brother is a little more hesitant right now. Minsuk looks interested but she’s not going to move if her brother won’t. I really think Tae should take over at this point. I –“

“Don’t worry about it, you’re doing just fine. We expected this to happen.” The underboss reassures Jimin, but that just makes him more confused.

“If you didn’t think I was going to get them at the first try, then why’d you –“

“You are step one.” A few more words from Yoongi and he hangs up. Jimin scrunches his lips to one side. Okay; whatever Yoongi says, goes.

Jimin goes back to the room where Hoseok and Minsuk are quietly talking to each other.

“So, how goes it? What do you think?” Jimin asks with a smile.

“If you really wanted cooperation, first of all, you’re not giving us enough information to agree to anything. Secondly, you started on the wrong foot. How is taking my sister going to make me want to cooperate with you?”

“Fair enough,” Jimin shrugs, “So let’s start all over. How about dinner?”

Next chapter

A Confidence Game 1.1 | BTS Mafia and Con Artist AU

Plot: Hoseok and Minsuk’s parents have died 11 years ago and they have been con artists for 8 years now. The moment Hoseok wants Minsuk to have a chance to start a new life, the Bangtan mafia approaches them to pull one last con.

Words:4,248 | Drama/angst/violence (at some point. we’re dealing with the mafia and con artists here)

Warnings: (M) mature themes

Character Profiles

Part 1: Foundation Work: The preparations, which are made before the scheme is put in motion, including the elaboration of the plan, the employment of assistants, and so forth.

Jung Minsuk makes light conversation with Mr. Kim as they both wait for his artwork inspector. Honestly, she’s not the type to make small talk, but rich heiresses are; and that’s what she is right now. Mr. Kim is a middle aged man with too much money to enjoy any other pursuit in life other than collecting artwork. Such men have plenty to share and they’re perfect sponsors for her college fund.

A clean and slim man with handsome features and thin frames walks into the shipping warehouse. He carries a large silver briefcase, loaded with an artwork inspection kit. Mr. Kim turns around at the sound of his entrance and extends an arm to introduce him to her. But she already knows him.

“Ms. Song, please allow me to introduce you to Park Jinhyuk. Mr. Park, this is Song Sooyoung. Mr. Park is very adept in verifying artworks. He’s helped me on numerous occasions.” She gives a polite nod at her brother and he gives her a quick head bow as if it is their first meeting.

“The Cyclone, Tsunami, Firestorm. They are all verified by this man right here. I’ve spent the last half year hunting down the Natural Forces Collection. Now the only one that’s missing – “

“Is my Earthquake.” She finishes his sentence for him and he nods at her with a grin. She looks over at Hoseok who silently and diligently gives a once-over on the artwork before he set down his brief case to take out his inspection kit to examine the painting.

“And why is it now that you want to verify this artwork with Mr. Park, after so many times you’ve bought so many other artworks of mine?” She asks Mr. Kim. In total, he’s bought four other artworks and antiques from her; all were real, but at a much lower price than the Natural Forces. That doesn’t mean the Natural Forces are any more valuable though. If anything, they’re less real and practically worthless.

“The Earthquake is a bit more important to me. My other experts need to eat too. I request for Mr. Park’s expertise on the more expensive and important artworks.” She inwardly shakes her head at the ignorance. Though he’s spent a little less than a decade pursuing art, he knows nothing about it. He’s just another pretentious old man. She’s dealt with too many ignorant people. She’s grateful at some level; they technically were the ones who’ve pays her to learn a lesson. But still, she is astounded and disappointed by the number of ignorant people in this world.

“I guess the previous items in my possession were too good for you to pass up before you came to my Earthquake.” She smiles. They better be. She and her brother spent almost a whole year to acquire them to be their bait.

“Yes. I can’t believe I’ve dealt with you so many times, that I never asked whether you knew about the Earthquake, let alone ask if you had it. You had so many other…tempting collectables for me to acquire, that I completely forgot about the matter for a period of time.” Mr. Kim’s lids lowers halfway as his eyes trails down from her brown contacts to the pearl necklace resting on her collarbone.

“To be fair,” she brings his attention back up to her eyes, “I probably wouldn’t have told you when we first met.” He looks at you quizzically.

“The Earthquake is a very prized painting, Mr. Kim. I didn’t let it out of my sight for two weeks. I kept it in my bedroom so I could just stare at it until I fell asleep.” She peripherally notes that Hoseok’s hand twitch at her words. Really? You’re laying it on a little thick, aren’t you? She can hear him chastise her.

“So why do you want to sell it now?” Mr. Kim clears his throat.

“I’m looking into another collection right now. I’ve had the Earthquake long enough. Besides, you already have the other three. Might as well reunite them since I can’t have it.” She explains. You are a fickle rich heiress who wants doesn’t care for long term sentimentality and have a business mind, she reminds yourself.

“Oh, and what collection are you looking into?” Mr. Kim raises his round glasses.

“Ah, sorry. I can’t tell you. I wouldn’t want you to fight me for it. I can get pretty vicious.” She wink.

“Well, I don’t doubt women being vicious sometimes. But who would want to fight you for anything?” She just smiles at him, letting his imagination run wild. That’s the funny thing about humans; their imagination. But most of them are very small minded.

“Mr. Kim.” His attention is brought to her brother. All Mr. Kim needs is Mr. Park’s nod and his grin widens at the approval. He looks at the paining and gestures at his men to take the painting.

“Ms. Song, I’m still astounded by your resources to have obtained this painting at such a young age. “ He praises her as his men cover the painting and moves it out the room.

“Well I’m home alone quite often. I must keep myself busy, no?” She crosses her milky white arms and saw two large silver briefcases that replaced her brother’s inspection kit on the table. The briefcases opened up to reveal cash bundles neatly stacked to fit all 300 mil won. She smiles and hides her greed as she closes the briefcases.

“It’s been a pleasure doing business with you again.” Her rented bodyguards take the two briefcases and she holds out her hand to shake. Mr. Kim takes it and puts his middle-aged lips on the back of her hand, lingering just a little too long.

“I hope you find what you’re looking for.” He says to her. I already have.

“Same to you.” She smiles and turns away. Minsuk waits until she’s out of his sight. She waits until she gets in the car and her men drive her away before she furiously and disgustedly wipes the spit off the back of her hand.

“Minsuk!” She looks up from her laptop. She just placed the money in plenty of different bank accounts. Now it’s just to wait for the banks to verify the amount. She pushes up her reading glasses as the descending sun’s reflection flickers on the lens. Behind her glasses are her strange eyes: one is a dark chocolate brown, one is a deep sea blue.

“Oppa!” She calls out. Hoseok emerges from the hallway of their home. Her smile turns into a large grin when his hands from behind his back reveal a large envelope. It’s SNU’s reply to her college application.

She jumps up from the couch and runs to him. She jumps on to him for a hug and then takes the envelope from his hand with a squeal.

“An envelope that big, there’s no way that it’s –“

“I got in! I got in!” She prances around the living room and Hoseok joins her, dancing around like complete fools. Seven years ago, she and Hoseok were conning for his college fund. After he graduated, they waited until he stabilized his job as a software engineer at an IT company before she thought of saving for her own college fund. Now, eight years into the confidence game, they are finally able to plunge deep in the lake. She’s starting college two years late, but it doesn’t matter. The fact is she’s in now.

“Ah, my beloved dongsaeng. I’m so proud of you!” Hoseok calms down before her and they exchange the biggest smiles of their day.

“And I thought conning Mr. Kim for 300 mil won was the highlight of the day.” She rereads the congratulatory words in the acceptance letters. Today is a good day. Mr. Kim has been their mark for almost two years now. The con is finally over.

“You did really well, Ms. Song. But did you really have to flirt with the guy so much?” she knew this was coming.

“He got so much spit in your hand. I wanted to rip out his eyes for the way he talks about and looks at you.” Hoseok frowns. In the past 7 months, he’s been Mr. Kim’s artwork inspector.  He’s heard Mr. Kim talk about you very inappropriately before, but he didn’t tell you. Con or not, it bothers him to see anyone look at his sister, or any other lady, with such disgusting mannerisms. Luckily, after today, all contact information and personnel files about a Song Sooyoung and a Park Jinhyuk will be wiped from the face of this earth. Mr. Kim will never find either of you again.

“Well it was the approach. I’m an underestimated rich heiress who loves art and desperate for attention. Men always fall for the fun-loving type. And he needed attention away from your lame verifying tricks, Mr. Park.” He flicks her forehead and she returns him a cheeky grin. He knows it isn’t the sole reason she puts herself in such a compromising role. She always got a thrill of playing characters.

“Hey, I’ve done a very good job as his art inspector. He’s taken me to other deals to inspect and I can actually verify them. It’s funny, ruining someone else’s con. I actually give his other experts a run for their money.” He takes her hand and rubs away what she hasn’t already sanitized three times.

“We’ve done this for so long. I know what I was doing.” He looks at her with concern.

“I understand, oppa. Besides, the job’s done. We’re lucky we’ve been able to take the job so far.” He wants to shake his head at her. She never understood when she takes it farther than she should. But when he finally decides to chastise her for it, the results were evidently effective. She’s always proved herself to finish the job unharmed and so he never got past her justifications.

She gives Hoseok a hug and he holds her for a long time until his nose twitches at the smell of dinner. He smiles and turns around to see the dinner set on the table with the covers.

“What’s for dinner?” he asks as he drags her to the dinner table.

“Kimchi, yakiniku, dolsot. Your favorite for a good day.” You both sit down and he hisses a cheer.

“I’ve already placed about three fourths of the money in our different accounts. We can start transferring and layering this weekend with what is already done while I layer the rest in cash.” It’s her favorite part, but also the most complicated part. Layering is basically spending money and investing it. It continues to spend the dirty money and make it hard to trace until she can bring the clean money back to under their name.

“That’s good. It’s just in time, now that SNU has accepted you. We can start paying the college tuition and your other expenses.” He starts chowing down on the meal. She stares at her brother and then around the apartment. This place has been their home for two years now. She and Hoseok have been living independently for eleven years, and eight years since their first con. She is the most important part of Hoseok’s life and he’s hers. He worked so hard in the first three years so he could take care of her all on his own. It was so tough on him. Even when she was 11, she understood a lot of the tough things in life. When she was 14, she felt like it was time for her to start giving back, make things easier on him. She was so young, but then again, so was he.

Thus, Minsuk pulled her first con with him.

Hoseok was across the street as he watched Minsuk profusely bow her head to the middle-aged restaurant owner.

“I really thought I had money in my pockets before I left home. I distinctly remember counting the money. You’ve seen me eat here, I’ve been here many times. I’ve always paid. I’m not lying!” She pleaded. She shook her 14 year-old hands nervously as she looked up to the woman with her big doe-like and distinctive eyes. The woman just looked at her with skeptical and stern eye. The lady had her hands on her hips and her lips were pursed.

“Okay, my home is two blocks away. My wallet should be home. I distinctly remember it on my coffee table before I left. I’ll be back in 10 minutes, I promise.” She turned away but the woman pulled her back before she could even see the door.

“That is not happening, girl. If you can’t pay, you are going to stay here and work it off today.”

“No, I can’t. School starts in less than an hour.” her eyes darted everywhere before it settled on her wrist; there rested her bracelet.

“Look, here. This is a bracelet my aunt from America bought for me for Christmas. I will be back for this bracelet and I will have the money. I promise you. It’s real. Please, I’ll be very fast. I’ll run.” The lady saw Minsuk’s breathing quicken as she looked up at the clock and the lady looked at her school uniform that indicated Minsuk’s school. Her different eye colors were the most distinguishable feature; surely, she could find Minsuk again if she needed to. Minsuk took the bracelet off herself and put it on the woman’s wrist before she could reject her. The lady greedily looked at it as the gems flickered from the sun’s reflection.

“I will see you back at this very spot in 10 minutes. If you are not back with the money, I will be looking for you at your school. I recognize your uniform, it’s the same school my son goes to.” She warned Minsuk. Minsuk exhaled with relief and she bowed countless times with a strong thank you. She ran out, on her way home to grab the money.

Hoseok walked in the door, dressed clean and looked older than his true 18 year-old identity. He ordered a quick to-go coffee and breakfast. His eyes rested on the bracelet. For as long as the restaurant woman has been fixing his coffee, his eyes are fixated on the bracelet.

“You are a very lucky woman. My girlfriend keeps talking about that bracelet. She hints that if she doesn’t get it for her birthday, she’ll break up with me.” Hoseok chuckled bitterly as the woman came forward with the coffee.

“This is just collateral until some little girl comes back with the money to pay for her meal.” The woman looked at the bracelet. Hoseok raised his eyebrows.

“How old is that little girl? Does she realize she has this year’s limited edition of that brand? Tsk, kids these days, don’t understand value. How can she use this for collateral? For a mere breakfast, no less! If she truly left because she couldn’t pay for a meal, she would be the fool, not you.” Hoseok scolded the absent you. The restaurant woman’s ears perked up at limited edition.

“H-how much did your girlfriend say this was?”

“About 3000 US dollars. And it’s limited to 200 in this world. So…” Hoseok whistled lowly. He heard her quietly suck in a breath.

“Are there anymore left?” she probed.

“Trust me, if there was any left, I would have found it already. My girlfriend has been good to me; she helped with my college tuition. I wish I could show her that I can provide for her well…” Hoseok licked his lips and ripped his eyes away from the bracelet for the last time before he leaned forward.

“Listen, I’ll be willing to pay 4 million won today, in cash, for that bracelet. I have to go to work now and my girlfriend’s birthday is less than a week away, so I’m in a rush. Tell that little girl to give me a call today. I can return at the end of the day to make the deal. Here’s my contact information. I really have to go. Thanks for the coffee.” Hoseok left without a passing glance at Minsuk, who just returned from around the corner. The restaurant woman wanted to call out to Hoseok who just went out the door and disappeared in a hurry to catch the bus, but something stopped her. The bracelet still glistened in her peripheral. She felt the heavy weight of the silver bracelet that was laden with gems on it.

“I’m here! 7 minutes! I told you I’d be back.” Minsuk said breathlessly. She had a hand on the counter with her wallet in her other hand, resting on her waist as she was bent, trying to catch your breath. She finally looked up at the clock. She only had 35 minutes to pay and make her way to school that was 15 minutes away.

“Here. How much was the meal?” she opened up your wallet, ready to count out the cash.

“Uh-10000 won.” The restaurant woman blankly watched Minsuk count out her measly 1000 won bills out. 4 million won still throbbing in her head. The man was willing to pay for 4 million won, when the bracelet cost roughly 3.4 million won. He must have been desperate. The lady looked at her wrist. This bracelet has started to look better and better on her wrist with each passing minute.

“You know, this is a very nice bracelet.”

“Yeah, my aunt sends these things to me all the time. I’m usually not a luxurious person, but she’s very nice. I’ve gotten so much from her.” Minsuk said lightly. So, maybe she wouldn’t even miss this.

“Can I have it?” The lady asked. Minsuk looked up in surprise. The lady looked down with a strong air around her; haggling was her business.

“I will pay you 3 and a half million won for this.” She said quickly. Minsuk eyes widened and she looked at the bracelet.

“I didn’t know it was that expensive.” She breathed out. The little girl really didn’t know the value? The woman should have started lower.

“It’s not.” The lady said quickly, trying to cover up how much the value of the bracelet really was, “But it’s my daughter’s birthday in two days and I haven’t come up with anything remotely close to her liking. This might be my only chance to shop around before her birthday. I want to get her something really nice. Please. You don’t know what it’s like to be a mother.” She said. It was a lie. Her husband was the one who didn’t get his wife anything for her birthday two weeks ago. She could pretend this was his gift. Minsuk’s lips tightened and she looked up at the clock.

“I’ve only had this for three days. I’m not sure I’m ready to let that go.” She looked at the bracelet. The lady moved it out of Minsuk’s sight and she pulled out cash from the register. She ran to the back to find more stashed.

“How about 4 million?” That’s more than what the bracelet was worth.  Minsuk’s eyes bulged out at her call. This greed of hers was far more than Minsuk expected. She’s willing to take all the money in this restaurant. Since it was Minsuk’s first con, she was surprised by the lady’s greed.

“I-“ Minsuk had no idea what to say. She’s never been offered money, let alone 4 million. The lady waved the cash in her face and she nodded slowly, eyes following the cash.

The exchange was quick. The lady would have to let that man know that the bracelet was not for sale. She put the bracelet safely in her pocket, feeling the weight of it as Minsuk left for a school she doesn’t go to. Minsuk and Hoseok were 4 mil won richer. And the restaurant woman? All she had was just one cheap bracelet, only 100k won worth, in her pocket…

“I saw an apartment in Seoul. It’s about 10 minutes away from SNU by the subway. It’s about 10 mil won for deposit, 725k per month. It’s not bad with two rooms, 2 baths. It has a really nice kitchen where I can make more recipes with convenience. If not, there’s one that’s outside of the city, so it’s an hour away by subway. But its 2 rooms and 1 baths, 8 mil won for deposit and 650k per month…” Minsuk starts to say. Hoseok looks up from his plate. Food is still in his mouth. He quickly chews and swallows.

“No. We’ve talked about this. All of that 300 mil will be going to your college fund. You’re there for four years. Groceries, utilities, transportation, expensive tuition, and miscellaneous expenses. And that’s just you alone, in dormitory. It was easier for me because I stayed in Gwangju and our living expenses weren’t as they are now. Add me in Seoul? You know the math. I’m not moving.”

“But oppa, we can –“ Minsuk starts but he cuts her off.

“No. We’re not. You’re going to be clean from now on. You’re going in to university! There’s new opportunities for you to do what really interests you. You get a clean slate. I’ve tiptoed around with you long enough with these cons. They’re good, and we can get by, but we can’t do this forever. I don’t want you to do this forever. You already lost four years where you could have already graduated college now because we were too busy with my tuition, and that’s at GIST! You’re just starting. You’re not doing anything else but getting that education for the next four years.” He isn’t going to have this discussion again. He’s her brother. What he says goes, and that’s final.

“Okay, oppa.” She says quietly, poking at her food. He looks up and sighs. He reaches over to her hand on the table.

“I know you want to stay close. But really, you’ll be fine. And you’ll love Seoul. It’s so exciting over there.”

“But…you’re all I know.” She says with tears welling up. Really. Their parents left them one night; bags packed and everything. They left them. If that is the whole story, she would never forgive them. But that isn’t the end of it. Their train derailed and crashed. She can’t be mad anymore, even if she wants to. But the only thing constant in her life was her brother. Everything else was always temporary: jobs, cons, homes, education. It doesn’t make sense to her to lose the one thing that has always been so stable; the only thing stable.

“Hey, hey, hey.” He drops his utensil on his plate and comes over to her side to hold her tight, trying to shush her as she struggles to hold on to her tears.

“We knew you’d be going to college soon. How are you still not prepared, after two years?” he lightly laughs, trying to make her smile too.

“You were still here! You had me while you went to college. We had each other!” She cries, lightly slapping his arm, too weak to truly fight him, not like she really intends to hit her brother anyway.

He laughs and holds her tighter, keeping her from loosening her arms so she could hit him again.

“Look, I’ll visit you. All the time. You can show me the sights. Let me feel like a tourist, yeah? It’s going to be fun. You’ll make good friends; you might not even have time for me. Especially if you’re studying hard and making me proud, right?” He looks at her when her cries subside.

“I’ll always make time for you, oppa.” She sniffles, grabbing the napkin on the table to wipe her nose. He takes an extra one to wipe her tears, chuckling at he.

“I have no doubt. My little dongsaeng loves me will never forget me, right?” She meekly nods. He goes back to his side of the table and waits for her to take a bite of her food before he picks up his utensil again.

He really doesn’t want her to touch the dark side anymore. For the past eight years, while they dirtied their hands for sure, he always made sure to scrub hers clean. He hacks into the system every day to make sure there were no tags for a young pale 22 year-old girl with straight black hair and wore large brown contacts to hide what makes her stand out.

He always checks up on her. She’s as innocent as a young con artist can be. She still prefers to spend a Saturday in her pajamas and pink bunny slippers, eating cereal while reading the newest fantasy novel while humming a Saturday morning cartoon theme song from her childhood.

The moment Minsuk steps into the university, he’s going to make she’s done with all of this; the both of them. He’s a software engineer in an IT company in Gwangju. He has a stable day job. She’s going to make her own path and be just like any other happy, simple woman in South Korea. Her only distinction will be her beautiful eyes he loves dearly. She would never have to hide her eyes away from authorities again. He needs to make sure she stays that way.

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