Work Text:
It all started with a doodle.
Kim Dokja was in a small but dedicated fandom for a webnovel series called "Three Ways to Survive a Ruined World". He's actually been one of the novel's longest readers, having been there since the first chapter was published and his comments left on every chapter have always risen to the top with likes.
As his online handle, "uglysquid_", he remains one of the most famous fanartists for the novel that had a tiny fandom at the time. Most of his fandom mutuals loved his art, especially his interpretations of the characters. More people began to use his designs for their own fanart pieces, and it was a big deal when tls123 had affirmed that his designs were exactly what she had envisioned in her head.
The problem is that he accidentally drew the main character resembling himself and the deuteragonist resembling Yoo Joonghyuk.
He didn't even realize he was subconsciously using the both of them until it was too late. He compared a photo of them in high school with the fanart he drew of Supreme King and Salvation together and had a crisis.
And believe him, this was before the chapters of the second half of the novel were being published. Only a small part of the fandom advocated for the ship Supreme King/Salvation, mostly led by his fellow online friend Uriel, but then... it escalated as tls123 had put in some more "bromance" scenes, which if you ask Kim Dokja, reads just a little bit more than bromance.
But Kim Dokja doesn't ship Supreme King/Salvation, or "SKS". It can't be done. He cannot, in good faith, ship a character with his face and a character with Yoo Joonghyuk's face. It's heresy.
"Oh fuck," Kim Dokja groans when he sees the popularity poll results come out.
The most shipped pairing of the year? Supreme King/Salvation. Of course, a picture is included and it's his design and his face and Yoo Joonghyuk—oh god.
Oh no.
You see, apparently, sometime between then and now, Three Ways to Survive a Ruined World blew up in popularity. It attracted fans of all walks of life—there’s even a moral alignment chart for the different types of fans found in the fandom. Kim Dokja was used as the example of “True Neutral” because of his faith to original canon while also being open to fan interpretations of the characters. Uriel was the mascot for “Chaotic Evil” which checks out considering how much out-of-character porn-without-plot content he’s seen her produce. She gladly announces that she caters to the “horny” part of the fandom, which is crazy considering the original source material isn’t horny at all!
Shudder. So much porn.
Speak of the devil, he gets a DM notification from Uriel.
[ uri9158: squid!!!! your art got featured ovo ]
[ uglysquid_: I saw ]
[ uri9158: congratulations ❤️ 💙 💜 💖 💗 💘 ❤️ ]
[ uglysquid_: idk why my art though like my designs arent even canon maybe tls should just find like an official artist to work with ]
[ uri9158: but squid-nim's drawings are the best! ]
[ uri9158: dont be so hard on yourself!!! stay hydrated! ]
Kim Dokja sighs.
Nobody understands his current inner turmoil because he hasn't told anyone about his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad deed.
People are making porn of them. And when he means people, he means Uriel, oh, he sees it on his timeline every single day.
Also, it's always Salvation on the bottom! Where is the justice for top!Salvation... Why are people automatically assigning the character with his face as bottom.
Kim Dokja can and will write an entire assertion essay on why top!Salvation should be considered the standard.
Firstly, Salvation would prefer to be the top, and no, Kim Dokja is not projecting onto this character with his face, thank you very much.
Secondly, why is the ship between Salvation and Supreme King even popular? Supreme King is straight! He had a wife in his second regression, and they even had a child together!
Thirdly, Supreme King is bottom energy, which goes along with his first point that Salvation would definitely be on top. Definitely. Don’t ask for any reasoning, Kim Dokja feels it in his heart. Salvation has DILF energy (not his words, he only stole them from Twitter).
He wonders how Yoo Joonghyuk would react. Probably with disgust. Kim Dokja understands—him and Yoo Joonghyuk? Haha. It could never be.
That guy’s face is way too good-looking and he’s also definitely heterosexual. He even had a girlfriend in high school. They dated for a short while before Yoo Joonghyuk broke up with her suddenly one day, nobody knew why. Yoo Joonghyuk had told Kim Dokja that he didn’t reciprocate her love (ouch).
Kim Dokja really can’t imagine Yoo Joonghyuk with anybody but a girl. He might be insulted to know his face is being used like this.
Another DM notification catches his interest. What the—it can’t be.
[ tls123: Oi. Hey. ]
[ tls123: Respond to this message when you see it. ]
[ uglysquid_: tls123???? in MY dms??? can it be? ]
[ uglysquid_: ok which comment of mine offended you this time and why should i delete it ]
[ tls123: Shut up and listen. ]
[ tls123: I’m about to reveal sensitive information. If you leak it, you’re dead. Don’t think I won’t sue your ass. ]
[ uglysquid_: listening ]
[ tls123: Three Ways to Survive a Ruined World is getting a webcomic adaptation. ]
[ tls123: We need your permission to use your designs. ]
Kim Dokja jolts in his seat on the subway, gripping his phone tightly with white knuckles. His designs? His designs?
[ uglysquid_: huh??? why? ]
[ tls123: I asked for your designs to be used, idiot. ]
[ uglysquid_: you ]
[ uglysquid_: but you hate me??? ]
[ tls123: True. ]
[ tls123: Wait. Update: They want to hire you on as an official character designer. ]
[ tls123: I’ve forwarded them your handle. Expect a message from them soon. ]
[ uglysquid_: aww you never fr hated me? ]
[ uglysquid_: tls-nim ily ]
[ uglysquid_: authorrrr ]
[ tls123: I’m this close to blocking you. Stop spamming my DMs with useless crap. ]
[ uglysquid_: wait wait I have something real important to tell you ]
[ uglysquid_: I swear ok ]
[ uglysquid_: is it alright if my designs… werent used? ]
[ tls123: What? ]
[ uglysquid_: personal reasons ]
[ uglysquid_: I mean I could still come on a designer but actually I dont think I want my old designs to be used ]
[ tls123: Why not? ]
[ uglysquid_: I made the main character look like me ]
[ tls123: Wow. That explains a lot. ]
[ uglysquid_: what is that supposed to mean.. ]
[ tls123: Fucking fine. Send over new designs but if I hate them, we’re using your self-insert persona. ]
[ uglysquid_: give me a few hours ]
[ uglysquid_: here ]
[ uglysquid_: (image attached: salvationredesigns.png) ]
[ tls123: ugh ]
[ tls123: One’s hair is too brown, rejected. Two’s face is too handsome, rejected. Three’s face is too ugly, rejected. Why does four have glasses? Rejected. What the fuck is even five supposed to be? Your desperation is showing. ]
[ uglysquid_: whats wrong with five huh ]
[ tls123: He looks like he could be Supreme King’s long-lost brother. ]
[ uglysquid_: people wont notice ]
[ tls123: . ]
[ tls123: Nobody cares if the main character looks like you. They wouldn’t even be able to recognize you. Can you stop making life difficult for the rest of us? ]
[ uglysquid_: ok ok uh what if we changed supreme king’s design instead ]
[ tls123: OKAY what’s the real fucking reason why you’re trying to change your own designs? ]
[ uglysquid_: uhhhh we arent uh close enough for me to tell you that ]
[ uglysquid_: (image attached: supremekingredesigns.png) ]
[ tls123: I hope you realize that even if we decide to use your new designs for the webcomic, the fans are going to riot and demand to know why the hell we aren’t using fan-established designs. They’ll use your old designs out of spite. ]
[ tls123: They’re also going to be confused why you, the original character designer who got hired on the team, made new designs. ]
[ uglysquid_: THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY ACTIONS ARE CATCHING UP TO ME ]
[ uglysquid_: TLS123 EVERYTHING HAS GONE BAD ]
[ uglysquid_: IM HALF OF THE HOTTEST TRENDING BL SHIP IN KR RIGHT NOW??? ]
[ tls123: Don’t flatter yourself. It’s just your ugly face being used. ]
[ tls123: Wait a fucking minute. ]
[ tls123: Don’t tell me the design of Supreme King is based off someone you know? ]
[ uglysquid_: so about my supreme king redesigns. which one do you like. ]
[ tls123: … ]
[ tls123: They’re all horrible. We’re using the original designs. ]
[ tls123: And I don’t care about your personal problem, just deal with it. Just don’t drag my novel down with you. ]
[ uglysquid_: …after everything we’ve been through, you betray me like this ]
[ uglysquid_: catch me crying in the comments of tomorrow’s update ]
[ tls123: There’s no update tomorrow. I’m trying to prepare for the webcomic launch. ]
[ uglysquid_: WAIT WHAT ]
[ uglysquid_: HUHHHHH ]
[ tls123: Talk to you later. ]
[ uglysquid_: YOU DIDNT WARN US AHEAD OF TIME ]
[ uglysquid_: TLS COME BACK YOU COWARD ]
[ uglysquid_: uriel theres no update tomorrow :’) tls123 just told me in dms ]
[ uri9158: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ]
[ tls123: So, I’ve been thinking about this. ]
[ tls123: What do you actually look like in real life? ]
[ tls123: And how similar is your face to Salvation’s. It’s been keeping me up at night thinking about this. ]
[ uglysquid_: sorry mom told me to never give out any of my personal information to strangers on the internet ]
[ tls123: I’m trying to show you some mercy. I might change my mind about the designs depending on how pitiful your sob story is. ]
[ uglysquid_: wow really generous of you there tls123 ]
[ uglysquid_: (image attached: 2006_04_14.png) ]
[ tls123: What the ]
[ tls123: fuck ]
[ tls123: . ]
[ uglysquid_: OKAY I KNOW IT LOOKS BAD BUT ]
[ tls123: Who is that next to you? Classmate? Friend? Unrequited love? ]
[ uglysquid_: first two ]
[ uglysquid_: but we didnt keep in touch after I transferred schools ]
[ uglysquid_: so I literally havent spoken to this guy in years and now hes gonna see us on a billboard promoting a webnovel and be super confused and oh my god we are a bl ship now… ]
[ tls123: Don’t you ship Supreme King/Salvation? ]
[ uglysquid_: no but all my mutuals ship it and I like their art and I like the canon bromance so I passively support it but I dont actively ship it myself alright ]
[ uglysquid_: theyre both supposed to be straight anyways right ]
[ uglysquid_: right??? ]
[ tls123: Now I understand the context behind that unhinged top!Salvation rant you posted many months ago. ]
[ uglysquid_: did you dm me just to bully me ]
[ tls123: Duh. ]
[ tls123: Look, it’s fine. It’s been several years so you two must look different from your high school selves. ]
[ uglysquid_: I look the same though ]
[ tls123: You haven’t spoken to him in years. You think he’s going to reach out to you because of something so stupid? He’ll just chalk it up to coincidence at most. ]
[ tls123: This is me trying to comfort you, btw. Is it working? ]
[ uglysquid_: no? youre horrible at it??? ]
[ uglysquid_: youre making it worse????? ]
[ tls123: I tried. New chapter tomorrow. ]
[ uglysquid_: wait my depression has suddenly been cured thank you— ]
[ tls123: God, you’re so easy to please. ]
squid @uglysquid_
new art… maybe considered official now? idk @tls123 tell em if this counts or not
[image attached: salvationfightingsk.png]
↳ squid @uglysquid_
im just a character designer so I dont actually draw any panels for the webcomic but hey maybe @tls123 will commission me to make official promo art if I work hard enough!!!
↳ Uriel @uri9158
SQUID!!!! THIS LOOKS SO GOOD????? IM SHAKING AND IN TEARS RIGHT NOW @tls123 hire him already please!
↳ squid @uglysquid_
thanks uriel 0:)
↳ Uriel @uri9158
omg but i kept thinking that they were gonna kiss during this scene in the novel cause of all the sexual tension… sks redraw i hope u don’t mind !! 😘
[image attached: censored_clickatyourownrisk.png]
↳ squid @uglysquid_
goddamn it uriel
↳ Uriel @uri9158
💝
[ uglysquid_: hey ive decided to face my fears ]
[ uglysquid_: im gonna meet with irl supreme king and come clean with my sins before the billboard gets unveiled ]
[ uglysquid_: I mean im just gonna tell him about the designs. I will not be bringing up the bl ship hes gonna have to find out about that on his own ]
[ tls123: Ha. Good luck. ]
[ uglysquid_: im just saying that if you dont hear back from me in a day or two im probably dead and you should alert the authorities ]
[ tls123: I’ll know when there’s not a comment from you on the new chapter. ]
[ tls123: The rest of Korea will know, too. They’ll be sending out search parties for your missing corpse. ]
[ uglysquid_: I REFUSE TO DIE BEFORE I SEE THE ENDING OF WAYS OF SURVIVAL!!!! ]
[ tls123: I think you have a problem. ]
[ uglysquid_: yeah me too ]
[ tls123: Get therapy. ]
[ uglysquid_: but I have ways of survival ]
His jaw drops at the sight of his childhood friend. Wow. He thought Yoo Joonghyuk was tall in high school, but he’s even taller now that they’re both fully-grown adults. His chest, too… broader and more defined than before.
Does Yoo Joonghyuk bench-press now or something?
The difference in their statures and builds is laughable. Even when Kim Dokja had been working a job as a lifeless salaryman, he didn’t voluntarily leave his house outside of work. Now, as a freelance artist, the number of outings has been significantly reduced to even less.
See, that’s the difference between Kim Dokja and Salvation. At least Salvation actually has some muscles under his coat while Kim Dokja is the stereotypical image of a starving artist.
His hair too… all slicked back professionally, and he’s wearing a formal black business suit. He looks like a CEO main lead that reverse-transmigrated straight out of a cheesy romance webcomic. Who does he think he’s impressing? It’s just Kim Dokja! His old childhood friend! It was supposed to be a casual outing.
“Joonghyuk-ah,” Kim Dokja says at the approaching man, feeling suddenly more nervous than before. It’s all the other man’s fault, he swears.
“Kim Dokja,” the low baritone voice filling a sense of nostalgia in Kim Dokja. Oh, how long it’s been since he’s heard that voice.
…Actually, had it been that low in high school? He’s not even sure anymore.
He opens his arms out wide invitingly, Yoo Joonghyuk wordlessly accepting the hug as if he’s familiar with the display of affection. “How have you been? It’s been years since we last saw each other. I know we didn’t really part on good terms…”
“Don’t worry about that,” the man dismisses emotionlessly.
Kim Dokja pulls back, rubbing the back of his neck, sheepish expression on his face. Oh god. It’s actually been quite some time since he’s last talked face-to-face with someone who’s more than just a formal acquaintance to him. He feels awkward—like he doesn’t know how he was able to have several hours long conversations with Yoo Joonghyuk back in high school when he can barely eek out two sentences.
Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t say anything more than that, opting to stare at Kim Dokja with a scrutinizing gaze. Kim Dokja resists the urge to shrink under those intense eyes.
“Um, do you want to grab something to eat?”
[ uglysquid_: HE LOOKS SO DIFFERENT????? ]
[ uglysquid_: I think im dying help ]
[ uglysquid_: he really do be living his best life ever since we cut ties w/ each other like damn ]
[ tls123: Why are you liveblogging your date to me. ]
[ uglysquid_: NOT A DATE ]
[ uglysquid_: ok well technically youre the only one who knows about this ]
[ tls123: Do you not have friends? ]
[ uglysquid_: um since how long have I been reading your novel? ]
[ uglysquid_: oh shit hes coming back ]
Kim Dokja puts down his phone flat on the table with the screen down, straightening his back as Yoo Joonghyuk retakes his seat across from him.
“Do you know what you’re going to order yet?” Kim Dokja asks.
Yoo Joonghyuk nods without saying a word, face impassive as ever.
Not once has Yoo Joonghyuk displayed a single emotion on his face. It makes him nervous—he was a much angrier, cockier man back in high school, but now his poker face hides everything. Well, if you ask Kim Dokja, it’s really more of a perpetual resting bitch face than anything.
Maybe he’s mad at Kim Dokja for all those years of ghosting. Except it was mutual ghosting. It’s not like Yoo Joonghyuk ever reached out to him either and even this entire meeting was all orchestrated by Kim Dokja in the first place. He’s the one who set this reunion up. If anyone has any right to be grumpy, it should be him!
A stiff silence overtakes the atmosphere.
Kim Dokja feels irked.
This guy! He may not have been the best conversationalist in high school, but at least he could initiate small talk without Kim Dokja’s help. Usually, high-school Joonghyuk would provoke him in some way, either by teasing him or some sort of jab sent his way. Does he have to make this so painful on his shoulders?
Kim Dokja attempts to smile his annoyance away. “So… do you live in Seoul now?”
“I do,” Yoo Joonghyuk curtly replies.
“Do you live alone?”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
Kim Dokja somehow is resilient enough to keep the smile frozen on his face, although the hand that clutches his phone tightens its grip on the device. Hmm. Hmm. Things are not going well, tls123. Please, give him strength.
“You’re still as cheeky as before,” Kim Dokja sighs. “It was an honest inquiry. No need to be so guarded about it—although, I’d be surprised if you hadn’t already scored a wife with your…”
Everything, Kim Dokja thinks. His face, his body, his looks in general…
No, bad Kim Dokja! You can’t say that! Kim Dokja is currently choking himself inside his own head. That’s inappropriate to say. He can’t sound like an insecure former best friend who is mad that his other half is now living a great life without him!
“…Success?” Kim Dokja tries.
Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyebrows furrow in suspicion. Suspicion? Does he suspect Kim Dokja is acting insecure about himself? There’s no way he’s shed that observant persona even after all these years. Those eyes are literally piercing like they see right through him.
“What are you talking about.”
“What I mean is—you—you look good. With the suit and everything… and I kind of just look like a homeless person that was rescued off the streets while sitting in the same booth as you.”
Think. Think, Kim Dokja! What would Salvation say to play it cool?
He imagines a mini angel appearing on his right shoulder, ironically the Demon King of Salvation playing the role of the good conscience. He imagines Salvation saying something along the lines of, what a sooty bastard. Why are you even trying to reason with him? Just go and leave! You don’t need to catch up with him if he’s going to act like such a jerk!
On the other shoulder, a devil Supreme King shows up, giving the helpful advice of, just kill him. I’ll tell you how to hide the body.
He can’t hide a body! Have you ever seen him lift weights? He can barely carry the groceries to his apartment! And this man must weight at least 90 kg!
Imaginary Supreme King considers Salvation’s words with a thoughtful nod. Yes, you’re right. I know how to frame someone else for the murder. Just call the police once you confirm he’s dead on the ground.
Both Salvation and Supreme King are proving to be unhelpful…
“It’s my fault,” Yoo Joonghyuk says, and is that—gasp—a tinge of emotion in his voice? Something akin to apologetic?
“No, I should’ve prepared better…” Kim Dokja says.
“I don’t meet people for recreational purposes anymore. This meeting… I’m not accustomed to meeting an old friend.” Kim Dokja sees Yoo Joonghyuk struggling to find the right words to express himself. “I suppose I’ve forgotten what it’s like.”
Kim Dokja, of all things he could’ve done, laughs a little. “Is that a complicated way of saying you don’t have friends?”
Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t look offended. Instead, he says, “Yes.”
“Well, that’s okay. I don’t really have any friends either,” Kim Dokja says. Not any real-life friends, at least. He has a few online friends, but he never really indulges anything about his personal life to them.
It’s not that he’s a secretive person, it’s more that he doesn’t have anything going on in real life for him that’s worthy to share. Therefore, he never brings anything up.
“I had a co-worker I talked to in my old company before I was laid off. She wasn’t really in my department though, so we didn’t have many chances to talk to each other. She wished me good luck when I had to leave. That’s about it for my social life.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes flash. “You’re unemployed?”
“Technically, no,” Kim Dokja says. “I’ve been trying my hand as a freelance artist, and currently I’m working as a character designer for this one webcomic.”
Hey! An opening! Salvation in his imagination shouts. Kim Dokja, tell him now! Now! The conversation can flow naturally in the direction you want it to!
Don’t tell him anything. He imagines Supreme King pulling at his ear. He doesn’t deserve to know.
“It’s okay if you want to judge,” Kim Dokja adds. “I know it’s not the most stable of occupations, but at least it’s something I’m passionate about.”
The waiter comes to their table, ready to take their order. To Kim Dokja’s surprise, Yoo Joonghyuk announces with confidence, “Everything on menu. Put it all on my tab.”
“Joonghyuk-ah!” Kim Dokja protests, reaching a hand out to tug the arm sleeve of the other’s suit. It wrinkles in his fingers.
The waiter looks downright frightened when Kim Dokja’s hand comes in contact with Yoo Joonghyuk. His jaw drops in awe at the man who so bravely touches Yoo Joonghyuk with familiarity. Yoo Joonghyuk coldly stares back at the waiter, as if saying, What are you still doing here? I gave you the orders.
The waiter flees.
Kim Dokja, too focused on Yoo Joonghyuk, doesn’t notice the odd behavior. “Why would you order everything and pay for it? We’re not going to finish everything on menu!”
“You can take everything home. You need to eat more.”
Kim Dokja flusters with embarrassment. What the—Yoo Joonghyuk from high school would never act like such a mother hen! Yeah, he was kind of tsundere back in high school, but he always left Kim Dokja to his own business and trusted the man to take care of himself.
Who is this?
“Yoo Joonghyuk, I appreciate the hospitality, but I cannot accept your pity-food,” Kim Dokja asserts. Salvation on his shoulder cheers. Supreme King crosses his arms with a smug look. These two unhelpful…
Salvation and Supreme King would be utterly useless outside the scenarios in Ways of Survival!
“Don’t consider it pity, then. Consider it a gift from a friend who hasn’t been able to see you for many years.”
“It’s still a gift given out of pity,” Kim Dokja says.
“They’re already preparing the food. Who will eat it if we don’t? I’d pay for it because they bothered to make it for us. Then, the food is wasted.”
“Well, quickly tell the waiter to stop!” Kim Dokja says, turning red in the face. He raises his arm over, calling for the waiter to come back, but nobody is in the main dining area.
Actually, that’s strange. He’s just realized the entire restaurant is empty. He could’ve sworn there had been people when he walked in. When did they all leave?
“Are you going to continue being a nuisance to the waiting staff?” Yoo Joonghyuk impatiently raps his fingers against the table’s surface. “I’m disappointed in you, Kim Dokja. I expected more.”
Kim Dokja sighs in defeat. Whatever. It’s not like the waiter is coming back to listen to his demands anyways. “Fine, I’ll take the leftovers home. But only half. You have to take home the other half.”
“Deal.”
It was his plan all along! Salvation screeches in rage.
Shouldn’t have trusted him, Supreme King scoffs. Not for a second.
You don’t trust anybody, Kim Dokja snaps at Supreme King. Oh great. Now he’s roleplaying with himself. Maybe he should just become a fanfiction writer at this rate. Self-insert Kim Dokja and his useless guardian angel and devil giving the most useless commentary ever given.
[ uglysquid_: so… about that old friend… ]
[ uglysquid_: it turns out that maybe he is kinda shady af?? ]
[ uglysquid_: tls123 are you there please… I need you… I cant stay in the bathroom forever ]
[ uglysquid_: hes gonna get suspicious of me ]
[ tls123: For fuck’s sake. ]
[ tls123: What is it now? ]
[ uglysquid_: okay so like… yknow… idk if im just paranoid but ]
[ uglysquid_: like the old friend im visiting today? the one that sk looks like? ]
[ uglysquid_: first of all… hes like kinda built. ]
[ tls123: Oh my god ]
[ tls123: This is the shit you DMed me for? I’m breaking mutuals with you. ]
[ uglysquid_: NO NO WAIT I MEAN LIKE HE ALSO HAS THESE SCARS LIKE ]
[ uglysquid_: its weird he doesnt have any on his face but he might be wearing makeup to cover them up ]
[ uglysquid_: but when he rolled up his sleeve I saw this really nasty scar that was hiding underneath his suit ]
[ tls123: His suit? ]
[ tls123: You said this wasn’t a date. ]
[ uglysquid_: THAT’S THE THING… its not?? ]
[ uglysquid_: and like the restaurant had people when we entered but they all left while we were ordering ]
[ uglysquid_: like its so sus right ]
[ tls123: I can’t fucking take you seriously when you talk like this. ]
[ uglysquid_: ITS SUS and when I asked him what he does for a living he just replied hes a manager of a corporation ]
[ tls123: … ]
[ tls123: mafia? ]
[ uglysquid_: YEAH I THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY FOR SUSPECTING THAT… ]
[ uglysquid_: HES the one who recommended this restaurant ]
[ uglysquid_: help my childhood friend is part of the mafia???? ]
[ tls123: Okay, what’s your location. You know. Just in case I don’t hear back from you. ]
[ uglysquid_: nooo its already too late for me ]
[ uglysquid_: i… i never got to read the ending of Three Ways to Survive a Ruined World ]
[ uglysquid_: QUICKLY AUTHOR-NIM SPOIL THE ENDING SO I CAN AT LEAST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE I DIE!!!!!!!! ]
[ uglysquid_: AT LEAST TELL ME IF SUPREME KING FINALLY GETS HIS HAPPY ENDING ]
[ tls123: Haha, nice fucking try. Seriously though, send your coordinates. ]
[ uglysquid_: YOURE NOT EVEN GONNA GRANT A MAN HIS DYING WISH ]
[ tls123: Nope. ]
[ uglysquid_: u cant break mutuals with me if I break mutuals with u first ]
[ uri9158: ovo…. ]
[ uri9158: um… squid-ssi? ]
[ uglysquid_: yeah? ]
[ uri9158: are things going okay? ;; i saw u broke mutuals with tls123… ]
[ uri9158: me and the others were wondering if everything was alright on your end… ]
[ uglysquid_: dw we had a tiny fight over something silly ]
[ uglysquid_: we will follow each other back… eventually…… ]
[ uri9158: oh ok! thats good! ]
[ uglysquid_: yea I asked her to spoil the ending of WoS for me cause I thought I was gonna die but I didnt so we good ]
[ uri9158: ? ]
[ uri9158: omg! what happened! ]
[ uri9158: squid-ssi if u died… i think i would cry for the rest of my life TT_TT ]
[ uglysquid_: its a long story but ]
[ uglysquid_: the good thing is I survived ]
[ uglysquid_: and thats all that matters ]
[ uri9158: PLEASE STAY SAFE ]
[ uri9158: ur my good friend squid-ssi and i cherish u… so please… >.< ]
[ uglysquid_: i dont die so easily ;) ]
[ uri9158: um so ]
[ uri9158: im doing this comic for a gift exchange and the wisher wanted it to be canon compliant… ]
[ uri9158: so can u check the dialogue for me? ]
[ uglysquid_: sure ]
[ uri9158: (image attached: FOR_SQUID_EYES_ONLY_1.png) ]
[ uri9158: (image attached: FOR_SQUID_EYES_ONLY_2.png) ]
[ uglysquid_: WHA ]
[ uglysquid_: CANON COMPLIANT BUT WHY IS SALVATION PREGNANT????????????????????/ ]
[ uglysquid_: URIEL?????????? ]
[ uri9158: b-but the wisher wanted it to be canon compliant AND for salvation mpreg… (･◡･`) ]
[ uglysquid_: i… ]
[ uglysquid_: I mean… ]
[ uglysquid_: yea theyre pretty in character ]
[ uglysquid_: ok but you gotta give me a warning next time. you know I get easily caught off guard by this kind of stuff ]
[ uri9158: aaaa squid thank you so much ]
Kim Dokja stares at his computer screen. “What the fuck.”
squid @uglysquid_
mafia boss supreme king… cuz I felt like it
[image attached: supreme_boss_sk.png]
↳ Uriel @uri9158
AHHHHHHHHHH I THINK IM SUFFERING THROUGH TWO NOSEBLEEDS AT THE SAME TIME TTHANK YOU SQUID AGAIN
↳ squid @uglysquid_
I deliver the goods
↳ 3 Ways to Write About a Ruined World @tls123
I have no words.
↳ squid @uglysquid_
ok author-nim but then the new chapter would just be damn empty
↳ 3 Ways to Write About a Ruined World @tls123
I’m publicly judging your life decisions.
↳ squid @uglysquid_
wwww I followed you again just come yell at me in dms ok pls truce
Kim Dokja keeps wanting to tell Yoo Joonghyuk about the whole Supreme King and Salvation thing but every time he opens his mouth and says that he has something to confess to Yoo Joonghyuk, somehow, the other man is able to redirect his attention elsewhere.
It’s almost like he doesn’t want Kim Dokja to not have a reason to talk to him anymore. Which is crazy, because it’s not like they’re going to stop seeing each other just because Kim Dokja is done with what he wanted to do initially. Kim Dokja’s fine with staying friends with him again long term, and with Yoo Joonghyuk’s help, he’s managed to come a little more out of his shell since getting laid off at Mino Soft.
…And perhaps Yoo Joonghyuk is a little shady. Who isn’t a little shady nowadays. Kim Dokja, on a regular basis, sees fanart of what is essentially him and Yoo Joonghyuk fornicating on his timeline. Almost Yoo Joonghyuk. See, the face is correct, but Supreme King actually has nothing on the real Yoo Joonghyuk’s build.
His phone buzzes as he’s waiting for Yoo Joonghyuk to come back with an umbrella. It suddenly started pouring on them, the damn weather.
Against his better judgement, Kim Dokja checks his phone.
[ uri9158: SQUID I WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY YOUR MAFIA AU SK THAT… ]
[ uri9158: i… kinda drew nsfw fanart of it ;; ]
[ uri9158: should i credit u or would that make u uncomfortable…. ]
Hmm.
[ uglysquid_: can I see it? ]
[ uri9158: :O ]
[ uri9158: ofc!!! ]
[ uri9158: its.. uh REALLY graphic tho and ik u dont vibe with nsfw usually ]
Uriel, please. He has to see it.
[ uglysquid_: its fine ]
[ uglysquid_: send it ]
[ uri9158: (image attached: nsfw_mafia_sk_1.png) ]
[ uri9158: (image attached: nsfw_mafia_sk_2.png) ]
Oh. Oh.
It’s the same suit Yoo Joonghyuk wore on their meeting. Ever since then, Yoo Joonghyuk’s left it at home for more casual wear, but the image of it burns in his memory. The curse of an artist, Kim Dokja sorrowfully muses.
It’s also the suit he drew in his mafia boss Supreme King fanart. The one that tls123 gave him shit for. Kinda deserved, honestly.
He’s pining Salvation down on the bed, who’s completely naked in contrast. He holds Salvation by the legs, Salvation laying flat against the sheets with his face down, and Supreme King is fucking deep into his hole.
Kim Dokja’s mesmerized. It really, really does look like Yoo Joonghyuk.
[ uri9158: (image attached: nsfw_mafia_sk_3.png) ]
Salvation tries to moan something—anything. Probably something along the lines of “more” and “stop” and Supreme King’s name but it all comes out jumbled, like his mind can’t work anymore. All he can do is gasp incomprehensible sounds.
Kim Dokja flusters. He shouldn’t be doing this, he really shouldn’t be doing this…
You pervert! Salvation is screaming at him from his right shoulder, but he doesn’t even care anymore.
[ uri9158: (image attached: nsfw_mafia_sk_4.png) ]
Salvation is babbling the same mantra, “No, not inside, please, no, not inside,” but Supreme King merely replies, “You’ll take what I give you,” like the cruel demanding bastard he would be as a mafia boss. Kim Dokja covers his mouth with his hand.
Uriel, what happened to making out of character porn?!? Even reading mpreg Salvation is more tolerable than this!
“Kim Dokja.”
Kim Dokja closes out of the application so fast, he almost drops his phone in the process. Face hot with guilt, he stares up at a Yoo Joonghyuk towering over him, umbrella in hand. The rain covers the silence that follows the declaration of his voice.
Idiot, Imaginary Supreme King roars. You fool! He’s corrupted you now, don’t you see?
…I think this was all Kim Dokja’s fault, Imaginary Salvation helpfully interjects, who would probably be sending Kim Dokja the most unimpressed gaze in the world right now. And nothing to do with the other party.
“Sorry, I was—someone was messaging me,” Kim Dokja stutters.
Kim Dokja was looking at porn of you. Of them. He’s an immoral man, Yoo Joonghyuk. Oh, you may be part of the mafia now, but the real pervert is Kim Dokja all along. What has he done? What is he doing?
Yoo Joonghyuk frowns deeply. He takes a step closer to Kim Dokja, hand still holding the umbrella over them. Their sides almost touch at the close proximity.
“Who?”
“Just—some girl over the internet. You know, a friend. Just a friend.”
A friend who supplies porn of me and you. I think I might be secretly into it now? Just because of you, and not even because of the ship itself?
Dear lord. That sounds so bad beyond comprehension.
Go to horny jail! Salvation commands. You’re getting the bonk!
Yes, imaginary Salvation, he deserves to go to horny jail and also deserves getting the horny bonk. How did Kim Dokja, local virgin, let himself fall from grace this far?
“Your face is red.”
“Yeah,” Kim Dokja whispers weakly. His voice has suddenly left him. His legs feel weak. “I think I may have come to terms with myself just now. I just needed her help realizing it.”
“You said you didn’t have any friends.”
“I don’t.” Kim Dokja is trying his best not to panic at his maybe-mid-life crisis. There’s just… no way in hell he has a crush on Yoo Joonghyuk. How long has this been going on? Is this why he’s so obsessed with Supreme King the character? Is this an explanation for a lot of things!?
Kim Dokja shakes his head. “We only talk online, I’ve never met her in person before. And we only talk about a webnovel.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s nose scrunches up in a look of disbelief. Like he doesn’t trust Kim Dokja’s words. “The way you were looking at your phone just now—”
Kim Dokja chokes. “Please… don’t say anything more. I think I’m going to die at this rate…”
He leans against Yoo Joonghyuk’s chest with his scarlet face turned down, staring at the concrete ground beneath them. He can’t even look up at the man right now. How does he have any right to call him a friend? Kim Dokja is a pervert!
Yoo Joonghyuk embraces Kim Dokja in his arms, gentle hands coming around to pat the man on the back comfortingly. With Kim Dokja’s eyes focused on the ground, he misses the way Yoo Joonghyuk possessively stares at the nape of his neck.
“You really haven’t changed much since high school,” Yoo Joonghyuk coolly remarks. “On the outside, perhaps. But Kim Dokja on the inside remains the same.”
“W—What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kim Dokja looks up to hungry eyes staring at him like he’s a snack.
Oh.
He’s seen that look before. In Supreme King fanart. Damn it, even at a moment like this, his head uselessly looks at the world through the lenses of his obsession with Three Ways to Survive a Ruined World.
“Joonghyuk-ah?”
“Kim Dokja.”
Kim Dokja’s breath hitches. “Yeah?”
“Can I kiss you?”
Um, Yoo Joonghyuk, that would be morally wrong on many levels. You’re part of the mafia, Kim Dokja’s figured out that you’re part of the mafia, and he’s a pervert who’s been wrongfully consuming content for very wrong reasons that would surely be a turn-off—
Also, you’re straight, right? Just like Supreme King?
“If—If you want to, if you really want to,” Kim Dokja says. “I mean, I don’t know—”
Yoo Joonghyuk presses his lips against Kim Dokja’s, silencing the man for once. His tongue invades his mouth, dominating, and Yoo Joonghyuk kisses him like a dehydrated man on the brink of death chugging down as much water in as little time as possible. Kisses him like he’s been waiting a long time for this, and he’s finally gotten what he’s wanted with a lifetime’s worth of patience.
“Mmmm,” Kim Dokja tries to pull his face away, but Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t relent. He breathes in through his nose because he has no other choice. This damned bastard.
“Oh—Oh—Okay,” Kim Dokja gasps as he finally pushes against Yoo Joonghyuk’s chest. It doesn’t do anything, of course, but Yoo Joonghyuk backs away on his own volition. “Wait a minute, I need a moment to catch my breath.”
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this.”
“If you’ve been waiting so long, why did you ask for permission! Were you trying to kiss me or devour my face just now!”
Yoo Joonghyuk chuckles, his chest rumbling with his laugh. He presses Kim Dokja against his chest by wrapping his arms around the man’s waist.
“You never noticed. I’ve known that you never knew, even after all these years. I’ve known all along. About this farce you’ve been maintaining.”
Kim Dokja freezes. Oh god. He knows about the webnovel and the character designs?
“You… know about everything?” Kim Dokja anxiously asks.
“Yes.”
Even the porn!? Even the porn? No, no, there’s no way that a mafia boss can look through his private messages with his fellow fandom mutuals… right? Right!? Or did mafia have the resources for that nowadays? Technology!?
“Ah, then why did you only make your move just now… you should’ve realized a lot earlier. Even before I did,” Kim Dokja buries his face into his hands.
He wants to die right now.
“I wanted you to come forward first,” Yoo Joonghyuk says. “But I can no longer wait. Pick me, Kim Dokja. Whatever they offered to you, I’ll counter it tenfold. All you need to do is ask.”
What?
“Um, what are you talking about?” Kim Dokja asks, genuinely confused.
At the same time, it’s a flood of relief. Oh, whew. So he doesn’t know about Kim Dokja looking through the alpha/beta/omega fanarts of WoS. That’s great!
“You don’t need to pretend anymore.”
“Wait, bastard! I think we’ve been misunderstanding each other this time!”
So, it turns out that Yoo Joonghyuk thought Kim Dokja was sent by an enemy organization as a spy and to take advantage of his weakness (???). It almost worked too, if Kim Dokja had been a real spy. Yoo Joonghyuk thought Kim Dokja acted "too jumpy" to be genuine when it turns out that Kim Dokja is just a naturally jumpy guy and he had been trying to keep a secret—not a very important secret, but it threw off Yoo Joonghyuk. In the end, he didn't mind the ship or the webcomic designs.
At that moment, at least.
[ uglysquid_: hey how stupid would it be if i actually started dating a mob boss ]
[ tls123: Very stupid, but very in-character for you. ]
[ tls123: I say go for it. It’s not like you have irl friends, anyways. Might as well snag a boyfriend while you can. ]
[ uglysquid_: oh ok ]
[ uglysquid_: is the new chapter still coming out at midnight? ]
[ tls123: ? ]
[ tls123: Of course. You of all people religiously worship my posting schedule like a calendar. ]
[ uglysquid_: just making sure I have to set an alarm ]
[ tls123: …I don’t want to know. ]
Kim Dokja’s alarm goes off at an inopportune time. You see, Yoo Joonghyuk proudly announced that they were going to “do it all night” and Kim Dokja thought that he may have been joking but midnight approaches and he shows no signs of stopping.
Somehow, in the deep recesses of his muddled mind, he registers what the alarm means—it’s Three Ways to Survive a Ruined World time.
As Yoo Joonghyuk mercilessly pounds in his hole, taking everything without any consideration for Kim Dokja, the scrawny man reaches for his phone on the nightstand. Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyebrows furrow, attempting to puncture his prostate in an effort to make him stop. He doesn’t pull out this entire, instead digging more and more trying to see how deep it can go in.
It does work to stop him, although temporarily, Kim Dokja keening over to make a series of whines. His mind goes completely empty with the phone clutched in his fingers, holding onto the device like it’s a lifeline. He can’t. Think. Anymore.
“Fuck,” Kim Dokja grits out, his mind melting all over and his entire body trembling but nothing coming out of the other end. What’s happening? He can’t even tell anymore.
What the hell is this?
“Joonghyuk-ah,” Kim Dokja softly pleads, his voice hoarse when he’s regained at least some lucidity. “Joonghyuk-ah, please.”
“What.”
“I need to… read the newest chapter…” Kim Dokja begs. “Give me five minutes, please. I read fast…”
“How can you still be focused on the webnovel at a time like this?” Yoo Joonghyuk snaps. He uses his hands to pinch Kim Dokja’s nipples. Kim Dokja whimpers in response, and the sounds are a melody to the other’s ears. “You’re cruel to ignore the man who’s making love to you in the moment.”
“If I don’t… comment… the author will think I’m dead…” Kim Dokja squeezes his eyes shut and loses himself as another tsunami of pleasure overcomes him when Yoo Joonghyuk tweaks both nipples with just the right amount of pleasure. His head goes blank once again, and the only thing he lets out is a bunch of muffled moans and unintelligible noises.
“Unlock your phone.”
Kim Dokja doesn’t register the command at first, ears ringing and head drifting away.
“Kim Dokja. Your phone.”
Kim Dokja gasps when the body against his starts moving again, the bump on his distended stomach moving.
uglysquid_ xxxx.xx.xx 00:09
first. 👍 642
Kim Dokja’s jaw drops in the morning when he sees the comment posted underneath his name.
Excuse him? First? First?? What is this, 2004? And why the hell did people upvote this comment? He wasn’t even the first one to comment???
And, of course, there’s unread messages from tls123.
[ tls123: Hey. ]
[ tls123: Fuck me. You’re actually dead, huh. ]
[ tls123: I shouldn’t have encouraged you to stay with that guy. ]
[ tls123: Oi. ]
[ tls123: Squid. ]
[ tls123: Your stupid horny ass caused this to happen. ]
[ tls123: Didn’t even give me the coordinates this time. What the hell am I supposed to tell the police? I don’t even know your real name. ]
[ tls123: Okay, it’s really not funny if this is an elaborate prank. Message me back if you’re okay. ]
[ tls123: What the fuck? ]
[ tls123: Squid ]
[ tls123: Squid ]
[ tls123: Hey. Squid. ]
[ uglysquid_: hey ]
[ uglysquid_: sorry that was um. him. ]
[ uglysquid_: he got mad at me cause I really wanted to read the latest chapter ]
[ uglysquid_: we were busy ]
[ tls123: You were trying really hard to hide your sex life, but you make it so obvious, it’s killing me. TMI, idiot. ]
[ tls123: Anyways, can you ask him how much blood a human would lose if all their teeth got ripped out? ]
[ tls123: And no, you can’t ask why. It’s spoilers, dummy. ]
[ uglysquid_: WHAT THE ]
[ uglysquid_: NO IM NOT GOING TO ASK HIM THAT??? ]
uglysquid_ xxxx.xx.xx 00:01
comment. 👍 1.2K
uglysquid_ xxxx.xx.xx 00:03
good chapter. 👍 999
uglysquid_ xxxx.xx.xx 00:02
nice. 👍 897
[ tls123: Are you two actually going at it every night the novel is updating? ]
[ uglysquid_: um. hm. interesting question. ]
[ uglysquid_: I dont think this is a very appropriate question between coworkers. ]
[ tls123: Coworkers. Ha. Again, I don’t even know your damn name. ]
[ uglysquid_: kim dokja ]
[ uglysquid_: you? ]
[ tls123: Han Sooyoung ]
[ uglysquid_: nice to meet u sooyoung-ssi ]
[ tls123: How is it that I learned about your sex life schedule before your real name? ]
[ tls123: It’s been a great displeasure to get to know you, Dokja-ssi. ]
[ uglysquid_: you never asked ]
[ uglysquid_: talk to you later my boyfriend is teaching me how to use a gun today :) ]
[ tls123: oh jesus fucking christ ]
"Kim Dokja. If you don't cuddle with me right now, I will have that pillow thrown in the incinerator."
Kim Dokja holds on tightly to his expensive body pillow depicting WoS character Supreme King. He pouts at the unfairness. "Why don't you just get a matching Salvation pillow. Plus, you are cuddling me."
Correction: Kim Dokja is squished between Yoo Joonghyuk's chest and the body pillow held in his arms. Somehow, it's not enough to satisfy his boyfriend.
"Kim Dokja. Do you only like me for my face?"
"I like your body too, to be fair." Kim Dokja giggles at his own joke.
Imaginary Salvation tsks, giving him a wary look. Imaginary Supreme King shakes his head, with a stare that screams, you never learn.
"So, you like my body," Yoo Joonghyuk whispers and his hands are already reaching underneath his pants. Fuck. He literally asked for it, didn't he?
Uriel @uri9158
@uglysquid for my good friend ;)
[image attached: squids_and_his_husbands_wedding.png]
↳ squid @uglysquid_
aww we couldnt have gotten together without you. literally!
↳ Uriel @uri9158
PLEASE INVITE ME TO THE REAL WEDDING OKAY,,, i wanna meet you irl someday and then we can fangirl over the webnovel together qvq