courtyard.

@moon myungsoo. "my favorite"? in your dreams, boy.
/she offers sassily despite her body language saying she approves of him and his actions, her eyes naturally closing and her body relaxing in his hold as his fingers slide through her hair. against her wishes, she's made to look up at him, so her eyelids part slowly and half way to do just that. a small pout also takes shape.
what kind of bar is it? i guess it wouldn't be all that bad to go... how soon will you be ready?

@elyse tu. "shooting stars?" he repeats, leaning onto his palms as he looks up at the night sky again and hums in thought. truth be told, he only knew the most recognizable constellations like the ones she mentioned. he knew a few planets like venus and mars, but she probably knew those too. as for shooting stars... he hadn't seen any of those either. should he lie to impress her, though? the thought briefly crosses his mind as he lolls his head over to glance her way again... "think i'm looking at one right now," he playfully suggests with a laugh, shaking his head after and putting his focus back on the heavens. "no, really, i haven't seen any before... usually too much light pollution where i am to see things. guessing you've seen a shooting star, though, yeah? what was it like?"

@niko jang. I am, but I’m also your favourite.
/his fingers card through the crown of her hair, the thick strands like silk underneath his touch; never catching or causing any drag. He uses his hand to tilt her head back, not unkindly, until they’re looking at each other.
There’s a cool new bar that’s opened up that I’ve been meaning to visit; want to go together? Could be fun

@bae geonhee. elyse found herself mirroring his action, her own gaze lifting to the celestial expanse above. the stars seemed to twinkle with a kind of quiet wisdom as if they held secrets and stories that stretched beyond the scope of human understanding.

as he looked back at her, she caught a gentle, contemplative expression in his eyes, a fleeting glance that seemed to delve deeper than their casual conversation. she felt an unexpected warmth at the realization that he was genuinely engaged in their interaction, taking the time to truly see her. however, his question pulled her back to the present, and she smiled at the idea of sharing something more about herself. "i know a few constellations," she replied, her tone soft and thoughtful. "the big dipper and orion's belt are probably the most recognizable ones. it's fascinating how they've guided people for centuries, isn't it? like a map written in the stars."

elyse's appreciation for the night sky extended beyond its visual beauty. it was a connection to the past, a thread that linked generations of dreamers and explorers, and now, it was weaving a connection between her and geonhee, two individuals brought together by the quiet serenity of the courtyard and the allure of the cosmos. "how about you? have you ever seen a shooting star before too?"

@moon myungsoo. /she's initially mentally repulsed by the idea of them being so close, but her body acts before she can refute this or even deny him any entrainment of the idea that he'd be able to comfort her. before she can even say anything, she finds her arms circling around his waist and her body huddling under his arms.
you're so annoying.
/her eyes roll, but it's clear she doesn't mean any of it by the way her fingers curl around his top. with another sigh, she huddles under his hold and allows herself to enjoy the comfort of his warmth.
can you take me somewhere? or maybe just walk with me? ...help me take my mind off things?

@elyse tu. "i was just thinking it would be nice to stargaze too," he responds, looking up at the sky instinctively for a moment then looking back at her. his eyes give her a gentle glance over, specifically noting two things: how she carried the 'sleepy yet sleepless' vibe in her features despite her smile, and that she was actually very pretty now that he gives her a good look. he almost feels bad or guilty for taking up some of her time with their conversation, but he can't help himself from continuing it. curious, he asks, "do you know any constellations you can point out?"

@niko jang. /it’s not exactly what Myungsoo expected to hear, probably evident to Niko when he doesn’t respond right away and just blinks. He once-overs her, deciphering her body language.
Hmph, and here I was expecting a bomb being dropped. I think I can fix that little problem
/he says, smirking slightly and adjusting his stance; his arm now resting on Niko’s shoulder. His tone is suggestive, but it’s lighthearted, nothing serious about it. Myungsoo’S head is bowed when he speaks again.
What did you have in mind?

@moon myungsoo. well...
/she trails off, obviously hesitant and unsure if she even wants to open up to someone like myungsoo who could and probably would take advantage of her vulnerability if the opportunity presented itself, but she honestly had no one else she could rely on in a moment like this. with a heavy sigh, a slump of the shoulders, and then a soft shut of the eyes, she gears herself up.
i think i might... i might be lonely.
/the very last word is spoken under her breath and she very conveniently gazes away once her eyes open again.
...and i don't know what to do.

@bae geonhee. from the sound of his response, elyse could detect a hint of something in his expression, a touch of wistfulness perhaps. she wondered to herself briefly about the story behind his words, the reasons that kept him away from this place. yet again, there was a certain level of respect she felt for his decision not to elaborate before focusing her attention on his follow-up comment, a cheeky remark that carried a lightness to it. the playful undertone in his words made her chuckle softly, her smile returning in full force.

“i’m glad to have contributed to your list of favorite spots,” she quipped, the banter between them feeling easy and natural. the way he brought humor into the conversation put her at ease, and she found herself appreciating the lightheartedness he brought to the late-night encounter. “tonight feels nice out here, and if it weren’t for the school lights out here, it would’ve been nice to stargaze.”

@niko jang. Er…
/He thinks for a moment, weighing up whether or not he should go to practice but then again, he doesn’t have much going on in the tomorrow, he can probably skip tonight and make up for it in the morning. Myungsoo nods in agreement to Niko’s question.
Yeah, I can be free for you. What’s up?

@elyse tu. he shakes his head at her question, expression dimming a tiny bit but still holding most of its shine. "nah, no... i don't get many chances to actually come here," he replies. in fact, he hasn't really been here in this spot because he had just gotten back from touring and from studying online when he could, but he figured she wouldn't care to know about all that. she didn't seem to recognize him and he wasn't going to bring it up if she didn't. that aside, he keeps the conversation flowing with a cheeky little comment that hopefully wouldn't rub her the wrong way. "this has just been my go-to spot for a while when i do, but it might be my favorite spot now."

@moon myungsoo. /her head whips around as soon as she registers his voice, nearly jumping but her body was honestly too drained to react physically.
"you know patience has never been MY virtue, little man."
/for once she allows his finger to actually push against her forehead, normally smacking his hand away, but resigning to an eyeroll for tonight.
"you're also lucky i'm in need of your assistance right now... you sure you have nothing else going on tonight?"

@niko jang. “Literally behind you.”
/he responds, having jogged to catch up to Niko when he’d spied her across the courtyard; his phone now stashed back in his pocket.
“Patience.”
/Myungsoo said, poking Niko’s foreheads with a bemused expression.
“Is a virtue, little lady”

@bae geonhee. "elyse is a pretty name," he complimented, and elyse felt a faint blush warm her cheeks. his words were unexpected, and they carried a genuine sweetness that made her feel appreciated. she returned his smile, the connection between them deepening ever so slightly. her gaze followed his as he looked around, taking in the stillness of the night and the serene ambiance of the courtyard. the absence of the usual hustle and bustle gave the space an almost magical quality, as if it had transformed into a secret haven just for them. as he patted the grass beside him, inviting her to join him, she hesitated for a brief moment before deciding to take the offered seat. the gesture felt comfortable and inviting, and her curiosity about him was growing stronger.

"go you usually come to this spot? i've never seen you here before," elyse pondered the question for a moment, her mind retracing her own recent nights spent in the courtyard. "not often, actually," she admitted with a small smile. "i guess you could say tonight was just one of those times when i needed a change of scenery. the quiet here helps me clear my head." she found herself opening up, sharing a glimpse of her thoughts with this newfound acquaintance. there was an unspoken understanding between them, a shared appreciation for the tranquility of the night and the company they had unexpectedly found. "what about you? from the sound of your question, it seems like you come here often, hm?" she turned her head slightly enough to get a glimpse of him, waiting for an answer.

@moon myungsoo. /she huffs to herself and makes her way to their designated "super secret" meetup spot, pulling out her phone to shoot him a quick text as she reads it aloud.
"i'm waiting at the spot. where you at?"

@elyse tu. "elyse is a pretty name," he says, smile softening a tiny bit and his gaze wandering away to glance around the two of them. it really was like a whole other world at night, with few people walking around the usually busy and bustling campus. it was nice and tranquil, this change of pace, and her company was seeming to aid with that. something about her vibe was inviting, so as he leans back, he pats the space next to him for her to have a seat. "do you usually come to this spot? i've never seen you hear before," he mentions, eyes focusing back on her as he awaits her answer.

@bae geonhee. "oh! courtyard contemplation... i like that!"

elyse couldn't help but notice the genuine grin on his face and the spark of amusement in his eyes. it was as if her words had struck a chord with him, a simple phrase resonating with their shared experience. "i'm elyse," she replied, her smile growing a bit warmer. there was something about his energy that felt welcoming, and she appreciated the effort he had taken to introduce himself. in a place where most interactions were hurried and superficial, this encounter felt refreshingly different. as they exchanged names, her thoughts briefly wandered to the idea that perhaps their paths had finally crossed due to the alignment of circumstances, a convergence of restlessness that had brought them both to the courtyard tonight. it was a small, serendipitous moment that reminded her of the unpredictability of life and the potential for unexpected connections.

@elyse tu. "oh! courtyard contemplation... i like that!" he repeats, lips shaping into a small grin as well and his face lighting up at the phrase. it wasn't like it was super clever, no, but geon was genuinely amused by just how well it suited the current situation. he hadn't even thought too much about it, but that has probably because his go-to pastime as of late. and while that thought runs through his mind, he suddenly remembers something. in all the times he's made this trip out at night, this is the first he's seeing her around. "i'm cyrus by the way. you are...?"

@bae geonhee. elyse had been enjoying the tranquility of the campus courtyard. the gentle rustling of leaves and the faint glow of the moonlight were a welcome escape from the confines of her dorm room. she often found solace in the stillness of the night, a time when the world seemed to slow down, and her thoughts could wander freely.

lost in her own contemplations, she was momentarily startled when she heard a voice behind her. with a slight turn of her head, she found a guy settling himself onto the grass nearby. his question caught her off guard, but a small smile formed on her lips. it was a classic line, a simple icebreaker that seemed to carry the weight of every late-night encounter ever.

she turned fully to face him, her eyes meeting his with a mix of curiosity and amusement. she noted the restlessness in his demeanor, the kind that often accompanies a sleepless night. it was something she could relate to; her own reasons for being in the courtyard were not so dissimilar.

"seems like tonight's a popular night for courtyard contemplation," she replied, her voice carrying a soft, friendly tone. she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and continued, "but no, not often. just needed a change of scenery tonight."

as she spoke, elyse couldn't help but wonder about the guy in front of her. what were his thoughts, his reasons for being out here? the campus was vast, yet they had found themselves in this shared space, a chance encounter under the night sky. perhaps it was the same restless energy that had brought both of them out tonight, seeking solace and connection in the quietude of the courtyard.

the one night he actually gets to sleep on campus in a dorm, he is too restless to knock out. tragic, but it doesn't stop him from taking the rare walk out to the campus courtyard so he can tire himself out and get some fresh air. seems he wasn't the only one up too, as when he went to take a seat on the grass, he sees someone else nearby. he hadn't really met them yet, but he takes a chance and starts off with a small joke. "come here often?"