- will mirror responses.

- i am a slower responder.

- extra: i am slower with 3rd/para responses. just started writing in 3rd/para, so please excuse my rough responses.

plotting essentials and notes

• for plotting please send a pm.

• if you do not have any ideas when approaching me, please tell me what you like/don't like. 

• i can get extremely detailed and ask too many questions during the process, just a warning. this happens more so when there's history, angst, or complicated layers between our characters. i want to make sure we are on the same page.

• please contribute to the plotting process. it helps me immensely when suggesting ideas, but also inspires me to do better.

with romance, this does not guarantee our characters are endgame. rather, the plot has romantic elements to it like former lovers, current attractions, etc. 

location preferences: walls typically, but will respond in rooms. anything smut related, strictly walls or pm.

genre avoidances: nothing too fluff, comedic, or action based. willing to do comedy if the plot calls for it and it feels natural.

triggers/limits/will most likely not plot with: 

incest

sexual assault. it's fine if it is part of your character's background.

terminal illness. will most likely avoid plotting/rping with your character if it's part of their background in some way, especially if it is vital to your character or the plot. 

death

if i am not responding to you, it does not mean anything negative. i am slow with responses, so please be patient. my presence in rooms is not a sign that i am ignoring you.

responses

overall: ooc is faster than ic. not a preference, it's easier for me to respond to something ooc.

ic responses: i try to get back to everyone at once.

age: thirty-one

birthplace: seoul, south korea

religion: christian

occupation: owner of byeonhwa, a social impact restaurant that provides jobs for individuals who face challenges in the job market, including the elderly, former inmates, disabled individuals, and those struggling to integrate into society. through byeonhwa, he provides a second chance, comfort, and support for his employees and customers.

languages spoken: korean (native) and english (conversational)

status: nonexistent

positives

empathetic, determined, independent, reliable, protective, loyal, disciplined, giving, hardworking, controlled

neutral

introverted, honest, stoic, direct, dry in humor (a bit sarcastic), a pessimistic optimist or a optimistic pessimist

negatives

stubborn, emotionally constipated, blunt, avoidant, self-hating, sometimes awkward

sleep, concerts, playing his guitar, singing, rain, thunder storms

general dislikes

people bossing him around, fearmongers (ironic with how overprotective he gets), those with little self control, drugs, being touched without warning, influencers

food and drinks

favourites: black cold brews, flank steaks, crab stews, korean miso soup, jeon (specifically kimchi and meat), kalbi-tteok, janchiguksu, spinach, noodles in general, banana pancakes, and pizza

avoids at all costs: cilantro and dishes overpowered by lemons

music

likes: eric clapton, queen, inxs, santana, foo fighters, billy joel, nirvana, the eagles, the cars, pink floyd, johnny cash, john mayer, hozier, hyukoh

It was from moments like he swore to not be like his father, to not let people stomp all over him. Those moments created a deep-rooted strength and fire within him. Fights were common, which hindered the boy’s good grades. However, his little fists and resilience at seven could not stop what was to come next.

As always, Yongwook’s father could not say no to his friends. This time he invested into a college classmate’s business, but after three months of no updates Dongseok discovered that his friend ran off with his money, which would never return. Yongwook didn’t know the amount lost, but he knew the money was unrecoverable. Yet even that cost alone was not enough to compensate for the lifetime damages done to his family.

Fate was cruel, but kind in its own way.

When Yongwook was eleven, his younger sister, Yiseul, was born. No one would deny that she was unplanned, but the Do's guilt made them unable to give up on the little girl. However, everyone has a limit and Yongwook’s mother did. Shortly after Yiseul's first birthday, she disappeared without a word. It was a cruel start for Yiseul while it opened a new chapter for Yongwook, who became his sister’s caretaker as their father was busy drowning in substance abuse and debt. Such a change forced the boy to mature faster than most, already missing out on his childhood.

He found solace in music as a child, noted for being a gifted classical guitarist. The Do’s once lived near a former musician who taught the boy how to play, telling Yongwook’s parents he had the potential to make it big. Yet, the three adults did not say the silent part aloud, that art required money and that was something the Do’s had no luxury of. Instead, he would watch and learn from his neighbor. While he didn’t have money to spare, he helped the old man whenever he could. As he got older, those visits became less frequent as he set a goal for himself: after graduating high school, he would leave his father’s house, take Yiseul with him, and start a new life with his girlfriend to build a future for all three of them. 

Yongwook took on whatever part-time jobs he could to save up for the move. You name it, he probably did it: convenience store, delivery boy, dishwasher. He didn’t have as much time for the band anymore, but they understood and had his back. Having a goal gave him something to hold on to, a reason not to lash out or fly off the handle every time someone tried to get a rise out of him. He had to stay focused. This was for Yiseul, for his girlfriend, for the future they were trying to build.

Yet fate was never kind to the Do family.

One night, after another long shift, he came home to find a group of men in the living room. His father was crouched on the floor, unable to look at him. Sitting on the couch was a man in a sharp black suit, hair slicked back and had an about him that didn’t tolerate bullshit. He gave Yongwook a look, maybe a sigh, something the teen still couldn’t figure out to this day. Then he tossed a contract onto the floor.

Dongseok had screwed up again, but this time it was worse. He’d signed his own son into his gambling debt. Yongwook was only sixteen.

One hundred and twenty thousand dollars.

Even owing a few bucks stressed him out. That number felt like death.

Grabbing the papers, he crushed them in his hands before hissing, “When do I start?”

He could’ve voided Yongwook’s debt if he wanted, but he didn’t. At the end of the day, it was business. Do one favor, even out of kindness, and everyone else would expect the same. 

Instead, he assigned Yongwook to be muscle at one of his nightclubs in Gangnam. While the teen was still on the lankier side, he had fists and strength that made for it. Still, Jangsu told the teen that even in a job like this, control was everything. Strength meant nothing if it came with a temper that kept dragging him into trouble. Despite the rage that was burning deep inside of him, Yongwook did his best to follow those words. He couldn’t become his father, a man who ruined everything and everyone around him.

He didn’t tell anyone else about his new job. Instead, he let people think he worked late as a dishwasher at a bar. It wasn’t a complete lie, he told himself. He lived this new part of his double life. At the club, he befriended a busboy, Sangwon, who was a couple of years older than him. While the busboy had no favors to owe, he was simply a culinary student that wanted to earn some extra money on the side. His dream was to open a restaurant someday, though he could never figure out what kind. All he knew was that he wanted to feed people, bring them some happiness or comfort in their day. He did that with Yongwook by giving him and Yiseul dishes of what he made in class. They were just boys with dreams.

A rival gang started a brawl in the club over a deal Jangsu had shut down. Despite his own dealings with marijuana, he never trusted those that handled hard drugs. In his eyes, they were reckless risk takers who only thought of themselves. That night only proved him right. 

Complete chaos was an understatement. Fists flew, bottles shattered, and blood spilled in every corner of the club. Men were lost in blood and fists. It wasn’t about business anymore. No one remembered how it started in that moment. They were fighting to wipe out the other side. 

Yongwook had one goal: to get Jangsu and Sangwon out of there.

While he found Jangsu and got him to safety, Sangwon found him too late. A man came charging at Yongwook with a knife. He would’ve taken and should’ve taken the hit if Sangwon hadn’t pushed him out of the way. Holding onto his friend, Yongwook refused to leave even as Sangwon begged for Yongwook to run. Such pleas fell on deaf ears. Only after Sangwon’s last breath did Yongwook move. He carried him out, gently laying his body somewhere safe before returning to the chaos. 

Revenge didn’t bring him peace, just blood, sirens, and handcuffs.

Killing a busboy just for the sake of hunting down Jangsu was something no one would had saw. Justice seemed hardly served though from Yongwook’s brutal revenge that left the drug dealer in a coma, glass shards embedded deep in his head, broken ribs, bruises, and stitches that took months to heal. All from rage and a pair of fists, a place of hurt. This sort of attack would have made many seem like a victim, but for Ban Myungsik it was an event that was only a matter of when not if with a temper and ego like his.

While the prosecutor saw Yongwook as just another teen gangster that had little going for him, some people still had some belief for him. The judge gave him a chance after reading his file. Meanwhile, Jangsu hired the best attorney available, preventing attempted murder charges against the boy and clearing Yongwook’s debt after the teen saved his life at the club that night. Meanwhile, his friends helped him find his mother, who finally took responsibility for Yiseul.

At seventeen, Yongwook was ordered a two-year sentence for assault in juvenile prison. 

Part of Yongwook’s deal was that he was supposed to get his high school degree in prison and take vocational training, ensuring he would be on the right track when released. By the time he was supposed to sign up for any of his classes, the culinary arts was the only program left with an opening, the one program he did not want to take. At first he couldn’t figure out why he resisted the classes like the plague, but it was during his third class he realized why. Everything around him reminded him of Sangwon, leading him to a fresh round of questions and wondering of what Sangwon’s life was like. Was this how Sangwon’s classes were like? Did Sangwon have to sit down at a desk as often as he did? Sometimes Yongwook would look behind his shoulder, imagining the aspiring chef cooking in the corner, making whatever new dish he learned that day.

While somewhat versed in cooking from nights of cooking soups for him and Yiseul, he felt something odd still while learning new techniques in his classes. At first, there was a tremor in his hand that had him nicking himself often and messing up with recipes. There were times Yongwook exploded in the kitchen, banging his tools down onto the counter or slamming the fridge door whenever something didn’t go right. Many would have written Yongwook off as talentless. His teacher knew that there was something bothering the teen during his classes. Calling Yongwook behind after classes, he carefully taught the teen and monitored him. Though he said little, during an after-class lesson, his teacher commented that cooking wasn’t about learning a skill for a job. Rather, cooking was about feeding, caring, and remembering those loved. 

For the first time since Sangwon’s death, Yongwook broke down with his teacher alone in the room. He hadn’t sobbed like it since his mother left him and Yiseul. Once he wiped the last tear, it was then he vowed to cook in honor of Sangwon’s memory. Gone was the tremor and soon a love for food grew, like his love for music. With each dish, he wanted to bring the same comfort and content that Sangwon did through his cooking.   

He expected it, but it was difficult to get used to the rejection. While he was still passionate about his music, he knew it was near impossible to apply for music colleges like he once dreamt of. Even then, an education seemed impossible because of the costs and the fact that no one would want an ex-convict in their student body. Despite intimidating some during his job hunt, his sincerity ultimately won them over. His past, however, meant instant rejection once discovered, even if he managed a callback. The few places that hired him didn’t last long as they took advantage of him with long hours and crap pay, thinking that he would be desperate enough to stay.

Despite his desperation, he quit each job with a sense of self-respect, believing he could find something better. However, the rejection took its toll and eventually he wondered if all he was ever worth to be was a gangster. With this thought in mind, it was easy for him to say yes to a pickup job for some “goods” at the docks from one of his friends during juvie. The gang he worked for had some heat in the city, but was willing to pay Yongwook a nice cut and put him on trial. Wanting to feel something progress for himself and knowing someone wanted him, he said yes.

Yongwook would never make it to the job. A ghost from his past, Ra Jangsu appeared at his doorsteps just hours before the pier assignment. Before the man could say anything, Jangsu reminded him he got his second chance and to not mess it up. Jangsu told Yongwook he deserved more than a gangster's life, silencing Yongwook’s arguments and questions about his past exclusion from Mugunghwa. It wasn’t his destiny.

Still hungry for money and acceptance, the message didn’t fully hit him. It wasn’t until Jangsu forced two men to stay in front of Yongwook’s door to ensure he didn’t leave that night, only to learn on 10PM news that there was an arrest at the ports for a drug bust.

Before his first day, his teacher warned him: the kitchen would be a beast with no mercy, but it would also reward him in the end. In the kitchen, it was everything that Yongwook was not: elegant and disciplined. He was raw, unpolished, and filled with fury. Although under the pressure of yelling, impossible expectations, and long hours, a rock became a diamond.

Over the years, Yongwook grew. He sharpened his instincts, refined his rough edges, and found a purpose. He and his teacher became inseparable, with staff joking they were a father-son duo, a one-plus-one package. Wherever his teacher went, Yongwook followed.

Change found him at home, too. Ever since the day she left, he and his mother had maintained a rocky relationship. Yongwook could never fully forgive her for leaving him and Yiseul. Meanwhile, Yiseul had slowly rekindled a connection with their mother, especially since they started living together. His stepfather was older than his mother and had two children older than Yongwook, but was kind. A steady man who provided for their wounded family and treated Yongwook and Yiseul like his own. Yiseul saw him as a father. Yongwook didn’t, but needed time to adjust. 

The hardest part wasn’t just forgiving his mother. It was learning how to let go. He had spent so long being the protector, the parent, the shield for his sister. Now that Yiseul was grown, loved, and healing, who was he supposed to be? His mother and stepfather told him he didn’t need to carry everyone anymore. That he could live for himself now. But how could she say that so easily, especially after forcing him to grow up alone and without guidance? 

Four years ago, Yongwook moved into the apartments. Two years after that, he opened his restaurant, Byeonhwa or Change, that served stews and home-style dishes. His restaurant is more than a business. It is a mission. It is about doing for others what someone once did for him. He wanted to create the space he once needed: a place where people were seen for who they could become, not what they used to be. Giving people a place to start again. He hires former convicts, the elderly, disabled folks, people who’ve been passed over or shut out for all kinds of reasons. People who want to change, but need someone to believe in them first.

Sometimes they relapse. Sometimes they mess up. He doesn’t sugarcoat things, and he definitely doesn’t go easy, but he shows up at any time of the day. He’ll run, he’ll fly. He’ll do anything to be there for them. He gives them a second chance, even when they don’t think they deserve one. He believes in tough love, one wrapped in quiet loyalty and tenderness, knowing that his team can grow or reach their potential. While perfection is not a requirement, accountability, heart, and effort are. 

His food reflects his philosophy. There is a sense of disciplined technique from his years in the kitchen, but always rooted in comfort. Each of his dishes bring the same comfort and content that Sangwon brought. It is with every dish he honors those that saved him along the way.

Outside of work, he volunteers when he can. Just someone trying to make sure the door stays open for the next person. He believes people can change, but deep down, he still holds onto his grief and guilt of the past and the demons that haunt him. 

relationship: ex-girlfriend. first love from high school.

preference: female. 30-32

genres: angst, drama, romance

taken

muse a was yongwook's first girlfriend, his first love more importantly. no matter how much trouble he got into, the fights he started, or the classes he skipped, she always defended him. to her, yongwook was misunderstood.

at one point, he even promised to stay out of trouble for their sake. they dreamt of a future together, even made plans to move out with his younger sister when they graduated from high school. yet everything fell apart when yongwook was arrested for nearly killing someone. she tried to stay and wait for him, but he pushed her away.

relationship: friend. someone from juvie or his time as a muscle.

preference: 32+. someone still involved in criminal or questionable activity

yongwook knows muse a isn’t someone he should be around. they’re always trying to tempt him to return to his past. yet, he sticks around. maybe it’s because a part of him believes he can help pull muse a out of the mess they’re in. maybe it’s because he’s still hoping they’ll change.

relationship: unrequited crush

preference: female. 25+. comes from a sheltered family, the good girl type.

genres: drama

the moment muse a confessed her feelings, yongwook shut her down. not exactly because he didn't feel the same. maybe he would have in another life, but he knew how this would end. they were from different worlds that would constantly collide. she was the complete opposite of what he was. he was the kind of guy her parents warned her about and for a good reason.

genre: angst, drama, comfort

it's been a long night for muse a, who's hanging out in the building to clear their head with a bottle of cheap tequila. the wheels are spinning in their head and it's loud.

yongwook is in one his moments again and on the edge, but runs into muse a when he goes to the same place. before he could leave, muse a offers him a drink. on any other night, he would've turned it down. however, he's out of lollipops and maybe he just needs a break too.

genre: drama or comedy. flexible

after a certain karen found out about yongwook's criminal past, she made it her mission to broadcast it to everyone in the building. word travels fast, with variations becoming more gruesome and horrendous with each telling. muse a swears they're not judgmental, but can't help in feeling uneasy whenever they're around yongwook.

after a long day at the restaurant, yongwook's patience is barely hanging by a thread. when he catches muse a staring, he snaps, "what the hell are you looking at?"

note

could be a comedic plot if muse a didn't know about yongwook's past, but was just innocently staring at him.

genre: drama

it had been a year since yongwook last heard from his father, but from the occasional urgent calls, he knew dongseok was up to something and probably needed bailing out. since the arrest, even dongseok seemed to know better than to drag his son back into his debts.

muse a's mother wasn't so lucky. scammed again, this time for a cool ten grand. the name behind it? do dongseok. with no hope of getting the money from him directly, muse a and their family start looking elsewhere. which leads them straight to yongwook.

genre: slice of life. has the potential for drama, angst, comfort, even comedy

muse a is a regular at byeonhwa, always ordering the same dish at the exact same time: every thursday at 8 pm. sometimes they bring a friend or relative. other times they're alone. in some ways, they've become a fixture. a comfortable constant to yongwook's week. yet, the two have never talked outside of yongwook taking muse a's order.

when muse a doesn't show up at their usual time, yongwook tells himself not to think too much about it. people get busy and life happens. yet he remembers not seeing muse a at the building this week. after he finishes for the night, he heads over to muse a's place with their usual order.

what he finds is up to you.

seo youngmi: mother

do yiseul/won yiseul: sister

despite the two having an eleven year age gap, the two are incredibly close. some would say that yongwook was the first father figure she ever had. after their mother walked out on them not too long after yiseul's first birthday, yongwook stepped up to the plate, raising her as best as he could. he was her father, her mother, her caretaker, her shield, and constant. it explains why he's still overprotective of her til this day, unable to fully let go of his duties, responsibilities, and instinct that's defined most of his youth and became ingrained in him.

won kangjae: step father

he was the father that stepped up, the figure that yongwook needed in his life, but came too late. despite having two children of his own, kangjae was the one who pushed youngmi to do right by her children when he first learned of them, years after their marriage. he became yiseul's true father and has always tried to be there for yongwook, patient and understanding of him in every step of the way. though things have eased between the two men in the past few years, with yongwook being more forgiving of his step father than of his mother, he's still learning how to handle and accept someone as kind and unconditional as kangjae.

yook sunghoon: mentor/teacher/former boss

choi sangwon: friend. deceased

when the students and artists are not dreaming late into the night at byeonhwa over warm food and soothing drinks, the establishment is filled with a medley of people in the daytime. grandmas regularly meet in their usual wooden booths, enjoying their teas as they muse over the old school tunes softly crackling through the speakers. after work, office workers lean back in the worn seats, amused by the handwritten menus and mismatched dishes.

for many, byeonhwa brings back feelings of home, nostalgia, and comfort through its dishes. yet, for the employees and yongwook, it's a place of second chances. yongwook hires former inmates, recovering addicts, elderly workers, and others too often overlooked, offering them structure, purpose, and a place to grow with dignity at their own pace. together, the diners and staff find healing, care, and comfort that reaches deep in the soul.

everyone is welcome here, no questions asked.

requirement: someone who struggled in the past due to addiction, criminal records, or life events that created a large gap in their employment history, leading to difficulty finding work.

like yongwook, they've faced rejection and doubt about their future, wondering if things will ever go up for them. byeonhwa offers a second chance, but it is not a handout. yongwook pushes his team to do their best with tough love for most. for his elderly employees, he somehow turns a 180 as he's patient and gentle with them. some might even wonder where the real yongwook is. to him, his staff is his family, granted he'll only admit this under his breath.

genre: slice of life, potential comedy

ready to prepare another batch of his homemade kombucha, yongwook thought he had everything he needed: sugar, tea, and his scoby. when he realizes he's out of sugar, he runs down to the corner store. only to learn that they're all out and it's past midnight with no one open at this time.

hearing his problem at the store, muse a offers some sugar to him and he agrees. after all, they're neighbors in the same building. what's the worst thing that can happen? two serial killers in the same apartment?

only to find out, muse a's place is a complete mess, as if a tornado ran through the place a few times over and back. then once more just for good luck. instead of going back to hunt for some sugar, he doesn't simply offer his services to help clean up muse a's place. he insists and maybe he'll be rewarded with a clean environment. a cup of sugar is just a bonus at this point.

relationship: members of yongwook’s old band before he went to prison. spots open: main vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and drummer. most likely one or two spots open, unless the whole band ends up living in the same building.
preference: 30–32. lived in seoul during their middle school and high school years, when the band was together.

ripley was formed by yongwook, who named the band after the village his role model, eric clapton, once lived in. they were a group of misfits, who found a sense of belonging in each other. the band never followed a particular direction, playing what they felt in their souls at the time. some nights were just jams, others were cover sets, and then there were evenings of original music made and played in that exact session. even though yongwook had to pull back from the group to pay off his father’s debt, the band continued to have his back. while yongwook was in prison, the group split, each member realizing they had their own path to follow. still they keep in touch because just like when they were kids, they always have somebody to lean on.

potential ideas/skeletons
member a:
probably had the most intense image of the group. the living embodiment of rock and roll. they had the spikes, the leather jacket, and the cigarette tucked behind their ear. they made their entrance into a classroom by kicking a chair or two, never bowing down to anyone. now? they’re careful. quiet. instead of tats and boots, it’s cardigans (not inspired by kurt cobain) and loafers. they work a solid 9 to 5. outside of work, their biggest concerns are cholesterol and cortisol. a cig and a beer don’t do it anymore. instead, it’s meditation and green tea. sometimes, they get the itch. do they still have it in them?

member b:
inspired by dewey finn from school of rock. they never really left the rock and roll lifestyle. they live it. breathe it. some say they never fully matured, stuck in the glory days of their teen years and having a death grip on the past. they still get into bar fights and wake up hungover, but they swear they’ve found the cure for the latter. they’re passionate, lovable, and impossible to hate. however, those things don’t pay the bills. now, for the first time, they’re being forced to grow up.

relationship: ex-girlfriend. toxic. potential an on-off
preference: female. 30+. someone that runs with a questionable crowd with a checkered past.
the relationship most likely took place eight to ten years ago.

shortly after yongwook's release, he struggled assimilating back into a society that constantly rejected him because of his past. craving a sense of progress and belonging, it was easy for him to slip back into his old life during his first year out. while it was a path once forced on him, at least it was one accepting of his flaws, even if he knew deep down inside it exploited the same things that worked against him.

part of why it was easy to sink back into that world was muse a. their relationship was a rollercoaster of extremes: fun and thrilling. yet their lows were filled with constant fights and venom that nearly seemed unforgivable. as yongwook worked to better himself after his close call with the law, muse a sank deeper into her vices. he tried to save her, but it only grew the resentment. sometimes she was cruel, mocking him to join her in this ruin. there was a time or two, when a little voice tempted him. however, determined to change, he had to end things with her. still they have their moments that test him.