[ title wip]
from madhardcandy and sheisjoanne
Title: untitled for now!
Pairing: Xiumin/Luhan
Rating: PG-13
Genre: err yeah idk yet
Length: 1,172w
Summary/Warnings: minseok is a sports journalist. lu han is an up and coming soccer superstar and minseok's promotion is sorta kinda up to him.
The coffee brews at the corner of the newsroom, aroma drifting slowly to create an illusion that it's 8 in the morning instead of 9 in the evening on a Friday night and on the other corner, someone's monitoring the evening news from all major television networks.
Minseok leans against his chair and it groans with his weight, the scuff on the grey carpet of their floor darkening as he swivels. There are no office hours in the newsroom but the sports section remains as busy as all the other departments because it is game season. Minseok likes it. Likes the standard minimalist design of boxed cubicles and the churn of the nearby printer, the zap of the photocopy machine on his left, hoping that the interns aren't using it for photocopying their dicks.
His article on the latest fitness trend stands finished on his outgoing bin, to be forwarded to his editor. It's not due until Tuesday next week but Minseok likes taking the small things out of his hands. Besides, if he accomplished his tasks early, he'll be able to free his schedule for any available filler into writing something that has an actual involvement in sports and not the latest fitness trends that a suburban dad can do right in his office, exclamation point.
"You're not gonna join us tonight, Minseok-ah?"
Minseok startles and he turns around, stands up to give his section chief a polite bow. "I'll follow in a while, Sir. Just checking this in with the Layout guys and I'll be there."
His boss, 60 years of age, homely old guy who reminds him of a teddy bear on a good day and a mean ogre when proofs aren't done two days before deadline gives him a pat on the shoulder. He's his mentor, sometimes he's like his father, but most of the time, Minseok wonders if he has any future in this department. Minseok returns the smile he gives to him. "You work too hard and it just makes me want to give you more work." He barks a laughter and Minseok joins him. No, that's not quite bad at all. Minseok is a goal-oriented, career-driven, 9PM coffee-drinker bachelor and all the hard work he puts in his job is for that permanent editorial section for The Korean Herald.
"Listen," he says, and Minseok stands a little straighter. "Jinki's taking a break because his wife's about to give birth and he's supposed to do a feature on the footie rookies." He pauses and swallows dryly. He's 60 but he still smokes like a chimney. "You up for it?"
The Yes Man that he is, Minseok says, "Got it, boss."
--
"You know that's gonna be a lot of field work, right?" Jongdae says. He taps his pencil against the blue lining of Minseok's cubicle , tie askew. It's Monday, and the guys from Creatives and Graphics hates the strict dress code on these days because the Board of Directors usually roam around and check on things. Jongdae calls it Asshole Mondays.
Minseok nods. "Yeah, so?"
"Sucks, man. Might as well call you a groupie. Usually they send the females. Easier on the eyes, and the footies are more inclined to share." He waves both hands in the air and stares Minseok in the eyes. "Open up their real heart."
"That's sexist, isn't it?"
"It's psychology, hyung. But good luck. I heard from Minho-hyung that this year won't just be a spread, it's going to be a 9-page full feature text and possibly a new coffee table book of some sorts." Jongdae wiggles his eyebrows, making him look younger than he really is.
“It’s always great to know your friends don’t think you are capable enough to do their jobs.” Minseok replies, earning a grin from Jongdae. He is perfectly aware that his friend is just playing around but the slightly offended feeling was still there. He worked hard to get the job and a bunch of stupid footballers wouldn’t ruin it.
“No need to get so worked up, Minseok-hyung,” the younger teases. “Who knows? You might get lucky and find someone who is willing to share their deep, dark secrets with a cute boy.”
“Fuck off, Jongdae.”
Jongdae laughs and takes it as the cue to leave. After all, he has his own work to do - people on vacations just means more work to him - and if he doesn’t get it done quickly, he’ll get into trouble. And it was also good to pretend that you are a very dedicated worker when your bosses are around.
Minseok sighs once his workplace is back to his usual state of peace. He likes Jongdae, he really does, but he has work to do and his constant reminders of the difficulties he is going to face don’t really help. It is the first work that fits what he had envisioned when he first entered the publication and he needs to impress his boss.
He opens his e-mail and checks what Jinki sent him. There’s some information about some of the best young players he is supposed to write about. The list is not long - because after all extraordinary talents are not that common and there are only nine pages to write - but Minseok can feel the anticipation growing. He is not interviewing world star players, like the (arguably) best player in the world and Minseok’s favourite, Lionel Messi, but it was great for a first time.
Among the group of players he would be writing about, one of the names caught his attention - Lu Han. Minseok is pretty sure that is a Chinese name and Chinese football doesn’t have the best reputation compared to other teams around the world. Hearing about a good Chinese player was not common.
“Minseok-hyung!” A well-known voice exclaims. He doesn’t even have to turn around to know who it is. “Congratulations!” Zitao’s voice fills the air and before Minseok can react the younger’s arms are around him, embracing him into a tight hug.
Zitao was something similar to a protégé to Minseok. He had arrived to the magazine just a few months before and he could barely speak Korean. He did a little bit of everything and he was paid just enough to survive. It wasn’t easy and the elder had immediately become fond of this young boy.
“I have to get some copies for Jongdae-hyung but I am happy that you get to write something important - at least he said it’s something important.”
“Yes, it’s a big deal. Nine pages in the next edition, about football rookies,” Minseok says, proudly.
“Nine pages? That’s so good, hyung!” Zitao sounds even more excited than him about his article. “Look, I have to hurry but I’ll be back later. Don’t work too much.” With that, he leaves as quickly as he had arrived and Minseok continues to work, with a smile plastered on his face.
(And a couple hours later with a cup of coffee (or maybe more) on his desk to give him energy).
Title: untitled for now!
Pairing: Xiumin/Luhan
Rating: PG-13
Genre: err yeah idk yet
Length: 1,172w
Summary/Warnings: minseok is a sports journalist. lu han is an up and coming soccer superstar and minseok's promotion is sorta kinda up to him.
The coffee brews at the corner of the newsroom, aroma drifting slowly to create an illusion that it's 8 in the morning instead of 9 in the evening on a Friday night and on the other corner, someone's monitoring the evening news from all major television networks.
Minseok leans against his chair and it groans with his weight, the scuff on the grey carpet of their floor darkening as he swivels. There are no office hours in the newsroom but the sports section remains as busy as all the other departments because it is game season. Minseok likes it. Likes the standard minimalist design of boxed cubicles and the churn of the nearby printer, the zap of the photocopy machine on his left, hoping that the interns aren't using it for photocopying their dicks.
His article on the latest fitness trend stands finished on his outgoing bin, to be forwarded to his editor. It's not due until Tuesday next week but Minseok likes taking the small things out of his hands. Besides, if he accomplished his tasks early, he'll be able to free his schedule for any available filler into writing something that has an actual involvement in sports and not the latest fitness trends that a suburban dad can do right in his office, exclamation point.
"You're not gonna join us tonight, Minseok-ah?"
Minseok startles and he turns around, stands up to give his section chief a polite bow. "I'll follow in a while, Sir. Just checking this in with the Layout guys and I'll be there."
His boss, 60 years of age, homely old guy who reminds him of a teddy bear on a good day and a mean ogre when proofs aren't done two days before deadline gives him a pat on the shoulder. He's his mentor, sometimes he's like his father, but most of the time, Minseok wonders if he has any future in this department. Minseok returns the smile he gives to him. "You work too hard and it just makes me want to give you more work." He barks a laughter and Minseok joins him. No, that's not quite bad at all. Minseok is a goal-oriented, career-driven, 9PM coffee-drinker bachelor and all the hard work he puts in his job is for that permanent editorial section for The Korean Herald.
"Listen," he says, and Minseok stands a little straighter. "Jinki's taking a break because his wife's about to give birth and he's supposed to do a feature on the footie rookies." He pauses and swallows dryly. He's 60 but he still smokes like a chimney. "You up for it?"
The Yes Man that he is, Minseok says, "Got it, boss."
--
"You know that's gonna be a lot of field work, right?" Jongdae says. He taps his pencil against the blue lining of Minseok's cubicle , tie askew. It's Monday, and the guys from Creatives and Graphics hates the strict dress code on these days because the Board of Directors usually roam around and check on things. Jongdae calls it Asshole Mondays.
Minseok nods. "Yeah, so?"
"Sucks, man. Might as well call you a groupie. Usually they send the females. Easier on the eyes, and the footies are more inclined to share." He waves both hands in the air and stares Minseok in the eyes. "Open up their real heart."
"That's sexist, isn't it?"
"It's psychology, hyung. But good luck. I heard from Minho-hyung that this year won't just be a spread, it's going to be a 9-page full feature text and possibly a new coffee table book of some sorts." Jongdae wiggles his eyebrows, making him look younger than he really is.
“It’s always great to know your friends don’t think you are capable enough to do their jobs.” Minseok replies, earning a grin from Jongdae. He is perfectly aware that his friend is just playing around but the slightly offended feeling was still there. He worked hard to get the job and a bunch of stupid footballers wouldn’t ruin it.
“No need to get so worked up, Minseok-hyung,” the younger teases. “Who knows? You might get lucky and find someone who is willing to share their deep, dark secrets with a cute boy.”
“Fuck off, Jongdae.”
Jongdae laughs and takes it as the cue to leave. After all, he has his own work to do - people on vacations just means more work to him - and if he doesn’t get it done quickly, he’ll get into trouble. And it was also good to pretend that you are a very dedicated worker when your bosses are around.
Minseok sighs once his workplace is back to his usual state of peace. He likes Jongdae, he really does, but he has work to do and his constant reminders of the difficulties he is going to face don’t really help. It is the first work that fits what he had envisioned when he first entered the publication and he needs to impress his boss.
He opens his e-mail and checks what Jinki sent him. There’s some information about some of the best young players he is supposed to write about. The list is not long - because after all extraordinary talents are not that common and there are only nine pages to write - but Minseok can feel the anticipation growing. He is not interviewing world star players, like the (arguably) best player in the world and Minseok’s favourite, Lionel Messi, but it was great for a first time.
Among the group of players he would be writing about, one of the names caught his attention - Lu Han. Minseok is pretty sure that is a Chinese name and Chinese football doesn’t have the best reputation compared to other teams around the world. Hearing about a good Chinese player was not common.
“Minseok-hyung!” A well-known voice exclaims. He doesn’t even have to turn around to know who it is. “Congratulations!” Zitao’s voice fills the air and before Minseok can react the younger’s arms are around him, embracing him into a tight hug.
Zitao was something similar to a protégé to Minseok. He had arrived to the magazine just a few months before and he could barely speak Korean. He did a little bit of everything and he was paid just enough to survive. It wasn’t easy and the elder had immediately become fond of this young boy.
“I have to get some copies for Jongdae-hyung but I am happy that you get to write something important - at least he said it’s something important.”
“Yes, it’s a big deal. Nine pages in the next edition, about football rookies,” Minseok says, proudly.
“Nine pages? That’s so good, hyung!” Zitao sounds even more excited than him about his article. “Look, I have to hurry but I’ll be back later. Don’t work too much.” With that, he leaves as quickly as he had arrived and Minseok continues to work, with a smile plastered on his face.
(And a couple hours later with a cup of coffee (or maybe more) on his desk to give him energy).