* is key points if you just wanna skim this cause drama is too much for you right now

Hi, Stay. I know I'm not the most reliable authornim when it comes to updating on a normal or frequent schedule, but I do spend a good part of my time thinking about this story and trying to hype myself up enough to write it for the sake of myself and all you guys who read and seem to love my story so much.

I started making this story back in March 2019 before skz went from 9 to 8 members. When October last year came around, I remember telling myself I would always continue to write ot9 when it came to my skz fanfics, but that sentiment only lasted some months. I eventually moved on and was happy with ot8.

But the issue was that both fanfics I published here slowly became outdated the longer it took for me to make an update. In my mind, I was only able to finish this story the way it was because I've had this entire story outlined since I first published it, and the best I could do as a writer is bring life to that outline. However, in light of recent information, I don't feel comfortable continuing this story the way it is now because it supports someone I no longer want to or can support at this time.

I still love Stray Kids with my entire heart and I am very aware that an ex member's actions are not a reflection of them. People do stupid, horrible things when their life plans get turned upside down, but that isn't an excuse and I'm sure the members are just as hurt by recent events as Stay.

If you are a Stay with a differing opinion on that matter, then that is okay and I don't want to fight you, especially if you want to use the argument 'innocent until proven guilty'. That sentiment must go two ways, to the person being accused and the person making the accusation. Don't accuse someone of lying and attack them when you have no proof. No one should be attacking anyone when there is the option of pulling support and not enabling people with higher fame and status. Again, this is just my opinion and I understand people who hold the opinion that action produces better results, but bullying people is not action. Calling out bullshit is action.

*So yeah. Basically this is my way of trying to say, "I'm not comfortable with writing this story as it is now, but I still love skz and want to write because it makes me happy, so... I'm going to try and write ot8 stuff instead," but then I got distracted by some hot-takes along the way.

*Now I want your opinions on what I should focus on writing next! I can continue writing The Gifted Few, but pretend Woojin just wasn't in it to begin with, somehow write him out (I'm not going to kill him off though. I don't do character deaths), oooorr I've had two ideas floating around in my head that I could write instead. One I've had for a while now and one more I got more recently, but I wasn't able to start them because I wanted to finish this story first.

New Fic Option 1: Fantasy 3racha poly story where a prince, an assassin, and a bounty hunter have to flee a country together after a... let's just say... interesting first encounter.

New Fic Option 2: Hyunminsung(+someone else later) story that's a lot less thought out at this point but it includes the supernatural and a healthy representation of bdsm relationships cause this authornim is not pure and I want some ideal relationship rep 😅

Yes. Both options are poly ships. No. I will not be making any apologies. Put your votes in now, folks!

Thank you so much to those who read my story. ***Even if the general consensus is that I stop writing this fic, I'll still definitely do a little skip forward, Minsung conclusion piece that explains some of the fic's biggest mysteries and has Minho and Jisung being cute (and maybe more than cute) boyfies to give everyone, including myself, some peace of mind. I might even try and finish the tournament arc, since it mostly focuses on the other students at JYP academy and Minho's background with BTS. Let me know what y'all think is appropriate. Love you all!

~Shadow