we laugh at danger and break all the rules.

kang chanyeol // poizn // lead rap, lead dance // perpetually angry

[idxchanyeol-blog]

sharp tongue.

in which chanyeol and @idhojun come to blows and prove that some things never change

Conflict. Like water or air, Chanyeol needs conflict to survive. Most of his relationships with his fellow idols are born in the flames of animosity and most remain there until they are nothing more than ash and cinder. It’s tempered him, hardened him, strengthened him; transformed him into the man he is today, for better or for worse. He’d learned to fight simply to stave of predators and survive, but he’s grown to love the thrill of it.

His very existence is chaos, but controlled chaos.

Poizn’s current predicament is far from that. For the first time that he can remember in the time since debuting, it feels as though he has no control. A passenger on a roller-coaster with malfunctioning restraints, gripping on and hoping that the worst doesn’t come to pass. The sense of fear and uncertainty are unfamiliar bedfellows of his. And like any wild animal inflicted with fear, all he can do is bare his teeth as he’s backed into a corner and set upon by the wolves.

The 99 Entertainment building holds too many bad memories for him to make it a regular haunt. He appears whenever he’s summoned and vanishes as soon as he can. The stench of betrayal, of ineptitude and desperation that lingers in the air make it difficult to stay any longer than absolutely necessary. Recent developments have led to him being here more than he’d like, tethered to various meeting rooms and trying to make sense of it all.

He hates it. It’s claustrophobic, suffocating even. He needs air. No, he needs s drink. Needs to forget about the madness, even if just for a moment. For now though, air will do fine. Weaving through the hallways his face is buried in his phone, thumbs tapping cold glass at a furious speed. With deft footwork he manages to dodge most oncoming traffic without even needing to raise his gaze from the cool digital glow.

It was inevitable that he was going to collide with someone eventually, shoulders slamming together and the device tumbling to the floor. A dull thud echoes out as it lands on one of the corners, an exasperated sigh following before he swoops down to grab at it. It had been his fault, he knows that, but it tips him over the edge and snaps him out of his stupor. “Watch where you’re going punk, people are walking he-“ He spits, face already taking on his trademark glare before he’s even looked up to confirm the identity of the person he’s attacking.

When he turns, the face he’s greeted with does little to calm him.

“For fucks sake, it just gets better and better.” He grumbles to himself, shoving the phone (Now complete with a single clean crack in the glass back into his pocket. Adam. Or Hojun when there are no cameras around. Imperial’s lead vocal, a bridge destined to catch flame. The bad blood between the two groups is barely an open secret at this point, and with the carnage currently unfolding in his own camp he imagines it runs stronger than ever. “Whatever snarky comment you’re about to come out with, don’t bother. We’re not doing this today.” He says gruffly, cutting in before the other has a chance to respond. 

“Or if you have something to say, at least do it quickly. I don’t have the patience to deal with your petty bullshit right now.”

[idxchanyeol-blog]

welcome oblivion.

in which chanyeol and @doyoonid find themselves at the beginning of the end.

Poizn have always been on a timer. From day one it had seemed like a silent, unacknowledged truth between them that this was never going to last. They’re trouble, people say, shrouded in infamy. They were a time bomb, waiting to blow and, if Chanyeol had anything to do with it at least, bring down half of the company that he blames for his misfortunes with them. And yet the years creep by, repeatedly they manage to pull themselves back from the brink of oblivion and prove that maybe, just maybe, it could work.

The years have begun to mellow Chanyeol slightly, his spite and disdain for the company diverted to other channels to get what he wants. As much as it pains him to do so, he decides to play the game. They continue their upwards trajectory and he decides it’s best to simply make a quiet exit at the end of their contracts and move onto other things rather than making a show of breaking the shackles. It’s difficult to petition other companies from the courtroom dock or the dungeon after all. When Love Scenario comes around, he begins to convince himself that perhaps the detonator was a dud.

But now the countdown is about to hit zero, and everything is primed to explode.

When the company bring them in mid-way through promotions for Killing Me (The first song they’ve released in a long time that matches his taste, by the by) he thinks nothing of it. One of them has probably just been clumsy, slipped up or put their foot in their mouths again. Usual Poizn things to be swept under the carpet. When they’re pulled in individually, the solemn look on the faces opposite soon cause him to re-evaluate, brows knitting into a frown.

The situation is explained, two of the other members are suing for release from their contracts, and whilst Poizn won’t be formally disbanded they’ll be put on indefinite hiatus and focus on solo careers instead. Chanyeol simply sits, stony faced and staring into their eyes, features filling with more fire and fury with every passing second. After a while the words begin to blur together, Chanyeol too furious to process the barrage of information.

All he hears is that two people are fleeing the sinking ship that they’d swore they’d all go down on together. All he hears is that they’ve waited until the very end, the moment that could cause the most lasting damage to all of them, to do something so objectively stupid. All he hears is that the closest thing he’s had to family is being torn apart from the inside.

All he hears is that he’s been betrayed by those he trusted.

The two in question are conspicuous in their absence, perhaps just as well. Had they had the nerve to show their faces they’d likely have had meetings with his fists as well as management, and right now a low profile is the order of the day. He only realizes that his own meeting has reached it’s conclusion when the room is filled with silence, eyes looking at him expectantly. It sits for a moment, stagnates as he realizes that battle lines have been drawn and that he is on the side of those he’d once considered enemies. A strange feeling, to say the least.

Rising to his feet, he simply bows and makes a wordless exit. He’s not the first to go in, unsure if he’s the last. Head still reeling, stomach tying itself in knots, each step through the halls serves simply to swirl the maelstrom of emotion. At least they’ve had the decency to tell them rather than them finding out through the media; in truth it’s more than he’s expected from them.

Where he’s going is a mystery, home perhaps, or at least some quiet corner of the building to compose his thoughts. Company is perhaps not the best idea given his current temperament, so wherever he lands he knows it’ll be alone. The universe seems to have other ideas though. As he begins in the direction of the lobby a familiar face, though for how much longer is another mystery, stands in his path.

“Doyoon, hyung, what the fuck is going on. Have they called you in yet?” He says plainly upon approach, pulling himself together enough to actually form a sentence. It’s intended as a question, but comes out as a statement. There’s something teasing the back of his voice, something unfamiliar that you’d only notice if you were finely attuned to his usual mannerisms and even only then if you were straining. Panic. Uncertainty.  Fear. “You’re supposed to be the sensible one, tell me that I’m not the only one who thinks this whole thing is insane.” The words come fast and louder than perhaps is ideal, laced with their usual venom and thrown with force before he even has a chance to answer. He can feel the glare still lingering on his face, tries his best to contain the raging beast within, hopes that Doyoon knows it isn’t directed at him. “When they came to me with this idea I didn’t think they’d actually follow through, the fucking morons.”

“They’ll listen to you. You could still talk them out of this.”

[idolizenews]

Did you guys see the news this morning? I can’t believe it’s happening… finally the second generation groups are falling apart, I guess. POIZN finally hit big with Love Scenario and these two decided to sue?? No but really does that make any sense? 

POIZN has always been a lot of trouble we know that, so doesn’t it make you wonder what was happening behind the scenes? Why would they walk away after all this time… maybe they’re just sick of the company?? Or are they total crooks? It’s crazy I can’t imagine this. Really its so unexpected. 

99 always media plays about being a big giant family and this is the reality, there’s really no loyalty in the face of money or fame is there?? wowow. 

POST RESPONSE | [ + 779 ] [ - 23 ]

1. [ ㅇㅇ ] No but were they even important in the group, I don’t know their names even…. 2. [ 영원큐어 ] I can’t believe this is happening ㅠㅠㅠㅠ my boys ㅠㅠㅠ my group ㅠㅠ What a waste of their talents…. ah f*ck 99 is seriously the worst….  3. [ ㅇㅇ ] Honestly though, the others hard carried them so what will they do now? Good riddance ~ ㅋㅋ

[idxchanyeol-blog]

thousands of miles between us.

[idxchanyeol-blog]

idseokyung‌:

[...] he turns to look at him, tilts his head and smiles, “i missed my friend.” he actually doesn’t know if this is true, but he says that and in a kind of tone so chanyeol is aware that he’s just fucking around with him, for the lack of a better word, “you ask that as if i have plans to rob a fucking bank or something.” he leans against the bar and points at the seat next to his, “sit down. this is about me being bored, i already told you. so sit down and humor me for half an hour.” bold of him to say that, considering it takes him longer than half an hour to finally start having fun. “also,” he scoffs, “if you had anything better to do you wouldn’t even be here in the first place, so cut the shit and sit down.”

Chanyeol simply stands and listens, face still the very picture of apathy, waiting for an excuse to turn on his heels and leave the way he entered. When words are barked in his direction he doesn’t know whether to laugh or sneer, instead settling on something between the two with a scoff and roll of the eyes. “We’ve known each other for years… when did you ever get the impression that I knew anything about human decency?” He answers plainly with a light shrug of his shoulders. “And when did you get so precious about manners anyway?”

The sarcasm, or at least he thinks it’s sarcasm, that drips from Seokyung’s words earns him another scowl. It’s not enough to get any sort of raise, but certainly enough to irritate. He’d forgotten about that, about the little quips, the unflinching bluntness. It’s refreshing really, a far cry from the usual eggshell-walking, social climbing that usually surrounds people in their line of work. In truth it had been why they’d gotten along in the first place, sparring partners who could actually keep ace without shattering at the first blow. Who could get up, dust themselves off and act as though nothing had happened.

That didn’t make it any less annoying though, especially after such a long time apart. He’s yet to fully readjust.

A single laugh forces its way out at the bank comment before it’s beaten back behind his usual more sullen expression. It’s a solid point that he knows there’s no point in arguing. Even if he’s questioning his reasons, showing up at all had been proof enough that he had nowhere better to be. “I’m way too sober to put up with your shit.” He announces abruptly with a huff, still looking down at the other. He turns 180 degrees and begins to walk mindlessly, still deciding on the destination. If he reaches the bar first, he’ll drink until Seokyung is tolerable. If he reaches the door, he’ll find somewhere else to drink until he can tolerate himself. A win-win situation, or lose-lose depending on perspective.

After no more than a few seconds he turns to the bar, the little voice in the back of his head convincing him once more to stay. He orders four shots of tequila, knuckles rapping impatiently against the solid surface of the bar as they are sloppily poured. Once they’re paid for he lifts a shot glass to his lips, knocks back the amber liquid without hesitation and clumsily places it back down with a dull thud. No need for chasers, no need to mask or distract from the all too familiar burn as it creeps down his throat.

After a beat the second is lifted, drained immediately and slid back across the wood. With a grumbled thanks he takes the two remaining, one in each hand and weaves back across the floor towards the younger. Without a word he hands one over, keeps one for himself and moves to slump down opposite.

They’re both too proud, too stubborn, to admit any fault. Chanyeol knows that. Seokyung knows that. They’d both been too difficult to do anything about it. It’s not something he can address, not something he even knows how to, and so instead he is content to sit at the eye of the storm in the bar and play along, wait it out. “Times must be desperate if you’re calling me for company.” He comments off-handedly. “Tell me Kyungie-“ He uses the nickname purely because he knows it bothers him, because it never fails to crack him up. “How many people turned you down before you texted me? Or are they really all just that dull?”

“Doesn’t matter.” He waves it off casually with a smirk. The little voices words are already beginning to slur. The hand holding the glass is raised, tipped ever so slightly in the direction of his companion before the contents are drunk once more. It hits him harder this time, three in a row in such quick succession, causes him to be visibly taken aback before his smile widens. “You’re lucky you’re entertaining or you’d be drinking alone right now.”

[idxchanyeol-blog]

reap what you sow.

in which Chanyeol actually makes an effort and meets @idxjia backstage at a music show

The cycle begins anew.

Chanyeol has been through these motions more times than he’d care to count. They work on the songs. Build hype for the comeback. Release the track. Race through the promotional circuit. Get torn down because it’s not as good as their earlier work. Return to the dungeons of 99 until they’re useful again. Rinse and repeat.

Each stage serves only to sap his enthusiasm, to leave him questioning exactly why he still does this. There’d never been a huge amount of joy in it, but at least in the early days things hadn’t been quite so… predictable. At least, he supposes, they’re actually promoting something good this time around. Something he’s happy to have his name associated with. It makes the entire process a little more painless.

Poizn’s harder sound had always been more his style, the place he feels most comfortable. He is a rapper after all, a punk before that; speed and energy are his lifeblood. When they go saccharine he is a fish out of water, even if the public at large seem much more enthused by that sound, the poor misguided fools. Killing Me sits comfortably between the two, enough punch to leave an impact but with enough polish for the public to take a shine to it.

He’s loathe to admit it, but 99 Entertainment might finally have done something right.

Music shows had lost their appeal early in his career as soon as it had become obvious that there was no glitz or glamour involved. Just a lot of sitting in dressing rooms backstage waiting to be called up for your turn. In his view they are, to be frank, dull.

It’s tradition that the younger groups do the rounds, introduce themselves to all of the seniors performing on the same show, do their group greeting, album, the whole nine yards. Chanyeol has never been one for tradition though. In the past he’d dismissed many of them outright, leaving other members with a better temperament to deal with them lest his attitude get them in trouble. Most of them won’t last a year anyway, he reasoned, and by playing nice now he gives false expectations to any that do. Why bother waiting to set the bridges aflame?

But right now he’s trying something new. A thing he likes to call: Not being an asshole to people unless they actually deserve it. Not necessarily nice pre se, but certainly less bruisingly negative than he’s been known for. It’s a struggle, and he slips up much to often, but his current image is poison, both to his career and his soul. Something needs to start changing before the damage becomes irreversible.

Tradition though: still not a fan. So he decides that he’s going to get up and do the rounds himself, go and introduce himself to the groups and try not to inadvertently insult anyone. It’s a decision that may or may not be influenced by the fact that Poizn share a room, and given current tensions between the band a fist fight is liable to break out at any moment. If he doesn’t leave, someone could well wind up counting teeth before they take the stage, possibly himself.

Divinity are a strange case, almost at the end of their first year and with the exception of a couple of members they’ve not crossed paths before. He’s still unsure of his opinion on them; The whimsy of their concept is immediately off-putting, but something about the group, about the way they promote and seem intent on uprooting the industry, he admires. They’re last but one on his trip, one of the furthest doors from their own.

Chanyeol approaches, raises a hand and taps knuckles on wood. “Anyone in there?” He calls out, leaning back on his heels and shoving his hands into pockets. “Am I interrupting something? I can come back later.”

[idolizenews]

POIZN RETURNS WITH ‘KILLING ME’

1. [ +1,912, -186 ] Hul they really are poison killing me like this ㅋㅋ But seriously the song is so catchy, I only listened to it once and already can’t get it out of my head ㅠㅠㅠ 2. [ +1,685 , -138 ] Hm… this is kind of a let down after Love Scenario and Rubber Band isn’t it??? 3. [ +1,272 , -99 ] The choreo’s fun, the song’s fun, it’s perfect for summer ~~  

[deonghwa-moved]

WHO DO U LOVE? : Wonho

[idxchanyeol-blog]

thousands of miles between us.

in which stress and boredom see Chanyeol and @idseokyung reunite, and things run much smoother than anticipated.

Kang Chanyeol is not known as an arbiter of good decisions, but even in his extensive back catalogue this could rank amongst the worst. He isn’t sure exactly how he knows, but tonight disaster surely lies in wait at the end of the winding road. As soon as his phone buzzes with the text whilst Poizn are waiting to be called to the stage for filming, a message from a number unused for months that he really ought have deleted already, informing him that the sender is bored along with an address to meet at later that evening warning bells are already ringing.

He and Seokyung had been a recipe for chaos even when they’d been on speaking terms, two egos, two fireworks screaming into the sky, tails crossing ad threatening to careen into one another. They’d always had too much in common. The clashing had been inevitable, the chasm that it opened between them unavoidable. Once upon a time they’d be close, friends even, but now? Now he’s not even sure. Acquaintances at best, apathetic at worst. Early on the cracks had begun to form on the surface, in truth he’s not sure either even know why, but time only had only seen them grow in size. The bridge across is now nothing but ash and cinder, burned from both ends, one man stood on either side.

So why is he here? Why has he bothered to answer the summons of a man he’s barely spoken to in heavens knows how long and dragged himself out into the wilderness of the city with such minimal coaxing? Disregarding his unfortunate habit of consistently making the worst possible choice in any scenario, he’s not entirely sure. Perhaps the monumental amount of stress that comes along with a comeback has left him with a need to relieve the pressure. Perhaps it’s a good excuse to cut loose; even if they end up at each others throats he can find company elsewhere and drown his sorrows. Or maybe, as much as he is loathe to admit it, there’s a tiny part of him that misses having Seokyung around despite the immense rift that has formed between them.

It’s a bar that he frequents, and so after greasing a doorman’s palm he manages to slip in through the back, away from any prying eyes. Years of being wrapped in scandal and watching careers unfurl in the grasp of them has taught him the value of discretion. At present Poizn are not playing the role of media punching bag and the plan is to keep it that way, for now at least. The room is lit dim, just enough to make out the faces that crowd the space. As he walks towards the bar, orders himself something stronger than is perhaps advisable, he scans each of them in search of the other.

It doesn’t take long to spot him. For the briefest flash of a second, it occurs to him to leave. As Chanyeol waits for the bartender to pour he considers whether it’s worth risking the potential drama, whether it would be better to simply turn tail and exit the way he came. The thought doesn’t stick for long, dissipating as glass is slid towards him and payment is made. A glug, a roll of the eyes. He’s here, there’s no harm in playing along for now. After all, there’s even a microscopic chance that this won’t be the catastrophe he expects.

And so he approaches, glass in hand, not bothering with a greeting when he finally reaches his destination. “I’m here. What do you want?” Short and sharp. The voice is flat, not quite apathetic but still far from enthusiastic. “Tell me what this is about so that I can say no and go enjoy my night somewhere else.”

[idxchanyeol-blog]

... And it’s me again, Alex, this time bringing you the walking dumpster fire Kang Chanyeol! He is basically the anti-christ anti-Tae in every way possible, and though changes to his character were minimal there were still a few that seemed worth mentioning. As before they’re listed under the cut alongside a brief introduction for anyone not familiar with him. His pages have also been revamped (It was stressful enough getting one theme to work so I may or may not have just reused it) and you can find them all here!

Again I’ll be reaching out to people I’d previously plotted with soon to see what you’d like to do, and other people shortly after to get some new things moving, though it’ll probably be on Taewoo’s account because the notifications on Chanyeol’s are notoriously inconsistent. If anyone has any ideas or a use for this punk though please feel free to hit me up on either account or on Discord (alexmcrw#7717)!

Member claim dropped: Win on a rap survival show purchased by company

So the biggest change with Chanyeol is that he no longer had a win bought by the company on a rap survival show pre-debut. This had previously been a pretty major reason for his resentment for 99 and the downward spiral of his attitude, but since both this and his solo career were tied to member claims I had to chose between them and figured the latter would allow for more interesting interactions and character development. He still has a chip on his shoulder when it comes to 99, but this is now attributed more to general perceived mismanagement of Poizn and their treatment of him.

Major scandal change

Given that scandals play a pretty big role in Poizn’s narrative I was still keen to have at least one major one in Chanyeol’s history. Now rather than it being the above, and blowing up at a fan meet when it was mentioned, it is a particularly heated interaction with a saesang fan caught on film. Rumours of his attitude problem are also a lot more prevalent, and there’s plenty of evidence out there for people to latch on to.

Changes to solo career and new VC: Loco

His career as a solo artist is also much better established now, with two singles and a mini all promoted by the company. Of the three viable claims Loco seemed like  the best fit, offering a lot of variety in his discography as well as a less traditionally “K-pop” sound.

Attempted image rehabilitation

This is something I was kind of nudging towards and subtly hinting at before the revamp, but since he’s been playing their game and running down the clock before contracts expire Chanyeol has been relatively scandal free (By Poizn standards at least) Midas are trying to rehabilitate his image and present softer edges to the public. Still the absolute worst behind the scenes though

.

And now a brief introduction for those unfamiliar with this trashbag.

Comes from an extremely privileged background - parents own a successful fashion company but were never really present.

Tried to buy his affection

Struggled connecting with people because they were only interested in his money - still struggles to trust people now

Winds up in a band playing punk rock and falls in love with music.

Offered an audition aged sixteen and sails through - later discovers that his parents paid for him to be seen

Gets a slightly easier ride than his fellow trainees (again paid for by family) which breeds resentment against him

Hate / hate relationship with the company. He seriously despises them and all the decision they’ve made at this point.

Can’t shake the stigma and is seen as a fraud - attitude and outlook take a serious nosedive. decides that if they want a villain, he’ll give them a villain.

If you do right by him he’ll do right by you, but if you windup on his shit-list better get comfortable because you’re not coming back off.

Wants to be a good person - convinced that he’s fallen too deep into the character for that to be possible

All of his scandals are because of his attitude - doesn’t win him many friends

Brutally honest and will pull no punches to spare your feelings

Values authenticity and honestly above all else.

An ego the size of the moon. Will take any excuse to feed it.

Stopped caring for a long time, but now that Poizn are being dragged back into the spotlight something is waking up in him again.

Launched a solo career quietly that he’s treating as an audition tape for other companies, because the chances of his current contract being renewed are laughable.

[idhyukjae]

riptide.

[idxchanyeol-blog]

idhyukjae‌:

[...] he leans back against the wall, crosses his arms, “but you’d probably end up fucking instead of fighting.” he says, accompanied by an exhausted chuckle, “so, what’s the point anyway?”

Chanyeol doesn’t respond. At least not at first. Every point that’s raised is a valid one without room for dispute. They are honest with each other, for better or for worse, with little need to veil words or mask their true meanings. And so instead he simply shrugs, face the very picture of nonchalance and waits for the ding and the mechanical slide of doors that accompanies it before stepping inside. He walks to the rear, leans back against the cool metal of the handrail and waits.

Eyes narrow at the mention of Aroon, a hint of malice flaring behind his features. It lingers there for a moment, the idea of the less agreeable Titanium member being the root cause of whatever was bothering his friend somehow simultaneously entirely galling and entirely predictable. It would seem that he may still have to track the other down before the evening’s end, though now, he thinks, simply to retaliate rather than play their usual game of cat and mouse. Chanyeol is many things; arrogant? Sure. Hot-headed and reactionary? Without question. Ignorant and oblivious? On occasion. But also fiercely loyal, with a desire to protect and support the few he lets within arm’s reach.  

He goes to open his mouth to ask exactly what Aroon has done, but is cut off by the quiet sound of chuckling. A quiet, tired chuckle from his equally exhausted looking companion. A glance in his direction, a single brow raised in response to the question. “We normally end up doing both.” Chanyeol answers matter of factly, bristling slightly at the words. “Not that it really matters. If he’s acting out of line someone should say something, tell him to get his act together.” A shake of the head and roll of the eyes, all disapproval. “Not that he’d listen to a damn word if I tried. Too much of an attitude for that. Always thought that you two were supposed to be friends though.”

And it doesn’t, does it? In the grand scheme of things their lust/hate relationship is meaningless, however fucked up it may be, neither party holding any sentiment for it. It’s purely physical, a release, a way to relieve the pressure. There’s nothing wrong with that. And besides, it’s nobody’s business but his own. And yet still…

“You don’t approve?” He asks plainly after a moment, eyes straying away from his companion and resting on the numbers flashing along the display. The elevator sails down a few floors, trite muzak filling the gaps between sentences. Chanyeol is still occupied trying to read the mood, figure out exactly what’s going on. Whether he should press the issue or ignore it completely. Whether he should make a more solid offer of help or take Hyukjae somewhere else entirely, far away from where he’d found him and offer a distraction from whatever ails him. “I’d suggest we go drown your sorrows but I’ve been spending too much time in bars with idols, Dispatch will have a field day if they catch wind of it. Where were you going before you slammed into me? We’ll head there instead.”

[idxjinhwan-blog]

already lost.

[idxchanyeol-blog]

idxjinhwan‌:

[...] he pouts when he doesn’t get a reply right away, tucking his phone back into his pocket and looking towards the door. if chanyeol didn’t show up soon, jinhwan was going to bail. he has better things to do than to drink alone.

This is a terrible idea. Most of his ideas tend to share that quality on some base level. Experience says that the chances of the night ending well for either party, of them not regretting whatever questionable decisions they make when the haze clears tomorrow are slim at best, sub-zero at worst. Chanyeol knows this, and yet still he carves a path through Santiago to meet his seemingly unwilling companion for the evening. The best nights, he reasons, all begin with terrible ideas.

The list of people that Chanyeol keeps close enough to consider friends is ever shrinking, ever changing, scrawled in pencil. Jinhwan’s name is not a new addition. Theirs is a connection that languishes in toxicity, defined by debauchery. Where most would try to hold him back from his vices, Jinhwan passively encourages his over-indulgence, gives him an excuse. Chanyeol repays the favour in kind, dragging him into the heart of the madness willingly or otherwise, actively encourages the same level of intemperance.

Being on the other side of the world does little to redefine the relationship.  On one of the trips across the city with the other members of Poizn, when they’d been ferried between the hotel and the venue he thinks, he’d spied the club and taken note of its location. A day or so later, bored out of his mind, he’s practically demanded that Jinhwan join him.

The low hum of his phone vibrating catches his attention, the brilliant light bright under the dusky sky when he pulls the device from his pocket and reads the message. He scoffs out a singular laugh, lets a hint of a smile break through for a moment before returning his features to their usual stoicism. A glance around to take in his surrounding and try to figure out how much longer it would take to reach his destination. In truth it was hardly worth replying, but convincing him to make an appearance had been more challenging than useful and in his head there was a chance that not responding would lead to an early exit by the other.

Jinhwan >> Chanyeol: hyung where are youuuuu! i’m drinking alone like a loser TTTT Chanyeol >> Jinhwan: five minutes away i think. just order yourself another and sit tight.

It’s closer to ten minutes before the entrance is finally in sight. He manages to slip inside without much contest; one of the many benefits of his temporary anonymity. Here their names carry little weight, their faces just another in the crowd. The vultures aren’t watching over them, waiting for them to slip up so that they can swoop in and pick their careers to the bone. There are a few that know them of course, and a certain degree of caution is still necessary, but for the most part this is the closest they’ll get to normality.

His eyes take a few moments to adjust to the lighting, shapes in the darkness sharpening into focus as warm dusky hues are replaced with colder synthetics. A quick scan of the figures crowding the room is all it takes to spot Jinhwan nursing a glass alone on the sideline. “Jinhwan! Good. You’re still here.” He calls out over the thrum of music, weaving his way towards the familiar figure in a sea of strangers. “Had to deal with something at the hotel, my bad. Have you been waiting long?”

A thumb thrown over his shoulder indicates that he’s headed for the bar, a wave of the hand beckoning the other along with him. Chanyeol leans against the cool wood, glances over the countless bottles that line the back wall. The pronunciation is butchered, but between the pointing at the label and the three fingers held up the message is received. Exactly what has been ordered is a mystery, but it’s clear, it’s strong, and it burns on the way down, so it’s good enough for him. Three shot glasses are filled sloppily to the rim, a drop spilling over the edge when they’re pushed forwards and again when Chanyeol moves one further along to settle in front of Jinhwan. “If your text was anything to go by you’re pretty far ahead of me. I need to catch up.” He shrugs after payment is made, lifting one of the remaining two to his lips and glugging it down without displaying any reaction. “I was worried that you’d have bailed already, left me to fend for myself. Night would have been a lot more boring if I’d had to do it solo.”

[wonheoney]

[idxchanyeol-blog]

wonheoney‌:

ALLIGATOR 🐊 Wonho

[idhyukjae]

riptide.

[idxchanyeol-blog]

idhyukjae‌:

[...] “ah, hyung. i’m sorry.” he apologizes again, brings one hand up and brushes it down his face, almost as if trying to delete the anguish written all over it. “i didn’t see you, i have so much shit in my head i… wasn’t even looking. i’m sorry.” fourth apology. so he takes a deep breath, knows he’s talking too fast, and probably too much. “i didn’t know you guys were staying in this hotel? could’ve sworn you all went to a different one. but maybe i’m just confused, today has been horrible so i just have no idea what’s going on anymore.”

A few hours after the showcase has concluded and Chanyeol finds himself stood in the elevator of the hotel, alone. The other members have each found a way of occupying their time, celebrating the success of their performance and making the best of the limited time they have remaining in Chile before they’re all shipped back home. On any other night he would have joined them in painting Santiago a fetching shade of scarlet, but for some reason tonight he declines the invitation to join. He’s just not in the mood, instead perfectly happy to remain in the plush hotel rooms with only the television blaring out words that he doesn’t fully understand for company.

It doesn’t take long for the voices that blare from the speakers to begin to grate and they are quickly muted for their trouble, the image cut off not long after. From the window the city skyline twinkles, specks of amber and brilliant white against a vastness of inky blue. He’s tempted to text them, to find out where they are and venture out into the unknown to catch up. But he doesn’t.

The streets are unfamiliar, the tongue completely alien. If he were to wander through the city alone there’s no telling if he’d even be capable of finding his way back, and he’s much too proud to ask anyone to return and fetch him. Poizn have survived more scandals than most, but even they would struggle to recover from a missing persons report. Instead, he reasons, there must be someone in this building that doesn’t despise his very existence willing to deal him for a while. Seemingly anyone of any note or import in the world of K-Pop has found themselves under the roof of this hotel or another nearby, and somehow he’s managed to leave some bridges unburnt.

The destination is still undecided when the elevator slides shut, each floor passed another name struck from the list of candidates. Jinhwan has already told him he’s busy. With San there’s too much risk of a repeat performance of the last encounter with the Olympian. Jua he’s not even sure is staying in this building. Eventually he’s left with only one. Someone who never fails to entertain, who he can easily goad into playing their usual game of cat and mouse; someone he loves to despise.

It’s not the person he finds though. Instead another familiar face slams into him further up the ascent, jolts him from his thoughts and causes him to stumble backwards a step. Had it been anyone else his first instinct would be to lash out, to bark something about watching where they’re going before knocking into them in retaliation as he takes his leave. Instead, he just shrugs. “Hyuk, stop, it’s fine.” He sighs, making a vain try at reassurance. “We’re a couple of floors above you guys I think, have been all week. Honestly it’s surprising we haven’t seen each other around.”

His relationship with each of the Titanium boys is a string of silk knitted into a tangled web. These days he’s not entirely sure who is a fly and who is a spider. Chanyeol has always liked Hyukjae though. They’re an unlikely pairing for sure, but the friendship is the closest thing to a healthy connection he’s known in years. The other is one of the few that chooses to look past his attitude and bluster, that sees the person wearing the big bad wolf costume. 

“It’s good that you’re here though, I was looking for…” He stops himself short. The hints of distress in his companions voice, the misery that ghosts his features and lingers in the cracks; it’s enough to give him pause. Something screams that finishing that thought may be akin to stirring a hornets nest. “A distraction.” He finishes, settling on a suitable diversion. It’s not like the statement is untrue. “And your face says that you’d rather be anywhere else right now, so I’m guessing that you need one too. Elevator’s going down if you want to come with.”

“Speaking of, if I ask you what’s wrong are you just going to try and feed me some bullshit about everything being fine?”  As he asks the question he reaches to press the button marked g, his eyes instinctively narrowing and watching for any change in expression that might betray the root cause.  “ Or are you going to tell me what’s up so that I know who I need to pick a fight with?”

[idxchanyeol-blog]

life in tension

[idxchanyeol-blog]

idjuniper‌:

[...] “i kind of want to upend that a little to divest myself of the whole family label, but i’m pretty sure that’s not gonna work anyway. i think i’m always going to be ‘that famous rapper and producers kid who was that baby on tv’ so i suppose i could just lean into it. “ she props her chin on her hand and pulls her drink closer, stirs it idly with the tiny black straw deposited in between chunks of ice. “it’s not my fault you’re jaded and bitter, you did that to yourself.” she teases in reply, a smile resting lazily on her lips.

“You have to admit though, nobody can pull of jaded and bitter quite as well as me.” Chanyeol laughs in response. A single chuckle that lasts little more than a second, but a genuine one all the same, not layered thick with the usual venom and sarcasm or forced for the sake of keeping up appearances. These days it’s rare that he lets his guard down long enough to make it through a conversation without devolving it to verbal warfare, let alone show anything other than the antagonistic and outright hostile persona he’s adopted amongst his peers. The usual brusqueness remains, some things never change, but the words are not wrapped in barbed wire. Perhaps it’s just the familiar burn of the alcohol that begins to thaw his cold soul. That’s what he’ll claim if anyone questions it anyway. “I’ll still blame the rest of you. I might be a miserable old man but it’s hardly my fault you kids are always so… trying.” He shrugs, the slightest hint of a smirk ghosting over the corners of his lips.

Her words give pause, a chance for him to raise near empty glass once more and drain the dregs of amber pooled at the bottom. She seems to have a clear sense of direction, or at least a much clearer one than he’d had when their positions had been switched. It’s admirable really, just how composed she is. In truth he doesn’t know why she’s asked him for advice or what he can even offer. She can rap better than most, the route seems to be plotted and the attitude is certainly there. On the contrary, Chanyeol’s entire time competing had been a farce, his success story more reliant on the deep pockets of 99 Entertainment than on his skill.

And yet still he listens, throws his opinions at the wall and hopes none bounce back to strike him. “Parents tend to cast longer shadows than most. Difficult to escape them.” He nods after a moment, glass clunking dully back against wood. “But frankly everyone loves your dad, or respects him at least. Anyone who knows about hip-hop anyway. I’m all for defying expectations but his name carries weight and you’d be a fool not to use it.” A sly flourish of the hand to catch the attention of the figure behind the bar and a few muttered words sees his glass refilled. “Just be careful not to rely on it too much. There’s a fine line between leaning on something and using it as a crutch. Going more lyrical sounds smart, should set you apart from the pack.”

“Been a long time since I’ve played this game, there are probably better people to ask. All I know is that when the circus leaves town people will still expect the same performance, so however you decide to present yourself, make sure you’re comfortable with it sticking with you.” The statement is about as sagely as he can manage, though he recognizes that it isn’t all that helpful. Chanyeol had never claimed to be any kind of teacher or philosopher; just a rapper with a vague idea of her current situation and the potential aftermath. Jua has the benefit of being an established brand before the show, an idol hardened to the unflinching criticism of netizens; though that is as much a curse as it is a blessing. “Unless the show flops or whatever. Or you flop. If that happens none of this really matters.” The last comment is thrown out with a characteristic air of nonchalance, paired with an uncharacteristic hint of humour. “I’m sure you’ll be fine regardless. People with far less talent have won things like this. Just don’t do anything catastrophically dumb.”

[idxchanyeol-blog]

if i’m the devil...

[idxchanyeol-blog]

idryusan‌:

[...] san nearly pulls himself out of the chair, because he doesn’t want to listen to this. feel like this. chanyeol speaks up again before san can shove his way aside. there’s a wary edge he meets him with as chanyeol talks, but san slowly finds himself relaxing back into the chair. “sure. fine.” it’s better than san’s gotten from most people. he falls back into work. it feels less oppressive than everything else swarming him right now. “what’s the song for, anyway?” it’s not necessarily forgotten, everything that had transpired. but san wants to snake away from it all. so he pushes it aside and moves on, at least in this moment.

It’s difficult to let it go, to not reflexively swipe back and try to catch San with sharpened claws. It feels as though he’s been backed into a corner, a wild animal baring its teeth as its pursuers loom ever closer. Every word feels like an attack; an unwarranted one at that. He wants to tell him that there was no double standard, that he’d never meant to trivialise his skills, that he’d been misinterpreted and hadn’t seen the initial comment as disrespectful in the slightest. And yet his mouth is clamped shut. If he tries to prise it open whilst his temper is flaring, there’s a good chance he’ll only blow up again.

Chanyeol is used to fighting. Used to the raised voices, the constant sparring matches with those he considers close and those he does not. The withering glares that cut like razors and the words that sting like vinegar. The sour taste that they leave in the mouth and the bruising of egos. For years it’s all he’s known. Plagued with scandal, his smart mouth and attitude have gotten him into trouble more times than he’d care to count, and the only way he knows to deal with the consequences is with fire and fury.

And yet in recent times he’s trying. Slowly but surely learning not to answer every challenge, deciding which battles are worth fighting and which aren’t. This, he’s quickly realized, falls into the latter category. In the grand scheme of things it’s petty, he knows that. The two of them could keep this up all night, tearing strips off of one another until there’s nothing left, but there’s nothing to gain from it. Nothing positive, at least. He’s too prideful to muster an actual apology, but when the other slinks back into his seat a visible wave of relief passes over momentarily softened features.

The heat leaves his cheeks, face returning to it’s usual colour rather than the deep red of previous. Something in the way San says those two simple words suggests that he doesn’t wish to dwell on it any longer, and frankly it’s a sentiment that Chanyeol shares wholeheartedly. Another beat passes before the question is asked diverting them back to the subject preceding their momentary clash during which he manages to compose himself, drag himself back to a point where he’s capable of speech rather than simply shouted insults.

“For once the agency are actually making a smart play and putting out my mini whilst we’re all scandal free and the Poizn brand is worth something. If it gets rushed out soon enough there’s a chance that they can surf off of Killing Me’s success.” Chanyeol finally answers, and for once he manages to go without barking about 99’s incompetence or insulting the management. It truly is a night of unexpected firsts. “I wanted an opinion from someone with some actual integrity before they got their hands on the song, not just another corporate shill or some trainee terrified of saying the wrong thing.”

“And as far as I know this one is actually being promoted, so unlike last time people might actually hear it. Or at least know it fucking exists.” He continues. And there it is; his usual criticism and disdain. “First time in ten years it doesn’t feel like they’re actively trying to screw me over. Guess they had to do something right eventually.”

The tension from before still hasn’t entirely dissipated. It’s not quite as thick now, not as cloying or choking, but still it lingers. That familiar sour taste remains on his tongue, the guilt clinging to his skin still not entirely washed away. Chanyeol watches from across the room, slumped over in his own chair and angled in the opposite direction trying and failing to read his expression. He’s pretty sure that the fire has been extinguished before the bridge has caught light, but just how scorched the surrounding earth is remains a mystery. ”We’re good, right?” Is all he can muster with a sigh, tone flat. “You know how I can be sometimes, I say stuff without thinking when something sets me off. Don’t mean half of the shit I say.”

[idxdanny]

garden party

[idxchanyeol-blog]

idxdanny‌:

[...] “Ah, hyung,” Danny called out to him. He’d quickly grown comfortable with the other cast members. They’d be living together, more or less, so what would be the point of beating around the bush? It was an attitude people said Danny inherited from his brusque American father. “Please, can you help me? I don’t think I’m doing this right….”

In spite of what many would try to tell you, Chanyeol is not malice incarnate. Or at least he tries not to be. He is frosty without being frozen solid, apathetic rather than outright aggressive and ill-tempered but not ill-natured. Provided that you are careful not to cross one of his many, many red lines he takes no issue with you.

He’d expected the Roommate house to be a trail of his willpower and patience unlike any other he’d faced before. Though the gap between his public persona and his private character has begun to shrink more and more over the years, he still has to smile for the cameras and play the part of an idol. At least until his contract expires and the agency decides to cut him loose.  From the first day it was clear to him that each participant had been chosen because of the enormity of their personalities above all else, and he’d thought at least one member of the ensemble would be grating on him by now, causing his true self to emerge.

And yet they seem to get along. Some better than others of course, but thus far there’s been no major conflict (That he’s aware of at least). If anything it’s been a refreshing change of pace, being able to act like a normal human being for once, surrounded by people free of their preconceptions of him. That isn’t to say that he’s suddenly transformed into a ball of sunshine and rainbows, only that it doesn’t feel like he’s constantly fighting a battle to earn some respect or defend himself; it doesn’t feel like he has to.

The most recent stint on set sees the cast members trying to revamp the garden to varying degrees of success. Though it’s still winter the days are finally beginning to warm, and he can feel the sun on the back of his neck as he works. As it turns out Chanyeol is also not a particularly skilled gardener. Whilst the sections flanking his own have been filled with vibrant greens and colourful blooms by those blessed with greener fingers, his remains a barren patch of dirt for considerably longer. It’s an entirely foreign concept to him, and the confusion is painted boldly across his face as he inspects the provided tools and tries to figure out how to use them. At one point he managed to dig up the seedlings he’d planted moments before. At another he found himself repeated stabbing the ground with a trowel rather than digging a hole.

His life has been spent in apartments hundreds of feet from the ground, the only plan life found in terracotta pots; how is he expected to know what a spading fork is?

Eventually though he manages to get to grips with it and manages to make his tiny plot look slightly closer to Alice in Wonderland than Mad Max. It’s still kind of a mess, but in a more natural frowning-out-of-control way than a post-apocalyptic scene. Once he’s finished Chanyeol stands, face beaming with too much pride considering the at best average quality work of his handiwork. Looking down, he can already hear the laugh track that they’ll layer over him, and though later he’ll no doubt be furious about it for now there is no suppressing the smile that teases his lips. Something tells him that Danny hasn’t noticed his struggle when he calls out. Had the cameras not been rolling, there is a strong chance that the request would have been denied, but here there was always one watching.

And so he wanders over to the younger mans spot. Danny is the antithesis of Chanyeol in most every way. Bright, enthusiastic, effortlessly funny. They had little in common, but no reason to fight either. A trait they share however, is their ineptitude at gardening. “What the-“ Chanyeol mumbles as he looks over the sea of mangled peonies and battered tomato plants. His gaze flits between the smear of dirt of his companions face and the scene below before he bursts into a laugh. “This is- this is impressive. It almost makes mine look good.” He says between breaths, wiping his eyes and his brow in one swoop.

Chanyeol lowers down onto his knees and leans in to inspect it closer, as though he has any clue what he’s talking about. “Do you have any more plants? Or is this all we have to work with?” He asks, glancing back up and shielding his eyes from the beaming sun. “We should be able to salvage this, but some of these are beyond saving.”

[lgcsarang-deactivated20221224]

box / chanyeol & jinkyong

[idxchanyeol-blog]

idjinkyong‌:

[...] “oh, yes!” she had not realized how loud she had been, it just came to her to do it. beat boxing was another skill most idols did not have. not even mentioning female idols, they were barely taken serious when it came to rapping at all. at least it was not a back handed comment, he said she was good. ( he was impressed she had the skill at least. ) but there was room for improvement. and jinkyong agreed to some extent but she would like to think she was a bit better than just having the basic’s down. ( but once again, it could be because she was also tired and trying to make any more mistakes in front of him. ) “i did not feel like listening to music so i just started beat boxing. i have been doing it for a while now, so thank you sunbae!‘ 

A heavy sigh, laced with tiredness and resignation. His general demeanour of apathy is all too often misinterpreted as disdain, and it seems as though tonight is not an exception to that rule. As soon as she bows he head he raises a hand to wave the sentiment away. Apologies are not a strong suit, but with an indiscretion so minor the least he can do is try to make it clear that it doesn’t matter to him. “It’s fine, just-“ He stops short with a shrug, still eager to move on.

Chanyeol is thankful when the tone of her voice shifts. Less apologetic, more confident now. “It’s not a skill that many people possess. And not one as easy to master as most would think.” He nods. In truth everyone believes that they’re capable of doing it but usually wind up sounding more like a stuttering car engine or a squeaky faucet. In the early days Chanyeol had not been much better than that, and so it had been clear as soon as he’d heard her that this woman had at least some experience. “ It’s been a while since I’ve done it myself. Maybe this is a sign.”

It’s easier to muster some enthusiasm for the topic given his brief dalliances with the rap and hip-hop scenes where it’s a much more prevalent art than in the idol world. It makes it much easier to appreciate. “How long have you been doing it? Did you teach yourself?” He asks, trying for casual despite the instinctive note of passivity that he can’t dismiss. 

Throughout their conversation the gears in his mind have been grinding against one another, cogs turning in an attempt to identify the woman to little avail. The towel is draped lazily over his shoulder as he looks over her features once more. She seems to know him, or recognize him at least, and yet… “You seem familiar. Not one of the poor souls trapped at 99 though.” He says bluntly. “Have we met before? See a lot of faces, hear a lot of names, it’s tough to keep track. No offence intended.”

“Oh, and you can drop the honorifics if you want to by the way. Chanyeol is fine.”