ʀᴀᴘ * / 𝖌𝖆𝖒𝖊

oh, you think ya big, boy, throwing three stacks? (bet) i'ma show you how to ball, you a mismatch opinionated, but I'm always spitting straight facts (true) throw it back, I might throw this on an eight-track

[yoonggi]

[indigcblue]

* / hyuntce‌ !

“Professionally?” The call for clarification has a purpose, and Henry blinks over at the other person, already wishing that he’d taken the time to make himself a cuppa before he’d sat. Perhaps he’ll get up in the next few minutes and do that, but for now, he finds his only point of relation on the topic of ‘music’ and goes for it. “One of my, ah… Well, someone who is mine — he makes music, too. I’ve never been very naturally inclined towards it. Even after years of piano lessons, I can barely play.” He’s always wanted to have an artistic mind and an inclination towards it, but he truthfully just hasn’t ever felt like that sort of path was for him. He’s far more analytical and much better at things that are more structured and make more sense to him, which isn’t to say that he’s any better or worse. Just different. “Have you met him? Babylon?”

“kind of?” they smile a bit awkwardly, shaking their head to his first question. it’s flattery that colors their tone next, joining the familiarity of talking about a well-loved topic. “i suppose to be a professional you have to be making some money off of it, right? my profit margins are a bit too slim to earn me that title but i’d like to get there, someday?” they feel like a child on career day, talking about how they’d like to be a star but, still, some of the fire that drives their songs keeps them from shying away from the topic. “the practice of learning an instrument is still a good one. it gives you an appreciation for the art, even if it wasn’t that which was meant for you. plus, it helps with test scores or something.” the last bit is thrown in as a joke, though they aren’t sure how comically it will land. “ah,” some of their social ineptitude creeps back now, hand lifting to rub the back of their neck out of habit. “i suppose i have. i don’t think he knows who i am, though. we don’t run in the same circles.” that is to say, babylon and his music career are everything indie’s still fighting tooth and nail to achieve for themself.  

[indigcblue]

* / saintshen‌ !

“Last week, I’m pretty sure I didn’t even see my coupling partner — not even to sleep!” Saint’s voice goes a little shrill at the end, and he folds his arms over his chest and gives a nod as if to reaffirm what it is that he’s already said. It just seems very unfair to him, is all — how is he supposed to find a hot, rich guy if he’s being paired with actual ghosts? “This week I’m hoping it’ll be a little different, especially since I already know the person I’m going to be with. I would describe him predominantly as ‘annoyingly sexy’, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Would you like to know how I would describe you too?”

there’s a social convention at play here that simply isn’t indigo’s specialty. saint wants to talk and they’ve opened themself up to it. continuing that conversation beyond a few muted responses is where things get difficult. “i’m sorry for that,” indie does their best at sympathy, the irony of being the MIA sleeping partner for ares not lost on them. “i wish you luck with your, uh, annoyingly sexy person.” indigo’s nose scrunches at the prompt. it feels like bait and would ordinarily serve as a cue for them to start to make their retreat. however, isolation doesn’t fare well for reality tv and indie’s intended promotional ploy. they opt to nibble instead. “i feel like you’re going to tell me either way. might as well hear it.” they mentally brace for the worst. not that saint is particularly rude -- more like too honest to a fault. some say that’s indie’s own vice.

[indigcblue]

* / hyuntce‌ ! 

Moving to fold long limbs down beside the strange, Henry reaches a hand up to tousle already sleep-tousled hair all the more. It’s a mess, black strands sticking up every which direction but at least he has looking cute on his side. He knows what it’s like to be up after and before everyone else, and he knows very well the feeling of sitting by himself waiting for the world to wake up around him. He wonders if that’s what he’s just interrupted now, or if it was something even more intimate. “I did.” With Baby and Kyu there to be snuggled up with, it’s hard not to sleep well. He almost regrets leaving them in bed, but he thinks it was probably better than disturbing them by moving around. “What were you writing? I mean… what sort of inspiration?”

they’re being called out in their half-lie. while they’ve definitely gotten work done in the endless hours they’ve been awake, it’d be really difficult to describe it as purposeful work. certainly not driven by some inspirational spark born of a dream like they’ve described. the company isn’t unwelcome as he joins them on the couch. if anything, indie’s grasp on reality feels strengthened now that there’s life in the room besides their own haunting of it. fingertips tap an eclectic beat on the front of the closed notebook. they’re good with words. surely, that translates to an ability to be just vague enough to spin a fib into the truth. “glad,” they nod with a quick, pleasant smile. “i make music,” they follow up in answer. “thought a change of scenery might make for some artistic fuel and so far, so good.” that part isn’t a lie, at least. even if they come away with nothing else, at least they’ll have a few new tracks under their proverbial belt. just nothing of what they’d written last night, that’s for certain.

[indigcblue]

* / saintshen‌ ! 

“I think this competition is awful and rigged.” Saint complains loudly for anybody near him to hear, knowing that he’ll probably get ignored by the majority of people, but hoping for at least one to bite. Even if they just want to argue with him about the validity of his statement, he’ll still have someone to talk to, and that’s enough for now. Maybe he shouldn’t have come on a show like this — surely he’s less inherently unlikable than he’s being made to feel, right? Shit. He sucks. “If you aren’t coupled up with someone you click with right away, the audience just doesn’t find you as desirable.” / @villastarters​.

“you just described reality television,” indie retorts. it’s not that they don’t agree -- they’re questioning their own decision to push themself this far out of their comfort zone to partake in such an endeavor. “i take it you aren’t content with your pairing then?” it’d be a nice opportunity to commiserate, to vent about their own frustrations with the act of coupling off strangers all because they look promising or whatnot. however, too preoccupied with their tenuous place at the villa in the first place, indigo refrains from filing their own complaint alongside saint’s. “that’s the audience’s fault, though. they watch all of this like a kid in front of an ant farm and the only power we give them is to shake it.”

[indigcblue]

* / hyuntce‌ !

Sleeping better than he has in a very long time still doesn’t allow for him to sleep in as much as he wishes. The sun rises early, and so does Henry, squinting against the light as he steps into the lounge in just his pajamas still. His hair is a soft muss, and his eyes are bleary with sleep, as contented as can be and already considering bringing tea back to bed for Babylon and Minkyu. For now, though, he finds himself looking at who seems to be the only other person awake right now, a lone soul. “Oh, shit — not long. I promise I wasn’t being creepy.” Flushed, he stammers through the words and hopes that they’re accepted, not wanting to seem like a weirdo in front of the stranger. “Good morning. Early riser?”

the innocent enough question holds a clue for indigo. despite the weightiness of their eyelids and the ever-present urge to yawn, they clearly don’t look like they’ve pulled an all-nighter, which is nice, they suppose. it feels a little too much like complaining to shatter the illusion and so they offer a white lie instead. “yeah, something like that,” indie shrugs, closing the notebook that’s gone untouched for the better part of the last half an hour anyways. “got struck by inspiration and had to jot it down before i forgot,” they elaborate with a nod towards it. sensing some of their own typical nervousness in the other, somehow, makes indie less so. “no worries -- i, uh, presume you slept well?” he looks like he did, anyways.

[indigcblue]

* / @villastarters​ ! 

it’s their worst nightmare about the show and its ‘arrangements’ come to fruition. being paired with either of the names they’d had in mind for the coupling would have been hard enough for indie but sharing a bed with a complete stranger is downright terrifying. they are sure ares is fine enough company and probably not evil but, still. still! it’s easy enough to avoid going to bed that first night, staying up into the early hours in the lounge scribbling away in their notebook. exhaustion is hitting though and it’s with a yawn and a bleary blink that they realize they’re not alone in the room anymore. “how long have you been here?” they ask quietly, tucking legs closer to their chest from their perch in the corner of the couch. bare toes curl into the cushion self consciously. “sorry -- i mean, good morning?”

[indigcblue]

* / lownctes‌ !

                    𝐚𝐬  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞  𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬  ,  𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐧   briefly  wonders  if  he’s  said  something  wrong  and  ,  though  he  isn’t  entirely  sure  what  it  could  have  been  ,  he’s  ready  to  apologise  .  he  tucks  the  few  pills  into  his  pocket  and  spins  around  ,  lips  parted  with  words  on  the  tip  of  his  tongue  ,  but  the  other  beats  him  to  it  .  suddenly  ,  now  that  he’s  looking  at  the  other  ,  baby  feels  as  though  they’re  familiar  ,  even  if  only  vaguely  so  ,  someone  he’s  seen  mostly  in  passing  ,  perhaps  ?  he  doesn’t  ask  ,  though  ,  simply  lets  a  small  smile  tug  at  sparkly  ,  glossed  lips  .  ❝  that’s  fair  .  i’m  pretty  sure  if  i  told  the  same  thing  to  pre - season  one  babylon  ,  he  would  actually  think  i  was  like  ,  being  blackmailed  or  something  ,  ❞    he  hums  ,  maybe  tries  for  a  laugh  ,  something  to  ease  the  anxieties  that  he  can  all  but  feel  radiating  off  of  his  companion  .  ❝  yeah  ,  the  bedding  situation  is  …  uncomfortable  ?  at  first  ,  at  least  .  ❞  of  course  ,  it’s  not  for  himself  anymore  ,  but  it’d  caused  him  a  deal  of  anxious  fits  at  the  start  of  season  one  ,  too  .  ❝  hopefully  ,  though  ,  everything  works  out  ?  it  gets  easier  the  more  you  get  to  know  people  ,  platonically  or  otherwise  ,  it  —  ❞  gaze  lingers  on  the  other  for  maybe  a  moment  too  long  ,  only  because  he’s  trying  to  decipher  the  familiarity  of  them  .  ❝  sorry  ,  i  should  —  i’m  babylon  .  most  people  here  call  me  baby  ,  though  .  ❞  he  bows  slightly  ,  per  pure  habit  .

it’s both a blessing and a curse that babylon doesn’t seem to recognize them. on one hand, it’d be awkward. explaining to someone whose music you respect that they were kind of the reason you were here -- not in a romantic way, but in terms of relevance -- seems like more hassle than it was worth. but on the other hand, it made the brief social media interaction feel as hollow as, perhaps, it should’ve felt from the start. all baby did was retweet their cover. it had already been going viral so him posting a link simply tipped it over an edge. the fact it means so much more to indigo is dangerous to project onto babylon. they resign to keeping the interaction vague, impersonal. it’s still cool to be around the musician who wrote the very same track he sampled so heavily. “would pre-season one babylon believe that you won?” they query with a quick smile. the singular thing they knew about the first season of the show was its end result. babylon being back for a second is news to them; maybe they should branch outside of the soundcloud / underground rap scenes online every once in a while. “i’ve only ever shared a bed with my siblings before and even that wasn’t done willingly.” they half laugh, flickers of memories of smaller family members clambering into their room during a storm flashing to mind. “i don’t -- i mean, well, platonic would be best for me to start.” their head bows back, following suit. it’s more formal a greeting than the la resident usually encounters but they like it. “well baby, i’m indigo. or indie, if you’d like? i don’t tend to, ah, get nicknamed by others so i like to offer it myself.” it’s because you’ve got the social warmth of an ice storm, their brain helpfully supplies in self-sabotage. 

[indigcblue]

* / basherhq‌ !

          basher knew when to step back , and this was one of those moments . he’d refrain from laying it on thicker than he already had been , instead deciding to mellow and do up another button on his shirt . “ if you want references , i only have two , but don’t tell the camera that ,” he confided , almost like he was admitting a secret . “ but that doesn’t matter , does it ? i’m only pulling your leg , you know . giving you a hard time . ” basher blinked slowly before taking a step back , taking in a deep breath from his own personal space . “ you still have time until the coupling ceremony . i won’t be offended if you don’t choose me - i’ll just be deeply, deeply hurt . ” looking away from indigo , he smiles again , then shakes his head . “ you know , i’m curious . what did you do in los angeles ? ” 

indigo’s gaze drops to basher’s fingertips, the movement catching their eye and easier to focus upon than his face. they can’t help the way their brows raise both at the continued acquiesce to their request and at the response they’re given. “you’ve only kissed two people?” they blink in an attempt to understand. the insistence of basher joking, however, makes the seriousness they’ve applied to his answer feel foolish. “ah,” indie finally allows with an awkward scratch to the back of their neck. “got it.” they risk looking up again to find basher looking away. that allows them to keep their focus on him, anyways. “i’m a rapper,” they answer with more confidence than they’ve had maybe the entire conversation. “nothing you’ve probably heard but -- i go by blue. i’ve, uh, got some music out there.” finally, the promotion they’ve been trying for since stepping foot in the villa.

[sugajimin]

yeah, i’m you,you are me,now do you know

we are one body,sometimes we will clash

you can never break me off,this you must know

yeah you cant’break me off,whatever you do

[indigcblue]

* / basherhq‌ ! 

indie is cute , basher decides . it’s plain and simple - he’s in no position to push anyone away , whether they’re itching to get out of a conversation , or not . he’s here to make friends , to make money , and to find love , all of which feel easy to come by at a place like this . he was more than determined , waking up feeling ambitious every day , but the feeling of indifference he felt from indigo was one he hadn’t been met with before . in fact , he felt the need to press and prod , something he was almost positive the other wouldn’t accept . “ you don’t think so ? i think if you let me sweep you off your feet … ” basher leaned back , teasing them . “ we could win .  they wouldn’t vote us off if we tried hard enough . besides … i swear i’m a great kisser . ”

their lips purse, unsure what to make of the direction their conversation has taken. this is why they avoid socializing -- it eliminates practically all chances of happening upon awkward topics such as how likely the two of them are to fall in love. only someone from la would speak of dating so casually. only an actor would toss around their kissing prowess like it’s a badge of honor. “how do you know?” they fire back indignantly, a pink settling upon their cheeks they have no ability to control. “or, uh, how are you so sure? is that something you acting sorts put in your resumé? surely, i’ll need to contact your references.” how they got on this subject is now beyond indie -- it seems especially cruel, considering their firmly never-been-kissed status. they hope they’re talking enough shit so as not to expose that fact.

[indigcblue]

* / ttaeycng‌ ! 

the raven haired boy watches indigo closely , taking in his body language and the way he holds himself . he seems nervous , or disinterested at the very least , and he can’t seem to understand why . “ your parents chose a beautiful name for you , then . ” he nods , before stepping away for a few minutes to do what he actually came up here to do — brush his damn teeth . once finished , he finds his way back to the spot on his bed , still warm from his body heat . “ i don’t think so . once arayang was born – she was . . is . . a brighter star than i ever was . . ever could be . ” he shakes his head , jealousy coming to the surface .

it’s difficult for them not to come across as bitter. thinking about their parents -- talking about family -- tended to be a sore spot for indie. it wasn’t that their immediate family had ever done them wrong; there simply wasn’t enough time for indigo. they were just the middle child and, as such, wholly forgettable. indie doesn’t feel the same capacity for sentiment, as a result. half expecting taeyang not to return, their brows lift upon his reentry. he seems to be picking up the conversation right where he left off. “is that why you’re on the show now?” they query with a confused lilt. “to be a star?” head cants as they follow tae with their gaze. “the sun is already bright enough, no?”

[indigcblue]

has anyone here sparked your interest yet?

“there are plenty of interesting people here.” it’s not exactly answering the question but it’s not a lie either. they don’t say it like a compliment.

[indigcblue]

if you'd really rather be anywhere but here, then why did you sign up for this?

now is definitely the chance to promote their mixtape. they’ve practically been asked about it! it’s a large reason they’re on the show – the money would make such a huge impact and it’s not like the audience couldn’t guess as much. and yet, they clam up. coming across as a desperate money-grabber isn’t the way to win love island, surely.  “representation,” it’s a half-truth, anyways. “i’m here to represent the common person, to get a voice out there that isn’t white and rich and cis. i was approached specifically, otherwise i wouldn’t have sent my application in but – yeah, i thought it was the right opportunity for me. and for my career, i guess.” they fiddle with their fingers, set in their lap. “i don’t hate it here. i really don’t.” please don’t vote me off, in other words.

[indigcblue]

what annoys you in a person? what intrigues you?

“it’s hard to pinpoint specific annoyances; it’s everything, i think,” they recognize that it sounds vague and maybe largely insulting so they try to continue. “but it’s more a problem with me than with them? socializing is just – a lot sometimes. it’s hard and so anyone doing it ‘too much’ inherently annoys me. doesn’t mean they’re annoying though. wealth annoys me but that’s a product of capitalism which goes beyond simple annoyance.” now would be an excellent chance to plug their mixtape; feeling shy, they move onto the next question instead. “i find confidence intriguing. bluntness, forwardness. anyone possessing the traits i lack is… a source of curiosity to say the least. i don’t know that it’s a good thing.” 

[indigcblue]

do you have any bad habits?

“yes. plenty.” they don’t elaborate – they weren’t asked to.

[indigcblue]

do you actually like being at the villa? why or why not?

“i don’t… hate it. free food is nice. the weather’s okay. a change of scenery has been good for my songwriting. i’m just hoping the ‘reality tv show’ part of it gets easier.”