kiyong presses the elevator button for the top floor. it is late in the evening, and the building is quiet—most people have gone home, leaving only the after-hours staff and a few fellow idols who haven’t yet finished practice. the soft whir of the elevator rising feels louder than usual in the silence. he glances at his reflection in the metal doors, adjusting the cap pulled low over his forehead and tugging his face mask more snugly. another day, another attempt at privacy. usually, the thought of meeting hayoon on the rooftop cheers him up. but today, he feels worried and uncertain how to talk to hayoon.
she’s been… different for a while now. kiyong really likes that hayoon is as friendly as he is. that’s one of the many reasons they always get along so well, but as time goes by, hayoon’s kindness starts changing and becoming less frequent. it is as if a switch has been flipped in her head, and kiyong is beginning to worry that she is changing for the worse, yet he doesn’t know how to breach that topic with her.
is it the relentless schedule? they barely have time to breathe between rehearsals, fan signings, and promotional events. idols aren’t supposed to complain—everyone around them is also worn thin. but it feels like more than just stress or fatigue with hayoon. he knows he should say something, but how? he swallows hard as the elevator slows to a stop. what if she just brushes it off? kiyong is not the confrontational type when it comes to his friends, so none of this is making it easier.
the doors slide open with a soft chime, and kiyong steps out into the dimly lit hallway. a short walk leads to the rooftop access door. his heart drums in his ears as he pushes it open, letting the cool night air wrap around him. hayoon stands near the edge, arms crossed against the breeze. seeing her like that—so small against the city skyline—only gets him thinking more. he forces a smile as he approaches, mentally rehearsing how to ask if she is okay. but he already knows there are no simple words that can unravel whatever she is going through. still, he has to try. “hey, you look cold.” he steps closer with a soft laugh, pointing at his jacket to ask if she wants it.
[ b-cut // 21. ] if you were given the chance to redebut, would you choose to debut in as a soloist again or debut in a group instead? [ m/n: altered to fit a soloist! ]
“a group,” kiyong answers right away. he doesn’t even take time to think about his answer; it just slips out on its own with no filter. “i’ve always wanted to debut in a group, and i expressed this to ydh entertainment, but they thought i’d do better as a soloist.” maybe he is being a little too honest, but he has nothing to hide, and it’s not like he has ever made it a secret that he wanted to be in a group. “being in a group just seems less lonely and way more fun… i still don’t know exactly why i couldn’t debut in a group, but i took the chance. i would have been a fool to decline after ten years of training tirelessly.”
b-cut + 15 / what's the most ridiculous rumor you've heard about yourself?
kiyong has to laugh a little at the question. there have been a few ridiculous rumors circulating about him, mostly about his training period and why it might have been so long. none of them were ever true, but there is one rumor that never fails to make him shake his head. “the most ridiculous rumor i’ve heard about myself is definitely people saying my mother used to date someone important at ydh entertainment and that’s why i was allowed to debut and didn’t get kicked out of the company.”
it’s a silly rumor, and kiyong doesn’t take it very seriously, but it’s still something that bothers him to this day. “how do people come up with this stuff? i worked hard to be where i am today. i didn’t get anything handed to me, and i definitely didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth or golden opportunities. i’m a hardworking person. i don’t need anyone else to do my work for me. if ydh entertainment didn’t think i had potential, they wouldn’t have let me stay either way. also, my mother went through enough hardships in her life. she didn’t date anyone for a long time. it’s not fair to assume such things about her or me.”
the words coming out of his mouth sound more defensive than anything, and he comes off as a bit passionate about this topic, but that’s only because he hates when people undermine the work he put into becoming an idol.
the next question feels strange to kiyong. he has never really spent much time pondering what he dislikes about being an idol. his positive attitude usually prevents him from delving too deep into sorrowful thoughts, but now, as he’s faced with this unavoidable question, he has to dig deeper. what does he dislike about being an idol? well, there are a few things that bother him, but they aren’t significant enough to mention, and mostly, they’re things he can change. yet, when he takes another minute to contemplate what he should say, he realizes there is one thing he’ll never be able to shake off. “i guess… the loneliness that comes with the job?” it comes out more like a question, and kiyong wonders if they’ll cut this part out entirely if he keeps speaking. but he’s already started, so he’ll be as honest as he always is.
“i’m not allowed to date, or, well, i don’t really think about it either, but i’m a soloist. i don’t have group members to keep me company, and i barely see my family now… there’s also the fact that all of my friends are also idols, which means they’re as busy as i am.” it sounds sad when he says it like this, but it’s the truth. he doesn’t really have any consistent person around him to remind him that he’s not on his own. “i know i’ve got my fans, and i love them dearly, but i still wish i had more than that.”
on-camera + 11. (what has been the best gift a fan has given to you?)
“the best gift?” kiyong repeats the question, an instant smile decorating his face. “i love all the gifts i receive from my fans, especially because each one is always so thoughtful, but if i have to pick…”
it’s not hard for kiyong to remember all the gifts he has ever received. he always makes sure to cherish them and keep them somewhere safe, where he can always find them when he wants to.
“during one of my fan meetings, a fan gifted me a fan-made book. it was filled with notes from different kioves all over the world, and it just felt really special to me. i like to read through it whenever i get the chance. it makes me feel more connected with my fans.”
b-cut / 11. what's the worst interaction you've had with a fan?
although kiyong is still smiling, he takes a silent moment to think about his answer. he knows he’s not supposed to be too honest, but he also doesn’t like to lie. he prefers to tell things how they are and has never played into the whole delusional idol-and-fan relationship, unlike some other groups he knows. he likes to believe the majority of his fans know he’s only human too, though occasionally, some fans overstep their boundaries. however, being an idol under ydh entertainment means he has to endure a lot and hand out fanservice here and there while not being allowed to shut down his fans in any way or even call them out for their behavior—not that kiyong has ever felt the need to, except maybe for that one time.
“well, usually my fans know how to respect me and my boundaries, but one time during my world tour, a fan…” he pauses for a brief second, tilting his head in contemplation before shaking it. “no, i wouldn’t consider them my fan. my real fans wouldn’t do this, but they called themself my fan. anyway, i was in my hotel room, ready to go to bed, when suddenly there was a knock on my door. of course, i assumed it was my manager, but when i opened the door, a girl was standing there.”
he shifts a little in his seat, visibly uncomfortable from the memory. “she started confessing her love to me and said she knows i love her too, which is ridiculous because i didn’t even know her! and i told her that, to which she got upset and grabbed my arm. she tried to drag me out of my room, but thankfully, a staff member heard the altercation from his room and came to help me. it was kind of scary in that moment… since then, i don’t open my room door unless my manager tells me it’s them.”
kio likes to use hi-u frequently. it's his way of keeping in touch with his fans. he likes to share his daily life on there, giving small updates whenever he can. he also likes to be rather playful with his fans on hi-u. engaging with his fans is a great joy to him.
examples of what his interactions might look like:
FAN: isn't this a video you took?
KIO: you're right~ it was me 😂
FAN01: what does kio do in his free time?
KIO: i was working on a surprise today... should i reveal what it was?
KIO: but to answer your question... i workㅋㅋㅋㅋ
FAN02: please tell us!
KIO: i can't tell you~
FAN: what did you eat today?
KIO: i was craving curry today... but i had to eat quickly, so i ate a salad instead ㅠㅠ
KIO: i'll have ice cream for dessert! don't tell the company 🤫
FAN: 키오 답장 기다리는 지 벌써 128일째예요ㅠㅠ
KIO: 헐… 완전 헌신적이야! 내 두 번째 답장은 128일 후에 온다니까 기다려줘 ㅋㅋㅋ
on camera / 16. if you could join one midas labels group for the day, which would it be why?
kiyong is smiling naturally—it’s not forced; it’s just how he always looks. he’s happy to be here, as strange as it might seem. the studio lights catch the warmth in his eyes as he leans back slightly in his chair, relaxed, as if the camera isn’t even there. his fingers tap lightly against the armrest as he waits for the next question. answering questions on camera is kind of exciting if he thinks about it more deeply.
the question isn’t very scandalous either, and he lets out a soft laugh. his fans probably already know what he’s going to say before he even opens his mouth. he’s never been shy about it, after all. the memory of their shared practices, the late nights in the studio, the way their laughter echoed in the halls—it all floods back in an instant.
“oh, this one’s easy,” he says, not even having to think about his answer. “it would definitely have to be sodapop.” his smile widens. there’s a flicker of something nostalgic in his expression, like he’s replaying those moments in his head. “i’ve worked with them, trained with them… it always felt like coming home, you know? being part of the group for a day—just to see how it feels, how different it is from being a soloist—that would be… nice.”
he trails off, his gaze drifting for a moment, as if he’s imagining it all. then he snaps back, his smile softening, and he shrugs, like he’s letting the thought go. but the warmth in his eyes lingers.
Stage Name: KIO (키오)
Birth Name: Byun Ki Yong (변기용)
Birthday: March 8, 2000
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Height: 181 cm (5’11”)
Weight: 62 kg (136 lbs)
Blood Type: AB
MBTI Type: INFJ-A
Representative Emoji: 🦢
Official Fandom Color: Pink Flare
Fandom Name: Kiove (Kio + Love)
KIO Facts:
– His hometown is Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
– Kio is an only child.
– His parents are divorced.
– He can speak fluent English because his mother used to live in America.
– He dreamed of becoming a singer since he was in elementary school.
– KIO auditioned for YDH Entertainment and joined them in 2012.
– He was a trainee for 10 years.
– He ranked top 10 in a survival show before making his solo debut in 2022.
– His nicknames are “Kiki” and “Yoonie”.
– KIO is very polite and considerate.
– His most notable charming point is his nose.
– His hobbies are gaming, working out, baking.
– KIO’s favorite food is samgyeopsal.
– His favorite color is blue.
– In April 2024, he went on his first world tour.
– KIO is close friends with Kang Junyoung (Jun) of Sodapop.
– He is close to the Sodapop members and even trained with them.
– KIO’s known for being very nice to his fans.
– He was credited on different popular tracks, including GIRL CODE’S “Whiplash” and SODAPOP’S “Moonstruck”.
kiyong’s pretty sure everyone’s got someone like a best friend, even if they don’t call them that. labels don’t matter much anyway. he’s got jun, who’s been around so long it feels like family—the kind you choose, not the kind you’re born into. they’ve got the same dumb sense of humor, finish each other’s sentences, and text each other the same stupid memes at the same time. maybe it’s luck, maybe it’s fate. either way, kiyong’s not complaining.
today, jun’s dorm greets him like always: a landslide of shoes by the door, hoodies draped over chairbacks like slouching ghosts, the faint tang of instant noodles clinging to the air. kiyong sidesteps a lone sneaker, but nearly trips on a rogue backpack strap as a result. “you’d think a survival show taught you how to survive this mess,” he mutters to himself, toeing a crumpled chip bag. one of the members wheezes from the couch, buried under a blanket, but kiyong pays him no mind.
instead, his gaze scans his surroundings, trying to see if he can spot jun anywhere. the door has been left open for kiyong, so jun must be somewhere nearby—it shouldn’t be so hard to spot a grown man, yet somehow jun has managed to stay out of kiyong’s sight. he’s about to pull his phone out and call jun, but he doesn’t need to because jun finally steps out of his room to greet him. “there you are. i almost thought we were playing hide and seek,” he jokes as he makes his way over to where jun stands.
kiyong’s fingers hover over his keyboard, the studio speakers humming faintly. his eyes are heavy, the kind of tired that comes from hours of chasing a melody that keeps slipping away. the headphones around his neck feel like a weight trying to pull him down, and when he stretches, his back protests with a soft crack. three months. three months of tweaking, rearranging, and still, the bassline isn’t right. it’s close, but not quite there, and the frustration of being unable to fix this simple problem makes him want to pull his own hair out, though he doesn’t let it show. instead, he leans back, staring at the screen, the blinking cursor mocking him.
music has always been his escape, the one thing that makes sense when nothing else does. even now, as he sits in the familiar studio, surrounded by empty coffee cups and crumpled sheets of lyrics, he feels it—the pull, the need to create something that matters. ydh entertainment doesn’t make it easy. they’re not known for handing out creative freedom, not like some other companies. but kiyong’s a soloist, and that means he gets a little more room to breathe than, say, sodapop. he could’ve been one of them, standing shoulder to shoulder with the others, trading his independence for the camaraderie of a group. and maybe, just maybe, he would’ve been okay with that. or maybe he’s just being optimistic again. it’s his default setting, after all, even when the world gives him every reason not to be. kiyong can’t risk letting those things get to him. at the end of the day, he still managed to debut, even if it wasn’t in his ideal way.
across the room, a faded poster of sodapop hangs slightly crooked. he avoids looking at it most days, but tonight his gaze lingers. he can still remember the feeling of his sweatshirt sticking to his skin from all the endless hours of practice he’d once gone through with dodam, the way their laughter used to fill their practice room. ydh’s rules had always felt tighter on the group—scripted speeches, choreography carved in stone, but kiyong’s hands flex now, restless over his own melodies. soloist privileges, they call it. he wonders if the others ever stare at their ceilings, humming melodies they’ll never release.
he grabs his phone and begins scrolling absently through it, pausing on a sodapop stage mix flooding his feed. polished choreography, synchronized smiles; not a note out of place. for a heartbeat, his thumb hovers. his gaze flickers to the notebook splayed open beside him, crammed with lyrics in his jagged handwriting, coffee rings staining the corner of a page titled track 11: DEMO. a dry laugh escapes him. ydh’s conference rooms haunt his dreams sometimes, but here, alone, he can let the synths stutter and warp.
when his manager muttered last week about “stream optimization” and “viral trends,” kiyong had just nodded, fingers drumming a counter-rhythm on his knee. later, he’d added a distorted guitar riff to the very same track, grinning as it played through the mix and now he’s stuck again. so there is only one way to fix it all.
his phone lights up under his thumb again as he types, studio? i’ll cover tteokbokki. no emojis, but he adds a trailing ~ out of habit. dodam never needs bribes, but kiyong pictures him anyway: that half-pout, the way he’d show up within minutes, smelling like vanilla shampoo and youth. their trainee days flash in fragments: dodam tripping over dance steps, kiyong tossing him a water bottle; dodam asking to be carried, and kiyong complying without a second thought. muse. the word feels too grand, but whenever dodam leans over the mixing board, humming a soft melody, kiyong’s hands move faster, the block in his mind crumbling like old plaster within seconds.
he saves the project file: dodam_ver23 and smiles. one day, thousands might scream these lyrics back at him. tonight, it’s enough to imagine dodam’s laugh bouncing off the soundproof walls.
reblog this post if you'd like to participate in the ask meme portion of event one. to send out prompts, please include the category name and the number of your desired question.
on-camera questions should be answered with your muse's idol persona on. their answers may be honest or dishonest, but they have to be appropriate. these are the answers that would be used in the concert vcr and in press releases leading up the concert.
b-cut questions are provided to give you a chance to share their raw, honest answers. the answers that would never make it past the cutting room floor. most of these questions are focused on the idol industry to help you dive deeper into their relationship with the industry, the group, and the company.
some questions may be answered from the mun's pov, but we encourage the majority to be answered in-character as if your muse is conducting a real interview. you may use gifs in your answers, if desired.
please remember to turn your askbox on If you'd like to participate in this event! every question sent to a new mun will earn you one career token. you may earn a total of three career tokens per muse during this event. for muns with two muses, sending out questions to six different muns will earn you three career tokens for each muse.
answering at least three of these questions will count as a character development item towards activity for the next activity check (feb 7). please tag your answers with both #midas:meme001 and #midasfamilyconcert.
you may send and answer questions for points from JAN 30 12:00 AM kst to FEB 7 @ 12:00 PM kst. please use this website to convert the date into your timezone.
✩ on-camera
what does the midas labels family mean to you?
what's your best memory from your trainee days?
what would you consider your career high?
have you always wanted to become an idol? what made you choose this career path?
what's the best part of being an idol?
what advice would you give to an aspiring idol?
what's been your favorite era? what did you like about it?
what kind of concept do you want to try next?
what three songs of yours mean the most to you?
if you had the chance to speak honestly to your fans, what would you say to them?
what has been the best gift a fan has given to you?
what's your most memorable fan interaction?
is there anywhere you'd like to perform where you haven't yet? anywhere you'd like to go back to?
which artist under midas labels do you look up to?
which artist under midas labels would you like to collaborate with?
if you could join one midas labels group for the day, which would it be why?
if you had to make a new group with other idols under midas labels, which idols would you like to team up with?
are you a fan of any midas labels artist? do you own any merch?
✩ b-cut
what does the midas labels family mean to you?
what's your worst memory from your trainee days?
if you could go back, would you still become an idol?
was your family supportive of your decision to become an idol?
did you have to sacrifice anything when choosing to become an idol?
what was your career low?
what's the best part of being an idol?
what's the worst part of being an idol?
what advice would you give to an aspiring idol?
if you had the chance to speak honestly to your fans, what would you say to them?
what's the worst interaction you've had with a fan?
how much do you look yourself up online?
how do you deal with hate comments?
what type of hate comment hurts the most?
what's the most ridiculous rumor you've heard about yourself?
are any rumors about you actually true?
do you like your music? your concept? if given the chance, would you change it?
be honest: are you for the arts or the charts?
which group member do you get along with most? who do you get along with the least and why?
have you ever fought with your group members? over what?
if you were given the chance to redebut, would you choose to debut in your group again or debut as a soloist instead?
what do you think your life will be like after disbandment (or contract expiry, for soloists)? would you still work in the industry or will you retire and settle down?
if jihan picks up on kiyong's apprehension at all, it's dismissed as quickly as it's acknowledged. besides, it's hard to focus too much on what kiyong is or isn't doing when he's focused on himself and the way that he feels. still happy, but antsy somehow—there's too much dialogue, it's requiring too much effort. he needs to get kiyong settled in. the drink refusal rolls right off his shoulders; he doesn't take it to mean that kiyong doesn't need a drink (right now), he takes it to mean that kiyong doesn't need a drink right now. "sure! night's still young," he says, somewhat distracted but seemingly in agreeance.
he'd been halfway headed to the makeshift bar when kiyong had stopped him, but he turns completely back to his company now. the more he talks, the more confused jihan becomes—the questions seem pointless to him, digging for information that doesn't matter. does he know anyone here? what the fuck? "nah, i just heard the music from outside and decided to pop in." his tone contradicts the look on his face; he sounds irritable, and his expression has changed, but not exactly for the worst. the grin has shrunken into a smile and his brow is furrowed; it's a look of light humor, not annoyance.
he takes a drink out of the cup in his hand. it's poorly mixed, but what difference does it make? it's getting the job done. he lowers the cup, has half the thought to explain the situation to kiyong, but he doesn't feel like it just yet (again, as far as he's concerned, what difference does any of this make?); so he lifts the cup again and downs the dregs.
"yeah, i know a few people here. old friends," he explains finally, looking around for any of those so-called friends that he might be able to call over as proof that this isn't some shit-show filled with nobodies. he has a hard time getting his vision to cooperate with him—bodies and faces blend together into one giant mass. all he can focus on is what's directly in front of him. an arm holding a cup in the air to protect a drink as someone walks past, the beer that spills over the edge and narrowly misses his shoes. fuck it. he gives his full attention back to kiyong.
"what does it matter, anyway? it's a party, just have fun," he encourages, as if it'll make any difference at all. he knows that this isn't kiyong's scene and he knows that nothing he says will change that. however, he is still convinced that, whether it's his scene or not, kiyong will enjoy the party once he gets settled in. they just need to get him to that point. "the host is a producer. he's worked a lot for phaze. really cool guy. want me to introduce you?"
right about now should be the moment jihan snaps back to his usual self, telling kiyong this was all just a silly little prank to get a reaction out of him. honestly, kiyong wouldn’t even be mad—if it meant none of this was as strange and unsettling as it currently feels, he’d take the humiliation in stride. but jihan doesn’t say that. he doesn’t laugh or shrug it off. instead, his vague comment about “the night still being young” lingers awkwardly in his mind, and kiyong doesn’t press him on it. he lets it slide, choosing instead to quietly observe jihan.
the sarcasm in jihan’s voice sounds a little more like the jihan kiyong knows, but there’s still something eerie about it—something very unsettling. there are a dozen things kiyong wants to ask or point out, especially about what’s in jihan’s drink and whether he really thinks he hasn’t had enough already, judging by his demeanor. but kiyong swallows his words and watches instead. his stomach tightens when jihan tips his cup back and downs the entire drink without a second thought. kiyong grimaces slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. the alcohol must be strong, but jihan doesn’t even flinch. if anything, he looks distracted—like his mind is somewhere far away.
kiyong should have expected this. of course this whole thing wasn’t jihan’s idea. his old “friends” are responsible for getting jihan to this party. a sliver of frustration manifests itself on kiyong’s expression in the form of furrowed brows, but it’s so subtle, he looks more like he’s confused rather than upset at the revelation. he could say something—he should say something, like pointing out how jihan’s idea of fun should be sitting in a studio producing songs, not getting drunk at some random party where kiyong doesn’t even know the host.
“it matters because we’re public figures, jihan,” kiyong says, finally deciding to voice a piece of his concern, but by the looks the other gives him, he’s pretty sure jihan is somewhere completely different in his mind. he just seems way too absent.
then jihan says something that makes the hairs on the back of kiyong’s neck prickle. “a producer? you’ve worked together?” jihan’s words catch kiyong off guard, but they also ignite a new wave of anxiety. so the host of this questionable party is someone who actively works with jihan? that means jihan is surrounded by people who could very well be a bad influence, and kiyong is absolutely not okay with that. that’s the moment he decides they are leaving—both of them, before jihan gets himself into any kind of trouble again. maybe this whole thing is a setup. kiyong doesn’t even want to imagine what the headlines would look like if either of them gets caught here.
“hyung, how about we take the party somewhere else?” kiyong steps forward cautiously, his voice softening just enough to make the suggestion sound casual. “there should be a nice bar nearby.” as he speaks, he reaches out and risks taking the drink out of jihan’s hand, hoping it will help pull him back to reality—or at least away from this mess. “what do you say? it’ll be way calmer there.”
he’s starting to get a little fidgety. his eyes sweep across the room, scanning the crowd. almost everyone is visibly drunk, swaying and laughing and far too absorbed in their own worlds to notice them. but that doesn’t comfort kiyong. for all he knows, this could all be some elaborate ploy. he can’t shake the paranoia that someone here might recognize them—or worse, be watching them.
“you can introduce me to this producer another time. come on.” kiyong steps back slowly, subtly moving toward the door he entered through. “let’s just get out of here.”
jihan shouldn't be at this party. all things considered, he knows that—and in his defense, he'd done a pretty good job at almost not coming. it's just that he'd had a dozen invitations and reminders extended his way, temptations from old friends who knew his worst habits, and each one had been harder to ignore than the last. besides, no matter what bullshit excuse he came up with, the fact of the matter is that he doesn't have shit else to do and when jihan's bored, he free-falls.
again, jihan shouldn't be at this party. but he is, and there's 125 milligrams of mdma keeping him here. when he comes down, these people won't be his friends. but for now, they are. for now, there's nowhere else he'd rather be.
thirty-five minutes ago, he'd texted the address to kiyong. there'd been discussions of the party prior to that, most of which were probably misleading. no matter what state he's in, jihan knows that kiyong's not really the party type... but he thinks that he could be, if he's eased into it. anyway, he ought to be here by now. so jihan starts the search for him, drink in hand. evidently, his timing's perfect—he finds kiyong by the door, some look on his face that's hard for jihan to classify. he doesn't think too much about it. he's happier than he's ever been to see kiyong—hell, happier than he's ever been to see anyone, probably. when he smiles, it's all teeth.
"kiyong," he addresses, half-shouting over the music and noise. "i'm so glad that you're here." and it's true, as out of character as the proclamation is for him. if it weren't for one hand holding a cup filled with vodka & orange juice and the other hand feeling in his pocket for the little plastic bag with a second tablet of mdma (reserved for kiyong, on the off-chance that he's in the party spirit), he might even try to pull him in for a hug despite having never hugged him before. as it stands, he settles for the toothy grin. "do you want a drink?" he asks, but doesn't wait for an answer before deciding, "let's get you one!"
kiyong doesn’t like parties. for one, they are too crowded with too many drunk people and too many consequences waiting in every corner. it’s not a place for an introvert, especially not one like kiyong. this is not his scene; it never has been. he can’t even remember the last time he set foot in a place like this. he really only ever goes if it’s an after-party of sorts or when his company forces him to be social. he supposes this is a special occasion, too—in a way. after all, it’s not every day that jihan (of all people) invites him out like this.
maybe it is foolish of kiyong to believe this is just another way for jihan to try to rebuild their past friendship that had taken a dive after jihan went almost radio silent on him, but kiyong has always been positive, and he believes there is good in every person, some just need a little help getting there. besides, jihan had opened up to him when things were looking dark, so even if kiyong doesn’t really want to attend a party, he still decides to show up for his friend (who he thinks might need his help again).
here he is, double-checking the address on his phone with a slight frown. if anyone else is paying attention to him, they’d probably think he’s annoyed or angry from the look on his face, but mostly he is just unsure. he’s been so used to turning down these kinds of invitations from other people that this deviation feels surreal. his fingers hover over the door handle outside for a solid five seconds before he finally pulls.
stepping inside is like entering another dimension. the party is so loud that kiyong’s first instinct is to step back and let the door seal itself shut again, but instead he steps deeper inside, allowing the smells and sounds to invade his own space. his eyes scan his surroundings and he has to keep reminding himself why he’s here—for who he’s here.
he spots jihan making his way through the crowd, bright-eyed and a little too eager. something about his expression—the wide grin, the dilated pupils—immediately sets off alarm bells in kiyong’s head. if he hadn’t known better, he would’ve thought jihan was simply happy. but kiyong knows jihan well enough to guess that euphoria this intense isn’t normal. especially because he has never seen jihan smile like this. hell, has he ever even seen him smile? he’s about to pinch himself to check if this is just a dream, but then jihan stands right in front of him, with his drink in hand, and kiyong’s eyes get a better glimpse at jihan’s face. oh yeah, something is definitely not right. “you look… different,” is the first thing kiyong says, followed by: “you… are?”
maybe kiyong looks more dumbfounded than he should from hearing jihan’s unusual words, though it’s not like this is an everyday occurrence. even jihan should find this weird—he can’t be the only one, right? when jihan offers to get kiyong a drink, his first instinct is to decline. he’s not interested in drinking anything from this place. who knows what these people have done to anything edible here.
“wait,” kiyong says eventually. he has to kind of shout to get his voice to break through the noise as his hand shoots out to grab jihan’s wrist, stopping him mid-motion. “jihan, i really don’t need a drink right now.” kiyong is known for his friendly personality and his inability to turn down his friends, but tonight is different. though as he speaks again, his voice still has the usual friendly note to it that it always does, if anything he just sounds concerned and maybe a little bit like a pushover. “what is this place? do you know anyone here?”
hi, happy opening to everyone. i'm beyond excited to get to writing with you all and bring my muse to life. i'm jeong (or jong, if that's easier for you). i go by he/him, my timezone is gmt+9 and i'm 26. currently this is my only muse in the directory. if you're interested in plotting with me, all you have to do is like this post and i will dm you. i'm also open to plotting on discord if you prefer it that way.
for more information about kio click here: about him & career timeline
i.
✩ an only child born into a traditional korean family. kiyong lives his first few years of life happily with his parents in bucheon until his parents finalized their divorce.
✩ being a child of a divorced household is looked down upon in korea and kiyong experiences that first hand. people treat him differently and judge him. that alone is enough for him to want to prove everyone wrong.
✩ one day he's watching tv with his mother. she tells him that the singer on screen used to be her favorite idol while she was growing up. the sentiment is enough to catch kiyong's curiosity. this is when his obsession with wanting to become an idol starts. if he wants to prove everyone wrong, then he needs to become an idol to show society that, even as the son of divorced parents, he can become a successful and beloved person.
✩ at 12 kiyong auditions for ydh entertainment and passes his audition soon after. he's determined and hardworking, easily becoming one of the higher ranking trainees.
✩ although kiyong gives it his all, his training time keeps growing. at first, he's told it's due to his young age, but eventually other trainees his age start to debut. it hits his confidence quite hard, making him question everything, but kiyong is too stubborn and has spent too much time training, so he keeps going.
✩ his biggest wish is to debut in a boy group, he likes the idea of having something like siblings. ydh entertainment considers him for the lineup of sodapop but ends up not including him in the end as he doesn't really fit the vision they have for the group.
✩ in a final attempt to accomplish his goal, kiyong joins a survival show, hoping to make it to the final lineup, and he's pretty close to debuting, but ultimately gets eliminated after reaching one of the top ten ranks.
✩ however, right after, ydh entertainment offers him a soloist contract, and he takes the chance as it's his last option to finally debut. he's not entirely satisfied, but at least he has reached his goal.
✩ in 2022 kiyong makes his debut as kio.
ii.
✩ kiyong loves being an idol. he likes the attention he gets and the fact that people look up to him. to him, it feels like he's making a difference in people's lives, including his own.
✩ he's always been approachable and makes sure to treat everyone with kindness. he's not shy, but he does have his quiet moments. he's more of an introvert than an extrovert, though if someone approaches him, he will make the effort to talk to them.
✩ his focus is mainly on producing and writing music. he's helped create some great songs for other groups and is planning on growing his credits in the future. he has also helped create choreographies for others. although he's more of a singer than a dancer, but he still finds it enjoyable, and it helps him improve his own skills too.
✩ kiyong is never one to complain, but he's not very satisfied with how little ydh entertainment is promoting him. he wishes for more and wants to be promoted better, but he's also too kind to confront them directly.
✩ getting into scandals is very unlike kiyong. he stays out of trouble and does what his company tells him to. he makes sure to treat everyone with kindness and keeps his distance from the dating life because being a singer is his only purpose in life, and he doesn't want to risk ruining what he worked so hard on building.
iii. open plots
✩ i would like for kiyong to have a close friend or two. maybe they cloud have met as trainees and kept the friendship alive till now. kiyong hasn't changed much from his old self, he's always been true to himself and is a very honest individual. he treats his friends like family and would never hesitate to lend a helping hand.
✩ likewise, i would love to explore a more negative connection too. kiyong doesn't hate people, but he certainly can dislike how a person behaves, and it would be interesting to see how he would handle a situation with another idol who he clearly doesn't get along with.
✩ as for his love life, kiyong definitely had none up until now. he was far too fixated on debuting while he was a trainee, so he wouldn't have dated. however, he could have had a crush on someone, or maybe they liked each other, but when his crush asked him out, he rejected them and their dynamic would have changed after. this can be taken up by f&m muses.
✩ maybe someone who kiyong likes to practice with or write/produce new songs with. it would be fun to have a thread where they are working on an unreleased song and see their thought process throughout it.
✩ kiyong is always trying to learn new instruments, maybe this person is teaching him how to play a new one.
✩ perhaps someone who invites kiyong to a party, but doesn't tell him what kind, so kiyong shows up and is shocked by the sight. this would work well with a muse who drinks or smokes a lot. kiyong would react worried and try to get this person to leave with him. i would like for this plot to be a bit deeper, at least emotionally. i'm imagining a more angsty vibe.
✩ someone who believes kiyong is being fake friendly. they try to put him into situations to make him show his true self... only that kiyong is already being himself. this keeps going for a while until either the person realizes they were wrong all along or kiyong gets very emotional.
✩ a person who's currently crushing on kiyong, but he's unaware and perceives them as a good friend and nothing more. this can be another rejection scenario or a yearning forever connection. please keep in mind that as of right now, kiyong wouldn't reciprocate anything romantic, even if he develops feelings too.
✩ this person simply has the knack for dragging kiyong into trouble. maybe someone who is rather clumsy and does these things accidentally and knowing that kiyong is friendly and helpful, they could ask him to fix these situations for them.
