Thank you for all the sweet welcome messages. I'll respond to them soon.
It's Jaz, your resident procrastinator. I'm the mun behind @lgcxnoeul / @lgcminseo. Please don't ask me why I joined during a busy week. I obviously like to live dangerously. If you'd like to know more about Ian, I have summarized a bit below the cut, and of course, you can read through his profile & timeline. I'm available to plot through discord or through the tumblr chat feature if that's easier.
MEET IAN
Cha Sangwon was born on January 28, 2002. He might have been born in Seoul, but he doesn't consider himself a Seoulite. He spent his teenage years in Melbourne, Australia and has more attachment to that city. He came back to Seoul after graduating secondary school, and attends SNU for Statistics. Numbers are kind of his thing, but acting has his undivided attention now. For now, he has his eyes on LGC Agency and struggles as a trainee.
He has an introverted personality, valuing his independence over anything. However, that shouldn't be mistaken for shyness. He has a rather mischievous, witty banter that he likes to find in others. He can't hide it on his face if he finds the other person boring, or not worth his time. He has trouble opening up to people and has few close friends for a reason. Avoid mundane conversations with him, talk about your interests, and don't be offended if his social battery runs low and he has to dip. It's only way to befriend him.
Currently, Sangwon is estranged from his parents, but he has a close relationship with his siblings. He doesn't see it changing any time soon as the stubbornness runs deep in his veins. He barely speaks about his family, or what his parents do. That part of his life is a mystery for most and he prefers if that were to remain that way (unless it's necessary for plotting purposes). His parents would not be supportive of him being an actor, but that is the least of the issues he has with them.
For the past three years, his experience has been interesting to say the least. He had no background training in any useful skill. Dancing, singing, performing? It was tough to get to a point where he felt comfortable enough to hold eye contact with any of the other trainees. He probably wouldn't have joined the company had he known it would take him a long time to get to a point where it was definitive what he wanted to do. Acting makes more sense to him with the hopes of eventually branching out into musical acting. He likes the challenging aspect of it not being easy to him, but he has an undeniable love for music and becoming an idol is out of the question for him.
For plots, I do love brainstorming with other muns and seeing what best fits our characters. I'm open to negative plots too since I know his personality is a bit rough around the edges. (Important: Sangwon is currently a senior trainee so if anyone still needs a thread for the trainee mission, please hit me up!! I need one and would love to write it out.)
nayoung hums a little, "i don't actually have a heated or weighted blanket. both sound like really nice luxuries to have though... but i guess a weighted blanket doesn't come with the warning signs of fires," she laughs a little. the pocket warmer was so cozy, and she needs to stop playing with it. turning to sangwon, she wrinkles her nose in thought. "i mean... i shouldn't. it might mess up my sleep patterns this evening," she says as an excuse. there's a long pause before she darts her eyes away. "okay, the real reason is what if someone snaps a picture of me while i'm sleeping? i would probably look ridiculous."
she has seen too many of those 'happy birthday' posts where the photos were extremely candid and that is definitely not what she wants. scratching a little at her jaw, she stifles a yawn. somehow with the trainee regime, and idol lifestyle, tired becomes second nature. "this is true, you are right. i never realized that before until you pointed out the schedule." it's awful but nayoung does not really watch shows or dramas, and this is something she has learned for today, and she likely would not un-learn. "i am taking recommendations if you have any," she trails off, glancing at sangwon. nayoung figures that actors would know a bit more than she would.
"i was surprised, especially when we first debuted, at how much acting we would do! it was not something i thought i would ever do... i don't have a real preference but mini series seems fun," granted she's no main actress, but she's happy to be here. "glad you're here with us for your first shoot, truly. we can stay friends after this and perhaps i'll be following your next few dramas too! or were you more interested in stage work or musicals?"
"I'd have to agree..." He could get behind the comfort level that a weighted blanket would provide. "I don't recommend falling asleep with a heated blanket, but I guess, wouldn't they come with timers? I'm sure companies have thought of everything for liability purposes." Perhaps, he was thinking a bit too deeply about this blanket debate. Her confession has him holding back a smile, nodding his head in acknowledgment. It was a fear that was probably shared by most people. "I was going to say that your sleep patterns are absolutely out of the ordinary. I've heard of the schedules performers have to follow. I wouldn't be able to fully exist if I followed your schedule."
"I always wonder if I speak in my sleep. I'm more afraid of that than someone taking a picture of me sleeping." He reveals with a soft laugh, grabbing the pack of gum from the pocket of his jacket and popping one into his mouth before he offers the plastic sleeve to the artist. "I do hope that you're surrounded by people that would understand that you wouldn't like those type of pictures taken, but I could see some people finding it harmless. Have you thought of wearing a mask?" He suggests, purely out of his own amusement. "A nicely decorated wrestler mask. No one would think you're under it."
"Actually, I did want to focus more on musicals, but if I'm completely honest. I don't have the training yet. I would have to work really hard, which I'm not opposed to..." Starting off with a clean slate seemed too vulnerable for him, but he knew that the agency wouldn't be opposed to it if he really did make up his mind. "It's a bit more daunting than being in front of a camera, I suppose. A completely different beast, which I'm sure you know as you do both. What got you into wanting to be a performer?"
"if this were a prison, i guess that'd make us all inmates by our own design, hm?" gyuri finds herself teasing, tone light and airy, a lopsided grin playing at her lips as she gazes upon the snacks still held in her hands. filming days, while exhilaratingly loved on gyuris part, were often long and arduous, hours upon hours spent waiting around and getting ready for your scene compared to the lesser amount of time spent actually filming for your given role. it was all part of the process, cogs all important within the machine that was an actors life, but it was equally as important to be able to find slight reprieves when able. "i think i'm feeling a little bolder today, so, seeing as we'll end up sharing anyways . . . green for me it is."
with a smile, gyuri comes closer, arm outstretched, the red pack held out for ian to take. "i knew this was going to be a fun project from the moment they gave us the scripts, but it's exceeding my expectations way more than i thought it would." time loop plots were easy to make boring, were easy to fall prey to familiar tropes and lackluster ideas, but this was proving to be genuinely well written and fun. gyuri is sure the public will enjoy what they're creating. "originally, i was a little worried about having to film so many of the same things over and over again with their slight differences, but everything is turning out so well." opening the red pack, gyuris lips curl into a teasing grin. "was the whole getting hit with a basketball thing already written out for you, or was that an improve choice that stuck?"
"Speak for yourself." He states, amusement shining through his eyes rather than his lips. "I didn't read the contract all the way through if that's the case..." He hums, satisfied with her choice. Her choice did say a lot about the two of them. He was perfectly content with the safer option. He exchanges the green pack for the red pack in her hand, tempted to open it and try to see if he had guessed correctly on the flavors. He finds himself distracted by her thoughts, focusing intently on her words with polite eye contact. "I could visualize the film through the script. I'm really curious to see all the other scenes play out on the screen."
"No, that moment of genius came from the writer. It was in the script!" He suppresses a laugh, grabbing a water bottle to sip on intermittently as the two of them continue their conversation. "I don't think I would willingly offer up my face, but I could see it happening naturally. I shouldn't be reading too much into it, right?" His statement wasn't sourced out from his non-existent vanity, but rather he found it humorous he had been chosen for the part of getting hit repeatedly by a basketball. "Have you've been able to improvise?"
nayoung likes that it isn't always the same set cast for the episodes... ouroboros. very cool. eye opening. she didn't necessarily always fully grasp the entire script but that gave her more reason to pore through it in her free time. ( other than comics and magazines... she really didn't get all that far into reading. ) there is someone new that she shares quite a few point plots with in her limited role. while not essential to actually talk to such co-stars off screen, she finds it hard not to. maybe she's not acting like a professional actress? but what does a professional actress act like?
turning to face sangwon, shes smiles softly at the offer. "oh! i haven't used hand warming versions of these before. do these work well?" she has definitely heard of them, and only has used the sleeping mask types. "thank you so much. i've heard of this type of material being used in sleep masks before... to toast your eyes up and make you lull off to sleep. i could use a nap right about now," she covers her mouth to hide a large small yawn. "i understand that filming goes year round but i cannot help but think it would be so much nicer to film during the spring and fall seasons," she sighs a little. "guess this is just our luck though!"
"are you enjoying the shoot?" its a little bit of small-talk initially, but surely they would break more into more chitter-chatter once they broke the ice.
"I'll be honest. I underestimated them and used multiples, but it was surprisingly hot, especially if you put in the pockets of your coat." His suggestion would have come with extra warning that his hands did break into a sweat. However, that seemed like too much information to divulge to a stranger. "Is that safe?" He questions, raising a brow with curiosity. "I guess it's similar to a heated blanket. I just don't know if I would trust it on my face." He confesses with a soft laugh, humming in agreement when she brings up how much she wanted to nap. "Would you not be able to nap?"
"Someone could wake you up when you're needed on set..." He envied people that could fall asleep in new environments and rather quickly. He would need complete silence, absolute darkness, and about half an hour to toss and turn. He wondered if that will change when he had long shoot days, but he wasn't a stranger to sleeping very little and surviving weeks on intermittent napping. "Spring and Fall would be the best seasons to shoot, but most releases are usually during those seasons so it makes sense to shoot during Winter and Summer. I would much rather shoot in Winter. I can't imagine how miserable it is in the Summer..."
He is quite shocked at how much he is rambling on with Nayoung. He wasn't known to hold a conversation for long, but she had intrigued him with the introduction of a new topic. "It's my first time shooting a film as an actor. It's a bit overwhelming. I'm trying to grasp everything going around me, but I'm having fun." He glances at her with a fleeting smile, sticking his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Your group dabbles quite a bit with acting. Do you prefer a film like this, or a mini series?"
despite making up half of the rather intimate pool of supporting cast members for this newest addition to the cinematic universe that was nova iuventa, gyuri finds there to be a saddening lack of overlap in interactions between herself and several others— in reality, it's a natural part of the filming process, different scenes in need of different people, different characters. they're all on a tight schedule, only a short amount of days allotted to getting everything right in as few needed takes as possible, so gyuri hadn't expected there to be much time to simply talk amidst the chaos.
that being said, the moment she's given the go-ahead to take a small break, her next featured scene not for a little while, gyuri is on the prowl. the destination? the snack table.
she doesn't expect to find anyone right away, least of all ian, but an easy grin grows upon her lips thoughtlessly the moment he comes into view. "did they give you a bit of freedom, too?" striding over, gyuri stops before the table, scanning the selections available. she's not particularly peckish, but grabbing something for later never hurt. she grabs two packs of gummies, flavors differing in relation to their colored packaging, and holds them up for ian to see. "what do you think— red or green?"
"Freedom?" He raises a brow, echoing her words with a faint amused smirk. He was not known to be close to many of the actors in the agency, but Gyuri was someone he had become fond of when the two had met as trainees. He had finally been able to seen in her a different light outside of the character she was playing. He could see her career going farther than most, which as a friend, he was prepared to root for her. "You make it sound like we're prisoners allowed to see the Sun for an hour." He teases, lifting his gaze to glance at the packages in her hand that she was stuck from choosing between one or the other. "Red is the safer choice, but green has more bold flavors."
"What about you pick one, and I'll pick the other one?" He suggests, picking up one or the bottle waters and a protein bar to keep in the pocket of his jacket for later. "You can try everything if we share." He steps aside when a production staff arrives to peruse through all the options on the crafts table. "Are you enjoying your scene? I didn't know what to expect from shooting the looped scenes, but I actually found myself having more fun since everything was decided beforehand. I was surprised the director was open to a bit of improvisation."
It was during their downtime on set that he hoped he could be a bit more outgoing. He felt completely out of place, lingering closer to the production staff rather than the rest of the actors. Arguably, he could try to interact with the rest of the cast, but he was terrible at casual conversations. He had watched the web-series out of curiosity when he was casted, but he had to admit the premise for the short film had intrigued him far more. He was enthusiastically waiting to see all the scenes come together for the final project. With such a short turn around, he wanted to smoothly finish shooting his scenes without any trouble.
While waiting for the lighting to be adjusted by the crew, he returns from roaming down the hallway out of boredom. He spots Nayoung by the entrance, briefly glancing away to stare at the scoreboard fixed above the basketball hoop. He had to admit that he view the artists in the company to have a different aura about them, but the Nova members seemed to be authentically themselves, which he could appreciate. He was happy for his preconceived notions to be proven wrong, especially by @lgcnayoung. He walks by the crafts table, grabbing several hand warmers to stick them in the pocket of his jacket.
"I didn't think it could get colder, but someone accidentally left the emergency door open." He understood that insulating the indoor gym was pointless, but he despised the smell of the portable heaters to stand in front of it. "I have extra-" He doesn't finish his sentence, offering the extra hand-warmers still in the packaging to the idol. "Would you like one?"
It hadn't been apparent to him that he had been purposely avoiding her, but after an embarrassing first encounter, he felt like steering clear of her wouldn't hurt his ego too much. He thought of reaching out and asking for her to return his jacket until the realization hit him. He didn't have her number. He would have to ask one of his friends' for her number, or worse, ask one of the other trainees. He didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea, especially when their circles overlapped and he didn't want to waste energy on explaining what had occurred. His mind tortured him enough replaying the scene in his head.
Perhaps, he was catastrophizing like he always tended to do, but there was an unspoken tension that he couldn't quite figure out if it was him, her, or the feeling was mutual. It seems the universe is dead set on pushing him out of his comfort zone. He spots her heading towards the elevator when he enters the lobby. He quickly glances away, focusing on the time on his watch. How can someone with short stature make him too aware of his own existence?
He throws caution to the wind and crosses the lobby in long strides, stopping the elevator doors from closing with his hand. He steps inside, eyeing the buttons on the panel. None had been pressed. Should he be polite? He first presses the button to the cafe, staring at her reflection on the doors before he speaks up. "Which floor?"
There is something about the way Sangwon hardly allowed the world around him have much of an impact on his demeanor that often had Kiyong brimming with envy. Perhaps the same could be said about him, however, with his endless bouts of unwavering optimism and ability to turn any situation into a solvable and positive one. The two of them worked because they acknowledged these facts about one another. It is why he can grin at Sangwon's suggestion rather than pouting — though, he will playfully whine. ( He sure did enjoy getting on his nerves just a bit. )
"Cliff dive... No way! I mean, that could be kinda fun, the more that I think about it. I don't think the pictures they'd get would be very flattering though," he starts chuckling to himself imagining his friend fight to keep a neutral expression while careening through the air on a bungee chord. "WAIT — An underwater one would be really fun, too... I guess doing really weird things while trying to 'serve face' is a pretty high level modeling challenge, though. We're not quite there yet!"
He finally slides into the seat adjacent to Sangwon with his own bowl, intentionally knocking his shoulders against his ever so slightly. "You don't have to get me anything to drink... but, is there lemonade? I really want some," he doesn't wait for the other to return to his own bowl before he decides to dig in, humming in approval at his own recipe. He even mutters something underneath his breath along the lines of 'Soo Kiyong, you are a genius'. "Quick, when you're pulling the drinks out, do a drink commercial. Sell me on the drinks!"
"Do you think I missed my calling? Creative Director Cha Sangwon has a nice ring to it..." He retorts, rising to his feet to scrummage through the refrigerator. He searches for his friend's drink of choice, pulling out the pint of lemonade and setting it down on the counter. He grabs two glasses from the cupboards, distributing equal amounts into it before returning it back into the refrigerator. He turns to make eye contact with his friend, deadpan expression on his face. "Can you turn off your mind for thirty minutes? Or, you know what—"
"Sell me on your ramyeon, Kiyong." He sets his friend's glass in front of him first, returning to sit on the stool besides Kiyong. He takes a reserved sip of the lemonade, nodding his head in appreciation of his friend's pairing choices. "I will say that fresh lemonade tastes way better, but this is up there. It doesn't taste artificial, right?" He stops speaking, squinting at the man. Perhaps, his friend was rubbing off on him and he was blurting out what was on his mind without a filter. He picks up his chopsticks, leaning down to enjoy the first bite of his friend's ramyeon.
He approvingly nudges the man against his side, offering him a thumbs up in the form of additional praise, which he knew his friend would appreciate. "Remind me to make the Brazilian version for you one day. I was obsessed with it when we spent an entire summer there with my family. I think you would like it and not all that hard to make." He resumes his temporary silence, enjoying the bowl in front of him without speaking much unless Kiyong asked him to continue the conversation. He was too used to eating in silence during family dinners that engaging in conversation still felt like he was going to be berated for lacking manners.
eyebrows shot up, glancing at the tree that now looked a bit too suspicious as it still hung on the walls. if her classmates could see this kind of installation, she wondered how they would critique it. the arts didn't scream maylin, if anything, people were still shocked when they learned she wasn't some college dropout.
if it wasn't for her sketchbooks and donated paints given at the foster homes, the dancer wouldn't know how she'd make it on lonely nights. art was her escape, hence why dancing was everything to her, even if it wasn't in the form she was studying. "if the tree falls, we turn the other way and pretend it wasn't your idea. but you have to clean it up." she pointed her blood-red nail at him.
"maybe the cafe could use you as their official tree, people can place their gifts under you." she snorted, fingers skimming over the decorative ornaments in the box, standing close to the ladder. "actually, while sitting in the bus, someone had the radio on, and the host was talking about Santa and how he learned this mystery main wasn't real. I did get teased a lot as a kid because others kept saying he wasn't real, and I still believed. so it was accidental, and i was mortified. that was the last time i believed in anything other than ghost." glancing up at him, maylin handed over the first ball. "try and keep them in a nice row, it's easier to add afterward."
"Maylin..." He hums in appreciation, nodding his head in agreement with their exit plan. "I'm pleasantly surprised. I pinned you for someone that would sell me out during the first chance you got..." His innocent accusation is accompanied with a soft laugh, briefly glancing at the tree installation with apprehension. Maybe, he could secure it later with something with better adhesive and one that wouldn't ruin the walls. "I can get behind that compromise, but just so you know, this makes you my accomplice whether or not you help with the fallout."
"That's an unfortunate way of having your innocence shattered." He felt an inkling of sympathy for Maylin's younger self and he could empathize too in some way, considering his parents were not people interested in allowing fantastical ideas to ruminate through his and his siblings' minds. His parents reading children novels or fables would have been more about the lesson rather than the characters. "Hold on. You believe in ghosts?" He couldn't hide the incredulity in the tone of his voice, focusing on positioning the baubles handed to him exactly where the girl wanted them. "I need to know more. Have you had an encounter that made you believe them? Or are you one of those people that believe in energy shifts?"
"So, what do you think? Think you'll have enough of me by the end of the trip?" Kiyong turns to his friend with a wide smile — lips curled back to put his pearly whites on full display. Ever since their arrival to Daejeon for the workshop, he's done his best to not overwhelm Sangwon with his presence. He knew how overbearing he could be. ( He heard enough of that from his older sister who had to sit him down to calm him more than once in the past. ) It served him well to at least have some form of self-awareness when it came to socializing with others. However, he couldn't help himself. Sangwon's stone-y expression and calm demeanor was magnetic to a naturally curious extrovert.
"Oh. I was gonna ask. Do you wanna practice our delivery and facial expressions while we eat? I feel like every time I try to look cool, I look constipated or too disinterested. Unless… that's what they want? I mean, I've watched those Top Model shows and they do some really, really weird stuff on there," he pauses, eyes widening a bit. "Don't tell me… Do you think that they're gonna make me do stuff like that!? That can't be right, right? ..."
Despite his rambling, he manages to focus long enough to finish up preparing his ramyeon — albeit with hunched shoulders while stuffed into the tiny kitchenette. It was definitely better than the trainee dorm, but less accommodating than the spacious model dorms. He slides one of the bowls toward Sangwon, then busies himself with peeling the soft boiled eggs he managed to haul along with him on the bus. ( Among other snacks that are current stuffed in his overnight bag. ) The process was a careful one, he wanted to wow Sangwon with his 'famous' preparation skills he hadn't yet shown him at their new place.
"Should we pretend to not know each other on the way back?" His delivery was quite straight-laced and paired with his neutral expression, but the corner of his lips twitch upwards into the faintest amused smile. He knew better than to be fully himself around other people, mostly masking and mirroring a stranger's demeanor, but he could be himself with Kiyong. Still, he felt like at times he should apologize afterwards and be clear that he was in fact joking. He knew Kiyong rarely let things get to him, but the man was the last person he would want to hurt inadvertently. It would feel like emotionally wounding a puppy, or child.
He would have to admit that he was having a difficult time interacting with the other workshop attendees. Kiyong's presence was comforting and pulled him out of the depths of his mind. His thumb had been restlessly pressing on the retractable plunger of a pen, stopping abruptly when his friend unleashes his train of thought onto his own railroad track. "How could you be too disinterested? I've never met anyone else as engaging as you, Kiyong."
"I think you can probably relax. I doubt they'll bury you in a coffin, or make you cliff dive..." He crosses his arms over his chest, leaning forward to read the prompt of their current assignment on the kitchen counter. "Now, a cliff diving photoshoot, wouldn't that be fun?" He suggests, turning to fully shift his focus on Kiyong and his egg peeling skills. He carefully inspects the bowl, turning the egg over to check for no eggshells. He wasn't doubting that Kiyong was thorough, but it was a habit that stuck since childhood. "Thank you for preparing ramyeon, Kiyong. I'll get us something to drink. What would you like?"
He should have known better than to accept a pamphlet off the street, but his curiosity had piqued at the discount offer during opening week. From the outside, he could at least see that it wasn't a scam. He saw small groups of people coming in and out either in high spirits, or completely defeated. He wondered which type of group the two of them would fall in an hour. He pulls Jisoo into the building with the promise of trying out a new trendy cafe afterwards. It wasn't like he was prolonging the inevitable. His stomach had protested far more than his friend, but he found the idea of an escape room to be promising in the entertaining factor.
After glancing at the options, the two enter the escape room designed with the theme of a sinking ship. He was pleasantly surprised with the slanted composition of the room. It was all a trick of the eye and the flickering light added to the atmosphere. He picks up the prompt written on a scroll, reading out loud: "Welcome aboard The Siren's Call. There's been a breach in the hull and your group has 60 minutes before the ship goes completely underwater. You must decipher clues to unlock the lifeboat storage room. Can you outsmart the sinking ship and escape before the waters claim you?"
"Here, catch!" He picks up the life jacket near the captain's desk, feigning that he was going to throw it in the direction of his friend before properly offering the spare to Jisoo a smirk. "Do you think it'll be an actual key? Or a passcode..." He scans the room, looking for any clues that stand out to him. He spots a radio, turning on the volume when he hears a muffled conversation between the captain and the chief engineer. "Ah, did he say to escape and not worry about the crew? Would you be the type to jump ship too, Jisoo?"
Exhaustion only hits Kiyong's bones as his shift begins to draw to a close. He can be seen flitting about the place like the busy bee he is; long legs easily carrying him to every corner his presence is necessary. He is between completing a drink order for a young businesswoman with bags under her eyes when Sangwon finally shuffles his way over.
"You look like you got hit by a truck," he pauses, listening to the way his clothing shifts before he strands up straight and quickly huddles over to the espresso machine before the woman sends him a glare. "Why do I feel like a bartender listening to my patron's hard days?" And like any reasonable extrovert, he would find himself doing most of the talking between himself and his more reserved friend. "I think you did great, though. You're really amazing, Sangwon... Ah! I mean, she was pretty indecisive choosing a cookie so maybe it's just not for her. She'll figure it out on her own. You usually have good ideas, but... if you do suggest it, be less abrasive!"
Kiyong is, perhaps, honest to a fault. The words flow from him so naturally that he does not stop to double check or rethink anything. At least in this instance. Sangwon was hardly one to take offense to his bold approach at life. He shoots the gloomy young man a reassuring grin from above the glass and leans away to hand off the drink. It isn't too long before he is queuing up one for him, however.
"And to answer your question... I think the recommended caffeine intake is 400ml per day, but... sometimes we deserve to live life on the edge, don't you think?" He presses the espresso shot button five times.
"Was that meant for me?" He questions, raising a brow at the thought Kiyong would insult a customer. Perhaps, the confusion was shared between him and the woman who leaves fuming. He can't hide the amusement from appearing on his face. After all, the metaphor did fit the both of them. He pushes himself up to rest his arm on the counter, resting his chin on the palm of his hand whilst he watches his friend move about behind the counter. "You should add a charge per sound advice., but I demand a friend discount."
"I need to start vetting the students better." He shakes his head, settling on the stool near the counter. He takes out his phone to glance through the notifications for a specific contact name, but he finds nothing interesting with the exception of a message from his mother requesting he calls her at his earliest convenience. He assumes it would be another transactional conversation, which he was not willing to waste another thought on when the weekend was in front of him. "I was willing to help her out, but I really feel like I lost some braincells. I don't know how many more ways I could have explained that one activity."
He sets down his phone with the screen down, shifting his attention back to Kiyong that was attempting to give him heart palpitations with the amount of espresso shots he had added to his coffee. He doesn't question it, welcoming the drink with a smile when his friend hands it over to him. "What are your plans for tomorrow? Please tell me that you're not working and we can do something fun for once. I really need to get out of the dorms."
sometimes maylin forgets that while people are celebrating the overall happiness of the holidays, she is trying to split the time into two as her birthday fell directly on Christmas day. the dancer didn't go around announcing it either. if someone wanted to speak about their excitement for opening presents and spending time with family, she would only agree and ignore the small sadness of such a special day overshadowing her own. not that she even celebrated her birthday, to begin with. that's why when she learned that her services would be needed elsewhere and not on stage, there was something brand new to pout about as she carelessly hung up decorations.
squinting at the now lit-up wall that was created to mimic a tree, the dancer only nodded with a soft hum. "not too bad. I'm actually impressed that you pulled it off. i don't have a creative bone in my body with that kind of stuff." she nodded her head towards the colorful setup, a hint of a smile on her lips. being an art student, she truly could admire people who stepped out of their own box to do something unexpected.
picking up a small star ornament, she moved close to holding it next to his other ear. "if you could just place these on your ears instead of the tree, that would be great. maybe wrap some tinsel around your neck to add the finishing touches." pulling away, she placed the stare of a random branch. "maybe? i would hope nobody crushed their spirits like someone did with my own. if they can hold on to that small piece of their childhood, maybe I will sleep peacefully at night."
"My creative bone is limited to my pinky if I'm being honest." He reveals with a soft laugh, recalling how his parents had suffocated any artistic inclination for him and his siblings. Arts weren't valued or regarded highly as academic rankings were in their family unless a monetary investment could be acquired from it. He could only imagine how his parents would feel to see him on screen one day as an actor. His drive to succeed was partly out of spite, which amused him whenever he made the connection. "If the tree falls, you have to promise not to reveal that it was me..."
"I don't think that's a terrible idea, but I think the tree might look a bit too bare. I would definitely be dressed though." He gives the box of ornaments a gentle push with the side of his foot to push it closer to the tree. "I don't get what people gain from revealing mythical creatures aren't real to kids. It must have been a miserable person who did that to you, or was it another child mirroring what another adult had done to them? I guess everything in life is a chain reaction." He clicks his tongue, setting the box on the ladder for Maylin to hold while he climbs on the other side to hang up the ornaments she hands to him. "Okay, where would you like them? You have a much better eye than me."
this was not maylin's year. she didn't have some big accomplishment on her belt, nothing to show her family that she was actually making it somewhat closer to debuting. no, she was falling behind, her progress was no longer worth bragging about... not that it was any great, to begin with.
the burden was eating her alive, and she wasn't performing for a bunch of kids. maybe it wasn't that big of a deal, but it was for this dancer who took every performance activity seriously. and as she stood here, struggling to hang up ornaments on a tall tree, maylin tried not to let this all bring her down even further than it already had.
with another huff, she walked over to @lgcian who somehow, had been here the whole time and the silence had allowed her to forget that someone was helping. without a single word, she handed him the ornament and then pointed at the spot where she thought it would be best. words, maylin, she needed to speak and not act like some child.
"can you use your height and put the things I hand over, upon the tree? i refuse to strain myself any longer."
and if this tree came tumbling down, that would be her last straw.
Admittedly, Ian had been one of the trainees relieved to not have to perform in front of an audience albeit a kind, energetic and appreciative one. His current skills were more apt for a night out than something worthy of befalling on people's sensitive ears. He felt his role of helper was more fitting and necessary to help the events to end without a hitch. He had closely followed Maylin around the room for the past hour, holding onto the boxes of ornaments in his hands and had shifted his attention to the variety of lighting meant to be strung on the walls.
"Sure, but-" He plugs the light into the socket, taking a step back to admire the Christmas tree had formed on the wall with the string lights. "Not bad, right?" He turns on the lights, opting for the variety of rainbow lights instead of the classic golden hue. "It surprisingly didn't take me that long to do it and the electrical tape is holding everything up..." He was crossing his fingers it wouldn't crumble sadly to the ground when he turned around.
"Where do you want this?" He holds up the ornament, bring it up to his ear like a gaudy earring. He had sensed Maylin to be down, but instead of pestering to open up about what he deemed was quite obvious, he figured attempting to make her crack a smile or laugh was a much safer option. "Do you think some of the kids believe in Santa still?"
Auditions were straightforward at this point for Sangwon. He didn't have the typical experience of an aspiring actor, especially since he had spent a few years in the trainee program. He decided to opt out of going into a fine arts program in acting when he applied for university. It was partly to avoid the wrath of his father, but there was a underlying sense of regret about him not jumping head first and wasting valuable time. However, Sangwon did feel the acting workshops that the trainees received was the perfect first taste of what could be asked of any aspiring actor. He felt more comfortable with the spontaneity of prompts given at auditions, or digesting a script before entering the audition room was not difficult for him.
What felt more challenging was everything else that involved becoming an actor and that would be something he would have to work on. He was taken aback by the request of trying out different styles directly after the script reading. Perhaps, it was a matter of the production team trying their best to minimize the preparation process. After all, the short film involved an idol group and he didn't expect the production scale would be as intense as an actual film. It was all interesting to see the curtain pulled back to what the company could do. In a way, that was the reason he had jumped at the chance to audition for the opportunity no matter how small the role would be. He would even be willing to be an extra if he got the chance to observe and be on set.
For now, he had to find a way to be comfortable with fittings and learning how to interact with the production team. His introversion would pose the biggest challenge. He found the styling team too lively, too animated, and on the move for him to follow properly in conversation (or physically, if he were to be honest). There was a reason why he hadn't become a model. He was capable of being a blank canvas, a chameleon even... His interpersonal skills were not at a level where he could thrive per se. With acting, he could at least pretend to be someone else.
He was pushed into the fitting room with a school uniform and with some light well-intentioned coaxing from the head stylist. It hadn't been too long since he had donned a uniform. He was hoping he wouldn't be typecast in a student, but he couldn't deny that he could stand amongst the main cast and blend into a school scene if he had to. Now did he think he could enter a high school and be mistaking for a student? Probably not. If he were to search in the archives of his phone gallery, he could see the difference in his stature and the maturity evident in his facial features in comparison to the boy he had been in high school.
"Frankly, with your proportions and your face, there are several ways that we can style you. We could choose to go with the confident, studious class president, but where is the fun in that?" She unbuttons the buttons on his cardigan, pulling out the dress shirt he had expertly tucked into the waistband of his pants for a effortlessly look. She fusses with his hair, loosening the strands with her fingers to let his hair fall over his forehead. "Mysterious, cold, unattainable. You have that nostalgic look of a 90s heartthrob lead ready to break some hearts."
"Should we try another look?" She snaps her fingers enthusiastically after taking a couple polaroid pics of her final styling. He didn't know how models could spend an entire day trying out different looks. Her assistant hands him another outfit to try, opening the door for him. His next outfit is an obvious police uniform with a crisp, tailored shirt in turquoise, dark navy cargo pants, and sturdy black boots. He steps out with the thin navy tie in his hands, faint smile lingering on his lips when he requests help to tie it properly. "I would have love to give you a proper detective outfit, but for this possible role, the outfit had to be more obvious."
"I don't think I look out of place. Maybe a tad green because of my face, but there are people my age coming out of the academy, right?" He stares at his reflection, impressed by the lack of tailoring required in the uniform. He wondered how it was possible to run in the slacks, but that was an intrusive thought he harbored from all the content he had consumed with policemen in it. "If you properly smiled, you would look more approachable as a policeman, but with your calm demeanor, you can appear trustworthy and knowledgeable despite your youthful looks." He hears the stylist recommendations, unable to stop the genuine smile from forming completely when she clocks him for having a neutral expression throughout the fitting. "It all depends on what the role requires."
His final look was athleisure with jogger pants and a matching performance hoodie. He felt the most comfortable in the final look. It was two items that he had various variations in his closet. "I think this final look is the most flexible. You could either be a college student who spent an entire night at a pc bang, or the boy next door that plays in the neighborhood basketball court." She steps back to admire her styling choice, picking up the polaroid to snap the final look for the trial. "I have to say that the first one had to be my favorite. I'd cast you myself in a film set in the 90s if I had any say."
"I do need an agent. Should we exchange numbers?" He states in jest, smile lingering when he hears the styling and assistant burst out with laughter.
Maybe, he was more capable at using his unique charm in his favor.
This party had been nothing short of exhausting. And Taeha was no stranger to chaotic events - after all, she once coordinated a birthmasversary party for one of the coaches whose birthday conveniently coincided with Christmas and the anniversary of her first Legacy dance class ( an important milestone, Taeha might add! ).
Compared to that, the company party should’ve felt like a breath of fresh air and a chance to unwind amid her hectic schedule. But instead she could barely catch her breath, let alone enjoy the festivities. Between double trouble still somewhere in the crowd, Yujin’s investigative skills putting Taeha’s weak poker face to shame, and her own cat ears mysteriously vanishing - no, seriously, where were they?! - The night was quickly unraveling.
Yet a sliver hope kept her wandering through the venue. But the clues were scarce, and things were feeling a bit... cloudy. The thought briefly amused her, drawing a small smile until a message on her phone caught her eye - I was thinking of leaving soon. "Already?!" she muttered, frowning at the screen as she weaved through the partygoers. There was no time to waste! Maybe if she hurried, she could -
"Oh!" she gasps, colliding with someone, her startled step back only making the snag on the knitting of her costume worse. "No, no, no! My dress is - ! Huh? What do you mean, what am I supposed to be? Isn’t it obvious?!" she huffs, gesturing to her tail. Even the short bit of movement as she spoke left the hole at her side stretching wider. "Ack! Can you untangle it?!" she pleads, tugging at the stubborn fabric.
Her question echoed in his head. Was it obvious? Maybe. Had his mind not been elsewhere, he would have answered with a slight nod. Instead, she receives a deadpan expression and then his eyes widened with concern when she shifts his focus back to the problem at hand. His bracelet had embraced the strands of her dress as another link, inevitably sealing its fate with an obvious hole. He couldn't offer any options that would prevent tearing the fabric and he couldn't exactly donate his bracelet.
"Untangle it, how?" He questions, not waiting for an answer and forcibly tugging away from the fabric. He clearly underestimates the strength of the fabric, hole blatantly staring back at him and much larger than he had estimated. Thankfully, the lining had been left intact. He feels the heat rush to his face, translating to how much he had fucked up. He doesn't see a stuttering apology being any help, or the need to offer up a joke to ease the tension. He takes off his jacket in panic, cautiously placing it on her shoulders. It was a temporary peace offering and the two were seemingly from the Pokemon faction so he didn't think that it looked too out of place, but her costume had been better off without him coming anywhere near it.
"I'll pay for the fabric if you can patch it–" He states earnestly, meeting her gaze to convey his remorse. "You can patch it, right?"
