sunday ride .ᐟ

𝐬𝐚𝐞𝐦. xx. mzsd's 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘢𝘦.

[lgcsaem]

✰ . . . 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 '25 Q1 !

okay, okay— happy quarter one! here comes a much needed plot call / thread tracker which will be updated as needed when events are dropped ~ as always, please let me know if you would like to plot because my boy is always down for anything! ✰

MARCH 29TH ⭑ MZSD 002 !

MZNYANG: done.

PLEDGE: solo ( tbd ).

ONGOING ⭑ GENEREAL / NON CURRENT EVENT THREADS !

ft. @lgcminki ( tetris ).

ft. @lgcxnoeul ( here comes bad news ).

ft. @lgcbk ( bright and shiney ).

[lgcakio]

akio leans back against the edge of the couch, one foot tapping against the floor as he watches misaki with a soft smile. he’s practically vibrating with excitement, phone clutched like it holds the secrets of the universe. it’s hard not to be infected by it: the bright grin, the hopeful sparkle in his eyes.

still... something lingers beneath it. it might be the extra pep in his voice, like he’s overcompensating, or the way his shoulders don’t sit quite as high as they used to. but akio doesn’t comment on it yet. it’s too soon, and he’s not sure if he’s imagining things. he tends to worry about misaki more than he does most people. he’s like a younger brother to him and while he has no doubt he knows how to take care of himself, he tends to wonder if he’s eating enough, sleeping enough, pushing himself too hard. 

instead, he lets out a low laugh, crossing his arms. “hungry? sammy, i think you ordered enough for a small army,” he teases, nudging him lightly with his foot. “luckily for you though, i am starving.” his tone is warm and playful, letting the moment breathe as they wait for the delivery person to arrive. he doesn’t often crave sweet food, but he appreciate the occasional pastry. after spending months of what could probably qualify as a depressive state (without the official diagnosis), akio has noticed he’s lost some weight. not a whole lot, but still noticeable for a guy like him who’s already very tall and very lean. 

“also, i’m not saying i’ll fight you for the strawberry cream bread,” akio says, tilting his head toward the door, “but i’m saying i hope you ordered two.” there’s a short pause, then he adds, more softly, “thanks for inviting me over. i needed this. been a while, right? are you happy?” he doesn't specificy what he means exactly, leaving it open on purpose.

[lgcsaem]

despite his usual bought of boundless energy, it's fairly easy to tell when misakis batteries are beginning to run on empty, especially when the detail oriented eyes keeping watch know him so well— darker under eyes, excitably slurred speech, clumsy physical movements to overcompensate for what can't be understood. in a way, he's like a toddler fighting against naptime . . . just if naptime was all the time. ordinarily, this hasn't ever bothered the younger, and even now, it still doesn't.

well, maybe that's a lie. it bothers him a little, life events stacking atop slowly broadening shoulders, the pressure reaching levels he's never had to really carry before. he's always been capable, always been the type to laugh and bulldoze through as he adapts and overcomes, so misaki knows it won't be long before he feels like his usually fiendish self once more. still, adjusting is a tiring endeavor, something that leaves physical evidence he doesn't really care to cover up outside of simply being happy. he doesn't want anyone to worry, but he also doesn't want to lie.

there's still excitement laced beneath his skin, gaze unyieldingly glued to where his phone showcases the delivery drivers slowly nearing location, but his words catch on the tip of his tongue as akio speaks.

happy?

he could latch onto the strawberry cream bread. he could tease the older for being so sappy. misaki could do a lot of things to deflect from the uncomfortable, but with akio, misaki is never uncomfortable.

"i'm happy!" a pause. a thoughtful hmm. "i'm not not happy!" misakis eyes are still trained on his phone, but his focus wavers slightly, his previous grin falling into something a little more calm. he's not sure what to say, how to say what to say, but that's never stopped the older from understanding. "things are cool, not great— but still nice!" another pause, his brows furrowing slightly as he finally looks the older in the eyes. "does that make sense?"

[lgcminki]

holiday agenda.

while it’s still some time ahead, with how busy things have been going, minki can’t help but start imagining the break they will be having ahead. four days is a lot, what with their current schedule, he can’t even begin to figure out what he’ll do. obviously, he’ll spend time with his sister—but doing what? going where? other than a buffet, surely there are other more exciting activities he can do.

finishing up his skincare, of which are recommended by the staff, make-up artists and dermatologists he has been able to meet—still in his pjs and a bunny-shaped headband sitting quaintly on his forehead—he poses @lgcsaem with a question. “what do you kids like to do nowadays?”

granted, minki isn’t even that old—but he always feels like a dinosaur when it comes to interact with misaki, specifically. “my sister… she’s like, the skateboarding kind of gal. i feel like my ideas for outings would just bore her. you’d probably think of something more fun. any suggestion?” he questions.

[lgcsaem]

for misaki, down-time isn't ever actually down-time, his energy levels constantly at a high that leaves it practically impossible for him to relax and unwind ( at least, in the traditional sense ). he simply can't sit still, and so, while there's still a ways to go before their schedules clear up and he's got nothing of obligation to attend to, misaki makes it his mission to find fun in every idle moment. at present, fun time seems to be of the skincare variety with minki, a sheet mask pressed snuggly against the young boys freshly washed face, it's panda pattern giving misaki the comical appearance of deep dark circles.

he'd been playing a mobile game, body draped comfortably across his bed for once while his mind is occupied, but the older mans question pulls his attention immediately. "you kids— hyung, i know i make fun of you a lot for acting like an old man, but you're not actually an old man!" his tone is one of delight, a laugh leaving him, expression showcasing a bright smile as best as he can without disturbing his sheet mask too much.

"skate parks are cool if you're meeting up with friends, but it's not my favorite— me and some friends from back home used to try and practice different parkour moves at a park near my parents house. now that's fun!" of course he'd enjoy jumping and running around like an agile little monkey. "and . . . oh, sometimes i'll game at internet cafes! it's nice to play here at home, but sometimes i like being somewhere different!" sitting up in his bed, misakis head tilts as he regards the older man. "why do you ask? do you wanna go do something?"

[lgcsaem]

☆ ⸝⸝ 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐓 , ft. @lgcakio.

it's not often misaki gets an afternoon off, generally packed schedules an accepted norm for someone within the entertainment industry, but sometimes . . . the young idol finds himself lucky.

more than lucky, really, considering akio also happened to have some overlapping time to spare.

things have been rather tough ( odd ) as of late, lineup changes and the steady machine that was legacy, alongside the bittersweet departure of his parents after a brief visit, causing misakis mood to teeter on a fairly thin line between his usual bright self and something uncharacteristically somber. this has never happened before, a mentality that's never plagued him. it's easy for him to decide he doesn't like it— so, what better way to lift his spirits than order in a ton of pastries from a new cafe he's yet to visit in person?

enter— akio.

"the app says the delivery person should be here in less than five minutes!" misaki chirps, eyes glued to the phone currently held not even an inch from his face in anticipation. he bites his tongue, sporting a cheeky grin as he looks up at the other. "i haven't had anything since breakfast, so i order a ton of different things— i hope you're hungry!"

[lgcsaem]

☆ ⸝⸝ 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐘 𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐇 , a solo.

misakis parents visit on a random tuesday.

he's unsuspecting, mind and body ablaze with a sort of static only normal to a boy like himself, the days mysteries just as exciting on the mind as the detailed weekly itinerary he'd been sent the day prior by his manager. while oddities happened everyday ( often caused by misaki himself one way or another ), there's no cause to think something like this would happen— not now, standing surprisingly patient at a cross walk, one he's traversed far too many time to count by this point.

it's meant to be a standard commute to the company building, a destination deserving of the cargo shorts and plain black t-shirt he dons, muscles twitching with each passing moment as he mentally recalls the routine he's been working to memorize these past few days. one more intersection, one more crosswalk, and he'll be kissing the legacy buildings conditioned air a beautiful good morning.

the two familiar figures that greet him in said air conditioned lobby are anything but standard during these commutes.

it's hard for him so register everything that happens in the moment, faces and voices all blurring together for what seems like an eternity, but it's the scents of bergamot, rose, and vanilla that causes his breath to hitch and eyes to water— his mothers perfume and the warmth of her arms as she clutches him close, his hair being tussled by hands much larger and rougher than his own as his father waits his turn for a hug of his own. home.

it all trips something in him, their sudden appearance hitting him in a way he isn't prepared for. he missed them, terribly so, and it shows. years without getting to see one another, training schedules and ordinary lives incompatible, especially when the distance is half a world apart.

it's only natural, then, that a boy as sporadic as misaki would fall from that very same tree, his parents visit being a spur of the moment decision after going far too long without seeing their only child.

they won't be staying for long, and misaki can't magically will away his training, but that won't stop him from soaking in every last second before they make their way back home.

his chest lightens, the mist that'd begun to build up quickly dissipating, and the world feels a little more right.

[yum-nyang]

(1chiyuma)

[lgcsaem]

☆ ⸝⸝ 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃 , a solo.

it's not often misaki gets to customize something like this, tailoring such small, seemingly insignificant objects to his specific tastes and aesthetics. he's never had the thought before— what did he want his microphone and in-ears to look like?

what did he like? what colors did he like? what possible designs could he envision with the intent of having it undoubtedly be linked to his idol career for the foreseeable future?

he simply has to lean into what he knows, as well as lean into what he knows fans know him for.

bright. energetic. louder than life ( enduringly so ). chaotic.

yellow. yeah, yellow is good, happy and brilliant and immediate. hard to miss, hard to look away from, hard to forget. but . . . not too harsh of a yellow. not like the sun, where you can only look for a fraction of a second before your eyes begin to hurt. not like a highlighter, often so overused that you can't even tell what's actually important anymore. no, that would be no good. it has to be a bit toned down, not in a way that dims, but in a way that makes you want to keep looking.

a bedazzled canary yellow. eye catching in a crowd, twinklingly vivid in the light, but warmly so. perfect for both his personal mic and in-ear . . . but what of a design.

misaki feels no need for anything on the mic itself, not when any design will most definitely be covered by the grasp of his own hand, but the small expanse of his in-ear leaves room for thought.

in the end, misakis mind circles back to felines, animals the youngest of mzsd often finds himself compared to, his snaggletooth tantamount to a proper fang. the concept is simple, as one might expect— the silhouette of a cutely curled up cat in a slightly darker shade of yellow, napping away without a care in the world, the subtle outline of a fang peaking from its maw.

perfect.

[lgchyuk]

title: i'm (not) a creep partner: @lgcsaem location: outside the mzsd dorms

no one was expecting hyuk to show up at that time of a random sunday and that would make everything even more interesting. the mzsd dorm has always been a place he wanted to visit anyway, and since he missed jasper a lot, why not show up and pay a visit?

he took with him some of his friend’s favorite lemon tarts because he knew they’d remind him of home, and asked his driver to drop him just around the block because it wasn’t his intention to draw any attention to himself when all he wanted was to make a surprise.

hyuk didn’t even think about the logistics of entering an idol’s dorm because that would be impossible. they’ll think you’re a creepy stalker, he thought to himself as he watched the building, waiting for one of the guys or a manager to show up.

when the gate opened, he just crossed the street as fast as he could, catching up the guy by his arm, recognizing his face as a former trainee - they even practiced before, hyuk was sure. “hi gorgeous!” he offered with a smile and a wink praying he wasn’t just another face in the crowd for him. “is you papa jasper home?”

[lgcsaem]

for as lively as a dorm as their was, it was only natural for misaki to find it strange whenever the space was empty— devoid of sound aside from the game he'd been playing for the last hour or so while camped in the living room, a bag of jelly candies half eaten where there bag is sat next to him on the couch, misakis frame practically swallowed up by the giant hoodie keeping him cozy on this rare day off. ordinarily, he'd be at the company, camped out either in his shared room with jasper or letting himself run free in the practice room that practically acted as a second home.

believe it or not, however, there were moments ( far and few between, but moments scattered here and there nonetheless ) where misaki liked being alone. given recent developments within the world of mzsd, a brief recentering moment had become needed for misaki, his mind and heart a bit off kilter. so, in spite of the odd feelings sitting deep in his stomach, he'd decided to take his mind off things and decompress a little.

he hadn't meant to leave the dorm for very long, only wanting to do a quick snack run before returning home, but the hand suddenly clasping at his arm changes things. he lets out a yelp in surprise, eyes wide, the hood he'd placed atop his head falling off and revealing a mop of hair in desperate need of a trim. he's got half a mind to straight up scream, but then his eyes land on the strangers face . . . and he's not a stranger at all!

"hyung!?" he's doesn't know the older boy too well, but he knows of him well enough— anyone jasper deems good enough earns a pass in misakis book, so misakis shocked expression is quickly replaced with a bright grin. "what are you doing here!? i'm the only one home right now, the others are out and i don't know when they'll be back!"

[lgcsaem]

☆ ⸝⸝ 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐄𝐄 , a solo.

the opening shot is one misaki is sure the public has become so used to seeing in regards to behind the scenes idol content— a busy practice room, the overhead lights sterely bright, a stark contrast to the warm laughter being caught from behind the camera. fans know exactly who's filming, the slight jerkiness of the cameras movements being the final dead giveaway if the laughter already wasn't, misakis bare face finally coming into view as the groups youngest turns its lens towards himself.

"boo!" he exclaims, a cheeky smile playing at his lips as his laughter continues, his free hand lifting to mess with his hair a little. "welcome to saem's exclusive sneak peak into tour prep! are you excited? are you, are you?! i am, so you better be!" unsurprisingly, his voice cuts through he background noise effortlessly, another members solo stage track muffled underneath his own spitfire commentary. "a real tour, just for us— can you believe it!"

bounding from one corner of the room to another, misaki plops himself down on a couch situated off to the side, getting comfortable as he continues.

"we've all been here for a few hours already to make sure the choreographies for our normal songs are on point, but in a bit, i think we're supposed to be starting . . ." pausing for dramatic effect, misaki sets the camera down on the empty cushion beside him, making sure his upper body is still kept well within frame, patting his lap so simulate a drumroll. ". . . solo stuff!" his excitement is palpable, infectious, and from off camera, a lone hand appears to ruffle misakis hair before retreating back to where it came from. misaki simply laughs, scrunching his nose. "i'm really happy with what i'm doing— it's super different from what the group has done all together, so i'm ready to give everyone a different side of myself . . . i think you're all really gonna like it!"

it's not long before misaki finds himself in a different practice room, a choreographer by his side as he goes through the initial processes of learning the moves sequence by sequence. his vlog camera is off to the side, capturing the whole thing, misakis naturally playful attitude coming through with full force as his body grows more confident the longer he goes.

by the time he's done, he's noticeably exhausted, chest heaving, fringe sticking to his forehead thanks to a light misting of sweat, but that does little to dim the fire in his gaze. "basics, done! i think tomorrow, i'll feel good about adding my own personal textures to everything, but i have all the general stuff memorized!" taking the camera into his hands once more, misaki dramatically plops himself down on the cool floor, a sigh of relief leaving him as he holds the camera pointing down at him from above his head.

"i know all the fans who come to see us are going to enjoy what we're preparing, but i hope you enjoy it even more than what i'm expecting . . . we can only do this because of you all, so it's basically our duty to make sure you have fun all the cool stuff we have planned!" furrowing his brows in a mock expression of seriousness, a playful pout pulling at his lips, misaki points at the camera with his free hand. "you all better stay tuned because this is only the beginning, you hear!"

[lgcjaehwa]

between the cats and the pastries, jaehwa was definitely more excited for the pastries. she’d only had a few light bites earlier but when it came to desserts, she always had room. like the saying goes, “women have a second stomach for sweets.” watching misaki take a bite of the chocolate biscotti made her suddenly aware of how empty her own stomach felt, like everything she had eaten before had vanished. at misaki’s prompt, she reached for the biscotti. a satisfying, asmr-worthy crunch echoed as she took her first bite, her free hand instinctively moving under her chin to catch the falling crumbs. she took a few moments to savour the sweet-bitter flavour melting in her mouth. “really not an ad, but this is crunchy and chocolatey!” she grinned.

next came the second pastry — a blueberry jam tart topped with cherries. when it comes to tarts, texture is everything for her. she’s always on the lookout for ones with a crumbly, buttery base, and the way the edges gave way with her first bite told her immediately: this might be a new favorite.

she was so absorbed in enjoying the treat that she nearly forgot she was filming. quickly, she held up the half-eaten tart to the camera, her other hand covering her mouth as she wiped the crumbs off her lips. “this tasted so good, i forgot to show what i’m eating.” she chuckled, then popped the rest into her mouth in one go, still shielding her face to avoid her unglamorous moment from becoming a meme. “you’ve got to try this if you’re into berries,” she urged the other.

[lgcsaem]

misaki doesn't have to be prompted twice when it comes to trying new sweets ( honestly, he doesn't even need to prompted once— without a doubt, if there's some sort of sweet treat to be had, misaki will have ). at the older insistence, the young man finds an arm extending towards one of the many prepared tarts with ease, the pastry being brought closer to his face so he can get a better look at all the yummy goodness he's about to experience. "you know something? i've never been a huge fan of blueberries before. they're cool and all, and i'll eat them if they're in something, but they've never been my first choice when it comes to fruit . . . maybe this will change things for me!"

mentally, misaki counts down— three, two, one! his teeth sink into the tarts crumbly crust, the sweet blueberry jam hitting his tongue with a burst of flavor he hadn't been expecting. now this is how you utilize blueberries! there are practically stars dancing in his eyes, bright lights tinkling within his dark pupils thanks to all the lighting equipment set up in front of him and jaehwa, and misaki can't help the loud hum of approval that pushes through his lips as he continues to chew.

"can i have one of these everyday made just for me to come get?" eyes wide and mouth still very much full of blueberry tart, misaki turns to look directly into one of the cameras filming them, breaking whatever semblance of a 4th wall this segment was meant to have. "i'm being so serious, i think i'll pass away if i can't have one of these every day until i'm old—" that's when he laughs, mind catching up to his actions, a cheerful grin playing at his lips. happily, he turns to jaehwa. "we're definitely gonna something to wash all these sweets down with! was there any sort of drink you were interested in trying first, noona?"

[yum-nyang]

(9neuk)

[lgcjaehwa]

jaehwa follows behind, making sure to thank misaki for holding the door along the way. stepping into the cafe, she immediately notices how beautifully decorated the space is. it's bright and spacious, an ideal environment for cats to run around freely. having performed at legacy cafe before helps her to know exactly what to expect. although she’s not exactly experienced in interior design, the concept and style feel familiar; after all, this trend is popular in cafes nowadays. while she can't be completely candid with the camera, she leans into her acting skills to work around it.

"it's really pretty, cozy and relaxing. a great spot for anyone looking to unwind if you ask me. and honestly, what better distraction than the cats? i'm sure all your worries will temporarily melt away at the sight of their cute faces," she replies with a warm smile, carefully choosing her words.

she sits down, briefly scanning the items in front of her before taking in her surroundings. if this were a regular café without the cats, she might have seriously considered becoming a regular. "shall we get started? i don't know about you, but just looking at these samples is making me hungry."

[lgcsaem]

misaki takes one final moment, eyes darting around the space as quickly as he can in order to take it all in, before taking the seat ready and waiting for him beside jaehwa. it's only then that his simmering hunger really hits him, stomach gurgling loudly as his mind registers the samples ready to be tried. he's got half a mind to be embarrassed, but then he remembers— he's never embarrassed. instead, he simply giggles, head ducking slightly as his shoulders shake. "i was almost starting to regret not eating a lot earlier today since i knew we were going to be eating here, but now i'm glad i didn't eat much— now i can enjoy what we're trying here even more!"

eyes widening as he looks at his options, misaki continues. "i want to start with a pastry first and then try a drink . . . oh!" lifting a hand, misaki reaches for his first treat of the day, a chocolate biscotti. frosted on one end with white is a little cat paw, a cute detail misaki can't help but zero in on. "it's been so long since i had one of these! this has got to be my first taste test!"

making sure the cameras have a good shot, misaki holds the pastry up to show it off ( he's sure they've already gotten their b-roll for editing purposes, but now they'll have him with it too ), his other hand lifting to hold his open palm behind it to better help with focus. "bone apple teeth!" finally, he takes a bite. immediately, his eyes scrunch closed, brows furrowing, head nodding. oh yeah, he needed this. "noona, you gotta try one of these!"

[lgcjaehwa]

jaehwa listens to the story intently, intrigued by the dedication misaki had toward the cat despite being rejected by it so many times. if he was trying to ease her nerves, he was doing a great job as she unknowingly relaxes her shoulders. maybe cats weren’t that scary after all. what if she had misunderstood them this whole time? “that’s pure dedication. i would've left the cat alone and never looked for it again, especially if it scratched me the first time,” she says with a nervous laugh. from her perspective, why bother if it’s clear the cat doesn’t want to be bothered?

“i think stray cats are more wary and cautious since they’re more likely to be bullied by other strays. that’s why it takes more time for them to warm up to people,” jaehwa adds thoughtfully, only to pause at her own words. she had just shown empathy for the stray cat community, so why hadn’t she given a second chance to the cat that scratched her? “just from this, i can tell you’re someone with patience, determination, and a lot of love to give,” she admits with a smile. “i can’t wait to see what everyone else picked.”

when a staff member signals for them to head inside, jaehwa feels the butterflies return to her stomach as the nervousness kicks in again. she takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, smiling at misaki’s encouraging words. she can do this. she’s not going to run away from cats, maybe she’ll even pet one. “thanks, i hope i do too. come on, let’s go!”

[lgcsaem]

jaehwas bravery, alongside finally being given the go ahead to enter the cafe space, reenergizes misaki in a way that makes him bouncy, a pep to his step as he excitedly pushes through the doors, reminding himself at the very last minute to hold the door open for jaehwa to step through as well ( there's no doubt the cameras were able to catch the moment the thought registered in his mind, but that'd simply make for a silly clip once all was said and done ). immediately, his eyes widen, taking in the space in its entirety. from where they'd been stood in the hall, only a small portion of the space could be seen— now, getting to take it all in for the first time, misaki knows today is going to be a blast.

"wow, they decorated this place so nicely!" there's an obviouce overtone of awe to his words, spinning in place as he looks from one end of the room to the other, taking in the cafe decore mixed with cat goods. "the company really went all out, but i didn't expect any less! what do you think, noona?"

there's a table set up for the two of them to get everything underway, but before officially sitting down, misaki lets himself wander for just a moment. "i don't think i'm gonna care about how good all the treats are gonna be anymore— i think i'll stop by here everyday just to hangout and vibe with the cats!" he throws a sly grin towards a camera, brows wiggling, clearly a playful jest. "the snacks are a just a bonus."

[lgcmjun]

minjun could understand desperation when he sees one - a lot of trainees used to act in such a dramatic way sometimes it made someone like him, who was always understanding, a little suspicious and bored. but misaki, no. he looked lost.

it kinda tugged minjun’s heart, making him forget everything he had planned to do (find the ring’s owner, drink some coffee and maybe get some ramen later before returning to practice). “hey, calm down ok?” he held the guy by his shoulders, offering him a reassuring smile as he paid more attention to what he was about to say. 

he started guiding them to the cafeteria, maybe offering misaki something to drink would help him to relax a little, but that didn’t look like a good idea, not when misaki didn’t move an inch. with a sigh, minjun then offered something else, a helping hand. “what happened? i have some free time, whatever happened, i can help you”

[lgcsaem]

stuck in his mind, an act all too common for someone as hyperactive as misaki, the solid, real weight of minjuns hands resting atop the shorter boys shoulders helps keep him grounded. if not for that action, there'd be no doubt that misakis body would be visibly buzzing to the moon and back. it was rare to see him like this, growing more upset as seconds ticked by— had he been alone, he'd probably be ransacking rooms already.

"i'm lost— wait, no, it's lost!" the words tumble from his lips, brows furrowing as he peers up at the other, eyes still wide. quickly, his right hand shoots up, fingers splayed out as he waves the appendage back and forth slightly. "i always have a ring on me that i got from my mom, but i don't have it anymore and i don't know where it is!"

god, his mom was gonna be sad if she found out. misaki couldn't let that happen.

rooted in place, misakis eyes dart around the room for a moment, blindly hoping that maybe he'll catch a glimmer light catching on the very accessory he's looking for. "you gotta help me find it— i'll spot you for lunch sometime this week wherever you want if you do!"

[lgcjaehwa]

jaehwa didn’t want to make it a big deal, nor did she want to inconvenience misaki. as his senior, she felt the need to handle the situation professionally and take it as a challenge by overcoming her fear rather than shy away from it. besides, this could be a good opportunity to brush up on her acting skills by pretending to be calm and unbothered on the outside, even if her nerves were screaming on the inside.

she hummed softly, giving her decision one more moment of thought before nodding. “it’s fine, i’ll try to take this as a challenge for myself,” she said with a reassuring smile, even though her heart was thumping wildly in her chest. “not all cats are the same. maybe the ones in the café are super friendly. or maybe… i did something wrong before that caused me to get scratched. either way, your help would be really appreciated if something happens.”

“it’s alright! show me which little cutie you’ve picked, I’d love to meet him.” as saem peeked through the closed doors, jaehwa followed closely behind, curious about the scene inside and the kind of cats the others had chosen. she nodded slowly in agreement with saem’s suggestion. if doing those calming activities could help her feel more at ease, why not give it a try? “i hope so,” she murmured. “i’ve made it my mission to conquer one of my fears today.”

[lgcsaem]

jaehwas reassurance seems to reenergize misaki, concern and furrowed brows quickly being replaced with another wide smile and bright gaze. scared or not, the older is brave. misaki admires that— pushing through something seemingly so small, yet still scary enough, only strengthens just how cool he finds his senior. still, misaki decides he'll keep an eye out just in case any of the cats decides to unleash a little too much energy. this is supposed to be fun for both of them. he'll gladly let himself get a little scratched up if it means jaehwa won't feel the need to run for cover.

"i've never had a cat before, but this one ice cream shop i used to bike to all the time back home used to have one that lived in its back alley for a few years— he was super spunky and didn't like anyone, not even me!" mikaki thinks back to those days with a happy grin, the outline of a old black cat forming in his mind. "it took months of bringing him treats often and letting him swat at my hands anytime i tried petting, but eventually we were cool. i guess some cats just take a little more finessing to play with than others, but don't worry, my members and i picked the best!"

peering through the doors one last time, it seems things are finally prepared and ready, a staff member coming through to let them know it's time. "you can do it, noona! i believe in you, and we'll have the footage for proof!" at this point, misaki can't tell what he's more excited for, the cats or the treats.

[lgcjaehwa]

jaehwa wasn’t nearly as excited as misaki when she found out they were assigned to the usgen café. it wasn’t that she disliked cats, she actually found them adorable. but after being badly scratched by one as a child, she’d carried a quiet fear ever since. now standing outside the café, her heart was pounding in her chest. she had even specifically requested long sleeves and jeans, just in case.

“cats are cute, but i’ve always been more of a dog person,” she admitted with a nervous smile, already feeling uneasy despite her past experience in a number of variety shows. “i got attacked by one when i was younger, so… there's a bit of lingering trauma.” she let out a soft chuckle, subtly wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans.

“you guys really adopt them?” her eyes lit up with surprise. “that’s actually amazing!” despite her fears, jaehwa had always supported adoption over buying from breeders. her first variety show had even revolved around shelter dogs. “you did? i can’t wait to see which cutie you ended up choosing,” she said, her smile softening. "hmm.. i was kind of hoping today would be all about eating, making something and then eating again!”

[lgcsaem]

misaki hasn't ever been the greatest at picking up rather obvious signs, jaehwas outward nervousness having gone right over his head until now, her words causing his brows to raise and eyes to widen. the idea of being scared of such a small animal had never truly crossed his mind before simply because, well . . . he hasn't ever felt fear towards them before ( he hardly fears anything, bleedingly trusting heart be damned, the emotion more of a foreign concept to him rather than a true possibility ). in that respect, misaki guess' he's lucky— jaehwa, however? it would seem not so much.

"really?" surprisingly, he does well to keep his voice relatively calm as he speaks, not wanting to startle the older more than she already seems. "you don't have to touch them if you don't want— if they get too close, i'll pick them up and put them in kitty jail!" kitty jail does not exist as far as misaki knows, but what he does know is his own level of self confidence. misaki thinks he could hold all the cats comfortably in his grasp, safely away from jaehwa, if need be.

for a moment, his brain stalls. "oh, wait— maybe you shouldn't meet . . . mine . . . he's a little spunky like me, that's why i like him, but i swear he's fun—" peering through the still closed entrance doors, misaki tries to see if he can catch an early glimpse of any of the cats lounging about. nothing yet. lifting a hand to scratch at the nape of his neck, misaki continues. "maybe eating and making things first will help you feel a little better before meeting any of them later on!"

[lgchyoseop]

marshmallows

as much as hyoseop loved to join variety shows, there was so much going on with this one. not knowing his team pretty much had him running solo, whatever challenge was thrown his way he would do his very best, and sometimes make sure the people he were doing the challenge with weren’t doing as well as him. but it was all fun, boys energy was different from hyoseop’s usual days, and not needing to practice while filming the show slightly made it feel like a break.

he’s with saem, and the two are a chaotic duo no matter whether there’s cameras filming them or not. with two big bags of marshmallows, they’ve found two other tourists which have been dragged into their chaotic missions. “so, whoever can fit the most marshmallows in their mouth wins” he turns to saem “how do you think you’ll do for this challenge?”.

<3 @lgcsaem

[lgcsaem]

misaki's felt over the moon, overjoyed and ready to rock, from the moment he and all the other boys had arrived for filming, so many chaotic twists and turns to this variety shows premise hitting him much harder than any other show he'd been on before. he loved not knowing everything that was happening, loved how up to chance it all felt, being unable to tell who he should trust with his success in challenges. getting other tourists involved in his shenanigans? oh yeah, this was gonna be good, especially with hyoseop by his side.

one of the marshmallow bags is already slightly squished, misakis grabby fingers having done a bit of damage as he'd wait for the tourists to ready themselves. his smile hasn't faded all day, knees slightly bent as if he were ready to jump around at any time. "i think forty at least, that seems easy!" a deluded, nonsencicle response, but what else was there to expect from the younger. "you gotta keep up hyung, we gotta beat those tourists if it's the last thing we do!"