unplugged

kim aeri 27 y.o. ex-deviant member liberty records soloist

[rvaeri]

rvohkyung​:

Truthfully, the past couple of years Ohkyung was having a tough time reconciling his work with Liberty. He saw so many talented individuals slipping through the cracks and having to sacrifice so much of their time for very little returns, and there was not a whole lot he could realistically do. “When you’re ready to leave, leave. Liberty’s not making any effort to keep you here, so they don’t deserve to have you, frankly,” he said.

she rubbed her face, letting out a huge exhale. people like ohkyung were one of the reasons why she’d stayed as long as she had. as much as she was overlooked and badly managed and kept from showing her full potential, there were always kind people she loved working with. “you’re right. i probably needed to hear that,” she admitted softly. “i’d forgotten until idol project just how much i love to dance....”

[rvaeri]

“it was so lovely to perform with you again,” aeri said, holding back tears as she reached forward for her friend’s hand. “not just performing with you....seeing you with your new group too. you were born to perform, and you’re such a good leader for them. i hope you know how proud i am.” @rvbiyi​

[rvaeri]

“please, aesol. just stop,” aeri said firmly, on the brink of tears. she probably hadn’t been ready to attend this family dinner, what with all her mixed emotions as of late. but aesols enthusiasm was just driving her more and more off the deep end. “i can’t take this anymore. please stop talking.” @rvsoleil​

[rvaeri]

“i need advice,” aeri said somberly. there were dark, bruiselike circles under her eyes-- she hadn’t had much sleep since idol project at all, first having an absolute breakdown around that, but then her entire future being a topic to tear apart. finally she broke, needing to reach out to those she deemed close for a second opinion. a real one. “at what point....do i cut my losses and go? at what point do i stop giving liberty a million chances, and go to make my own?” @rvxjei​ @rvseulki​ @rvjaehee​ @rvohkyung​

[rvaeri]

eunjirv​:

“i’ll allow it, for now. but some of them are on thin ice,” she retorted with a little smile.

“oh? who?” aeri asked nosily. “i mean.... you left before i joined. i didn’t know you had beef with anyone...”

[rvaeri]

eunjirv​:

“well,  you should. i’m hardly ever wrong,” eunji said with a little flip of her hair, chin raising proudly. “someday you’ll get yours. and liberty will probably burn to the ground.”

she smiled. “can all the other artists get out first? because then i’m onboard.”

[rvaeri]

rvshoresy​:

“god, i hope so. it’s been a long time coming. i’m really happy to finally feel… free. even a little bit,” he answered soberly. 

“well, that’s a good sign. i know it’s hard going somewhere new, especially when you’re old enough to know you don’t want it, but....i’m happy you’ve found your own solace here.”

[rvaeri]

“It definitely is! And while there’s not really anything wrong with looking silly,  when it’s not really your intention to look silly… it’d suck to hear people say it.“

“i mean, i’m a former deviant member. if i had an issue with looking silly, i think it’d have come up by now,” she pointed out with a laugh. “but yeah i’m just....scared to try that. i don’t think i have quite enough finesse as a dancer.”

[rvaeri]

rvjaemi​:

“nothing’s hopeless, aeri. it feels sucky right now, but you’re talented. you got a fanbase. it’s only a matter of time and hard work.”

“well... in time, that fanbase may falter. isn’t that every idol’s fear? that you’ll leave and there will be no fans left to come back to?”

[rvsumitra]

her heart fell– she knew that look. this person didn’t know her, but they saw all the headlines. they’d never seen her as an idol, but they saw dispatch labelling her a traitor. all the thai fans calling her a deserter for leaving her group behind for byulbit. “hey, wait, can i explain?” she asked softly. “it’s really not what you think.” 

[rvaeri]

“if you want to...” aeri said awkwardly. she didn’t mean to make faces-- she didn’t know the girl. but she also knew how sad she was when her group fell apart, and that idea that this girl catalyzed her own group’s demise? it was hard to wrap her head around. “i.. you don’t have to, though. no harm no foul...”

[rvaeri]

eunjirv​:

“not with that attitude. have more confidence,” eunji answered with a tsk. “you’re plenty good. you just haven’t had the opportunity to show it properly yet.”

“well, that’s kind of you to say...” aeri murmured, tucking hair behind her ear. “i’ll take your word for it...”

[rvaeri]

rviori​:

“maybe if you were normal and boring. but you have a pretty cool story to tell, i think.”

“there’s been much cooler, i think. i just don’t want to be one of those celebrities who think their story is so interesting, when it’s really just a dime a dozen.”

[rvaeri]

rvshoresy​:

“thanks. honestly, it feels really nice to like…finally feel like i’m moving forward instead of being in a lifelong rut,” he admitted. how much of that did he have narae to thank for that? he wasn’t sure. but she accounted for a lot of it, that’s for sure.

“i promise-- once you find that clarity and get to the top of the mountain, it feels so much better on the way back down. that hard part is over,” she assured him

[rvaeri]

rvjaemi​:

“use this time to make connections then,” jaemi insisted encouragingly. “start working on stuff– songs, choreo. and then when you leave, use those connections to find a better label, and you’ll have material to get out of the gates hot.”

“that’s...really solid advice,” aeri admitted. “thank you. it gives me something to work towards instead of just feeling hopeless.”

[rvaeri]

eunjirv​:

“i guess both of us needed a rough lesson to truly learn our worth,” eunji said somberly. “it’s fine. we both know better and will do better when we have the opportunity. we’re too talented to be ignored.”

“well... i don’t think i’m in your league. but i do hope you’re right..”

[rvaeri]

rvjoohye​:

“I’m sure there’s  some choreo you could ad to it! it could be like.. choreo that follows the lyrics/melody or choreo that suits the beat? Don’t mix them though; when you mix melody choreo w/ beat choreo it can get messy very easily!– well, i’m sure you know that but… Trying and coming up with something might help a lot!”

“well, i mean... it would probably help my mental state, at the very least. it’s definitely not the same but......it might be all i have for a while.”

[rvaeri]

rvjaemi​:

“maybe it’s time to reevaluate your options, then? how long was the contract you signed for?” jaemi asked, nudging her slightly (verbally. he wasnt touching her, just telling her to do something)

“three years, with a three year extension after the first two years,” she answered with a tiny sigh. “so i have about two years to go.”