After the Valentines Day loss, Yuta had bought Youngjae those chocolates he promised him; the expensive kind that came in a heart-shaped box and with a cheesily written note. He was a man of his word, and he promise the younger that he would get him some if he lost. But after hearing about ChocoCon, he had to go out of his way to poke fun at his old friend more. The large chocolate decorated signs growing more apparent as they got closer to the convention center. Being exasperatingly over-the-top was an extremely Nakamoto Yuta thing to do, and as he shoved his hands in his pockets, he grinned back over at Youngjae. He’d be anticipating when training would end, letting him meet up with the other and head for his ‘secret gift’ for the other.
“Look, kid. I told you that I would get you chocolate if you lost, you can have as much as you want -- make yourself self,” he teases the other, his steps light and energy on a renewed high. It was fun being back around someone he knew from Japan, there was a tang of home and he needed that more lately. Unable to drop his plans on a whim and fly to Japan for his favourite food when he wanted. “Just, don’t throw up on me, yeah?” Yuta cocks his head as they come to the front door, the doors opening up and the cold air inside prickling up his nape. Only pausing once more as he looked over at Youngjae, wondering where the younger wanted to start.
Everything has been pretty intense lately from training hard day in and out especially with this ridiculous acapella evaluation like seriously why? It was beyond frustration at least she gets to work other trainees which is a bonus. A part of wanted more acting or modeling types of evaluations which she enjoys the most but she would highly doubt that would happen anytime soon. She was thankful when she heard about chocolate convention coming into town, it turns our big brother got the contract for the security gig for the event. There will be a chance of spotting Sangmin oppa and other family members too. Highly unlikely it would happen as the center was quite huge too besides it would be awkward bumping into a family when hanging out with her friend, Seungcheol. The poor boy needs to relax not get more stressed out.
It was finally lunch time, she felt little aching from practice but she didn’t mind as she was excited about spending time with Cheol at the event. They both need to breathe, relax and eat chocolate. What was the best way to do that at the first chocolate convention in Seoul? Minhee headed down to the lobby in sphere building to wait for him so head straight there so they would get few good solid hours of fun before going back to training. She grabs her phone out of her bag to text him to see where he was before putting on a black face mask to hide her face and pull her coat around herself to prepare for the cold weather outside the door.
It had been some time now since his brother had been discharged again, but with Daehwi having to prepare to start in high school there was little time to celebrate just the two of them. Of course it was mainly their destination that had made him absolutely ecstatic and barely able to remain inside his own body, but it was also nice to get to hang out with Dowoon every so often. Sometimes his older brother could actually be kind of cool.
The shift in temperature when he stepped indoors was paid no heed, and instead Daehwi’s mouth went wide agape as he let out a screech and started jumping on the spot, back and forth, grabbing Dowoon’s hand and bouncing with it clutched in his palms. “CHOCOLATE!!!” he continued screeching, not even noticing the glances they were getting. “Oh my god hyung there’s SO MUCH! Have you seen all this? I can’t believe we’re really here! Do you think they have a chocolate fountain?!”
You receive a call in the middle of the afternoon from a number you don’t recognize. Later, after the caller begins speaking, you recall her voice as the same woman who congratulated you for winning the Market O competition. “Good afternoon, Moon Bin. This is Go Hyunhee, a Market O representative.” She goes on to say how delightful it was to work with you and how well the commercial is doing before jumping into the main topic of conversation:
“If you didn’t hear about it yet, there will be a chocolate convention here in Seoul and we’d like for you perform your winning song onstage.” She continues to explain what an honor it will be and how you will be properly paid for your services. The deal is to perform once per day for the duration of the convention, to bring attention to the delicious chocolate Market O and their sponsored chef will be presenting during the event. However, instead of singing the small portion that was chosen for the commercial, Moon Bin will need to provide a full performance from start to finish. If he does not wish to do the rap part, it is allowed to remove it from the performance. “If you’d like to do it,” she tells him confidently, “you know where to find me.”
Location: ChocoCon, COEX Convention Centre
Date: March 24th-252th, 18:00
What: Couple cover by Moon Bin (the winning submission of the Market O challenge sung live)
Moon Bin exhaled slowly and somewhat shakily as he tried to collect himself behind the small stage that had been set up at the chocolate convention. He’d been surprised when Market O had contacted him yet again only this time they were offering to have him perform on stage at what was going to be a huge event. Without thinking it through too much he’d accepted it. They wanted him to sing live to a crowd of actual real life living and breathing people who would give him an immediate reaction. He wouldn’t just be some voice over anymore, polished and tweaked to perfection, no, they’d hear him with all his flaws and imperfections.
Like, holy shit.
It had taken a day or two for it to really sink into his brain and when it finally whacked him in the face that he was going to be on stage for (potentially) hundreds of strangers… mild panic set in. What the fuck was he going to do? Was he just going to go the safe route and perform the song as it was or should he arrange it a bit differently, add a new spin to it? Bin spent countless of hours just staring at the wall of his flat thinking of what to do. He wasn’t nearly creative or musical enough to make up some new savvy version of the classic—what if he butchered it—and he wasn’t about to reach out for any help either: the less people who knew about this thing the better.
Less chance of him possibly stuffing up in front of people who knew him.
But it wasn’t just how to sing the song that plagued him, no, he had to think of what to wear and what to do about the stage and if he wanted to involve others in it such as some backing vocals or a live band. There was so much pressure to do it right he felt like the air he breathed had turned viscous. He was drowning. Bin persevered and broke the tasks into small steps, baby steps, and found that he could breathe again, the tightness around his chest lessening as more and more things fell into place.
Today was D-Day.
He was dressed warmly and simply in a white turtleneck sweater, black jeans and boots, and with a long white wollen coat that accentuated his shoulders. Bin had chosen to have a very simple stage given that he couldn’t dance to save his life. Perhaps if he felt confident at the very end he’d do the iconic dance. He’d arranged it so that he had three backing vocalists on stage with a tall bar stool in the centre where he’d sit with a spotlight on him. Just a hand microphone and him, no funny business.
The week leading up to his performance Bin swore he’d bought up half the stock of throat tablets and cold prevention meds from his local pharmacy. He wanted to do everything in his power to make sure his voice was in tip top shape before the stage. The very thought of him going on stage to sing and nothing but an ugly croak coming out sent him into a cold sweat. An actual nightmare waiting to happen.
Suddenly he found himself on stage completely unaware of how he got there. He supposed the announcer had called his name but he couldn’t for the life of him recall that moment. With a bright smile he bowed slightly towards the audience before taking a seat on his chair. His hands were trembling ever so slightly which he hoped no one could see. Bin looked out across the sea of heads to the sound booth and nodded, ready to begin what was about to be the biggest moment in his musical life.
The backing vocals started off laying the scene before Bin began to sing the first verse. Thankfully his voice was smooth like a calm lake, no tremors detected and definitely no croaking. All those herbal teas that tasted like ass had definitely paid off. He kept his posture relaxed, feeling more and more comfortable on the stage smiling all the while at the audience, swaying in his seat to the beat.
He’d decided to keep the rap part in the song and had practiced it countless times in order to get the beats, the words, the words and the beats, completely correct. Bin’s forefinger tapped to the beat on the mic as he stood up and walked closer to the edge of the stage, moving about the stage as he rapped the verse, excited to see that the crowd was moving along with him, some even taking pictures with their mobiles.
He felt a little bit like an idol, honestly.
The last verse and chorus were coming up so he moved back to his chair for the remainder of the song, his voice strong and filled with what he hoped was emotion. He finished it smoothly, standing to do a small spin to the very last notes of the song and send a finger heart out to the crowd with a very pleased smile. It was over, he’d gotten through his first live performance without passing out or cracking a note.
Bin bowed deeply hoping to show his gratitude for having such a lovely audience. “Thank you and enjoy the rest of your time at ChocoCon! I’m Moon Bin and I’ll be singing again tomorrow. Please stop by again!”
standing next to seolhyun and not being able to reach for her hand is probably one of the worst feelings baekhyun’s ever felt -- especially with them hardly seeing each other anymore due to her busy schedule, with them hardly able to find time to be together. he finds himself more than often already moving to do so to avoid losing her in the crowd of people, fingers twitching to touch hers.
but even just fleeting touches would be a risky thing to do despite some of their friends coming along to cover their meetup. they’re in public after all, people might even recognizing them due to their appearances on television ( although, it’s more likely that seolhyun’s the one being spotted by others, by her fans. she’s always been the one drawing the eyes of others ). so, baekhyun has to be satisfied with simply being by her side, with letting his gaze rest on her as much as possible.
and, to be honest, this is a lot better than being able to do nothing more than catch short glimpses of her around the company.
“i can’t believe you seriously came here with me,” baekhyun says with a small smile on his lips, “you hate chocolate.” but he gets it; spending time together like this is worth more than anything else. even if it’s just for a very short time. “i feel bad for taking up, like, the only break you have all day.”
she rarely gets to sehun, it feels like once in a blue moon that she does. as much as she wants to complain, she truly ( really ) couldn’t. having to understand that they’re just not any normal people, having to live the life of a trainee and to be an idol in the future. this path isn’t the common one for an average human being to take but she acknowledges that life has its ways for both of them.
she doesn’t know when she’s going to debut but she doesn’t expect too much about it. she could train for a couple more years and she wouldn’t mind at all or even leave sphere if she has to ( not that she’s thought about it recently ). but being young, only nineteen, she didn’t know what to do with her life entirely beside schooling and being a trainee.
this is probably one of the few days out of this month of march she has the time to see sehun, when they’re both free but only get to see each other for a short amount of time. “do you like chocolates, babe?” she looks at him lovingly, with a bright smile on her face.
(/no one would ever be able to tell from looking at him, but chanyeol is severely disappointed at this convention. a chococon without a single chocobo? really? what a sad waste of pun and reference! still, he admittedly can’t be mad at all the chocolate packed into one building, and he just knows that if his coach at trc knew how many free samples he’s had already, he’d flip. it’s all in a day’s work) wah~ check this one out! these look like little pororo mini-figures! (/he addresses his two companions with awe in his voice, fully expecting them to follow him toward that one particular booth) they even look hand made and not made with molds. (/he picks one “figure” up and holds it next to his face in a manner of display for the craftsmanship. he can only imagine how much patience and time has gone into one of these. it almost seemed a shame to just eat one in mere seconds. almost. the little “figure” is gone in an instant, a mere memory as he tosses it up into the air and into his mouth. it’s creamy and rich and just slightly bitter. along with his two thumbs up, he voices the verdict) delicious!
sehun scans the area, looking for his noona. he had excused himself for a bathroom break and may or may not have been distracted by a box of eclaires he probably shouldn’t be eating now. but he’s a weak man in the face of sweets, and chocolate is like the king of all sweets. he just doesn’t have enough strength to turn his back to any of it. he lets a piece melt into his mouth, savoring the sweetness as he weaves through the crowd. he inevitably bumps into someone along the way, both of them muttering an apology before he straigghtens up again, immediately spotting someone very familiar.
sehun grins. he should’ve known a few of their friends would check the event out, too.
it wasn’t hard to sneak up onto someone in a place like this. but he doesn’t really want to scare the older that much so he settles with a gentle poke on her cheek as he stood right behind her, away from view. “yehet~”
