today had been extremely event and activity filled, in all of the right ways. the group of trainees had enjoyed a day out at the beach, playing games and combing the sandy shores for shells. it was strange not having to worry about tomorrow’s schedule. rose was so used to rushing home and showering after a day of training. having to prep herself for the following day, to do it all over again. tonight though, was different. the group had come home and enjoyed a night socialising over a barbecue dinner. everyone took it in turns of grilling the meat, secrets and jokes were shared. rose hadn’t expected any of this when she stumbled off of the bus this morning.
the night is winding down. some trainees are still out on the pension’s balcony, enjoying the view and what’s left of the company. rose is one of those trainees. it’s as though she’s trying to hold on to the view and the stars, the fresh air and the ocean breeze that blows off of the water that isn’t too far away. she’s going to miss this. she wasn’t too sure when she would have an experience like this again; a weekend that is spent amongst good company, in a beautiful place. she knows she should probably be getting herself up and off to bed, though. it is getting late.
rose glances down at the watch on her wrist, pursing her lips. she looks across to soohyun, who is beside her. soohyun and rose were lucky to be rooming together, along with jisoo and yoojung. this trip made rose feel that little bit closer to the royal girls and as time goes on, she’s hopeful that one day, maybe, they’ll be able to debut together. “i don’t want this weekend to end,” rose murmurs under her breath, looking up at the stars for the umpteenth time. “it’s too nice to end.”
the more she watches in wait, auburn hues glued to the stage, honing in on the way each auditioner twists and ticks their limbs with purpose, vigor -- the more it causes her to wonder why she’s really here, what was her true intentions of auditioning when the prize of a contract from trc seems less than ideal.
was it soohyun’s influence? her saccharine tone perceived even through colorless texts? or maybe even daniel’s, with that boyish grin and endless praises -- maybe it was enough flattery for her to make her way to where the contest was being held.
or was this really for herself? a redemption of sorts, a way to prove to no one else but herself that she still has that je ne sais quoi that impressed recruiters from royal years ago, still has the skills that allowed them to offer her a contract. especially with the disappointment that follows rejection, one that she’s come to be familiar with within the past couple of years after failed interviews, failed auditions.
winning this contest wasn’t really her goal, she understood that it was possibly a long shot from the get-go ( could she do all three skills they were looking for? yes, of course. could she do all three skills well? now that’s a different question ), it was more about replenishing the confidence that was lost from past circumstances.
although, something pleasant, like a contract offering or even a scouting, would also be accepted as well. just, you know, a small thought that she would put out into the universe.
it’s a revelation nana has come to realize when it’s almost her turn to perform, eyes still upon whoever is up there at the current moment but too much within her head to actually pay attention to them. the past week or so since she’s decided to actually go forward with this has been filled with practice within her free time; whether it’s within the dance studio that she currently belongs to or even within her home ( and she needs to make a reminder to herself to send the neighbors below her a complimentary fruit basket for their troubles ), even going so far as to hiring a vocal coach for her singing -- because lord knows that wasn’t something that was going to get better on it’s own.
and she’s proud of the work, of her effort. but the realistic part of her knows that she can’t keep going for this dream, especially at the age of 23. especially when she’s already making strides on her own in the designer world, slowly but surely breaking her way into it. she couldn’t keep hoping for a chance -- so maybe it was a sign if nothing good came out of this. maybe it’s time to put away teenage dreams and focus on what was already going well for her as an adult.
maybe.
the woman is so caught up in her thoughts she almost doesn’t hear her name being called, that it’s her turn and it’s with a slight jump of her body that she shuffles her way on the main area of the stage. the curious eyes of the small crowd that’s gathered in front of her is nerve wracking, but the presence of tiger jk himself watching her every move is straight up intimidating.
now this, handling her nerves, was something she couldn't practice at home.
“hello! my name is im jinah, and i hope that you’ll enjoy my performance.” she bows the introduction, crimson lips pulling into a wide grin and as she moves back a couple of steps. and as if on cue, the instrumental starts, leaving her no time to sit and wonder -- she parts her lips and shows what she’s made of.
살짝 졸리네 난 앞으론
밖으로 나갈 일이 없어졌지
네가, 더 이상 나와 함께할 일이
없을 거라 말했어
it's okay, it's fine, i understand
it’s not a hard-hitting hip hop song, nothing dark with a fast rhythm and a hard flow -- it’s the exact opposite. light, almost dreamy, kind of sweet. something that fits her style, her tone, as well as who she was as a person -- there was no need for her to put on facade to show that she could fit into trc.
하지만 언제든 전화해
미안하다거나 죄책감이 들어
네 정신을 괴롭힐 때면
lean that, clean that, erase it, just erase it
and she enjoys the sing song nature of it, the rap-singing that showcases her honey sweet tone -- and before the crowd could get used to it and think that’s all she’s got, the rhythm picks up while her voice drops into something a little more deeper, more what one would expect out of a rapper.
and it’s the next verses that comes more naturally to her, where she’s able to relax a bit as she showcases her flow. it’s a bit rusty, a tad bit awkward since she can’t remember the last time that she’s actually rapped in front of people ( especially because the last time she called herself a rapper bring up bad memories ), but gives an attempt to not let it show. nana makes uses the expanse of the stage, walking around and trying to engage with the rather dry crowd in order to not showcase her awkwardness,
the chorus hits and she’s back to singing, praying to god that her voice doesn’t crack thanks to tiger jk only being feet away from her, swaying to the sort melody that comes from the speakers as well as her lips. there isn’t too much that she can do when it comes to this song with a slow tempo, but nana tries to make the best of it, tries to show that she’s having a good time. the first portion of her audition comes to a close with a last verse of rapping, sounding a lot more smooth with her words and ending it with a couple of nods of her head and a grin.
it was better to get the hardest part done first, after all.
she can feel her nerves leaving her as she slips off her jacket with ease, moving into position for her dance portion, the one that she felt a lot more confident in. ariana grande’s vocals fill the area as god is a woman starts to play, a small mix of the beginning to introduce the song before it jumps right her part, and allows the power that comes from her assurance flow through her and start the song.
unlike her rapping and singing, her dancing ability has never left her -- because nana hasn’t allowed it to. pole dancing kept her body limber, while dance workshops and signing up to be a regular in the dance studio has kept her at ( almost ) peak performance, popping and bending her body with such an ease that can only belong to a trained dancer. the routine is different than her usual, though -- one that has an almost contemporary flair mixed with hip hop instead of the precise movement that comes with waacking. there’s a lot more movement upon the floor and instead of worrying about all the germs and sweat that slabs have inhabited throughout the day, she focuses on her expressions; or on making sure that she’s not getting ahead of the beat.
and with a rotation of her body at the climax, she ends her audition with her face down. chest heaving from the exertion and adrenaline thrumming within her body. there’s nothing more left for her to do then to stand up and bow to the crowd and the judges, giving a light wink ( just because ) before she makes her way off the stage.
regardless of results, nana comes to realize that there’s still a performer within her. she’s still got it.
it was nice to go on an outing with soohyun outside of training and the royal building, even if it was to work on training stuff more. she was grateful that the other girl was willing to help her out with her vocals. she had been working hard on improving her singing abilities, wanting to feel more confident in her abilities there. it had been a tough choice between singing and rapping, but since yoojung was here and lisa had improved her rapping abilities, it seemed like a no-brainer to pick vocals.
now she was here, with soohyun, ready to die from nerves. she had long since overcome a lot of her nervousness with performing over her time in royal, but being monitored and critiqued by a fellow trainee? yeah, nerve-wrecking. still, she makes herself do it, taking up the microphone and getting ready to sing the recent release by luxe. she actually really liked the song. she knew they were getting some mixed reviews on the mv, but shiah had liked it all, already knowing the song off by heart. she just hoped soohyun didn’t laugh at her.
how about some fun: can you rank trainee's social media posts from the jeju concert? or give general opinions o the photo, visuals, etc ( don't have to do all b/c there was a lot but maybe some that stood out to you?)
AAAAAALLL RIGHT ~ you all know i’m royal biased right? ( ...maybe kt also.......................................................... DO NOT COME FOR ME I’M A GODDAMN CHEF )
I wish soohyun posted a cuter picture... I wanna see my wifey’s face!! she posts more on instagram... she usually takes cute pictures. this one was more artistic than anything!! like a fancy cake that is very beautiful, but when you take a bite... there’s more to be desired ):
Yena had a super adorable picture of xayah playing with her on the plane. suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper adorable!!! our goddess of love... TT sweet and classic like a red bean bun.... TT
CHERI!!! fresh as fruit, her post was artsy, the caption was good too. just so everyone knows-- that she’s referring to me in the caption alright. hi girlfriend~ ! ( don’t tell soohyun )
anna from eclipse had such classy airport fashion...? she’s usually is youthful and bright i wasn’t expecting it. plus she gave us a super cute selfie!!!
this....girl is gorgeous...? park sooyoung, from what i see on sns everyone calls her joy! her picture made me want to run to jeju THAT SAME MINUTE. where have these girls been?
there are so many beautiful girls, everyone looked gorgeous but these were some of my favorites. now if you ask me... the girls in trc are much prettier than i expected, i still prefer my royal flowers though. let’s see what other girls
[ text: moon mama 🌙] are you okay? [ text: moon mama 🌙] i know you're busy but let's talk soon okay?
﹡* ❪ SMS ☎︎ ┊ 🌙애기 ❫ ⨯
… 💌 ᵎ i’m ....… 💌 ᵎ are you busy now? … 💌 ˟ ik it’s sudden but i just really need to talk to someone who ... knows – ❪ DELETED ❫ ᵎ… 💌 ᵎ it’s okay if you’re busy… 💌 ᵎ i just miss talking to you
@rksoohyun
tw ! mentions of hospitals and medication
she does not remember much of what has happened prior to where she sits now; posture a little stiff, feet hanging off of the side of the bed, and with the intravenous therapy pumping her back to life. growing up, her mother used to boast that jisoo has always been a healthy young girl, never really needing any unnecessary trips to the hospital unless for the necessary check ups. in fact for the past couple of years, she had make it a point to eat properly and keep to a well rested schedule because this is certainly the kind of thing she hopes to avoid. to her, visiting emergency rooms is never meant to do any good.
for as much as it’s a selfish thought, she’s relieved she would not be falling into this entire experience alone. she glances at the younger girl on the other bed with somber eyes, feeling more exhausted than she has ever been a year into this life as a trainee. jisoo does not know much about soohyun, except for the fact that she’s been with royal for quite sometime now and that she’s one of their exceptional singers. leagues beyond of her in terms of idol training experience, it is safe to say she harbors plenty of respect for the other.
with her feelings a jumbled mess and her anxieties nagging away at her thoughts incessantly, she tries to distract herself as the fluids are steadily working its way up her system. “do you come here often?” she attempts at lightness, hating how her voice sounds somewhat gravelly but she makes up for it with a small smile. “soohyun, right? i heard you’re the best trainee at royal.” she may have been teasing a little, yet her statements are always laced with the honest truth.
jiwonahhh › RED VELVET DUMB DUMB FT ・ 수현 ◞ UPLOADED !
soohyun#1!!!!!jjang!!! [ +424, -41 ] how do you know royal survival’s soohyun
MITZA [ +192, -120 ] uwah your rap is nice, it’s new to hear !!
산타 [ +396, -100 ] i prefer the original
CLICK PLAY !
when she had first approached soohyun for a collaboration she hadn’t really held her breath on the older girl agreeing to her suggestion. after all, soohyun was a public trainee, a bonafide star from royal survival and several leagues above her on all things busy and unreachable that when soohyun had returned her text with hearts and an ecstatic yes, jiwon had been entirely floored. unsure if whether god was playing a trick on her or life had suddenly decided that it was time to give make lemonade out of her rancid lemons.
it had been a long shot but when she brought up the idea of remixing the iconic dumb dumb song, jiwon had her doubts – especially when she hadn’t the slightest idea of changing or composing music. sure, she had written her own raps before but they were far from perfect, more amateur than anything that suddenly the idea of collaborating with soohyun seemed like a lost cause.
she definitely didn’t want to embarrass the other and having her sign her name to something like a cover that would be seen by a few thousands, jiwon didn’t want to subject the other to that embarrassing fate. it’s what prompts her to go over the lyrics, delving deep into chords and synths and rhythms that had been unknown to her weeks ago. and if her friend kwangsoo hadn’t been there, she didn’t know how any of this would have turned out.
it was also why he deserved a special mention in her otherwise usually barren description box when she uploaded the video.
her covers are usually less intimate, more scattered – less in her home, more in someone else’s. this one comes no less different than those past covers, where they’re in studios and rented rooms. jiwon does her best to lessen the time spent in her home and much more welcomes places that are more cozy and less empty.
they start once they’re situated in the room, sitting side by side; papers with the lyrics on the table in front of them out of the view of the camera. jiwon has her words memorized, she’s sure soohyun is the same way – always the professional individual, a girl to be admired, a girl much unlike jiwon.
she presses play on her phone, the remixed version of the song entering the room and filling the silence with a softer, much more mellow beat; a stark difference to the eccentricity that red velvet was known for.
this one was much more her style. kwangsoo’s voice begins and jiwon had promised to edit the video so that his voice came out much more clearer than it did from her phone’s weak speaker. the mellow notes go from his soft tenor to soohyun’s perfect timbre. it’s a minimum, a setting up of the atmosphere and jiwon’s hands tremble. she’s not used to putting herself out there, showing off skills she worked tirelessly for.
rapping came easy when she was goofing around with changmin back at the shop but here, she didn’t want to disappoint and waste soohyun’s time anymore than she already did that when it came time for her verse to begin, jiwon takes it with the utmost sincerity and seriousness.
i’m just a dumb girl.
her tongue swipes at her bottom lip, with a small jive of her head; she rides the flow. eyes direct themselves to the camera as she begins. “she just plays it cool but he’s rather different; you’re trapped in chaos.” she’s by no means perfect, she trips over the rhythm, “you were cheated by eyes, behavior, and speaking style. you’re not a kid, freeze tag is not funny.”
not quite catching the beat but she makes it through most of it without losing breath; “– yeah, hold up, baby. this was once but with time, when you feel nothing and flustered: sometimes i encounter you.” instead banking on the way her eyes catch the camera and how her hands move against the melody of the song. “you turn him on but nothing’s gonna change– so i need you to say goodbye, uh.” her words, voice deeper than her normal speaking tone, run their course and the song continues.
