oh.. oh.. imagine sayu accidentally calling you mom.. ue ue ue (sounds of crying)..
you spend so much time with her and take care of her so much that one day she accidentally calls u mom cause that’s basically what u are at this point and u just tear up and hug her aaaaaa aaaaaaaaa and its so sweet because she hasn’t even really had family?????? she’s just been alone ever since her sensei abandoned her??????? so ur like yes ofc i am your mother sayu this is just how it is now and u will never have to be alone or afraid again bc i am here to love u and give u hugs and take care of u and make u feel safe .ohg my godj………
I don't know anything about dance really, so please excuse me making stuff up.
Rating: Hesitantly slaps a teen+ on it in case of future developments.
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Summary: After Xiao's shift at Liyue Lattes, he heads to the Dance school to bractice with his group. He finds out, however, that they're holding auditions for a new member instead of practice. And guess who shows up?
1355 words.
Xiao tied his hair back, watching the door to the studio like a hawk. He had his suspicions about Aether, who he’d met at Liyue Lattes earlier that day, but he wanted to verify.
Luckily, the alcove he was standing in while he slowly prepared himself for his practice kept him hidden from the majority of the dancers. He didn’t like the attention of his position, but he did need the paycheck. Especially if he was going to go to university like he wanted to.
Unfortunately for him, the other members of his dance group knew exactly where to find him.
“There you are, Xiao,” Heizou practically purred. Of course it was Heizou. “We were wondering if you were going to join us today?”
“I would be foolish to skip.”
Heizou nodded. “Especially since the auditions are today.”
Xiao froze. “Auditions?”
Heizou clapped. “Venti owes me twenty now, I told him you didn’t know!” He cleared his throat. “The agency decided that the group should have one more member.”
Xiao stared at Heizou for a moment. “Why.”
Heizou shrugged. “They just did. Anyway, you’re needed in the studio ten minutes ago.”
Xiao followed Heizou hesitantly. “I was-”
“Irrelevant.”
“Brat.”
Xiao held in yet another grumble as the latest audition dragged on. He made a list of the flaws he saw, starting even before the kid started his dance.
One, too stiff. Shoulders are tense, jaw is set. Obviously overwhelmed and nervous. Two, didn’t stretch. That won’t help the stiffness either. Three. He didn’t seem to know what he was doing at all. By the time he’d stammered through the interview, he’d fumbled through his music selection, then, even though he’d finally settled some, he stumbled through a clumsy dance.
Venti and Kazuha were nicer to him, he could hear them. They thought he had potential. Xiao shook his head. This kid wouldn’t make it a month into their regimen.
When the kid finished, he was sent out, and the next was ushered in.
Xiao felt his breath catch again. It was Aether.
And Aether was protesting his being brought in. “I told you! I’m not here to audition for this! I was here for my first class!”
Xiao kept silent, but watched with intrigue. Venti cleared his throat.
“Well, since you’re here anyway, why don’t you try out anyway? It won’t hurt anything, and you might get something great out of it!”
Aether looked at his feet. “I don’t have a routine.”
“Improv is an important part of our group,” Kazuha replied. “Like Venti said, give it a shot.”
Aether still hesitated. “What exactly am I auditioning for?”
Xiao cleared his throat. “To be the fifth member of our dance group, 4nemo. Although I’m assuming the name will get changed should we actually get a fifth.”
Aether looked at Xiao, brows furrowed. Then recognition flitted through his eyes. “Oh. I see.” He rubbed his neck. “I’m self taught, is that okay?”
Venti clapped his hands. “GO!”
Aether jumped at the command, but immediately kicked into gear, selecting a song and assuming his position.
Xiao felt his heart skip multiple beats (not all at once) as Aether danced. He moved fluidly and lightly, and as the song continued, Xiao noticed how he kept several moves consistent with the lyrics.
When Aether was done, the room fell silent. Heizou was the first to speak. “Did you say you were self taught?”
Aether nodded, his braid still swinging. “I had some help from my sister and the internet, but no formal training,” he said as clarification.
Heizou stood up and paced around Aether. “Arms up, if you please.” As Aether cautiously complied, Heizou started muttering to himself. Finally he walked away, scribbled on his clipboard, and sat down.
“Can I put my arms down, now?”
Heizou waved his hand dismissively. “Yes. Hey Venti? Vocals check?”
“Sure, but you do remember we’re a dancing group first and foremost, right?”
Heizou grinned. “It never hurts to check.”
Venti sighed, and practically fell out of his chair. “Fiiiine.” He stood in front of Aether and crossed his arms. “Do you, perhaps, know how to sing?”
Aether’s eyebrows knit together. Xiao thought it was adorable. “What do you want me to do?”
Venti sighed dramatically. “Scales?”
“Oh, I can do that!” Aether took a deep breath before starting his scales, and maybe Xiao was biased, but Aether was actually really good.
When Aether finished, Venti clapped his hands. “Nice range! You’re slightly higher than someone else here, and you’d pair great with him!” He looked at the clock. “Anyway, time’s up, so we’ll contact you with more info w- ahem, if, you’re chosen.”
Aether nodded, and Xiao soon slipped back into boredom.
Later, the boys were gathered around in the green room while their manager, Jean, and the makeup artist, Sucrose, and the stagehand, Sayu, have a quiet discussion about the candidates. Photos were taken of each candidate on their way out, so Jean could match faces to names and work with visual ideas. Eventually, the ladies entered the room, and Jean laid three files on the table.
“Here are the three most suitable candidates. Please look through them, and select whoever seems most suitable to your group.” She sat back in a lounge chair, eyes tired and distant.
Venti opened the top one, and pulled a face. “Did Sayu pick this one? Albert is trying to get all nice and friendly with Barbara Pegg, I thought you knew that, Jean.”
The woman blanched. “Fuck. Okay, he’s out.” She took the file out of Venti’s hands and threw it in the garbage.
Sayu scuffed the floor. “Sorry, I didn’t know him.”
“You’re not in trouble, Sayu. I should have reviewed your choice.” Jean pinched the bridge of her nose. “Let’s hope the other two are fine.”
Kazuha opened the second folder. “Hmm. Guy. Seemed fairly ordinary, though he’s moderately good at dancing. Thoughts?”
Heizou tapped his arms. “Average in everything. I didn’t particularly think he’s suited to our group, but it’s not just my decision.”
He looked at Xiao, and he frowned. “He is not confident enough for the role.”
Venti nodded. “My thoughts as well. Who’s in the last one?”
Xiao reached for the folder, and flipped it open. Then he froze. “Ah-” he choked out. “Aether.”
Venti sat up straight. “HE MADE IT?!”
“Why’re you surprised, Venti? He’s good.” Heizou cast a lance at Xiao. “Also, don’t think I didn't notice you watching him like a hawk the whole time he was there, Xiao. Out of every candidate, he’s the only one who kept your attention the whole time.”
The words spilled out before he could stop them. “Because I saw him at the coffee shop first thing this morning.”
Venti once again fell out of his chair. “You WHAT?”
Xiao clamped his mouth shut and sunk deeper into his chair, pulling a pillow over his face. Venti ripped it off and pointed.
“Tea, now!”
“No.”
“Oh, was he who you were waiting for?” Heizou asked, his eyes narrowing.
Xiao tried to wrestle the pillow back from Venti. “He told me he dances and that he wanted to take classes, ok? I didn’t expect to see him at the auditions.”
“Much like you didn’t expect the auditions?” Venti teased, holding the pillow just out of reach.
“Sure.” Xiao stopped trying for the pillow. “Fine, you all have my vote. I want to go home.”
“Okay!” Venti said, throwing the pillow at Xiao then. “But you still need to be here for that.”
Xiao groaned, and flopped back into his chair.
The other boys talked about the two candidates, and they eventually all decided on Aether. Jean let them go, and Xiao tried to leave quickly, actually making it out of the building before the others caught him.
“What do you want?” He asked, no bite to his grouchy question.
Venti grinned. “I cannot wait for him to join us.”
“If he accepts our invitation,” Kazuha points out. Xiao silently thanked Kazuha for his common sense.
“Oh, I have a feeling he will,” Heizou said with a grin. “Just you wait.”
