hello loves !! itâs mili here with my son, haewon theodore park, stage name teddy, main vocal extraordinaire of quantum đđ for anyone whoâs interested you can find his profile and plots page linked and of course thereâs everything you need to know about teddy under the read more. please do give this post a ⥠if youâd like to plot and iâll slide into your ims to do just that but until then !! have an amazing day !! and stan loona obv !!
run down of his bio (donât read his actual bio trust me):
sydney born and raised, lived there for the majority of the school year with his mother and traveled to marseille, france to spend summers and long holidays with his father
fluent in both french and english
his mother is a theater actress so heâs spent his childhood following her around and watching her perform. sheâs quite a strict person, wanted to raise haewon as a high achiever so she micromanaged his schedule for years until haewon got fed up with it and moved with his grandfather back in korea
got super interested in music after hearing a classmate practicing alone in the music room, he basically fell in love at the first sound lol. after that he joined the music club and, after spending a lot of time with that classmate, subsequently fell in love for Real for real. found out soon after that she had some health problems that made any future between them impossible so he just opted to never tell her about his feelings in the end
she convinced haewon to participate in dimensionsâ audition together and lo and behold they both got in, though he was the only one who became a trainee and only because she managed to convince him
hateeed being a trainee 10/10 worst experience of his life but also not really, heâs just a bit dramatic sometimes. it actually helped him hone many of the skills heâd already acquired while under his motherâs reign of terror
he was pretty quiet while quantum debuted and in that subsequent period because his korean wasnât necessarily fluent and he didnât want to bring too much attention to it in the first place so the public thought he was the shy type but in actuality he is very social and likes to make new friends on the regular!
some facts:
knows how to sew (say thank you mama park who more or less forced him to stitch back her dresses before she went on stage)
fully thought quantumâs first win was an april fools joke before several members and the mc told him they ACTUALLY won like fr fr won and then he started crying
has an obsession with kdramas at this point but he mainly watches the slice of life ones and he regularly gives fans recommendations
because his stage name is teddy he gets a lot of teddy bears from fans and he lowkey loves that, he keeps them all on his bed or around his apartment when he runs out of room and regularly wears keychains and whatever teddy bear memorabilia he gets
is a big girl group fan and even if his dancing is just Okayâąïž he will religiously learn girl group dances as they get released, sometimes practicing them more than quantumâs own songs rip
used to write songs when he was in hs and tbh most of them were love songs but he hasnât written/composed anything in a while because he canât bring himself to touch any instrument to work notes out and stuff, so he just walks around with a head full of ideas that he doesnât do anything withÂ
is a lightweight but he likes to drink way too much which in all honesty is a scandal waiting to happen
a voracious romance reader, has an old kindle with a bear case on it that contains at least 50 books, maybe more, that he carries around with him at every schedule
some plot ideas:
friends are always super wanted ofc but a super specific type iâd like haewon to have is a flirty kind of friendship, someone that he canât help but flirt with whenever they have a coversation or see each other during schedules/hangouts. doesnât have to be romantic in nature at all and all genders are super welcome!Â
i would also love some kind of rivals plot but one sided? as in haewon sees this person as his rival in the vocal department and is doing his best to keep ahead of them by taking on more vocal intense projects and the other person being like âoh heâs such a hard worker! such a cool guy! keep it up!â like very clueless about haewonâs inner turmoil lol
also listen i would love a shipâŠtbh heâs been keeping away from love for a while now but heâs also a romantic at heart so iâd like to give him something to be happy about. we can work details and take it slow to see if they vibe but iâd just love him to be a little bit smitten with someone again đ
teddyâs statement sparks a curiosity in jaeinâs mind. when it comes to this show, who has the upper hand? was it mnet or was it the three companies forcing their artists onto the show? she slips into her own thoughts for a moment, wondering if any of their companies actually had that much power. truthfully, they could probably do without mnet if they wanted to, but it also seems like a pretty big lost. failing to come to a conclusion, she simply laughs at his words and gives him an agreeing nod.Â
âwe went to both melbourne and sydney, but sydney was our last stop. i canât tell you much about the place though because all i got to see of it was the hotel and concert venue.â she hasnât kept up with quantumâs career so sheâs unsure if teddyâs visited before or not, but she really has nothing much to offer up. all she can remember about the country was that it was pretty hot and that the hotel room was nice. âdoing anything touristy during a world tour sounds nice, but weâre always immediately packing our bags and moving to the next place. leaves no time for leisure.â not that jaein would be up for sight seeing or whatever. when she retires, maybe sheâll go back.
she nods while listening to him describe his stage. it seems like everybodyâs experience was pretty similar. âiâve had the unfortunate luck of not being able to rehearse in one venue more than once so iâm not sure how itâll turn out,â she admits with a shrug. âitâs not completely girl crush though. a little spooky actually.â she still believes that the concept doesnât match up with the song, but theyâve come too far to really change anything.Â
maybe teddyâs spend too much time cooped up in the studio lately because he swears that his mouth wasnât this loose before, but itâs too late to think about it now when the words are out and about, probably ending up as mere scribbles in someoneâs notebook, their destiny a mystery even for him. so he doesnât lament on it and instead focuses on jaein and the news she brings about home. maybe heâs too dramatic to think about it as news, because god knows tours are taxing and he honestly doubts sheâs had any chance to actually experience the city as it was intended to, but sydney is a part of him and if he pays a bit too much attention to what sheâs saying, no one can fault him for that.Â
âoh thatâs a bummer.â he physically deflates at that, shoulders lowering in time with his increasingly slouched posture. âmaybe youâll get a chance to go back someday, itâs a really beautiful city. i used to kind of hate it when i was young though.â a few memories come to his mind then, his mother a permanent fixture in most of them, scolding him or watching him like a hawk but never actually giving him the freedom he so wished for. even now, teddy likes to blame her for his leaving home though heâs since come to his senses and realized that, as much as she was unbearable in the worst ways, he too played a part in it. thereâs no point to dwell on it at present. âitâs kind of weird that i miss it now, isnât it? but i guess everyone misses home at one point in their life.âÂ
the urge to comment on the lack of benefits this show brings to every group that has to participate in it is almost unbearably strong, but teddy doubts itâs anything he hasnât complained about already and he doesnât want to give whoever may be in charge of editing the footage any more ammunition than heâd already did so he keeps quiet. âyour stages are amazing though, iâm sure youâll do well in crowned too.â itâs surprising to hear that ultraviolet are doing a spooky concept, but itâs also intriguing and his curiosity is piqued; definitely something heâll look forward to. âthat sounds really cool. what song are you going to perform? if youâre allowed to say, that is.â
duri was completely focused on the practice, truth be told. he had to make sure he had everything down - the moves, the placements, and everything in between. duri wasnât nervous about the singing portion, he never could be, with him being a golden vocalist. he also used to not be worried about choreography, but with his condition seemingly going south, he worried about not doing good, worried about messing up, and bringing the whole team down because his leg decides to have a very bad day. but, duri always seemed to manage to get through it - even if sometimes, it does indeed hurt.
just as quickly as it started, it felt like it had quickly finished up. he takes a few moments to catch his breath, to make sure everything was good. just as he caught his breath, teddy comes upon him, and an even brighter smile is placed upon duriâs lips then the one that he was always carrying around. he giggled happily, âah, thank you! iâve been sure to practice hard to help to put on the best show!â he said, before heâs bowing in thanks. that did really help to make duri feel better, truth be told; it made a bit of his woes wash away a bit in the cold air of the practice room.Â
he shook his head, ânot bad at all! we should be doing it a few more times, so youâll be able to see it as much as you want!â he said, a giggle leaving his lips once more. âhow has practice been going for quantum?â he asked, not helping but to be curious.
teddy nods along with duriâs words, taking in the information as best as he can, smiling encouragingly when his senior mentions the hard and most likely long hours of practice heâs put into the performance. and it shows, their synchronization something out of his league, making the junior dream about attaining that kind of mastery over this craft that both of them are trying to excel at. âweâve been cooped up in the practice room too, i can swear i havenât seen the light of day in ages. though i donât think weâre nearly as well off as you guys are.â
with that, he turns his head slightly to observe some of the other members of titan, a little bit of admiration seeping out of glance in the process as he listens to duriâs affirmation, before his attention returns to the conversation. âiâm glad i came when i did then! iâm going to be here all day if nothing or no one comes up to take me away.â itâs then that teddy realizes that heâs forgotten all about the reason he came here in the first place and, noticing the way the conversation progresses, he thinks that not mentioning it just yet would do him no harm.
averting his eyes turns out to be easier than heâd thought, especially when the stage is right there with its little details, material enough for him to fixate on as he tries to collect his thoughts. itâs with a small sigh that he answers duriâs question, a bit upset at himself but trying not to let that bother him too much. âitâs a bit hard honestly. weâre preparing for a comeback at the same time and iâm the furthest thing from a good dancer, so itâs confusing at best.â he tries to smile but nothing more than a grimace comes up on his face, surely not enough to fool anyone. âbut itâs going, i guess? and weâll be ready by the time we have to perform so thatâs all that matters.â
the way the quantum member speaks of the show gives her a bit of comfort. thereâs something about realizing that sheâs not the only one who doesnât want to be here. not that the chances were slim anyway. sheâs betting that the older idols are probably wanting out of the competition show. itâs useless, really. thereâs only a few groups on the roster that sheâd argue actually needs the exposure.Â
âbetter be careful. iâm sure the audio directors are jotting down everything we say. youâll end up being evil edited.â itâs not a warning of any sort because she doubts teddy isnât aware of the consequences of his words, but she doesnât think a reminder would hurt. âbut youâre pretty much right. i was in australia up until two days ago,â she answers with a chuckle.
jaein shakes her head at his apology because itâs not needed. âweâre all tired, and you pretty much said what was on my mind anyway.â with a sigh, she crossed her arms across her chest as she took a look at the schedule for today. there were still a couple of groups to be shot before ultraviolet which meant sheâll be on standby for a couple more hours. âhow are preparations going? of course, if youâre allowed to say so.âÂ
teddy makes quick work of putting his kindle on sleep mode, the flap of its case barely hanging on by a thread as he struggles to deposit it in his already flowing backpack. after heâs done he pushes it back in its place underneath the chair and, throwing a glance around their surroundings whilst jaeinâs reminder registers in his ears, he makes eye contact with a staff member after they finished jutting something down on a notepad. âi doubt dimensions is going to let them air any kind of slander, even if it comes from their own artists, but youâre right, i should be more careful.â
then he redirects his attention on her, the chuckle prompting out a smile out of his lips thatâs brighter upon hearing his home country mentioned. âreally? which city?â thereâs a pang of nostalgia that hits his chest at that, his thoughts automatically jumping to the image of his mother and the city that heâs called home for a better part of his life. âdid you have any chance to visit before the concert? iâm assuming you couldnât after since you had to be back so soon for this shitshow.âÂ
âsorry, i meant this amazing competition.â the correction comes fast and the emphasis sounds louder than his usual tone of voice, but he rolls his eyes quickly afterwards, not giving a damn if anyone elsa had paid attention or not. itâs with a tired sigh that he continues, trying to give jaein as best an answer as he can muster without actually divulging any important detail. âtheyâre okay. tiring, but everything is lately so thatâs not new. i like the idea behind our stage though or, well, some of it. weâll see about the execution.â a small shrug of his shoulders accompanies his words before curiosity takes over. âwhat about yours? should i look forward to a girl crush concept?â
itâs easy to feel small in a room full of giants, especially when said giants are teddyâs seniors and currently wiping the floor with every preconceived notion he might have had about their performance prior to his arrival to the venue. in contrast with titan though, everything else seems huge as well; the scene, the props, the overhead cameras dancing above the group. maybe itâs just the vantage point that gives him such an impression, the distance between him and the stage contributing to the grandiose impression, but teddy canât help but feel blown away by it all.
only a few minutes pass until the group finishes their run through and teddy makes quick work of approaching the members, respectfully greeting all of them but seeking out one person in particular. when his eyes fall on duri a big, delighted smile makes its way toward his lips and, waving lightly, he joins his senior with a compliment first and foremost. âyour performance was so good!â maybe itâs too forward of him, too sudden, but he has to give credit where credit is due and so, without missing a beat, he keeps gushing about the stage heâd just seen.
âis it bad of me to ask if youâre going to do that again? i donât think i can actually leave until i see it one more time, my conscience wonât let me.â
@teddyfmd // 2 + killing me by chungha
  â early july 2022
the hallways connecting dimensionsâ practice rooms are busier than ever these days. if it isnât enough that all of the groups are working on a comeback, they all have crowned on their shoulders now as well to keep them rehearsing into the late nights and early mornings.
honestly, polaris doesnât have much to prove on crowned. thereâs the pressure to live up to the status theyâve achieved and a truly awful performance will no doubt be criticized all the more if it happens because of their success outside of the show, but notoriety is a magnet for attention both negative and positive and that isnât news to ash. he canât shake memories of the first ever competition show polaris had ever been on, though,
thatâd been more than ten years ago and heâd been a brand new teenager at the time. the korean language had been a massive wall in his way that loomed in the background over the slightly smaller wall of having trained for only a few weeks before being thrown to the wolves on national television. eleven years older and more secure in both his language abilities and talents, crowned shouldnât intimidate him. and if heâs asked, it doesnât. but that doesnât explain the rare nerves he feels when he thinks about what the comments online might say. (would they see through him to flaws he doesnât even know he has again?)
he hasnât thought much about how any of the other groups might be feeling until he runs into one of the quantum members leaving the practice room heâs shown up to enter one day. âhey,â ash greets in passing, trying to get a look at teddyâs face to see if he can read any sign of how heâs doing on it. he could walk past and leave it at that, and most days he would â ash isnât known for socializing around the company building â but today his curiosity and search for solidarity get the best of him. maybe itâs that loneliness getting to him again.
âhowâs it going? practice, i mean. you working on your comeback or your crowned stage today? or is there something else brewing that i hadnât heard about yet?â hereâs the thing â ash isnât the best at playing the role of the good senior. he often reads unapproachable and distant and wholly uninterested in the going-ons outside of his own (incredibly busy) world. today, something compels him to try stepping into shoes he hasnât worn in yet over the past eleven years. âhave you eaten yet? dimensions must be working you hard these days.â and itâs easy to forget basic human needs with a schedule packed within an inch of its life; ash knows that much all too well.
the news of quantumâs participation to the show hit with a force much stronger than teddy would have anticipated. it was fine at first, excitement was high, expectations that management would take into account their already established and clearly discussed beforehand comeback preparations not yet shattered, the quantum members' belief (and his own added to the mix) that the company would find ways to avoid overworking still going strong.
but honestly in hindsight? he should have known that their well being is the last thing companies like dimensions take into account when making any sort of decision.Â
itâs now what, the third, fourth day in a row that heâs been cooped up in the same practice room, choreographies and verses mixing together in a fog of confusion and exasperation that persists even when heâs in top form. the same routine that by now is starting to grate on his nerves and, unable to put up with it any longer, he grabs his backpack and makes toward the door. and if he opens it with a bit too much force, letting it fall behind him without caring if it slams or not, no one will be the wiser.Â
taeyongâs greeting takes him by surprise however, sentiment that his face is all too quick to put on display through parted lips and widened eyes and teddyâs sure that his senior is only addressing him as a good natured prelude to a subsequent scolding, one that he is fully deserving of if heâs being completely honest with himself. because why else would the man be talking to him in the first place? itâs not like theyâre friends, teddyâs not even sure if acquaintances would be an appropriate enough term to describe whatever sort of relationship there is between them and so he remains ever the skeptic, replying in kind with an awkward âhi?â of his own in preparation for what is to come. he doesnât expect the other to actually take an interest in what heâs doing, which is precisely why the questions take him by surprise. âuh...both? itâs horrible, everythingâs starting to mix together and iâm this close to walk off into the sun and never come back ever again.âÂ
teddy knows he probably sounds like a petulant child, dissatisfied with whatever stick heâs pulled out of the big pile, but at this point he couldnât care less about whatever impression heâs giving off as long as he can complain freely. âgod i hope theyâve got nothing else in mind for us, i honestly donât know how much i can keep up wi-â itâs then that his stomach decides to come alive, announcing its indignation at its ownerâs brilliant idea of skipping meals loud and clear for everyone in a ten mile radius to hear and, for lack of a better idea to continue the conversation, he jumps in with an offer. âi didnât get a chance to eat yet, no, but...listen i donât know if iâm overstepping or keeping you from work or whatever, but do you wanna grab a bite? my treat.â
why do you think the song youâre performing is your groupâs ârepresentative songâ?
teddy glances at the staff for a second, momentarily unsure about his decision to speak his mind, brutal honesty and all, but he is also stubborn and, frankly, tired of putting on a nice act whenever people tell him to. âhonestly? i donât think wonderland is our representative song. i mean, everyone has different tastes i guess, so maybe fans like it better or it left a deeper impression on them, but personally i think we could have gone with wave instead. itâs just more fun to perform and i think almost everyone heard it at least once during summer, if not more.â
what are you thoughts on the stage concept for your group?
âitâsâŠ.a lot.â he stops for a second, unsure how to continue because he truly, from the bottom of his heart, hates it, but heâs also aware that there have been a lot of people working on it, arguably more stressed than quantum has been juggling preparations for their comeback at the same time as filming for crowned and he doesnât want to shit on their hard work. âi think the idea is good, itâs a concept people love seeing in movies so i think it will be well received by the public and iâm honestly very excited to see if it will rise to expectations.â
how have rehearsals been going for your stage? what challenges have there been?
a long suffering sigh precedes his answer, a sigh that he quickly tries to mask under him thinking about what to say and coming up short, though the extent of his success is unknown to him. âi think weâre all a bit stressed about it, or we were in the beginning? itâs a very busy period for us and there have been one or two memorable disagreements when we first started to prepare for the stage, but i think the fact that weâve been working as a team for a while makes us understand each other better and not dwell on unnecessary stuff when they come up, yeah.â
which group do you see as your biggest threat for the win in the competition?
âpretty much every single group in this show is a threat to us honestly. theyâre all very good performers and especially loved by the public and, god i might get jumped for this but i donât think we have that big of a chance to win.â teddy offers a cheeky grin as he leans back in his chair, arms crossed at the chest. âbut that doesnât mean we wonât fight for it with all weâve got.â
what does your group have that gives you a unique claim to winning the show?
âi donât know if this counts for the rest of the show but i think our strength lies in the fact that weâre a very concept centered group. i see it as both a strength and a weakness at the same time honestly, because weâre very good at concepts but at the same time we might be way too used to them and might rely on them a bit too much to show any other strengths that we might have.â
what do you hope to show through crowned?
âi guessâŠa better version of ourselves is the standard answer here, isnât it?â he grins, wishing for it to be as good-natured as possible but he canât contain the tinge of bitterness that seeps through it that he can only hope the camera doesnât pick up on. âi think thatâs a goal for every group participating, but my personal wish is to show people that donât know about quantum that we exist and that we are very good at what we do, and that becoming a fan is worth it.â
arriving at the studio, jaein was already counting down the hours until she could go home. her day had started way too early with makeup and hair, and she could already tell that this was going to take a super long time. having all these idol groups called in at once should be illegal or something. why couldnât production teams be better at giving accurate call times.Â
by the time she steps into the room, thereâs a few idols and by the looks on their faces, she assumes theyâre all sharing the thoughts sheâs having. with a sigh, she takes the seat that she sees first and slouches down on it before remembering that there probably are cameras here and there. straightening her posture, she steals a glance at the poor fella whoâs beside her before letting out another sigh.Â
âhow long have you been here?â itâs a neutral enough question that even if it catches air, it probably wonât be too much of a deal. also, itâs boring enough that she doesnât think itâll make the final cut.
@teddyfmd
teddy has already been sitting in the same chair for over half an hour now, bathroom breaks and wardrobe checks notwithstanding, and the only thing he has to show for it is a slightly annoyed expression and a visibly well-used kindle thatâs been abandoned in his lap in favor of him just staring into space, blank expression in place, contemplating everything and nothing at the same time.
his reverie is soon broken by someone taking the seat next to him and, when addressed, teddy blinks himself back to the present, concentrating all of his attention on jaein. âtoo long.â the answer betrays a tint of annoyance that he honestly doesnât care if it gets picked by cameras. âwerenât you on tour or something? let me guess, they dragged you here before your schedules were done like they did us, huh?â
belatedly, teddy realizes that maybe his temper makes him come off as a prick and so he backtracks before she can have a chance to even think about replying to his previous inquiry. âgod iâm sorry, itâs justâŠ.itâs been a long day. you donât have to explain yourself or anything..â
Rioh canât help but feel slightly shy in this moment, that goes without saying, but all at once, he feels a sense of pride envelop him, too. Since the beginning of the year, heâs poured hours upon hours into his body;Â his workout routines becoming more involved once he set his mind to his end goal. He did all he could in order to achieve the vision he had for himself. He was mindful about what he ate and made sure to provide himself with enough sustenance to support his arduous exercise habits. He focused on building muscle tone and filling himself out more, and only after a couple of months, he began to see his results. His abdominal muscles have been carved out, his legs, his thighs, and his backside have grown thicker, his arms can carry a lot more weight now, and his frame, in general, appears more sinewy. It wasnât easy, and it took a lot of discipline, but heâs never been this happy with his appearance. Itâs given him a confidence that he canât exactly describe as itâs still so new to him, but standing in front of Teddy without a shred of clothing on his body, he feels almost happy to show off his hard work. Itâs daunting that heâs presenting himself to someone whose opinion about him genuinely matters to him, but he feels good at the same time, and that feeling of contentment only grows deeper whenever Rioh hears Teddyâs reaction. A dopey grin colors his expression, and heâs glad to see that his lover is now standing up and stripping down, as well. Thatâs obviously a good sign.
teddyâs heart throbs with affection the moment rioh takes his hand, the touch reminding him of just how much he wants to be with this wonderful man before him. the desire is not necessarily sexual in nature, though heâd lie if he said that wasnât at least part of it, but the simple thought of them existing in the same space together, laughing and talking and sharing knowing smiles and inside jokes, watching movies and commenting on the absurdity of certain scenarios, falling asleep in each otherâs arms and holding hands while out on dates; all of those little things that lovers do, he desperately wants to do them all with rioh. as they reach the bedroom and the younger sits down on the bed, gifting teddy with one of the sweetest gestures known to man, a kiss on the stomach, his chest warms up with a yearning so powerful that he has no idea what to do with himself.Â
curiosity mixed with something akin to worry makes his eyebrows rise slightly as soon as he registers riohâs words. suddenly teddy starts to replay the evening in his mind, afraid that he might have said something wrong or done something to cause discomfort; maybe the brashness of his previous words was too much and killed the mood or maybe he did something that made the younger reconsider the future of their night together. he doesnât get very far with the inquiry into his own thoughts before the younger speaks once more and itâs then that teddy relaxes once again, every anxiety induced scenario quickly evaporating from his head. âoh thank god.â he lets out an audible exhale with the words before he realizes how the sentence must have sounded. âwait, i didnât mean it like thank god youâre a virgin, i just thought-â the speed at which teddy drapes his palms over his face, covering it in a full display of embarrassment, is astounding even to himself and he doesnât even want to think about what impression this whole spectacle might have given rioh. âi just thought you were gonna kick me out or something..â his tone of voice sounds slightly defeated and thatâs because he is, stupidity has that effect on him sometimes, but it doesnât take long for him to find his footing once again and when he does, teddy gently taps below riohâs chin with his index finger, trying to make him look into his eyes.
itâs a bit distracting, the way heâs being touched, the youngerâs hands on his skin, dipping lower and lower, but he wants to get this out before things can advance any more than they already did. âhey, hear me out a bit?â teddy makes sure rioh is fully focused on him, wrapping his palms around the youngerâs shoulders before he continues his train of thought. âi like you too. a lot actually and iâm very happy that you trust me with all of this. if youâre extremely sure that you want your first time to be with me then iâll make sure to make you feel good, just be honest with me if you don't like something, okay?â he offers a smile, small and shy, more of a sheepish grin than anything else but it shows into his eyes, the way they shine with equal parts adoration and affection and itâs all for him, all for rioh to see and bask in. and then teddy lets go of his loverâs shoulders in favor of trailing his palms down his arms, a teasing touch meant to encourage the younger to continue his initial plan, only helping with getting his legs out when absolutely necessary. it doesnât take long before the black jeans are discarded on the floor and teddy is standing in the room buck naked and painfully, achingly hard.Â
Riohâs shocking himself. Is his aching need for human contact causing him to be too eager? Is his overwhelming attraction to Teddy causing him to move too quickly? There are far too many thoughts that zoom through his head, almost as if his mind resembles the hustle and bustle of Seoul Central Station, and heâs hoping to God that heâs finding his way successfully. He would hate it if his guest thought that he was only invited over to engage in a game of carnal desires. Thatâs not true; not at all. Honestly speaking, their night was meant to involve the two of them exploring possibilities, and while Rioh prepared himself for lustful acts in case they happened, he didnât imagine these feelings sweeping him off of his feet so hastily. That being said though, and despite his many doubts, the fact that theyâre starting with their dessert first seems right. Itâs something he canât really explain, but theyâre moving together in a manner that entices him; that excites him. The simple way that Teddy holds onto the small of his back as they kiss lets him know that how he feels is reciprocated, and itâs further confirmed verbally by his lover mere moments later.
Once those syllables leave Teddyâs perfect lips, Rioh swallows his nerves â pupils dilating with supreme attraction as his heart pounds against his chest harder than it ever has. Being told that he can have everything nearly brings tears to his eyes, but he does his best to not get too overwhelmed. Instead, he distracts himself slightly by speaking. âYou can have everything, too. All of me⊠I mean it.â He adds, then hums as the sensitive skin of his neck and collarbone are doused in love-bites. Heâs never felt this wanted in his life; never felt this desired. Itâs something that heâs scared of becoming hooked on, but he canât help himself from indulging â from allowing his body to be held in such a heated grasp only to be explored intimately; slowly. Heâs only ever gotten close to the edge when it comes to turning fantasies into reality with the same sex, but right now, with Teddy, he feels himself teetering along the cliffâs edge and preparing to nosedive; hoping to enjoy the free-fall when it happens.
A lustful ( somewhat frustrated ) sigh slips from between his lips before heâs kissed deeper, and as the smoothness of his skin his teased, he feels chills glissade down the length of his spine; goosebumps scattering over his arms and legs at the gentleness of his seniorâs fingertips and palms. How on earth does something so simple feel this good? Throwing caution to the wind, he presses onward; keeping up with Teddyâs motions as best he can despite being way less experienced. Though, a wanton moan roars from his chest and into the otherâs mouth once his backside is grabbed â clearly letting him know that this part of his body is hypersensitive to stimulation. âMmmâŠâ Rioh hums, then whines audibly when the kiss is broken; despising the loss of contact, his protests coming across slightly bratty. âItâs more than okay⊠itâs perfect,â he begins, then leans in for another peck, âyou are perfectâŠâ he coos as he pulls back briefly. In this intermission, he boldly pulls his shirt off and tosses it across the room; revealing the torso heâs spent hours working on at the gym.
thereâs an emptiness left behind when rioh steps back that leaves teddy with a pout on his face, one thatâs exquisitely short lived however because the moment he hears his lover speak and registers the intent behind those words, the pout all but disappears in favor of his mouth hanging open as he unabashedly gawks. brown eyes trace every relief on the dancerâs body, committing every feature to memory for a later perusal and, as his perspective shifts downward, teddy becomes increasingly aware of the tightness in his pants. âdamn..â itâs a soft whisper, the word coming out in english because his mind is too lust addled to focus on anything else but the man before him. it doesnât take teddy long to hop off the couch himself, mimicking riohâs actions as he takes off his shirt, discarding it on the floor before making quick work of his belt and zipper. he doesnât shake off his pants however, not yet, preferring instead to direct his attention towards the dancer.
âcâmere.â teddy beckons, arms extended to gently guide rioh into his hold once more, fingers eagerly curling around the shorterâs hips. itâs an indulgence he offers himself, the way he allows his hands to explore every inch of riohâs magnificent body, the way they trail up and down that superb abdomen that teddy is sure heâll have fantasies about in a few daysâ time and, most of all, the way his mouth waters at the mere sight of his loverâs nipples, the simple thought of enveloping one of the buds between his lips entirely too much to bear. he feels compelled to give praise, to worship the proverbial gift standing before him and, while he unashamedly grabs riohâs ass, gently squeezing his prize while strategically positioning his knee between his loverâs legs, applying the slightest pressure, not enough to hurt but enough to be felt, he whispers a raspy, not well rehearsed âyouâre so fucking sexy..â in the manâs ear.
as if trying to give purpose to the words, teddy licks his way down riohâs neck, softly blowing on the remaining trail of saliva before going back in, paving a road of small kisses towards the collarbone and, akin to giving a parting gift, he bites the chosen spot, sucking the skin lightly before offering it a small peck in return for its commendable service, soothing the subsequent discomfort. âmm, are you usually this forward with everyone you sleep with or is this special treatment?â the question is meant as a teasing remark more than an inquiry and it shows in his following actions, because teddy barely gives rioh enough time to get in a reply before he takes over the youngerâs mouth with his own, using the rapid excuse of a ravenous kiss to pull the body in his embrace ever closer.
the atmosphere changes quickly after that and the self control that he possesses is crumbling by the second. and honestly how could it not, when rioh is in his arms, looking like a dream and making the most delicious sounds teddyâs ever heard in his life. he doesnât think anyone in their right mind would actually manage to act like a normal, functioning member of society in circumstances such as these. itâs a solid reasoning, one that he uses to prompt his lewd train of thought forward. âlisten,â itâs hardly a solid beginning, especially since heâs barely managed to pull back from his partnerâs enticing mouth, his voice wavering slightly as a result, but he pulls himself together enough to continue, laying his thoughts at riohâs proverbial feet. âas much as iâd like to bend you over the couch right now and fuck you senseless, i think we should give your bed a try first.â teddy doesnât blush, doesnât even feel a modicum of shame at the suggestion because it represents his desires exactly and in such a bare way that thereâs hardly any doubts left if heâs enjoying himself or not.
the morning finds teddy in the recording studio. this room, unlike the dancing studio, is one he is awfully familiar with, having spent more time between these walls than any others within the dimensions building and, as he takes a second to really look at his surrounding, something he hasnât really done before, not in a long while at least, the realization that he is not here to sing this time around slowly settles in. itâs a weird feeling, this difference in expectations, a rather welcomed one considering that almost every solo project heâs ever done had something to do with music. itâs refreshing to not have the pressure of singing well or conveying the right emotions at all times weighing down on his shoulders for a change, but more than that, itâs nice to be doing something else.
the contemplation leaves him with little time for preparation and, when the sound engineer comes back and, seconds later is joined by the director, teddy takes his place in the booth, headphones in place on his ears and, as heâs given the signal, he starts to read with a steady voice.Â
âonce upon a time there lived a dog that was very good at hiding his emotions. the dog was tied beneath a shade tree. he always wagged his tail and acted cutely, so he got the name âthe cheerful dogâ, because he was as cheerful as springtime.âÂ
as he dives into reading the second paragraph, teddy is suddenly overcome with a coughing fit, the result of his saliva taking a wrong turn down his throat. he quickly signals the director, one hand lightly gesticulating for a free moment whilst he uses the other to cover his mouth. the moment doesnât last long and, after he manages to take a few gulps of water to settle his voice and make sure he can breathe properly, teddy makes sure to offer plenty of apologeting bows towards the people working with him. the panic settles in early in spite of their reassuring nods and thumbs ups and all he can think about is the fact that heâs messed up, that heâs jeopardizing his chance at more projects in the future, that he is not giving his all even in a simple project like this. itâs the mean voice at the back of his head that prompts these kinds of thoughts, the one that sounds suspiciously similar to his mother, the one that no matter how much he tries teddy, canât quite get rid of for good.Â
the director motions for the start of the recording again, but his head is not into it and as he starts reading again, his voice makes the fact crystal clear for everyone present.Â
âthe dog always had lots of fun with the village kids during the day, but every night heâd moan and whine when no one was around. thatâs because he wanted to cut off the leash and freely run around out in the spring field. however, he couldnât. and thatâs why he cried every night.âÂ
âletâs take a quick 5 minute break and clear our head, alright?â the sound director doesnât meet teddyâs eyes, either because he doesnât want to or because he sympathizes, the singer doesnât know and doesnât linger around for long enough to find out. he excuses himself and immediately makes his way to the bathroom, frustration coating his every step as he arrives in the vicinity of the sink and, while the faucet splashes his hands with cold water, teddy takes a long, hard look at himself in the mirror. it lasts but a few seconds and his expressions betrays nothing. itâs the same face he always sees while getting ready in the morning, the same bland stare he is familiar with save for the eyes, deep, dark brown and full of agitation, the sole mirror to his soul. teddy doesnât like what he sees in them. he quickly dips his head, absent-mindedly washing his face before drying it, quickly making his way back to the recording booth afterwards.
he takes a big gulp of air before recording starts anew. this time teddy doesnât feel as troubled as before though the previous good mood heâd sported previously doesnât come back fully. the admonishing voice in the back of his head doesnât seem to be present anymore, though heâs sure itâll make a comeback soon enough. and so, without thinking too much about it, teddy delves into the task at hand with as steady a voice as he can muster, doing his best to deliver a good performance.
âone day, a voice inside him asked the cheerful dog, âhey, why donât you cut off the leash and run away?â the cheerful dog said âiâve been tied up for way too long, so i forgot how to cut myself free.â
as soon as teddy speaks back to him, there is a grin that pull onto jihoon lips as he looks around himself. there is a towel on the counter and that would do just well enough. he reaches for it, squeezes it into a bowl and throws it at the other, with his best intention to hit him. âlisten here, donât speak to the house owner like that, i will kick you out. i have the power here-â he says, but he doesnât mean it. it was a funny comment from the other, jihoon did like some banter. he enjoyed these types of evenings.Â
however, the second and third jab a him make him gasp dramatically, hand covering his mouth âi will throw a mug at you next, how ungrateful!â jihoon says, being oddly overdramatic. maybe it was just having teddy over, or maybe it was because they were both speaking english right now, but he couldnât tell. so he turns around and flips the switch to the kettle before focusing on finding good enough mugs to use for the tea. âiâm gonna be nice and not give you my mean mugs, might end up making you cry.â jihoon explains as he pulls out two matching blue mugs from his cup shelve, followed by the teabags from another shelve.
âblack tea? chamomile tea? green tea? ughâŠâ he pauses for a second, squinting at another box of tea he was holding âi guess blueberries and mint? iâm gonna be having black with some milk, what do you want?â the dancer finishes, turning around to look at teddy, holding up more than just four different packs of tea âi got even more if you wanna come check them out.â
when jihoonâs weapon of choice comes toward him, teddy barely has a chance to dodge. he turns his head just in time for the towel to reach the side of his face and even though it doesnât hurt, the impact is enough to bring a loud whine out of his mouth in response. âjesus, youâre always so mean to me, i do nothing but grace you with my wonderful presence all day and this is the thanks i get!â granted, teddy knows he more or less deserved that, but the information does nothing to alleviate the offended pout that springs to life on his face.
âcry? me?! ha! thatâs preposterous, i never cry, ever.â if the recipient of that reply was any other person, he might have had a chance at credibility, maybe they would have believed teddy to be a stone cold person that rarely shows his emotions. but since the one heâs talking to is jihoon, the person that has experienced more than half of his bad days, the person that saw him cry, either overtly or out in the open, more times than he has fingers to count with, the statement falls flat. he doesnât dwell on it however, more than aware of their shared history, and instead gets up on his feet, joining jihoon in his quest for a warm cup of tea.Â
the sight that welcomes teddy as he steps near his friend is enough to elicit a loud cackle out of his mouth. âoh god, are you a closeted hoarder?â he examines the packs in jihoonâs hold and, vaguely remembering one of the rapperâs earlier suggestions, he speaks again. âblueberries and mint sounds good i think, never had it before.â a second passes before the thought of giving a helping hand strikes him and with that being the driving force, teddy extends his arms in preparation, grabbing a couple of the packs. âhere, let me help. itâs the least i can do for my amazing host or whatever.âÂ
thereâs a million and one reasons gyujeong can retaliate with. maybe, a cigarette isnât as bad as getting struck by lightening. or maybe, a cigarette canât be as bad as binding chance and hoping he wonât get mauled by a green bus in some freak accident. or maybe, he doesnât give a fuck enough that his body feels like itâs already relegated to some afterlife where heâs an aimless zombie, dragging his steps one by one, already suffocating from the monotony life always seems to haul.
itâs probably the last option.
and the cigarette balanced between his lips already feels like some salvation, sweet like candy he can almost taste â if only, it were lit.
so, he takes a step outside, motioning follow through, with a quick nod over and no sense of cordiality embedded in his dead-pan stare and huff. one flicker of the light, and the shadows of the flame already pave the way with the words he holds on the tip of his tongue.
âyeah?â he inhales, slowly pulling the smoke as if itâd been some last-ditch effort at a breath of fresh air. âletâs be logical here, and do some math. iâm thirty, the big three-oh.â the smoke dissipates with each syllable, and the only thing he offers to accompany it? an i donât give a fuck nonchalance that drums through the monotones of his voice. âiâve been working for gold star officially since i was about 19, give or take a few months. so, for about eleven years iâve been balancing this whole smoking and dancing on stage thing â and it hasnât fucked me up yet.â one last shrug at a morsel of an attempt to feign a sense of formality, and he exhales once more.
âso, whatâs the harm in pushing my limits? especially if it means getting closer for a reason gold star could drop me.â
teddy steps out after the dancer, the weight of the door falling in place behind him before he makes to follow the familiar scent of cigarette smoke. a dozen memories resurface as he does so, of a darkness so overwhelming that the only thing he could cling to was the calming pursuit of all that smoking entailed, of a release coming from it that was so sweet and so liberating that it represented the only respite heâd had back then, before quantum debuted. before heâd lost contact with her and before his life had lost a little of what meaning it had.Â
belatedly, teddy realises that gyujeong is addressing him and he quickly forgoes the destructive train of thought in favor of focusing all his attention on his senior.Â
âyouâve got a point.â he admits as soon as heâs had a moment to think it over, and even if he doesnât agree, not completely, teddy can appreciate the logic behind it because he recognizes it in himself. âi mean, working in the industry for so long...youâre bound to need something to keep you afloat, right?â a moment passes as his mind goes back to that cursed place, a moment in which teddy does his best not to get lost in for fear that he will soon cave to the pressure and the promise it presents.
itâs with a heavy sigh that he continues to reply, prompted by nothing more than simple tiredness tinged with something that heâs doing his best to ignore or so heâd like to fool himself. âbut not yet doesnât mean it wonât at some point.âÂ
âthink of it like this, gold star doesnât give a shit about your health, they donât care as long as you can hold it together while the public has its eyes on you so your reputation, and theirs by extension, is intact. but itâs your body and your life, and even if they donât care, well...you should.â
For a brief moment, Rioh worries that heâs coming across as desperate. Itâs no secret that heâs touch-starved, and he tries not to be too selfish when it comes to contact with other people, but being here in such close proximity to Teddy is making him act in ways heâs not used to; his mind and body on autopilot as he navigates the motions in these foreign, yet gorgeously rosy, waters. He feels like the tide of infatuation is rising higher and higher, and the more dangerously close it gets to him, the more he feels his inhibitions dissipate. Instead of running from the waves, heâs anticipating them crashing into him, and the instant his waist is tugged in close and his kissing cherries are plucked by Teddyâs intoxicating mouth, heâs slipped off of his feet and dragged into the water â allowing it to surround him as he reaches his arms up to rest upon the breadth of his seniorâs shoulders. He stands on the tips of his toes, trying to match Teddyâs height so that the difference between them doesnât make things awkward, and all the while, his heart pounds intensely against his chest; threatening to leap from his person and sink into the man thatâs clutching onto him so possessively. Rioh loves how passionately heâs being held â it drives him wild.
However, his love-driven stupor only continues to spike when their tongues are introduced to one another. Lanky limbs begin to quiver with a desire that heâs never felt before; making him feel deeply inexperienced. Though, instead of following that train of thought, he shuts his eyes even harder and allows himself to explore; pressing forward for more after heâs teased. âMm,â he hums, feeling inebriated from the embrace alone. After a few moments, he pulls back â lashes fluttering open to behold the beauty of the man before him. âWowâŠâ He coos, his cheeks flushed and his body feeling light as air. The momentary silence is broken only milliseconds later when the shorter of the two begins to chuckle out of giddiness â trying to keep his composure and remain cool so he doesnât present himself as overly lame. âYouâre really good at that⊠like, too good at thatâŠâ Rioh admits, eyes glancing at the ground out of nervousness before peering upwards again. Itâs then when he gets an idea, and silently, he uncurls himself from his guest, but keeps connected to him by holding onto his hand â slowly guiding him over to the couch present in his living room.
Heâs not used to taking charge in situations like this, and might prefer if Teddy takes the driverâs seat later, but for now, he wants to kick things up a notch; his motions causing his company to fall back onto the lush cushions behind them, and as gracefully as possible, Rioh straddles him â backside on Teddyâs lap as he leans in and stamps a kiss onto his seniorâs forehead. âI, uh â donât really know what Iâm doing, but what I do know is that I want moreâŠâ He speaks softly, a deep breath following suit as he reconnects their lips for a quick peck. âCan I have more?â
itâs not until rioh pulls back, breaking their kiss in the most endearing way possible that teddy remembers he is not in a dream, that this time his mind is not conjuring scenarios to help him fall asleep at night but rather, this is reality, their previous actions something heâs been more or less obsessing over for a while now. a smile tugs at his lips in reply to the youngerâs compliment, small and shy, one that he doesnât make any effort to subdue because he doesnât see the need to, truth be told. though he doesnât immediately offer a response, teddy notices the way rioh averts his gaze. itâs quick and he doesnât think he would have caught it in any other circumstances but before he can inquire about it and quell his rapidly growing anxiety, he finds himself being guided around the apartment by the younger, their hands wrapped together still as he follows not unlike a puppy that refuses to be separated from its master. a blur of confusion accompanies the singer as he falls back onto the couch but it quickly subsides when rioh takes his rightful place on teddyâs lap, his arms instinctively finding purchase on the youngerâs lower back.Â
thereâs a tension in the air that he is becoming painfully aware of, one that has been present even before they first kissed, one that, as it did only moments ago, now too it prompts teddy to reciprocate the pecks heâs so graciously been given with a fully fledged kiss of his own. so he does just that, his hand gently cupping riohâs nape as he brings the dancer closer, their lips reuniting once again. itâs short and sweet, no tongues involved this time and no matter how much teddy would like to linger and explore he stops himself short, pulling back just the slightest bit to offer a belated reply. âyou can, you can have everything rioh, always.â the words come out heavy around the lump in his throat but with something in the tone that resembles an obvious adoration, then he offers a quick peck on the lips, pulls back with a mischievous grin and starts trailing kisses down riohâs neck. theyâre chaste and heâs taking his time with them, one touch of the lips on the shorterâs jaw, another at the junction of his neck and shoulder as teddy employs the help of his hand to stretch the collar of the garment for better reach. then he retreats yet again, his mouth searching for and finding riohâs just as easily as it did the first time, though now itâs easier to indulge in the flavor of it with his tongue.
itâs natural, instinctual even, the way his hands push beyond the barrier of riohâs clothes, freely exploring the skin, tracing his fingernails along it as gently as possible before allowing them to travel south and, well, indulging in simple pleasures has always been teddyâs strong suit. he allows one of them to cup his crushâs backside, tentative at first, unsure about how the contact would be received before doing the same thing in the front, abandoning the kiss in favor of peering over riohâs face for any sign that his actions are not welcome and that he should stop. âis this alright?â