#sarang was nerve wracking

[duahauuoplanh]

[lgcxsarang]

WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITY 002 ; SOLO

a one on one.

those were always a little nerve-wracking but sarang put on the bravest face and she could and bowed to her coach as she walked into the meeting room. she found her seat quickly after that, not speaking until her elder spoke first. there was a little small talk, maybe to get her comfortable? sarang felt it was easy enough to see she was small buddle of nerves.

what do you think are your strengths right now?

the first question wasn't hard to answer, it was something she knew right away but sarang did want to give a full answer.

"right now, i'd say my strength's strength's are dancing, rapping and performing. i've always been comfortable with rapping, i think it's the skill i think i struggle the least in. there is just something about rapping that comes natural to me and i feel comfortable in it. i would say i feel about the same when it comes to my dancing. there are some dance styles i would i like to improve on because you never know what concept's we'll get in the future and i want to be able to rise to any challenge but it's also a skill i feel confident in. and when it comes to performing, i think it's the time i feel most comfortable in my skin. normal face to face interaction's are a little harder but there's something about letting go on stage that i feel shines through when i perform."

the entire time she spoke, her face was focused on a little spot on the wall behind soyi, until she shifted her gaze to fully look at a face that gave away nothing.

what are three skills that you would like to work on in the next few months?

"the skill's i'd like to focus on in the next few months…i'd have to say, my singing, english skills and variety skills. singing is a fundamental, i don't know what parts i might get if i debut but i want to be able to do whatever i'm done to do with confidence. i think i've improved on the fundamental but i think i get weak when it comes to singing during a performance. i'm a little more unsure myself it's a roadblock i'd like to get past. the same applies to my skills at variety, i know that i would have to promote on tv and go on various shows. it's something people don't think of when it comes to being idols but i think it can be helpful. and my english, because it's such a universal language, you can connect to a lot of people, as idols that's something we'd have to do so i think it'd be helpful in the future."

that question had been easy to answer as well. her singing had improved a lot but she knew it needed more work. it was her main concern and focus, the other thing's were something she wanted to work overall, important but not as important as carrying a tune.

if given a chance, what types of gigs would you be interested in participating?

"i think it'd focus on acting and pod-casting. they're very different but i think they both fit different sides of my personality. in terms of a podcast, it's a way to connect with people but also has a degree of separation that i'd enjoy. i have a lot of interest, so it would be fun to talk about those with someone or do a review of a tv series! i think it could go a lot of ways and there are a lot of thing's you could do with that format. as for acting, not only am i studying that in school currently, it's almost like performing for me. if i couldn't be on stage as singer, i'd like to be in a drama. the feeling of being able to become another person? that's something i'm interested in. and it wouldn't hurt to put my degree to use."

that answer had come quickly too, acting was first on her list between the two. pod-casting would be something great to have in her down-time. maybe a solo debut but she but acting was the first thing she wanted to try outside of her group, if she ever made it to the debut phase. it wasn't her main love but it was something she did love and was willing to study.

during your time here in legacy, what are some of the lessons that you’ve learned about yourself?

"hmm, this is a little hard…when thinking about myself. i think the biggest thing being a trainee at the company has given me a sense of a community? i don't think i really had that while i was going through middle school and high school? i did find community's outside of that but school was every single day. and being apart of one…i think i've done well. it's something i'm doing everyday focused on a goal that everyone around me has. i think i've learned that it's okay to come out of my shell, i'm not perfect at it but i have the ability. i think i've learned to believe in myself a little more…and i didn't realize how little i believed in myself before that."

the last question did take a little time to answer. it was unexpected and something she hadn't given much thought too. she wasn't sure if it was the answer they wanted, if they event had one in mind but it was what she had for now. there was a little more chatting before she was finally allowed to leave with a final bow.

[bejingren]

jingren had been overworking his mind the entirety of being on the show so far. that's the issue that came with signing up for the show on a whim and actually getting in when he didn't think he would even get through the first round or so. but now that he was steadily gaining so much from simply participating, it'd actually crush him to be eliminated now. funny how those things sort of work. but this doesn't come to him naturally, and the full-time student still feels out of his element. it's not necessarily cluelessness, but he's rather ignorant about the industry and while he did a bit of dancing and singing for fun before, jingren isn't one of the ones who is fully immersed into understanding what goes into becoming an idol. other than a lot of hard work, that is. because wow - while he's rather good with endurance in general, this is a different type of overworking in comparison to even the endless nights of studying. completely different leagues. people don't give performers the credit that is due.

he's been staring into the mirror after having gone over the choreography a few times, in segments already but there are parts he's still not catching onto. it's only the start, but the competition moves so damn fast. he's getting by... and thank god jay is around to push him beyond his potential too - how lucky was he to be put into this group, jingren really doesn't know because everyone has been great so far. their coach is pretty nice too and - speak of the devil, he's caught off guard as his eyes widen at sarang's appearance. "o-oh, now you're giving me too much credit," jingren starts to laugh, the alarm and compliment making him flustered as he stumbles on his words. "i... i'm glad my singing is okay. and well.. i can think of plenty to improve on but i'm already showing such a bad example even right now."

"i need to not look or feel scared for starters. but it'll show all over my face when i try to perform. i'm horrible at expressions and - being relaxed while... trying not to look like i'm trying." jingren takes a big breath in, and tries to shake off his nerves. this whole competition had him in a wrack. blinking multiple times before tearing his eyes away from sarang's in the reflection, he properly turns to look at the group's coach, who had the most reassuring eyes, in his opinion-- "you're really good at performing. i think there's a lot that you could help me with, don't you agree?"

I ♡ YOUR FACE 염사랑 → 황징런

after having some much-needed conversations with loved ones, and after noticing how the episodes of the show are playing out so far, sarang feels a massive amount of weight release from his shoulders. the blatant reminder that he's, in fact, not the focus of this season is one that he deeply needed. he was putting way too much pressure on himself to present a perfect image, one that no one but him was expecting out of himself, and the sensation of shrugging off all of that self-doubt feels absolutely-fucking-delicious. it's perfect.

that, and well, spending quality time with alex worked its magic on him, too. that's to be expected, though. for many moons now, alex has been his prized antidote whenever his brain is short-circuiting. there's just something about him that calms him down; a je ne sais quoi that sarang can't really explain, but he's glad that it exists.

suffice it to say, for this new chapter of next gen season two, he's feeling much more present and refreshed. his energy levels are back to normal, and he's dedicated to having a good time, as per usual, so as his team works hard to prepare an entertaining stage for the at-home viewers and judging panel, he wanders around their practice quarters to ensure that everyone is doing alright. however, when he spots jingren sitting in front of a mirror by himself, he decides to join him; plopping down beside him, gazing at him through the glass before them.

"hey!" he begins, his vulpine gaze locked on his senior via reflection. "you look like you're thinking a little too hard about something. is there anything i can help with?" the query is simple, but he hopes that it wasn't too abrupt. "i can tell you already that, if you're having any doubts about the performance or your vocals, there's no point. you're, like, so talented. like, i could never sing as well as you do."

hopefully a well-placed compliment is enough to dash any short-term insecurities he may be experiencing, but if not, sarang's dedicated to doing whatever he can to boost jingren's confidence. that's basically his job, after all; one that he knows he can do very well, at that.