orchidstains

[orchidstains]

the sweetest tooth open starter!

the company café on the fourth floor is relatively quiet this time of day. the whir of espresso machines blending with the faint chatter of employees grabbing their first caffeine fix of the day. the air smells like freshly brewed coffee, vanilla syrup, and something warm and buttery from the pastry display. for some, it’s the end of a long night, but for chanmi, it’s the start of a new day.

chanmi stands near the pastry case, fingers curled around her already-made drink, but her attention is elsewhere. the options spread out in front of her are almost overwhelming, and honestly, each one looks a little too good. if she didn’t already have her drink in hand, she’d probably have both palms pressed against the glass like a child at a candy store. she sways slightly on her feet, biting the inside of her cheek as if the perfect choice will reveal itself if she waits long enough.

she suddenly turns to the person beside her, eyes bright with expectation. since she couldn't decide, she'd just make some innocent bystander to help her. "okay, sweet or savory?" she asks with an expression that's entirely too serious considering the nature of the question. "because i already have my coffee, but i can't decide if i want a croissant or something with way too much sugar in it." she lifts her cup slightly as if to prove a point, the faint scent wafting from the lid. "i should probably be responsible, but..." she trails off, her gaze drifting back toward the display, already unconvinced by her own argument. "please help me out here. what would you pick?" for someone with as big as a sweet tooth as chanmi, this decision is the most important thing in the world.

[orchidstains]

ice, broken with @lieshe

the soft hum of chatter filled the waiting room, a familiar rhythm chanmi had long grown accustomed to. something about the constant buzz of activity felt oddly comforting—like a second home. she adjusted the sleeve of her jacket before stretching her arms over her head, letting out a soft sigh. it had been a long day, but she never minded these in-between moments, the ones where she could just exist without the rush of cameras or the pressure of perfection.

her gaze landed on a familiar face nearby. lena. a soloist under midas, someone chanmi recognized from countless passing nods and polite smiles, yet had never really spoken to.

well, there was no time like the present to change that.

she leaned slightly in lena’s direction, flashing a small, easy smile. “hey, lena, right?” her voice was warm, casual, as if they were already friends. “i feel like we’ve been in the same space a hundred times but somehow never actually talked.” chanmi shifted slightly, clasping her hands together as curiosity sparked in her eyes. “is there anyone you’re excited to see perform today? or are you here getting ready for your own stage?” her tone was open, leaving space for a quick conversation if lena wanted to take it.

[orchidstains]

sihyeon · pirate ending fairy · 230321

[orchidstains]

it’s aquarius season baby so ykw that means ( it means that i, an aquarius, am always changing my mind )

in honor of my upcoming birthday, i finally went ahead with a fc change. chanmi's now everglow's sihyeon! she's still the same, i just felt like sihyeon suited what i have planned for chanmi a bit better.

i'll be online for a bit updating things and responding to messages shortly after.

p.s. don't be surprised if you see the first picture again in the future.

[orchidstains]

an impromptu invasion with @lovesholics

peace and quiet.

that's probably what hyein had in the moments before chanmi decided to invade into her space. chanmi stepped into hyein’s vocal room without hesitation the second she reached the door. she had been holding onto a thought all day, and now that she was here, it tumbled out before she could stop herself.

"unnie! i just saw the cutest puppy on my way here!" she blurted, the moment she stepped inside. "it was so tiny, kind of like you! i almost kidnapped it, but i figured that would be a bad idea." there were a few reasons why that'd be a bad idea, with the first being she doesn't have time to look after a dog with how busy her schedule is between nymth and any solo work she picks up. so, she'll just stick with gushing over the dogs she encounters throughout her days. "but that's not why i'm here. i need a wise second opinion." given this impromptu meeting and knowing just how she is, chanmi suspects hyein would know this wasn't going to be about anything serious.

and it wasn't. "i had the weirdest dream last night. i was on stage, right? but instead of singing, i was trying to teach a bunch of penguins how to dance. like, full choreography. i think it was to eclipse... but then, in the middle of the performance, they all turned into little kevin yoons talking to me about the art of creating music... now that i think of it... that might've been a nightmare, actually." she buried her face in her hands for a moment before peeking at the other. "do you think my brain is trying to tell me something? like... am i working too much? or do i just need to stop watching nature documentaries before bed?"

she scrunched her nose, laughing softly before glancing at hyein. "there, i gave you two tidbits about my day, now it's your turn to give me one. anything exciting happen? or did you spend all of your free time in here again?" her tone was teasing but warm, her eyes crinkling as she smiled.

[orchidstains]

b-cut + 17 / do you like your music? your concept? if given the chance, would you change it?

chanmi pauses for a moment as she reflects. "yeah, i do. i think i’ve grown to really appreciate our sound and our image. at first, i wasn’t sure about all the complex lore we had, but as time went on, i've grown to appreciate the amount of work put into the group to make us unique." she smiles softly. "i also recently realized how much it helped shape who i am as an artist and as an individual. each era... each track... it’s like discovering a new side of myself and finding out what truly speaks to me. and after that era is over, it becomes like a snapshot of where i was and who i was." her gaze drifts, lost in thought for a moment. "but to answer the last question, i wouldn’t change a thing about our music or concept. it’s what makes us, us. it’s definitely something i wouldn’t trade for anything."

[orchidstains]

on-camera + 7 (what's been your favorite era? what did you like about it?)

"it wasn't promoted, but i think it would have to be the our latest one, the dall era," she says, her voice full of with conviction. "it felt like a true reinvention of who we were as artists. but if i had to pick one thing that made it my favorite, definitely my favorite track birth. there was something so meaningful about birth. kind of empowering too when you consider our history too. it felt like we were stepping into a whole new era of who we are, not just as a group but as individuals, and i think that is what made it so special to me. but i also loved the styling and the all of the other song on the album. i think it might be very hard to top it."

[orchidstains]

on-camera / 3. what would you consider your career high?

"i think it would have to be the first world tour. just... traveling across the globe for the first time and seeing how our music connected with people all over. it’s something i never imagined when i first became a trainee" she pauses, her smile softening. "there’s something about being in a different city, looking out at the crowd, and realizing that we're all in this moment together. i mean, it’s one thing to see fans online, but to actually be face-to-face with them, feeling their energy, feeling like you’re not just performing for them but with them... it’s indescribable." her eyes brighten as she continues, "honestly, nothing compares to that feeling of performing and knowing you're surrounded by people who support you." she laughs quietly, the sound warm. "so yeah, our first world tour. or any world tour we had. that’s my high, for sure."

[orchidstains]

b-cut, 6. what was your career low? / b-cut, 16. are any rumors about you actually true?

chanmi doesn’t answer right away. not because she doesn’t know, but because she’s thinking of how to phrase it.

"i think… it wasn’t one moment. it was more like a stretch of time where i felt like i was stuck because it felt like it was the end." she tilts her head slightly, exhaling softly. "when things were slowing down, i started wondering if i was really doing enough. as a group we were basically doing nothing, and i starting blaming myself for things that weren't even my fault. i just wanted to do something other than waiting for another chance to perform."

she exhales softly, pressing her lips together for a second before continuing. "but then when we lost three members. and then everything felt like it was falling apart." she doesn’t elaborate right away. she doesn’t have to. anyone who had been following them at the time knew how uncertain everything had been. "it felt like the ground beneath us just… disappeared." she finally says. "we had spent so many years building something together, and then suddenly, we were standing there with huge gaps beside us, and i was wondering if we were supposed to keep going or if this was it." she hesitates for a moment before continuing. "i even thought about leaving. going back to school, figuring out something else to do with my life. i love music, but at that time, it felt like maybe the choice wasn’t mine anymore."

her fingers tighten slightly where they rest on her lap before she relaxes them again. "but the other members… they had become my home, and i seriously cannot imagine life without them." she leans back slightly, the weight of the memories made over the years lingering before she offers a small, fond smile. "so yeah… that was my lowest point. but it’s also what made me realize how much i still wanted this."

"the rumors i know about? no."

she shakes her head, the smile on her lips light but certain. "i think people like to assume things because they don’t see everything and just fill in the blanks however they want. but honestly? i don’t think there’s much about me that would make for an exciting rumor anyway." she laughs a little, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "if there is, i’d love to hear it, because i feel like i’m the last to know."

her smile turns a little sheepish, like she knows how uninteresting her answer probably is. "i guess that’s a boring response, huh? but really, most of it is just made up. so if you ever see something about me that sounds too dramatic to be real, it probably is."

[orchidstains]

b-cut 12: how much do you look yourself up online?

"how much do i look myself up online?" chanmi repeats, lips pressing together before she lets out a small, almost sheepish laugh. "probably more than i should. i tell myself not to, but it’s hard, you know? everything is out there. performances, interviews, even just random moments that i don’t even remember happening. and once you see one thing, it’s too easy to keep scrolling to check what people are saying."

her smile is small but genuine. "most of the time, i just want to see how i did. i like checking my performances, seeing what worked, what didn’t. the little things i can improve on." but sometimes, without meaning to, she gets stuck rewatching the same clip, focusing on the tiniest details no one else would notice. "then suddenly, i’ve spent an hour just watching myself, picking apart every little thing." she lets out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "it’s not always a bad thing… but it’s definitely a habit i need to break. so yeah, i look. more than i should. but i’m working on it!"

[orchidstains]

okay i was trying to knock out all of the asks people sent me today so that other people can redeem tokens but........... i only got like halfway.......

anyway. my old starter call. if you haven't received one yet, i'll likely get that up soon (with connections assumed if we haven't plotted), but since we got a few new members/muses, i'll like to extend this out again to those if they want a starter! i guess you can like either post? i'd probably prefer the old one but. yk. the post is right here so. i get if you like this one instead bc same.

and if you're wondering when i'll finally respond to plotting messages.................

please forgive me. (to answer, i want to say tomorrow, but i can't make promises.)

[orchidstains]

b-cut + 2 (what's your worst memory from your trainee days?)

"it’s not really about training itself. i mean, training was hard, obviously, but it wasn't bad." chanmi hesitated, shifting slightly in her seat. "it had something to do about things back home."

her nails traced lightly over the seam of her sleeve, following the stitch absentmindedly. "i was still a trainee, still working to prove myself, but i was also working jobs on the side. whatever i could do. small things to help out. i'm sure many of the artists under my label have memories of me sleeping in the most random places around our old place from how tiring i always was." she explained softly. "i’d send money home when i could, but it was never enough."

"one day, i got a call from my mom. she didn’t say much, just that things were getting harder and that she didn’t want to worry me but… she just wanted to let me know." chanmi exhaled, the memory still clear in her mind. "she said it like that, too. like she was just ‘letting me know.’ but i knew what she meant."

her hands moved, curling around the edge of her seat, gripping it lightly as she spoke. "and i remember sitting there in the practice room, holding my phone and thinking, what am i even doing here? i was exhausted. i was barely scraping by. and my family was struggling while i was out here chasing a dream that felt further away every day. and i remember thinking if i don’t debut, if i don’t make this work, then what was the point of all of this?" but it wasn’t just the stress of debuting. it was the constant, suffocating pressure of living two lives at once.

"every day, i felt like i was being pulled in two directions," she was finally letting herself admit it. "i was spending all day training, trying to prove i belonged here, trying to learn and improve my skills because i didn't have the luxury of that back home. but the second i had a moment to breathe, my mind was back in jeonju. worrying about my family. about how they were holding up, about whether i was doing enough to help. about whether they resented me for leaving in the first place. i mean, i was missing so much of my brother and sister's life, and my parents had one less person helping them with their restaurant. i was barely keeping myself together, but the worst part was that i felt like i couldn’t let anyone know. not my trainers, not the other trainees, not even my family. because what was i supposed to say? ‘i’m so tired i can’t think straight. that i'm so disoriented that i don't know what day it is or when's my next evaluation. but don’t worry, i’ll figure it out’? i had to act like i could handle it. like i was fine. but i wasn’t. not at all." her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to add something else onto that, but they closed shortly after they parted.

"i started looking up school programs. just in case. i figured i could go back, get a degree, find a stable job. i’d tell myself it was the responsible thing to do. the smarter choice. and i almost went through with it. but i didn’t want that. i wanted this. i wanted to debut. i wanted to be on stage. but for the first time, i didn’t know if wanting it was enough. i think that was the worst memory." and for all that she spilled, she hopes nobody bothers to follow up and ask if she's still spreading herself thin by having her heart in two places at once.

[orchidstains]

reblog this post if you'd like to participate in the ask meme portion of event one. to send out prompts, please include the category name and the number of your desired question.

on-camera questions should be answered with your muse's idol persona on. their answers may be honest or dishonest, but they have to be appropriate. these are the answers that would be used in the concert vcr and in press releases leading up the concert. b-cut questions are provided to give you a chance to share their raw, honest answers. the answers that would never make it past the cutting room floor. most of these questions are focused on the idol industry to help you dive deeper into their relationship with the industry, the group, and the company. some questions may be answered from the mun's pov, but we encourage the majority to be answered in-character as if your muse is conducting a real interview. you may use gifs in your answers, if desired. please remember to turn your askbox on If you'd like to participate in this event! every question sent to a new mun will earn you one career token. you may earn a total of three career tokens per muse during this event. for muns with two muses, sending out questions to six different muns will earn you three career tokens for each muse. answering at least three of these questions will count as a character development item towards activity for the next activity check (feb 7). please tag your answers with both #midas:meme001 and #midasfamilyconcert. you may send and answer questions for points from JAN 30 @ 12:00 PM to FEB 7 @ 12:00 PM kst. please use this website to convert the date into your timezone.

✩　on-camera

what does the midas labels family mean to you?

what's your best memory from your trainee days?

what would you consider your career high?

have you always wanted to become an idol? what made you choose this career path?

what's the best part of being an idol?

what advice would you give to an aspiring idol?

what's been your favorite era? what did you like about it?

what kind of concept do you want to try next?

what three songs of yours mean the most to you?

if you had the chance to speak honestly to your fans, what would you say to them?

what has been the best gift a fan has given to you?

what's your most memorable fan interaction?

is there anywhere you'd like to perform where you haven't yet? anywhere you'd like to go back to?

which artist under midas labels do you look up to?

which artist under midas labels would you like to collaborate with?

if you could join one midas labels group for the day, which would it be why?

if you had to make a new group with other idols under midas labels, which idols would you like to team up with?

are you a fan of any midas labels artist? do you own any merch?

✩　b-cut

what does the midas labels family mean to you?

what's your worst memory from your trainee days?

if you could go back, would you still become an idol?

was your family supportive of your decision to become an idol?

did you have to sacrifice anything when choosing to become an idol?

what was your career low?

what's the best part of being an idol?

what's the worst part of being an idol?

what advice would you give to an aspiring idol?

if you had the chance to speak honestly to your fans, what would you say to them?

what's the worst interaction you've had with a fan?

how much do you look yourself up online?

how do you deal with hate comments?

what type of hate comment hurts the most?

what's the most ridiculous rumor you've heard about yourself?

are any rumors about you actually true?

do you like your music? your concept? if given the chance, would you change it?

be honest: are you for the arts or the charts?

which group member do you get along with most? who do you get along with the least and why?

have you ever fought with your group members? over what?

if you were given the chance to redebut, would you choose to debut in your group again or debut as a soloist instead?

what do you think your life will be like after disbandment (or contract expiry, for soloists)? would you still work in the industry or will you retire and settle down?

[orchidstains]

chanmi lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head at saebi. “donkey from shrek? the handsome one? huh” she repeats, her tone soft with amusement. her grin slowly widens as she watches the younger girl sip from the bottle. “that's an interesting compliment, saebi. but i’ll take it. i’m assuming that means my voice has magical powers now or something.”

her gaze softens as saebi grabs her hand. moments like this remind her why these little outings mean so much. not just to saebi, but to herself, too. their lives are too full of uncertainty and pressure, and chanmi is always busy. busy working, busy studying, just busy. but in this tiny karaoke room, and the many other saebi and chanmi go to, none of that matters. no pressure, no cameras, just the two of them enjoying each other's company as themselves. “you’re welcome,” chanmi says quietly. “but, honestly, you’re the one who makes this fun. i don’t think i’d even want to do karaoke without you. seriously, you’re the one who puts up with my endless high school musical obsession and bad jokes. i should be thanking you.”

she leans back into the couch, tilting her head as if she’s pondering saebi’s suggestion. “a karaoke song list, huh? that’s… actually not a bad idea. wow, i don't know how i didn't think of it” she jokes. “let’s do it. but only if we’re clear about one thing: i get veto power.” chanmi pauses for a moment, tapping her fingers against her knee in thought. “we can work on it later, but we’re adding ‘breaking free’ to the top of the list. it’s non-negotiable. that’s our song, and we need to be ready to duet it at any moment.” her smile grows mischievous, her tone mock-serious as she points at saebi. “you have to promise me that you’ll practice, okay? i can’t carry the entire song by myself, even if i do have grammy-worthy vocals.”

she leans forward, her voice dropping into something softer, more playful. “and for the record, ‘sae-bility’ was pure genius, admit it. you can’t even pretend it wasn’t. i might start using it in interviews, you know, if i’m feeling bold.” her lips curve into a smile at the thought. “can you imagine the comments? everyone would never let me live it down.” she lets out a small laugh, shaking her head. “it’s funny now, but no way am i saying that on camera. that one stays between us. and maybe the others. maybe.”

chanmi glances at the time on her phone, her brows furrowing slightly before she looks back at saebi. “you said you were getting tired... maybe we should head out soon?” she reluctantly suggests. “but you’re singing at least one song with me before we part ways. no arguments.” her tone is light, but there’s a gentle insistence behind it. “pick a song. something fun. i'll even sing with you. and if you think you can get out of singing here, we'll be singing on the way to drop you off.” chanmi adds with a small smile, leaning back into the couch. “you know, before we’re stuck in the van later pretending we’re not running on like, what, four hours of sleep.”

[orchidstains]

karina with blond hair for anonymous ♥

[orchidstains]

with @jennysaykwa

the neon lights flickered softly as the final note of the song faded, leaving a momentary silence in the small room. chanmi let out an exaggerated, breathless sigh, lowering the microphone with dramatic flair as if she’d just wrapped up the performance of a lifetime. “and that’s how you do it,” she declared with a bright grin, plopping onto the couch and letting her head fall back against the cushions. her cheeks were flushed, her breath uneven, but the thrill of singing still danced in her veins, energizing her.

she reached for a water bottle as her gaze flicked to the blinking karaoke screen. it lingered there for a moment before shifting to her companion, her smile widening. “well?” she asked, leaning forward slightly full of expectation. “how did i do? i have a grammy-winning voice, right? be honest, but not too honest,” she added with a playful tilt of her head. despite the teasing lilt in her words, the glint of pride in her eyes made it obvious she was fishing for compliments. chanmi tilted the bottle toward saebi, offering it as though saebi had been the one to pour their heart into the song.

“you’re good, right? comfortable? do you need anything?” she asked softly, her playful tone melting into something warmer, almost maternal. it always came naturally to her, this instinct to look after saebi. there were so many parallels between her younger sister and saebi, and for years their sibling-like dynamic had made it second nature for chanmi to fuss over her. her brow furrowed slightly as she leaned closer, her focus entirely on her companion. all of her logic seemed to vanish when saebi was involved; everything else could wait until she was sure saebi was happy and didn’t need a thing.

chanmi's fingers idly tapped against the water bottle in her lap, though her gaze never left saebi. “you’ve got that look,” she said after a beat, her tone light but curious. “like you’re about to tease me and i want to say, ‘don’t even think about it,’ but who am i kidding? i couldn’t stop you if i tried.” she let out a small laugh, her smile softening as her words trailed off. “unless... i’m wrong and that’s not what that look is, but i really doubt my sae-bility is broken.”

she shifted the bottle in her hand, pressing it closer with a small, encouraging smile. “here,” she said, her voice gentle but insistent. “drink some before it’s your turn. need to keep those vocal cords in top shape. or...” her lips curled into a mischievous grin as her playful energy returned. “we could take a break first. catch our breath. but either way, you’re definitely singing something before we leave. i’m owed my duet.”