#hdchaeri

[sebbyhd]

'cottagecore is kind of a vibe'

— of love and self-care @hdchaeri

sebastian liked to think that god certainly blessed him for being able to have a friend like chaeri in his life. that is if there ever really was a god in the first place- but really, there had to have been some sort of divine intervention for such a good thing to had happened and been bestowed upon him. maybe he just had a good stroke of luck, and was able to meet lovely people. he had the tendency to overthink and be a tad bit overdramatic- but he was glad that she had entered his life, and he was able to form a friendship with her. he liked to think that they were two peas in a pod, eccentric, but also filled with passion for the things that made them happy, they had a lot in common which maybe seemed odd to those who didn’t know them well enough.  

this r&r was very much needed though. they had a knack and passion for similar things such as fashion and make up, and it was rare to meet someone who was cut from the same cloth. twin flames if you will. chaeri was onto big and wild things and before she got busy, they had decided to hang out, one last girls' night if you will, and sebastian was excited.

"what if we went full mermaid slash fairy core." he asked softly under the dim lights of the fairy lights he had purchased and wrestled onto his walls, it illuminated the room they share, making the both of them metamorphosis and bloom into different colors, flowers of sorts. the blond haired male turned to chaeri, his smile warm as he reached out for his little bag filled with nail polish and make up, the most sparkly kinds for the both of them. he even made sure to bring his special sailor moon collab as well just to give off strong independent women vibes.

this was very much needed. he wouldn't say he was stressed to the point of breaking, but he couldn't remember the last time he sat down and got to do his skin care as part of self-care and not something that was part of training and looking good for others, but this was for them, and for them to relax and have fun, "we can do each other's make up if you like? i know you said you wanted to dress me up one time." he offered softly with a raised eyebrow, lips quirking upwards to lightly tug on a strand of her hair, teasing gently, "i'll return the favor. i think you'd look really good with this one skirt i have, it's pink with frills and butterflies at the hem. it flairs up when you twirl and kind of dances in the air like you're some kind of wood fae."

[hdayemi]

❨ starter // @hdchaeri ❩

yemi didn't consider himself to be a jealous or envious person. when the people around him made achievements and reached goals they had set for themselves, he was happy for them. he loved to see the people around him win and move on to bigger and better things. however, in the same breath, he would be lying if he tried to say that the feeling wasn't bittersweet. he had been working so hard for the past two years, and to see the people around him receive opportunities to debut while he didn't hurt quite a bit.

in fact, it quite literally kept him awake at night. he continuously searched his mind for reasons why he hadn't been given the opportunity to debut yet. it was a tedious and mentally draining habit that he constantly tried to put a stop to, but couldn't help but fall right back into it. yemi knew that there wasn't anything he could do to help his situation; at least not anything more that he could do. he was already busting his ass training and doing evaluations - it was out of his hands, and he had to accept that.

and he couldn't show that to his friends that were currently in the process of debuting. he didn't want to rain on anyone's parade, or be a negative spot on their day. which was why he was all smiles as he plopped down on the bench next to chaeri, holding out a cup of hot chocolate towards her. "good afternoon, miss soon-to-be idol," he greeted cheekily. "i'm glad i could pull you away from your busy schedule and steal some of your time."

[hwanhd]

the walk to their seat suddenly feels long and almost movie-like to hwan. he starts to think if the sun glaring from the other side of the window as they make their way to the hidden seat, is hotter than usual, and not how he feels his ears are burning. truly, it's been a while since he has felt this flustered and if hwan thinks it wasn't obvious before, it would be by now. it turns for the worst when chaeri tells him he's sweet, causing a series of actions where he used his free hand to press against his ear cartilage and feels it warm against his palm.

"oh uh," hwan replies, now realizing he sounds stupid from his enunciation. "uh, thanks.." he mumbles his gratitude. people don't normally compliment him for the way he physically look, and most definitely not at how soft his hands are. it's a bit weird; but never in a bad, and rather, it's a new but nice feeling. maybe putting lotion on his hands after his guitar practicing session pays off. hwan has his mother to thank as she had always been nagging him off for practicing such care so his callouses aren't as rough as it should be. and speaking of his mother, hwan comments, "i'm sorry though- for holding your hand out of nowhere. but it would have been weird to ask, wouldn't it? as a couple."

chaeri's question on whether he had acted before throws him off guard. there's a small hesitation if hwan should answer truthfully especially since it's a past he has never brought up before except for those whom he had known ever since he was a child and someone he trusts dearly. not that he didn't trust chaeri; in another scenario, if they were to have a trust fall game, he knows they would both catch each other.

"well, i supposed i did- but as a kid though. i don't do that anymore," he admits to his past anyway since the topic has been brought up. now that his hand is free from chaeri's soft clutches, he brings his drink close, leaning in to take a sip of his ade while he looks at his cafe companion and if she had any follow up question.

the commentary that follows makes him choke on his drink as he leans back to his seat, coughing to clear the choke out. "oh gosh sorry," he apologizes in english out of habit as he picks up a piece of tissue from the box to cover his mouth. "i'm good-" he strains a reply out, steadying himself from the coughing fit.

she’s quick to notice his adorable reaction to the compliment she gave to him, & she can’t help but find it endearing. she finds it sweet that she can be the one to fluster him a little ;; it tells her that he may be different from the type of guys she knew back in high school. that alone makes her feel safer in his presence, & makes her feel like keeping a grip on his hand isn’t something she needs to give up in haste. it’s not as if he’s about to pull her somewhere she doesn’t want to go, or has whispered things in her ear that are meant to titillate, but only cause discomfort & disappointment. for only meeting him mere milliseconds prior to where they stand, chaeri feels as though this is going well — like she may even be forming a new bond with someone. trying not to let her thoughts show on her face much, all she does is smile to him as he speaks, & as the compliment is returned to her, she’s quick to giggle. ❝ you’re sweet, ❞ she replies, daring to make eye contact with him after his blush — hoping that it’s not an overwhelming sensation. she wants for him to feel comfortable with her, too.

❝ for what it’s worth, i hold a lot of girls’ hands, & not many boys’ hands... at least not lately. i can tell you, though — yours is the softest i’ve held in awhile. ❞ maybe it’s an odd comment to make, but it’s honest, so she prides herself for keeping it real with him, & as he takes the lead & guides them to their table, she follows him ;; glad that the day is taking her on a journey that she hadn’t expected, but is welcoming with arms wide open. once they arrive, she lets go of his hand & takes her seat ;; secretly saddened at the loss of contact. looking over to him, chaeri beams, bringing her beverage closer to her. ❝ something tells me you’ve acted before... you were, like, way too convincing over there to not be experienced, ❞ she teases, crossing one leg over the other ;; her free hand adjusting the brunette waves that cascade over her shoulder so that they impressively traipse down the length of her back.

❝ apparently you & i make a cute couple. cute enough to get us 15% off, anyway. ❞

[hdmason]

Flashback: First Meeting

@hdchaeri​

Everywhere I go, bring the beat box!

Mason wasn’t sure why he was practicing this particular part of the choreography again. Sure, it was probably the hardest part on a technical level, but it was also the part that got repeated the most, so he’d already practiced it a lot. But this was important. This was the song he got the main dancer position, and if he didn’t completely nail it, then he would feel guilty for not only himself, but for taking the opportunity from one of his teammates.

So, practicing he was.

At this point, these movements were second nature to him, and he was completely nailing this rehearsal, vibing so hard with the music that he didn’t notice anyone walk in. It was only when he got to his solo and he had to do that little spin around did he notice her.

And wow did he notice her.

His eyes met hers and he should have just stopped dancing, but instead, his feet decided to keep moving, yet his body wasn’t ready for the jump and he somehow tripped over his own feet, leading him to fall on the floor. His body wasn’t hurt at all, just his pride.

[sebbyhd]

sebastian felt lucky to be able to call chaeri his friend. he liked to think that they were two peas in a pod. similar in many ways. south korean could be suffocating to the likes of him, and though he never really communicated it, or said it out loud, there were days he felt the burden of being himself. he knew that coming here would be a struggle. pursuing his dream to be in a band? already that was something farfetched. being out, and open about his sexuality while dressing in the clothes he preferred to wear? even harder. and yet, he didn't want to settle and refused to pretend to be something he wasn't. in that sense, chaeri would always be a solace. a safe place for him to go to, and he had hoped that the younger woman felt the same. he wasn't the best at friendships, he had spent the longest time in his childhood avoiding them, but now he suddenly found himself with a handful of people who cared for him, and sometimes he didn't know what to do with that information, with the fact that he had people who loved him. it was difficult to process, but wholeheartedly welcomed, needed.

he felt a bit odd knowing chaeri would be away soon. don't get him wrong, she deserved everything, and more, he was so proud of her, and he knew that whatever she set her mind to, she would come out shining and on top, but it left him feeling a little bereft, he knew that they wouldn't be able to spend time like this again for a little while, she was going to become much more busy, and he would be stuck training, working on becoming better. there was still texting and face time, it was a little bitter sweet, he wondered if this was how older siblings felt when their younger ones surpass them and didn't need them anymore- but now he was getting sentimental and all soft, and it wasn't needed at the moment.

"you don't need to show off your long appendages like that. i mean, not everyone is blessed and gets to be long in this world." sebastian sighed, rolling his eyes before settling with a put upon expression that conveyed just how much he was suffering due to his short height, not staying that way too long before his lips curl upwards, quirking into a grin, unable to hide the soft giggle that escaped his lips, "don't worry, chae. i'll wear all the short skirts for you. we can't have your dad sending you to an early grave over this." his voice was soft, unable to hide the amusement that crossed his gaze before settling more comfortable against his friend, humming softly in thought, this was nice. affection was nice. without a thought, he reached out to place one of his hands on top of her's, squeezing gently, "let this woodland elf give his little mermaid a make over first. you've been working really hard. let me do something for you."

there was so much more he had wanted to say, but he settled with that instead, feeling incredibly shy for being so open and honest, he bit at his lower lip, reaching out to pull chaeri closer to himself, a hug, muttering softly against her shoulder, his voice soft and sweet, "i'm really excited for you."

ever since she moved to seoul, chaeri has been fortunate enough to meet people from all walks of life — colorful, dazzling personalities that have shown her that she isn’t alone in all of her eccentricities ;; those she believes she’d’ve never gotten to know back home in jeju city. back then, her world felt terribly small. all she really knew was her family, & as her father was rather protective of her, he didn’t let her out much, causing her to feel like rapunzel :: stuck in a tower higher than a majestically tall mountain’s peak, forced to only witness everything from afar instead of experiencing things for herself. chaemin, her brother, was allowed more freedoms, & she always found it frustrating that their dad seemed more willing to let him spread his wings & fly, but kept her from the same exploration. however, it was also thanks to her sibling that she was able to relocate to a new place, & after doing so, she’s been blessed with friendships that she’s never had — those that she holds near & dear to heart — & amongst the list of individuals she’s become close to, sebastian choi sits pretty at the very top ;; his name outlined in hearts, & stars, & flowers, & whatever else she could adorn it with to prove that, of everyone, he’s extra special to her.

as she’s about to go through yet another massive change in her life, she’s aware that her new schedule will cut into the time that she can spend with him, & so before she sets out on her next adventure, she desperately wanted to have another night with him — one where they could just be themselves, indulge in cosmetics, & bond before she jet-sets to spain for début prep. it hasn’t fully hit her yet, so she’s enjoying the blissful ignorance she feels while it lasts ;; listening to each word that flows from sebastian’s mouth with intrigue. her eyes grow wide at his idea, & she nods her head excitedly, marveled by the items that he brought along for them to play with. he always has the best stuff, she’s convinced herself of that, & she scoots closer to him to get a better look at his collection ;; delicately cozying up to him in the process.

❝ you know i always love it whenever you look like a woodland nymph, ❞ she laughs, offering a grin. ❝ you descend from the trees to come hangout with us earthlings ;; bringing the party with you. ❞ she squeezes onto his arm adoringly, hoping that the physical affection is alright with him. ❝ i think your plan sounds incredible. giving each other makeovers ? sounds like a perfect night to me ! ❞ with that, she lifts herself off of him & beams, loving everything that he has to say. ❝ sounds cute, but do you think it’ll be too short on me ? i am taller than you, you know... ❞ chaeri half-teases, giggling. ❝ that’s the one huge downside of having such long legs. whenever i try to wear mini skirts, or skirts clearly made for more petite people, it’s... a disaster. if i was back home, my dad would murder me if i stepped out in something risqué. ❞

straightening her posture, she combs her fingers through her hair ;; retrieving a hair-tie from her handbag so she can throw her locks into a quick ponytail. ❝ do you want to doll me up first, or would you rather i prettify you to start us off ? ❞

[hwanhd]

if hwan's mother had saw his act ‒ despite it being a play-along with chaerin's hint from earlier ‒ she would still be disappointed. it was one thing to play along, and hwan's pretty much live in a less conservative family where holding hands with the opposite gender means nothing, especially in his acting background. but still, he should have asked though knew it would be less convincing. what sort of person would ask their partner if they wanted to hold hands.

he keeps in mind to apologize once they're far away from any prying eyes and ears of the cashier of their little acts. they get their drinks with ease despite still in their act and hwan turns to look at his 'partner' when he hears her apologizing. such causes hwan to chuckle before shrugging a little and he remarks, "supposed it is true. i never really knew it was a thing, but i'm glad i went along." the compliment comes simply but causes hwan to feel his ears burning and prays that it doesn't come red. "thank you- yours is uh, soft too. i don't really hold that many girls' hands-"

hwan glances around the café. the raven-haired trainee himself didn't have any particular spot he would claim as his and would often find himself in the seats of any vacant table. "it's quite sunny out there, don't you think? we could definitely go to the hidden corner- 've never been there myself before." he suggests, before he leads the way with their hands still intertwined in case any of the café staff had still peek and unravel any hidden motives behind their pretend relationship for some discounts.

learning that hwan spends most of his time training in the studio, chaeri grows the slightest bit concerned for him — hoping that he’s at least getting sunlight every now & then. she respects that he has such a strong desire to work & improve upon himself, though. that alone informs her that he’s a very hard-working individual ;; someone that allows his passion for the arts to be his primary focus as opposed to any of life’s pleasures. however, while not sharing this idea with him outright, chaeri hopes that she can help ease him out of his shell a little bit, at least for today. while they did just meet only seconds ago, she feels a sense of responsibility in assisting him with relaxing while they’re together. that’s the least she could do after he’s provided her with a nice conversation. that, & well, he seems to have picked up on her ruse, & when he plays along with her motions, she smiles warmly towards him — like a girlfriend would her boyfriend. it’s in this moment that chaeri’s able to appreciate how handsome he is, & she loves that they’re roughly the same height.

it makes maintaining eye contact with him much easier.

what he does next is completely unexpected to her, & as their hands are now intertwined, she feels her cheeks flush a pale rose hue. embarrassing... distracting herself by looking at the cashier before them, she bows in thanks, & it’s then & there when she notices that they were given fifteen percent off of their order. what’s more is that, being the gentleman he is, hwan even pays for their beverages — selling the narrative they’re painting even further. this escalated quickly, she thinks, but she’s also reminding herself that this is all meant to be make-believe, despite it feeling so authentic. that alone assists in ceasing the butterflies in her stomach, & she hopes that he doesn’t notice her slight shift in body language. turning so they could walk to the where they’ll pick up their drinks, she keeps their hands glued together ;; prolonging their scheme so they’re not called out for being phonies.

❝ i’m sorry, ❞ she begins, speaking in a delicate whisper. ❝ i read that some places in the city will give you discounts if you’re there with your girlfriend or boyfriend, & i wanted to test that theory... �� it’s a simple explanation, one that’s genuine at that. ❝ looks like it worked though... oh, & your hands are really soft, by-the-way. ❞ she compliments, peering down towards their entangled palms. moments later, their watermelon-ade’s are placed before them, & after she grabs hers, she pivots towards the collection of tables. ❝ where would you like to sit ? there’s a spot by the window, but there’s also one kind of hidden in the corner over there... ❞

[hwanhd]

hearing chaerin talk is endearing, hwan thinks. he's never met anyone like her and perhaps in that essence, he thought of how unique she is. sure there had been people whom he had exchange a few conversation with makes talking and interacting easy especially for an introvert like him, but it's the way that chaerin as much as reciprocate his conversation despite their odd ways of meeting is something he appreciates.

hwan chuckles before nodding about the work and life culture that hydra offers. sure enough, the company expects the most out of them; to be on their best conditions while practicing for their possible debuts and to ace in every evaluation as much as possible. one slip of mistake, or even a day out of training could have them missed out on more things possible, and not to mention, when you live in such training lifestyle long enough, your body runs on autopilot that you find yourself in the company practice room or studio.

"oh i think i kinda get it," hwan replies. "though sometimes, i feel like the studio is a home for me at this point, sometimes i just camp in it until i get kicked out, like how i am now." he laughs. perhaps just like his other friend, he may as well eat and sleep in the studio, although that would develop into a bad habit. sometimes hwan really loses himself in it when he's working on demos and possible compositions that the company could use even if they were to get rejected.

as their queue gets closer to the counter, hwan is happy to hear that chaerin has decided to order his recommendation, feeling a little in glee that his favorite drink has gotten yet another possible fan favorite.

hwan suddenly feels his arms being looped around chaerin's when he had been waiting for her to order and he looks at her. blinking before recognizing the non verbal cue before chuckling to himself. it has been a while since he acted and while he had little reminiscent of acting as a couple since he had only been a child actor, he did however had some childhood sweetheart parts in his old saeguk drama.

to make it convincing, he reaches his hand for chaerin's, intertwining his fingers with hers and smiles at the cashier before making his order. "i'd like the large watermelon ade too," he makes his order, his other free hand already reaching out for his phone so he could make the payment with the virtual card application for their order.

when he smiles, chaeri returns it with one of her own — the sheer gloss on her lips shimmering in the soft light of the café. so far, the vibe she picks up from him is still lovely, & she’s glad that she decided to introduce herself. maybe this adventure into the city won’t be one she has to take alone ? not wanting to get too ahead of herself, she decides that she’ll cross that bridge when she gets to it. for now, she’s focused on hwan. ❝ kiss studio... ❞ she repeats, scanning her brain to recall if she’s heard of anyone else training beneath that specific label. ❝ i know that the label exists, but for some reason, i feel like you’re the first person i’ve met from there. i hope you don’t get too lonesome, & that there are other trainees around. ❞ she nods, nonchalantly standing closer to him. ❝ i train with starlight music. it’s been a lot, honestly, but fun, too. you know how it goes, i’m sure. sometimes you feel like there’s nothing but work, & no time to play. i guess that’s why i’m so glad for days like today. ❞ chaeri shrugs, then beams to him when he asks if she’d like to share a table after they order.

she nods effervescently at his invitation, & melts a little at his kindness. ❝ i’d actually really love that. i don’t exactly have plans for the day. i was just gonna wander around the city to discover places i’ve never been before. ❞ a part of her feels compelled to invite him along on the journey, but maybe she should wait until they get to talking a little more. deciding to go with that, chaeri refrains, & steps forward in line once more. they’re up next, & she’s excited to give the beverage hwan recommended a taste. ❝ honestly, i sometimes feel like rapunzel whenever i’m stuck at the company for a long period of time. even though trekking out into the cold weather isn’t ideal, i’d rather that than be caught up inside all the time. ❞ she wonders if he feels the same way, or if he prefers to remain closer to headquarters. if that’s the case, that could be why she’s never seen him before. maybe he’s a homebody or introvert.

finally, it’s their turn to order, & once she’s face-to-face with the cashier, she offers them a smile. ❝ i’ll take a large watermelon-ade, please ! ❞ she chirps, then looks over to him ;; curious as to whether or not they’ll be ordering together or separately. though, the second that crosses her mind, a lightbulb flickers on above her head. hopefully he’ll follow along with her scheme. if he doesn’t, this could be really embarrassing. standing closer to him, she loops her arm with his — hoping to dupe the individual in front of them that they’re in a relationship in hopes of scoring a discount. she gives him a look as if to non-verbally tell him that she’ll explain later, & waits for him to take over from there. hopefully this little ruse goes smoothly.

[hwanhd]

there is a soothing tone with the way chaeri had spoken; almost comforting and if hwan had been really tired, he's sure it would hae lured him to sleep. he waits patiently for her to decide on her choice of beverage and nods at her remarks over the drink suggestions he's offered. true that the weather has been a bit cold and his favourite go-to drink from this cafe had been more of a summer drink than the cold air seoul is offering at the moment, but hwan gets really refreshed after it that he could go on practicing for hours.

hwan genuinely smiles at the compliment of his one syllable name - quite alike his english name, one that he doesn't give out to most but he's been told that it sounds easy on the tongue. upon hearing how they're about to break a rule, though it mostly applied if told to strangers, hwan finds out that chaerin is indeed a labelmate. perhaps it had been their different schedules and practice periods that he has never met her but now that he's made acquaintances with someone new, he will be sure to greet her if ever they met.

"i'm from kiss studio, we don't normally have a lot of people there as compared to our other counterparts in wonder nation, but we exist," hwan laughs before nodding when chaeri waits in line with him. "it's easier this way," he comments, letting the other in on his line. "supposed you'd like to share a table as well? unless you're busy, i get it. i've been kicked out of the studio to take a break though, so i'm just here to kill a few hours before i head back- or well, sneak back in."

when he turns towards her & she’s able to see his face more clearly, chaeri realizes that she does recognize him. she has no idea what his name is, but she’s definitely seen him around before. hydra labels can sometimes feel like its own country with all of the subsidiaries, the employees, & all of the trainees roaming around. however, despite the many faces she sees everyday, his stands out to her. maybe it’s a naïve hunch, but she can’t help but think he looks friendly — like someone that’s warm & inviting — & she nods when he asks if she was speaking to him. though, she tries not to idealize the situation too much in her head. if for some reason he’s actually not how she perceives him, she doesn’t want to be too disappointed. he’s a man, after all. in her experience, their personalities are a letdown most of the time. what he does have going for him so far, though, is that he seems engaged when he speaks to her. he doesn’t shrug her off, or give her a long once over ;; he answers her question, & seems interested enough to give her his attention, even if just for a little while.

it’s sweet.

❝ a hazelnut latte, huh ? ❞ she asks in return, then stares at the menu before them ;; becoming easily lost in thought. she’s listening to him, but seems elsewhere ;; as per usual. ❝ i feel like it’s a little too cold outside for watermelon-ade, but that’s what sounds the best to me, too. just the thought of it reminds me of summertime... ❞ she grins, softly frowning at how much she misses the beach. when he tells her his name, she’s brought back to reality a little more — her sights set on him. ❝ hwan... ❞ she repeats in a delicate lilt, then pauses for a few seconds. ❝ that’s nice. i really like one syllable names. you don’t hear them as often, so i’ll definitely remember your name. ❞ her smile grows a little wider, nodding. ❝ anyway, yes ! i train at hydra. i know we’re not really supposed to tell other people, but i feel like since we’re both training there, it’s fine to bend the rules a little, no ? ❞ it’s then when the line moves & she takes a step forward ;; standing beside hwan now instead of behind him.

mimicking him by keeping her voice low, she leans into him a little more, but is still mindful of his personal space. ❝ i’m in starlight music. something tells me that you’re not though. i feel like we’d’ve met before if you were... oh, & is it okay that i’m standing beside you now ? if not, that’s okay, too... i guess i just didn’t want to be rude by having you look back at me the entire time we spoke. ❞

[hwanhd]

a break is something hwan thinks he does not deserve but is needed. in fact, he's been pestered by his dance trainer and anyone who knows him closely; some in fact had begged for him to take a break or a few hours away from the studio if possible. it can't be helped if hwan is a bit of a workaholic- scratch that, he's in fact a hard worker. but hwan's major policy had been, if he had not broken down nor hit pass his limit yet, then it won't hurt to push himself a bit more.

today however, as he made his way to the dance studio, he finds it being booked out by a familiar name; someone is out there sabotaging his practice time and even if it had been for the greater good, the intentions causes hwan to sigh. fine, he will take his break.

hence, hwan now finds himself in a cafe nearby; one that he frequents and always orders from when he needs a quick refreshment. queueing in line, he glances at phone and the lack of notification. perhaps the world is telling him to take a break, and that people were purposely not sending any messages to prevent hwan from igniting his hardworking flame within.

when he hears someone calling out, he turns to look at someone he didn't recognize but may have seen before in the company building. "oh- sorry were you talking to me?" he asks with soft mumbles before internally sighing in relief when the stranger was indeed speaking to him.

"oh, first time huh?" he looks at the menu, squinting at the board that hangs over the counter before looking at the latter. "i usually order the soda drinks here because i'm not a fan of coffee. the watermelon ade is really good- but if you're looking for caffeine, i've been told the hazelnut latte here taste good. in fact, one of their best seller." he suggests. "it's nice to meet you, chaeri- despite this situation. it's really my first time getting to know someone while waiting in line actuually. i'm uh, hwan. by chance, are you a trainee at hydra..?" he whispers the last bit as if them being a trainee had been a secret and hydra had been some forbidden place.

𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒑, 𝒏𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔 / 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒎𝒆, & 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚.

𝒗𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔,  new friends & new adventures. 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔,  a closed starter for 𝒍𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒘𝒂𝒏. 𝒎𝒊���𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔,  not applicable, n / a.

whenever chaeri is given an opportunity for an outing into the city, she takes it with absolutely no hesitation. she feels like rapunzel whenever she’s stuck at the company for days on end, & contrary to popular belief, being a trainee can be hugely grim to the soul. many think it’s a magical time spent honing skills & becoming experts in musical crafts, & while they’re not completely wrong about that, those things are surprisingly not what she finds herself doing most often. instead of enjoying each lesson & looking forward to future improvements, she finds herself stressed about everything, & then choosing to avoid said stress by escaping into the vast, mystical caverns of her mind. whenever she’s feeling overwhelmed, she often imagines that she lives deep within the sea ;; free of all worries & swimming amongst its folk. though, today, in place of daydreaming, she’s decided to actually experience the reality that surrounds her ;; the one that she’s hardly gotten to know since making the move from jeju. seoul is a massive cityscape full of nooks & crannies that she’s never explored, & it’s needless to say that she’s eager to see what she can get up to today.

though, before she sets off — with no real agenda planned, mind you — on her adventure, she makes a pitstop into the nearest café to grab a snack & latte. it’s there, while she’s standing in line, she finds the person directly in front of her extremely familiar, but can’t exactly put a name to his face. could he be someone that’s also covered under hydra’s umbrella ? that’s the only explanation she has… but she’s not totally sure. it takes her a second to decide on whether or not she should speak to him, but since the line’s still pretty long, she goes for it. ❝ hey, ❞ she begins, offering a smile. ❝ it’s my first time at this café & i’m still trying to figure out what i want. have you been here before ? ❞ her query is simple enough, her tone of voice a delicate lilt. ❝ if so, what’s your favorite thing to order ? ❞ chaeri felt it better to ask him a question instead of leading with the fact that she recognizes him. she can always address that later, especially if he seems receptive to conversation. ❝ i’m chaeri, by-the-way. i hope i’m not bothering you. ❞