#he throws inho back into the games too for fun

[midnight--sadness]

Heyy okay so I'm super rusty at writing so idk how I feel about this, I didn't really edit it or give the idea much thought so sorry if it's bleh or makes no sense hahaha but I just wanted to at least try it

So here's the first part of what I've written so far (don't have much of substance yet sorry, and also sorry if this is too clunky for an ask X'D)

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Do-kyun almost didn’t accept the invitation to the island.

He had been joining the remote viewing parties with the VIPs—the other VIPs, he supposed, since he was now one himself as well—at his father’s request. The old man had been too infirm to make the trip for several years, and was now too out of it to sit through a whole playthrough and join in on the ‘fun’. So he made Do-kyun do it for him. 

For two weeks he indulged his father. Watching highlights from his favorite seasons from over a decade ago. Sitting in the chat with his rancid choice of peers for the new games, always quiet aside from a pointed remark here or there that mostly went over their empty heads, only betting on anything at his father’s behest. It was his money anyway, so Do-kyun had no qualms about how he wanted to lose it. What he did object to, what he absolutely detested, was the massive waste of time that was the whole venture.

The VIPs would bet on anything and everything long before the games even started. How many slaps would it take someone to win at ddakji? Which recruits would cry? Who would be the first player to die?

It was all utterly dull. 

So when the remote viewing parties finally, thankfully, came to an end, and the fancy black and gold card invitation to the venue arrived along with a final message, Do-kyun was done. 

He would rip up the invitation. He would burn down the laptop he had been using and throw the remains in the river. He would go back to his own, decidedly less homicidal hobbies, and none of his father’s pathetic pleas to “witness and honour” his equally decrepit old buddy’s creation would make Do-kyun change his mind. 

But then, just as he was about to close the chat for good, something curious caught his eye. 

Or rather, someone.

Under the details of the VIP pick up and accomodations, after a few previews of the gaudy showroom, there was one picture featuring their hosts for the event.

Hosts. Plural.

There was the Front Man in his dark cloak and black mask, who he already knew about just from his father’s stories even if he had never seen him. But it was the mysterious person standing beside him that immediately sparked Do-kyun’s interest. 

The stranger was similarly dressed to the Front Man, in a long, hooded coat; but that was where their visual similarities ended. His whole outfit made a striking contrast with its rich, pearly white fabric. He stood taller than the Front Man, but had a slimmer, almost delicate figure that was only further accentuated by the thin belt around his waist. And then there was his mask. Unlike the Front Man’s full face mask, the man in white’s mask only covered down to his nose, leaving his mouth exposed. In that way it was a little reminiscent of the VIP masks, more operatic, though its design was pleasantly simple and without any garish animal features.

It was also quite shiny, but in tasteful silver accents that complimented his suit. Almost like diamonds on white satin.

Do-kyun’s eyes latched onto the image. His thoughts raced with new possibilities, his heart fired up with the same excitement it did every time he discovered a new work of art. His mouth watered as if he was staring at a new main course in his favorite restaurant. As if he couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into this new find. And just like that, his plans to ignore the game and everything that came with it had completely evaporated from his mind.

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-- sparks

I AM DECEASED THIS IS SO GOOOD EOVNEINCKV 😭💖😩😖🫶

i cant to see inho's reaction to do-kyun flirting with gihun 🥰

[bejaeyoung]

it's a comical situation. the team are gathered around in a circle, like they're about to play some party game like spin the bottle and truth or dare. that couldn't be farther from the truth though, instead they're huddled together in this position for a team building exercise that nayoung had thought of, for some reason. thinking about it more it might not have been completely uncalled for, seeing who exactly are in the team.

despite being one of the causes of last episode's drama fuel, jay thinks he's being fairly cordial so far ( on purpose and out of spite, but still ). he's not picking fights or anything, he's not even grumpy about his placement in the team. he likes the song, he's okay with his teammates, he even lucked out and was finally working with siwoo. it doesn't even matter that he's within ren's vicinity once again. literally, because the man is sitting right next to him. can that studio delta ceo rig the wheel if he didn't even know they would be doing this exercise?

the entire time it was siwoo's turn, jay had been laughing, completely amused by siwoo's forcibly amiable responses to jihyun's comments. it has him reeling, he hasn't laughed this hard for a while—it's honestly kind of refreshing, although this was something he expected when he noticed he'd be grouped with siwoo. finally.

his laughter eventually start to die down when inho begins speaking, he doesn't want to be rude, contrary to popular belief. at least not when it comes to inho, who is someone jay generally likes and appreciates. "woah, i wasn't expecting that!" jay replies, another bubble of laughter escaping him. "usually, that's the trait people loathe from me." this time, he really didn't mean to throw any shade—ren wasn't the first to snap, but it's certainly what got jay into that big argument before. "you do get the privilege of watching it unfold throughout the entire show, since we kept being put in the same team until the end. maybe it's destiny, and you're my ride or die." he nudges inho's side.

but now it's time for jay to say his piece, since it's his turn. "i'm really proud of what i did in my don't call me team, even if we didn't win. that retro mad max concept was really fun to do too, and that's the first time i got along with.. literally every person i was talking to." that obviously didn't carry over to the next team he was in, though. "i never made that many positive connections in one sitting." that's nothing surprising, considering his current track record and what has been documented up to this point.

he has to say something positive about @renxbe in turn after that, which causes jay to hum, genuinely racking his brain for something. it's not like he knows ren all that well, he never got the chance to either ( right now, he doesn't want to anyway ). bullshitting an answer feels like a cop out though, even when it comes to trivial matters like these jay is competitive and resolved. eventually he does spare ren a look, and just for good measure he gives ren that same diplomatic smile. jay hates it, he hates anything that reminds him of his parents, but it got under ren's skin last time.

"you're talented," jay states; fact. "when you're actually mentoring us i can tell that you have a good voice too. it's obvious you're gifted, but you clearly also polished your skills to reach that level." jay shrugs, he's not petty enough to bite back his tongue when it comes to music in the first place. "so, yeah, i guess that's what i'd list down. it's not like we got to sit down and talk for me to know more about you. or the better side of your personality." best to keep it that way. neither of them would be eager for such a situation.

it had been a genuine effort, but he doesn't really care how ren perceives his words either.

the "bang!" team was truly the most chaotic team inho had been on thus far, and he wasn't even part of the chaos. of course, he knew of the tension between jaeyoung and ren from the previous week, but he had trouble keeping up with the rest. he though siwoo and jihyun hated each other too, and he thought siwoo and jaeyoung were best friends and teaming up, so he wasn't sure where ren stood with siwoo or where jihyun stood with jaeyoung. it was difficult. all he knew was that he and seira got to watch along with nayoung.

after his critiques from the previous week, it was probably best not to ruffle feathers. inho thought he looked perfectly fine throughout the performance, like he enjoyed it, but the judges seemed to disagree. they made it very clear that they were the professionals who knew it all. it was something he could move on from, but still, moving into the finale he didn't like his current placement towards the bottom of the pack. he liked the original song he was apart of though, so that helped.

there was apart of inho that wanted to protest to this team building exercise, but as everyone fell into the randomly assigned circle, he took his place between siwoo and jay. nayoung was nice enough as she started, but something didn't feel genuine with siwoo and jihyun, knowing there was some tension there. he leaned back on his hands, legs extended in front of him and crossed, observing. one thing he was proud of and say something nice to the person to your left.

when siwoo said his compliment, inho gave him a small smile, which then turned into a curious but amused look with the light backhanded comment about how siwoo evaluated his abilities. "why thank you siwoo," inho said as the other male came to an end. now it was his turn. "hmm...something i'm proud of is also being able to step out of my comfort zone, try new things, and end up getting to this point in the competition. i wasn't actually the one who signed myself up for the audition, it was my friends. the only reason i showed up was with their very....relentless, encouragement. i'm happy i did though. i hadn't considered being an idol before but now it's something i've put a lot of thought into and realize i enjoy."

it was a stretch but inho could stretch the truth a bit for the camera. enjoy was a strong word, he didn't mind it, but the judges would call him ungrateful, and they didn't need to know the monetary encouragement his friends also offered.

with his statement of prided shared, he turned to the left to look at jay. "oh @bejaeyoung ..." he began in a teasing tone before shifting to someone more genuine. "i admire your determination and ability to have fun. you weren't kidding when you said you were an enigma, and i enjoy getting to watch it unfold." jaeyoung was the one person on the team inho knew fairly well at this point, having been together for all three of the team performances. the compliment was honest. jaeyoung always seemed to be having fun, even if his temper got the best of him sometimes.