#t / ju wooyeon

[zinhuan]

muse: ju wooyeon (she/her, awarded actress who's been in the industry way too long) open to: f only plot: y/m is relatively new in the industry, but you’ve already made a name for yourself — enough to spark comparisons and rumors of rivalry between you and wooyeon, which makes things a bit awkward and tense between you two especially since she's been casted as the lead actress for the movie remake of y/m's hit drama debut, and y/m has just got casted for a role that she just rejected. now that you two are seated next to each other at an award show, nominated for the same best actress award, maybe it's time to put on some friendly faces for the cameras, regardless of how you two actually feel about each other.

the hardest part of any conversation is always finding the right moment to start, ju wooyeon thinks, gaze fixed on the performance unfolding on stage. She claps along with practiced ease, though her mind is elsewhere — preoccupied with the unmistakable presence seated beside her. to her left, the seat has been empty for a while now, its occupant having left to prepare for an upcoming act, leaving her alone in the company of someone whose name has been mentioned so many times along with hers recently.

her hands drop to rest idly on her lap, as she debates whether to speak. the cameras could turn to them any moment, and while wooyeon is no stranger to awkward interactions, but this one feels particularly loaded — layered with professional rivalry, possibly mutual pride, and the ever heavy weight of public perception.

finally, she shifts slightly in her seat to lean over to the other a bit. "i like your dress," she says, rather genuinely. a somewhat unassuming comment, considering all the headlines floating around the net about how both of them had unknowingly matched tonight.

[zinhuan]

muse: ju wooyeon (she/her, award winning actress) open to: m plots: that classic plot of exes working together on a new project that's been under the spotlight ever since the announcement. (i'm thinking that it wasn't necessarily super messy or toxic, but sometimes breakups just happen because you both have different visions and stuff, but even that doesn't mean feelings weren't hurt in between yk)

everyone who knows ju wooyeon usually has one common thing to say about her: that she is an absolute professional. no matter how tough the filming circumstances are, or how difficult a certain scene is, there's nothing that she couldn't pull off, and without a single complaint to follow. and now ... now she thinks she really wants to complaint and just call in sick. as if that was even possible.

the script reading sessions are manageable, but what's causing her to spiral down the endless pool of dread is the 'great news' the director had presented the entire crew with just moments earlier. for the first shoot tomorrow, they're starting with a kiss scene first. looking back in hindsight, wooyeon supposes she should've already expected this. it's a common tactic that filmmakers use sometimes, to build up chemistry between the cast members. except now she couldn't possibly voice an objection with an excuse that she still needs time because you can't just simply kiss your ex like that now, could she?

break time starts, and a tired sigh leaves her as everyone in the room shuffling out for quick refreshments. eyeing the only other person left in the room who also happens to sit right next to her, she takes a sip of water before speaking: "so ... how do you feel?"

[zinhuan]

if wooyeon was surprised, or to be more exact: bothered by chailai's response, she masks it very well and only a smile starts to tug at her lips as she hums in response: "a rodarte original,” she echoes, her tone light with genuine appreciation. “of course, i should've guessed. it’s stunning on you, suits you very well.” her eyes dipped briefly to the matching hues of their gowns, the shared shade seeming almost like a silent agreement neither had planned. and to have them sat next to each other would only add fuel to the fire — headlines and theories practically writing themselves with every passing moment, especially once they end up in the same frame together.

whatever she is about to say next has the potential to intensify the competition that people seemed so eager to cook up between them. and while she dislikes being drawn into it, the years she has spent navigating the industry has taught her a valuable lesson: sometimes, the best way to navigate the narrative is to take control of it yourself. "what do you think," she starts casually, gaze settling back on the other again, "if we take a picture together later? i think people are going to find it funny." the commentary would be interesting at least, wooyeon thinks, having mostly grown immune to internet chaos.

how odd it was to be within arms reach of someone chai barely knew, on the biggest night of her life, and feel that it had all been reduced to their matching color of dress. after reading so many theories && articles about their pair, chailai could almost convince herself she did know the actress seated just a space away. that she knew the thoughts broiling beneath, the insecurities that would surely match her own. two sides of the same coin - wasn't that what the first headline said, after she'd landed that coveted, brilliant, beautiful role?

and yet, how daunting it remained, the shoes wooyeon left for chai to fulfill. it was a task chai hadn't asked for, nor expected, yet found herself desperate to achieve. to be on her level. to not be this shadow image, but instead, a star of her own right. tonight could make that possible. she just needed to win.

it was these thoughts, steeped in greed && hope, that swirled louder than even the shutter of cameras. chai still had yet to fully get used to her every move under inspection, and eyes widened slightly as the voice reached her ears, and she turned to lock eyes with the very object of her deliberation. shrouded in purple, the color of royalty, it... did almost look as if they had planned it. maybe- maybe they should say they did. chai blinked, forgetting to smile in response. " thank you. it's a rodarte original. one of a kind. " eyes trailed across wooyeon. " ...maybe with some inspiration. yours is beautiful, too. i just love purple. "