williamchiu

[williamchiu]

while he's not exactly working right now, william never misses an opportunity to network with other industry professionals. it never hurts to make new friends, and after all, there's solidarity in being high-profile. no one else will ever truly know what it's like to be a celebrity, other than another celebrity. there's a firm understanding of image maintenance, of secrecy, and of the nuances when it comes to the lifestyles of the rich, and famous. they're very specific experiences that your average john and jane won't grasp. that's not a statement meant to look down on them at all. hell, if anything, william's envious of them. so much so that, he almost yearns for the sensation of being a nobody back in california, but only sometimes.

sure, he adores the attention that his career path gives him, but there are many downsides that come along with it, too. "normal people" won't ever comprehend how isolating being a public figure can be. they'll never understand the immense levels of pressure; the endless scrutiny; the lack of honest camaraderie. he, and others like him, can only find that level of recognition in those who've also nosedived into the murky waters of fame. so, regardless of whether or not he's had a legitimate conversation with chorong before, he considers them family on some level, and as she starts to speak to him, he grins from ear-to-ear; showing her immediate respect.

"oh, honey..." he begins, shaking his head. "okay, maybe i did sense that you were in desperate need of a little sparkle in your life, but honestly?" william pauses for dramatic effect, straightening his posture. "you could have the sourest expression on your face, and somehow, you'd still come across as graceful. it's honestly very impressive."

hoping his compliment is received well, he raises his own shot glass to her in a silent cheers, then downs its contents in one swift gulp; reveling in the pleasant burn alcohol leaves behind. "yes, i'm william, but please, call me will." his grin grows a little wider as he bows his head in her direction, offering her respect as he's her junior.

"mm, i've been here for roughly half an hour? the night's still young for me; figured it'd be nice to unwind with a drink after the hustle and bustle of last week. did you have a good time? at fashion week, i mean." hopefully bringing up their latest shared event isn't seen as 'business talk.' he'd hate that. in order to prevent that from happening, he decides to be a little facetious.

"some of the music performances were a little lackluster, not gonna lie, but i loved basically everything else? managed to get a lot of phone numbers..." with that, he winks playfully in chorong's direction and laughs; impish.

seoul fashion week was an enjoyable week for chorong. she's worked as a model for a few brands over the years, so it didn't leave a bad taste in her mouth to be returning. chorong opted to go out and celebrate the conclusion of a successful week, which landed her at a rooftop bar. bars and clubs are starting to appear to be chorong's new normal. before, these were places she rarely visited due to how busy she was with other things, but now that she was taking a step back from working for the past few months, she has been catching up on experiences she had been missing out on. nightlife had turned out to be way more fun than she remembered. she rarely remembers any time spent in establishments like this, but she can guess it wasn't that fun because she was too concerned with her image and didn't let go. now, letting go was all she wanted to do.

tonight, chorong was a little more dressed up ( she'd just blame it on the spirit of seoul fashion week if anyone asked ) normally she did her best to blend in and not stand out enough for people to easily recognize her, even going as far as styling her hair to hide as much of her face as she could. even that was ditched tonight, her hair tied up exposing her features. no certainty about the direction the night was heading, the actress sat alone contemplating her future. did she want to remain active? was she just having doubts about the company? or did she want to explore down a new avenue? she was almost too entangled in her own thoughts to notice the new presence standing next to her.

a waiter with a shot glass.

she's no stranger to getting sent drinks but rarely was it a shot. intrigued, she picked up the glass and discreetly looked around to see if she can spot the sender. only one person was looking in her general direction, so she turned her head towards them as well. once she sees who sent it, the actress immediately recognized who it was and wanted to laugh. one, because she had no clue if she had ever actually talked to william, and two, she has to stop meeting people when alcohol is involved. she cannot possibly be leaving a good impression on those she talks to after having a few drinks. but what could she do now, especially after william's gracious invitation to a conversation?

chorong picks up the glass and carries it with her over to the spot by william. "was my 'i'm not happy' vibe coming off too strong tonight?" the truth disguised as a joke. it wasn't like she was sitting by herself with the biggest smile anyone has ever seen, and she was aware of that. "thank you. you're william, right?" she drinks the shot shortly after, having gotten tired of holding the glass. she does watch a few variety shows in her spare time, and she's certain she'd placed the face in front of her to the right show. she hadn't had that much to drink to start mixing up people. "how long have you been here? i thought i would've noticed you before you noticed me."

[williamchiu]

what's one thing you would tell your younger self if you could go back in time and talk yourself while you were still a trainee?

WHAT'S ONE THING YOU WOULD TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF, IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND TALK TO YOURSELF WHILE YOU WERE STILL A TRAINEE?

"i was never really a proper idol trainee, to be honest. like, i wasn't represented by an entertainment company before i moved to korea, so that's not an experience i've ever had. however, if i were to go back in time and speak to my younger self, say, during the filming of 2THE★, i'd probably tell myself that you need to be prepared to make some pretty hard decisions; that it's important to maintain some level of control in your career. i'd also tell myself to deeply consider all options before signing any contract, no matter what promises you're made in person. unless it's on paper, it's essentially null and void. i've always been someone who chooses things based on my emotions; someone who follows my heart, so to speak. that's not always smart in this industry. i've definitely learned from those mistakes. if only i'd've known then..."

[williamchiu]

who would you pick to join you in a co-ed supergroup? what is the most attractive trait and the least attractive trait a person can have? what's the last lie you told?

WHO WOULD YOU PICK TO JOIN YOU IN A CO-ED SUPERGROUP?

"honestly? i don't need anyone else except for jeanie. it's me and jeanie against the world, and like, we'd totally take over the world, too. we don't need a bunch of filler members that'd distract from us, you know? we've got the whole package."

WHAT IS THE MOST ATTRACTIVE TRAIT AND THE LEAST ATTRACTIVE TRAIT A PERSON CAN HAVE?

"above all, i value loyalty. if you're true to me, i'll be true to you; forever. now, the least attractive? i'd say a lack of self-care. like, i'm sorry, but if you're a grown ass adult and have no idea how to clean yourself up—and i mean this in a variety of ways—then you're gonna get a side-eye from me. it just shows a sense of self-hatred, or self-negligence, and that's highly unattractive to me. all this said, if we're talking physical traits, hmm. well, as i'm someone who only indulges in the male variety, the most attractive trait is a nice set of legs, and an ample backside. the least attractive? bad style. hands down. if you're wearing ill-fitting pants and the wrong shoes? it's a no."

WHAT'S THE LAST LIE YOU TOLD?

"i'm actually fairly confident in saying this—i don't think i'm someone who lies. straight up. if anything, i think the fact that i spill so much truth is what bothers people. i can't keep my mouth shut, and it's not lies that are coming out of it—i'll tell you that much. if i'm in a public situation and have no kind words to give, i simply won't give any at all. i was raised right—my parents didn't raise a liar."

[williamchiu]

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 /

William Chiu, better known as William (윌리엄), is a Taiwanese-American idol that is based in South Korea, and signed to Everlast Entertainment. He is currently active as a soloist and variety TV personality. Formerly, he was the lead vocalist, lead dancer, and visual of project boy group 2THE★ after placing 3rd on competition show REACH4THE★. He has gained popularity in various international markets—particularly in the United States and China—and is on a steady rise in South Korea. Most recently, he was the closing model for local designer SLING STONE at Seoul Fashion Week 2023, and is in talks to enter the Chinese market next year.

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄 /

Everlast Entertainment: 2021— Debut: May 2022 (Solo); February 2018 (Group) Current Status: Active Active Years: 2018— Languages: English, Mandarin, Korean Training Period: N/A Education: High School Graduate

𝐅𝐔𝐍 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 /

William Chiu was born in Palo Alto, California, United States. His father is film director, Tony Chiu, and his mother is mogul, model, and socialite, Barbie Tai.

He was raised in Los Angeles, primarily in Bel Air.

It has always been a longtime dream of his to enter the limelight. According to William, he auditioned for many films and record labels in the USA, but was never given a break.

Deciding on a whim to submit an audition tape to REACH4THE★, he relocated to South Korea after his acceptance, and has been living in Seoul ever since.

In his downtime, he loves shopping, discovering new restaurants, going to concerts, and spoiling all of his loved ones.

He claims that his favorite types of food are Mexican food, Korean food, Chinese food, and Mediterranean food. He's not picky, so long as the meal is balanced.

When asked "what's your favorite 2THE★ song?", William responded with "Our debut, 'Can't Stop Shining!'" He claims that it's because of the special meaning it holds in his heart.

His coffee order is a sweetened cold brew latte with oat milk.

Instead of giving him gifts at fan-meets, William has asked fans to donate to charities that he, or they, believe in. He says it's best if his supporters' hard-earned money is spent on good causes, not on him.

He is an outspoken supporter of the LGBT+ community, as well as many other marginalized communities, as shown on his pre-debut social media accounts.

While he claims not to have any now, William has expressed an interest in getting a few small tattoos. He loves how they look on other people.

Ideal Type: "The most important thing to me is loyalty."

[williamchiu]

if you were given a ten minute warning to your death and phone battery for one call, who would you want to talk to? why? 2. what is your biggest regret in life? if you don't have one, what would you regret? 3. what would be the limit to how mean you would be to someone? where is it you'd step back and say, oof, that's too much

IF YOU WERE GIVEN A TEN MINUTE WARNING TO YOUR DEATH AND PHONE BATTERY FOR ONE CALL, WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO TALK TO? WHY?

"this is easy. my parents, but probably my mother, specifically, because she'll definitely answer the call. frankly, i don't really care that much about anyone else, and i'd want them to not only know that i love them, and am thankful to them, but i'd also tell them what to do with my fortune. i don't trust anyone else with all my cash."

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET IN LIFE? IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE, WHAT WOULD YOU REGRET?

"signing to everlast entertainment. that's it. that's the answer."

WHAT WOULD BE THE LIMIT TO HOW MEAN YOU WOULD BE TO SOMEONE? WHERE IS IT YOU'D STEP BACK AND SAY, 'OOF, THAT'S TOO MUCH?'

"mm, it depends. what has the other person done? i have no qualms when it comes to taking someone down if they're, like, horrendous as human beings, but most of the time, i merely thrive on pettiness. sure, i'm a master at slicing and dicing people with my words, and i admit that i could be better at minding my mouth—and my own business—but i'm not an evil mastermind, despite what some people believe. are there some people in this world that i find absolutely moronic? yes. am i going to tell them that? sure—whatever. however, most of the time, all you'll get from me is words. harsh words, but words. if they break your spirit, maybe you needed to hear them."

[williamchiu]

before he knows it, the two shots are being poured before he and rhiannon, and once the bartender steps away, william is quick to throw his back; marking number three down the hatch. he'll likely coast here for awhile, the buzz he's nurtured feeling pleasantly warm. he's still very much in control of his actions and words, but the edge of existing has dulled significantly—thank god. he's never been someone who needs alcohol in order to feel socially lubricated, but it definitely still helps. sure, like many, his preferred poisons make his lips looser than usual, but when he's with trusted company, he doesn't care. if anything, they would be the ones that'd look like untrustworthy cretins if they spread his vicious words like a wildfire, no matter how deeply they burn, or how much destruction they cause. he'd be the one lighting the match, but they'd be the ones to throw it amongst the trees, which is much worse.

at her query, he pauses to think about it for a few seconds, then ultimately shrugs his shoulders; nonchalant. "do i get off on it? no..." william begins, licking over his lips. "do i choose to find the fun in it, instead of sink into the depths of despair, when people do hate me? yes!" a laugh follows suit, but it's immediately replaced with an exasperated sigh as his comrade continues going on, and on, about joosung. "also, your admission of byunghee not being his boyfriend only makes your sweet, precious joosung seem even more pathetic. like, he's that pressed because i slept with a man who is single? he's embarrassing, really. like, i almost feel bad for him. almost."

william's noticed that the last few times he's talked to rhiannon, she's been hellbent on getting him to open his eyes to the truth behind his borderline abusive treatment of his biggest rival, and frankly, it's beginning to put a damper on their dynamic. he's trying to be patient with her, though, as he knows she doesn't have any bad intentions with this, but talking about choi joosung so frequently feels so pointless; not to mention annoying. "what's your goal with this, by-the-way? like, why does it matter to you that i love seeing him squirm? i get that you're his friend, but like, he's a grown ass man. he can take a few punches. if he can't, he's in the wrong industry."

the one upside of being known among her friends as a party girl is that not everybody realises how much rhiannon knows. she'd call them fools for that, if she was in the business of driving people away from her, as she considers the lyrics she writes pretty explanatory when it comes to showcasing how aware she is. rhiannon loves people watching, loves paying attention to what others do around her, cataloguing bits and pieces of their personalities and tastes and filing them away in the back of her head. not for any grand, self-serving desire of throwing things back at people eventually, but just to... understand.

so she understand why william acts the way he does towards joosung. really, she'd argue anyone with two functioning eyes and a wrinkled brain could pinpoint the source of such animosity with just a little bit of effort. she understand, knows why it happens and rather than feeling protective over joosung, she just feels... pity, for william. she hums at his words, tipping her head to the side, narrowing her gaze at him.

"do you get off on being hated?" she asks, keeping her tone neutral, the curiosity lilting her words. "or is it just easier to be a cunt about joosung because he's... you know, the way he is? sleeping with his... not even his boyfriend, really, only joosung thinks byunghee is his boyfriend, but- sleeping with his boyfriend won't make up for the fact that he gets the attention you wish you got instead, you know that, right?"

[williamchiu]

1. what is something you wish you knew when you first made your debut? 2. what is something you think about when you want to make yourself happy? what about when you want to make yourself angry?

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU FIRST MADE YOUR DEBUT?

"that being foreign-born would severely limit my opportunities here. it's the same in the states, and like, sure, it's less-so here in asia, i can admit that. however, i currently have nothing scheduled after 'psycho' dropped, and that's fucking sad in my opinion. i'm tired of feeling like i have to beg my team for work, especially when my work-ethic and material are incredible. i hate feeling like my talents and potential are being wasted, but... that's what i get for signing with everlast entertainment, i guess."

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY? WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE YOURSELF ANGRY?

"honey, i'm not much of a dreamer. i'm a doer. i don't 'think' about things to make myself happy, i literally just go and do the things that make me happy. that, and like, why would i want to subject myself to anger? that seems like a dramatic waste of time. though, i will say, the quickest way to get me feeling heated is if you dare compare me to choi joosung. nothing is a bigger insult, to me, than that, even if it's intended to be a compliment. it's essentially telling me that i'm flat, lifeless, and generic, and like... no thanks. like, god. the audacity... the nerve."

[williamchiu]

the four ask game: honesty hour

reblog this post to participate in this ask game.

participation in this ask game has two parts: 1) send out questions to the other muses who reblog this post. these questions will be answered in-character. the questions can be about anything, but can include topics such as: career, personal life, hopes & ambitions, likes & dislikes, etc. 2) answer questions received in-character as honestly as possible (as if asked by some imaginary being the muse trusts completely). answers should be considered private character development and should not be assumed to be known by any other muse! answering at least eight questions and sending out questions to the other muses who participate can be redeemed for one booking point. the tag #thefouraskgame is suggested, but not required, for ease of linking posts.

the open period of this ask game ends on monday, october 9 at noon kst and requirements must be completed by then to redeem for a booking point.

[williamchiu]

william won't lie, there's something devastatingly hot about how the other man calls him over. the gesture is so mysterious, so masculine, and while a part of him is tempted to play hard to get, the invitation has him needy for attention. though, despite the initial attraction he feels, he vows not to get his hopes up. after years in the industry, he knows better than to fall prey to false hope. that, and he doesn't want to ruin the good mood he's in, and it'd be really disappointing if the artist in question turns out to be just another metrosexual straight guy, particularly one who doesn't mind having his ego stroked by members of the same sex.

offering a coquettish smile in response, william stands from his seat and ambles over to the one beside ash; taking his time on his journey. he doesn't want to seem too eager, and just in case his new friend is interested in him, he figures giving him a little bit of a show wouldn't hurt; his statuesque figure hugged by a sleek onyx ensemble, one designed by the illustrious yves saint laurent. he never fails to look his best, at least in his opinion, and even if the man on his radar isn't wooed by him, william can still feel confident in knowing that he's presenting himself well.

gracefully, he sits down; one of his legs crossing over the other. "i wasn't sure what your drink of choice was, so i sent over something simple," he begins, giving him a once-over; adoring how he looks up-close, "but if a shot of soju isn't your poison, i'd love a second chance to get it right." the grin on his face widens, and he turns his body to face his fellow artist; offering him his undivided attention. "i'm not sure if we've officially met before, so i'm glad we're finally getting the chance to—i'm will."

"you performed at seoul fashion week's after party, right?"

at the moments some might call his worst and others might deem his best, ash kwon is partial to the comfort of a crowd and music loud enough to rattle the ground. in theory, it drowns out the loneliness that sits far too heavy in the pit of his stomach these days. other nights, the loneliness calls to be soaked in. he slips into half-empty bars and keeps his company to glasses of whiskey until the bartender's reluctant glances or the drunken head rush get to be too much.

it's still early enough in the night there's no hint of a head rush and the bartender's fully accommodating. he sits by himself at the end of the bar, eyes scanning the back wall of bottles without much dedication to pretending he actually cares. he's aiming for nothing more than part-time employment of the mind to keep it from wandering too far into itself before he's even got drunkenness as an excuse.

he's successful enough that it comes as a surprise when the bartender hands him a shot of soju and tells him it's been sent over. it isn't his first drink of choice, but he's not one to ever turn down a drink. he throws it back down his throat before he even bothers to look for its sender. the bar's barren enough it doesn't take long for him to catch the smile and eye contact that answers his question.

he studies the other for a beat, unsure if the man is lonely or trying to hit on him, but it's not like having some company could hurt. the glow of the light above the man casts him in a savior light, and ash will take any sign he can get. he raises the now-empty shot glass in a gesture of thanks and motions with his head for the other to join him. he might look pathetic already, but the sting of rejection of his company seems easier to take at a distance.

[williamchiu]

william's agitated. he hates feeling like he's eternally stuck in a holding room. one minute, he's being told that he's about to enter studio sessions for a comeback, and in the next, he's told that it's been pushed back... again. it's the third time this has happened now. he has no idea why he keeps being jerked around like this, but he's getting fed up with the lack of work they have for him. sure, his gig on "i live alone" keeps him relevant, but he wants to do so much more, and feels as though his talents are being heavily underutilized. during his last meeting, the creative team explained that they have a lot of big plans in store for him, they're just waiting on a few things to fall into place; said they're talking to all of the right people, but no contractual agreement has been reached yet. this scares him.

the uncertainty has him feeling anxious, and the best way for him to release tension is to dance, so instead of staying up all night staring at the ceiling, he's decided to hole himself up in a practice room—using every square foot of it as an escape away from his problems. movement has always helped him calm down, and as his graceful limbs groove to the music, william loses himself in the beat. he's not doing choreography, he's not being rigid about it, he's just dancing, and it honestly feels so fucking good.

however, the euphoric sensation dissipates immediately when the door swings open, and none other than choi joosung crosses the threshold. william's tempted to ignore him, but instead, he has the decency to turn down the tunes and averts his attention over to him. "what?" he asks, clearly annoyed; one of his arms extending up to dab the sweat that's accumulated on his brow. "what nonsense are you talking now?"

pausing, he attempts to piece together the fragments he heard of the statement spoken to him before, and after retrospectively getting the gist of it, he rolls his eyes. "oh... right," he half-acknowledges, half-dismisses. "byunghee made his own choice, joosung. i don't fuck people who don't wanna be fucked. besides, i didn't even know he was your boyfriend at first, but whenever i learned that you two were seeing each other, it only made more sense to me why he'd come searching for me after spending so much time with you." after his statement, william has the audacity to laugh.

"you really know how to choose 'em, don't you?"

sung hadn't been fun to hang around in the slightest the last week. every bit of energy left over after his tears was spent making sure his poor headspace wasn't reflecting in his idol schedules. friends he did speak to were subject to his emotional pouring and those he didn't barely received a message that he'd be out of commission, if they received anything at all.

emotions cycled constantly, but nothing seemed to ease his pains. sung knew the one thing that would solve his issues, yet even after bringing up his needs, he was left out to dry.

the itch to find whatever next best thing would help had already begun. thus far, it had been drinking. however, when sung happened to see william through the glass of the practice room door -alone, he wondered if he might have happened upon a new next best thing.

that night, byunghee had pushed william out of the room fast enough that he hadn't the time to react, not to his face. only the thought of those memories had them rolling back in his mind and heating up his blood to where the door whooshed as sung opened it. "hey! don't you have the decency to not get in bed with other people's boyfriends? or at least apologize for it afterwards?"

@williamchiu

[williamchiu]

he and rhiannon have known one another for quite awhile now, and though their interactions are largely fueled by gossip, he appreciates that she's not afraid to be messy with him. most of the time, william proves to be the messier of the two, and he often wears that fact as a badge of honor. being that he's hopelessly slept on by his company, he has to find some way to entertain himself. what could be better than ruffling feathers? those who know him understand that his vibe isn't for the faint of heart, but whenever anyone chooses to stick around, he ensures they're treated like royalty. after all, a part of being a king is showing kindness to his subjects.

however, when rhiannon approaches, she starts with flirtatious banter, but hits him with a one-two punch. the instant she brings up the latest fire he started, he's taken aback, but not in a negative way. he just wasn't expecting her to lead with something that happened somewhat recently. apparently joosung has a big mouth. "word gets around quick, hmm?" he teases, licking his lips. "it's true, though, and honestly? i don't... really care. he can be mad at me all he wants. he doesn't scare me." to punctuate his statement, he laughs; shaking his head back and forth.

"i don't blame byunghee for stepping out on him, to be honest. like, sure, maybe from ten feet away after having three drinks is joosung, like, mildly fuckable, but up close? in your face? moaning? gross..." william grimaces, raising his hand to order another round of shots for the two of them. "how'd you find out, though? did he go and cry to you? how pathetic. he shouldn't even be directing his anger at me. i'm not the one who cheated on him. maybe i'm easier to villainize, but byunghee's the fuck-up here."

every once in a while, rhiannon likes to take herself out. while most of the time she'd be eager to reach out to her multitude of casual friends - aka the ones that are in her life solely so she can have companies to nights out - every other week she prefers the solitude of going out to a bar, drinking some and leaving, either alone or with anyone who flirts with her well enough to convince her. she knows this practice kills her manager, always so concern about rhiannon's image and the chances of someone seeing her leaving a bar with a different person so often, but rhiannon herself doesn't have a single concern about it. worst case scenario she gets called a whore, loses her contracts in south korea and has to move back to england - where her father would get her in touch with music industry people. what a sad, sad life.

she enjoys these little acts of rebellion, knowing that at the same time she has something to lose, it's not everything. it makes her wonder whether that's the reason most of her idol friends look down on her constant actions - perhaps not having anything to fall back on is the main reason they are so uptight. she can't blame them. south korea and its entertainment industry is far from her favorite place in the world, but at least she can run away.

rhiannon doesn't expect to meet anyone she knows at the bar. much less for that to happen as william buys her a shot. she's only moderately surprised - if there's someone she'd meet at a place like this, of course it's william - but downs the shot eagerly before moving closer to him. "are you flirting with me, william? didn't know you were open to bisexuality." she jests, taking a seat by his side, offering him a smirk. "you caused quite a ruckus in sung's personal life, you know?"

[williamchiu]

WINE / DINE

♡ WRITTEN, WITH LOVE, FOR ANYONE ! UNDISCLOSED ROOFTOP BAR, GANGNAM.

seoul fashion week took a lot out of him, but at the end of it all, william chiu was simply glad to be included. if he's being honest, he's glad to take on practically any project everlast entertainment gives him these days. for months now, he's felt as though he's been trapped in his company's dungeon. it's dark, and murky, and fit for a fire-breathing dragon... which, somehow, seems fitting for him. no matter how eager he is to wrap up a project he's been working on, production has been suddenly halted. he doesn't know why exactly, and it makes him angry, but that's neither here nor there for right now. being that he unfortunately has so much free time on his hands, tonight, he's decided to indulge in the city's colorful nightlife scene.

while he occasionally dreams of going to the gay bars and clubs in itaewon or jongno, he knows that that that wouldn't be a great idea, so he keeps to the celebrity-friendly spots in the heart of gangnam. these are the places where there's an understanding that no words get released to the press, and as such, he feels safe being himself.

dressed immaculately, per usual, he finds himself a vacant seat at the bar; one placed beneath the best lighting the moody atmosphere has to offer. it doesn't take long for him to have a cocktail in hand, and right after he takes his first sip, he scopes out his surroundings; taking in the sights, admiring the people, and gauging what the overall vibe feels like. it's a weeknight, so it's not as crowded as it would be on a weekend, and while he typically loves being the life of the party, william's enjoying the low-key energy that's becoming rather apparent to him. toward the tail end of his sightline's journey, it stops on a familiar face; one he recognizes from the industry.

feeling friendly, he calls the bartender over and sends them a shot of soju, and as he watches it be handed off to them, he's quick to offer a smile to let them know he's who sent it. now, he waits to see what they do next; hoping they take it as an invite.

[williamchiu]

HAO ✧ DAZED KOREA

[williamchiu]

william chiu is a flamboyant beam of sunlight; one that shimmers with a radiance that's often too harsh for people. it's both the good parts, and the bad parts, of a scorching hot summer day, one with clear skies and harsh ultraviolet rays drenching the earth below. if not careful, his heat will incinerate whoever comes into contact with it, and when it comes to joosung, all caution is thrown to the wind. he's not afraid of letting his heat reach dramatic heights when it comes to arch-nemesis. it sounds childish—no, it is childish—but the supposed "rivalry" between them is very legitimate in william's mind, and he clearly has no issue letting that be known.

the instant that he sees joosung shrivel up, william grins; adoring the reaction he elicited out of him. sung's mood is exactly where william wants it—uncomfortable, so much so that he's writhing. it's subtle, but he can feel it, and as sinister as it is, he feels satisfied.

maybe his lack of empathy in these situations is troublesome, but in truth, it's merely his target that he lacks remorse for. at least for now while the tensions are still sky high. unlike his loved ones, choi joosung sees a dark side of william that's seldom witnessed by any other. he's far too image-conscious to act a fool in front of important people, but joosung? he drops all façades and keeps it "real" with him. at least that's what occurs in his point-of-view. so, as sung replies, he listens and rolls his eyes. it's refreshing that he at least acknowledges the unfair bias, but that doesn't make him any less guilty of benefiting from it.

"it's not that i focus on it, joosung, it's that it's constantly being shoved in my face." he hisses, his glare locked onto the man at his side. "you're not the one on the negative end of the comparisons made between us, and trust me, there is nothing more insulting to me than being compared to you." as he finishes his statement, the door to the boardroom finally opens; multiple people rushing out as they're clearly tardy to other obligations. in that moment, a woman calls to william; letting him know it's his turn to enter.

"thank god..." he whispers under his breath, carefully wrapping the remnants of his croissant up to place in his bag. looking back at joosung, he feigns a smile and waves. "good talk." pivoting around, he enters his meeting with a completely new attitude; hoping for good news.

sung and a lack of politeness didn't mix, given or received. his brows had furrowed as he bounced around his head wondering what he could have done to william that might befit such a title. "i've never done anything to you that would make me unworthy of politeness." any cruel words he'd spit had been provoked by ten times worse insults from william. "you've crafted a version of myself in your head that fits the bill."

that was the case of the relationship, in sung's eyes. william had to have decided who he thought sung was at some point and stuck by it for years. yet, he didn't know who sung was, proven with every argument pointing out the crafted version of choi joosung that william slung around. he could say he knew, toss on the confusing tone, and sung wasn't interested in biting. deciphering what he meant by that was not only a can of worms in his own mind, but through william's mouth as well.

though, the words still hurt, squeezing his chest as they did. time had meant sung stopped mentioning his hurt - william never seemed to care - and with it, so too did the desire to try to lift william up when he felt like the insults were putting himself down. "i'm not blind to the unfair treatment of foreigners here. in conjunction with that, i can believe you would benefit more if you stopped focusing so much on my career and focused on yours instead. two things can be true, and are."

[williamchiu]

seoul fashion week has been nothing short of a whirlwind, and william chiu is loving every single minute of it. the flashes of the cameras, the constant questionnaires from various news outlets, the haute-couture fashions, the after parties—all of it is right up his alley, and though he may not have been chosen as the ambassador for the event itself, he's glad that one of the participating brands selected him as their featured model. having been unfamiliar with them prior to this, william reviewed their archives, and after liking what he saw, he felt totally comfortable handing his measurements over to sling stone. after multiple fittings and discussions, he's incredibly thrilled with the looks they came up with. all of them are custom-made, fit just for him, and he must admit, he's thoroughly enjoying looking at himself in the mirror today.

in the midst of it all, he's ushered to a segment that he'll be filming alongside a close friend of his; one that he honestly considers a twin flame, a sister. knowing that jean's the hostess will make this a breeze. it'll feel less like work, and more like their bi-weekly dinner parties, and their chemistry will light the set up like a bonfire.

rushing over to her, he grins as she showers him with praise; like music to his hears. "you know i love it when you call me beautiful," he teases, sending her a wink. "you're the belle of the ball, darling; like always." graciously returning the sentiments, he takes his seat, and allows the hair and makeup team to do whatever they need to do to ensure that he's presentability. his fate is in their hands now. though, when he catches his pal's nose scrunch, he returns it in jest; pursing his lips together after fresh gloss was applied.

"remind me, what are we talking about again? like, what's this supposed to be for? i want to make sure i stay on track because, if i'm not careful, i'll fly off the rails and start talking shit about people."

COFFEE & COUTURE w/ @williamchiu [dressed in andersson bell f/w '23]

it feels like the sun is sitting just outside. the cafe's window panels let the light extend a few metres past the tables with a view. it reflects softly across the entire space, enough so that only a few softboxes are stood around their quaint set.

the table is decorated with a short cutting of baby's breath in the centre, but otherwise, is no different from any of the others around them. the lighting shifts as shadows of their crew gather outside.

he's here.

jean's smile spreads to her eyes as a muffled cheer follows the opening door, patrons eyes exchanging looks as william walks through. he deserves the idolatry. he looks hot as shit.

"will! my beautiful boy, welcome~" it's moments like this she's particularly grateful they share a language of their own. it breaks the ice faster than anything else, and allows her first casual conversation of the day.

still, she has to stop herself from correcting a hair out of place on his head. hyper aware as she was of their surroundings, she makes a gesture with her eyes before yielding to their makeup artist.

she takes a step back and her eyes narrow: "right, sit down, you're late." as the staff swaddle them in microphones and touch ups, jean sits and scrunches her nose in his direction. an isn't this hilarious? scrunch, a good luck scrunch.

[williamchiu]

[williamchiu]

william's eyes roll into the back of his head when sung says politeness should be a given. it's one of the many cultural differences he's faced ever since landing on korean soil, and while he recognizes that he needs to respect the culture of the country he resides in, in order to probably integrate with them, there are certain things that he naturally has a difficult time with; "saving face" and "losing face" are among them. in his mind, he'd rather not be inauthentic with people; he would rather let them know how he feels about them, even if his opinions and thoughts are brutal. it may be better to keep his negativity to himself, but with a set of loose lips and a comedic brand of wit that only he possesses, it's very hard for him to bite his tongue. joosung being his human-shaped punching bag is a long, well-established dynamic between them, and in truth, sung's the only one who gets a front row seat to all of william's dramatic displays of venomous verbiage, whether he wants to be seated there or not.

"i only give politeness to those who are worthy of it... and that's not you," he quips, licking over his lips. "also, it's not me being crass, it's me telling the truth. you acting as if that's not what they do to you is bold, and in my opinion, it only makes you look worse. that, and you honestly? you can't act as though you're more 'innocent' than i am, joosung. you may be in denial, but i know who you are."

a laugh escapes him, and he takes a sip of his latte; the caffeine only agitating him more than he already is. "people like you are so fucking infuriating; worse than people who benefit from nepotism. when it comes to you and i, you're clearly handed project after project based off of one reason, and that reason is the one clear difference between us, joosung..." he's choosing his words carefully, as he doesn't want to get caught up in a defamation scandal. "you're a total fucking moron if you don't know what i'm talking about, but then again, that would also check out to me. you're not only painfully bland and generic, but also a complete numbskull."

sung let out a sigh. his nerves tempered slightly as his body settled into the old song and dance of exhaustion around william. "i'm not polite to get something out of it. it should be a given." there was where they differed most, if sung had to guess. when they spoke, it was all insults roaming back to william hating the things he achieved in his career. sung never viewed his accomplishments as anything he needed to trick others into. if he was worthy enough, they would come.

frankly, william didn't deserve his politeness. sung knew that, yet he still tried. past tense. he wasn't much interested in continuing politeness for however long this horrible conversation would last.

though he knew the comment on his smell was just another william quip, it still had him discreetly turning his head to check. until william kept speaking, that was. sung's lips pulled back, teeth momentarily bared in a cringe. "must you be so crass all of the time?" they were in the company building, for goodness sake. even if he were to ignore the crass delivery, william's idea of sung's treatment in the company had been entirely skewed for years. he's said it before, and unfortunately will have to say it again, but like rote memory, he said, "they don't do any of that, anyway. i'm waiting here, late, just like you. can't you just back off?"