robot

“i don’t think you’re any of those things,” dita answered, but her voice didn’t sound convinced, and when she realized that, she turned bright red.

“well, you’re nice, but i know i am. i know my good traits too, though, so having some bad ones isn’t detrimental as long as i monitor them,” achara retorted. “also, you’re a poor liar too.... maybe acting isn’t in your future,” she teased

“honestly, i’d never realized that there were non-academic or corporate paths for me,” kiyoung explained. “once i found one, i think i was just so grateful and excited that i threw myself into it.”

“well... academia isn’t for everyone, despite what everyone seems to push on school-aged children,” achara commented. “you seem destined to be in the spotlight though, kiyoung. it suits you.”

“i had some paperwork to finalize with my old company last week,” she explained with a tiny shrug. “i thought i’d fill my suitcase on my way back. my mom always says the best way to make new friends is to bribe them with food….” she giggled

“sounds....awkward,” achara commented lightly, smiling as she opened one of the smaller bags of snacks-- she couldn’t help herself. “your mom is a smart lady. consider my friendship officially bought.”

she bit her lip– when it was presented to her like that, she supposed it made sense. “i….i guess, but i still feel like you’re more suitably. more leaderly,” she insisted softly

“i’m reserved and cliquey. i’m moody. i’m self centered. just because i’m louder doesn’t mean i’m better for the job,” she answered with a tiny smile

“oh, god no,” kiyoung laughed, shaking his head. “i was an ulzzang. i got pretty big on instagram, and was kind of popping off on tiktok when millenium found me. and they were going to push me the way of being a model, but i wanted to try it. i always thought acting was cool.”

“you seem really good at it! i would have never guessed that it wasn’t something you always had in mind,” she insisted earnestly. “a lot of your life path so far just seems like you stumbling into incredible things!”

“well, that’s probably why the chemistry is so high though. you’ve been working together a while,” lia said. “you can rest easy knowing you basically have it made now.”

“no, we’re not resting,” achara insisted. “we have a good start, but no one has it made. if we get lazy, we slip. its pedal to the metal time.”

“I’m just speaking the truth.” He mused, sipping slowly on his iced Americano before resting his head on her shoulder. The wikipedia comment almost makes him choke, but instead leaves him chuckling; looking up at her, “So you’re giving me permission then? I can definitely make you a page on wikipedia.”  At her question, he shows her his phone, a sheepish smile slipping onto his face, “I’m supposed to be memorising lyrics, but instead… i’m playing Kart Rider.”

she hummed, playing with his hair. it had gotten so long-- it was cute, she liked it. maybe boy group stylists weren’t so terrible all the time after all. “please, don’t. it would take too long, and between creed and scope, you barely have spare time as it is,” she chided warningly. “i’m pretty sure i have an extensive kprofiles profile already. someday a fan can just copy that over. besides, none of that is public info, yet, and you need sources for wikipedia,” achara teased. sighing, the idol rolled her eyes. “do i need to take that away from you? what are you going to do when i’m promoting in china again? or in thailand? you’ll never get anything done.”

“good. people who bring you down don’t deserve to profit off your success,” joori retorted

“no kidding. not to mention that i just know they’d suck me dry of my profits and then basically leave me for dead again. i’m not doing that shit again.”

“that’s kind of cool to hear, considering i was training to be an actor. it’s a good skill to have. a good main character can make you like them, you know?”

“then you’re training is working tremendously. good on you,” achara insisted. “did you always want to be an actor?”

“you guys have great chemistry. i’m sure that’s partially why you’re blowing up so much in china.”

“i think so too! well..that, and the fact that we were part of a very high profile pre-debut group back there that never came to fruition.... i dunno. i’m just glad things are working out.”

“well, i’m glad you’re free of them, then. and i’m happy you’re happy. i would just make sure to talk with new age’s lawyers to make sure you’re getting every penny from your work and none of it is going to them,” joori answered bluntly

“oh, trust me. there haven’t been present since i turned eighteen. they got no part of my contract,” achara assured her.

“you guys trained together in china, right? that’s huge that you found somewhere new to debut all together. that’s super rare. especially the fact that you did it in a whole other country.”

“yeah-- as much as i think the new age board of directors are just nuts.....i appreciate what they did for us. being able to debut with my girls is a dream.”

“It’s convoluted but it definitely sets you apart.” He says softly, looking up from the lyrics on his notepad to meet her gaze. Royi wasn’t the best at wording what he was trying to say but he was hoping that with a little more articulation his point would come across, “All those years of hard work set you up to be where you are now and it’s definitely shaped how amazing and talented you are.”

“sweet talker,” she retorted, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she looked back at him, turning away from her laptop. “thank you, though. at least i know that i have enough interesting stuff to put on a wikipedia page, if someone wanted to make one.” she cleared her inbox and closed the computer, turning her chair all the way around. “what are you working on?”

“yeah, you’re probably right,” beomsoo shrugged, “i dunno if it’s perseverance or just being stubborn, i think a lot of other radioactive trainees at that time just took them closing down as a hint that being in a group wasn’t going to work out.”