dreamin & dreamin

even though he’s an idol already, nathan can’t get enough out of dance practice. it’s one of his favorite things to do—dance, that is—and now that he’s been officially named the main dancer of type zero, there’s a lot (he thinks) that still needs to be done to maintain this title. debut shouldn’t mean that he’ll become complacent—not when everyone else is working so hard to chase after them, after all.

but despite his ambitious, nathan’s still human—and a growing boy, still, and when they’re dismissed for today, a hand grabs the bit of t-shirt over his heaving chest to wipe at the accumulation of sweat on his father. a couple of pants escape him before he eagerly nods his head at isa’s suggestion—”oh, hell yeah. i’m starving, like, i could eat a whole cow right now—ooh, that sounds so good right now: beef. let’s go get barbecue, hyung.”

his eye’s brightened up a bit, that was enough to give him a little pep in his step. it was always great to have someone to eat with. “i’m glad you said yes, if you said no, the friendship would’ve been ruined....i kid.” a small laugh left his mouth, leaving the ‘or am i’ unsaid. “and bbq? that’s something i can get down with.” 

maybe, overly prepared but learning a new language was hard. is korean wasn't that horrible but it was still something he found himself picking up on. learning it was one thing but applying it to real conversation, things were different and bit more nuanced. but he was really ready to tackle the new project the company threw at them.

(and it was something new but it did feel a little more focused.)

so, in preparation, he watched all of the shows in mandarin that he could, took notes and brought that notebook with him to the class.

and still, he found himself being woefully unprepared. it wasn't that it was hard...it was very hard. the best way he could describe it, it felt like information overload at first. it was something he knew he'd have to go back to a few times once the class was over. instead, he tried to focus on what he could understand and asking questions, there was nothing wrong with asking questions.

(there instructor might've been annoyed but isa just barreled past.)

things were a bit better when they moved onto the cultural aspects. sure, it helped with learning a bit more about speaking but it helped give his mind a bit of a break. it was fun and it kept him engage, so it was a bit sad when they circled back to had to get back to the real work but at least his mind was more clear and he could jump back into it. things didn't easy but he didn't feel overwhelmed with it.

(and the question asking died down a bit.)

the filming was easy enough.

a joint performance was nice.

it hadnt sunk in properly, eunho wondered what it would take for it to sink in. sure he had moved into the type zero dorm, but it didn’t feel real. eunho was going to debut after three years as a trainee, a trainee who had not participated in any of the previous dream seasons. before he drowned in his thoughts completely, eunho heard someone greet him.

he lifted his head and as the male greets and welcomes him into the group, “ hello, ” eunho says and smiles slightly, “ thank you. ”

the surprise on his face when the male asks about his feelings, he smiles at the other, “ honestly, it feels weird. it hasn’t sunk in properly. " it was true, but he was grateful for this opportunity.

“don’t worry about it.” isa waved off the thank you, it was only natural. “are you doing anything for lunch? we should go out and get something together.” even more bonding, that’s what the company was aiming for and isa agreed. he knew not all groups couldn’t get along, they could be them but he wanted them to at least be friendly with each other. 

“i understand.” isa replied right away, he really did. “i almost thought i wouldn’t be able to do it. transitioning from someone who’s a band member to a full out idol...” he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to do it. “and then, coming into a group that has a sound and fanbase already, it can be a bit scary.” and he wanted eunho to know he was there for him. 

“i wanted to give you the official welcome to typ zero. official from me at least.” the other members might’ve spoken to him already. “congratulations on your soon to be debut.” it could be a scary time or a fun time, he wasn’t sure yet maybe a good mix of both. “how are you feeling about it?”

the thought of doing well started to feel a little less difficult. the biggest factor? making sure he avoided any type of online interactions. he wouldn't be able to see the good but it was a great way of making sure he didn't see the bad. it also helped that they had more new members. it felt good. but the driving force? he wasn't getting chewed out which meant he had to be doing something right.

all isa wanted to do was continue to do it.

performing in front of his senior was a little daunting but isa tried not to focus on that by the time filming day came around. what he lacked in talent, he was determined to make up for in his personality and charisma. it helped that they were allowed to be a little more dramatic. that was the thought that ran through his mind as he took to the stage as the smoke started to fill up the stage. it would fit in nicely with halloween.

and as the performance really started, isa let himself go as much as he could. the tone of the song switched up a bit and that gave him something to look forward too. from the dramatic opening with the makeup, to the rapping, to the dance break. Something was always changing and it made sure he didn't get bored, even if there was a lot to do with keeping up with the dance moves. As long as he didn't stick out in a bad way, then it didn't matter that much.

a side hustle was something that daeho admire. unlike most kids who are financially stable, some like daeho himself were not. so whether or not this side hustle was for the need of money, daeho was impressed regardless. “oooo, I see” a cheeky smile and two thumbs up towards isa “maybe you can treat me to wood shop lesson next time?”

“black bean noodles sounds good!” junk food was usually on daeho’s list to eat when he was out and about. while training he tried to keep to a clean diet but its harder to do than say. “maybe some spicy rice cake to add to that.” he chuckle. the thought of it really did let his stomach growling. “let’s go to the nearest noodle shop because im starving just thinking about it!”

isa returned his smile, nodding his head. “i started to have too many things, no where to put them so i sold them and then people requested items.” it had all worked out and if being an idol didn’t work out, he at least had some trade skills. “and i’d love to teach you about the wonderful world of wood shop. it can be  bit dangerous so you have to be focused.” that was one thing he took serious, he was a jokey guy but once he stepped inside, it was all focus. 

“black bean noddle's it is!” isa parroted back, “along with spicy rice cakes.” it sounded like a full meal and he was happy to get there. “i think one is fairly close.” they wouldn’t have to take a long walk. “so, other than black bean noddle's, what do you like to eat?” he had to learn more about his members right? “i do love spicy food but chicken wings...i enjoy them the most.”

a bit shocking was an understatement. nodding his head he listen attentively to the other. “very shocking” but all the trainee at legacy was unique in their own ways. it shouldn’t had been such a surprise to daeho when he found out that isa had a unquie talent as well. while his cooking others, like isa had wood shop skills. 

“yup” patting down he pockets he made sure that he felt the outline of his wallet and phone. “I got everything I need” he follow suit and walked towards the door opening it to welcome the fresh air. “ah, its sure is nice to be outside doing something different for a change.” daeho didn’t think much about it but he was in the mood for something spicy? no, maybe salty. pondering on his thought he shrugged his shoulder. “im not too sure yet. was there anything that you wanted to eat?” 

“it’s fun, a little bit dangerous but overall, it’s a lot of fun.” he enjoyed the entire process, from planning the entire design to painting it after. “and it’s a good way to make a little side money.” it wasn’t the biggest bonus but it was a big one.  

“all clear here as well.” isa said as he followed daeho out, taking a chance to get used to the sunlight. “that i can agree with, i don’t like being cooped up in the house or dorms.” any place really, he’d go for a walk just to do something. “i don’t know either, so i normally go with the first thing that comes to mind and right now, i think that’s black bean noddle's.”

“so, do i look as nervous as i feel?” isa turned to akira, pulling at his clothes for no reason. “and don’t be easy, i’m normally holding a guitar when i’m no stage, not a mic.” that was normally on a stand. “this feels like d-day and i’m not ready.”

daeho looked at him in surprise, they were definitely two different people but they’ve still mange to be friends. “wood working?” he repeated afterwards, jaws dropped to the ground. “you’ve got to show me some of the stuff you had done.” daeho would not call himself a handy but the thought to creating something out of plain wood was fascinating. maybe if time premit them in the future he would hit up isa to learn a thing or two about crafting wood.

“alright! to the acarde!” he jumped up from the seat, dusting off his pants. “it shouldn’t be too far right? we can walk?” after lounging around what felt like all day daeho was ready to get some exercise. “maybe while we’re out we can grab something to eat?” while playing they might get hungry, or at lest he would with his appetite. walking over towards the door he grab his shoes and waited for isa. “you ready?”

“ah yes, it’s a bit shocking isn’t it?’ he knew it wasn’t something most people did in their spare time. not people training to be idols at least. “that’ll be easy enough, i brought some stuff with me. i mostly do it for fun but i sold it online as well. it’s something nice and tough to focus on.” it was easy for him to get lost into it. 

“i’m down with walking.” isa followed daeho in standing up. “food does sound good.” isa nodded his head and made his way to the door, doing a weird jumping move as he put on his shoes. “ready.” he confirmed once he had his shoes on and his wallet was in his pocket. “what do you like to eat?”

yeah, that was the word. it was a good word. thankfully, he wasn't having horrible time learning everything. the songs weren't bad, not all of it was his personal type but idol music was different from the music with the band. still, that didn't make recording the songs hard.

in fact, that was almost too easy.

which was why things were harder when it came to the dancing. up until this point, isa didn't find himself to be a bad dancer. honestly, that became pretty clear when he was main a lead vocalist and rapper and isa was sure his dancing was miles above his rapping. it wasn't even something he considered before the chance to feature came up.

but now, he felt like a bad dancer.

learning the moves had been shockingly easy. yep. he could put them together. he just wished he didn't so stiff. that was the awkward part about it. he stood still on stage when he was in the band but he still felt like had more freedom of movement to be himself. isa knew himself on stage as a member of a band.

he was still finding himself as a member of type zero.

but it was mostly because he knew if he didn't look good to himself, then he wouldn't look good to the fans of the group he was about to join.

which meant he had to work harder.

the last person left the dance room and isa hung back to practice for a little longer. all he needed to do was find his groove, how he'd express himself. another sigh left his lips and isa went to the start over again. from the top again and again and again.

type zero have gone through numerous changes. he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t worried about how that would look to the netizens, though minjun knows fully well that it’d be impossible to satisfy everyone. many of type zero’s original members have left—this means they’ll have to work harder this comeback, to make sure that everything that everyone has poured their blood and sweat into remains intact.

isa’s worries, especially as a new member, is only natural. minjun musters one of his best reassuring smiles, reaching out to give a comforting pat on isa’s shoulder. “that… i’m sure you’re here for a reason.” that’s the best thing he can give isa, for now. everything else, isa will have to confirm with himself. at the very least, he wants to help isa feel like he fit in, like a true member of the group. “i wasn’t part of the original line up either,” minjun says, recalling the days after future dreams, where he was appointed as a stand in. “in the end, i adjusted. it’s not easy, but it started feeling… right, to me.”

isa chuckled a little. there were many reasons, he just needed to find the right one. the biggest one being that the company wasn’t going forward with the band path. it sucked, he was working for it but they hadn’t kicked him out. “some might like to say it’s my good looks.” a small joke, with a little truth in it when it came to isa. 

“were you more scared or excited?” that’s what he was going between right now. scared because he wasn’t sure if he was up to par. would people rip him apart and then, he’d really be debuting. it was a strange mix. “adjusting, that’s something i’m pretty good at doing, just a little nervous really about my position in the group. i was training to be a bassist.” 

daeho was glad that he wasnt the only one that felt this way. to be honest he wasnt sure what to feel but he was okay with that maybe. “yeah your right, but Im just so use to doing something.” he repeated at this point he felt like a broken record without even realizing it. maybe he just needed to repeat it more before he could admit that he bored out of his mind. 

“I will catch up on my shows..eventually” he laughed. daeho was not sure exactly when but he did stop watching his tv shows to dance more. though he missed his drama they might have wait. “knitting?” daeho though about it a little “nah, not really for me” he shook his head. it was just not his style? maybe it was because he too felt like it was still a little slow pace for him. 

“painting?” he had try painting before but he still wasn’t a fan of it. “not really, sorry to be bumper” he laugh. “I want to do something active.” pressing his lips together he try to think of something for the two of them to do that would be consider ‘active’ . “maybe something like biking, or going to the arcade?” 

isa nodded his head, he kind of understood how hard it could be for daeho. maybe he would feel like that once he officially debuted. the band members didn’t do much, so this would be a whole new world for him. “understandable, not everyone enjoys the process.” it was a focused practice, you needed to be fairly still and it was tedious overall, you had to love it. 

isa let out a laugh when painting was shot down as well. yeah, his hobbies were a bit different. “i also do a little wood-working when i have the time.” he was sure daeho wouldn’t go for that but it was funny. if he wasn’t becoming an idol, then he’d become an artist or something like that. “i’m not sure about biking but i am down for going to the arcade.”