FROM: HANEUL "JUDE" SHIN TO: NOVEM SONG [ @proxism ] LOCATION: sector10
cheeks flushed, wings covered in gold glitter, jude gives the audience one of his gigawatt smiles as they bow. the lights shine down against their skin, mutation making the hue around them brighter for a few seconds, before they thank the audience and move off the stage. it was only for a few songs today, but as their influence and popularity grow, they can feel the way people are looking forward to seeing them now. after the collab with victor- things have only gotten better, which they are incredibly grateful for. speaking of audience β someone they know is most likely here by luck, and someone who jude is quite curious about, is novem. having spotted him at the beginning of their performance, now that they are done, they make their way toward him, slipping into the seat opposite him without even asking. "mr. song β" jude teases, as if they aren't on a first-name basis by now. "what made you leave your tower of boardrooms? this was an unannounced performance, otherwise i'd have to bet it was for me."
life tends to put him in places he'd rather not be, but tonight, he's somewhere he most certainly intended. perusing the glam and the glitz of the performance, novem takes notes on the way that jude commands the room, all charms cocooned in their shine, calibrated in a way to captivate without being too much. that, in itself, is a skill, and while novem would like to believe that he is in his own league when it comes to maintaining his charisma, jude has their penchant in the game, too. cloaked in structured lies, or so novem would like to believe. not everyone has the audacity to stomach this knowing that dishonesty plays a part in conversations, preferring the stale ennui of sincerity, but novem has the gut feelings that jude slides into the seat with the mutual understanding that they both hide something under their crooked nails. like intentions, like manipulation. he pretends to be surprised, mildly so, expression all trained, all calculated. "you make it sound like i spend my days in and out just working," he says, his smile coy. "some days, not wrong. most days, no, i have the liberty to work from anywhere, meetings or not. however, some of that statement might not be entirely wrong. about being here to see you, i mean. your performance, it's never shabby, as per usual." a pliant smirk, then he raises his glass. "may i treat you to some drinks, then? i'd assume you won't just dash home after work. i have trust in your ability to not be so... boring."
