♥//ribbon
isac 2020 w/ @rkiny
there is no denying the electricity in the atmosphere, with the way the stands are buzzing with excited fans, all sorted distinctly by fanclub colors and flourescent signs, some lit up and blinking, others shiny and huge and spread out across multiple rows of seats. with every new trainee experience, ian catches another kpop bug, gaining yet another level of understanding and contagious interest. where his world of ballet is known for being poised and serious, serene and velveteen, this is a world that is cheerful and boisterous, colorful and loudly expressive. and somehow he’s found himself completely and happily caught up in it.
it’s probably a bit of a ridiculous sight, ian, six feet tall and in a pastel pink company t-shirt that might be a half-size too small, hunched over meticulously crafted portable meals to carefully place each sticker, note, photocard, ribbon, in its proper spot for each box. when his latest stack feels properly decorated, he takes the extra minute or two to carefully, albeit precariously, stack all ten of his boxes and gather them in the crook of his elbow, using gravity, and his chest, to keep them upright.
“noona,” he utters warmly as he moves from his spot and approaches nayeon’s end of the table with a grin, “do you have any finished lunches? i’m gonna run this batch up to the second level.”
it was a pleasant surprise to discover nayeon had selected the lunchbox station as well; she was one of the (growing) handful of kt trainees he’d warmed up to rather quickly, having discovered early on that they shared a love of classical dance and a basic knowledge of the french language, which was plenty enough to establish an almost instant bond of camaraderie between them.
he lifts a knee to prop up his stack as he frees one hand to reach for any other boxes on the table that look aptly decorated and ready to serve, “do you want to come with me? i want to go see the nsg fans with the matching scarves. i think they made up fanchants already!”
nayeon’s mind has been thrumming with energy from the very moment she and all the rest of her fellow trainees stepped into the venue, the days signature pink tracksuit donned on her frame in a way all too complimentary to the flush of excitement she can’t seem to get to go away. there’s so much going on, so much to do as the day progresses, but she’s happy to work hard through it all. it’s with determination that she works, all too focused on making sure the lunchboxes she’d signed on to help prepare look at nice as they can while still trying not to take too long during the process— maybe that’s why, when ian’s voice breaks through the veil of concentration she’d put up, nayeon feels herself startle slightly.
her shock fades almost as quickly as it had come, wide eyes closing as she gives a wide and inviting smile. while nayeon has managed to form pleasant ties practically every other trainee signed under kt, ian is someone she’s quickly come to care for in a way a little more personal. maybe it’s because jaehyun has long since left, hard at work to forge a life as an idol, or because jungkook, while open to her care and almost motherly affections, is very independent, but nayeon felt herself endeared towards the younger from their very first conversation.
there was also the added bonus of common interests, ones she’s not had the pleasure of sharing with anyone else in a very long time.
the sight of lunchboxes stacked so carefully in his arms makes nayeon want to reach out and help, divide the load just in case he needs the extra hand, but then she remembers the smaller stack she’s got waiting for her to deliver as well. “ah, i can come with you! i just finished up this one, and i don’t want to keep the rest just waiting here for too long.”
she opens her mouth to protest as he reaches to take even more boxes with him, even with how much stronger than her he must be, reaching over to take some for herself as well. “oh gosh, have they already? that was so fast— i’m curious to see what it is.” his enthusiasm is infectious, nayeon unable to hold back her growing grin as she waits for him to settle the boxes in his arms.
















