ØBSÈSSIØN

the last song is an old piece that he’s performed a few times before, but it’s mostly known as one of the most watched videos on his channel. it’s just a signature for him to not don the mask during his recording considering the consistencies, even when he still uses his alias for the name of the channel. now that he’s executing the motion-based tale on the song, some of the audience might still not know his channel and vice versa—his very identities as kai on youtube and kai from exodus can still have the disparity since some people like him anonymous. so this time, he appeases those who wish to see him not as a face, but as a body. disengaged from the expressions, of the appearances. instead, what matters is the juxtaposition of the separation and the fluidity that merges into one, crafting the syllabus of heavy tales. he’s to follow the beats that come irregular, the blasting instruments, sans lyrics, carry him away to the place where he can only care about the moves. he only stops dancing when he reaches the finish line of the story, heaving as he finally reaches that point.

the rupturing applause leaves his heaving drowned in the cacophonies. he gives a bow as he exhales in relief, knowing that he has delivered what he wanted to. getting the money is not something that they really look at, typically using the cash obtained for renting the studio, as well as bonding with the members through soju nights. he lets his breathing cool down as the rest of exodus comes to give the last bow together. when the crowd fades eventually, jongin takes off his mask and gloves, shoving them into his—very branded—backpack, preparing to go home. the members are still folding the mat, and he shoulders his bag, about to head towards them when someone approaches him. it’s not uncommon to have this kind of encounter, again, but instead of screaming fangirls this one is a man with a rather familiar face. he must’ve seen the man before… somewhere… unsure—but there’s inevitably recognition written on the man’s expression, too, that isn’t just about his performance. social media might be the answer, so jongin shrugs off the tug of familiarity. he lets the man approach him in full before asking, ❛ how can i help you? ❜ his tone is almost nonchalant, not showing any sign of irritation.

＊. EVENT COLLAB / THIS. POINTS +3 SINGING +2 CHARISMA. 1264 WORDS.

he’s not exactly the type to get inspired from songs in the form of singing, but some can be certain exceptions that make him feel like reigniting the love he has for singing. it’s once in a blue moon kind of occasion, dribbling within the mind in a classic ricochet. this one song has been tickling his fancy constantly, swirling inside the thoughts. a cover is due to be made, and he’s seeking someone who can cover the rapping parts than he could ever do, which isn’t a feat, really. even the most novice rappers can beat him in a rap battle effortlessly, so he’s not a contender in this forte. definitely not up his alley, but he knows someone who might have the musical and rhythmical inclination for it. the song that he wishes to cover since the beginning of listening to it is rather simple, the beat slow, soothing. the sad meanings are almost overlooked upon listening merely for the melody, but that’s how he likes his songs, fitting for his somber voice.

his invitation for jaebum is not ignored, thank goodness. it seems that nowadays people are getting busier and busier, with their lives occupied with school and work. it’s not uncommon for him to get turned down for a recording due to their being shy, too, so jongin doesn’t blame anyone. his subscribers are also there mostly for his dance covers and routines, as far as he’s aware, so he’s not really sure when he wants to upload song covers, but does it anyway. it’s his channel, after all, and knowing that he’s not at all shabby in singing might also attract more traffic into his channel. the influx of anything is acceptable, he’s not picky. so, when jaebum agreed to cover the song with him, he’s halfway elated. well, he hasn’t heard the man rap per se, just his singing, but as a former band vocalist, jongin is almost sure that jaebum would know not to embarrass himself in front of an audience when he’s not too well-versed in this, for example.

the arrival of the day, after he finishes with today’s practice at the studio, leaves jongin excited since he has prepared all the materials needed for the recording. he’s memorised the song, training for his parts. he is pretty much ready, and he hopes that jaebum is, too, especially since jaebum will be the one rapping and plucking. multitasking is one hell of a task, and jongin himself knows how much of a pain it can be, even when so far he’s managed to do so, especially with dancing and singing. tonight, however, he simply has to sing, so that’s even easier for him. the arrival at home leaves forty minutes for him before jaebum’s arrival, so he jumps into the cold shower real quickly, washing his hair too, which color has almost faded from silver back to the light blonde, bleached. needs a touch-up, for sure. he makes a mental note to do so as he dries his hair, gelling it up. it’s still presentable for the recording even when the root is peeking already. after all, isn’t the music the only thing that matters?

his thoughts come to an abrupt end when the doorbell of his apartment rings. he half-sprints towards the door, opening it for jaebum. grinning, he steps aside to let jaebum in. ❛ ready for it, hyung? ❜ he asks as he heads towards the rather spacious second bedroom, transformed into the dance studio. not the best chamber to reverberate the acoustic, enhancing the quality, but it’s the only room with the soundproof walls. they need to be seated on the wooden floor, but that should suffice. ❛ feel free to put your bag anywhere, ❜ he says, gesturing towards the room. in a corner, the camera is propped, sitting on the side sitting space covered with cushion. ❛ we’ll be sitting on the floor for the recording—hope that’s okay with you. ❜ his eyes follow jaebum as jaebum prepares himself, sitting on his usual corner before doing the smurf-ing to warm his vocal up. ❛ anything you want to eat after we finish, by the way? my treat. thanks for agreeing to do this with me, you’re saving the career that i don’t have. ❜ he chuckles. ❛ i really love the song, too. i suck too badly at rapping, though. ❜

he stands up temporarily to check the camera, then, ensuring that the aperture covers enough of them, the sign where they will be sitting marked with crisscrossed tapes. he hums when the camera is ready, looking at jaebum, wondering, ❛ ready for the recording, hyung? shall we practice first or record immediately? ❜ quirking his eyebrows, he agrees when jaebum asks for them to try seeing their dynamics without any practice. that’s just how jongin likes it, anyway, for everything can be edited later. ❛ alright, let’s go with the intro then, ❜ he decides, moving to the camera to start recording. after clicking the button, he moves backward to sit cross-legged next to jaebum. ❛ so yes, hello again, people! this is your resident kai, with im jaebum. today we’re going to sing a cover for you, called home is far away by epik high and oh hyuk. ❜ he looks at jaebum to start with the instrument, then.

the soft plucking of the guitar fills the room with the echo, the harmony delivered by the strings in absence of the piano. he counts the starting point with a relative ease after listening to the song so often, and jaebum’s idyllic play also helps him slow into the right entrance: got a long way to go / but there are no vacant taxis / seems like it’s gonna rain / my drooping shoulders bear the burdens of today / i want to take a bit of a rest / home is far away. the chorus slides the atmosphere into the right chill ambience, and jongin watches closely as jaebum falls into the rhythm of the rap as the melodic guitar keeps playing, followed by another chorus that jongin sings. the next part with the rap is another tempo that jongin nods along with slightly, not as fervently as he would with upbeat songs that he often dances to. jaebum’s voice is heavier than the singing voice, or perhaps that’s just jongin, but either way it fits seamlessly into the song even sans the beats.

the song mellows in, carrying jongin as he stays in the mood still. wearing the ache as he sings the chorus, he has always been expressive when it comes to singing, dancing. he sways along the melodies, too, as the rap part pours in, until the bridge comes: could you please stop for a moment for me? / it’s hard to keep walking along / the wind is blowing, and still… closing his eyes as he sings the part, he doesn’t open his eyes as he sings the chorus again, followed by jaebum’s part. the outro eventually comes, and he picks up on where jaebum partakes, complementing the part until the diminuendo is replaced by the fading plucked strings. he grins at it, then, before fixing his gaze on the camera again to close the video. ❛ so, that was it, thanks for tuning in! if you liked it, don’t forget to subscribe to my channel and jaebum hyung’s, as i will link his on the description below. see you next time, please let us know in the comments if you’d like to see another collaboration, thanks! farewell for now. ❜

＊. EVENT VLOGGING / THIS. POINTS +3 DANCING. 754 WORDS.

late night stays at the studio sometimes give him the best inspiration, and it’s not until his body is halfway to succumbing to the weight of fatigue that the ideas emerge. he’s been perfecting, polishing this dance choreographed haphazardly with his fellow exodus leaders for the next performance, but this is largely unfinished. tonight, though, the creative juice seems to strike, trickling down his system that he’s motivated to just see the end of the short routine down. and then, on top of that, he believes that his youtube channel, project.kai, has been abandoned for quite some time, collecting dust. at this point, spider webs have grown prevalent in its corners, so he might as well record something to please his fans. every now in a while, he feels like it. not that often, definitely, but this is just some upload to especially let them know that he isn’t dead yet, specifically the international fans gained from the global recognition of exodus’ street performances.

sans the mask, however, it might be more personalised, the touch. after filing the edges of the routine, he readies himself for the recording. the camera isn’t professional as he relies on his phone alone. one of them, to be exact. the sharpness of its lenses considering the phone’s type being famous for its camera shouldn’t be disappointing. setting it to stand with no tripod, angled at the best spot in this studio, it has proved to be more problems than not. he doesn’t want this to be super professional, still, seeing that he wants this to be a private session, delivered from him to his audience, just to prove he hasn’t forgotten that he has some subscribers, perhaps still waiting for him to release something, anything. the s20 ultra now propped on the side bench, its aperture capturing almost the whole room, on the classic casing’s stand. after ensuring that it’s not going to fall down mid-recording, he starts the recording as the music nearly comes to an end, inching closer to the repeat. he leads himself back to the middle point of the room, then, waiting for that lapse between this play and the next. later, he can cut this easily with the editing software.

now standing on his position, jongin waits for the song’s beginning, the dance break’s music a short one, yet sweet. this isn’t exactly supposed to be a stand-alone performance, seeing just how simple, although it also encompasses some difficult techniques. maybe this is just him showing off, but isn’t that the whole point of performing besides entertaining? not like he has been dancing every single day, practicing his styles for nothing. the separation is the most distinct point to this routine, and he starts immediately, just a brief moment after the song starts. his commencing point is after the, ❛ come in. ❜ it is within the first beat that he reacts to the song, limbs moving to follow the tempo as it drops. each move is clearly distinguished from the rest, the exact property of the series enunciated. the crisp sharpness of his dance something he takes pride in, even when he feels it’s still far from perfection. never really complacent with this one passion of his. the song itself is also fairly simple, dropping the continuous rhythms, with the beats regular. it might be effortless to listen to, but it was one hell of a headache to choreograph, and eventually to memorise.

＊. EVENT CHARACTER PLAYLIST / THIS. POINTS +3 CREATIVITY. 10 SONGS.

01. DO I WANNA KNOW? BY ARCTIC MONKEYS. definitely his go-to song during busking with his friends. like, they know, and they always don’t mind him singing to it especially in the acoustic version since his voice fits the song quite well. arctic monkeys also happens to be his favourite band during his stay in london that he watched a few of their gigs there. he likes both their older style and their newer, but this album is the golden one for his taste.

02. SWEATER WEATHER BY THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. another indie-ish song that he listened to when he was fairly young, and was more focused on polishing his dancing even when he liked singing some covers as well. the song eventually grew more on him as it gained more popularity, but it remains as a personal favourite without having to become a dance song for some reason. if he’s to choreograph a routine for this song, he’d probably do a couple dance, which is not very often done.

03. STARBOY BY THE WEEKND. one of his favourite songs to sing along to, as well as something that he sometimes does routine freestyle during his sessions, whether alone or in front of the audience. the irregular beats make the song versatile enough for him to arrange the moves, although this is geared more towards the modern style of dancing for him. still a song he listens to in the car as well whenever he feels like singing along to something in the car.

04. ROCK + ROLL BY EDEN. in which he has a similar tone to this person when it comes to voice colour, so it is simple for him to try and cover this rather indie-based song. he’s in love with the harmony, in spite of its irregularity. not like he’s the one playing the guitar anyway, usually. the break with the electric guitar makes the song stand out, too. he’s also into the lyrics, liking the somber tone to it, fitting to his stylistic choice as well.

05. I SEE FIRE BY ED SHEERAN. a song to either chill or dance to, nothing much in-between. this slow song is always a tough one to choreograph, but he manages to craft some of the fitting moves. he needs to adjust his styles to fit into the mould of this kind of songs, but he takes on it more as a challenge instead of something to drop. it helps him break out of his shell, for sure, especially since he doesn’t like being complacent with his dancing.

06. THE 7TH SENSE BY NCT U. considering that this is one of the tougher songs to dance to in the realm of kpop, this kind of routines would definitely attract his attention. this is something that he’d love to cover, for sure, seeing the complexity on top of the fluidity that it has. the tempo of the song is definitely not something that can ignite inspiration to choreograph something immediately, on top of his head. the unorthodox choreography is also definitely a favourite.

07. SOMETIMES I HEAR HOWLIN’ IN MY HEAD BY DEAN. another favourite song, but this time he struggles to find a good way to cover the song considering that it’s sung in a rather high note, not in his usual comfortable range. this is a song that sometimes tries covering and practicing whenever he takes the vocal lessons, trying to tackle a more versatile style since he would like to be able to reach these high notes without sounding like he had just inhaled some helium from a balloon.

08. LUCIFER BY SHINEE. the song that caught his ears first, then his eyes. the nearly monotonous beats somehow exciting, and when he saw the dance for the first time, it was the turning point towards the slippery slop of the kpop world. he was not into kpop much back then, especially since his background in music was more towards the classical given the influence of his socialite mother. this song both introduced and hooked him into the genre.

09. UN VILLAGE BY BYUN BAEKHYUN. the most recent song that he’s obsessed with, even when he jumped on the bandwagon relatively late. this song suits his style in singing, that’s for sure, and this is a song that he requests to sing whenever his friends ask him to sing with their bands. while he isn’t into fully performing for singing since it’s mostly eclipsed by his passion for dancing, he’d jump to sing this one song at any given time.

＊. EVENT STREET PERFORMANCE / THIS. POINTS +2 SINGING. 628 WORDS.

the streets are relatively quiet, especially considering that this is a weekend. perhaps it’s a bit too early for the pedestrians, but that provides ample rooms for preparation. the stage, as always, somehow haphazard—they are only putting the carpet to set an invisible barrier between themselves and the soon-to-be-hopefully-there audience. there’s nothing much to expect except for the pleasure derived from entertaining those passersby who might stop to watch them. his friends are the ones on duty, considering that he’s only there to substitute junsu, who cannot make it today due to some family business. his arrival is considerably late, but his tardiness somehow doesn’t make him have to wait for that long. today, his task is to deliver four to five songs only, but as always, he prepares six of the ones given from their list just in case something happens.

he meets some familiar faces, already standing nearby with their cameras and phones ready. some avid fans of the band’s, although jongin has half the thoughts that they might be a tad disappointed since junsu has quite a number of follower count. he’s not deterred, though, since he’s not there to perform permanently. after greeting the friend—yoonho—who invited him to the performance on top of junsu’s request to replace his shift, he gives the customary nod when he’s introduced to those accompanying yoonho as the guitarist as well as the one seated on the cajon. he’s watched their performances before, so their playing styles aren’t entirely new for him. adjusting the stool given behind the standing microphone stand, he looks around, wondering if they will gain more members amidst the audience. the morning is growing late, and even when they’re staying cool from the building’s shadows, the afternoon sun is inevitably growing warmer. good thing he’s only wearing a loose thin t-shirt on top of his ripped skinny jeans.

he makes himself comfortable on the stool, before annoyingly knocking on the microphone to test if it’s on. after ensuring it is, he lets yoonho to introduce the band, with him as the replacement for junsu as today’s vocalist. giving the gathering crowd a smile, he’s certain that there are some known faces amidst the sea, now. those who know him from both the social circles as well as exodus’ performances. as they start playing the instruments, he leans towards the microphone as he waits for his entrance. at the beginning of this set, they chose the more familiar—albeit old—song from arctic monkeys. it’s one of his favourites, one that he knows suits the colour of his voice rather well. the cajon creates the ambiance, followed by the first melodic guitar plucks, followed by the second. his entry is almost somber as he holds onto the microphone with both hands, the nuanced lyrics fitting to the way he carries the atmosphere. closing his eyes from time to time to immerse himself in the song’s meanings, there’s no specific difficult tugs to his intonation. this is a comfort zone for his vocal range, to say the least.

have a very well-off background, so he is within that circle if any of your muse is in that kind of affluence. he’s not that involved anymore now, after he went back from london for boarding house high school for three years. he has older siblings that are still very much within the circle, though, so connections can especially be made through his sister, jungah / clementine, who is currently twenty-three. he’s moderately famous, his instagram and youtube have quite a number of followers, and some people still like to gossip about him... see: crazy rich asian.

he lives in an upper-middle class-ish family apartment, anywhere is good, please see plot page for more details on being his neighbour. he has the two-bedroom one, the second room converted to a decent dance room. he isn’t often home, though, on top of school and also being the founder of ‘exodus’. you might see him perform on the streets, albeit masked because ‘exodus’ is jabbawockeez-inspired—you might also see him busking when his friends request him to sing.

skill-wise, out of the five he focuses on dancing and charisma. singing comes third, he’s better off singing acoustic. creative in freestyle choreographies only. if you want some fun for noraebang, he’s your guy. ask him to do that rap, and he will humour you. he did learn parkour as a teenager, adding to his list of not-really-useful skills. martial artist for a moment. musical prodigy for a moment. jack-of-all-trades, but focusing on dancing. his style is versatile, sharp, referring back to his real life counterpart’s style.