optics.

she nodded emphatically, trying not to turn beat red with every dialogue exchange she had with him. “i…. i think the main trainee studio is open, if you would like? it’s a little drafty but….. there’s lots of space…” she mumbled

“that sounds perfect. i can handle a little draft-- i brought a cardigan,” kyu assured her, biting back a chuckle. “we should double check it isn’t booked, though. and if it is, i’m sure i can quickly book one of the lounges.”

“It’s like, travelling for concerts is usually more time in transit if you’re going far away so theres more time for naps, but with promotions you kind of have to be on all day and you’re only sleep time is in the van for maybe an hour at the most.”

“please, kyu, she thinks you’re the sun and the stars. i don’t know what you did, but you’ve got a fan for life in her,” jinkyung answered once she realized he knew which of her kids she was talking about. “well, i was a little worried. you’re a busy man. and i know sometimes having a kid have a crush on you can be awkward.”

“all i did was run her lines with her,” he answered, with a little shrug. “she’s got a lot of potential, by the way. takes after yoonseok.” he shook his head. “i’m an idol, tons of kids have and have had crushes on me. and i’m not nearly as busy as i used to be.”

she blushed when he smiled at her, eyes going a little wide. this was kyu. from empire. huge actor who helped found the company, and celebrity hunk. and he was going to help her. “oh um…” she stumbled over her words, almost dropping her script. “fifteen pages. twenty minutes. i think. is that too long? i don’t want to bother you….”

“don’t worry-- i have plenty of time,” he assured her gently. “i don’t have anywhere to be until 5. should we find an open practice space?”

“god, spotlight is lucky i’m under so many fucking nda’s. otherwise dispatch would have been expecting this for a long time,” she grumbled.

“i wonder if there’s any way to break those nda’s,” kyu commented warily. “it would get you the justice i think you desire. and it would warn new trainees. not to mention, probably make silent spotlight idols feel like they have a voice.”

“That sounds way cool – Empire seemed more like rockstars anyway,” Noeul said. “Concerts are definitely better than music show lives. They don’t feel as like…. squashed if that makes any sense.”

“If you’re content, I think that’s all that really matters, you know? Being an idol is a super public job, and at a certain point it’s important to draw a line between what’s private and what’s not.”

“Honestly, I don’t blame you for feeling left behind–it’s definitely way too much to wrap your head around sometimes. It’s fun and all for the most part, but it really gets to a point where it’s really just not anymore–more like busywork than anything. Another performance outside actually performing. Being so connected has it’s downsides, so you might actually be better off having missed it, actually. “

“uhhh…… well, these kids are here to learn, and in not a lot of time. you have to be blunt and to the point. they’re trainees– they’re used to being told things harshly. be constructive and don’t shit on them, but don’t be afraid to tell them if they did bad,” jaemi said after careful thought

maybe it was silly to take notes during an actual conversation with his brother, but that’s just what kyu did-- he wanted more than anything to do these trainees right, and jaemi could help him do that. “that’s really helpful,” he retorted. “i’m the image coach. i have to say, i’m a little concerned. because i know how to be a male idol and what that entails, but there are differences with being a female idol. to suggest otherwise is stupid. and i don’t want to let the trainees down and not be able to speak to their experiences too.”

“oh, no! i just found out about that yesterday– i think you’ll be a great mentor,” rae said earnestly. “i don’t know. i wouldn’t have liked that. you would have had to critique me and i think that would have made me upset…”

“that’s fair-- i didn’t even think of that. i think i would have subconsciously gone easy on you too, and that’s not fair at all,” kyu reasoned.