fighter

“Thanks!” Eli said with a grin. “It’s been amazing, honestly – still feels totally surreal that I even debuted, but it’s been so cool. I think this is probably the busiest I’ve ever been since like… high school, though.” They laughed.

“if it helps, things definitely slow down,” dokyoung offered. “mnet wants to get as much out of you and your popularity as they can for the first couple years, but eventually you get time to breathe.....unless you debut again back at your company. then it’s even worse....”

“no, no,” goeun said quickly, flustered. “i’m the one who’s being evaluated. that’s my job. i just need to hear the lines so i can get used to timing.”

“okay, then it’s kind of like when they get you to guest mc on a music show, then?” dokyoung asked. “i can definitely do that.”

“yeah! that’s what i mean– they made sure we all got our moment,” seyeon said, grateful that dokyoung liked the song too. “i think they did that on purpose. it’s hard to top a masterpiece. it’s much easier to put out a great debut, and then the masterpiece.”

“i didn’t think of it like that, but i’ll bet that’s what they’re doing. hit them with the familiar unity-esque cheesiness, and then step it the fuck up,” dokyoung agreed.

“i….i still don’t know how i feel about that, but don’t worry. i don’t want my dad’s work to go to waste. no matter how i feel about it, i’m going to do what i can the best that i can.”

“good. you better. you’re too good a singer to waste it because you’re feeling shy,” dokyoung answered sternly

“god…well in that case, i don’t want to have a team like that….i feel icky whenever i feel like i’m only getting something because of my father…”

“c’mon, man. i get it. being the person of privilege without having a say in it is weird. but like...you can’t let it go to waste. use it, and then figure out how to use it to help everyone else later.”

“i really hope so too, dokyoung. and for what it’s worth….i think it’s possible. it’s doable in this lifetime,” he insisted earnestly.

“i know. i hope so. but i’m not putting to much hope into that. i don’t want to have to deal with the disappointment.”

“really? even better than rewind?” hayoon asked skeptically, frowning a little. “you’re right, though. i just am being too negative..”

“okay so like..... the choreography given to us won’t be as hard as rewind, but i think our technical skill as a whole is much better,” dokyoung insisted. “you and i are some of the best dancers in the game.”

“it’s a shitty situation, dokyoung. i’m not gonna sugar coat it. we’re all kinda upset. but it’ll get better. you’re welcome here. you’re just gonna have to sit through us all being babies for a couple weeks.”

“that’s alright, i guess. i’m used to it. i’ve trained with seyeon for years,” she replied with a tiny joke, trying to lighten the mood. “also...i didn’t get to say it when i saw the news but...welcome to higher. l3thal is a great fit for you.”

“damn– when you debut that’s really gonna fuck up your mics and shit. that’ll be so loud.”