#*404

┊ ` ㅂ ´ ┊“It isn’t that I don’t enjoy sleeping to the soundtrack of raining bullets and your potty-mouthed monologue of ‘Jonghyun-ah, you can win this one!’” Although lethargy is still very much present in his limbs, his tone is sure to spike in pitch to mimic the self-cheer-leading of the older just hours earlier. “–but don’t you think you’re over doing it? Playing games all night long?”

Kibum tries—keyword: tries— not to sound annoyed and/or jealous that from the moment he had woken up with a bedhead and a bad attitude (courtesy of his night in the man-cave also known as Jonghyun’s bedroom) Jonghyun hadn’t even batted an eye at him. He wants to blame this occurrence on the fact that the room was so dark he couldn’t tell whether it was 6 AM or 12 AM, the only instance of light and life being the kaleidoscope of graphics flashing onscreen.

    ┊ ` ㅂ ´ ┊Paris.The global fashion hub of the world. The physical embodiment of all things elegant; haute couture and haute cuisine (I am what I eat, so naturally he only consumes the best). There’s only a few things that fit him better than a good pair of Levis, but doesn’t Paris just suit Kibum to a capital ‘T’?

It had been twenty minutes since the idol’s Dr Marten shoe had stepped off the last cat walk of the day and through the elegant hazel arch into his luxury suite– it’s a room fit for a King, complete with a King-sized-bed and Rocco decor that welcomes him again and again.

 Ten, since he’s flicked on the air conditioner and plucked away the heat of all of his designer. Now clad in modest silk, his bathrobe is snug to pale shoulders as he thumbs through update after update, compliment after compliment. It’s to be expected. He looked good today. He knows he looked good today– and it isn’t just the bitter tinge of tonight’s wine and dine that has him thinking so.

 Each outfit was an extension of himself– a kaleidoscopic part of his personality, his taste, his aesthetic. And while his outfits were never shewn together to please others, it was a nice feeling to be appreciated– to be admired.  It wasn’t just clothing to him– it was happiness, self confidence. Everything about Paris brought out the best in him and for once– just this once– he’s pleased to see a place living up to its stereotype.

Of course the moment he stops bathing in praise, sets his mobile aside and burrows into his bed, another notification chimes– this time it’s a text. At first, He’s reluctant, at first, to read the message. But one look at the context adds a smile, however lethargic, on an otherwise stoic face. Amidst air chilled fingers responding to the first texts, the last is received, that’s when he’s of bitter-sweet chortles.

┊ ` ㅂ ´ ┊Hmmmm either this is your way of telling me:

 A) I have a mirror fetish– (which is true, take me in,officer!)

 B) I’m hogging the mirror and you want to review your hep hap airport fashion. (I’ve only been here for, what, an hour?– it’s worse for 9+ member groups. Be grateful.)

 C) Mirrors have some magical powers to turn any subject into something beautiful.( Or in my case “beautifuler”- your words, not mine.)

┊ ` ㅂ ´ ┊ Interviews. The bane of every idol of 5 years plus existence for extremely obvious reasons; One: the same questions.  Two: the same questions. Three: the same questions. 

So he doesn’t bat an eye at the vocalist’s quibble from the other side–the bathroom, he guesses–of their boxed in hotel room; he too was exasperated from the monotony of ‘What are your hobbies?’ and ‘Where do you see yourself in ‘x’ amount of years?’ And oh god, don’t get him started on how awkward it was to still, in their 8th year, be asked, ‘What is your ideal type?’ Sure, it isn’t the interviewer’s fault entirely. Questions do run dry after the first 5 years of idol-dom, there isn’t much to ask anymore, not much to learn– idol groups were suppose to have broken up by the 3 to 5 year margin. But nope. Here they were, as SHINee smiling and nodding after 8 years of pure monotony.

“Tell me about it. Just suck it up, sarcasm isn’t your concept. I do it much better.” Even in a tranquil moment, face mask on and all he’s sharp as a tack, sure of himself. “People aren’t use to you being that way so you’ll get hate– you’d get hate regardless, but it’ll be much more of a shock if you suddenly speak your mind and reveal your true potty mouth’d self during interviews.”