⦙ lotus dance

@❀ jiang fenhua 「ɢᴇʟᴀᴛᴏ」ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ Jayden laughed slightly as Gelato hugged him, his arms wrapping around his friend to give a gentle squeeze before he let go again. His eyes blinked a few times rather quickly with the other's questions, his lips forming an 'o' shape, and after a moment he smiled again. "Ah, it has been a while, huh? I'm.. still adjusting, but not too bad by any means~" Despite his words and the joyous tone in his voice, there was something slightly off to the way he said this. A look in his eyes, perhaps, of... sadness? But after closing his eyes for another moment it seemed to go away. "How's practice for you, Hua ge?" He asked with a growing smile, setting his things down carefully.

@❀ he jiaxiang 「ᴊᴀʏᴅᴇɴ」ˣ.ᵈʸⁿᵐᵗᵉ Blinking a bit and seeing the other as he was doing one of the dances the teachers made them learn before gasping a bit and running over to teh other and hugging the other "Hey~" he said happily to the other,it was a bit since the other had saw him and he was very excited to see him "Its been forever~. How are you? Is X,mire treating you well? Is it fun being a idol?" he rappided asked questions in his exciment to see the other.

@❀ jiang fenhua 「ɢᴇʟᴀᴛᴏ」ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ Jayden made his way through the company with a small smile on his face. He'd had practice earlier in the day, and after having lunch he'd decided that it would be nice to practice a little more for the remainder of his free time. He peeked his head into the dance studio, his smile growing warmer at the sight of his friend. "Hey there, Gel!" He called out, deciding to simply step into the studio without a second thought. Being able to spend some time practicing with some of his friends from before he debuted was always an opportunity he would gladly take, and so he hoped Fenhua would be open to it as well.

@— ♔ leilani dairoenkul 「ʟᴀɴɪ」ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ baring his mind and soul to lani, sage drooped his head back down, fixated on the dance floor for no apparent reason. it was as if the weight of self-doubt, fear, and failure hung heavy in the air. despite numerous times showing otherwise, he still felt that his words and actions would still be more of disappointment, and he didn't have the mindset that it could be anything other than that. his heart even sank to the gates of hell seeing the pursed lips, the crossing of arms, and the cold gaze that she couldn't help to have. the hour of judgment was coming he feared.

but what came was a sentiment he didn't anticipate. "dinner?" he spoke, thinking out loud rather than clarifying what she proposed. "tomorrow," he murmured. this game of ice and fire in his mind was eating at him. he knew he had barely any time to push this back any longer, but maybe... just maybe a reset was needed. "a-a-alright then... i think," he slowed his speech as he finally made the decision. "i think I'll be down for that." his voice sounding more resolute than it had in the last couple of seconds than it has for the past hour.

hiya lani

@❀ sage keum ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ lani’s lips pursed together with eyes at fixated upon the boy as concern drapes itself well over her visage. putting herself in the trainee’s shoes, there was the slightest ounce of understanding, for it was not always where she too was at her best to perform as much as she loved what she did, and did what she loved. the choreographer had her days where dancing just did not feel right for her, and at times, there just really was no forcing it either regardless of how much she tried.

perhaps, she thought, this would apply to sage as well. her head essentially shaking as she took in his words, crossed her arms against her chest and soon spoke up after some time. “you know what? how about we drop everything for now, and you come eat with me for dinner? i can 100% see just how much you want this to work, and i know it will! but.. not now, at least not with you like this. tomorrow, let’s see you try again with a fresh start, how about that? i’ll be here too just to see things through. see to it that you will get exactly where you want- no, /need/ to be.”

The rehearsal studio, bathed in the neon glow of harsh lights, served as the battleground for Win's internal struggle. Night after night when everyone seemed to be asleep, he threw himself into the choreography, attempting to mirror the effortless grace of the other members. However, the harmony between his body and the rhythm remained just beyond his reach. The collective judgemental gazes bore down on him, and with every faltering step, Win's confidence crumbled.

This evening, the studio echoed with the pulsating beat of their track, Win pushed himself beyond his limits. With beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, he attempted to synchronize his body with the rhythm, but every step seemed to betray him. His limbs, once nimble, cramped and caused a critical misstep which sent him crashing to the floor. The room fell silent as Win stopped the music and just lay there, his breaths heavy with exhaustion, his eyes fixated on the unforgiving ceiling. In that vulnerable moment, the weight of disappointment pressed upon him, His mind swirled with self-critical thoughts, blaming himself for never meeting the expectations he felt the sting of tears pricking at his eyes. The usual carefree and playful Win was nowhere to be found at this moment, instead he lay there crumbled on the floor his arm placed over his eyes in an attempt to keep the tears at bay but they were dripping down his cheekbones in glistening rivulets wetting his brownish hair.

@— ♔ leilani dairoenkul 「ʟᴀɴɪ」ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ sage couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions as they completed the routine, however, lani's response surprised him, and her words resonated within him. she was perceptive, noticing the change in his demeanor and the effort he was putting in. it was true; he had been so focused on getting every step right that he had forgotten to enjoy the dance itself.

"yeah," sage admitted, a hint of appreciation in his voice. "there's just so much on my mind, and i guess i let it affect my performance." he raised his head and focused his vision on his figure reflecting in front of him. it wasn't as if he could not let go and enjoy the dance. he was behind from a training point of view and didn't have half the talent some trainees had. that's why he want— needed to be perfect. to him, it is all or nothing. "i want to get this right so badly," he admitted, his voice quivering slightly. "i'm scared of failing. scared of disappointing everyone. i know i need to let go, but it's not easy. i've been practicing so much, and i just can't seem to break through"

@❀ sage keum ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ there was no better joy than watching someone’s momentum of motivation flourish before your every eyes, and lani would like to say that she had it best with the way she was able to observe sage up close. paying attention every step of the way as they danced side by side, and albeit picking up on whichever part he might have had some difficulties, what she more fixated on that easily brought about undeniable elation was the absolute switch of character that sage had managed to exhibit in no time even if it meant in just the slightest ounces, it was still progress which the young choreographer personally appreciated.

it was a step further from the boy beating himself up, and lani already had more than enough answers to ensure she would not see the same look of uncertainty on sage’s face once again. her hands essentially resting on her hips after they had finished the routine for the first time, and her gaze never once left the taller male’s figure unless if it were to catch her own reflection to ensure that they were in sync. this time synchronisation was important as it had always been, not just with the body, but also the mind– and she had hoped to share what mindset she could as she lets out a fairly chill chuckle. “you know what? you’re good, actually! but i can tell you’re really trying to focus hard on nailing each step instead of.. thoroughly enjoying it, sage. have you.. got lots more on your mind?”

@— ♔ leilani dairoenkul 「ʟᴀɴɪ」ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ sage felt a small but significant weight lift off his shoulders. atypical from most of the company's trainers, the dancer's spirit and energy had the power to dissolve his nervousness, replacing it with a glimmer of confidence. he nodded, taking a position beside her and mirroring her stance, his eyes locked onto their reflections in the studio's mirrored walls. the count in her gentle voice began, and sage did his best to follow her movements.

"5-6-7-8," lani counted, and sage tried to mimic her steps. however, despite her expertise, his inexperience was evident once again, and he struggled to keep up with her grace and precision. his movements were a bit off, and he stumbled on some of the more intricate parts of the choreography. frustration welled up inside him, but he continued to push himself, knowing that lani was there to guide him. besides, stopping at this point would only add embarrassment to himself and the company. he knew very well that she could report the trainee to his trainers, or even worse, the managers.

with the two reaching the end, it was clear that sage had difficulty matching lani. the choreo ended on a rocky note, with sage slightly out of sync with the choreography, his face flushed with embarrassment. the boy looked down at his feet, feeling disappointed in himself for not being able to do a damn dance. he knew he was far from her level, but sage used to pride himself on his dancing around his peers back home. and just as quickly as the weight of his doubt was released, it pressed down on him once again.

@❀ sage keum ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ it wasn’t the choregrapher’s intention to completely disregard anything the younger male was saying, but, she felt with his current mindset in the way– they would not get far with their progress, especially with how much she already believed in him. it was with that, the shake of a head and a tiny chuckle that she’d retort for the sake of a better start to things. “well, i’m just lani.. and you’re sage! i’d say we already make quite the pair, let alone since we’re definitely going to ace this choreography together!” putting aside any titles or recognition whatsoever, it wouldn’t be long before lani placed it upon herself to genuinely help the boy push past any difficulties. putting her hands together, she’d stand beside him with her eyes fixated towards their reflections before them so they could get a move on. “now, how about we try from the top then we can see where to go from there. that sound cool? alright, 5-6-7-8..”

@— ♔ leilani dairoenkul 「ʟᴀɴɪ」ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ sage's heart raced as lani closed the door behind her, trapping him in this unexpected situation. the famous lani was offering her help, and sage couldn't deny the fact that he desperately needed it. he couldn't believe lani recognized the choreography he was struggling with. he shifted nervously, avoiding eye contact as the pressure he felt to impress her was immense. he looked down at the floor, his voice barely a whisper as he replied, "i...uh, well, i was just trying to figure it out myself," sage stammered. he cleared his throat and tried to speak more confidently. "i mean, i appreciate your offer, but i don't want to waste your time. you're lani, after all, and i'm just... me." but when sage glanced at the choreographer, he felt a little disarmed due to her demeanor. "but, um, if you think it'll help, then maybe we could try it together," he said, his voice gaining a bit more strength.

@❀ sage keum ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ “did you need some help?” the young choreographer is soon offering once more, closing the door behind her and inevitably letting the boy know that there was no way she was taking no for an answer. because while she might have had fate in sage as she would for every trainee, it was only becoming more clear to her that some further guidance might have been beneficial, and she was all here for it. “i recognise the choreography you’re doing. and if you’d want, i could run you through it- maybe we could do it together? it shouldn’t take too long, trust me, i’d definitely want you out of here in time for dinner!” she beamed, holding up two fists of support just to cheer the boy on and hopefully lift his spirits, knowing just how hard some trainees could be on themselves.

@— ♔ leilani dairoenkul 「ʟᴀɴɪ」ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ as sage wiped his brow and took a deep breath, he noticed lani's presence in the practice room. her reputation as a dedicated and no-nonsense trainer preceded her, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and respect in her company. he offered a small, appreciative smile at her concern, a stiff bow following. he glanced back at the mirrored wall, his reflection exhibiting visible distress. "i, um... yeah, i'm trying," sage replied, his voice carrying a noticeable hint of awkwardness as his words stumbled a bit. he avoided direct eye contact, his gaze briefly darting to the floor before returning to lani. under the pressure of the lights and the ever-scrutinizing eyes of the infamous teacher, he collected his hat from the floor and promptly fixed it onto his head.

@❀ sage keum ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ it hadn’t been long since lani had been put in charge of the trainees once more as a special case of training before the evaluations had rolled in. whenever it came to her line of direction, this would mean everyone would have to pick up the pace and work harder no matter what would be thrown at them; especially if it meant learning a whole new set of choreography in such a short amount of time just to truly test the limits of each trainee in any given criteria. learning speed, attitude, and overall flexibility; the choreographer made sure to keep each trainee under her precise watch. sage wasn’t any different either as she now stood around by the door long enough to catch the younger male running through his trials and errors, the softest of simpers resting on her lips at the taste of determination she was getting from him, albeit faltering in tidbits by the seams. “everything okay, sage?” lani eventually stepped into the room to ask, not meaning to intrude but also not wanting to see absolutely anyone suffer more than they should had she known any way to help.

( Open Starter for Anyone! )

Sage stood in front of the mirrored wall in the dance studio, his reflection a mix of determination and frustration. The upbeat track was frankly kicking his . With every step and turn, he couldn't quite grasp the fluidity, the precision, or the details he strived for. Since he was already falling behind in the trainee rankings, there was no doubt he needed to work harder, smarter, and faster. But with each attempt, his body felt like it was betraying him. His movements were clumsy, his timing off, and his steps clumsy. The frustration boiled up within him. His brow furrowed as beads of sweat rolled down his chin onto the wooden floor. Safe pressed the pause button on the stereo and took a deep breath. He knew he had to keep pushing and keep practicing until he got it right, no matter how many times he stumbled along the way.

@❀ juliet jeon ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ Muchen was so focused on trying to regulate his own breathing that he almost didn't notice when someone joined him in the practice room. He slowly lifted his head to look at her, blinking a few times before he managed to shake his head. "I can't I... or.. I should," He mumbled softly, having a sort of internal battle with himself. He sighed after another moment, slowly shifting so he could stand up properly once again. His brows furrowed slightly as a wave of dizziness hit him, and he lifted his hands to his forehead. "Sorry.." He mumbled softly.

@❀ juliet jeon ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ A shaky breath escaped Muchen's lips as he finished yet another run through of a dance he'd been working on for his next evaluation. His body was growing a bit shaky, signalling to him that he needed a break. As much as he wanted to listen to his body, he felt himself more worried about doing well. Even with his vision growing a bit blurry, he began working on a part of his dance that he'd been struggling with, stopping only when his legs nearly gave out which caused him to curse himself inwardly. "I can't stop..." He mumbled to himself, but he still found himself crouching down and taking a long drink of his water.

@❀ huang jiayi 「ᴄᴀɴᴅᴀᴄᴇ」ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ /smiles as we continue the dance routine for a while until the music ended, panting
You can pick the next song if you want, unnie~

@❀ seo aeri ᵖᵃⁿᵈᵒʳᵃ ,smiles a bit more with your smile, nodding a couple times
okay, okay~
,laughs slightly, letting myself enjoy the dancing as I follow your lead

@❀ huang jiayi 「ᴄᴀɴᴅᴀᴄᴇ」ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ Just follow me~
/smiles cutely as we begin to dance, hoping you are following along with me

@❀ seo aeri ᵖᵃⁿᵈᵒʳᵃ ,smiles happily, getting into position as well
,clears my throat slightly as I fix my facial expressions before attempting to get through the dance, my brows furrowing at a few parts where I get confused on how to do a move but still pushing through

@❀ huang jiayi 「ᴄᴀɴᴅᴀᴄᴇ」ᵗʳᵃᶤᶰᵉᵉ [] https://youtu.be/vkMLor_4tKc

/smiles happily as I found the perfect song for us on my playlist
/plays the song before I quickly get into my position next to you

@❀ kang junho 「ʏᴏʀᴜ」ˣ.ᵐᵖⁱʳᵉ you really-- *normally* you order fried chicken?? You know that isn't the best thing to eat for training and things, right? I'm not saying you shouldn't have them at all but--
,scrunches his nose slightly, half playfully rolling his eyes
then I guess we better have a professional grade us soon, shouldn't we?
,pokes his tongue out for a moment before smiling brightly with the praise, getting on the ground to begin stretching
yea? is that the style you'd like to see, or just what I've been working on? I can probably practice something I've danced for a competition before if you'd like to see that as well..

@❀ liu haoming 「ᴋᴀᴍʀɪɴ」ᵗʳᵃⁱⁿᵉᵉ Yes it is instant ramen, I didn't have the time to order in some fried chicken like I normally do. It is really good though! I just forget to get some cheese with it.
~laughs a little bit nodding his head~
I will never admit that you are better than me, not until we have a professional grade us, then I will admit it.
~winking at Kamrin and playing around with his food~
Alright show me the good stuff, it is always a treat watching you dance though, especially your traditional Chinese dancing, that is what really impresses me.

@❀ kang junho 「ʏᴏʀᴜ」ˣ.ᵐᵖⁱʳᵉ ,smiles softly to the other, shaking his head a bit and letting out a small sigh before frowning a little
Is that instant ramen? Or-
,shakes his head once again, letting out a soft laugh
What do I do, huh? Nag you about health and sleep and things? Is that how I help you~? Or... will you admit that I'm such an amazing dancer and you'd love to learn from me
,he asked the second half in a playful tone, a small laugh leaving his lips before he let out another small sigh, making his way to his bag to take out his phone and pull up the song
Okay. As long as it gets you to sleep~

@❀ liu haoming 「ᴋᴀᴍʀɪɴ」ᵗʳᵃⁱⁿᵉᵉ ~smiling and look towards Kamrin while sitting down, eating some ramen that I heated up before he got there~
You have, the adjustment has been a bit easy thanks to you, I also have another language to learn eventually.
I think that I can say I have a handful of people here that I can rely on for things or for help, and you are one of them.
~laughing and nods my head in agreement~
Okay okay, I can agree to that, that is a deal.

@❀ kang junho 「ʏᴏʀᴜ」ˣ.ᵐᵖⁱʳᵉ ,sighs heavily, shaking his head a few times and half playfully rolling his eyes
Work something out like?
,he hesitated a bit when he was asked, glancing towards the speaker and then to Yoru
Oh do you now? You- you need to sleep. If I show you and practice with you for an hour will you please try to sleep?
,raises his eyebrows slightly, a small smile making its way to his lips
Have I really helped to make things easier?

@❀ liu haoming 「ᴋᴀᴍʀɪɴ」ᵗʳᵃⁱⁿᵉᵉ ~laughs a bit, knowing he isn't strong enough~
I am sure we can work something out Kam~
~stands up with his back turned and picks up his shirt to put it back on~
Show me what you have been working on though, I really want to see!
~claps his hands and sits down scratching his neck~
It has been easier being here seeing old friends again, and having you here as well.

@❀ kang junho 「ʏᴏʀᴜ」ˣ.ᵐᵖⁱʳᵉ ,raises his eyebrows towards the other, shaking his head a few times and clicking his tongue
No! Sleep first! Then you can do that if you so please, but even then-
,narrows his eyes slightly, crossing his arms with a small pout
I really pride myself in my dancing, so you wound me--
,raises his eyebrows with the dramatics yoru puts on, letting out a loud laugh before making his way over to him, leaning forward and poking his shoulder lightly
Oh no~ what ever should I do? Do I need to carry you to the hospital? I'm not sure I'm quite strong enough for that, though~