─ myeongdong district

@☾ hwang yeji () OHMYGOD I'M SO SORRY

Tzuyu laughed softly. "Crazies. Even I wore warm tights under my skirt!" She said, still mulling it over. She'd never witnessed someone dress like that when it was this freezing cold outside. She hummed softly, making a face. "I have, yes. But... I couldn't see myself as a model..." She admitted. "I never really thought I was pretty enough for that, honestly. There are much prettier women out there." She hummed softly, thinking about what color she'd like for the blanket. "Hmmmm... Purple? Like... A lilac or lavender purple~."

@◈ chou tzuyu⁻ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ "Wow, who can wear that in this weather?" She shook her head in amusement, clicking her tongue in unison before she smiled, leading the way to the store she usually goes to in order to buy some supplies. "Of course, have you seen yourself? I was so sure you'd be cast back in school, then again, they might have missed a beauty such as yourself cause you were either only in school or at home, oh maybe save for some days we go to the cafe to study." Yeji hummed softly, reminiscing the good old days as she smiled to herself. "Hmmm? Sure, although it might take quite a while, let's save that for your birthday. Any request on the colour?"

@☾ hwang yeji Tzuyu couldn't help but smile, holding onto Yeji after being hugged first. She laughed softly. "I think you've definitely achieved that theme, Yeji~." She teased softly. She let Yeji go so the younger could twirl around. She let out a soft laugh, nodding. She couldn't argue. Yeji definitely looked warm. Tzuyu was warm too but just in a less bulky way. But she absolutely admired the way the younger wanted to keep warm. "At least we're warm... I passed a guy in shorts, a tee, and flip flops on my way here. That guy is nuts!" She paused for a moment. "Me? A model? PFFT!" She hummed softly, hugging onto Yeji's arm. "If you make me one of those really cute chunky knit blankets!"

@◈ chou tzuyu⁻ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ She quickly wrapped her arms around the taller woman, giving a big smile before she looked her up and down. "My theme for today is warmth." She said with a smile, spreading her arms and playfully twirling. "Okay let me add to that, a warm brown bear. So that's the style i'm going for. You on the other hand look very fashionable. People would probably ask if you're a model." Yeji then linked her arm with Tzuyu's. "So i'll be buying a lot of crochet yarn today, i'll need your help with the colors and stuff, is that alright with you?"

[post deleted by owner]

@☾ hwang yeji Tzuyu hummed softly, feeling quite underdressed compared to her best friend who was bundled up like a present. She laughed at the way her friend turned to greet her. “Hello love~!” She cooed, waving. She walked over to Yeji with a soft hum. “Alright! I’m so excited to do some shopping! I haven’t been out in a while! I’ll even treat you to food!” Tzuyu was happy to see Yeji outside the company building where they could act more like friends than coworkers. “You look like a brown bear, Yeji-ah… You’re just missing the ears.” She put her fists at either side of Yeji’s head to act as bear ears.

@◈ chou tzuyu⁻ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ As soom as she finished texting, Yeji quickly wore her gloves once again and crouched down. Despite the mask she wore and her fuzzy little hat, she was sure some moonshines would recognize her, which she didn't mind but she hoped her defense against the cold wouldn't make her seem like a weirdo. Maybe thinking of warm thoughts would help her feel warm too. 'Hot matcha latte, warm fire, blanket, hoodies.' Her thoughts were cut short when she felt her phone vibrate, checking to see who texted right away. Upon reading the text, she stood back up and turned around. Sure enough, Tzuyu was mere inches away from her, making her smile and walk over to her, giving her the biggest hug. "Tzuyu-yah~"

@☾ hwang yeji Tzuyu hummed softly as she went through her clothes. She wanted to dress warmly but also wanted to look cute as she was finally going out with Yeji for a girl's day. She wore a cute red mid-length skirt, a white sweater, warm tights, and black dress boots. "Where's my coat?" She grumbled, searching for it. "Aha!" She pulled it on and grabbed her purse, heading for the door. She bolted to where she was supposed to be meeting Yeji, humming when her phone buzzed. She saw 'Hweji' pop up on the screen and smiled. Before she started texting she saw someone facing the wall and thought it was odd but she ignored it. They were in brown and looked like they were trying to hide.

[ text to: Hweji ]
⤷ Almost there!
⤷ Is that you over there against the wall?!

@◈ chou tzuyu⁻ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ The wind was pretty strong, making the already chilly air far colder. Thankfully though, Yeji was dressed up well for the weather, bundled up in layers of cotton and wool that she seemed to be mistaken for a sheep at some point. Still, she needed to get out and give time in shopping for gifts, well materials, knowing she was going to give quite a number of people. With a little sniffle, she rummaged through her bag, looking for her phone whilst bracing herself from the cold air. It was times like this she was reminded of how she used to walk around in her hometown during winter, making her sniffle all the more.

Once she had found her phone, she quickly turned around, facing a wall of some kind to use as protection before she removed her gloves and typed away at her phone.

[ text to: Chewy ]
- in front of the store now
- if you see someone wearing a lot of brown layers, that's me

@✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *Natty held back a loud sigh of despair when she saw that Yunjin had indeed pulled out a selection of similar clothes. Not that the woman couldn't pull it off*
*she leaned into the changing room wall, arms crossed and eyeing Yunjin*
Okay fine, I'll try on some of your clothes.... Iffffff.... You try on some of mine
*Natty blindly reached into the basket for an item of her clothing, holding out what ended up being a denim mini skirt*
Is that a deal?

@☾ natty suputhipong yunjin laughed as she was pulled along with natty, dropping the few clothes she chose into the cart as they moved around in the small stall. "you already know a lot of what i wear, natty, it's not like any of this is different." and it was true—the orange haired girl had picked a bunch of clothes that were along the same lines of what was already in her tiny shared closet. her aesthetic was punk, and while it wasn't much of an idol friendly aesthetic, the others said that she pulled it off.

"you need to try on these clothes, you always change up your aesthetic and i bet these will look good on you." she tucked a lock of her bright hair behind her ear from where it had escaped her ponytail.

@✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *There was almost too much to look at. The more Natty perused, the more her arms became laden with skirts, tops, dresses, pants, a few handbags, and even a couple pairs of shoes.*
*By the time Yunjin's voice reached her, her nose was precariously perched above a pile of clothes*
I'm coming!
*She called over the mound, tiptoeing forward carefully so as to not knock over anything in the narrow passageways. The stall owner seemed to take pity on Natty, and came over with a medium-sized basket, with a handle and some rickety wheels*
Thank you so much, sajangnim! Do you have a dressing room at all? Yunjini!
*Natty beckoned over her friend, urging her to bring the clothes with her* I think they have a dressing room, you can show me the clothes /on you/~ It'll give a much more realistic picture!
*the older woman blinked in their direction, before silently pointing to a cornered off section of the stall, just large enough to hide two people behind a shabby curtain*
Thank you again, sajangnim! Come on~!
*she grabbed the handle of her basket with one hand, Yunjin's elbow with the other, and charged forward*

@☾ natty suputhipong yunjin laughed as she was tugged along by her friend, clinging onto her arm as they finally made it to the third stall with a vast variety of styles. while she was a trainee, yunjin tried to keep her personal sense of fashion more neutral so she could be looked at more, but she was a punk girl at heart, and that was what she was looking for as natty shooed her off to look around.

there were a variety of articles of clothing in all sorts of shapes and colours, and she was drawn to the more torn up pieces that must have been thrown in there as last minute additions in an attempt to make money. yunjin grabbed many things—ripped jeans, plaid pants, a couple leather tops, a flannel with two different colour schemes, and an oversized denim jacket that surely needed some tlc. "natty! i found some stuff, come take a look!"

@✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ /You/ may not be buying anything, but /I'll/ be buying you a bunch of things
*Natty muttered this under her breath over a sinister giggle while pulling Yunjin towards the stands, snaking between shoulders pressed flush together and fighting to find a gap*
*in the first stall, there was an eclectic assortment of hats, the second, scarves, by the third, Natty found something promising. The older woman's stall was full of various garments - skirts, dresses, pants and more - and in all the styles one could think of*
This is it! *she squealed, lightly smacking Yunjin over the shoulder* We're gonna find ourselves the perfect outfit in this corner, I just feel it
Now go *she gently tapped her friend on the * Start perusing and shout at me when you find something cute
*and then Natty charged forward herself, diving into racks of hangers with dresses and rompers*

@☾ natty suputhipong yunjin laughed as natty clung onto her arm and jumped up and down excitedly, and she ran her free hand through her red hair as they looked around the market with big eyes. "oh natty, you say that as though i like buying things. you know that i don't really need anything." she giggled quietly and turned her head this way and that to take in the sights, leaning into natty's side and sighing softly. maybe she could use another ring, or some other pretty jewellery, but she had been truthful - she wasn't very big on buying things needlessly, never been a souvenir person.

@✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ (skipping the dance practice, because it can get redundant, and jumping straight into the market. this is assuming they showered and got ready at the company building after practice too ! )

*Natty convinced Yunjin to take the bus, using excuses about the traffic and how a car wouldn't be able to wind in and out of the market regardless*
*the market itself was opening up before them after they'd taken three buses and wound down multiple narrow alleyways and walked too many stairs to reach it*
*an arched door with a banner hung across it flaunted the name of the bazaar-type market, and people were bustling in and out with their faces half-illuminated mid-conversation by the hanging streamers of lights draped between podiums above them*
*an assortment of tents and stalls had been set up beneath wide tents, with the front being mostly clothes, fabrics, and other accessories of that value, and the back boasting of food with the appealing smells that drifted from the various snack stalls*
*Natty squealed far too loudly for how high the moon hung in the air and unintentionally pulled on Yunjin's arm where she clung as she hopped excitedly up and down*
I've been following this market on Instagram for /months/, Yunjini! I never thought I'd actually get to see it in person!
I hope you brought your wallet, because this place has everything you could ever think of!

@◈ jessica jung⁻ᴾᴿ ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ There Hyunjin went again, sabotaging himself. He sighed as Jessica's tone softened, not feeling deserving of the attention. For reasons he didn't understand, he still walked towards the comfort. He held his elbows firmly at his side, holding back a shiver while glaring at his feet. "Sorry," he muttered, almost too quietly to hear. When he looked up and locked eyes with Jessica, he surprised even himself with the way they welled with tears.

"I everything up, noona," he whimpered, his chin trembling and honorifics be damned. "I-I don't know what the I'm doing anymore. It feels like I can't breathe all the time. Like I'm f-free falling." He hiccupped over a gasp, throwing his face into his palms. "I don't ing know anymore."

@☼ hwang hyunjin oh dear. is that what Hyunjin thought of her? she would never discuss such a private matter for moral and legal reasons. still, she takes no offence to hyunjins harsh accusations . he was scared and lonely, poor kid probably thinks the world is out to get him, couldn't be farther from the truth.
" Yes, because I would love to rat on my client who brings the company I work for money and ruin his rep ; oh and then, give myself more work because I am the head of the PR department. You caught me," she deadpans though her tone was nothing short of worry and understanding. she gives the idol a little bit of breathing space knowing he needed it.

"I am here because I am worried , not just as your PR manager but also as someone who has been going to things for three almost four years. I understand how scary it is and even more so if you're doing it alone. I didn't come to be nosey, I'm only here to be a friend if you need one. From the looks of it, you sure do need one."

@◈ jessica jung⁻ᴾᴿ ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ Hyunjin wasn't sure whether he was nauseous from anxiety or withdrawals, whatever the case, when he righted up to face Jessica, he was full of shame. Like a defeated puppy. Still, he smiled, the corners of his lips shaking to maintain the idol image, even when he was outed. "Sorry you had to see that," he said mechanically, like she hadn't been rubbing his back and consoling him ten seconds earlier. He swiped a hand over his mouth, swallowing down the acidic residue on his tongue with a grimace.

"I... I didn't know you came to these things," Hyunjin finally muttered when he couldn't bring his leaden feet to move. He swallowed again. "I kinda ed up, didn't I? You're going to tell the bosses now, aren't you?" He sighed, yanking the strings of his hoodie to seal the hood around his face. ". That's why you're here, aren't you? To rat me out."

@☼ hwang hyunjin if Jessica knew anything at all, she knew the DIANUS kids like the back of her hand. Hyunjin never liked to be center of attention if it wasn't by his own doing, he seemed tpo hate confrontation and in this very moment he was confronting the hardest thing anyone had to. Jessica heart hurts watching the young man struggle with the acceptance and when the session ended , he immediately bolted for the door. Jessica quickly says her rounds of goodbyes , keepily in polite but rushed as she trails after Hyunjin.

she's quick to find him , she follows the harsh sounds of someone wretching their guts out. hunched over a steel trashcan, there he was. Jessica wasn't quite sure how to approach him but she did so in the only way she knew how, calm and caring; she reaches a gentle hand out to rub along his back. she could feel his spine, he mustve not been eating well.

"It's okay, Hyunjin. You did so well today. this is the hardest part of it all, there there. get it all out."
her voice was soft, quiet almost and caring. reassurance laid heavily in her tone as she tries her best to comfort the idol.

@◈ jessica jung⁻ᴾᴿ ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ There was nowhere to hide in a basement reserved for addicts attempting recovery. Well, maybe there was a basement somewhere, but this one wasn't it. Hyunjin's foot tapped nervously as the speaking baton (he hated that ing name) got passed around the circle. Each person took their turn to speak, however short or little, starting with their names. Hyunjin would be lying if he said he remembered any of them except Kiyong and Jessica.

He flinched when the baton passed to her, knowing she had spotted him earlier. It was Kiyong's fault for outing him - that was why he remembered the man's name. He felt another wave of nausea roll up his throat and dug his fingernails into his bouncing leg. The baton was one person away from him. He wasn't sure he could speak.

Hyunjin's free hand covered his mouth to conceal a nauseated burp when the baton finally reached him. The room filled with the rattling of his rings on the metal as his hand shook accepting it. Unlike Jessica, he didn't stand. He barely pushed his hood back enough to reveal his entire face, embarrassed of what he looked like.

"Uh, hi," he gulped. "I'm, uh, Hyunjin. I was sober for..." He counted however many years he'd been with Jungkook, and pinched his eyes shut to conceal away the thought. "I guess like, almost two years. I've kind of fallen off the wagon, ha... Ha..." When he swiped his hand over his face it was aggressive enough to redden his skin. He held the baton to the girl next to him, and glared into his lap. "Thanks," he muttered.

Round and round it went, until the meeting pulled to a close with a few words from Kiyong and Hyunjin all but bolted to the door. He nearly got there until that nausea he'd shoved done the entire meeting finally caught up to him. He hurled into the nearby trash can as subtly as possible, feeling his back burn in shame as people inevitably watched.

@☼ hwang hyunjin " Lets get started with today's meet chall we?" The head chair spoke, Lee Kiyong, Jessica had learned. Jessica had taken up going to AA specifically for her addiction on top of the recovery meetings in which she met Junhee. It had been good for her, the double reassurance and both a reminder for why she was sober to begin with. The stress of the last couple of weeks have tempted the ol' devil again and she found herself wanting to indulge ' just one drink ' and every time she just pulls herself out of the clutches of alcohol that holds by claws.

" Today it seems we have someone new with us, we are so proud as this is the first of many steps to recovery. Lets introduce ourselves and let mister Hwang get acquainted with all of us." Jessica's attention turns towards the newly placed chair, eyes widening in realization at who preoccupied it. Hyunjin? One of the Janus boys, oh no. She feared all the idols had their unspoken demons , but she had really hoped it never came down to this. Her expression was grim until she noticed he had been staring right back at her. She offers an encouraging smile to help ease the tension that was written all over his face. he was scared , Jessica couldn't fault him for that.

The speaking baton gets passed around the circle and soon enough it reaches her, she stands tall and proud , Hyunjin needed to know there was no shame in being here. that this was a safe space for all. " I am Jessica and I am an alcholic. I have failed twice to get sober and as of today I am four years alchol free." The journey to sobriety is never easy and more fail more often than not, but the goal is to keep trying and not quitting. It was necessary he knew that. she passed the baton to the next person, her eyes still warm and inviting as she watched the idol fidget uncomfortably about.

@◈ jessica jung⁻ᴾᴿ ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ Hyunjin had no ing clue what he was doing. His hands were still shaking from his conversation with Jungkook. His head was pounding from the endless drinking he'd done the night prior. He felt sick to his stomach and with every step he took he was on the verge of chucking up the little left in his stomach. There was a pamphlet crumpled in his left hand while he walked, his hood pulled all the way up, with a large pair of black sunglasses on to hide his identity and bloodshot eyes.

He'd intended to go to the bar across town, to chase away this anxiety with more bad decisions, so Hyunjin had no idea how he came face to face with the shabby, basement door in a random building. A paper sign was taped to the door, flashing 'Welcome! Alcoholic Anonymous meeting inside! 6-8PM". He glared down at the pamphlet in his hand. If he wanted to, he could just go back.

His phone gave a final, dying vibration in his back pocket, the battery finally letting go after two days without being charged. It'd lasted longer than he'd thought. Maybe Hyunjin could last a little longer too... His eyes softened and he sighed, stepping into the room. A small group of people were already gathered inside, sitting and standing between lines of chairs that faced a podium at the front of the room. On the far left wall, a table of refreshments had been set up, including hot coffee served in paper cups and store bought cookies.

Hyunjin's stomach rolled again, and he ambled clumsily to the nearest chair in the back, sliding into it with his head ducked. The neon lights flickered above his head and he squinted through his glasses at the people here for the meeting. A couple were wiry thin and looked as anxious as him; a few looked too put-together to belong to a group full of addicts; and one... His heart slammed to a halt in his chest and Hyunjin audibly gasped. He recognized that one.

Her long hair, kempt outfit, and air of dignity and grace - he'd had more than one meeting with her. There was no doubt about it. That was Jessica.

He tugged his hood more fiercely over his face, foot tapping manically on the ground while he froze in his fright response. Run, he pleaded with himself. Just get up and run. It would be too embarrassing if she found you here. Get up. GO! But Hyunjin was stuck hyperventilating on a foldout chair, in the basement of a building, where a bunch of people like him were waiting for the meeting to start.

_______________________________________________________________________

@♤ lee seungjoo ˡᵒʳᵉⁿ *Jooyeon's ponytail was all but disheveled at this point, the elastic barely clinging on to the end of his slicked hair. He sports a grateful, lopsided grin on his face (though his eyes are closed) as Loren brushes strands of the mussed up hair off his forehead*
*in front of him, he holds out three fingers to his friend, confirming his drink total* Three. But I only paid for the first two, so does it count?
*his slurred speech sounds perfect in his ears, though later he'd think back and pity whoever had to decipher his words* *he leans into the wall, dissolving into giggles* This is a gay club, isn't it?
Look... I'm wearing the shirt you got me - *he pinches the front and pulls it out* Sunghoon liked it.

@♤ lee jooyeon ʲᵘⁿᵉ *the bathroom is mostly silent when he walks in, only the distant sound of the club music filling in the quietness from the other side of the door. he'd been expecting a short word back, or the click of a lock, but the loud bang of the stall door almost has him jumping out of his skin as it flies right past him, missing him by a few centimeters as the other longish-haired male falls right at his feet, sprawled on his back on the bathroom floor*
Depends what type of god you believe in
*he jokes lightly before noticing how pale the younger one looks or how his eyes can't seem to really focus on him. seungjoo is quick to crouch down next to his bandmate, worry all over his face. he had a hunch jooyeon wasn't too used to drinking, but he was at least glad he'd caught him around*
I'd rather make headlines with something more upbeat than 'Plushi's bassist found passed out a gay club bathroom'
*he throws in in uneasy sarcasm as he carefully pulls the other up into a sitting position, propping him up against the stall door that had then fallen close with a light squeak. his fingers come up to the other's forehead, pushing away some stray strands of hair that stuck to his forehead*
How much did you drink?
*he questions the other, giving him some breathing space while trying to use his body to block jooyeon's state form the field of view of the other guys who walked into the facilities or out of the stalls.*

@♤ lee seungjoo ˡᵒʳᵉⁿ *the spinning wasn't so bad when his eyes were closed, but if he moved even a half inch, or tried to open his eyes again, he would spiral back. His head dips further between his shoulders, hovering above the bowl*
*a bout of nausea heaves him forward. Don't throw up... Don't throw up...*
"Jooyeon, you okay?"
Huh? *he makes the mistake of whipping backwards. Already precariously balanced, he tumbles backwards out of the stall, the door banging loudly when it slams into the wall* *Jooyeon lies on his back, staring straight up at the flickering neon lights*
Sunghoon? *he tries. The shadow of the person above him is all twisted and morphed to the point where he can't recognize the features* God? Am I dead?

@♤ lee jooyeon ʲᵘⁿᵉ /the night was young and Seungjoo hadn't gotten to the bar too long ago, having decided to go out only after realizing all of his group would be out for the night. Something that didn't happen too often as they did count with at least two faces who weren't much the type for the night life. He was currently waiting on his first drink when his eyes accidentally spotted one such face, Jooyeon's recognizable hair and the bright pink letters of a very familiar shirt immediately getting his attention. He was about to get up and greet the other when his eyes landed on the man next to him as he offered Jooyeon a drink. his lips twisted up in an amused smile and he let his body fall back onto his seat. Maybe the other was just enjoying some company and like hell if Seungjoo was about to ruin that for him, so he decided he'd give him some space. Thought he'd of course have to bring it up later, if nothing else, just to at least get a reaction out of the other. Still, that didn't stop him from keeping an eye on the two as he sipped through the drink and chatted up with his own company for the night, though the more he watched on, the more the man in the suit rubbed him the wrong way. He kept talking very calmly and was all smiles, while Jooyeon himself didn't seem to be talking all that much, simply noding along and following the conversation. It was only when the bassist got up to get away and his step seemed to stumble that Seungjoo's brows furrowed in suspicion and worry. His body was quick to force itself up again as he watched the other clumsily disaplear into the bathrooms. The taller male tried to make his way through the crowd towards where the other was, sparing some quick glances to the now alone male who also kept his gaze locked on the restrooms' door, a small smirk on his face. As soon as he was at the other end of the hall, his hand pushed at the tall door, almost slamming it back on another man who'd been trying to leave./
Sorry
/the apology is muttered as he barely spares the man a look as his eyes instead search the room for his bandmate, and peeking towards the stalls once he doesn't spot him/
Joo? Jooyeon, you okay?

@♤ lee seungjoo ˡᵒʳᵉⁿ *He never should have come here. It's a recurring thought that Jooyeon chastises himself with as he feels at the walls of the bathroom. It takes him too long than he wants to admit to find the stall, having to hunch over to keep the world from spinning out of control*
*a night that was meant to help him escape and liberate himself from the shell of who he is, ended up reminding him that he was this way because he could not handle it any other way*
*it had started off decently. he'd chosen his best outfit (a t-shirt he'd gotten from Loren as a gift with the text "Best bottom" written in neon pink on the front), he'd tied his hair, he'd saved money for his drinks. It only took three drinks for him to start feeling the world spinning. It was the drink a man had bought him - a tall, dark and handsome man in a fitted suit, with sleeked back hair, and a loose tie. He'd claimed to be a fan of his music.*
*oh yeah, another terrible part of the night. People were recognizing him. That man - what was his name? Sunghoon? - had saved him from the crowd and bought him a drink*
Oh god - *he groans, stumbling to his knees before the toilet with the door half open behind him* *he clutches his head in his hands, eyes shut tight* Stop... Spinning...

@❄ kim miso .
_______________________________________fin_________________________________________________

//cackles and wraps arms carefully around your middle, pointing upwards to your new tattoo, while balancing with one foot forward so i showcase mine in the mirror, grinning when our faces mush together/
Thank you for coming with me, Meesoyah. Your handholding is indeed 10/10.