⑨ main stage

_____________________________points delivered_______________________

() you time i'm going back to do my comments

June was nervous as all hell. Why the duck was he even here? Oh right, he used to dance and he was a part of a DSF band. He almost giggled when he got the invite to be a panelist, out of joy or pure fear, he wasn't sure. The entire performance, his knee bounced under the desk nervously, anticipating when the spotlight would turn to him and he'd have to speak into a microphone in front of hundreds... God, no, thousands, of people.

The moment finally came, and June channeled all the Loren energy he could to get that suave confidence as he opened his mouth. "Wow-" His voice cracked on the first word and he flushed red to his ear tips, clearing his throat to try again. That wasn't very Loren-like of him. "Wow," he tried again, his voice stable this time. He shared a fluttering look to his fellow panelists and clapped for a moment in silence. "Really, wow, I just, I think my entire band was surprised when I got invited here, but I think all of them forgot that I used to dance before I shredded bass," oh god, that was stupid. Could a face be burgundy and survive? "Um, no, really, I think tonight was a great performance. There were definitely some of you that shined more brightly than the other, but the fun thing about a night sky, is that every star shines brightest to the one that seeks it out. After watching you guys grow, evolve and adapt throughout this show, I think my eyes are trained on all of you, and will be up until your debut and beyond, because you all have a great future ahead of you. Now, I will let you all digest that, and we can all pretend it wasn't the cheesiest thing ever. Hyungs, I don't want to hear any grandpa jokes later."

June cleared his throat a final time behind his hands that hid his face from the outside world to save him as much dignity as possible. When he peeked through he was all smiles, and he held a thumb to Changwook, pleading for him to take the attention off him.

@❖ stephanie hwang @✵ shim jaeyun⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ lee heeseung⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim hongjoong⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ jeong yunho⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ ahn yujin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @♤ park seonghwa ʲᵘⁿᵉ @♊︎ song mingi ᴳᶦⁿ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ hirai momo⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ .




“Owwwaaaaaah!”
Changwook’s voice cut in after the cheer and applause of the audience, having given LeDeux their moment in the spotlight. The camera shifted right, catching him sauntering in amongst the falling confetti, ignoring the few pieces of red and silver tinsel resting in his styled hair. That was worries for later. “Aren’t they cool, dear viewers? Trust me, this is not the last you have seen of them. This track, developed by our very own trainees together with the group, is called Don’t Recall! It will be a single available on their upcoming album. Follow them on socials to get the full scoop on the news as soon as it breaks,” he hyped up as he walked, smiling as brightly as he would in any ad he posed for in the past. This was not that much different.

“What a show we have had tonight, dear viewers. What a show we have had these past months!” He found his mark, making a snap turn to face the camera directly. For the briefest moment he made a point of adjusting his suit jacket, brushing a bit of tinsel off his shoulder before the mic raised again-

And he dramatically sighed. This was the last show. He would miss it.
“It has been an adventure to witness these young up-and-coming idols perform for you all,” he began, his voice carrying a slight somber tone that had not been there earlier. “Each week a new challenge and new difficulties. But we have all seen them rise to the test, each and every time. That deserves another applause, don’t you think?”
Changwook turned back towards the stage exits as the audience exploded into cheers. “Come on out here everybody. Let your fans see you again,” he cheered into the mic, waving towards the back as if someone was waiting for the visual cue. And out came the trainees, packing together on stage to take in the cheering.

“Remember, this might be good night and good bye for now, but you can follow each and every trainee here on their journey through their socials and DSF’s own socials. Make sure to keep yourself updated on everything that will come out from these trainees. Because despite the sides you have already seen, I am sure they have many more they would happily show off on their way to stardom as full fledged idols.”

Giving a short glance back towards everyone, he nodded, giving the cue for the part to come.
“So as we again say the same thing we do each night, know that we will miss you, dear viewers. Thank you all for watching and we hope you all have a wonderful night. We have been-“

Changwook raised the mic as they all in union cheered: “9LIVES!”

“Thank you all!”
And as he waved towards the camera, like saying goodbye to a dear friend, it swung backwards, catching a sweeping shot of the stage, the trainees, the panel and the audience. He spun on the spot, making sure the mic was off before promptly congratulating each idol he got eye contact with.



[ And as such we have reached the end of a big event!
Thank you all for the participation. We hope it has been an enjoyable event and lots of fun writing your pieces. ]

[Position: BM
performance video posted below]

After making sure that the camera wasn't on him anymore, Gin slowly made his way backstage while trying not to look too suspicious for the live audience there, not wanting to spoil anything for the upcoming performance with his group. They had been preparing for this stage harder than usual, as it would be a mark of their comeback after almost a year and he wanted it to be one of the best opening arcs for their comeback time.

Taking his position, he waited for the cue in his IEM and also made sure that everyone was ready to wow the audience with their performance, although he didn't want to steal the spotlight from the trainees but right now, it was time for LeDeux to shine. As Sua started the song, gone was all the nervousness in his body, what's left was just the thrill and the fun he felt while performing. His part soon came and it was hard to tone down his excitement which was clearly shown during his second part as he stopped dancing to rap and threw a little adlib there.

The cheer was deafening and as he gazed out toward the audience at the end of the song, all Gin could feel was how much he loved being on the stage like this, and hearing the cheers was definitely worth all the ridiculous amount of time they spent inside the practice room and the recording room, back and forth. Now one job is done, they just have to make sure that their actual comeback would be even better than this one.

[ https://youtu.be/BiE3bKnnQqU?si=_XqY7fJWjvSqcKie
Position: Somin ]

Even before the CEO had the mic in hand they were being ushered out onto the dark stage to find their spots. Eunbi’s heart beat like a jackhammer in her chest as she stood there in the darkness, adjusting her in-ears to sit more comfortably as the asymmetrical edges of her skirt tickled her thighs. The heft of the microphone in her hand was welcome, giving her something else to focus on in the darkness as Tiffany spoke than her own pulse.

This was it. They were finally about to have their comeback after about a year from their debut.
She closed her eyes, letting her lungs fill with air before slowly letting her breath roll off her chin. They had only had a week to practice with the song, not much unlike the trainees that had performed before them. It was different than what she was used to, and the nerves were high.

Yet the moment Gin’s voice was heard through the in-ears she felt a calmness settle in over her like a comforting cloak. The lights that flashed on was the cue for Eun to take over; all charisma and stage-flair and no worries. A snare carried in the rhythm of the song, her body already moving to the choreography they had spent days perfecting.

There were moments while performing where she had to tone down her movements in comparison to the others to ensure she could keep her voice steady as she sang. At the same time she had to keep focus on giving the cameras attention, ensuring that they got to see her cheekily smirk as she seductively waved Gin after her, marking the transition from final chorus and to the outro.

And it was fun. Fun to be back on stage. Fun to get to play out this fictive flirt with her friends that she knew would rile up the audience. Fun to dance, and to sing, and to be back where she had always felt most alive. This was the very beginning of a new adventure that would bring both stress and excitement, and Eun was ready.
“Geumanhae, I don’t recaaaall”

@✵ shim jaeyun⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ lee heeseung⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim hongjoong⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ jeong yunho⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ ahn yujin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @♊︎ song mingi ᴳᶦⁿ @♊︎ moon sua ᴸᵁᴬ @♊︎ kwon eunbi ᴱᵘⁿ @♊︎ felix lee ᴸᴵˣ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ ji changwook⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ @◈ hirai momo⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ .

The camera cruised from panelist to panelist as they spoke one by one, ending up in front of Tiffany... or would but only found her empty chair.
After a second of distress, another cameraman quickly found her, perched at the end of the panelist table, one leg crossed over the other, long frilly dress flowing around her, her cheeky grin followed by the audience's laughter.
"I took the liberty of stealing a leaf out of our charming host's book, if you don't mind me." she brought the mic to her lips, the camera showing Changwook for a moment to catch his reaction.

"You know how it is - once an entertainer, always an entertainer. Which leads me into my smooth segue into tonight's theme. My darlings," she turned the attention towards the trainees huddled at center stage, "I know from experience that the path you've taken on - one of idolhood - is as glorious and enchanting, as it is full of hardships and scrutiny. During these 5 weeks, you got a taste of all of it - the hard work, but also the applause. And the applause are addicting, huh?" she grinned wider, hopping off the table and making her way back to her chair, careful not to show another one of the chairs had also gone vacant.

"Tonight you showed us your creme de la creme, and yet you have yet to taste the cherry on top. But let's not rush through the steps. As is custom, ladies go first, so - our majestic lion queens, I am so proud of you. I saw you grow as a team, as performers and as artists, the song you created was the pinnacle of the efforts we at DSF see behind the scenes as well. You proved this is exactly where you belong, and stood your ground. You owned the stage so ferociously, I forgot who was paying the rent here for a second." another bout of laughter from the crowds, as Tiffany smiled at the bunch.

"And our relentless gentlemen - I am someone who believes in the power of raw talent and dedication. Even if you started on the wrong foot and needed a moment to sober up - today we saw you showcase us your path to success - starting from the backstage where the magic happens, leading us to the front with a spirited performance - you showed us your raw dedication to this art. You have set the standard, now it's time to beyond. And the world better get ready for what is next."

"Speaking of... wait, aren't we missing a panelist member?" the crowd gasped HEAVILY over the top as the camera showed Gin's empty chair. "Shall we find out what LeDeux have been up to, guys? Let's put our hands together and see what they cooked up together with our lovely trainees for the second part of this mission. You ready?
//croud yells "YES"//
Well, then...
Lights. Camera. LeDeux."

[[@ldx - 4 days to post, if you think you will not be able to - pls let admins know so we can exempt you and not wait to end the show, ty ily mwah]]

@❖ stephanie hwang @✵ shim jaeyun⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ lee heeseung⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim hongjoong⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ jeong yunho⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ ahn yujin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @♤ park seonghwa ʲᵘⁿᵉ @♊︎ song mingi ᴳᶦⁿ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ ji changwook⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ She was impressed but as she was a teacher, Momo knew they could give even more than they did just now. Clapping her hands softly, she quietly listened to Mingi who seemed quite pleased with their performances, nodding with some of his comments. She waited patiently while looking at her notes once more, she knew it was her cue as soon as the audience cheers died down a bit. She was a bit nervous to say the least but at the end of the day this was her job and regardless, she probably give them these comments even behind closed doors. She gave Mingi a small bow before picking up her mic and took a quick sip of her water before speaking into it. "Hello everyone. Thank you for coming out today and supporting these fine men and women who have clearly worked hard on their performances." She looked over to the trainees and gave a them a brief smile as things were about to get serious.

"I won't sugar coat anything as you know it's not my style to do so," she started while looking over at the boys. "Individually, you guys did great especially with your vocals. However, as a group, I was not entirely impressed. Though I would agree the backstage POV was a good concept.. it felt like it dragged on in some points which made you look disconnected in some parts. I understand that it's meant to be a remix of some kind but personally it just does not work for me. The transitions felt a bit off as well, either they were rushed or delayed. As for the dance segment, which I'm disappointed there wasn't much of so there's not much to critique but even that, you guys disappeared within your dancers. It must be the nerves but it didn't feel like you guys were too confident about it. Lastly, I know we're pulling all the stops and fancy fare out here but I don't think the shirt ripping was necessary but of course the audience enjoyed it and that's what we like to hear."

She chuckled softly as the crowd cheered and she thanked the boys for their performances then looked over to the girls. A little biased, maybe but she was proud of them. "I clearly remember telling you last week to attack and keep your eyes on the prize and I think it showed." She began her commentary but paused as the crowd cheered for the girls and the improvement they've shown. "Thank you for putting in the hard work and for giving us an unforgettable performance. The storyline was clear along with the message, the visuals kept me hooked. Everything was cohesive and well thought of. From start to finish, vocals were on point, the dancing was uniformed- simple but it conveyed your main point. Even your facial expressions were present. Tonight shows me that you really want this and I can't wait for what you come up with next." She clapped along with the audience and gave them a thumbs up.

"That would be all from me, thank you everyone. Great job on your performances!" She said placing her mic back on the table and leaning back as the crowed cheered the trainees on as the camera panned to each of their faces, some causing quite the commotion. Momo offered the stage over to their CEO and gave her a soft smile before leaning back on her seat waiting for the point of return into her little bubble.

@❖ stephanie hwang @✵ shim jaeyun⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ lee heeseung⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim hongjoong⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ jeong yunho⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ ahn yujin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @♤ park seonghwa ʲᵘⁿᵉ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ ji changwook⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ @◈ hirai momo⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ //leans back into the seat as I give out a big clap after taking the cue that it's panelist time to talk. My eyes scan each one of the trainees, a big grin on my face as I do so//
Wow, simply just wow

You guys really outdid yourselves tonight and I'm sure June sunbaenim, Momo ssaem and our dearest Sajang-nim would agree with me. Your performances were truly fitting for the final stage. Everything was just amazing. From how you prepare the songs, then the stage and all. Truly remarkable. And also, I didn't expect Mina-ssi would take the high note part, but dare I said, you are exceeding our expectations. You nailed it. Perfect execution. Well done. And Lisa-ssi. That rap was fire! The flow was great, articulation was clear, you did a great job wowing us tonight, more than usual. Yujin-ssi, Yunjin-ssi and Jiwon-ssi, your performance just as amazing. I can't see any flaws in it. You girls look very comfortable on the stage and looked like you were having fun, which is important as your fans could see if you are disliking your own performance, trust me. Keep up the good work, girls. You are truly the Queens of tonight's stage.

Moving on to the boys. Your stage was fun to see, taking a different perspective from the backstage view, which not often people think about doing. Yunho-ssi and Jaeyun-ssi vocals and high note were simply just blow my mind. My ears have been blessed tonight. And Hongjoong-ssi, damn brother. Can you hear the ladies were screaming when you rip that shirt off? Very y and bold move, I gotta say. But, aside from that. You have a great control over your rap and pace. Though overall, I kind of wishing to see more dance piece in your performance but it was very enjoyable to watch.

I guess that's all from me, let's move on to our lovely other panelist. Once again, great job, everyone.

@❖ stephanie hwang @❖ seo joohyun ˢᵉᵒʰʸᵘⁿ @✵ shim jaeyun⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ lee heeseung⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim hongjoong⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ jeong yunho⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ ahn yujin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @♤ park seonghwa ʲᵘⁿᵉ @♊︎ song mingi ᴳᶦⁿ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ hirai momo⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ .


“Wonderful! Wonderful!”
Changwook’s voice could be heard before he walked on stage, clapping his hands as a surrogate for the people at home. “Bravo! Brava! His attention turned towards the camera ever so slightly, like old friends greeting each other. “Aren’t they all amazing, dear viewers?” And in a way he did see the camera almost as a friend. For behind the lens he knew there were thousands of people excitedly watching getting ushered on by his script and presentation between performances. In many ways he would miss it. Both the camaraderie of the crew, but also to just watch the young trainees improve and shine.

“They have truly improved a lot over the weeks we have shared together. And just think that this is only one step of their journey. I am sure they have even more fuel in the tank for when debut comes around, so make sure you follow them all closely, okay?” He winked at the camera, letting out a performative but jovial laugh. “But I am not truly one to speak. I am just your humble host. These handsome and beautiful panelists on the other hand-“
Changwook gestured forward before walking, the camera person following along as they moved towards the panelists’ table. “-they have a bit more insight in what it takes to be an actual idol. Rest assured, that you will be left in their capable hands as they go through the performances.” He scanned them over quickly, giving each a slight bow of his head.


[ Sorry for the double ping, forgot to add OOC -
The limit on the panelists are set for 3 days. Do let the right people know if you will not be able.
No one will be mad, but this is showbiz, and "The show must go on" and all that. ]

[post deleted by owner]

[https://youtu.be/0YH3Pqp4xJg?si=qELj0pytVi-XLg6W
rolled: 5, position: Yuqi]

This was the first ever song she ever thought of writing for the group, for them. And just like their song, they were not one to give up easy. Each of them had their story to tell, and she wanted to portray that. Of course, it wasn't her effort alone, every single one of them contributed to the creation of the song and the performance itself. It was the kind of performance she was sure that would be engraved in the minds of not only the audience, but their own.

She could feel her heart beating loud and fast in her as they were positioned, hearing the intro. With each beat from the song, she managed to calm herself down, looking to the left to see the others before looking straight. Once the screen opened up, it was their turn, walking out slowly, matching Yujin's pace before she made her way to her designated place.

"neon naye nuneul salpigo i eumage momi malligo
tteugeoun rideume gachigo sajaye chumeul bachigo"

Throughout the performance, she focused on her expressions and made sure to match the energy given by everyone in the team and the cheers from the crowd. Once the ending had been reached, she slowly walked up the stairs with the girls, turning around and sitting down in unison before finally crossing their legs, looking like the queens that they are.

[ Rolled 6 (after 582 times)
Position: Minhyuk ]

Energy was electric in the room. Hongjoong huddled the team together for one last time. "We can do it. Give it our best like it's the last stage we will ever do," he told the boys, the weight of this moment heavy in his voice. They nodded, sharing silent understanding as the floor managers called them to take their places in their respective rooms.

Wearing a red robe, Hongjoong went down for some more pushups to the floor. Pressing his muscles to feel ready, he continued asking himself why he allowed that stylist to convince him to go bare with his upper body. "Doing it like it's our last stage, right?" he grumbled to himself.

The countdown echoed in his IEM. The stage opened with a blowing horn, followed by Jaeyun's voice, clear, light yet strong representation of his vocals. Hongjoong smiled, Jaeyun just had the tone to set the stage. Yunho's deeper vocals followed afterward and filled the hall. Hongjoong was sitting in his chair, one of his feet up on the table, the other tapping to the beat, waiting for his part. The camera came into his room, framing him just as his rap came on. Precise with his timing, he completed his part, slamming the door as the camera retreated.

His dancers promptly took him into his second costume, which black leather jacket over a black tank top. He waited, as Heesung took center stage to prepare for the next entrance. When the camera panned in his direction, Hongjoong slid back into his next rap verse seamlessly, syncing with the other dancers before falling against Jaeyun's doorframe to pass the torch.

The boys exited their rooms and started walking toward the main stage. Hongjoong hyped up the crowd as the gates opened. Heesung then continued his rap verse and then there was Jaeyun with Yunho's powerful vocals filled with air. With a smirk, Hongjoong had his head sticking out behind Heesung, mouthing "backdoor" before the group dance break began.

Confetti fell, fireworks burst. Hongjoong remembered the joke about ripping his shirt. He had never imagined everyone to agree when he jested then. But now, center stage, listening to the crowd, he tore the fabric off him and dwelled in their screams.

"Hey, you wanna come in?" he mouthed with a smirk, and the song ended with a bang.

(https://youtu.be/bQGSugQTXQA?si=1mh4ntL_wq8S7wEy

Rolled 5
Position: Changsub)

It was nerve-racking. It was a new challenge for him and, to be honest, a very risky move to pull when it was the final stage. Tackling the position as one of the main vocalists for the new song they worked on together, so for Yunho, this stage was either a big hit or a big miss. He just hoped it would be the second one. After all, it's their blood, sweat, and tears.

Unlike the other stages they had done before, this time, they started in a backstage-like setting, with Jaeyun starting the song. Yunho took his position in one of the rooms they prepared for the stage, which was set like a waiting room for the artists, while lying down on the couch, pretending to play the guitar.

His cue to start acting and singing was the knock on the door from Jaeyun. 'You can do it,' he chanted in his mind as he started to sing, and the hard work paid off as he sang it smoothly while making his way to knock on the room where Hongjoong was waiting for his rap part, then returned to his room to wait for his next part.

His next part came, and the four of them moved toward the "gate" that separated them from the main stage. When it opened, people lined up on either side, almost like groups of fans waiting for their idols to come out and perform. And after the rap part, comes his duet part with Jaeyun. The dance for this song was not something that they tried to emphasize this time, but still, it was fun. Yunho had to admit that this stage was the one stage where he had the most fun throughout the 9lives program. Once the performance ended, the loud cheering from the audience let him know that they were really enjoying the performance which brought a smile to his face.

“We did it.”

() position Soy, rolled a 5

Before going on stage lisa does something she hadn’t done in a while, she prayed. she prayed for a memorable performance from all the girls and boys participating , prayed for the health and happiness for everyone. most importantly, she prayed that they could walk away from this last stage with no regrets. and you know… hopefully people like her new look.

she hops up from her knees joining the other girls. this was it, there’s a cue from their in-ears and the intro begins playing.


a failed idol renovating herself, given a second chance to make something of herself because people considered her worthy. she takes a quick glance, eyes sweeping over her members, her nerves slowly fading away.

they step out into the bright lights , the crowd roaring over the backtrack. Signs made for them, chants being made for them. Lisa doesn’t miss a beat, getting to perform her own choreography right there in front of thousands to a song produced by themselves. If this wasn’t cloud nine , lisa doesn’t think it’ll ever exist. elegant they were, Lisas eyes piercing through the camera in determination. she trusted her girls, she trusted them on the first team mission. this was their stage.

her solo part comes, thankful to be given one by the girls in the first place, showing off her rap abilities which she often downplays over her dancing.

nearing the end , the girls sit in six thrones- symbolism for the future. they are here now and they are coming to grab kpop by the throat and cement their legacy.

//.Performance video below
Rolled 6 on the first try
Position: Minnie//

Mina stands behind the hard flanks of the stage - out front is Yewon, she can hear the crowd yelling her name as the voiceover begins and then the rhythmic start of Lion - she can't see the older girl doing her solo part, but she is convinced the other is acing it - they trained so hard for this, so diligently, this stage was going to be their Magnum Opus. No doubt about it. Together they had created something extraordinary — Lion, a song they wrote and choreographed themselves.
After rehearsing for so long, Mina refused to be nervous, even with the high note she had to hold looming in the near future. The stage is set for a theatrical spectacle, with each girl exuding the power and grace of lion queens. Dressed in striking red leotards with flowing golden feathered capes, they command the audience's attention with every move.
She stood at the center of the other 4 as the flanks opened dramatically, her gaze fierce, her poise regal as she leads them to descend down the short steps, lilting the first lines of the song in a somewhat gravelly tone.

As the music builds in the second verse, Mina steps forward for her memorable high note - the part she rehearsed the most, her voice soaring with raw emotion, capturing the intensity of the moment. This is their last performance together in this show, and the weight of it hangs in the air, making every beat more meaningful. Their bond, their artistry, and their journey culminate in this powerful, emotional performance, leaving a lasting impression on everyone watching, as they walk toward the back of the stage one last time and take their rightful seats on the velvety thrones - side by side, facing the same future.

@✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ [Taking Miyeon's part]


This is it.

The moment they had been waiting for. The moment they worked so hard for, harder than the previous stages. The little pep talk that Lisa did ultimately helped Yujin to calm her nerves down but as they were getting ready for the performance, she couldn't help but to feel nervous again. Placing her hand above her chest, she took a few deep breaths as she could hear the prologue story was being played, signaling that it's show time.

As the music went on and Yewon's solo dance performance ended, the huge LED in front of them parted and the girls strut forward; she could hear all the cheering for them and that was enough to make up her mind that she had to deliver well- no excuse to perform less than perfect.

When it's the chorus time, Yujin stepped to the center, singing the song just like how they wanted to deliver it, strong and fierce. The performance continued without any setback as she let a soft smile appear on her face after Mina hitting that high note and judging from the cheers that erupted after that, the audience seemed to love it too.

Once Lisa was done with her solo rap part, it was time for them to join her at the center of the stage. With the camera on the other five girls and she was the center of it, Yujin maintained a fierce look as she walked and sang “It looks like a Lion, I'm a queen like a lion” While lightly flicking her hair back, a coy smile on her face before turning away to let Jiwon sang the next part.

With Yunjin leading the last part of the song, they made their way up towards the six thrones that had been set up and sat down on it, looking all majestic as they all gazed toward the audience. Under the deafening cheer, Yujin felt proud of herself and the rest of the girls as they did deliver the song marvelously and it was getting hard to held back her tears of happiness, but it needs to be saved till later until they're back to the backstage area.

@✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ ahn yujin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YH3Pqp4xJg&;pp=ygUgbGlvbiBnaWRsZSBxdWVlbmRvbSBwZXJmb3JtYW5jZSA%3D

yunjin and jiwon together had worked hard to make sure that they had a good song for the show, and with lisa's choreography, she was sure it was going to be a performance to remember. she had bullied (gently) a staff member into giving her chrystal jung's phone number, and they were going onstage looking put together and all good. she was ready.

the lights went down, lisa had given them all a pep talk, and yunjin walked out with the rest of them. she had pre-recorder the intro they had come up with and cringed for a moment as it played, hating to hear the sound of her own voice speaking, but soon her brain turned off and the lights came up.

yunjin felt like she was on another world as she performed, singing when it was her line and making sure to look at the camera whenever it was pointed towards her with a raised eyebrow that she hoped looked more effortlessly y than cringy. when the end of the song came, she had the last line - she didn't regret at all giving the high note to mina, she knew the other woman could handle it - and she sat down as gracefully as she could on the throne. that was it - it was over.

@❖ stephanie hwang @❖ seo joohyun ˢᵉᵒʰʸᵘⁿ @✵ shim jaeyun⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ lee heeseung⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim hongjoong⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ jeong yunho⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ ahn yujin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @♤ park seonghwa ʲᵘⁿᵉ @♊︎ song mingi ᴳᶦⁿ @♊︎ moon sua ᴸᵁᴬ @♊︎ kwon eunbi ᴱᵘⁿ @♊︎ felix lee ᴸᴵˣ @◈ hirai momo⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ .



It was time. Changwook felt as if he could hear his own footsteps echo back at him as he strode out onto the dark stage, dressed in his most fashionable black tie suit. This was going to be THE event of the year, and he would not back down for a moment. Clearing his throat to get his voice ready the man stopped mid stage, microphone raised to his lips as the light slowly dimmed in with his words.
““On the path of life we all have many faces. To our loved ones and our friends we can be totally different people. We each have so many different sides of ourselves to show off.” Unlike the previous episodes his voice remained somewhat sombre, the slow zoom of the boom cam making him fill more of the frame with each second. It drew in closer towards his face as he continued: “One could say we live-“ And as it finally had him fully in frame, he looked up, greeting the viewers as old friends with a small smile playing over his lips: “9Lives.”

“It has been quite the journey we have had so far, my dear viewers. You have seen ups and you have seen downs. Victories and losses, faced in equal measure by our bold trainees. You’ve seen hardship and successes. But most of all-” he spoke slowly, reflecting back on the past episodes. “-some quality entertainment. Each one of our brave trainees have shown that they are willing to give their all to be stars. And tonight, my dear viewers… Tonight they will have the chance to truly show off their skills.” It was time to kick it up a notch. He lifted his hand in the air, cueing for the screens to come alive. “Tonight’s theme - Self-made!”

“Our trainees have been hard at work crafting their own stages, songs and dances you have never before seen. And in not too long I will hand the stage over to them to really show you what they can do.” He smirked happily as he leaned closer, his voice in a theatrical whisper: “And there will be a little sneak preview of an upcoming release towards the end of the episode. But first!” The camera moved towards stage right with Changwook half jogging to catch up behind it. “Our final panelists to cap off the episodes. From left to right, we have our delightful choreographer and return panelist, Hirai Momo! To her right, the style icon with a bass from Royal Flush, June! He raps, he dances, he’s the tallest member of tonight’s premiere, LeDeux’ Gin!” There was a brief pause as Changwook’s eyes met his fiancee’s, holding her gaze for only a moment as he smiled; a smile not fuelled by stage bravado or acting, but one of genuine love. “And last, but not least, the woman whose very hands help run this show; one half of the CEO duo of DSF; Tiffany Hwang!” He flashed her another smile before striding back towards the middle of the stage.

“We have a packed show ahead of you all, dear viewers, so I will not hold you up too long,” he schmoozed into the camera before dramatically throwing away his last cue-card. “It is time for the trainees to show off what they got. Let us launch of this most spectacular of grand finales. You are all watching 9Lives! Trainees…! TAKE IT AWAY!”



[ OOC Notes:
Rules remain as before. 7 days from now to roll, finish up discussions and making posts before the panelists have their go. Make sure you all wrangle together and get to posting before then. If there are any songs or performances yet to be agreed upon, feel free to tag the ones needed to reply ASAP so they can get back to you all, be it about picking performances or otherwise.
And remember, roll in the rolls room ahead of writing your posts, just to see how it all goes.
Any other questions, and you know where to reach out.

Best of luck~ ]

_____________________________points delivered_______________________

_____________________________________________________________________

@✵ shim jaeyun⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ myoui mina⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ lee heeseung⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim hongjoong⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ jeong yunho⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @♤ lee seungjoo ˡᵒʳᵉⁿ @☾ hwang yeji @◈ lee minho ʟᴇᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡ⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ hirai momo⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ .


“Touching, is it not?” Changwook exclaimed, touching a hand to his chest as he playfully swooned a little. “Four weeks and our trainees are already making strides in ways that are plain to see-“ He made a slight nod to Loren behind the panelist table with a smile. “-even to us non-dancers. Thank you, panelists. And thank you all trainees, for giving us such a spectacular show.” Giving both the audience and himself a moment to applaud them all, he hurriedly continued on, knowing he had a lot to get through before the night could truly finish.

“As we reach the zenith of our penultimate episode, I would like to take a moment to truly address you all, dear trainees.” Changwook smiled, turning his back to the camera as the camera boom moved up, lights flooding on to show off every trainee on screen. “You have all worked hard. Through ups and downs of challenges that might not have been your forte, you have never given up. I believe this is something every single one of our dear viewers at home could agree on as well. So, as we come to our final challenge, let me congratulate you on your hard work.”

He smiled softly, having let the flamboyant persona of host fall for a second. There was nothing but good he could speak of their effort, for he had seen how each and every one of them had put in their all, even days were it did not seem to go their way.

“And with such hard work comes a challenge that will also be a reward.” One hand shot up into the air, pointing towards the sky above. Presenter Changwook was back. “With our final episode you will be tested as full fledged groups. The theme is-“ The words came up on the screen where he was pointing, titling out the next episode: “Self-made! You have seen idols and groups put in hard work both on and off the stage to create the albums and songs we all adore. And next week, you will put all your efforts in to create a new number, one never before seen or performed. You will work diligently with the DSF staff to create a song and dance of your own making and perform it on this very stage. But that is not all. For alongside this song you will also help create the next song for our very own fan’s choice award winners to perform. The Next Generation Stars as voted on by you all: LEDEUX!”

As their group photo displays on screen ‘Ring the Alarm’ plays over the speakers. He grins at the reaction from both trainees and audience alike. “They will work closely with you all and help both with the song written for them, but also with your own numbers, so make sure you listen well, for they have recently paved the very path you are all on. They might hold some insight that will prove useful for you all.”

Changwook spins dramatically back to camera, knowing their time-slot is soon to be over. “This is an episode you will not want to miss, my dear viewers. So as we have said every night here from 9Lives - We thank you all for watching and hope you have a wonderful night!”



[ Here we are, heading quickly towards the end of our little show.
Now, as with every end of episode, I’ll include some rules and points for what to prep for the coming episode; our grand finale.


OOC notes:
- We’re running with the same deadlines as last week: 4 days to discuss and pick songs+performance videos. Then after the episode 5 intro there will be a week to roll and post (and finalise discussions if needed.)
- As for song selections, remember this is 3 songs in total. One for the boys, one for the girls and one for LeDeux. You can seek help for all 3 from DSF staff/idols, so feel free to ask around to set up for songs (just make sure these are new songs that can be added to the songbook.)
- Please do provide a little distro as to who sings who’s part in the videos you chose. Also remember that this is the grand finale, make sure your songs and stages present according to this.
- if anyone is inactive, just godmod them
- since the boys are very few and not very active, yunho and jake can try to bring up a discussion, or choose on their own and godmod the rest
- in case of questions - you know who to ask ]

Seungjoo was no dancer. Not at all, so when it came to the dancing bit of the challenge he was right out of his element. Everyone looked pretty amazing to him, moving in ways he could not even imagine his body moving in, so he'd refrain from even attempting to make criticism. The other panelists had done enough of it either way and considering the high praise, he could only guess they'd done as well as it had looked to him.

As the camera redirected to him, he offered his usual small relaxed small and lifted his hand in a small wave to the trainees and the host as they faced him as well. The guitarist leaned onto the table, one of his arms flat against the white surface while the other one reached out to pick up the mic, using his elbow for support as he lifted it slightly to his lips.

"I don't have all that much to add to what's been said already. I'm no dancer either, so it's not like my praise would mean all that much" He let out with a quiet chuckle and a small shrug of his shoulders before turning to face the other panelists "But after hearing such high praise from the others have, I'm sure you'd heard what you needed to know how well you did tonight. From a performance point of view, both groups were really cool and really managed to keep our attention."

He then gestured to the boys, his eyes widening slightly as he tilted his head "I was not expecting one of our songs to sound this well in this type of style. The arrangement sounded pretty cool and it was the perfect fit to introduce the choreography. You did an amazing job! The little details with the piece of.. cloth? or scarf? As well as the stage lighting and everything really played into the performance too. I was really impressed, great job!"

"As for the girls, I was really impressed by the vocals. All of you sounded very good and stable while dancing. Yunjin-ssi, Jiwon-ssi" He glanced down at the paper shortly to make sure he was getting the names right before lifting his eyes back to the trainees "You have really nice voices, and they fit this style and arrangement surprisingly well! If ever we are given permission by the higher-ups..." He looked around a little behind the cameras as if to spot any of them, unsure if it was fine to propose such a thing on live television, but then again, he'd always been known for being bold. "I'd really like to have you collab on a Royal Flush track sometime. I think you'd sound really cool in our style"

Leaving the short suggestion up on the air, he quickly closed his speech with a slightly wider smile. "You're all really talented and with each new stage you seem more and more ready. I'll be looking forward to see you do well in the future!"

It was obvious in their eyes that they all wanted it bad and this impressed her. Momo quietly watched each one of them like a hawk as they danced and sang their hearts out. Having a had a few of their company's idols train through her, she knew who wanted it and who was in it for just for the clout -- the kind she hated the most. She scribbled some notes, key points she wanted to emphasize on next to the names listed on the sheets in front of her. Suffice to say, as great as the boys were, she was rooting for her girls the most. Their rehearsals, though smooth still had a few hiccups along the way but it seemed they took her advice well and applied themselves accordingly, something she made sure her trainees understood.

She quietly listened to her co-panelists, a coworker and former trainees now idols, while formulating her thoughts. Like Yeji said, they both seemed to have said everything that was needed and there wasn't much to nitpick at this point. As soon as it was her turn, she gave a small bow to Yeji and took a quick sip of her water before reaching for her mic. If there was anything Momo wasn't good at... it was public speaking. Funny how she became a teacher of all things but she was past the point of no return.

"First off, congratulations to each one of you. We can all clearly see that you've all worked very hard for this mission and I'm very pleased to say, I was impressed. It's noticeable that you've all put in the work and that's a good sign that you are listening and improving yourself to be better." She pulled away from the mic for a moment to clear then continued, "my colleagues here have said mostly the same points I also have but I do have a few more to discuss, and this is for both groups, I understand that it is tiring but you can't let that show on your face. Even with the boys that had a costume change, you need to bring that charisma until the end which you did but there were some parts that the exhaustion was showing."

"Another point I would have would be the leveling. There were some parts that the arms were not on the same level or the kicks did not have the same power. I know you're conserving your energy for your singing parts as well but I feel like there could have been some finessing done in order to deliver on both factors equally. Lastly, focus. In some parts, it felt like some of you were just marking the dance instead of performing which can be obvious. I will excuse it this one time as I understand you guys are nervous but next time, attack. Regardless if you're a trainee or a well seasoned idol, attack with all you have. Some examples I can give with be idols like HOSHI or S.Coups that usually have a "stare" when they're performing. An "eyes on the prize" kind of look to explain it more properly." Momo took one last look over her notes and nodded as she seemed to have covered what she wanted to say. "Yes, that would be all from me, you all did great and congratulations again. Thank you for your hard work everyone!" She said with a smile while placing her mic down, gently clapping along with everyone else as she leaned back on her seat.

Watching both performances from where the panelists were staying, she could see all the trainees in a different angle. Having been like them not too long ago, she understood where their passion lies. She knew how hard they had worked on their performances, from the first episode up until now, how far they've gone. Listening to Minho's comments, she nodded and gave a soft, inaudible clap as she glanced over at him and her co-panelists before looking back at the trainees.

"I feel like Minho-ssi had said most of what is needed to be said." She started off, letting out a soft chuckle before letting out a hum as she smiled. "But let me start off with the boys. As someone who had worked with you in the last mission, it was nice to be able to see you all coming out of your shell for this performance. It was out of the box and the dance itself made all of you stand out individually. It was also cool how you changed costumes, very creative. At first I thought 'oh? it's over?' then I saw you boys come back." She smiled before looking down at her notes then turning her gaze back at them, biting her lower lip. "Although the choreography was great and I saw how hard you all improved, I feel like the dance itself is lacking a bit of power and made your movements look slightly sluggish, but I think you can work on that and I can't wait to see what's in store for you. Overall, you did great!." She gave a little clap as she smiled then turned her attention to the girls.

"Now for the girls. I can definitely feel the unity with this performance. You all complemented each other and even managed to showcase what being a girl group is all about. You look like a debuted girl group, even making the song your own, showing your colours. Also, although this mission is focused on dance, let me commend you on how stable your vocals are, this just proves that you're ready to be one of the greats. If I have one comment though, I think that there are parts that seem to be repeated and lacking power as well. But with more practice, I think you can surpass every girl group there, even DIA. Great job girls!" Yeji then placed the mic down before she gave them two thumbs up as she smiled brightly.

There was too much that Minho had to say, and not enough time to say it, judging by the menacing tick of the countdown behind the cameras that were all pointed on him. It'd been a long time since Minho had faced the cameras with his face and name attached. He was used to being an anonymous dancer to fill in for Janus on tours, a backup dancer where he needed and when called for. He was most comfortable in the studios, where the idols and trainees knew him best as choreographer and dance teacher, Lee Minho, rather than his old stage persona from his early days. Sometimes, the twinge of pain in his shoulder made him feel bittersweet while watching the idols and upcoming trainees, but at the end of the day, as he sat at that panelist table, all he had was a swell of pride in his chest, seeing how far these trainees had come.

Particularly the boys, all of whom had curated their performances under his guidance. He had seen first hand the hustle that these trainees had put to get to the stage today. It was shocking, even to Minho, to find his eyes misty, like a proud father.

He cleared his throat, the sound echoing loudly in the mic, and tried to subtly wipe away the tears as he began speaking.

"Wow, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that tonight was truly a night to remember. We've watched you all come from budding trainees, to full on performers, and it's just-" he hiccupped over an emotional sob and attempted to pass it off as a cough. "Fantastic really. Um... Ahem. Jaehyun." Minho straightened in his seat, glancing at his notes to give himself a moment to recollect.

"Jaehyun, you were one of the trainees that I saw really struggling behind the scenes. You were slow to pick up on the choreography, you were finding the musicality of the song difficult. But every day, when you came into practice, you held your head high and you told me, "Sunbaenim, let's try again." Your hard work, your passion, your effort, it showed tonight. And I'm so proud of you. You should be proud of yourself too. No one would know how hard it was for you to get to this stage tonight. Really good. Incredible. I can't wait to see where this industry takes you, because anyone would be lucky to have a trainee that works this hard."

"Hongjoong, I also loved your performance. It was dynamic, it was fresh, it showed a side of you I wasn't expecting to see. I was a little worried at first, because you chose a rather challenging song, but every practice, you came in and you gave it your all, no matter what. Tonight, you left your all on that stage. There were 9 lives up for grabs, and you fought for every one of them. Give yourself a pat on the back, because you deserve it."

"Jiwon, while I might not have had the opportunity to work with you hands on like my other panelist here, I have to say, I heard nothing but good things from Momo about your work ethic. Judging by the performance you put on tonight, I can see why. Thank you for treating us to such a gift, it was lovely."

"Mina, when I first saw you on this show, you looked a bit like a deer in headlights. I was a bit worried if you would be able to pull off the stronger choreographies that Momo likes to put together. However, what you did tonight - Wow! I can't believe that that was you! You have come so far, grown so much. Your confidence has truly flourished, and I think I speak for everyone, the panelists, the fans, the people watching at home: We are so excited to see what you have next."

"Lisa, I don't even know if there's anything I can say. Every time Momo and I met up to compare our evaluations, you were on the top. From first practice, to your performance now, I can see why Momo had her eyes set on you as a dead hitter for this stage. You have a fierce presence, and there is a star in you waiting to shine."

"Yunjin, I want to get to you next, because, much like Lisa, you kept consistently coming out on the top. You were a bit of an underdog at the beginning of this, but we all saw a glimmer in you. Tongiht, that glimmer exploded into a full inferno. I think you showed us all that you're capable of holding yourself in this industry. I'm very proud of you, seeing how far you've come, while still keeping your individuality."

"Yuna and Yunho, I also saw passion and energy and this overall great vibe from both of your performances. Backstage, on stage, you guys were ready to leave it all. Things came naturally to you, and your ease with the choreography showed in your performance. Great job to you both."

The countdown had only a few more seconds left, so, with the last of his resolve, Minho nodded towards the trainees, and his panelists, lips pursed to keep from crying like the proud teacher he was. "I think the main takeaway from tonight, Changwook, is that we have a f-fantastic crew of trainees here - a-and - um - ahem - I'm very proud of them all. Ahem -" He wiped his eyes again. "The way to measure a teacher's worth, is by measuring their students' success, and um - ahem - tonight, I feel like I'm worth a billion won."

@♤ lee seungjoo ˡᵒʳᵉⁿ @☾ hwang yeji @◈ lee minho ʟᴇᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡ⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ @◈ hirai momo⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ .

ANNOUNCER VOICE:
And now, your attention please, for this week's panelist overview of the mission.
Ladies and gentlemen of the panel - the mic is yours.

[you have 3 days to post <3 let me know if you forfait, so we don't hold the queue]

lisa stood in her starting position, her heart racing on pure adrenaline when the first note starts and the crowd starts cheering loudly.

with every performance lisa could feel the girls’ chemistry forming more and more. like an invisible link that connected all of them , each member knowing exactly where the other was. it was thrilling and fun in a way she had never felt before even with her previous group.

she looked to the girls when off to the side during choreography breaks and sneaking little thumbs up of encouragement before waltzing back on stage into the heavy lights.
it was a team effort, always is, to create something they all felt so confident about. from the help of momo with choreography and the track mix jungkook sunbae helped them piece together

she strikes an ending pose, winking towards the camera as the song fades out with the last ending notes


() https://youtu.be/h3k0_oJSyjk

@✵ shin yuna⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ kim jiwon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ huh yunjin⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @✵ choi yewon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @♤ lee seungjoo ˡᵒʳᵉⁿ @☾ hwang yeji @◈ lee minho ʟᴇᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡ⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ @◈ lalisa manoban Lɪsᴀ⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ @◈ ji changwook⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ @◈ hirai momo⁻ᶜʰᵒʳᵉᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰᵉʳ //. performance: https://youtu.be/h3k0_oJSyjk?si=tEOKwKItX9-FtNN0
roll: 6 after 3 tries
Lines: JiU
idek who im tagging im so sleepy huhu//

Unlike Yunjin and Lisa, who had gotten everything down flat on the first go, Mina still needed a couple days, mostly to memorize the formations - the song was upbeat and they moved around on the stage a lot, but that's what made it fun and entertaining. They worked like a well-oiled machine this time, setting up camp in the rehearsal room, kicked into gear by the presence of Momo - they had decided on a song quite easily and fast, then working out the choreo was a piece of cake, having minds such as Momo, Lisa and Yuna working on it.

The plenty amount of prep time and the longer they spent together definitely was showing.
Mina had to open the whole performance, but this time she didn't feel nervous and anxious - she was ready to show up and show off, starting off with the first beat and cruising through the song comfortably - every movement was light, every step was on point and every note hit exactly where it should.
For a rare occasion, all the girls ended the stage with proud smiles as the last beat died down, pointing to the crowd as was their final pose: "One in a million, my lucky strike"~

Dance, again, wasn't her strongest suit. Despite their last mission being a vocal-heavy one, it somehow turned more into a dance-based performance, and now it was more focused on dance. Not that she had two left feet, but Jiwon wasn't all to confident with how her body moves in terms of dancing. For the whole practice, she made sure to stay a little later in the practice room, not wanting to drag down the other girls. And now, she's sure she was ready... enough.

Jiwon took a deep breath as they stepped out onto the stage, going to their designated places. For some reason, her heart was pounding in her chest which made her reach up, patting her chest for a bit before taking a deep breath and sighing. As soon as the song started, she raised her arms then moved to her next position, shaking her shoulders in unison with the beat. All her focus was on making sure she was on beat, she was in her right spot, and she was doing the right choreo. In short, she made sure to play it safe. Once it was her part to sing - thankful that she had an easy choreo to match the said part - she smiled, managing to keep her voice quite stable.

"I can't wait another minute
I can't take the look she's giving~"

She continued on, grinning as she sang, gaining more confidence once she had found her footing, but still made sure she didn't make any mistake. And by the end of the song, she smiled at the camera, shoulders moving as she tried to even her breathing. Jiwon knew she could have done more, but played it safe throughout, which made her realize she wouldn't stand out with this performance, but she knew it meant she would need to do well in the next mission. With a bow and a soft thank you, she then followed the others.

() https://youtu.be/h3k0_oJSyjk?si=tEOKwKItX9-FtNN0

The overhead lights buzzed softly as Hongjoong adjusted his in-ear monitor, the hum of the soundcheck still a buzz in his ears. It had been a whirlwind since he got back from the US, barely enough time to catch his breath before being flung into rehearsals with people who had been working together already for months. Yet somehow, his personality clicked with theirs almost effortlessly. There were some faces from his earlier days, and the transition was easier because of this. There had been disagreements cropping up now and again during the training, but nothing they couldn't hash out in a sweaty practice room, shouting at each other until the air cleared.

Now, standing backstage, his heart was racing. The rehearsal adrenaline was still pumping in his system, but the view of the panel that was to judge them cooled him down. Familiar faces among the judges reassured him, soft nerves that had been building into the warm-ups became mellowed. Of course, there were some minor missteps during rehearsals, minor movement errors, voice cracks here and there, nerves getting the better of them, but nothing that couldn't be smoothed over.

The voice of the floor manager cut through his haze. "You're up!"

Hongjoong quickly drew the boys into a huddle in an instant. His voice was even, but his eyes shone with that electric energy only a live stage could bring. "Energy, everyone. Let's give our best."

As the others took their places, Hongjoong slid into support mode, letting the boys take center stage while he stood slightly off to the side. It was where he needed to be right now-easing back into the rhythm, observing, supporting. The familiar sound of the crowd's murmurs filtered through his IEM, and the music followed, its beat syncing with the pounding in his chest. His breath came out in controlled puffs, careful not to let his mic pick up the subtle panting that came with the performance's intensity.

The song reached its , and the boys exited off stage, the instrumental continuing behind them. In a near-simultaneous movement, they quickly shoved off their top layers to reveal another outfit underneath just as seamlessly as the changes in lighting and background graphics. They reappeared with fresh outfits that mirrored the change in mood within the music-the crowd's cheers reignited.

Then, right after the bridge, it was his turn. Hongjoong stepped into the spotlight, the familiar weight of the rap verses on his tongue. His heart was pounding, not with exertion but with something deeper-pride. He was back. This stage, once lost to him, welcomed him back again. Then his voice cut through the air, smooth and steady, a call to everybody who watched.

"Baby love me or leave me tonight."

The words rolled off his lips, his tiny moment of shine, his message to the crowd and to himself

He is back.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FTqA-bp554)