jueunbe

[jueunbe]

admittedly, jueun's gotten a bit busier these past few months. it was no surprise with what's been going on, and she loved finally having things to look forward to. however, she also missed some of her other trainee friends. so, she can't help the smile when she happens to bump into stevie in the middle of what she's considering a mini lunch break.

she gives him a smile before slowly shaking her head. "i just bought it at one of the cafes nearby. i wanted something a little light today," she said before digging her fork through the salad. while it was a salad, it still had everything that she enjoyed, and it was going to be enough until dinner, at least.

"i made sure to add some pasta, though. i love salads on their own, but i think they get upgraded when some pasta's added," she explains with a chuckle. "did you pack your own lunch today?"

runners.

< w. @jueunbe >

stevie makes a beeline for jueun when he comes across her in axis. it feels like it's been months. there's already a wide grin crossing his face as he bounds his way to her, sliding into the seat across from her with a little more energy than the average person. "jueun! hey-- oof," he cuts himself off with a grimace, hitting his elbow on the table in his haste to get there. he bounces back, stevie's smile coming back on his face in less time than it took to disappear. "ouch. got excited. where ya been?"

he gathers his lunch out, taking a curious glance at her own. "oh! that looks good," stevie nods towards her food, glancing away to fiddle with his own lunch. his stomach is grumbling, already ready to have a mini feast before he succumbs back to the training regimen. "did you bring that today or is that what they're serving?" he blinks in curiousity. he had brought his own today, but stevie likes having options in the future.

[jueunbe]

✦ . ˚ — @benayoung

now this task was a little more difficult but in line with what jueun had in mind when they were first told of the project. they wanted an idol group, so shew knew that such a mission would be heading their way. nevertheless, she didn't think they'd have to come up with the song and everything on their own.

truthfully, she was a little more excited about getting to style themselves, but that was an afterthought. for now, she and nayoung would have to figure out what they wanted to perform as a duo.

"was there anything you wanted to focus on specifically for this mission? like do you want to show off your vocals, your dancing or maybe your rapping?" unlike herself, she was aware that nayoung was a much stronger rapper, so she had an assumption that the other would want the trainers to know that.

as for herself, she's always been a jack of all trades but a master at none. that was evident during next gen, and she doesn't think she's become extremely better at one skill than another during her months as a trainee here. in other words, jueun thinks she may be a little more flexible when it came to choosing a song to work on.

[jueunbe]

"makes me feel better that i'm not the only one who went through such a phase," she states with a chuckle before moving a little closer to get a better look at eunae. now, she wasn't a professional, but she's done makeup for other people before and has had plenty of practice on herself that she thinks she knows the basics.

with a hum, she took another glance at eunae through the mirror to see her with all the lighting and then back at her face to see it with her plain eyes. "you're right. people think there's one way to contour and just follow what most people do, but it really depends on the shape of your face."

picking up a brush, she gently wiped off parts of the contour that eunae had tried on herself. "instead of placing it right beneath your cheekbones, i think you'd actually look better with a contour that sort of envelopes your cheeks, so just a little beneath." it was always easier to demonstrate than use her words, so jueun took it upon herself to try to fix it with what she meant. "there. do you see the difference?"

"yeah, talk about cringe, right?" eunae laughs. "i feel like i'm a completely different person now, style and everything. looking back at pictures from so long ago just make me really regret all the decisions i made as a teenager," she shakes her head. "hindsight is 20/20, right?"

"i think the contour is what's bugging me the most," she frowns, looking at herself in the mirror. "my cheeks look, muddy? i think i've used the right shade, but," her eyes glance down at the compact in front of her. "i don't have the placement right, i think."

"if you could help me, i'd appreciate it!'

[jueunbe]

✦ . ˚ — PROJECT NOVUS 002. aka jueun's thoughts about being professionally styled for the photoshoot.

realistically, jueun believed that the girls' first mission together, other than moving into a dormitory, would be related to a performance. it's almost been a year since she's become a trainee, so she's been more focused on the skill aspects of being an idol that she seems to have forgotten just how important harmony and visual chemistry were.

that's why when she actually heard the news about their second task, she wasn't too surprised. there was no doubt that fans latched onto pairings purely depending on how good two members looked standing next to one another, so she understood just how important this all was.

this wasn't jueun's first rodeo when it came to getting her hair and makeup done. however, she usually stuck to her usual makeup and styling. what sr media had prepared for them was a bit different from what she'd usually choose, but she liked the change. it was pretty cool to see herself in a more toned-down style.

she kept trying to pick up hints from the staff members around them, wondering if this was the image sr media had in mind for the group, or if they were really just experimenting with all their options. if it were up for her, she would have chosen more colors and things that really popped, but she didn't really have much of a say.

thus, she just sat around in her styling chair and made friendly conversation with the staff members, admiring the work they've done to her makeup and outfit. jueun absolutely loved this kind of treatment, so she couldn't wait for their debut. sure, it'd be tiresome at times, but it was nothing she wasn't used to.

for the first time, she was almost feeling thankful toward her mother for all the pageant years she's had to go through. it's definitely got her prepared for the idol life.

[jueunbe]

"maybe this is why we always hear of idols fighting to be the last ones to hair and makeup. seeing how long it takes, i'm sure you could get in an extra hour of sleep if you aren't the first one up." while jueun didn't keep up with the kpop industry too much, she was aware of these little things. she's gotten her makeup done before, but this was beyond what she's gotten done on her own.

looking down at their outfits, jueun can't help but wonder if this is the concept that sr media is hoping to debut them with. of course, she shouldn't be jumping to conclusions as this is a test run, but she couldn't help those thoughts from popping into her head. she didn't mind the concept, but she thinks it would be a bit more fun if they had more vivid colors here and there. nevertheless, whatever sr media's plan was, she was here for the ride.

"yeah, it was probably to get down any bloating we might've had. i've had it done to me before at salons, but this was like a different level," she confesses with a chuckle. "something sort of cool like this would be nice. i think it's something we all look nice in. ooh, what about a full-on suit concept? i think that would look super chic!"

yuji hums in agreement. "it took a lot longer than i expected too..." makeup does take time, but for how minimal the concept of the shoot is, it feels like overkill. yuji won't complain too much, though. it's a step towards a potential debut, a test, and it's a bit of pampering. it's long, but looking pretty and getting a few photos taken is something she doesn't do often at all, much. "my eyes kept watering every time they got too close to my eyes. i felt like i hindered the process a bit," a soft laugh leaves her, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "but it feels nice. i like what they did with yours."

"a little more color would be nice." the muted tones aren't terrible, though. maybe not yuji's first choice, but a couple pieces she wouldn't mind having in her own wardrobe.

yuji nods her head in agreement. "yeah." she laughs at the memory. "it felt like i was getting a face massage? little weird." definitely an experience she's going to have to get used to. "but it came out nice. the team knows what they're doing." she glances over at the mirror near them, observing their reflections for a moment. "makes me wonder what other sort of styles they have planned for us later."

[jueunbe]

jueun was surprised to learn that this would be their first task—for the lack of a better word—together. she had imagined that sr media would want to see them performing all together. but then again, they did get to see that with the christmas concert, didn't they?

anyway, she wasn't complaining as this was more within her comfort zone. "it wasn't super weird, but it sure did feel great! i mean, i would spent a lot of time on my own makeup as well, but i didn't think that much time was needed solely on my foundation!" a professional's touch was surely different, and she couldn't stop admiring her reflection in the mirror.

"our outfits are a little different from what i'd usually wear, so i think the makeup is as well. it's a little more tone downed and less pink, if you know what i mean," she stated with a chuckle. "i've always stuck to a style i was comfortable with, so this change is nice! did the makeup artist completely slam your face with the sponge as well? it was a new experience."

a starter for @jueunbe ( midnight flower )

getting ready for the photoshoot proves to be more stressful than yuji expected. not that she was thinking it was going to be a smooth ride, but it's certainly taxing. the stylists and makeup artists have made her look bright-- even if she's personally feeling rather tired through the process. it's a nice feeling to be all done-up though, so yuji's riding the high of knowing they all look good for this.

"wah," yuji lets out, voice awed as she approaches jueun. the older trainee shoots a smile at one of the stylists politely, bowing her head before she focuses on the younger. "everyone looks so pretty! how did it feel?" she smiles easily at the other. "was it weird not being the one doing your makeup?" it felt a little bit like a princess treatment-- but yuji likes it a bit. who doesn't like feeling pampered every once in a while? "i like the outfit choices, too." it's nothing crazy, but the minimalistic vibe is something that yuji prefers.

[jueunbe]

although she doesn't love the idea that her mother forced her into pageants from such a young age, it's proving to be a bit useful now during this modeling workshop. thanks to all that experience, she's quite aware of her best angles and how to pose for the camera. of course, she's no professional to this day, but she likes to think she't not a complete amateur either.

"i wasn't always like this either. it took a lot of practice and patience," she explained with a chuckle. "when i look back to some of the photos i took back in like high school, i just want to wipe all the makeup off my face!" that was before she learned about her personal color and the styling that looked good on her. it was when she got to college that she really found the styling that worked for her.

she doesn't doubt that they will constantly have professionals helping them out if they do debut, but she also knows that it'd be best if they knew the basics. "of course! is there anything specific that's like really troubling you? or do you not know where to start?" jueun scooched over from her spot to be a little closer to eunae, taking a look at what she's gotten done so far.

"you know, i used to work at olive young and help people with their makeup then as well. i think it's so much fun, so i can always help you out!"

━━ project novus : special workshop ◞ air .· (@jueunbe)

while eunae would never admit this out loud, there were things that some of the other girls were better at than her. she likes to think that she’s a jack of all trades of sorts. of course, that’s assuming you take rapping off the table ━ but that’s something she’d never been interested in. tongue twisters always have her stumped, and she’s always appreciated the complexity of a vocal run more anyways.

when it comes to makeup, over the past few weeks they’d been taught how to do it properly on themselves as part of their modeling and aesthetics classes. she knows the basics; how to achieve a dewey base, winged eyeliner, etc. however, it’s the more difficult concepts like contour and shading that has her feeling frustrated. eunae can’t carve out her face as good as the instructors could, and she’s left huffing at herself in the mirror as she wipes off the cream again.

“you’re so much better at this than i am,” she laughs, looking over at jueun and admiring her skills. the pianist can’t tell exactly what the other is wearing, but her makeup looks better than hers. eunae lowers her voice, leaning over while her eyes make sure none of the instructors are close enough to hear her next words.

“i’m just hoping there will always be a makeup artist on set with us. this seems a bit . . .” she trails off, looking around again once more. “redundant, yeah? or maybe i’m just saying that because i’m bad and it’s frustrating,” eunae laughs it off, shaking her head. “do you mind helping me out?”

[jueunbe]

while jueun was quite aware of how to do her own makeup, she couldn't deny that she simply looked so much better now that a professional has done it for her. if this was the life that was waiting for her post-debut, she was already excited. "right? i think lashes are like one of the hardest things to get correct. i can never get them to stay up like this," she stated with a chuckle.

she's heard stories that companies liked to put their trainees together for shoots like this to see how well they work together. as much as people wanted to stay in denial, jueun knew that visual chemistry was an important part of an idol group, and she thinks this is the stage where sr media wants to see if they can look like a group once standing together.

"hmm, i'm trying not to think about that," jueun whispers to ara with a wink. she was aware that this line up could change at any moment as with most pre-debut line ups, but what was the fun of worrying about that, right? the last thing she wanted to do was seem anxious or whatnot. "just bask in this energy right now and enjoy it! come on, this photoshoot's so much fun on its own, don't you think so?"

ara sighs a little bit, a bit happy with the fact that she got to do the photoshoot with her dormmates, and fellow next-gen contestants, but also - it felt a bit intriguing that they were split up into two different groups. one thing is poking internally and she wonders why they were split up this way. newer trainees versus the more seniors? was there a rhyme or reason to it, or was she overthinking? nothing to cry over, especially since their makeup was done so nicely! "i love how they did the lashes. i can never do this by myself at home."

personal space has always been something ara was not particularly great with, so she stands closely next to jueun, her eyes wide as she looks behind at the computer screen, wondering if she could peek at the photos for her possible best or worst shots. and how they all looked together. "i bet we will look very synergised and cohesive," she says, nodding. "at least they styled us similarly, it'd be so odd if one of us got an extremely different outfit from the other. i wonder if they'll also have solo shots if its all group concepts?"

ara turns to the set, and looks back at jueun. this whole dorm scenario almost made it feel like another 'competition' again, in a way. "i hope we get to stay together and not have to split up at any point--" she thought next gen would be the most stressful part but this was almost more daunting.

[jueunbe]

✦ . ˚ — @bexria

"and i told the consultant that i don't think i'm a spring neutral at all, but she was convinced that i was!" getting a personal color analysis was something jueun was always interested in, but she didn't love the results of her last visit, so she had been contemplating going to a different place.

however, she wanted a second opinion. it wasn't a cheap activity, and jueun thinks she already knows what looks good on her, so was it worth going somewhere and getting told something she already knows?

"i mean, don't i look cool-toned to you? i always thought i looked best in such colors." having worked at olive young, jueun wasn't a professional, but she liked to think she had a good understanding of colors and how they worked on people. "what do you think? should i go somewhere else? ugh, i found them on instagram and thought they'd be good, but the customer service sucked, too."

[jueunbe]

✦ . ˚ — @arabe

photoshoots were nothing new for jueun. oddly enough, she feels even more in her element now that she's on a set and having gotten her hair and makeup done. it's not like she was a huge influencer before becoming a trainee, but she knew the angles she looked best as she had to take photos for certain sponsorships and whatnot.

that's why she's buzzing with so much excitement as they listen to the directions for the shoot. it's nothing fancy, and she thinks sr media is trying to see how they all look when styled together. nevertheless, she loves the idea that they're really starting to look like a group now.

the shoot's been going on for a while and they're finally given a short break as the photographer needs to reset some settings for the next batch of photos. "how exciting! i wonder how these photos are going to look. i'm sure we'll all look great together." the words rapidly left her lips as she squealed a bit upon looking at ara beside her. having gone through next gen together with ara, this felt even more special.

[jueunbe]

✦ . ˚ — @borabe

while jueun couldn't remember every single one of her customers from olive young—that was practically impossible—she remembered those who frequently sought her out. unlike some of her coworkers, jueun actually enjoyed offering advice to anybody who wanted it.

that's why when she spots bora even after she's quit, she can't help but step into the cafe to speak with her. "how are you using that highlighter i suggested for you? i really think putting it on your cheeks would make your blush pop too!" she said before taking a sip of the latte that bora had made for her.

unfortunately, jueun's had to quit because she couldn't possibly handle the part-time job and her trainee life together, but she still loved talking about makeup. it was almost a pity that she had to quit because she couldn't anymore, so it was nice to be able to bump into bora like this again.

[jueunbe]

truthfully, jueun doesn't know what to expect. perhaps she was being a bit too giddy despite the little information they were given, but she did walk into this whole trainee life with the goal of wanting to debut and prove herself and now that she felt one step closer to that goal, it was hard not to show her excitement.

"but if they want to train me into a rapper, i wouldn't be completely against that either." she swallows the rest of the words she wants to speak such as as long as i get to debut because jueun thinks it'd make her sound too desperate and instead gives eunae a warm smile instead before changing the subject.

"have you lived with a roommate before? i had one roommate whom i shared my apartment with, and we got along pretty well. i can imagine six girls living together would be more difficult, though," she admitted with a slight purse of her lips. it's not that she didn't trust they'd do well together, but there were surely going to be some bumps in the road.

the pianist’s head tilts as she listens to the other’s words filled with glee. for eunae, it wasn’t something all too spectacular. she supposes it’s because of her musical background. for jueun, as it was something new, she can imagine how much joy she felt when she hit the notes just right. especially the first time.

“that’s good then,” she smiles. “you won’t be disappointed. i think rather than positions, it’s what we eventually are known for,” eunae says thoughtfully. “there are plenty of ‘lead vocals’ who sing just as well as the main vocals in some senior groups. i’m not going to say i’d be a bit peeved if i didn’t receive a main vocal position,” she pauses for a brief moment to let out a laugh. “but i know myself best! i know what i’m capable of and i’ll just have to find a way to show it.”

"i'm with you, though," she wrinkles her nose. "rapping isn't my specialty either."

[jueunbe]

there was something almost touching about jueun potentially being part of a group. she was so used to always competing with others. her mother had drilled into her from such a young age that she had to be better than others, and jueun was never given a chance to actually befriend others until she quit her pageant days.

perhaps that's why this whole idol path seemed so desirable to her. the idea of working toward a unified goal was respectable to her. that's why next gen was such a fun experience. sure, it was a competition at the end of the day, but none of it was possible without working with others, and she found herself enjoying every second she spent on the survival program.

"yeah, some mutual ground rules would work," she nodded in agreement before letting out a groan when yuji mentioned the bathroom. "you're completely right. i haven't even thought of that! well, looks like we'll all have to cut down our routines," she stated with a soft chuckle. jueun didn't think the actual bathroom time would be a problem with her. more like she had to work on spending less time getting ready now that she'd be moving with five other people.

with a hum, she thought about all the things she brought as well. "i tried to cut down the number of products to bring, but i still think i overdid it," she confesses with a shrug of her shoulders. "that's one thing i'm open to, though. if anybody wants to share my makeup products or whatever, i'm totally open to that. i love letting people try things out anyway."

the judgement-- ugh. yuji's going to hate every moment of it, even if it's something she's come to expect. it's been a learning lesson, a trying effort to ignore the feeling of being criticized and just work on improving. being better-- smiling and bearing it. "time to grow some thick skin if we haven't already," yuji jokes.

"i'm always tired," yuji laughs, rubbing gently at the under of her eye carefully. at least her sleeping hasn't been terrible-- she just doesn't get enough of it, now. "but if that's all that i look like, well. i'll take it." at least looking tired means she's doing something, working on something. as long as yuji doesn't look nervous or worse, hysteric.

yuji hums, smiling to herself as jueun talks about it. "rent only gets worse every year," she sighs, thinking about how much it was going to go up if she renewed for another year at her last place. there are a number of them here, which is more than what yuji is used to, too. the liveliness is nice-- makes her reminiscent of when she was hopping from hostel room to hostel room.

"we'll do great. we can set up some ground rules or a collective list with the rest of the girls later. that way no one steps on anyones toes." they'd have to set up a system for house chores or something, won't they? yuji goes through a mental checklist of things they're going to have to do. moving was just the first step-- now it's living together. managing your space with others and finding a nice middle ground for everyone.

"i'm the most worried about bathroom space, if i'm being honest." yuji says after a moment, fighting back the urge to laugh. "i've been buying more products lately, and now i'm wondering if there will be any place to put it."

[jueunbe]

jueun could confidently say that nayoung was probably the sr media trainee that she still didn't know much about. sure, she saw her around the training rooms and have practiced with her before, but she can't seem to recall if they've ever had a conversation like this before.

but hey, this could be a great start of something, right?

she's rather surprised at the late age that is nayoung's answer. there was a part of her that always assumed that people dreamed of becoming idols at an earlier age. it's been true for a lot of people she's met who've worked hard to even get into a company. some could say that jueun had it a little easier as she got picked up by sr media after her time on next gen.

"figure skating? really? that's so cool!" she clapped her hands together at the new fact she's just learned about nayoung before letting out a soft laugh. "my mother tried to get me to do figure skating when i was younger because she thought it'd help me during my pageants for some reason. however, i could never really stick to it. i think i spent more time falling on my butt than actually skating around the rink," she admitted with a shake of her head.

while she wasn't a complete noob when it came to athletics and sports, figure skating was just something she couldn't get into. "was the transition tough? i can imagine figure skating helps with dancing, but it still must've felt pretty different."

nayoung is in a tough position.

sr media wants the girls of project novus to get to know each other as a test of their chemistry. that makes sense – but nayoung still can't shake the fact that they are all competing to debut. aren't they? are all of the girls in project novus going to debut together if they perform up to sr media's expectations? nayoung isn't sure.

nevertheless, she does see the benefit in getting to know the other girls, if only to further her position in the project for now. she knows very well that if there's any area she struggles in, it'll be getting along with everyone. nayoung has been in sr media for nearly two years and can't say she's truly friends with any of the girls. she's never been the best at making friends – especially with girls.

she's not really sure how to change that. she can pretend to be friendlier than she is, like she used to? that strategy never got her anywhere, though. she's found far more success in being herself, and it'll be exhausting to keep up a facade constantly.

talking to the other girls more is a start, so she isn't upset in the slightest when jieun offers her a question. she hesitates to answer, though. does she admit that becoming an idol was her second dream? will that do her more harm than good?

"when i was 16," she settles on. that much is the truth.

she mulls over whether to share more details as jueun speaks, and she nods in understanding. "you're a natural performer," she says, more a statement than a compliment.

nayoung supposes the coaches would appreciate her being more vulnerable. jueun likely would, too – nevermind that it feels strangely like a weakness. so she decides to be more open. "my dream when i was younger was to be a figure skater. that ended up falling through, though. i was taking dance lessons as part of my training regimen before, and i kept those up, and ended up just naturally settling on being an idol as my new goal."

[jueunbe]

@beseira

“oh?” seira tilts her head to the side “i’d like that! i’ve never been much of a gamer nor can’t i remember when i last played mario kart, but i’m sure it’ll be fun”. “i think my family had a wii back in japan, but it’s like seven years since i moved out” she shrugs “never played on a nintendo switch though, but i’m sure it’ll be fun” seira smiles to jueun. at the moment gaming was simply a too expensive hobby for seira to have, she didn’t own a computer nor a switch or playstation. “go easy on me though! it’ll be my first time playing in ages… you’ll also have to teach me all the tricks” she nods. “do you have a go-to character in mario kart?”. “boneless chicken it is then! do you want me to pay for it?” seira secretly hopes jueun says she’ll pay or that they can split, but seira still offers to pay for it, she does have the money, it might just mean less late-night snacks for seira. “sprite sounds good to me!” seira nods.

"oh, then i'm sure you'll get the hang of it again in no time! it's not as fun as steering the actual wheel on a wii, but i still think it's a game that simply does not grow old!" jueun used to play it with her brother a lot, and it was one of the few things that helped the time go by in their house.

letting out a hum, she thought back to the numerous times she's played mario kart. "kind of cliche, but i like playing princess peach a lot. she's not the best character to use when you want to win, but she's pretty and dressed in pink! i'm in it for the aesthetics," she explained with a chuckle. "what about you? who did you choose when you used to play?"

jueun quickly shook her head before moving rapidly to place the order on her phone. "i'm the one who invited you to my home! i could never let you pay." she waved her hand toward seira's direction to indicate that it's completely fine once more before taking out a sprite for her friend. "this is going to be the best girl's night ever. so fun that i'll make you want to live here with me."

[jueunbe]

she slowly nodded in agreement because she could only imagine how long eunae's been waiting. while jueun didn't know the exact time she's been a trainee, she just knows that the other has been here for so much longer than she has. the sound of a debut probably sounded the sweetest to eunae's ears.

"getting the harmonies right was tough seeing that i had like zero musical background but once we got it done, it sounded so cool!" she exclaimed with a slight squeal. initially, she found herself following along the top melody but once she learned to really focus on her own notes, she found that harmonizing was a pretty neat thing.

the only thing she knew how to do musically was play the bass and even that she was a bit rusty on. however, that came in handy when it came to singing some of the accompanying harmonies since she knew how they were supposed to sound. "not really. i think i'd be happy with any position they threw at me. though, i have to admit, i was not the biggest fan of having to rap on next gen so maybe anything but a rapper."

"it's a guessing game until they give us more information, isn't it?" eunae muses. "we don't know what they have in store for us, which is a little," she pauses, biting her lower lip for a moment. "weird? i'm impatient, you know?" she lets out a hearty laugh. "how long are debut preparations going to take? are we all going to make the cut? these are the things that have kept me up for the past few days," she lets out a deep sigh, leaning back and closing her eyes for a moment.

she can't get too lost in her own thoughts. while eunae is confident that she'll debut, out of all the girls in the potential lineup, she's been training for the longest, part of her worries that she'll get cut. what will she do from there? train at a different agency? she doesn't want to think of the possibility of that, so she keeps a confident and calm facade.

"i imagine so," she smiles at jueun, bearing her teeth. "i really enjoyed the harmonies we had to perform at the charity concert! i feel like our sound meshed well and we had good chemistry," she says. "what about you? are you vying for anything in particular?" eunae tilts her head, curious.