#♦ - ELEVATE: Artists ♦

[multistanisms]

Legacy of Snow Ch.6 || Stray Kids

FANDOM: Stray Kids

PAIRING: Han x Minho

WORD COUNT: 2,349

RATING: M [for later chapters]

POTENTIAL TRIGGERS: Mentions of blood and violence

SUMMARY:

Freshly graduated from a prestigious university for music and the arts, Han Jisung is ready to take on the world when he accepts employment at District 325 Records. Han’s dream of taking the world by storm with his talent hits a slight hiccup when a literal spark emanates from a high five he shares with his new boss. That moment brings him to the discovery that he is a direct descendant of a previous Pretear, a guardian to the world. With that knowledge he also finds that Chan isn’t entirely human, he’s what is called a Leafé Knight and he isn’t the only one who resides in the human realm.

Thrust into a fray of magic, learning his own abilities and fighting monsters of darkness, Han has a lot to endure fresh out of college. On top of it all, he has to deal with a growing attraction to one of the seven knights who fight alongside him. It’s a whirlwind for Han, but can he find his footing in the new world he’s found himself a part of?

Taglist: @no1likemybbgcharlie, @spookidema

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Chapter Six: A Spark of Hope

Han hummed along with the music in his head as he went to the studio. The tracks Chan had sent for the artist were gorgeous, a unique, haunting sound that made him ready to hear the artist. He enjoyed them a lot, and he was excited to hear the artist who would be recording it. To finally work with an artist was so surreal, he was almost vibrating as he took the elevator to the recording floor. When he gets inside the booth to set up, he pauses when Chan isn’t present; there’s not even a trace that someone has been in the room. Not sure what happened, he decides to go up and check on him. He’s nervous as he steps off, going down the hall to knock on the door. “Chan?” he asks. He catches a startled sound from behind the door, and a few moments later, the door opens to reveal the older male. Chan’s hair is squished on one side, a red splotch on his cheek. “Chan, are you okay?”

“I just dozed off,” Chan assured. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll order us some coffee while we wait on Swan.” Chan motioned for Han to follow, already pulling out his phone as they got on the elevator. 

“Swan?” 

“Our artist. What we’re working on is going to be her debut track.” Chan explained. “She’s worked really hard and I like that she doesn’t want to go with the typical female sound.”

“So that’s why the demos are kind of spooky.” Han grinned. “I really like it. It’s going to be so much fun.” They walked in step to the booth, Han setting up in the main chair while Chan sat back in one of the extra ones to one side. 

The two worked in relative silence, save for Han humming as he set up and Chan asking what Han wanted. At exactly three thirty, a knock sounded on the door, to which Chan stood to open the door. “Hey, Swan. Are you ready?” He asked as she entered. 

“I think so. Honestly, I'm more nervous than-” Swan’s voice died as she spotted where Han was going over notes. “Wait…Jisung?”

Han’s head lifted, turning in his chair at his name, his eyes lighting up. “Oh my God, Sujin?” He asked excitedly, practically jumping up to embrace the woman. “I can't believe this. How are you?”

“I'm good, I'm good. What are you doing here?” Swan asked.

“I work here, actually.” Han explained. “Chan hired me fresh off the stage.” 

“You really do have an eye for talent, Chan.” Swan grinned as she turned to the eldest.

Chan laughed at the comment. “I'd prefer to think of it as an ear for talent.” He amended, shaking his head in amusement. “I'm glad you two know each other, it means you're comfortable.” 

“You're going with a more mature, spooky kind of vibe and it fits your voice so much.” Han praised, going to sit back down. “I can't wait to see what kind of choreo you're gonna have.”

“You can come with me tomorrow if you want? I have the day set aside for learning choreo with Hyunjin and Ryu.” Swan offered. “I'm sure you'd pick up on it real quick.”

“You’re a dancer?” Chan asked. 

“I'm passable.” Han laughed it off, waving a hand. “I do like to perform, but I want to be hands-on with what I do, which you don't get a lot of in school.” 

“There's nothing wrong with that.” Chan assured, glancing at his phone. “You guys go ahead and start on the session, I'm gonna go grab our drinks.” He leaves the room, headed down to meet the delivery guy while simultaneously checking on Hyunjin. By the time he returns, Swan is already singing, her voice almost siren-like as she goes over the song that’s meant to be her debut. He's surprised that Han - in only a few hours - can so easily find the spots that need extra takes. The younger man falls easily into his role, going over little vocal tricks to help elevate the track’s haunting yet elegant feel. Chan isn't sure if he should feel sad or impressed that Han doesn't ask for help as the session progresses, but it's a beautiful scene to take in. 

Swan asks to hear a few parts back, which she and Han tweak as they go. Han occasionally sips at his coffee while Swan is recording, but he's still focused as he listens, head swaying just the slightest bit as he hums along in harmony under his breath. Chan isn't sure if Han is aware he's even doing it, but somehow, it adds an extra layer to the song, and as he watches, Chan has an idea. When the session is over, Han makes sure to give Swan a hug before she leaves, promising to meet up with her the next day. As she leaves, he returns to his chair, going over final takes and layering the sounds, focused intently on his task. 

“You did a spectacular job for your first solo venture.” Chan praised, rolling his chair to sit next to Han. 

“Sujin did all the work.” Han replied. “It's so weird that she's debuting. She's a few years younger, but a lot of her classes were advanced. She was one of my favorite classmates. I'm so proud of her.” 

“I'm glad you two know each other, it helped with this being your first time professionally.” Chan encourages as he takes a sip of his coffee. “Let's hear the track put together.” He watches as Han adjusts layers and hits play, the instrumental beginning. The two sit and listen for the next four minutes as the track plays, Han entirely immersed in the sound with a smile.

Han practically bounces as the song ends. “It sounds so good!” he grinned happily, going about saving the audio file. 

“Your harmony went well with it, too.”

“My harmony?”

“I didn't think you knew you were doing it.” Chan chuckled, lifting his cup again. “Would you like to hear what I heard?”

“But Sujin already-” Han’s eyes widen fractionally as he cuts himself off. “Wait, you mean have me do the harmony?”

“You're under no obligation to, Han.” Chan assured. 

“No, I'd love to. I just normally rap when performing.”

“You've never just sang?”

“I have, I'm just not the best.” 

“Don't think like that. Trust me, you are a talented vocalist. I stand by that, but I maintain that you don't have to do this little experiment.” 

“No, let's do it. I'm curious now.” Han slides back from the station, standing to go to the booth itself and closing the door behind him. He put the headphones in, adjusting them and then leaving one ear uncovered. “Uhm, let's just do the last chorus?” He waits for the music the play, closing his eyes and actually singing the harmony into the mic with ease. He asks to hear it back, curious, and waits as Chan sets up the playback. 

Chan leans forward on his arms as he hits play, Violet gaze watching Han as the younger listens. It's worth it to see pink irises light up when Han hears the added layer, though. He can't help the relaxed, brotherly smile when Han looks at the small window excitedly. “I told you you were talented.” 

“That. Was so cool.” Han grinned, pulling the headphones off. He made his way back to Chan, almost starry eyed. “Thank you.”

“If you want to do a full version, we can ask Swan. Have it be a special, CD only track.” Chan replied. “Was it more anxiety than you anticipated?”

“At first. Once the music started I was fine, though. Like everything just flowed.” 

Chan chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “I daresay you have a natural talent for music.” 

“Like a magic spark.” Han replied, moving to pick up his own coffee. “My mom used to say that every person is born with their own, special magic. That most people lose their connection to that spark as they get older. Our magic is what guides us, leads us to our strengths.” His tone is gentle as he speaks, and he doesn't notice the way Chan reaches to fiddle with the cuff on his ear. “She was so strong. I do my best to make her proud.”

“How long has she been gone?” Chan asked, not needing his talent to see the bittersweetness in how Han currently sat, which catches Han off guard, eyes widening as he looks at Chan.

Before the younger can answer, though, another knock sounds on the door before opening. The pair looks up as another male steps in, deep navy hair tied half back with a pale blue ribbon. He appears to be about Han's age, silvery gray eyes taking them in. Han can't help but notice how pretty the newcomer is, pink eyes fixed on him for a long moment.

“Hyunjin, what are you doing here?” Chan's tone is worried as he stands quickly. “I thought you were going to rest today?” 

“Don't worry, I had Binnie drive me.” The man, Hyunjin, answered. “I promised Ryu I would meet her for lunch so we could go over the finishing choreo.” He turns his attention to Han, bangs shifting into his face when his head tilts just slightly. “You must be the Han I've heard about.”

“Oh, hello. Yes, yes I suppose I am.” Han sputtered as Hyunjin spoke to him.

Hyunjin arches a brow, nodding. “For some reason I pictured someone younger.” 

Han purses his lips. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Hyunjin turned to look at Chan. “Just that you're older than I expected.” Han look confused, his face contorted as he looked at Chan, who spoke up to try and diffuse the tension.

“Hyunjin, be nice, will ya? Han may be new, but he's talented.” Chan replied before looking at Han. “Hyunjin can be a little abrasive sometimes, don't take it personally.” he sat back down, returning his attention to Hyunjin. “I'm guessing you aren't here to just let me know you're in the building.”

“What do I look like, Seungmin?” Hyunjin laughed. “I was actually stopping to let you know Felix's tournament is underway and he's doing really well.” 

“That’s not surprising, Felix has been preparing for this tourney for months. It's a new genre for him.” Chan replied. 

“Felix? You mean the blue haired guy I met my first day?” Han asked, receiving a nod from Chan. “He's a streamer?”

“Yeah, he typically streams RPG and open world games, but he did a poll to try something out of his comfort zone. Fans really wanted him to play some horror games, so he branched out.”

“And he's in a tournament for a horror game?” Han inquired. 

“And he's doing well.” Hyunjin chuckled. “I know Bossman here likes to watch from time to time.”

“Secretly. If he knows one of us is watching, it makes his anxiety too high.” Chan rolled his eyes, waving a hand at Hyunjin. “Message received, you may be on your way, good sir.” 

Hyunjin huffed in faux offense. “Good sir? What does that make you, old man?” 

“Now you are behaving like Seungmin.” Chan countered, laughing with Han when Hyunjin dramatically put the back of a hand to his forehead. “Go on, you don't want Yeji to steal Ryu away while you're in here fooling around.” 

“Because that would be such a tragedy. Yeji and Minho have been non-stop on their pair piece the last few days. Ryu hasn't had any time with her.” Hyunjin shrugged, turning back to Han and holding out his hand. “Welcome to District 325, Hannie.” 

Han is reluctant for a moment but reaches to shake the offered hand. The moment his hand slides into Hyunjin’s, there's a bright spark and he pulls back with a soft yelp. “Ow, that's some strong static.” He flexed his hand, working the weird sensation off. There's silence as he gets the feeling to go away, but he stops as he looks up at two stunned faces. “What?”

“I should go.” Hyunjin’s own hand flexing at his side, eyes locked on Han for a moment longer before he turned to Chan. “Don't forget game night is tonight.” 

“Yeah. Yeah, I won't. I'll see everyone there.” Chan’s voice was absent-minded, almost airy, and he didn't bother to look as Hyunjin left.

Han watched Hyunjin leave before looking at Chan. “Uhh, is everything okay?” He asked. 

“You didn't see it, did you?” Chan asked. 

“See what?” 

“The magic.” Chan replied, fingers toying with the cuff at his ear. 

“What do you mean, magic? It was just a static shock. Like when we met, but that one kind of hurt, honestly. My hand and arm feel weird.” Han reaches for his coffee again, pausing when Chan's face doesn't change. “You okay there, Chan?”

It seems to shake Chan when he hears his name, fingers peeling from the metal cuff. “Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Make sure you save your files, we'll talk with Swan next week when we record on b-sides about the CD only track.” He got back on track, moving to stand. “Make sure you get lunch, it's about that time of day.”

“Yeah, I was gonna go see Sana and the cats at the cafe for lunch. I want to try some ramyeon.” Han grinned. “I'll just be another few minutes.”

“Tell Sana I say hello. I'm gonna take a walk, wake up better.” Chan bid farewell, making his way upstairs to sit at his desk, mind still reeling. He had seen it, and so had Hyunjin based on the other's reaction, so he knew he wasn't mistaken. Which meant Han hadn't paid attention or he just couldn't see it yet, but there had definitely been tendrils of magic when Han's hand had connected with Hyunjin's. Wispy, almost pastel blue tendrils of wind magic - Hyunjin’s magic - connecting to Han with ease.

Han Jisung was the pretear they'd been looking for.

ೃ⁀➷ ೃ⁀➷ ೃ⁀➷ ೃ⁀➷ ೃ⁀➷ ೃ⁀➷ ೃ⁀➷ ೃ⁀➷ ೃ⁀➷

Author Notes: The boys know Han is their pretear now! Apologies for the delay, my dearies, but I hope this new installment is to your liking. My askbox is always open for feedback and ranting about any of my works, so feel free!

[elevatelabelsofficial]

LEV8 GROUP PROFILE

LEV8 (often stylized and pronounced as alleviate) is a fictional eight member girl group under Elevate Label. Their concept is mainly teen crush with a dash of cute and their music is usually light and fun. The girls helped come up with the group name and said it is their mission to make their fans forget about their worries and make them smile and feel good. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Along with teasers and profiles, the group will be releasing a pre-debut single very soon.

Debut: -- Fandom: -- Colors: -- Genre: Dance/Pop, EDM, Retro

MEMBERS:

Lee Heeyoung Jung Subin Park Hyejin (Jinnie) Woo Yerim Kim Danbi (Bia) Zhou Huifang Kim Seoyun (Eevie) Oh Chaewon

[multistanisms]

Legacy of Snow Ch.2 || Stray Kids

FANDOM: Stray Kids

PAIRING: Han x Minho

WORD COUNT: 1634

RATING: M [for later chapters]

POTENTIAL TRIGGERS: N/A

SUMMARY:

Freshly graduated from a prestigious university for music and the arts, Han Jisung is ready to take on the world when he accepts employment at District 325 Records. Han’s dream of taking the world by storm with his talent hits a slight hiccup when a literal spark emanates from a high five he shares with his new boss. That moment brings him to the discovery that he is a direct descendant of a previous Pretear, a guardian to the world. With that knowledge he also finds that Chan isn’t entirely human, he’s what is called a Leafé Knight and he isn’t the only one who resides in the human realm.

Thrust into a fray of magic, learning his own abilities and fighting monsters of darkness, Han has a lot to endure fresh out of college. On top of it all, he has to deal with a growing attraction to one of the seven knights who fight alongside him. It’s a whirlwind for Han, but can he find his footing in the new world he’s found himself a part of?

Taglist: @no1likemybbgcharlie, @spookidema

Previous || Masterlist || Next

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Chapter Two: District 325

Paperwork was always a hassle, no matter what line of work you were in. Luckily, Chan made it seem like no time at all as he went over things with Han. It was just over an hour before Chan was leading the way down the hall. “All the offices are on this floor and on seven.” He explained. “You have complete creative freedom with your office.”

“Now that’s not something you hear everyday.” Han said, still looking around. 

“One needs to enjoy where they work, Hannie.” Chan retorted, hands tucking into his jacket pockets. “We all have a right to have a part ourselves in our occupation.”

“That is true.” Han hummed as he looked around at the various photos and awards. Even with the prestige, it wasn’t oppressing. “This place is amazing, especially with such a homey vibe.”

“Thank you. This company means a lot to me. I want my staff and artists to feel safe and comfortable here. My door is always open should anyone need to vent or a shoulder to cry on. I think of everyone as my family.”

“It's great to hear that. Not a lot of companies see their employees as people.” Han replied, letting Chan hit the button to bring the elevator to them.

“Which is why I started my business. To make a change I want to see in the industry. Everyone is entitled to their own emotions and sometimes it makes it hard. After all, human minds can be…difficult to understand at times. That's why I pride myself on helping those who work under me. Even if it's something as simple as listening.” Hitting the button for the seventh floor, he moved to lean against one of the walls. “I'll take you to your office first, so you can put your stuff down,” he explained. When it stopped, he led the way down to an office on the left. Han stopped to look at the door, eyes widening as he took in the sign. 

‘709 | Han Jisung - Producer'

Opening the door, Han walked in to look around. “My own office.” He murmured, looking around as he walked over to set his messenger bag on the desk. The walls were a calming pale green, the desk was larger than any he had seen in his life. Wood of a dark, charcoal gray color made the desk, complete with two separate setups of computers. Brushing his fingers over the wood, he smiled. “The walls are definitely gonna need some art or something. There's only a clock.” He teased his boss. 

Chan laughed and nodded. “As I said, complete creative freedom. My main choreographer uses his walls as a canvas.” He assured. “Did you want some time to get ideas, or finish the tour?”

Han grinned as he walked over. “Tour. I already have ideas for in here.” He answered. “Thank you, sir, for this chance.”

Chan's ears turned red at the name. “Please, just call me Chan.”

“Okay, well thank you Chan.” Han greeted, emphasizing the name for his boss's benefit. “Lead the way.” He followed Chan, excited when Chan showed him the three floors of recording booths. “Oh my gosh, everything is so pretty.” He practically buzzed around the equipment in one room, rushing into the mic booth and grinning. 

Chan watched him with a laugh. “I'm glad you approve. Three floors with floating recording was a difficult-”

“Wait, these are floating booths?!” Han grinned, bouncing in a circle. “Oh my God! The quality of recording is supposed to be so much better in a floating studio! I can’t believe you record in floating booths!” he was so happy it was obviously contagious, because Chan joined in his laughter. 

“You've never worked in a floating booth?”

“Not at uni, no.” Han replied. “We studied the build and concept designs, examined the difference in what materials should be used to have the best soundproofing to help in recording..it was such an amazing unit, but we didn't have one. They were getting ready to put an additional wing in with one, but it won't be ready for a few years.” 

Chan couldn’t resist smiling as he watched Han, nodding. “Let's go look at the practice rooms, shall we?” He asked. 

“Yeah!” Han grinned, still vibrating with excitement.

Chan once more led the way to the elevators, pressing the button for the third floor. “Each floor has six practice rooms, all of which have different themes.” 

“The mural room, the hard rock hall, and the ocean view room are the most common in dance practices.” Han mused. 

“Very good, you really are aware of our artists. They like to use those rooms for the dance practice videos.” Chan replied. “We also have a city room, a jungle theme and mountain room. The rest are just solid colors for the walls.” 

“Oh, that sounds nice.” 

“Mhmm. There's a pastel purple, a dark blue, a grassy kind of green, two white rooms and a blush pink room.” Chan explained, stepping off the elevator and into the hall. “All staff are welcome to use the practice rooms, not just the artists. Times are on the schedules at each door so you'll know how long you'll have or if the room is empty for the day.” He pointed towards one of the schedules in a frame by the door.

“Oh, wow.” Han looks akin to a child in a candy store, pausing at each open door to look inside. Halfway down the hall, he stopped, lifting a hand to touch the door. “I…I can't believe that I'm here. It's been my dream for years to be a producer, to work with artists, and now it's actually happening.”

“Believe it, one hundred percent.” Chan reassured him. “You made it here with hard work and now you get to live your dream.” He smiled reassuringly at Han, laying a hand on Han’s shoulder. “You're going to do great.”

“Thank you, Chan. So much.” Han replied, pausing when music could be heard. “What's that?”

“I think I know who it is. I didn't realize he'd even be here today.” Chan mused, motioning for Han to follow. They walked down to the last room, where a door was cracked. He let Han nudge the door open to look inside, leaning against the frame. 

Inside the room was a pair of dancers, a fiery haired female and a violet haired male, talking as they worked through what seemed to be a transition. They moved in a beautiful synchronized fashion, the music sweeping in a beautiful orchestra sound as they moved. Han was mesmerized, unable to pry his eyes away until a tap on his shoulder pulled him from his stupor. He looked at Chan, who motioned his head and led the way from the door. “That was so cool.” 

“It's better when they get to the final production.” Chan replied. “They hash out the basic feel and come up with their transitions here. Then they put it on the ice to fine tune it.” 

“Did you say ice?” Han asked, head tilting as orange hair fell into his face. 

“Indeed I did, Hannie. That pair is Minho and Yeji. Reigning national pair champions in figure skating for two years.” 

“Wait, you have figure skaters?”

Chan laughed. “No, no, not like that. I've just known Minho since I was little. I let him use one of the practice rooms while he's working on pieces. A couple of years ago, his trainer suggested a couples routine, which is surprisingly how they ended up paired.”

“Surprisingly?”

“Minho isn't one to like people, honestly. He's much more of an animal person, with a few exceptions, of course.” 

“Sometimes you just have to go with the flow, I guess. Even if it's hard.”

Chan nodded, smiling. “That's a good piece of wisdom.” He mused. “It's a good mindset to be in the industry, that's for sure. And I know you'll go further than ever here.” Han stayed with him as they headed back to the elevator. “You'll get your sign-on advance in the next few days, use it as you wish.” 

“Wait, there's a sign-on advance?”

“When I decided to run this program, I knew a lot of candidates would be coming fresh from university. The artists agreed and we talked out options.” Chan explained. “We decided to set up a company fund so that when we pull a new recruit, they have something to help them transition. Have you found anywhere to live yet?”

“I’m actually crashing at my friend Wooyoung’s place. He and his fiance had an extra room, so I’ve been there since I left the dorm.” Han replied. 

“Once you find a place, let me know.”

“Chan, you don’t have to do anything else. You’ve already given me my dream job, money to help me out, encouragement by selecting me...” Han smiled up at Chan as he spoke. “Honestly, it’s more than I ever hoped for starting out. This company, you, are an amazing person.”

“I should go ahead and warn you that it’s something you’ll have to get used to.We all look out for each other here, literally. Like I said, very much like a family.”

Han found himself unable to keep from smiling. “So what’s next on our agenda?”

“Well, I do have a meeting soon…” Chan checked his watch, nodding to himself before his attention returned to Han and he rested a hand on the younger’s shoulder. “So relax, get acquainted with the layouts and such. I generally take lunch at two, so if you’d like, I could show you one of my favorite places in the area?”

“I’m always down for good food, so count me in.”

Chan couldn’t help but laugh at Han’s eagerness. “Alright, then. I’ll see you in two hours.”

[multistanisms]

Legacy of Snow Ch.5 || Stray Kids

FANDOM: Stray Kids

PAIRING: Han x Minho

WORD COUNT: 1634

RATING: M [for later chapters]

POTENTIAL TRIGGERS: Mentions of blood and violence

SUMMARY:

Freshly graduated from a prestigious university for music and the arts, Han Jisung is ready to take on the world when he accepts employment at District 325 Records. Han’s dream of taking the world by storm with his talent hits a slight hiccup when a literal spark emanates from a high five he shares with his new boss. That moment brings him to the discovery that he is a direct descendant of a previous Pretear, a guardian to the world. With that knowledge he also finds that Chan isn’t entirely human, he’s what is called a Leafé Knight and he isn’t the only one who resides in the human realm.

Thrust into a fray of magic, learning his own abilities and fighting monsters of darkness, Han has a lot to endure fresh out of college. On top of it all, he has to deal with a growing attraction to one of the seven knights who fight alongside him. It’s a whirlwind for Han, but can he find his footing in the new world he’s found himself a part of?

Taglist: @no1likemybbgcharlie, @spookidema

Previous || Masterlist || Next

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Chapter Five: A Strange Encounter

Chan does his best to act normal as he makes his way from Felix and Changbin’s apartment to District 325. He hides behind a cheerful greeting for Yuna at the front desk, waves at a few artists coming in for recording or to practice choreo, but the moment he's in the elevator, he lets the unease out with a deep sigh. Two of them had been wounded in close proximity of time, one of them dangerously so. “The larvae are getting stronger. We need to find our Pretear and soon.” He mumbled to himself as he scrolled through the emails he'd received thus far. Projects were running smoothly, an audition roster had been submitted for scheduling, his production team had submitted some finished tracks to go over, mundane little tasks. He stopped on the seventh floor to check on Han, humming to himself as he walked. He paused when he heard music, finding his way to the very office he had shown Han just a few days prior. He paused just shy of the threshold, taking in some of the changes Han started as he listened to Han sing along to the track playing. “Han?” he asked.

“Ne?” Han’s voice asked from inside. “Come in!” 

Chan could hear the smile on his employee's face, in the inflection of his tone, and it eased Chan’s worry a little as he walked in, finding Han was behind the door, standing on a step stool as he arranged items on top of a shelf. “Good morning.” 

Han turned from his task to grin at Chan and wave a hand. “Heya, boss.” He greeted. “What do you think?” He motioned around him as he spoke, giddy at his progress. “I've been working on it since yesterday.”

“You've brought it together well.” Chan agrees, looking around. Posters of various artists were hung around the walls, CDs on display by means of clear slim cases and a few shelves put together in various places that were being filled and decorated in a variety of ways. “You put a lot of thought into it.”

“I also have a lot to utilize.” Han laughed as he turned back to situating the shelf. “This one is special, though.” 

“Oh?” Chan walked over, looking over the items. 

“It's all my favorite memories.” Han replied, pointing things out as he made his way off the step stool. “My friend group from uni in our costumes for Halloween last year, a picture of me and my brother when I graduated high school, obviously a lot of pictures in general, because memories are so important. My college diploma, some figures from my favorite animes.” He folded the step stool and leaned it against the side of the shelf, admiring his work. “My acceptance letter here is on this shelf, too.” 

Chan recognizes the letter head for his company, the familiar graffiti-like text making him smile as the letter is framed in a gray oak frame, centered on the second shelf. “That means a lot, Han.”

“This opportunity means a lot to me. I always knew I wanted to do music, and now I get to follow that dream.” Han explained, pausing for a long moment before turning to Chan. “So what can I do for you, boss?”

“I wanted to see how you felt about running point in a studio session.” Chan replied. “You've been so attentive in shadowing that I think you could lead a session.” 

Han’s eyes widened, mouth opening in shock for a moment before his face lit up, a huge grin curving his lips. “Wait, seriously?!” He asked. “Like, I get to lead a whole session?” 

Chan laughed and nodded. “I'll shadow you, see how you do. That way if you have any questions, I'm readily available. How does that sound?”

“Amazing!” Han was practically vibrating with excitement as he watched his boss, unable to stop grinning. “When do we go?”

“I'll send you the demo and instrumental tracks so you have a feel for a few songs. If you want any insight or anything, you know where to find me, yeah?” 

“Absolutely. Thank you so much!” Han moved to hug the other without thinking; his excitement palpable. “I won't let you down, Chan.” 

Chan found the energy calming, his own worries briefly forgotten in light of how happy Han was. It reminded him of his siblings back home, and he appreciated it. He returned the impromptu hug, patting Han’s head. “You'll do great.” He assured, watching as Han pulled away and started towards his desk. “The session isn't until after lunch, so you'll have plenty of time to get the feel.” 

“Got ya.” Han beamed as he sat, turning his music down a little as he settled into his chair. 

“Would you like me to close the door?”

Han looked up and shrugged. “I don't mind it being open, honestly.” 

Chan nodded as he headed for the door so he could go up to his own office. “Okay. I'll meet you in studio three at three pm. Deal?” 

“Deal.” Han agreed, turning his focus back to his computer. 

Chan made his way to his office, grateful for the brotherly interaction with Han as he stepped off the elevator. He paused as he looked up to find a figure at his office door. He recognized the male instantly, rolling his eyes as he made his way to the door. “Why are you here?”

“No greeting?” The man asked. 

“Not for you. I'm not selling my label, especially not to you, Mr. Park.” Chan explained, walking into his office and turning on the light.

“I said nothing of the sort, Mr. Bahng.” Mr. Park insisted, following into the room. “I just came by for a friendly visit.”

“Friendly?” Chan arched a brow as he set his bag on one side of his desk and sat down. “Given how our last conversation went, I wasn't aware that was a term that applied.” 

“We both shared some heated words, I will admit. The parting was not ideal.” Mr. Park conceded, moving to lean forward on the back of one of the chairs in front of Chan’s desk. “I just wanted to check in.”

Chan leans back in his chair, eyeing the man before him. “With all due respect, Mr. Park, you have no reason to ‘check in’ on me, or any of my people. I'm very well aware you've tried to poach my artists.”

“Running a company is hard work, Christopher.”

“Don't call me that.” Chan narrowed his eyes. “You gave up that right when I left your company to make my own. You lost that right when you refused to let me debut or contribute in any fashion. You can't waltz in here after six years and expect me to play nice.” He moved to stand and walk around his desk, leaning back on it as he crossed his arms. “I built this company from the ground up. I helped with putting this building together. I have scouted my own talent, my own teams, and I will not stop just because you show your face here.” 

“Such strong words, Mr. Bahng.”

“I didn't ask for your opinion, though, did I?” Chan asked. “You may be older, sir, but that doesn't mean you can intimidate me or my artists. You're just upset that I've become successful and now you want bragging rights.” he shoved from the desk, eyes never leaving the man. “All you did was show me how not to treat the people who work for me. These are people who work for us, not robots or puppets - real, living people. People who trust us with dreams that need help flourishing, not for us to stomp on them like the butt of a used cigarette. People who work hard and deserve respect for their dedication, to feel appreciated for all they do for their fans.”

“What a lovely speech.”

“And I mean every word.” Chan countered flatly.

“If you aren’t careful, they’ll walk all over you and your softheartedness.” Mr. Park countered. 

“You see, that’s the amazing thing about respect, Mr. Park.” Chan’s voice was calm as he spoke, head tilting a little. “If you earn it, and keep it, it’s not something that needs to be worried about. Why do you think you can’t get your claws in my people?” He smirks when the man scowls at him. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to attend to that don’t require my tolerating your presence in my building.” He motioned his head towards the door, the message clear. He stares the man down before Mr. Park turns away and starts for the door. 

“So harsh these days.”

“Only when I need to be. Now leave before I call security.” He watches as the man leaves, waiting until he hears the elevator ding before sighing. Lifting a hand, he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. “By the gifts of Leafania.” he grumbled. 

“Hey, Chan?” Yuna’s voice came over a speaker at his desk, making him turn around and hit a button. 

“Yes, Yuna?”

“Did Mr. Park have an appointment with you? I just saw him leave.”

“No, he didn’t have an appointment. He was at my office when I came in.”

“Wait, what?” Yuna is clearly confused by the information. “But I didn’t…He shouldn’t have been here, I never saw him. I’m so sorry, Chan.”

Her words strike something in Chan and he frowns at her panic, reaching a hand to rub at the cuff on his ear. “Hey, don’t fret, alright? He probably just snuck by you. It’s okay, I handled him.” He’s aware of the relieved sigh Yuna lets out. 

“I’ll keep a better eye on the doors, I promise.”

“Yuna, please don’t stress yourself.” Chan insisted. “Everything is just fine, I promise.” The words seem to ease Yuna, and she thanks him before they hang up. Chan takes a minute to brush the unease of the strange visit off before he begins working. He goes about sending the files to Han before answering other emails he’s received, determined to make the rest of his day better. 

[multistanisms]

Legacy of Snow; Ch. 1 || Stray Kids

FANDOM: Stray Kids

PAIRING: Han x Minho

WORD COUNT: 1634

RATING: M [for later chapters]

POTENTIAL TRIGGERS: N/A

SUMMARY: Freshly graduated from a prestigious university for music and the arts, Han Jisung is ready to take on the world when he accepts employment at District 325 Records. Han’s dream of taking the world by storm with his talent hits a slight hiccup when a literal spark emanates from a high five he shares with his new boss. That moment brings him to the discovery that he is a direct descendant of a previous Pretear, a guardian to the world. With that knowledge he also finds that Chan isn’t entirely human, he’s what is called a Leafé Knight and he isn’t the only one who resides in the human realm.

Thrust into a fray of magic, learning his own abilities and fighting monsters of darkness, Han has a lot to endure fresh out of college. On top of it all, he has to deal with a growing attraction to one of the seven knights who fight alongside him. It’s a whirlwind for Han, but can he find his footing in the new world he’s found himself a part of?

Taglist: @ashxx0707

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Chapter One: New Beginnings

The walk from the subway was accompanied by the music in his headphones as Han moved down the street to where he would now be working. It still felt surreal, especially with his graduation just a few weeks behind him, but he was proud of it at the same time. Hard work and an absurd amount of caffeine had helped him to graduate second overall for his class. The only thing that topped his college ranking was how quickly he had found employment to use his degree. District 325 Records had barely been open six years, but its reputation was golden. Every artist had a unique sound, and Han was excited to be a part of the process. He hummed along with the song playing as he walked, pausing when he felt a shudder go down his spine that made his head twitch a little to one side. He stopped, hands pulling one of the headphones from his ear and looking around curiously. It was an odd sensation he'd been getting at completely unexpected points for the last year; a shudder that brought with it a sense of foreboding danger that seemed to shimmer away after a few moments. Han couldn't explain it, and nothing he had found online gave any answer. He waited, looking around as he tried to pinpoint where the sudden feeling had come from, but when he felt it vanish in its typical fashion, he sighed and shook his head. “Sure would like to know what the hell that's about.” He mused, turning to head down to the building. 

While not as tall as other buildings around it, District 325 stood out with its muraled front wall and large, tinted glass doors. Walking in, he looked around, completely in awe as he took everything in. He made his way to the front desk, smiling at the red haired female who sat behind it. 

“Welcome to District 325. How can I help you?” She asked as he approached, smiling at him. 

“My name is Han Jisung, I'm here to speak with Mr. Bahng?” Han replied. The look on the girl's face was pure confusion, so he began to pull the paper from his bag, but stopped as the girl spoke again. “I received this letter-”

“Oh, Chan!” She perked instantly at the site of the envelope. “Apologies, no one calls him Mr. Bahng, we all just call him Chan.” She explained. “You're going to take the elevator to the eighth floor, room 809. He got in not too long ago, but you should be okay to wait a few minutes, right?” When Han nodded, she smiled. “”Okay, head on up, I'll let him know you're here.”

“Thank you so much, Miss…”

“Yuna. Shin Yuna.” she replied. “Welcome to the family, Han.”

Han couldn't help but smile at her, giving a little bow. “Thank you so much, Miss Yuna.” He said as he headed towards the elevator. As he stepped in and hit the button, he moved to pull the letter from the envelope and read it again. 

‘Dear Mr. Han Jisung,

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Bahng Christopher, founder and CEO of District 325 Records. I have decided that every other year, I will review all our internship applications and select one to be hired directly into the company. Many factors are taken into consideration during this review, as the person I choose must fit the mesh of my company goals. This year is my first ever time running this kind of choice, and the chosen candidate needed to be perfect. After many hours, I am honored to send you this notification of first selection as the newest member of my District 325 team. Should you wish to continue your endeavor with us, simply notify by call or email by the nineteenth. I do hope you consider this opportunity along with any other offers you may have received. I hope to hear from you soon. 

Congratulations and Best Wishes,

Bahng Christopher

Founder and CEO

District 325’

Han couldn't help the smile that curved his lips up. He had made it into the music world and had been hand picked by a company. Nothing was cooler than that. When the elevator came to a stop, he stepped out into the hall and made his way down the carpeted floor, eyes reading each room number. When he got down to the room he needed, he lifted a hand to knock when the door opened. Han startled back a little as a young man with long, blue hair stood before him, although the male was focused inside the room. 

“...saying not to overwork yourself, Chan. Especially with the increase in demon-” the man cut himself off as he turned, almost bumping into Han. “Oh, my. Hello there.” he greeted. “You must be the new hire.”

“Felix.” A voice inside spoke with a slight warning tone.

The blue haired male, Felix, grinned happily. “Name's Felix. I'm a friend of your boss.” he greeted. 

“Nice to meet you. I'm Han.” Han answered, giving a nod. His eyes caught sight of the crimson ribbon around Felix’s neck that supported a gold chain attached to a pendant shaped like the sun. “I love your choker.”

“Thank you, it's very important to me.” Felix said, voice warm as a hand lifted to fiddle with the sun, the little diamond shard in the middle glinting. 

“Felix, don't you have work to do?” Another male appeared from in the office, looking at Felix much like an older sibling. His hair was blonde, fluffy and looked extremely soft to the touch.

“Okay, okay, I get it. You do your thing, I'll go do mine.” Felix rolled his eyes, looking at Han with another grin. “Welcome, Han. I'm sure you'll do great “ he then slipped by Han and headed down the hall towards the elevator, whistling to himself as he did so. Han watched him for a moment until the other male spoke. 

“I apologize for him.” 

“No need, he seems like he means well.”

“Oh, he does. He's like a little brother to me.” he held out a hand as he opened the door more. “It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Han. My name is Christopher. Most everyone calls me Chan, though.”

Han smiled and reached out to shake Chan's hand, jumping a little at the strange static that flashed between their hands. It sent a chill up his arm and through his body, confusion on his face. Blinking, Han withdrew his hand to stare at it for a moment before letting it fall back to his side. “Sorry.”

Chan, also startled, shook his head, waving his own hand dismissively. “Don't be. Felix would say you have an electric personality and that it means you're an even better fit.”

Han laughed a little, following Chan to the desk and sitting down across from his new boss. “Thank you for hiring me.” 

“I should be thanking you. Your application process was quite impressive. Not many people can quickly figure out the simulations like you did.”

“I started out self taught in middle school.” Han replied. “I had to troubleshoot a lot of stuff without help.”

“That means you've worked harder to achieve your goal. I'm even more certain I picked the right person.” Chan replied, opening a folder. “Let's get the paperwork part out of the way, shall we? Then I'll give you the tour.”