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<div style="text-align: center;"> <h1>Crash Course In You</h1></div> <p>//When you reunite with a costar in a drama you once filmed together as children, sparks are bound to fly.// </p> 15 years ago, you and Lee Seol were cast as the childhood versions of the lead characters of “The Red Sleeve.” The historical drama reached record-breaking ratings and launched the two of you to stardom, albeit on very different paths. When a new director decides to remake the drama in an attempt to surpass the original, she requests both you and Lee Seol to join the cast. With the both of you returning to your roots, expectations are high. There’s no way you can fail… right? ''Features:'' <span style="color: #A0C3D2;">✧</span> Star in a historical Korean drama based on “The Red Sleeve" <span style="color: #A0C3D2;">✧</span> Play significantly different storylines depending on the gender of your love interest. <span style="color: #A0C3D2;">✧</span> Choose how you want to be portrayed to the public and track your reputation via news articles and netizen comments <span style="color: #A0C3D2;">✧</span> Get involved in Dispatch dating reports, interviews, the filming of behind-the-scenes footage, and more~ <span style="color: #E8A2A2;">Crash Course In You</span> is a lighthearted interactive romance between two stars in the Korean entertainment industry. This game is a work in progress. [[Begin the Game|Car1.1]]

<div id="sidebar"> <div class="sidebar-header">  <div></div>  <h1 class="story-title" data-passage="gameTitle"></h1>  <div class="sidebar-toggle"> <span id="sidebar-toggle-icon" class="lnr lnr-menu-circle"></span> </div> </div>   <div class="sidebar-history-nav"> <span id="backwards-button" class="lnr lnr-arrow-left"></span> <span id="forwards-button" class="lnr lnr-arrow-right"></span> </div> <div id="sidebar-body">  <div class="story-logo" data-passage="storyLogo"></div>  <h2 class="story-author" data-passage="storyAuthor"></h2> <nav class="sidebar-nav"> <ul class="story-tools"> <li> <span id="restart-button" class="lnr lnr-redo"></span> <span class="tooltiptext">Restart</span> </li> <li> <span id="saves-button" class="lnr lnr-download"></span> <span class="tooltiptext">Saves</span> </li> <li> <span id="settings-button" class="lnr lnr-cog"></span> <span class="tooltiptext">Settings</span> </li> <li> <span id="custom-button" class="lnr lnr-star-empty"></span> <span class="tooltiptext">Credits</span> </li> </ul> <ul class="story-menu" data-passage="storyMenu"> </ul> </nav> </div>  </div>  <div id="story" role="main"> <div id="passages"> <div id="passage-start" data-passage="start" class="passage"> </div> </div> </div>

<<nobr>>  <<if hasVisited("Car5") || hasVisited("Car5.1")>> <li>[[Actor Profile]]</li> <li>[[Reputation]]</li> <</if>> <<if hasVisited("Ch1.3b")>> <li>[[The Drama]]</li> <</if>> <</nobr>>

Crash Course in You

by <a href="https://fakeyellow.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">fakeyellow</a>

!Actor Profile ''Name:'' $pname ''Age:'' 25 ''Height:'' $height ''Agency:'' BC Entertainment ''Debut:'' 200x KBC Drama 'The Red Sleeve' ''Blood Type:'' <<cycle "$bloodtype" autoselect>> <<option "A">> <<option "B">> <<option "AB">> <<option "O">> <</cycle>> <<if hasVisited("Ch1.3")>> ''Relationship with Lee Seol'' You're slowly starting to get to know one another once again. Lee Seol is intrigued. <</if>>  <center><<link "Return to game" $return>><</link>></center>

!Reputation $pname is fondly called the 'Nation's First Love.' She is known for her<<if $persona is "sweet">> bright and sweet image, capturing the hearts of all of Korea.<<elseif $persona is "tart">> bright and sweet image (despite being anything but), capturing the hearts of all of Korea.<<elseif $persona is "chic">> demure and elegant image, capturing the hearts of all of Korea.<</if>> ''View Past Articles'' [[Prologue Articles|Articles1]]  <center><<link "Return to game" $return>><</link>></center>

What is your last name? [[Kim|Car3][$lname to "Kim"]] [[Song|Car3][$lname to "Song"]] [[Jeon|Car3][$lname to "Jeon"]] [[Son|Car3][$lname to "Son"]] [[Go|Car3][$lname to "Go"]] [[Shin|Car3][$lname to "Shin"]] <<textbox "$lname" "">> <<link "Confirm Name">><<if $lname is "">><<replace "#textbox-error">> Please enter a name.<</replace>> <<else>> <<replace "#textbox-error">><</replace>> <<run Engine.play("Car3")>> <</if>><</link>><span id="textbox-error"></span>

<<set $pname to $lname + " " + $name>> <<set $anxiety to 0>> "-$name," Your manager finishes. You both share a laugh before Sora becomes serious. "Before you start teasing me more, there are some things you need to check over," she says, quickly switching into her (often scarily) professional mode. The sheet mask moves as she talks, tempting you to comment, but you exhale and lean back. Grabbing the tablet on the seat next to you, you also get down to business. "Alright," you say, "What is it?" "First, it's time for a post on N*ver. The team put together a post using some of the photos from last week's shoot. Look through the powerpoint and let us know if you're okay with it. You tap on the first file and see photos of you modeling the skincare and cosmetic brand you promote. <<click "Etoile House">><<toggleclass "#section1" "hidden">><</click>> <div id="section1" class="hidden">The brand is popular amongst younger women with its pretty pink packaging and storefronts. As such, you're dressed in pink gingham against a warm pink background. There's photos of you going down a slide into a ball pit that you subsequently frolic in and photos of you winking at the camera. Of course, it wouldn't be complete without some staged "candid" photos of you as well, including ones where you lay down amongst the pink balls, and ones where you look at yourself in the mirror and apply some lip gloss to your already glossy lips.</div> <<click "The Green Isle">><<toggleclass "#section2" "hidden">><</click>> <div id="section2" class="hidden">The brand is known for its pure image, particularly as it prides itself on using organic ingredients from Jeju Island. As such, you're dressed in white with a natural look that took over thirty minutes of work by the make up artists. The photos have you posed elegantly against a background of beautiful greenery, your legs crossed demurely at your ankles. Of course it wouldn't be complete without some staged "candid" photos of you as well, including ones where you smile coyly at someone behind the camera (your manager who was guzzling her nth vitamin drink of the day). </div> Which brand are you the face of? [[Etoile House. There's a lot of pink but it best encapsulates your sweet and bubbly personality.|Car4][$persona to "sweet"]] [[Etoile House. You cringe at the cuteness of the photos but that's the image you started with so you don't have much choice now. Unfortunately, there's not a big market for young, sarcastic women in the world of acting.|Car4][$persona to "tart"]] [[The Green Isle. You're more reserved and aloof in nature. You're relieved your agency was able to give you an image that doesn't require you to act as much.|Car4][$persona to "chic"]]

"Yeah, it looks good," You say. "Alright, now if you open the N*ver app, it's already opened to the newest articles on you." What are your feelings on reading articles about yourself? <<set $med to 0>> [[You know it's not healthy but you can't help it. You've spent more than a couple sleepless nights searching your name and reading comments.|Car5][$media to "obs"]]<<set $anxiety to $anxiety + 1>> [[It's a neccessary evil. As a celebrity, your career rests upon catering to the public's interests and there's no way to do that unless you're on top of your image.|Car5][$media to "ctrl"]] [[You'll read the main articles the agency sets aside for you. There's no way you're wasting your time on the plethora of articles and listicles out there about you.|Car5][$media to "job"]] [[You're not in the mood to read about yourself. Put the tablet aside.|Car5.1][$media to "idc"]] [[You've never cared to read articles about yourself. 1. There's no faster way to damage your self esteem than to go down the rabbit hole of comments left by angry netizens. 2. You've come this far in your career, does it really matter what one article says or insinuates about you? 3. You could go on but you just can't be bothered. Put the tablet aside. |Car5.1][$media to "idc"]]

<<if $heshe is "he">>!!$pname and Lee Seol Confirmed to Star in Remake of ‘The Red Sleeve’ TvM has confirmed $pname and Lee Seol will reprise their childhood roles and star as the lead actors of ‘The Red Sleeve.’ This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the beloved drama as well as the release of the highly anticipated remake. Directed by the up-and-coming <<if $heshe is "she">>Kang Ah In<<else>>Kang Tae Ho<</if>>, the remake will begin shooting this week and will begin airing in four months’ time. The Red Sleeve depicts the story of Crown Prince Yi San and court lady Song Deok Im, who, despite valuing their country and personal freedom above all else, found themselves falling in love. The remake is reported to have significant changes from the original. It boasts a star-studded lineup including Song Kang Jun, Park So Yeon, and Jiwoo (Blue Pink) amongst many others, but the biggest stars of the show are undoubtedly $pname and Lee Seol. In 20xx, their cute scenes together endeared them to the entirety of Korea, propelling the children to national fame. After the unprecedented success of ‘The Red Sleeve,’ which broke numerous records, the two children found themselves in high demand. Lee Seol started an award-winning career in action dramas and films such as ‘The Villain’ and ‘Veteran.’ Performing his own stunts and often nailing scenes in just one take, Lee Seol quickly established himself as one of Korea’s leading actors. He will take on the role of Crown Prince Yi San, a man who faces an uphill battle in gaining his country's trust and in gaining the heart of the woman he loves. Meanwhile, $pname appeared in many more historical pieces, earning herself the nickname of ‘Sageuk Fairy.’ As she grew up, she appeared in more modern and light-hearted dramas, such as ‘Palace Hours’ and ‘Intro to Architecture,’ and became known as the ‘Nation’s First Love.’ She will portray the role of Song Deok Im, a woman who struggles with choosing between her freedom and her heart. ‘The Red Sleeve’ is undoubtedly the most anticipated drama of the year with the reunion of Korea’s hottest two actors after fifteen years, and only time will tell if it will be able to top the original behemoth. <<else>>!!$pname and Choi Tae Won Confirmed to Star in Remake of ‘The Red Sleeve’ + Lee Seol Joins Cast TvM has confirmed $pname and Choi Tae Won will star as the lead actors of ‘The Red Sleeve.’ This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the beloved drama as well as the release of the highly anticipated remake. Directed by the up-and-coming <<if $heshe is "she">>Kang Ah In<<else>>Kang Tae Ho<</if>>, the remake will begin shooting this week and will begin airing in four months’ time. The Red Sleeve depicts the story of Crown Prince Yi San and court lady Song Deok Im, who, despite valuing their country and personal freedom above all else, found themselves falling in love. The remake is reported to have significant changes from the original. It boasts a star-studded lineup including Lee Seol, Jang Woo Jin, and Jiwoo (Blue Pink) amongst many others. Choi Tae Won, who has showcased a broad acting spectrum from comedy to thriller through shows such as 'Taxi Chaffeur' and 'Response 1998' will take on the role of Crown Prince Yi San, a man who faces an uphill battle in gaining his country's trust and in gaining the heart of the woman he loves. $pname, who is fondly known as the 'Nation's First Love,' for her well-loved roles in dramas such as 'Palace Hours' and 'Intro to Architecture,' will reprise her role from 15 years ago and play Song Deok Im, a woman who struggles with choosing between her freedom and her heart. Lee Seol, who has established a name for herself in the world of action and noir through films such as 'The Villain' and 'Veteran,' will also return to the drama. While her original role as Lady Kim has been cut from the remake, she will play the role of the young Dowager Queen, a woman whose intentions are never quite clear. ‘The Red Sleeve’ is undoubtedly the most anticipated drama of the year with a cast filled with Korean's hottest stars, and only time will tell if it will be able to top the original behemoth. <</if>> <<click "//View comments//">><<toggleclass "#section1" "hidden">><</click>> <div id="section1" class="hidden"><<if $heshe is "he">>''[+2,705 -229]'' This casting is crazy. They really got all the original actors. There’s no way to fail. ''[+1,820 -58]'' Our $name and Lee Seol are back together ㅠㅠ ''[+1,799 -367]'' ㅋㅋ so they’re gonna date, right? <p>''[+354 -190]'' ㅋㅋ if they haven’t already </p><<else>>''[+2,705 -229]'' This casting is crazy. They got so many of the original actors. There’s no way to fail. ''[+1,799 -367]'' ㅋㅋ so they’re gonna date, right? ''[+300 -355]'' They got Lee Seol from the original cast but not the child king…. <p>''[+288 -34]'' ㅋㅋ Lee Seol is way more famous than that guy.</p> <p>''[+75 -42]'' ㅋㅋ Even OP doesn't remember the king's name</p> <</if>></div> !!$pname and Lee Dong Woo Break Up After a Month of Dating $pname has become well respected in the acting industry for her ever constant humility and diligence despite her overwhelming popularity. However no actors are without their quirks, and $pname indeed is also infamous for always dating the actors who play her love interests, with none of her relationships lasting for more than two weeks after the wrap up of a drama. Despite this well known habit, none of $pname’s costars have been able to resist the actress’s charm. Fans of the popular drama 'Touch My Heart' were excited to see the now almost routine announcement that $pname had entered into a relationship with her co-star Lee Dong Woo in the middle of shooting the drama, and warm pictures of the two holding hands on what appeared to be a date were released. However, one week after the final episode of 'Touch My Heart', an industry source stated that $pname and Lee Dong Woo had parted ways after drifting apart due to their busy schedules. Their agencies, respectively BC Entertainment and King Entertainment, have released a statement: 'We have checked with the actors and $pname and Lee Dong Woo have broken up. They have agreed to maintain a good relationship. Please respect their privacy at this time.' <<click "//View comments//">><<toggleclass "#section2" "hidden">><</click>> <div id="section2" class="hidden"> ''[+1,864 -322]'' Damn.. ㅠㅠ they were so good together ''[+1,673 -305]'' They didn’t really match anyway… ''[+1233, -40]'' Can we stop getting dating reports about couples who break up before the six-month mark ''[+809, -44]'' Everyone knew it’d end eventually </div> [[Next|Car5b]]

<<notify 5s>>Articles can be accessed via your reputation page<</notify>> You sigh and Sora gives you a knowing glance through the mirror. “Want a rundown of it?” “Please,” you muster gratefully. “It’s nothing new. People are excited for you to star in the remake and your breakup’s gone public. They don’t seem to be overtly sad or happy about it." Ever since you've turned 20, your dating life has become a very popular topic. Ever since that first dating rumour, you haven't been able to escape it since. [[You did actually date them in the past. After spending months shooting romanctic scenes with your co-stars, you found yourself drawn to a mix of the character and the actor that was playing them.|Car6][$past to "true"]] [[The first rumour was unexpected but your agency had been inspired from it. They heavily pushed these false relationships to create more buzz surrounding your projects and you reluctantly did as you were told.|Car6][$past to "forced"]] [[The first rumour was unexpected but you'd quickly realised how you could use it to your benefit. You staged the rest of your relationships to help create more buzz surrounding your projects. |Car6][$past to "pr"]]

You sigh. When you turned 20, it was as if the floodgates opened and your dating life was suddenly the hottest topic around. Ever since that first dating rumour, you haven't been able to escape it since, with dating rumours popping up every time you filmed a new drama. [[You did actually date them in the past. After spending months shooting romanctic scenes with your co-stars, you found yourself naturally drawn to them.|Car6][$past to "true"]] [[The first rumour was unexpected but your agency had been inspired from it. They heavily pushed these false relationships to create more buzz surrounding your projects and you reluctantly did as you were told.|Car6][$past to "job"]] [[The first rumour was unexpected but you'd quickly realised that you could use it to your benefit. You staged the rest of your relationships to help create more buzz surrounding your projects. |Car6][$past to "pr"]]

<<if $media is "ctrl" || $past is "pr">> This whole romance situation is why you place so much importance on your image. <<else>> This whole romance situation is why your agency places so much importance on your image. <</if>> It had been a gamble at first, publically acknowleding your relationships. The nation had seen you grow up since your first role and it was a toss up whether they'd view you dating as a sign of your moral depravity or a sign that you'd grown up. Fortunately for the agency, public opinion turned to the latter. In fact, it seemed to bolster your popularity because your partners were well-loved stars in their own right and your reputation had been faultless thus far. But the public is fickle and you know that just one wrong move can shatter your image, transform you from the "Nation's First Love" to a shameless harlot. <<if $persona is "tart">>That is why you've maintained that endlessly chipper facade for years now. No matter how tiring it is, you've seen the downfall of enough celebrities to know you don't want to go down that path. <<elseif $persona is "chic">> The agency was able to transform your more reserved nature into the image of a demure lady so you mostly have to focus on always being polite. It's less tiring than always having to act as someone you're not but it does chafe at times, not being allowed to express your true thoughts. <<elseif $persona is "sweet">> You know you're lucky. Your bright personality translates well to being a celebrity and growing up, your teachers always said you were meant for the entertainment industry. But there are times when you simply are exhausted or just don't feel like acting like a human vitamin. Those times are difficult. <</if>> You stifle a yawn. Noticing through the car mirror, your manager looks at you and says, "Thanks. We still have thirty minutes before we arrive. Rest up now while you can." You don't need to hear anything more and you drift off into a dreamless slumber. [[Next|Set1]]

!!!On Set You take a look in the mirror as the assistant helps you put on the last pieces of the hanbok. It's been years since you acted in a historical drama but slipping into the silky soft clothes feels as familiar as a parent's embrace. Since your character is a court lady for most of the show, your hanbok isn't as elaborate as the outfits of the royalty. Yet the pink upper garment and the navy skirts still feel precious to you, nearly identical to the ones you wore when you first started acting. You have to resist the urge to twirl your skirts. Your hair is currently black, meticulously combed and sprayed into a low braid. Given the setting of this drama in the eighteenth century, <<cycle "$hair" autoselect>> <<option "''you were able to keep your natural black hair.''">> <<option "''you had to dye your brown hair.''">> <<option "''you had to dye your already dyed hair.''">> <</cycle>> A deep red traditional ribbon is tied to the end of the braid to complete the look. The costume director, the same woman who dressed you fifteen years ago, looks over you with a discerning eye before nodding with satisfaction. "Has it really been fifteen years? You've grown into a beautiful young woman," she says with a mother's smile. <<if $persona is "sweet">> "I'm so happy we're working together again!" You say brightly and you can't contain yourself from hugging the older woman. "How sweet," She indulges you in the hug for a moment before immediately holding you at arm's distance and re-checking your outfit. <<elseif $persona is "tart">> "It can't have been fifteen years" you say playfully, "You don't look as if you've aged a day since we last met!" She shakes her head, pointing a finger at you, "Flattery doesn't work on me, young lady." You can tell by the growing blush on her face that it did. <<elseif $persona is "chic">> "Thank you. It's great to work with you again," you say warmly. "So polite," she clucks in response, "My daughter could stand to learn a few things from you." <</if>> After sharing a few more parting words, you leave the costume department's trailer and walk across the sprawling grounds of the historical set. [[Next|Set2]]

- very cool," Your manager states in an effort to play her interest down, "You know I've always been a big fan." You gasp playfully, "Do you like $himher more than me?" Sora rolls her eyes, "I know you too well to be your fan, -" What is your name? [[Tae-hee|Car2][$name to "Tae-hee"]] [[Hye-kyo|Car2][$name to "Hye-kyo"]] [[Ji-hyun|Car2][$name to "Ji-hyun"]] [[Ye-jin|Car2][$name to "Ye-jin"]] [[Ara|Car2][$name to "Ara"]] [[Mina|Car2][$name to "Mina"]] <<textbox "$name" "">> <<link "Confirm Name">><<if $name is "">><<replace "#textbox-error">> Please enter a name.<</replace>> <<else>> <<replace "#textbox-error">><</replace>> <<run Engine.play("Car2")>> <</if>><</link>><span id="textbox-error"></span>

!Prologue It's 3 AM when your manager picks you up. Since you have to be on location with your hair and makeup already done, the early departure time is unavoidable. But knowing this doesn't make you any less tired. "Morning," she says wryly and you groan. Laughing in response, Sora hits the gas pedal as soon as the door closes. You dutifully put on the under eye patches already laid out for you. It's instinctive by now and instead of looking into a mirror, you find yourself lost in thought while staring at the back of your manager's head. Sora's been your manager for the past three years. On her third day on the job as an assistant, she'd finagled you a brand deal your entire team had been working on for the past month. She’d done this while appearing to be sleeping the entire day, which made the news all the more surprising. You'd known you //had// to have her. You wouldn't have survived the last three years without her, particularly as your popularity grew. Despite her intense hatred towards coffee and all other caffeinated drinks, she is a miracle worker, managing all aspects of your schedule down to a tee. A flash of white suddenly catches your eye and you lean forward. [[Next|Car1.11]]

The elevated pavilions and the other palace buildings never fail to take your breath from you but you find yourself looking at the script in your hand. How do you feel about starring in the remake? [[Anxious. You vividly remember how the past actress played the role and you're worried about how to differentiate your acting from hers.|Set3][$felt to "aah"]] [[Excited. You never dreamed you'd become an actor and to be able to return with what had made you fall in love with acting in the first place is a dream come true.|Set3][$felt to "yay"]] [[Reluctant. You didn't really want to join this drama but your agency basically strongarmed you into signing on. They knew that you returning to your original role would attract a lot of attention that they could then negotiate into future brand deals and etc.|Set3][$felt to "ugh"]]

<<if $felt is "aah">> Because it was your first time ever on television, you insisted on watching the drama over and over again as a child. You loved the veteran actress's portrayal of the character but it's a bit daunting having to fill in her shoes. You want to create your own version of Deok-im, but how will you know whether you're subconsciously relying on the original portrayal? You don't want to be a pale imitation of another actress's greatness. <<elseif $felt is "yay">> Because it was your first time ever on television, you insisted on watching the drama over and over again as a child. You loved the veteran actress's portrayal of the character and you're so excited to show the world your own version of Deok-im. <<elseif $felt is "ugh">> You hadn't planned on accepting the role and had told the agency as much. Then Sora had come to your house with an apologetic face and a copy of the drama contract that you were expected to sign. The one silver lining about this whole situation is that you were able to negotiate with your agency. After filming this, you'll be able to have a larger say on your career, from your persona to the projects you choose to film. <</if>> Regardless of your feelings on the matter, there is the unavoidable truth that things have changed a lot since you started your career. //You// have changed a lot. Fifteen years ago, you were a nobody, just a child who had literally been picked off the streets and casted based on the whims of the director. If you didn't perform well, then it was to be expected and the director could easily swap you out for another aspiring actor. Now, you're at a high point of your career. The expectations are different and they are particularly heavy, considering that you are remaking a beloved drama. Comparisons will abound from the moment the first episode releases and the public will judge whether you are worthy of your fame or a disappointing failure. You're determined to succeed. The sound of giggles breaks you from your reverie. Even if you hadn't been curious, the whispers carry in the air, making themselves all too audible to you. "Did you hear $pname broke up with her boyfriend //again//?" "She's not even that pretty. I can't believe she seduced Lee Dong Woo, what a snake!" "Our poor Dong Woo, at least he's free now." "Do you think she'll look sad today?" "No way, I bet she's already thinking about how to seduce <<if $heshe is "he">>Lee Seol<<else>>Tae Ho<</if>>!" [[Ignore it. Being the subject of gossip like this isn't new to you and you've learned that ignoring it is the best thing you can do for yourself.|Set3Z][$goss to "zero"]] [[Ignore it. Being the subject of gossip like this isn't new to you and you just can't be bothered to confront them.|Set3Z][$goss to "zero"]] [[See who is talking before you make any decisions.|Set3a]] [[You scowl and look to see who is talking, set on confronting them.|Set3b][$goss to "rash"]]

"Are you wearing a face mask?" You ask incredulously. "Half of one," Sora corrects you, briefly turning towards you so you can see the truth in what she's saying, "I cut the top part off so I could drive safely." "Why..." You start before trailing off in thought. Health-conscious as she may be, you've never seen her so focused on her appearance unless it's time to negotiate a contract. A bolt of realisation strikes you and a grin slowly widens on your face. "This is because of Lee Seol, isn't it?" Your manager maintains a cool expression but you can see the tip of her ear reddening. "[[He's|Car1.2][$heshe to "he", $Heshe to "He", $himher to "him", $hisher to "his", $Hisher to "His", $hishers to "his", $himself to "himself"]] "[[She's|Car1.2][$heshe to "she", $Heshe to "She", $himher to "her", $hisher to "her", $Hisher to "Her", $hishers to "hers", $himself to "herself"]]

The brief moment of excitement past, you continue on your search for the director. You're not scheduled to film this morning but as one of the lead stars, you thought it only right that you show up early to greet the staff. You know you're getting near when you see assistants scurrying back and forth in front of you, carrying various things from historical props to lights to a whole boom box (??). Ahh, the frantic energy of the first day on set. <<cycle "$feel" autoselect>> <<option "''You love it.''">> <<option "''You hate it.''">> <</cycle>> You take your time before going to the director, making sure to greet every person you meet along the way, regardless of if you already know them. A cloud passes in the sky and the sun is suddenly blinding, right when you come near the director. You raise a hand to shade your eyes, finally able to see your target. Except they're not alone. They're speaking with someone. You squint your eyes against the brightness that hurts even with the shade your hand provides. It's Lee Seol. You freeze. [[Next|Ch1p]]

A group of young women are huddled underneath the shadows of one of the buildings. By the way they're dressed in hanboks identical to yours, and the way you don't recognise a single one of their faces, you realise that they must be extras. They still haven't noticed you. What will you do? [[Return the way you came from. They're just extras. You've never been an extra before but you suppose they need to pass the long hours somehow.|Set3Z][$goss to "zero"]] [[Walk confidently past them. You want them to know you heard but it's not worth your time or reputation to scold some extras.|Set3Z][$goss to "cool"]] [[Confront them. |Set3b][$goss to "rash"]] [[Kill them with kindness.|set 3c][$goss to "nice"]]

<<if $persona is "tart">>It's times like this that you're thankful for your image as a sweetheart. It allows you to (infrequently) get away with petty acts, like the one you're about to do.<<else>>You don't usually do things like this but the extras are just rubbing you the wrong way. <</if>> "Hello there," You say brightly as you walk into their midst. The women clam up immediately, faces going pale and you inwardly gloat. It takes them a second before they remember to bow in greeting and you, in turn, incline your head. "I heard they were looking for some extras at the Gwangbu Pavilion. Would that be you all?" You ask innocently. One of the women gasps, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as if she can't believe she let the sound escape. There's an exchange of side-eyes amongst the women as well as the uneasy rustling of skirts. "I'd hurry if I were you. They were getting a bit impatient," You lean in as if whispering a secret to them, sincerity dripping from your voice. They don't need to hear more and they're scuttling off, a horde of pink across the sandy grounds. The corners of your mouth curl up at the sight. They'll be searching for a while, given that there is no such place as Gwangbu Pavilion. You know it's a small, petty act but it's satisfying nonetheless. Even if you had wanted to do more, you couldn't. It's not just that you're thinking about your reputation although that undeniably plays a big role (after all, you don't want to be the kind of person who abuses staff members for their own amusement). It's also that you don't want to delay filming. You knew the court lady extras wouldn't be filmed until the latter half of the day so as it is, the women will likely just run around in a panic for some time, looking for a place that doesnt exist. You've learned to enjoy the small things in life. [[Next|Set4][$goss = "revenge"]]

You've reached the end of the current demo. This game is a work in progress and will be updated periodically. Check the <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/fakeyellow" target="_blank">tumblr blog</a> for the latest developments.

"It's nice that you all were able to find some shade. It's pretty hot, isn't it?" You say<<if $persona is "sweet">> warmly.<<else>>, your teeth grinding behind the smile you paste on your face.<</if>> The women collectively jump before going straight into a bow in greeting. It'd be amusing if you weren't already annoyed. "Oh I'm sorry," you pretend sweetly, "Let me introduce myself. I'm $pname." Their faces are pale and their eyes wide as they look everywhere but at you, elbows slightly nudging each other. One woman steps up bravely. "Hello. I'm Do Hee Jin. It's a pleasure to meet you," she says, looking directly at you in the eyes. You stare at her with more interest now, taking in her apperance. Like you, she has the same black braid that court ladies wear, but she has thick, striking eyebrows and a stubborn set to her chin. She has a boldness to her that you don't think you'll forget. "Well Do Hee Jin," You say, "I look forward to working with you." [[Next.|Set4]]

<<if $goss is "cool">>There's a distinct "eep" sound that comes out of one of the women as you stride past them. You hear the rustling of skirts but you keep your expression haughty and your eyes straight in front of you. It's only when you pass them that the corners of your lips curl up.<<else>><</if>> As you walk away, you see a small tent in the distance. Inside, there is a young girl dressed in a miniature version of the hanbok you currently wear. Someone who appears to be her mother fawns over her, nervously wringing her hands as if she wants to tidy up the girl's appearance but doesn't want to mess up the make up artist's work. They haven't noticed you yet, and as you near, you can hear the girl muttering her lines under her breath. "Hello there," you say gently, not wanting to startle them. The both of them jump nonetheless, but their surprise only grows as they realise who you are. "Oh my, $pname! This is my daughter, Ye-bin. She's playing the younger version of you and I must say, we are //so// honoured to have that role!" The mother gushes and it seems she no longer has any qualms about wrinkling her daughter's outfit as she nearly pushes her towards you. Ye-bin looks like her eyes might pop out of her skull but she doesn't take more than a few seconds to close her gaping jaw and beam widely at you. "HI MY NAME IS YEBIN AND I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN!" She practically yells, her words tripping over each other. "Well," You say, your eyes crinkling in a warm smile, "It's very nice to meet you Ye-bin." "CAN I-" Her mother clears her throat pointedly and Ye-bin takes a breath before pushing on determinedly. "Can I get your autograph please?" "Of course," you say, signing her script with a flourish and handing it back to her. She looks as if you've handed the stars to her and with a little shriek of glee, she hugs the script tightly to her chest. "Thank you so much!" "Please, can we get a picture?" Her mother interrupts, once again pushing Yebin but this time into your side. Her phone is already out, the camera aimed at you two before you can respond. You smile beatifically as the flash goes off. "I want to be just like you when I grow up," Ye-bin confesses before you leave and you hug her with a complicated look on your face. Her mother's fingers are tapping furiously at her phone and you already know that she's thinking of captions to go along with the photo she'll definitely post on N-stagram later tonight. Your phone vibrates with a text from Sora: //"You just got tagged on N-stagram. Here's the pic. Text if you want it to be pulled."// Or now. You text a quick "It's good," and wave back at Ye-bin who's still waving goodbye at you excitedly. Why did you go over to her? [[She reminded you of your past self.|Set4]] [[You love children and wanted to encourage her.|Set4]] [[You're always on the lookout for ways to boost your reputation and this was a golden opportunity.|Set4]]

!Chapter One //15 Years Ago// You don’t know anyone around you. The set is bustling with a contagiously frenetic energy and you somehow feel both as though you’re right in the middle of it all and as though you’re invisible. You’re usually <<cycle "$past" autoselect>> <<option "''an outgoing kid but this is too much, even for you.''" "ext">> <<option "''a shy kid so this is one of your worst nightmares.''" "shy">> <</cycle>> It’s only been two weeks since a random man (the director) gave you his business card while you were hanging out with your friends. It’s only been two weeks since you were told that you had the makings of a star and it’s been a whirlwind of rushed fittings and script readings since. To be honest, you’re still not sure if you’ve been dreaming this whole time. Because how does this make sense? You, $pname, 10 year old fourth grader at Sekang Elementary, are going to be acting in a drama for the very first time. Not only that, you’re going to be playing the childhood version of the famous star, Park Hee Sun. Not only that, you’ll be acting with Lee Seol. What are your thoughts on Lee Seol? [[You’ve seen them in dramas before and you’re such a big fan of them!|Ch1p2][$plsf to "fan"]] [[You’ve seen them in dramas before and you think you’ll be a bigger star than them. Watch out Lee Seol! |Ch1p2][$plsf to "rival"]] [[Who?|Ch1p2][$plsf to "who"]]

<<if $plsf is "fan">>You’ve seen Lee Seol on television before and the 12 year old is just too cool! $Heshe once cried because $hisher parents on a drama had just died and it made you want to cry with $himher. You wonder if the director will also ask you to cry and if you’ll be able to do it <<elseif $plsf is "rival">> Acting may or may not have been your dream but you’re determined to make it big and that means you’re going to have to beat Lee Seol. You've seen $hisher acting and you know you can take $himher on. You may not have experience but you have confidence in spades. <<elseif $plsf is "who">> You’d never really heard of Lee Seol but by the way your friends all screamed when you told them who you were going to be acting with, you’ve gathered $heshe’s pretty famous. <</if>> You take a peek at where Lee Seol is standing now. The director told you to stand by as the set undergoes some last minute changes and you know what he really means is to stay still and be out of the way. While you feel out of place, Lee Seol looks like $heshe belongs exactly where $heshe is. $Heshe's dressed in a more ornate hanbok than yours, as befitting of $hisher character's <<if $heshe is "she">>noble<<else>>royal<</if>> standing, and $heshe stands perfectly still. You know that $heshe's only two years older than you but $heshe feels much older than that. No matter your feelings on $himher, you envy $hisher ease. You take another look at the director and see that $hisher attention is fully consumed by whatever the crew is doing. It doesn't look like it'll end soon so you come to a decision. <<if $past is "ext">>You run over to Lee Seol.<<else>>You walk slowly over to Lee Seol.<</if>> [[Next|Ch1p3]]

//Present// There’s no reason for you to freeze, you realise belatedly. It’s been years since you’ve met in places other than awards ceremonies but it’s not like you and Lee Seol left things on a bad note; your friendship just naturally drifted apart. Taking advantage of your pause, a stylist suddenly appears at your side, hurriedly pulling you over to a tent. "$name, let me just retouch your hair," she says as she already begins to fiddle with stray pieces of hair that have escaped your braid. You nod thankful for her help and the shade from the hotter than expected sunlight, but your mind is elsewhere as you stare at Lee Seol. It feels eerily like your first day ever on set those fifteen years ago, but $heshe is living proof that time has passed. $Heshe's grown up. Of course you’ve seen all of $hisher works and the numerous CFs/billboards $heshe's in, but in person, $heshe seems more substantial. Realer, somehow. Gone is the baby fat, $hisher once round cheeks slimmed down to reveal sharp cheekbones and an even sharper jawline. $Heshe's filled out in other ways, $hisher broad shoulders evident even under the layers of silk $heshe wears, no doubt a culmination of $hisher intense training for $hisher numerous action roles. What are your thoughts on Lee Seol's career? [[You're jealous of their career. You'd like the chance to play similar roles but unfortunately, it's been hard to break from your typecast as a bright, peppy girl.|Ch1.2][$scareer to "envy"]] [[You're jealous of their career. You've never been in any action pieces yet but you want to give it a try!|Ch1.2][$scareer to "envy"]] [[You admire their career. It's evident how hard they've been working these past years.|Ch1.2][$scareer to "respect"]]

<<if $past is "ext">>The curved traditional shoes feel unfamiliar as you run and you're breathless by the time you reach Lee Seol.<<else>>The nerves begin to eat away at you the closer you get to Lee Seol but then you are standing right in front of $himher and it is too late to second guess yourself.<</if>> "Hi, I'm $pname," you say <<if $past is "ext">>with a bright smile.<<else>>shyly.<</if>> You want to impress $himher so you bow as politely as you can. "Hello," Lee Seol says, $hisher big black eyes round as $heshe stares at you with surprise. Up close, you can see $hisher left eye is slightly bigger than $hisher right. It's a strange thing to notice but you find it comforts you nonetheless, proof that $heshe is also a human and not just a perfect robot. <<if $past is "ext">>"Are you excited to start filming? Maybe it's more familiar to you because you're already a big star, but I'm super excited! I've never done anything like this!" You burst out, practically hopping with eagerness. <<else>>"Are you also excited?" You ask hesitantly before your cheeks flush, "Oh! I'm sorry! You're probably used to this, aren't you?" The silk layers of your hanbook suddenly feel very confining, clinging to your skin thanks to your sweat. <</if>> Lee Seol looks at you like you're an oddity in a museum before $heshe slowly raises $hisher hand. For a moment, you can see your acting career flashing by. $Heshe's going to call for the security guard to take you away because you dared to speak informally with $himher and then you're never going to step foot on a set ever again and- Lee Seol pats your head. [[Next|Ch1p4]]

<<if $past is "ext">> "I'm not a dog," You huff, putting your hands on your hips and giving $himher the best approximation of your homeroom teacher's stern face. "Oh, sorry," Lee Seol says sheepishly, quickly pulling $hisher hand into $hisher chest and looking anywhere but at you. Even though $heshe's older than you, you suddenly think that $heshe is quite cute when flustered. "I suppose you can do it," You declare magnanimously, "But //just// you." <<else>> You jolt at the touch, subsequently causing Lee Seol to jolt away from you, $hisher hand curling into $hisher chest. "I'm not a dog," You find yourself saying instinctively as you and Lee Seol stare at each other, wide eyes mirrored in each other's faces. "Sorry," $Heshe says bashfully, turning and looking anywhere but at you. Even though $heshe's older than you, you suddenly think that $heshe is quite cute when flustered. "It's okay," You offer with a gentle smile, as if trying to coax a frightened animal, "It didn't feel bad." <</if>> Lee Seol finally looks back up at you and seeing your smiling face, $hisher confidence seems to return. $Heshe opens $hisher mouth and it is at that exact moment that a frazzled looking man runs up to you two. "You're both needed on set," He rushes out, doubling over and gasping for breath. <<if $past is "ext">>You don't know what comes over you in the moment. "Let's go!" You say brightly, grabbing Lee Seol's hand and pulling $himher with you as you run forward. $Heshe yelps but it quickly turns into elated laughter and the intern frantically follows after the two of you. <<else>>You flush, worried that you may have missed them calling you to set. Maybe you should have stayed where you were instead of forcing yourself out of your shell. Even if you're unsure about this whole acting thing, you don't want your first opportunity to go down the drain because you weren't able to follow instructions. "It's okay," Lee Seol says suddenly, and you realise you've been wringing your hands, "Let's go together." $Heshe pauses for a second before slipping $hisher hand into yours, gently pulling you forward. <</if>> [[Next|Ch1.1]]

//Note: The events of the drama are heavily based upon the actual MBC drama titled the Red Sleeve.// !!!Key Characters So Far ''Seong Deok Im'': A plucky and strong-willed court lady in training, Deok Im is a woman who refuses to let tradition and expectations define her life. Her gift for storytelling and her beautiful handwriting have gotten her out of trouble thus far. Fiercely loyal to her friends, Deok Im wants nothing more than to live freely and happily with her fellow court ladies. ''Yi San'': The nation’s Crown Prince, Yi San, also bears the weight of his tragic family history. His father, Crown Prince Sado, was executed on the order of his grandfater, King Yeongjo, for his alleged descent into madness and unpredictable cruelty. Forces conspire against Yi San due to his unsteady claim to the throne as the son of a criminal but Yi San is determined to protect both his throne and his country. <<if $heshe is "she">>''Queen Jeongsun'': A noblewoman who was chosen to marry King Yeongjo at the age of 13, Queen Jeongsun has spent her entire life in the shadow of her husband. Having bore no heirs to the king over fifty years her senior, she has been powerless thus far but that does not mean she lacks ambition.<</if>> !!!Key Plot Points So Far

!!!Episodes 1 - 4 * //As children, Deok Im and Yi San stumble into each other, not knowing one another’s identity, and comfort each other after the death of Yi San’s grandmother. Deok Im also discovers a plot against the Crown Prince and saves him by ripping out specific pages in a banned book in the prince’s possession. // * //As adults, Deok Im and Yi San run into each other again, once again not knowing one another’s identity. Yi San pretends to be the Prince’s tutor and they bicker relentlessly. <<if $heshe is "she">>Queen Jeongsun is shown to hold the most sway over King Jeongjo out of all his consorts. <<else>> <</if>>// * //During a festival for the court ladies, Deok Im and Yi San unite forces against a wild tiger. King Jeongjo punishes Yi San for his insolence. Deok Im seeks to persuade the King to forgive the Prince and thus his tutor. <<if $heshe is "she">>Queen Jeongsun meets Deok Im and, impressed by her loyalty and skills, tells her how she may gain an audience with the King. <<else>><</if>>Using her storytelling, Deok Im is successful.// * //Deok Im learns that Yi San is the Crown Prince and asks for an apology. Yi San refuses, citing his superior status, but Deok Im declares that a true monarch should be able to recognise their faults. At a standstill, the two resolve not to see each other again. Chief Court Lady Jo then hand-picks Deok Im to be the Prince's personal attendant. As they are forced in close proximity, the two find themselves drawn to each other. <<if $heshe is "she">>When forces conspiring against Yi San seek revenge on Deok Im for helping him, Queen Jeongsun uses her wiles to reduce Deok Im's punishment. <<else>><</if>>// [[Next|Ch1.4]]

You wonder if Lee Seol has also kept an eye on your career and what $heshe thinks of you. "All done!" the stylist declares triumphantly and you murmur your thanks before gliding over to the director and Lee Seol as if in a trance. "Director Kang, it's a pleasure to be working with you," you bow respectfully. It's not the first time you've met but you know that manners are essential to survive in this hierarchical culture. "Ah yes $name, it's good to see you on set," The director says coolly. Unlike you, Lee Seol, and the numerous actors around the set dressed in traditional garb, $heshe's dressed in a maroon turtleneck and a deep red blazer. $Heshe looks modern and chic and entirely out of place. There’s no way $heshe isn’t hot directly under the sun’s blazing rays, $hisher sunglasses the only part of $hisher outfit that is seasonal, but $hisher skin is perfectly matte without even the slightest hint of sweat. “We were speaking about how it seems to be an auspicious day for the first day of filming,” Lee Seol smoothly interjects, and $hisher smooth voice sends a thrill down your neck. It’s pitched lower than when you were children, yet another sign of their maturity and the years that have passed, and you fight not to shiver. “I’ll see you two soon,” the director says unceremoniously, $hisher gaze and body already moving towards the bustling center of activity where the child actors are slowly taking their places. And finally, it is just the two of you. [[Next|Ch1.3]]

You are thriving. <<if $felt is "aah">>Despite your initial misgivings regarding playing this character, <<else>>Unsurprisingly, <</if>>you are like a fish in water. At this point in the drama, Deok Im is bright and charming and mischievous- similar enough to your old characters that you can embody her with ease and yet dissimilar enough that it still feels new and exciting. Although the original drama holds a special place in your heart, you aren’t blind to its faults. It was definitely a product of its time: case in point, there used to be a faked death as a part of the childhood romance. While it allowed you and Lee Seol to really showcase your acting skills and cement your places in the audiences' hearts, it was admittedly a heavily played upon trope at the time. Not to mention, even as a child, you could see how Deok Im fell to the wayside once Yi San became king. She became more passive, more of a foil for which to show the king's soft side than a separate character. One of the director's strongest selling points to you was how this remake would showcase the lives of court ladies (not just Deok Im) and focus on giving the oft overlooked characters more agency within the historical framework of the story. As this drama is being live shot, the scripts aren’t yet finished and you look forward to working with the cast in order to make Deok Im’s complexities shine. As for now, you know your role in these first four episodes is to get the audience to fall in love with you and you confidently can say they will. <<if $heshe is "he">>The only problem is that you’re also supposed to have Lee Seol’s character fall in love with you too. [[Next|Ch1.4M]]<<else>>[[Next|Ch1.4F]] <</if>> <<set $robl to "0">> <<set $rbold to "0">> <<set $rshy to "0">> <<set $rneut to "0">>

A silence falls between you two and it’s awkward in a way you don’t remember. You’re not even looking at each other, standing side by side. It feels like a gaping chasm is between the two of you <<if $persona is "chic">>and as Lee Seol seems even less likely to start the conversation, you are the first to broach the distance<<else>>and unable to bear the silence, you are the first to broach the distance.<</if>> “How are you? It’s been a while,” You offer a smile, turning towards $himher (Lee Seol? Seol? Should you add a polite suffix at the end? You don’t know what to call $himher so you avoid $hisher name altogether). “I’ve been doing well, thank you. And you?” Lee Seol asks and $hisher black eyes are unreadable. The overtly polite response throws you off guard. “Good,” You say, at a loss for words. You suppose it would have been weird of you to expect you both to fall back easily into your friendly banter after years apart. But still, the stilted conversation bristles you in a way you don’t like. It’s polite to the point that it could be in a textbook on how to speak Korean for foreigners. This isn’t the first time you’ve met. You’ve already had table reads for the first couple of episodes with the entire cast and you’d exchanged courtesies with Lee Seol then as well. At least then, you had the excuse of the cameras recording your every move to put on Neo-tube, putting everyone on their best behaviour. Lee Seol had also had schedules after every table read, causing $himher to make timely exits once things were done, not even giving you a chance to speak with $himher afterwards. [[Next|Ch1.3a]]

"Cut. This is where we see you start to fall in love with her, even though you know better. Look at her like she's precious. Again." "Cut. She's not your sister. Again." "No, now you look like you want to seduce her. Save that for later. Again." "Cut. Again." "Cut. Again." You can hear the muttering around the staff as yet another take is thrown away. The gaze of everyone on set, from the veteran actors waiting for the next scene, to the interns and camera assistants, weighs heavily on you even though you are not the one at the focus of their attention. Your legs are dead weight beneath you, having knelt for the past thirty minutes for a scene in which you stare dreamily at the sky while the prince watches you. Suppressing the urge to look behind you where Lee Seol sits, you wait for the director's cue to embody Deok Im and her endless ability to see wonder in the world. But it never comes. The director sighs, putting his script to the side and rubbing his forehead. "We’ll move on for today." His words sets off a flurry of activity as a multitude of staff members rush to move around the appropriate cameras and props. It takes all of your focus to rise as gracefully as you can, ignoring the pins and needles that prickle your legs and threaten your balance. You finally turn around to Lee Seol and see him looking utterly lost, and then frustrated, and then expressionless, as if an eraser was just used on his face. His name dies in your throat and Lee Seol walks briskly off set. The last one on the set, you <<cycle "$rxn" autoselect>> <<option "''glare at the staff who are still gossiping until the whispers die down.''" "-1">> <<option "''shy away from the whispers of the staff.''" "+0">> <<option "''stare directly at the people who are still gossiping until they notice you and stop abruptly.''" "+1">> <</cycle>> [[Four hours later...|1.4M2]]

You’re even getting along with the king okay. This is the first time you're getting to work with Choi Tae Won and you can see why he is so popular. He's like a golden retriever in human form, all eye smiles and laughs. His energy is contagious and it certainly makes the waiting times go by faster. The only downside to filming so far is that you don't have as many scenes with Lee Seol as you'd like. After that conversation, you've shot maybe one or two scenes with her and it's frustrating how close and yet how far you two are. You know that your characters will interact more as the plot deepens but it seems so far away in the future to your impatient heart. "Are you moping again?" Sora says from the other side of the divider and you startle. "No," You say guiltily, going back to changing into your own clothes. "You're sighing so much I can't sleep," Your manager says and you can practically hear her eyes roll, "Are you or are you not a human being with limbs to move with and a voice to speak with? Just go speak to her." [[Respond dramatically, as befitting an actress of your stature.|Ch1.4F2][$resp to "sarc"]] [[Respond with yet another sigh.|Ch1.4F2][$resp to "sigh"]] [[Respond with yet another sigh, just to get on Sora's nerves.|Ch1.4F2][$resp to "sass"]]

You sit across the director with Lee Seol to your side. The entire day, you'd been unable to escape the pervasive tension that hung around set despite everyone's best efforts to continue filming and the tension seems to come to a boiling point now. "I apologise," Lee Seol says first, his voice low, "I delayed filming due to my lack of preparation. I will come back as a better Yi San tomorrow." Your eyes flicker to Lee Seol's lap, where one of his hands is tightly clenched. If he is still the person you once knew, you know that his frustration is aimed solely towards himself. "I didn't choose the two of you as the leads because you played the childhood versions in the original drama," The director states calmly. "I saw your acting and I knew we could work together to create a show even better than the original," He continues, his voice quiet and yet deafening, "I believe you will agree with me, that even the shortest of scenes require you both to have a fundamental understanding of your characters and their emotions." "I want you two to go on a date tomorrow." [[Next|1.4M3]]

<<if $persona is "chic">>The need to find a hint of $hisher old self pushes you to keep talking. <<else>>You push forward, determined to break through the ice. <</if>>“How are you feeling about,” You trail off in favor of gesturing vaguely around you. “I’m very excited to be returning,” $Heshe says and it’s so perfectly rehearsed that you can’t help but laugh. $Hisher piercing eyes flicker back to look at you, finally displaying an emotion and it emboldens you. “That’s the fakest thing I’ve ever heard,” You scoff. “Are you saying my acting’s over the top?” Lee Seol asks, a dark brow arched. “Just now? Yes,” You say <<if $persona is "sweet">>with a bright smile<<elseif $persona is "tart">>with a smirk<<else>>as calmly as $himher<</if>>, unfazed by $hisher gaze. "Well, we'll see how well your acting stands up," $Heshe says with a coy smile as $heshe begins to walk away. “Lee Seol to set please,” echoes around the set, $hisher timing impeccable and hearing sensitive as always. You recognise what Lee Seol's words as a challenge and your own lips quirk upwards at the resurfacing of $hisher and your own competitive nature. <<if $persona is "chic">>Lee Seol hesitates before turning back to face you and you wish you could know what was going on in $hisher mind in the seconds it takes before $heshe meets your eyes. "I'm looking forward to acting with you again," $Heshe says warmly, $hisher voice like honey. You can't hide the smile that creeps onto your face. "I am too."<<else>>You can't help yourself and you reach out to touch $hisher shoulder before $heshe's out of reach. "I’m really happy to be working with you again," You say, hoping the sincerity in your eyes is visible to the one person who used to know your thoughts with just a single glance. Lee Seol pauses and you wish you could know what was going on in $hisher mind in the seconds it takes before $heshe meets your eyes warmly. "I am too."<</if>> [[Next|Ch1.3b]]

<<if $heshe is "he">>In a drama that's being live shot, a day of missed production will be repaid in double by the end of the drama. you're already not looking foward to how much more jam-packed the schedule will be but you're determined to make the best of things and enjoy your day off. Lee Seol doesn't seem to share the same sentiment. Their brows have been furrowed since you first met them this morning and you wouldn't be surprised if that was how they'd slept last night as well.

<<if $resp is "sarc">>"Oh, whatever would I do without my all-knowing manager," you exclaim as you step out and dramatically drape yourself over Sora's shoulders, "Such wisdom pouring out of your mouth, please teach me, old sage." <<elseif $resp is "sigh">>You sigh as you step out and lean against Sora, "I don't know what you mean."<<else>>You sigh as you step out and lean against Sora, as if swooning, "If only things were as simple as that, my fair manager."<</if>> Sora stumbles with the sudden addition of your weight and gives you a dirty look. For someone so health conscious, Sora is one of the weakest people you've ever met. She does everything, from taking dozens of vitamin pills daily to guzzling vitamin drinks like water, but you've never once seen her exercise. There is a beat before the two of you burst into laughter and make your way out of the dressing area. "Any plans for your day off? Or will you spend it missing me?" You ask, before you come to a stop. There, in front of you, is Lee Seol. Or well, the back of her. She seems to be making her way off the set as well, clad neatly in all-white. Sora pushes you forward, if her weak attempt can even be considered a push (it's more like a gentle breeze urging you forward). You try to shake off your inner sarcasm, and lightly pick up your pace as you go towards Lee Seol. "Seol-ah," You say instinctively, drawing on your childhood nickname for her. You're not sure who it surprises more, you or Lee Seol who's turned to look at you. Perhaps it's the surprise that drives you to say what you say next because you certainly have no explanation for it. "Let's go on a date." [[Next|Ch1.4F3]]

It is silent. You wonder if this is how protagonists in horror stories must feel, possessed by a spirit unkind enough to leave you alone to face the consequences of what they did. You’ve not yet had the chance to be in a horror movie but this seems like good experience. “Let’s do it,” Lee Seol says before you can explain yourself and you feel your heart skip a beat. <<set $robl to 0>><<set $rbold to 0>><<set $rshy to 0>> [[You go to her side, ignoring the way your heart races.|Ch1.4F4I][$robl +=1]] [[You go to her side, feeling your heart skip a beat for an unknown reason.|Ch1.4F4I][$robl +=1]] [[You go to her side, knowing exactly why your heart is racing|Ch1.4F4I][$rshy +=1]] [[You catch up to her and loop your arm around hers, ignoring the way your heart races.|Ch1.4F4O][$rbold +=1]] [[You catch up to her and loop your arm around hers, feeling your heart skip a beat for an unknown reason.|Ch1.4F4O][$robl +=1]] [[You catch up to her and loop your arm around hers, knowing exactly why your heart is racing|Ch1.4F4O][$bold +=1]]]

<<if $persona is "chic">> "It'll be nice to hang out outside of our characters," You say as you two make your way out. <<else>>"It'll be fun to hang out after all these years!" You say brightly as you two make your way out. <</if>> "A nice girls' day out," You feel compelled to add, just in case she misunderstood your words. Although... [[What do you mean? You just wanted to have a friendly outing with her, that's all.|Ch1.F5][$sex to "straight?"]] [[You wouldn't mind if she thought this was a date. You are attracted to women after all.|Ch1.F5][$sex to "gay"]] [[You wouldn't mind if she thought this was a date. You are attracted to both men and women after all.|Ch1.F5][$sex to "bi"]] [[You wouldn't mind if she thought this was a date. You are attracted to people after all.|Ch1.F5][$sex to "pan"]]

You cling to Lee Seol's side, your mind automatically making a note of the muscles you can feel in her arm. <<if $persona is "chic">> "It'll be nice to hang out outside of our characters," You say warmly as you two make your way out. <<else>>"It'll be fun to hang out after all these years!" You say brightly as you two make your way out. <</if>> "A nice girls' day out," You feel compelled to add, just in case she misunderstood your words. Although... [[What do you mean? You just wanted to have a friendly outing with her, that's all.|Ch1.F5][$sex to "straight?"]] [[You wouldn't mind if she thought this was a date. You are attracted to women after all.|Ch1.F5][$sex to "gay"]] [[You wouldn't mind if she thought this was a date. You are attracted to both men and women after all.|Ch1.F5][$sex to "bi"]] [[You wouldn't mind if she thought this was a date. You are attracted to people after all.|Ch1.F5][$sex to "pan"]]

Lee Seol stares at the ground, his head bowed. The two of you are the only ones left in the room and the silence is heavy. “I’m sorry for getting you involved. You shouldn’t be troubled due to my own faults,” He finally breaks the silence, lifting his head to look you in the eyes. <<if $persona is "chic">>“It’s no trouble,” You respond smoothly, “I want what’s best for this drama.” <<else>>“It’s no trouble,” You respond sincerely, “I want what’s best for this drama.”<</if>> “I suppose we should go into this in character. Play out how a date would go between Yi San and Deok Im if they were of our time…” Lee Seol trails off, a smile coming onto his face as if amused at the thought. It’s the first time you’ve seen him without a frown today and a part of you wants to keep him looking this way. “I’m in your hands,” He says. [[Next|1.4M3b]]

You step out of your car and make your way to one of the hottest shopping streets at the moment. XX-gil is the newest hot place on social media, with its plethora of cute little shops along a quaint, paved cobblestone road. Even on a weekday, you can see the bustling crowds made mostly of young women or young couples. Several people glance at you as you walk by but none approach to your immense relief. <<set $sus to 0>> What kind of cover up are you wearing today? [[A baseball cap|Ch1.4M4b]] [[A baseball cap and a face mask|Ch1.4M4b][$sus +=1]] [[A baseball cap, a face mask, and sunglasses|Ch1.4M4b][$sus +=2]] [[A face mask and sunglasses|Ch1.4M4b][$sus +=1]] [[A face mask|Ch1.4M4b]] [[A pair of sunglasses|Ch1.4M4b]]

"Did you have any ideas as to where you want to go?" Lee Seol asks. You hum as your mind flickers through options. There is your friend's new art exhibition that you've been meaning to go to but you've also been hearing a lot of this new trend of creating custom perfumes. Just this morning, your make-up artist had recommended a specific boutique after you'd noted a new pleasant aroma from her. "There's a shop where we can create our own perfumes. I can text you the details. How about meeting there at 10AM?" You say. "It's a date," Lee Seol agrees easily. [[Next|Ch1.4F6]]

!!The Next Day Your steps are light as you make your way to the boutique. You'd booked the entire shop for the two of you but it is located on one of the trendiest shopping streets of the moment and there are a fair number of people walking out and around. Several people glance at you as you walk by but none approach to your immense relief. You <<cycle "$fans" autoselect>> <<option "''usually love to interact with your fans but there's a time and place. You don't want to be distracted today.''" "love">> <<option "''are slowly becoming sick of the constant attention that fame brings you.''" "hate">> <<option "''have become used to dealing with attention over the years. It's a neccessity of the trade.''" "need">> <</cycle>> <<set $sus to 0>> What kind of cover up are you wearing today? [[A baseball cap|Ch1.4F6b]] [[A baseball cap and a face mask|Ch1.4F6b][$sus +=1]] [[A baseball cap, a face mask, and sunglasses|Ch1.4F6b][$sus +=2]] [[A face mask and sunglasses|Ch1.4F6b][$sus +=1]] [[A face mask|Ch1.4F6b]] [[A pair of sunglasses|Ch1.4F6b]]

And what are you wearing? [[A flowy sundress in your favourite colour, perfect for the summer weather|Ch1.4F6c]] [[A silk blouse and sleek pants, perfect for looking stylish and keeping cool|Ch1.4F6c]] [[An oversized top and shorts, comfortable and striking the perfect balance for the summer heat|Ch1.4F6c]] [[A sleeveless tank with a light weight shirt jacket and leggings, functional and chic|Ch1.4F6c]] [[A two-piece outfit that flatters your figure|Ch1.4F6c]]

How would you describe your closet? [[Expensive and trendy, filled with pieces from all of the famous luxury houses like Ch*nel, Lo*we, D*or|Ch1.4F7]] [[Eclectic, filled with a mix of trendy brands and lesser known but well made brands|Ch1.4F7]] [[Practical, you prefer quality above all, not caring for name brands simply for their name|Ch1.4F7]] [[You wouldn't be able to say, you don't quite care and leave much of that to your personal stylist|Ch1.4F7]]

You arrive at the boutique, a quaint little shop with facades in the French style, but you find your eyes drawn more to the person waiting in front. Lee Seol leans against the storefront, wearing a front tied button down with pants, a glimpse of her toned abs peeking through. She's wearing a pair of sunglasses, her gaze directed outward to the street but she turns and notices you. Pushing her sunglasses up onto her hair, Lee Seol breaks into an easy smile as the two of you meet halfway. "Hey, did you wait long?" You ask, taking your own adornments off. "No, I just got here a few minutes ago. Did you have breakfast?" She asks. [[You usually skip breakfast, it's a bad habit|CH1.4F8][$brek to "no"]] [[You usually skip breakfast, it's what works for you|CH1.4F8][$brek to "no"]] [[You had a coffee/tea if that counts|CH1.4F8][$brek to "no"]] [[You had a light breakfast, just the right amount to keep you feeling good and energised|CH1.4F8][$brek to "yes"]] [[You had a hearty breakfast, just the right amount to keep you feeling good and energised|CH1.4F8][$brek to "yes"]]

<<if $perf is "other">> "Lovely! I've had many friends make each other perfumes and it's a wonderful gift. Of course, we still want to cater to each other's preferences so why don't we go over which scent profiles the two of you prefer?" <<else>> "Lovely! I do find that people are very particular about scents and you know yourselves best. It'll still be a fun experience for the two of you! Why don't we go over the scent profiles the two of you prefer?" <</if>>The attendant says, gesturing to Lee Seol to go first. She takes a moment to think, "I'm partial to woody scents. I like smelling natural and clean. Although I guess I don't mind a touch of musk as well." What fragrances do you prefer? [[Fruity scents, such as peach, cherry, guava|Ch1.4F10][$perfs1 to "fruit"]] [[Floral scents, such as freesias, rose, jasmine|Ch1.4F10][$perfs1 to "flor"]] [[Herbal scents, such as vanilla, cinnamon, musk|Ch1.4F10][$perfs1 to "herb"]] [[Woody scents, such as sandalwood, cedar, vetiver|Ch1.4F10][$perfs1 to "wood"]] [[Fresh scents, such as citrus, bergamot, ocean|Ch1.4F10][$perfs1 to "fresh"]]

<<if $brek is "no">>"Oh, do you want a protein bar? It's the only thing I have unfortunately but it'll at least tide you over in the meantime," She says with concern, rummaging in her bag and pulling out a small bar. "I'm okay thanks, what about you?" You say with a soft shake of your head. <<else>> "Did you?" You ask in turn, and Lee Seol smiles. <</if>> "Of course. I even fit in a work out," she says as she playfully flexes her arm for you. You laugh as the two of you make your way into the shop, offhandedly noticing the tips of Lee Seol's ears turning pink. Inside, the shop is airy and light, with high ceilings and walls lined with a colourful assortment of scent bottles. The air is surprisingly neutral despite the display. "Hello! Welcome to Eau Du Lumi-ere," The shop attendant, a young woman who doesn't appear to be much older than you, exclaims while bowing. There's a slight stutter in her words and you see her eyes widen at the sight of the two of you. It's not an unexpected reaction and to her credit, she remains cheerfully professional other than her initial slip. "I understand that you've booked the full perfume making experience. If you'd like to put any of your personal belongings away, we have a closet just for you. Otherwise, let us get straight into it!" She says, guiding you two to a black table with numerous bottles racked, a miniature but no less diverse version of what decorates the walls. You rather feel as if you're scientists with all the beakers and such laid out in front of you. "Now, is this your first time?" The attendant asks and the two of you murmur your affirmations. "It'll be a wonderful experience, I'll help you along the way. Now, whenever I have friends come, I do ask if you would prefer to make your own scents or scents for each other?" Lee Seol and you look at each other, not having thought this far. She shrugs and so the decision comes to you. [['We'll make scents for each other.'|CH1.4F9][$perf to "other"]] [['We'll make our own scents.'|CH1.4F9][$perf to "own"]]

The art of perfume making is more involved than you thought, although the shop person is more than attentive to all of your needs and questions. The hour goes by quick as you and Lee Seol work on your perfumes with much trial and error, often getting distracted by each other. At one point, the two of you burst out into fits of laughter/coughs after you both take overly generous sniffs of an intensely spicy scent. At another point, you find yourselves laughing when seeing each other being overtly serious, sniffing your own arms to cleanse your palates ("Better than coffee grounds!" per the attendant). <<if $perf is "other">>The two of you made sure to try out different individual scents together, making sure you were on the same page. The final combination is still kept secret from each other for the element of surprise. <<else>><</if>> After much trial and error, the two of you finally have your custom made perfumes, placed in custom glassware to boot. <<if $perf is "own">>You spray your newly made perfume onto your wrists and rub it onto your neck and savor the aroma. <<if $perfs1 is "fruit">> A sweet scent wafts into your nose, as if you're enjoying a picnic on a bright, sunny day. <<elseif $perfs1 is "flor">>A delicate floral scent wafts into your nose, as if you're bathed in a shower of petals. <<elseif $perfs1 is "herb">>A warm, intoxicating scent wafts into your nose, as if you're holding a hot cup of tea in the middle of a snowstorm. <<elseif $perfs1 is "wood">>A deep, earthy scent wafts into your nose, as if you're standing in the middle of the mountains. <<else>>A delicate and almost crisp scent wafts into your nose, as if you're standing by the ocean.<</if>> A self-satisfied smile creeps onto your face and you turn to Lee Seol, "How does yours smell?" She looks to be in deep thought, a furrow creased in her brow as she sniffs her own wrist. "I like it. What do you think?" Lee Seol asks, leaning towards you. [[You take her extended wrist and bring it towards your face|Ch1.4F11w]] [[You lean into the crook of her extended neck|Ch1.4F11n][$rbold +=1]] <<else>>Lee Seol turns to you with a shy smile, extending her bottle to you, "I hope you like it. Be honest if you don't, I want to know." With your rapt audience of one, you spray your newly made perfume onto your wrists and rub it onto your neck and savor the aroma. <<if $perfs1 is "fruit">>A sweet scent wafts into your nose, as if you're enjoying a picnic on a bright, sunny day. <<elseif $perfs1 is "flor">>A delicate floral scent wafts into your nose, as if you're bathed in a shower of petals. <<elseif $perfs1 is "herb">>A warm, intoxicating scent wafts into your nose, as if you're holding a hot cup of tea in the middle of a snowstorm. <<elseif $perfs1 is "wood">>A deep, earthy scent wafts into your nose, as if you're standing in the middle of the mountains. <<else>>A delicate and almost crisp scent wafts into your nose, as if you're standing by the ocean.<</if>> It's <<cycle "$perfume" autoselect>> <<option "''amazing, exactly the kind of fragance you like to wear.''" "perfect">> <<option "''pretty good, but you like the careful thought Lee Seol put into making this more.''" "love">> <<option "''not bad but you don't know if you'd wear it if you didn't know Lee Seol had made it.''" "meh">> <</cycle>> "I appreciate it, really," You say warmly and it's as if a weight has lifted from her shoulders. You suddenly remember what the attendant had said a couple of minutes ago. Perfumes tended to smell differently on every person because of their unique natural scents. Sometimes, perfumes could transform, turning slightly spicy on one person and sweet on another. "You should smell it again," You offer, leaning in towards Lee Seol. [[You offer your wrist|Ch1.4F11w2][$rshy +=1]] [[You extend your neck to her|Ch1.4F11n2][$rbold +=1]] <</if>>

Your hand gently wraps around Lee Seol's wrist and you carefully bring it towards your face. A fresh greenness, akin to being in a lush forest, is the first thing you smell, which then deepens into a velvety aroma that envelopes your senses. Instinctively, your eyes close and you lean into the aroma more, stopping only once your lips hit a soft surface. You startle and come back to yourself, realising how you must look with your lips to Lee Seol's wrist. A quick glance upwards turns into something longer, as you find the woman staring at you with an undecipherable expression: not a smile but not a frown either, just... one of intense focus. The air around you feels heavy although not uncomfortable. Still, it leaves you unsure of how to return things back to they were. [[You wink. Screw it, go big or go home|Ch1.4F11wa][$rxn to "wink"]] [[You fluster and let go of her arm|Ch1.4F11wa][$rxn to "omg"]] [[You smoothly sit back up|Ch1.4F11wa][$rxn to "smooth"]]

You lean into the crook of her neck and take a breath. A fresh greenness, akin to being in a lush forest, is the first thing you smell, which then deepens into a velvety aroma that envelopes your senses. Instinctively, your eyes close and you lean into the aroma more, stopping only once your nose hits a soft surface. You feel more than see Lee Seol's shoulders tense for a split second before they relax and she leans in toward you as well. The perfume is the furthest thing from your mind now as you're tucked into the crook of Lee Seol's neck. It would be so easy for you to press your lips against the inviting skin of her neck and you wonder how she would feel, how she would react. Would she blush? Would her blush spread down to her neck? Questions swarm your mind and you feel heady, intoxicated. You startle and come back to yourself, realising how you must look. You rise back to your own chair but you find yourself freezing when you notice Lee Seol's gaze on you, her eyes mere centimeters away from your own. You can't tell what's going on in her mind and the air around you feels heavy. What do you do? [[You wink. Screw it, go big or go home|Ch1.4F11na][$rxn to "wink"]] [[You fluster and sit back up all the way|Ch1.4F11na][$rxn to "omg"]] [[You smoothly sit back up all the way|Ch1.4F11na][$rxn to "smooth"]]

Lee Seol gently grabs your wrist, her every action careful and measured. Her hand is calloused and warm, a sturdy weight on your arm. She leans forward, her thumb moving in tandem with her as it strokes the underside of your wrist. You find yourself holding your breath as Lee Seol takes in a breath, closing her eyes. You thank the world for their small mercies, spared from her gaze as she holds you in a strangely intimate grasp. "It smells lovely," she murmurs and her lips, soft and plush, brush against your skin. You wonder briefly why wrist kisses aren't more of a thing. <<if $past is "true">>You're no stranger to physical displays of affection given your past relationships with your co-stars but this seems far more romantic than open-mouthed kisses and embraces judging by the way your heart races.<<else>>You're no stranger to physical displays of affection given your staged relationships with your co-stars but this is romantic in a way that the past open-mouthed kisses and embraces weren't, judging by the way your heart races <</if>> You feel strangely flushed and you wonder if Lee Seol can't feel it, the bounding of your pulse underneath her lips. It is at this moment that she opens her eyes, staring right at you. What kind of expression are you wearing? You wish you could see how you look in Lee Seol's eyes but at the same time, you feel heady, intoxicated. Is this what it means to be devoured? Are the aromas getting to you? [[Next|Ch1.4F11w2a]]

Lee Seol gently grabs your wrist, her every action careful and measured. Her hand is calloused and warm, a sturdy weight on your arm. She leans forward, her hand simultaneously pulling you closer to her. You find yourself holding your breath as Lee Seol takes in a breath. There's a part of you that's torn between relief that Lee Seol cannot see your face and disappointment that you cannot see her face. She holds you in a dangerously intimate embrace and all of a sudden, you realise the allure of vampire romances. Your thoughts are spiraling and you try to calm down the racing of your heart. Can she feel it, can she feel the thrumming of your pulse so close to her face? "It smells lovely," she murmurs, her warm breath tickling your throat. You can't suppress the small chills that come over your body. <<if $sex is "straight?" and $past is "true">>You're not inexperienced when it comes to relationships but you find yourself reeling out of your depth in this moment. Why is your heart racing for her? Is it just the vulnerability of this position? <<elseif $robl gte 1 and $sex is not "straight?">>You find yourself reeling out of your depth in this moment. Why is your heart racing for her? Is it just the vulnerability of this position? <<else>>You find yourself reeling out of your depth in this moment, overwhelmed with sensations.<</if>> It feels as though the two of you are frozen in time, the grains of time pausing for this brief moment of eternity. [[Next|Ch1.4F11n2a]]

<<if $rxn is "wink" and $persona is "chic">>You wink at Lee Seol, not knowing what's gotten into you. You sit back up and try to regain your composure, "It's nice. I like it." "Would you like to smell mine?" You offer. <<elseif $rxn is "wink" and $persona is "tart">>You wink at Lee Seol as you sit back up, "It's nice but I like mine better." "Try it!" You offer. <<elseif $rxn is "wink" and $persona is "sweet">>You wink at Lee Seol as you sit back up, "It's nice! Do you want to smell mine?" <<elseif $rxn is "omg" and $persona is "chic">>You're not sure what's gotten into you but you feel hot. You sit back up and try to regain your composure, "It's nice. I like it." "Would you like to smell mine?" You offer. <<elseif $rxn is "omg" and $persona is "tart">>You feel hot but you try to play it off as you sit back up and tease, "It's nice but I like mine better." "Try it!" You offer. <<elseif $rxn is "omg" and $persona is "sweet">>You feel hot but you try to play it off with a smile as you sit back up, "It's nice! Do you want to smell mine?" <<elseif $rxn is "smooth" and $persona is "chic">>You smoothly get back up, not betraying any of your inner emotions as you politely say, "It's nice. I like it." "Would you like to smell mine?" You offer. <<elseif $rxn is "smooth" and $persona is "tart">>You smoothly get back up, not betraying any of your inner emotions as you tease, "It's nice but I like mine better." "Try it!" You offer. <<elseif $rxn is "smooth" and $persona is "sweet">>You smoothly get back up, not betraying any of your inner emotions as you brightly say, "It's nice! Do you want to smell mine?" <</if>> Lee Seol gently grabs your wrist, her every action careful and measured. Her hand is calloused and warm, a sturdy weight on your arm. She leans forward, her thumb moving in tandem with her as it strokes the underside of your wrist. You find yourself holding your breath as Lee Seol takes in a breath, closing her eyes. You thank the world for their small mercies, spared from her gaze as she holds you in a strangely intimate grasp. "It smells lovely," she murmurs and her lips, soft and plush, brush against your skin. You wonder briefly why wrist kisses aren't more of a thing. <<if $past is "true">>You're no stranger to physical displays of affection given your past relationships with your co-stars but this seems far more romantic than open-mouthed kisses and embraces judging by the way your heart races.<<else>>You're no stranger to physical displays of affection given your staged relationships with your co-stars but this is romantic in a way that the past open-mouthed kisses and embraces weren't, judging by the way your heart races <</if>> You feel strangely flushed and you wonder if Lee Seol can't feel it, the bounding of your pulse underneath her lips. It is at this moment that she opens her eyes, staring right at you. What kind of expression are you wearing? You wish you could see how you look in Lee Seol's eyes but at the same time, you feel heady, intoxicated. Is this what it means to be devoured? Are the aromas getting to you? The moment shatters when Lee Seol clears her throat, sitting back up in her chair. "It's nice," Lee Seol says, looking away, "You did a goob job." You murmur your thanks and the two of you sit in silence. [[Next|Ch1.4F12]]

The moment shatters when Lee Seol clears her throat, sitting back up in her chair. "She was right, it does smell different on you," Lee Seol says, looking away, "It's nice." You murmur your thanks and the two of you sit in silence. It leaves you unsure of how to return things back to they were until you remember the scent you made for her. "Oh, you should try yours. I used that cashmere wood scent you really liked as the base tone," you offer the bottle and now it is her turn to spray the perfume on her pulse points. She takes a deep breath in and the corners of her lips perk upwards. "Thank you. It's better than I imagined," She says, finally turning to look back at you with a coy smile, "Would you like to smell it?" [[Next|Ch1.4F11w2b]]

Your hand gently wraps around Lee Seol's wrist and you carefully bring it towards your face.A fresh greenness, akin to being in a lush forest, is the first thing you smell, which then deepens into a velvety aroma that envelopes your senses. Instinctively, your eyes close and you lean into the aroma more. You see what Lee Seol and the attendant meant; you were the one to create this scent but it seems to have transformed on her skin, smelling intoxicating. There's a small part of you that wants to affect Lee Seol as much as she did you, so you open your eyes to lock with hers and deliberately brush the soft underside of her wrist with your lips. Her skin is soft in contrast with the callouses on her hands and you fight the urge to nuzzle your cheek against it. There's an indecipherable expression on Lee Seol's face, not a smile but not a frown either, just... one of intense focus. You're not sure if it's your own imagination or desires playing tricks on you but you see a faint brush of pink along her cheeks. [[You wink. Screw it, go big or go home|Ch1.4F11w2c][$rxn to "wink"]] [[You fluster and let go of her arm|Ch1.4F11w2c][$rxn to "omg"]] [[You smoothly sit back up|Ch1.4F11w2c][$rxn to "smooth"]]

"Alright, here are your gift boxes and bags!" A voice breaks through the silence and the two of you turn guiltily around, as if caught. The shop attendant walks towards you with the mentioned packaging and a large smile. "I hope you had a wonderful time here at Eau De Lumiere," she bows and you both bow back in turn, thanking her. As you get your belongings back from the closet, your mind reels with the events that transpired. You're not entirely sure what just happened. Before you can leave, you're stopped by the door. "Um, could I get your autographs? I don't want to bother but I'm such a big fan!" The woman says, her cheeks bright red as she holds a notepad in her hands like an offering. [[You agree and even take a photo with her and Lee Seol|1.4F13][$med +=1]] [[You agree, taking turns with Lee Seol|1.4F13][$med +=1]] [[You politely decline, walking out with Lee Seol|1.4F13]]

<<if $rxn is "wink" and $persona is "chic">>You wink at Lee Seol, not knowing what's gotten into you. You take a split second to regain your composure before you sit back up, "It's nice. I'm glad you like it." "Would you like to smell mine?" You offer.<<elseif $rxn is "wink" and $persona is "tart">>You wink at Lee Seol as you sit back up, "It's nice but I like mine better." "Try it!" You offer.<<elseif $rxn is "wink" and $persona is "sweet">>You wink at Lee Seol as you sit back up, "It's nice! Do you want to smell mine?"<<elseif $rxn is "omg" and $persona is "chic">>You're not sure what's gotten into you but you feel hot. You sit back up and try to regain your composure, "It's nice. I like it." "Would you like to smell mine?" You offer.<<elseif $rxn is "omg" and $persona is "tart">>You feel hot but you try to play it off as you sit back up and tease, "It's nice but I like mine better." "Try it!" You offer.<<elseif $rxn is "omg" and $persona is "sweet">>You feel hot but you try to play it off with a smile as you sit back up, "It's nice! Do you want to smell mine?"<<elseif $rxn is "smooth" and $persona is "chic">>You smoothly get back up, not betraying any of your inner emotions as you politely say, "It's nice. I like it." "Would you like to smell mine?" You offer.<<elseif $rxn is "smooth" and $persona is "tart">>You smoothly get back up, not betraying any of your inner emotions as you tease, "It's nice but I like mine better." "Try it!" You offer.<<elseif $rxn is "smooth" and $persona is "sweet">>You smoothly get back up, not betraying any of your inner emotions as you brightly say, "It's nice! Do you want to smell mine?"<</if>> <<if $robl gte 1>>You're not quite sure what just happened. The thoughts that had entered your mind seem foreign and you try to shake them off. An hour spent full of smelling various strong scents must be getting to you. <<else>><</if>> Lee Seol gently grabs your wrist, her every action careful and measured. Her hand is calloused and warm, a sturdy weight on your arm. She leans forward, her hand simultaneously pulling you closer to her. You find yourself holding your breath as Lee Seol takes in a breath. There's a part of you that's torn between relief that Lee Seol cannot see your face and disappointment that you cannot see her face. You want to know if this closeness affects her as much as it did you. She holds you in a dangerously intimate embrace and all of a sudden, you realise the allure of vampire romances. Your thoughts are spiraling again and you try to calm down the racing of your heart. Can she feel it, can she feel the thrumming of your pulse so close to her face? "It smells lovely," she murmurs, her warm breath tickling your throat. You can't suppress the small chills that come over your body. <<if $sex is "straight?" and $past is "true">>You're not inexperienced when it comes to relationships but you find yourself reeling out of your depth in this moment. Why is your heart racing for her? Is it just the vulnerability of this position? <<elseif $robl gte 1 >>You find yourself reeling out of your depth in this moment. Why is your heart racing for her? Is it just the vulnerability of this position? <<else>>You find yourself reeling out of your depth in this moment, overwhelmed with sensations.<</if>> It feels as though the two of you are frozen in time, the grains of time pausing for this brief moment of eternity. The moment shatters when Lee Seol clears her throat, sitting back up in her chair. "It's nice," Lee Seol says, looking away, "You did a goob job." You murmur your thanks and the two of you sit in silence. [[Next|Ch1.4F12]]

You lean into the crook of her neck and take a breath. A fresh greenness, akin to being in a lush forest, is the first thing you smell, which then deepens into a velvety aroma that envelopes your senses. Instinctively, your eyes close and you lean into the aroma more. You see what Lee Seol and the attendant meant; you were the one to create this scent but it seems to have transformed on her skin, smelling intoxicating. You feel more than see Lee Seol's shoulders tense for a split second before they relax and she leans in toward you as well. There's a small part of you that wants to affect Lee Seol as much as she did you. The perfume is the furthest thing from your mind now as you're tucked into the crook of Lee Seol's neck. It would be so easy for you to press your lips against the inviting skin of her neck and you wonder how she would feel, how she would react. Would she blush? Would her blush spread down to her neck? Questions swarm your mind and you feel heady, intoxicated. You startle and come back to yourself, realising how you must look. You rise back to your own chair but you find yourself freezing when you notice Lee Seol's gaze on you, her eyes mere centimeters away from your own. You can't tell what's going on in her mind and the air around you feels heavy. What do you do? [[You wink. Screw it, go big or go home|Ch1.4F11n2c][$rxn to "wink"]] [[You fluster and sit back up all the way|Ch1.4F11n2c][$rxn to "omg"]] [[You smoothly sit back up all the way|Ch1.4F11n2c][$rxn to "smooth"]]

And what are you wearing? [[A flowy sundress in your favourite colour, perfect for the summer weather|Ch1.4M4c]] [[A silk blouse and sleek pants, perfect for looking stylish and keeping cool|Ch1.4M4c]] [[An oversized top and shorts, comfortable and striking the perfect balance for the summer heat|Ch1.4M4c]] [[A sleeveless tank with a light weight shirt jacket and leggings, functional and chic|Ch1.4M4c]] [[A two-piece outfit that flatters your figure|Ch1.4M4c]]

How would you describe your closet? [[Expensive and trendy, filled with pieces from all of the famous luxury houses like Ch*nel, Lo*we, D*or|Ch1.4M5]] [[Eclectic, filled with a mix of trendy brands and lesser known but well made brands|Ch1.4M5]] [[Practical, you prefer quality above all, not caring for name brands simply for their name|Ch1.4M5]] [[You wouldn't be able to say, you don't quite care and leave much of that to your personal stylist|Ch1.4M5]]

Even with the crowd, you find Lee Seol within seconds. He cuts an imposing figure, a head above most others, the length of his legs highlighted with his light trousers. Although a baseball cap and face mask strategically cover most of his facial features, you can see more than a few appreciative glances in his direction. His gaze roams around the street before it settles on you and you see a smile light up his face. You remind yourself that this is all for show before you immerse yourself into the adventurous and bright role of Deok-Im and //become// her. <<set $robl to 0>><<set $rbold to 0>><<set $rshy to 0>> [[You catch up to him and loop your arm around his, ignoring the way your heart races.|1.4M6][$robl +=1]] [[You catch up to him and loop your arm around his, feeling your heart skip a beat for an unknown reason.|1.4M6][$robl +=1]] [[You catch up to him and loop your arm around his, knowing exactly why your heart is racing|1.4M6]]

!!THE NEXT DAY You fidget in your seat as you get closer to the meeting point. <<cycle "$mact" autoselect>> <<option "''You're not really a method actor although you're open to giving it a shot.''" "no">> <<option "''You're not a stranger to method acting, having used it for several roles in the past.''" "some">> <<option "''You usually rely on method acting to truly become your characters.''" "yes">> <</cycle>> Regardless of your experience with method acting, you've never done so with Lee Seol as your partner, not to mention you'll be in public, when a single move could have you mobbed by a crowd of fans. [[You usually love to interact with your fans but there's a time and place. You don't want to be distracted today.|1.4M4][$fan to "love"]] [[You are slowly becoming sick of the constant attention that fame brings you.|1.4M4][$fan to "hate"]] [[You have become used to dealing with attention over the years. It's a neccessity of the trade|1.4M4][$fan to "need"]]

<<if $brek is "no">>"Should we go to a brunch place first?" He says with concern, scanning the surroundings. "I'm okay at the moment, what about you?" You say with a soft shake of your head. “I’m good but let me know if your mind changes,” He says and you make your way into the crowd.<<else>> "Did you?" You ask in turn, and Lee Seol smiles. “I did,” He answers, and you make your way into the crowd.<</if>> The two of you spend the next twenty minutes or so, exploring the shopping street, window shopping and occasionally going into boutiques with cute little accessories. Although Lee Seol tries to buy everything you spend more than a second looking at, nothing quite strikes your fancy and you take a break, pausing in front of a busker already circled by a significant crowd. He croons a soft melody while strumming the strings of an acoustic guitar and you fall silent. You find yourself lost in the wistful lyrics longing for a love long lost and then your eyes stray to the one beside you. Lee Seol has a serious look on his face, a small furrow in his brow as if he is listening to a didactic lecture and not a love song. "Excuse me," You hear and the two of you turn around, broken from your reverie. A young woman stands in front of you, a group of presumed friends not too far off, whispering amongst each other with their phones pulled out. Your blood chills- Have your covers been blown so soon onto your “date?” [[Speed walk away before this turns into a spectacle|1.4M8S]] [[Grab Lee Seol’s hand and sprint away|1.4M8B][$sus +=1]]

Clinging to Lee Seol's side, your mind automatically makes a note of the muscles you can feel in his arm. You turn your face up towards him, beaming, "Did you wait long?" "No, I just got here a few minutes ago," Lee Seol (Yi San) murmurs warmly, "Did you have breakfast?" [[You usually skip breakfast, it's a bad habit|CH1.4M7][$brek to "no"]] [[You usually skip breakfast, it's what works for you|CH1.4M7][$brek to "no"]] [[You had a coffee/tea if that counts|CH1.4M7][$brek to "no"]] [[You had a light breakfast, just the right amount to keep you feeling good and energised|CH1.4M7][$brek to "yes"]] [[You had a hearty breakfast, just the right amount to keep you feeling good and energised|CH1.4M7][$brek to "yes"]]

You don't think, you just act. Grabbing Lee Seol's hand tightly in yours, you rush away from the scene. You look back once, just to make sure he's following you, and your heart stutters. His hair is flying in the wind and his eyes are lit up with a mischievous gleam. Your lips can't help but quirk upwards, matching his pure, unrestrained glee. He lets out a whoop as the two make your merry escape. Once you're far enough away, you slip into a nondescript shop at the corner of a street. Your hands fall apart as you focus on catching your breath and now that you have time to think, you belatedly realise your actions probably drew more attention to yourselves than Lee Seol doesn't seem winded, merely laughing, his whole face opening in a way that makes your hands itch for a pencil, a paintbrush, a camera, whatever to capture this moment. A cough has the two of you stiffen as you look towards the source of the interruption, worried that you have fallen into yet another predicament. A group of high schoolers stand around a mirror, staring at you. One of them has a streak of red lip tint from the corner of her mouth to her cheek, the lip wand still in her hand. “Oh no! Your foundation!” A girl gasps and the suspense breaks as the three of them turn back around to their mirror, fussing around with tissues. You and Lee Seol bite back your laughter and go to the other side of the shop, which you realise is actually one of the popular Photo Booth pop-ups that have been appearing everywhere. There are tables and walls with every sort of accessory you could imagine from comically large sunglasses to animal ears to wigs. This would be a good opportunity to test your chemistry, you realise, especially considering your upcoming photoshoots together. Lee Seol seems to be of the same mind and the two of you slip into one of the two open photo booths, still wary of the girls in the shop. [[Next|1.4M9]]

Your sole focus is hightailing it out of here and you trust Lee Seol to be doing the same. You can feel him at your side, matching your pace before he grabs your hand loosely and tugs you forward. He breaks out into a light jog, his hand warm in yours as he turns to you with a boyish grin. His hair is flying in the wind and his eyes are lit up with a mischievous gleam. You can feel your heart racing with more than just excitement as your lips quirk upwards, reflecting his glee. Once you're far enough away, you slip into a nondescript shop at the corner of a street. Your hands fall apart as you focus on catching your breath and now that you have time to think, you belatedly realise you probably attracted a lot more attention by fleeing. Lee Seol doesn't seem winded, merely laughing, his whole face opening in a way that makes your hands itch for a pencil, a paintbrush, a camera, whatever to capture this moment. A cough has the two of you stiffen as you look towards the source of the interruption, worried that you have fallen into yet another predicament. A group of high schoolers stand around a mirror, staring at you. One of them has a streak of red lip tint from the corner of her mouth to her cheek, the lip wand still in her hand. “Oh no! Your foundation!” A girl gasps and the suspense breaks as the three of them turn back around to their mirror, fussing around with tissues. You and Lee Seol bite back your laughter and go to the other side of the shop, which you realise is actually one of the popular Photo Booth pop-ups that have been appearing everywhere. There are tables and walls with every sort of accessory you could imagine from comically large sunglasses to animal ears to wigs. This would be a good opportunity to test your chemistry, you realise, especially considering your upcoming photoshoots together. Lee Seol seems to be of the same mind and the two of you slip into one of the two open photo booths, still wary of the girls in the shop. [[Next|1.4M9]]

As you leave the perfume shop, the two of you head to a near by cafe run by one of Lee Seol's friends. While they offer to close the cafe so that you can enjoy your privacy, you opt to go for one of the corner booths with the owner promising to keep other customers away. Having finished a delightful lunch, you sit with a cup of <<cycle "$drink" autoselect>> <<option "''tea''" "tea">> <<option "''coffee''" "coffee">> <<option "''juice''" "juice">> <</cycle>> in addition to an assortment of desserts. "It's a shame we aren't in more scenes together. It's been nice reconnecting with you," Lee Seol says and takes a bite of the key lime tart, her eyes and nose scrunching up in delight. You watch her, a small part of you relieved that she still seems to have a taste for sour things. Even as a kid, she was the epitome of decorum and yet, you found out that she could never say no when you offered her sour candy. "What made you decide to take the role?" You ask, interested in her answer, "I was surprised to hear that they'd gotten rid of your old character." "Hmm," she murmurs contemplatively, putting her fork down and placing her chin on her interlaced hands "I never quite liked my old character's story line. Her sole purpose was to antagonise you. Or rather, they cut out any scenes that suggested otherwise..." "When the writer said that she had ideas for a significantly different story, I was intrigued. And when I was promised the opportunity to work together with the writer and director in order to build my character as the script is being written, they had me," she shrugs simply before turning the question on you, "What about you? What made you decide to play Deok Im again?" <<if $felt is "ugh" or $felt is "aah">><span class="greyedOut">"I was excited to," You say.</span><<else>>[["I was excited to," You say.|1.4F14][$feeling to "yay"]]<</if>> <<if $felt is "yay">><span class="greyedOut">"I was excited to," You lie.</span><<else>>[["I was excited to," You lie.|1.4F14b][$feeling to "lie"]]<</if>> [["It seemed like a good opportunity," You shrug.|1.4F14][$feeling to "ok"]] <<if $felt is "yay">><span class="greyedOut">"I didn't want to," You admit.</span><<else>>[["I didn't want to," You admit.|1.4F14c][$feeling to "nty"]]<</if>>

The booth itself isn't cramped but it is small enough that your shoulders press together. You're close enough you can feel the heat of his body, smell his cologne, a fresh greenness that deepens into a velvety aroma. "Have you done this before?" Lee Seol asks. "No but we just have to pose, right?" You say nonchalantly, pressing the button. Immediately, a countdown appears on the screen and panic overwhelms you at the lack of preparation afforded to you by the machine. Lee Seol looks as flustered as you do, eyes wide and mouth open. Three... Two... One.. You have a split second to regain your composure and give the camera your best dazzling smile. //Click~// There's no time to waste because as soon as the first picture is taken, the timer for the second photo begins. "A heart," Lee Seol hurriedly suggests. You put your hand against your cheek to make the trending cheek heart pose, only to see him put his arm over his head. It's an old and slightly dorky pose but you frantically match him, the two of you unable to keep in your giggles at how silly this entire situation is. //Click~// "Match me," You say, going back to the cheek heart that the paparazzi loves to ask actors to do. You slip your right hand into his arm while your left hand makes a heart with your cheek. Lee Seol matches you now, your heads leaning towards each other. //Click~// The countdown for the final photo begins and you've run out of ideas. You look towards Lee Seol in hopes he might have one but he looks as lost as you imagine you do. There's no time and you act on impulse: [[Go big or go home. Kiss his cheek|1.4M10k]] [[Continue to stare helplessly at him|1.4M10h]]

You surge forward on your tiptoes, balancing yourself on his shoulder and kissing him on his cheek. His skin is smooth underneath your lips and you feel almost heady, your senses enveloped by the intoxicating scent of his cologne and his warmth. You're pressed against his left arm and you wonder if he can feel the racing of your heart, if his heart is similarly fast. //Click~// The shutter sound of the camera returns you to reality and you slink back down onto the heels of your feet. "Was that okay?" You ask, concern rising up as you realise the two of you had never discussed physical boundaries when agreeing to method act as your characters. Truth be told, you're not quite sure if Deok Im or you were the one to kiss Lee Seol but regardless, you are the one who has to deal with the consequences of what happened. "Yeah," Lee Seol finally says, and you look up to him to see his face turned away, the tips of his ears pink. Could this be a sign that your kiss affected him as much as it did you, or is he merely acting the part of a king head over heels in love? There's a whirring sound and you both turn towards the machine, where three strips fall into the open slot. Lee Seol is quicker to the grab, handing you two of them before he also inspects his copy. "It turned out well," He says smoothly, seeming to have returned to himself. [[Next|1.4M10k2]]

You examine the strips: The first photo has the two of you smiling straight ahead at the camera, shoulder to shoulder. There's no denying the two of you look good, even with the lack of preparation, but for all intents and purposes, you may as well have been taking class photos with how stiff you guys are. The second photo looks much more natural, caught in mid laughter as you two form a heart with your arms above your head. The third photo looks more composed although still lovey-dovey with the two of you with your heads angled toward each other as you both form hearts with your hands and your cheeks. The fourth photo has you kissing Lee Seol's cheek as he smiles bashfully. You're not sure if you can see the faintest hint of a blush on his face but you cease your examination, and walk out of the photo booth with Lee Seol. "Ah, that was fun!" You say brightly, "Where to next?" "Follow me," Lee Seol says and you do so. What do you do with the remaining copy of your photographs before you leave? [[Throw it away in the waste bin|1.4M11][$photo to "trash"]] [[Keep it. You'll figure it out later|1.4M11][$photo to "keep"]]

Mutually deciding to leave behind your characters, the two of you have lunch at a smaller cafe, hidden in the nook of a side street. It'd be easy to call up one of your friends to have a more private lunch at one of their restaurants but perhaps it is the lingering thrill of playing incognito or the knowledge that doing so would cause the news to ripple in your social circles that stops you from doing so. As it is, you sit together in one of the corner tables, your back to the admittedly minimal amount of customers. Having finished your lunch, you sit with a cup of <<cycle "$drink" autoselect>> <<option "''tea''" "tea">> <<option "''coffee''" "coffee">> <<option "''juice''" "juice">> <</cycle>> in addition to a small assortment of desserts. "Thank you again for indulging me in this exercise," Lee Seol says, "I personally find method acting helps me hone in on my characters' feelings but I know it's not for everyone." "Of course,"<<if "mact" is "yes">> "I like method acting as well, and it was nice to act with you," You say.<<else>> "I don't usually do this but it was nice to get to act with you," You say. <</if>> "Did you think you'd ever play Deok Im again?" He takes a bit of the key lime tart afterwards and you lose focus for a second, remembering his penchant for sour flavours. Even as a kid, he was the epitome of decorum and yet you'd found out that he could never say no when you offered him sour candy. <<if $felt is "ugh" or $felt is "aah">><span class="greyedOut">"I was excited to," You say.</span><<else>>[["I was excited to," You say.|1.4M12][$feeling to "yay"]]<</if>> <<if $felt is "yay">><span class="greyedOut">"I was excited to," You lie.</span><<else>>[["I was excited to," You lie.|1.4M12b][$feeling to "lie"]]<</if>> [["Not really but it seemed like a good opportunity," You shrug.|1.4M12][$feeling to "ok"]] <<if $felt is "yay">><span class="greyedOut">"No, I didn't want to," You admit.</span><<else>>[["No, I didn't want to," You admit.|1.4M12c][$feeling to "nty"]]<</if>>

Lee Seol stares at you and you wish you could see into his mind, see how he's seeing you, when he lifts a hand to your face. Time slows down and you are suddenly aware of each and every breath you take, each beat of your heart that seems to reverberate in the space between you. Slowly, deliberately, he tucks a wisp of hair behind your right ear. His touch is soft, delicate, just barely gracing your skin. You feel strangely exposed, bare before his gaze, all traces of Deok Im vanished. You look anywhere except his eyes, taking note of the smooth planes of his cheeks, the small beauty mark that hides among his eyelashes, unfairly long and curly. You’re so close that you could lean in, and your lips would be touching. Just like that. //Click~// Lee Seol's hand slips away, although you remain facing each other in a strange silence. "Was that okay?" He says and you’re not sure whether it is Lee Seol or Yi San asking. "Yeah," you say and you’re not sure who’s answering. There's a whirring sound and you both turn towards the machine, where three strips fall into the open slot. Lee Seol is quicker to the grab, handing you two of them before he also inspects his copy. "It turned out well," He says smoothly, seeming to have returned to himself. [[Next|1.4M10h2]]

You examine the strips: The first photo has the two of you smiling straight ahead at the camera, shoulder to shoulder. There's no denying the two of you look good, even with the lack of preparation, but for all intents and purposes, you may as well have been taking class photos with how stiff you guys are. The second photo looks much more natural, caught in mid laughter as you two form a heart with your arms above your head. The third photo looks more composed although still lovey-dovey with the two of you with your heads angled toward each other as you both form hearts with your hands and your cheeks. The fourth photo looks strangely intimate despite its simplicity. The two of you stare at each other as if the camera was invisible, as if you are the only two people in the world. You cease your examination and walk out of the photo booth with Lee Seol. "Ah, that was fun!" You say brightly, "Where to next?" "Follow me," Lee Seol says and you do so. What do you do with the remaining copy of your photographs before you leave? [[Throw it away in the waste bin|1.4M11][$photo to "trash"]] [[Keep it. You'll figure it out later|1.4M11][$photo to "keep"]]

<<if $feeling is "lie" and $felt is "aah">>“I was excited to play Deok Im again and the new script was compelling,” You lie smoothly. There’s a part of you that doesn’t want to admit how anxious you were about the role, the sleepless nights you spent pondering whether or not to take the role, in fear of being unable to live up to the past actress’s portrayal. You don’t think Lee Seol would judge you but still, you find yourself hesitant to share your true feelings. Lee Seol looks at you with an inscrutable expression before her gaze slips down to her drink. She clutches her coffee cup with her fingers tapping around the rim. "That's brave of you... I don't think I could feel the same if I were in your position. It's easier in a way to be playing a completely new character," She finally says and you feel a twinge of remorse at the sincerity in her words. "Don't pay my words any mind," Lee Seol's shoulders straighten as she takes a deep breath and then laughs, "I'm just rambling at this point. I feel so old." The air feels light again and you take advantage of the change in topic she offers, protesting, "You're only two years older than me!" "Hey, I'm still your senior," She jokes and you groan. The first week on set as a kid, you'd taken to relentlessly calling Lee Seol your senior after your friends had insisted that you do so ("She's famous! Even if she seems nice, all famous people are super touchy about their titles, I promise."). In your inexperience, you'd also followed her around everywhere to the point that you'd started to (unconsciously or consciously) mimic their actions. <<elseif $feeling is "lie" and $felt is "ugh">>“I was excited to play Deok Im again and the new script was compelling,” You lie smoothly. The filming is going by smoothly now but you don’t want to admit that you didn’t want to accept the role in the first place, that your company basically strong-armed you. You don’t think Lee Seol would judge you but you can never be too careful. Lee Seol looks at you with an inscrutable expression before her gaze slips down to her drink. She clutches her coffee cup with her fingers tapping around the rim. "That's brave of you... I don't think I could feel the same if I were in your position. It's easier in a way to be playing a completely new character," She finally says and you feel a twinge of remorse at the sincerity in her words. What would she think of your true feelings? "Don't pay my words any mind," Lee Seol's shoulders straighten as she takes a deep breath and then laughs, "I'm just rambling at this point. I feel so old." The air feels light again and you take advantage of the change in topic she offers, protesting, "You're only two years older than me!" "Hey, I'm still your senior," She jokes and you groan. The first week on set as a kid, you'd taken to relentlessly calling Lee Seol your senior after your friends had insisted that you do so ("She's famous! Even if she seems nice, all famous people are super touchy about their titles, I promise."). In your inexperience, you'd also followed her around everywhere to the point that you'd started to (unconsciously or consciously) mimic their actions. <<else>><</if>> “It was cute,” She insists at your unimpressed gaze, “I still remember that <<if $past is "ext">>bright girl on the first day of set.<<else>>shy girl on the first day of set.<</if>>” You wonder what Lee Seol makes of the grown you, if she still sees you as that young kid on set, if she’s noticed any differences, if she likes the differences she sees. You put those thoughts aside to retort, “And I still remember how you treated me like a dog.” “Hey, I wasn’t around a lot of kids my age, let alone someone younger than me,” She responds in what could almost be a pout, the sight causing the corners of your own lips to quirk upward. [[Pat her head|1.4F15][$pat to "yes"]] [[Lee Seol reaches out|1.4F15][$pat to "no"]]

<<if $feeling is "yay">>“I was excited to play Deok Im again and the new script was compelling. In some ways, it felt like I was returning to my roots,” You admit with a small smile. When you don't hear a response, you look up and catch Lee Seol staring at you, her eyes inscrutable before she smiles softly. "You're braver than I am... I don't know that I could have done the same if I were in your position," she admits, looking down at her coffee cup where her fingers tap at the edges, "It's easier in a way to be playing a completely new character." It may or may not have crossed your mind when you took the role, but the sincerity in her words has you feeling flushed. You murmur your thanks before taking a sip of your drink as an excuse for your own suddenly restless hands to do something. "I feel like I was willing to risk more when I was younger. I took nearly every role that was offered to me because I just wanted to act, no matter the role. I think I lost that somewhere along the way and now I’m searching for that again.” The older actress had always seemed untouchable from the moment you’d first met her as a little kid, with her years of experience in the industry. Then the two of you had become friends before drifting apart and even then, she had never been easily ruffled, not when it came to filming or presenting or conversing with older executives. Before you can respond, her shoulders straighten as she takes a deep breath and then laughs, "Don't mind me, I'm just rambling at this point. I feel so old." You laugh with her and protest, "You're only two years older than me!" "Hey, I'm still your senior," She jokes and you groan. The first week on set as a kid, you'd taken to relentlessly calling Lee Seol your senior after your friends had insisted that you do so ("She's famous! Even if she seems nice, all famous people are super touchy about their titles, I promise."). In your inexperience, you'd also followed her around everywhere to the point that you'd started to (unconsciously or consciously) mimic their actions.<<elseif $feeling is "ok">>”It seemed like a good opportunity,” You shrug. You’re enjoying acting as Deok Im now but honestly, you didn’t think much one way or the other when the role was first offered to you. "You're brave," She laughs without ill will at your nonchalance, "I wonder, is it your young energy that makes you so brave? I don't know that I could do the same if I were in your position. You laugh with her and protest, "You're only two years older than me!" "Hey, I'm still your senior," She jokes and you groan. The first week on set as a kid, you'd taken to relentlessly calling Lee Seol your senior after your friends had insisted that you do so ("She's famous! Even if she seems nice, all famous people are super touchy about their titles, I promise."). In your inexperience, you'd also followed her around everywhere to the point that you'd started to (unconsciously or consciously) mimic their actions. <<else>><</if>> “It was cute,” She insists at your unimpressed gaze, “I still remember that <<if $past is "ext">>bright girl on the first day of set.<<else>>shy girl on the first day of set.<</if>>” You wonder what Lee Seol makes of the grown you, if she still sees you as that young kid on set, if she’s noticed any differences, if she likes the differences she sees. You put those thoughts aside to retort, “And I still remember how you treated me like a dog.” “Hey, I wasn’t around a lot of kids my age, let alone someone younger than me,” She responds in what could almost be a pout, the sight causing the corners of your own lips to quirk upward. [[Pat her head|1.4F15][$pat to "yes"]] [[Lee Seol reaches out|1.4F15][$pat to "no"]]

<<if $feeling is "nty" and $felt is "aah">>”I didn’t want to. I was… scared. The script's different but I feel like the first actress's performance is constantly looming over me. She did so well and I watched her scenes so many times as a child that I don't want to use her performance as a crutch." It’s strangely freeing to confess your concerns, a weight off your shoulders. The filming is going by smoothly so far but you’re aware that the plot has yet to thicken and Deok Im’s character has so much depth that is yet to be seen. Lee Seol nods sagely, "I'd feel the same way if I were in your position. It's easier in a way to be playing a completely new character. But if it's worth anything, I'm enjoying your Deok Im and I'm excited to see how you continue to flesh her out." She stares directly at you and the sincerity you can feel in her words has you feeling flushed. You murmur your thanks before taking a sip of your drink as an excuse for your suddenly restless hands to do something. "You're braver than me," She admits softly and you look up in surprise to see that she is now the one avoiding your gaze. "I feel like I was willing to risk more when I was younger. I took nearly every role that was offered to me because I just wanted to act, no matter the role. I think I lost that somewhere along the way and now I’m searching for that again.” The older actress had always seemed untouchable from the moment you’d first met her as a little kid, with her years of experience in the industry. Then the two of you had become friends before drifting apart and even then, she had never been easily ruffled, not when it came to filming or presenting or conversing with older executives. Before you can respond, her shoulders straighten as she takes a deep breath and then laughs, "Don't mind me, I'm just rambling at this point. I feel so old." You laugh with her and protest, "You're only two years older than me!" "Hey, I'm still your senior," She jokes and you groan. The first week on set as a kid, you'd taken to relentlessly calling Lee Seol your senior after your friends had insisted that you do so ("She's famous! Even if she seems nice, all famous people are super touchy about their titles, I promise."). In your inexperience, you'd also followed her around everywhere to the point that you'd started to (unconsciously or consciously) mimic their actions<<elseif $feeling is "nty" and $felt is "ugh">>”I didn’t want to. To be perfectly honest, my company is the one that accepted this role,” You say. It’s strangely freeing to finally confess your true feelings. The filming is going by smoothly but you’ve wanted to branch out in terms of your acting for a long time and this seems like a step in the wrong direction. You sneak a glance at the other woman, suddenly self conscious. “I understand,” Lee Seol nods sagely, “Sometimes it seems like the more we advance in our careers, the less say we have over them… I have to say I also feel like I’ve been in a rut so to speak.” “You have?” You ask, unable to contain your surprise. She smiles wryly, “I feel like I was willing to risk more when I was younger. I took nearly every role that was offered to me because I just wanted to act, no matter the role. I think I lost that somewhere along the way and now I’m searching for that again.” The older actress had always seemed untouchable from the moment you’d first met her as a little kid, with her years of experience in the industry. Then the two of you had become friends before drifting apart and even then, she had never been easily ruffled, not when it came to filming or presenting or conversing with older executives. You take a sip of your drink as you absorb this new facet of Lee Seol. “Now I’ve talked about myself for too long when you were sharing your worries,” She ducks her head before meeting your gaze, “What kind of roles are you interested in?” "I want to try more <<cycle "$desire" autoselect>> <<option "''action roles, like you''" "action">> <<option "''comedic roles''" "comedy">> <<option "''dramatic roles.''" "drama">> <<option "''horror/mystery roles.''" "hsf">> <<option "''darker roles, whatever that may be''" "dark">> <<option "''of everything, really.''" "misc">> <</cycle>>," you respond. “I’m very curious to see how you would act,” Lee Seol says with a smile before turning serious, “In the meanwhile, I don’t mean to overstep but I hope you can find something new in Deok Im as well. Just take it as a piece of advice from your humble senior.” You groan as Lee Seol laughs. The first week on set as a kid, you'd taken to relentlessly calling Lee Seol your senior after your friends had insisted that you do so ("She's famous! Even if she seems nice, all famous people are super touchy about their titles, I promise."). In your inexperience, you'd also followed her around everywhere to the point that you'd started to (unconsciously or consciously) mimic their actions.<<else>><</if>> “It was cute,” She insists at your unimpressed gaze, “I still remember that <<if $past is "ext">>bright girl on the first day of set.<<else>>shy girl on the first day of set.<</if>>” You wonder what Lee Seol makes of the grown you, if she still sees you as that young kid on set, if she’s noticed any differences, if she likes the differences she sees. You put those thoughts aside to retort, “And I still remember how you treated me like a dog.” “Hey, I wasn’t around a lot of kids my age, let alone someone younger than me,” She responds in what could almost be a pout, the sight causing the corners of your own lips to quirk upward. [[Pat her head|1.4F15][$pat to "yes"]] [[Lee Seol reaches out|1.4F15][$pat to "no"]]

<<if $pat is "yes">> You lean forward and pat Lee Seol’s head, the motion exaggerated while still taking care to not muss up her hair. “There there,” You soothe with a melodramatic sigh, “It’s all right.” Her hair is as silky as it appears and Lee Seol stares at you, surprise melting into something you’re hesitant to put into words. Your hand slows, your breath held as if afraid to shatter what’s forming in the air between you. Is she leaning towards you? Are you leaning towards her? Her face seems closer, the browns of her eyes vast and magnetic like an abyss luring you to dive in. You can’t take it anymore and you are the first to withdraw, your hand falling limply to the table before returning to the safety of your lap. <<else>>Lee Seol leans forward, patting your head in an exaggerated motion while still taking care not to muss up your hair. The motion is familiar from when you were children and yet it feels entirely different, charged in a different way. Her hand is light on your head and her new perfume fills your senses. Is she leaning towards you? Are you leaning towards her? Her face seems closer, the browns of her eyes vast and magnetic like an abyss luring you to dive in. Her hand slows and you hold your breath as if afraid to shatter what’s forming in the air between you. Lee Seol is the first to withdraw, her hand falling slowly back to her side. “You secretly liked it, I know it,” She jokes and all of a sudden, it’s like you’re back to how things were before. You roll your eyes good-naturedly. <</if>> <<if $sex is "straight?">>Maybe the fumes from the perfume shop are still affecting you, you surmise, as you’ve been feeling off kilter all day. There’s no rational explanation for all these strange sensations and thoughts occupying your mind when you’re just trying to enjoy reconnecting with an old friend. That’s all it is. <<else>>You wonder what is going on in Lee Seol’s mind, if her actions are purely platonic. First the moment in the perfume shop and now this, you can’t help but wonder if she may have similar…. inclinations. <</if>> “I enjoyed your last drama,” Lee Seol changes the subject and you gratefully go with it. “You watched it?” You can’t contain your surprise. It’s not that you’re ashamed of your past roles as one thing you can definitively say about yourself is that you put your all into whatever role you’re playing. However, you admittedly act in mostly romantic comedies nowadays and a part of you can’t imagine the debonair Lee Seol watching them with all of their fluff (and all of the close up kiss scenes). “I watch everything, She says seriously, her voice turning low as if sharing a secret although it’s contradicted by the smile playing on her face, "I find it very valuable to watch what's trending. There's often a lot I can learn from how others act.” “So that’s what the great Lee Seol does in her spare time,” You say, ignoring the pride that swells up inside you, “go to the gym and watch television.” “I live a dreadfully exciting life,” She responds dryly, “What about you?” What do you like to do? [[You love listening and even playing music. You frequent live concerts and there are many candid shots of you on N-stagram enjoying different bands and singers|1.4F16][$hobby to "mus"]] [[You're always ahead of the crowd when it comes to the hottest places and fads whether that be pop-up stores or glamping|1.4F16][$hobby to "infl"]] [[You're a cinemaphile like Lee Seol, you love watching stories fold out on the big and small screens|1.4F16][$hobby to "film"]] [[You're always on the search for new restaurants and bakeries to try out|1.4F16][$hobby to "food"]] [[You love to work out, from cardio to weight lifting to Pilates. Endorphins are no joke|1.4F16][$hobby to "gym"]] [[You love to read, whether that be scripts, plays, books, etc. You just love seeing a story unfold|1.4F16][$hobby to "books"]]

Lee Seol's eyebrows rise in interest, <<if $hobby is "mus">>"What's your favourite type of music? I haven't been to many concerts, unless you count the performances we see on awards shows." You answer her question and enthuse, "You have to experience it, live music is an entirely different experience." "You'll have to take me one of these days," She responds and you can't help the excitement that arises at the potential of another meeting. <<elseif $hobby is "infl">>"I should have guessed with your suggestion to go to the perfume shop, you'll have to keep me in the loop." You can't help the excitement that arises at the potential of another meeting. <<elseif $hobby is "film">>"We'll have to watch something together, it'd be interesting to hear your thoughts." You can't help the excitement that arises at the potential of another meeting. <<elseif $hobby is "food">>"You'll have to show me your favourite restaurant, your excitement has me getting my expectations up." You can't help the excitement that arises at the potential of another meeting. <<elseif $hobby is "gym">>"Where's your gym? We should meet to work out together." You can't help the excitement that arises at the potential of another meeting. <<elseif $hobby is "books">>"What's your favourite book? I have to admit, my reading's' mostly been contained to reading scripts these past years." You answer her question, unable to help the enthusiasm that spills as you share about your favourite work, and she listens to it all, eyes attentive. "I'll have to read it if it's so well-loved by you," She says. <<else>><</if>> The conversation settles down into an easy silence and the two of you thank the cafe owner before slowly making your way out. You're not sure if it's your own imagination or if Lee Seol is actually stalling before parting ways but you welcome the extra time with her. She walks you to your car, leaning against the door, her sunglasses back on her face, less so for the sun which had receded but more for anonymity. "This was nice, let's do it again." Despite the definitiveness of her words, her voice carries a slight upward inflection and you wonder what her expression is behind her glasses. You respond in the affirmative and she smiles, almost in relief. "Text me once you're home." [[Next|1.4F17]]

!!Several Days Later The sun's rays gleam on the paved entranceway to BC Entertainment as you make your way inside. It's the perfect kind of weather that makes you want to spend the day outside, the sun shining brightly but with just enough wind to keep you staying cool. You're a bit disappointed that you have to spend your precious day off from shooting by going to an early morning meeting with your management but it's a small price to pay to maintain your fame. Not to mention, the past few days have felt like you're running on a high; filming's continuing to flow exceptionally well and your friendship with Lee Seol is rapidly rekindling after your "date." Even when you're not in scenes together, you find yourselves naturally gravitating toward her. You greet the receptionists with a polite smile, your face acting as your ID, granting you access to the private top floor. Your manager, Sora, is presumably waiting in the office with the rest of your team; you'd excused her from having to drive you this morning, wanting at least one of you to get to sleep in. Your phone vibrates and you glance down at it, seeing a new message from Sora. Before you can view it, your eyes flicker to the time. You have only a minute before you're late and you put your phone away as you stride into the office. "Good morning," You say before halting, barely containing your surprise at the people in the room. Sora looks at you, her brows deeply furrowed as she tries to communicate silently with you. There's the head of your PR team, Lee Chae Young, a no-frills, no non-sense woman whose intimidating presence could rival your drama's director. And then there's Choi Tae Won, the actor you've literally been spending the last few weeks filming the drama with. He waves happily at you, accompanied by an older man you don't know. You're more non-plussed than anything at his presence; he's part of a different agency from yours so what could he possibly be doing here? "Good, please take a seat $name," Chae Young says, putting her glasses on and rifling through some papers, "Let's get down to business, shall we?" "We'd like the two of you to date." [[Next|WIP]]

<<if $feeling is "yay">>“I didn't expect it but I was excited to play Deok Im again and the new script was compelling. In some ways, it felt like I was returning to my roots,” You admit with a small smile. When you don't hear a response, you look up and catch Lee Seol staring at you, his eyes inscrutable before he smiles. The softness in his face flusters you in a way you don't expect and you take a sip of your drink to gather yourself. You peer over the rim of your cup, feeling safer with a barrier between you, "What about you? What made you decide to take the role?" He mirrors you, his every motion slow and decisive as he takes a sip of his drink before saying, "I honestly didn't think I would accept this role."<<elseif $feeling is "ok">>”I didn't expect it but it seemed like a good opportunity,” You shrug. You’re enjoying acting as Deok Im now but honestly, you didn’t think much one way or the other when the role was first offered to you. There is a pause as Lee Seol digests your words before he finally laughs without ill will, "You're brave." Your curiosity grows as he fails to explain just how exactly you're brave but you decide to turn the question against him, "What about you? What made you decide to take the role?" His every motion is slow and decisive as he takes a sip of his drink before saying, "I honestly didn't think I would accept this role."<<else>><</if>> This is news to you; you'd been the first to publically sign on to the drama but you'd heard that Lee Seol was in talks and it'd only been a week after your own acceptance that you'd learned Lee Seol had officially joined. There hadn't ever been a point where other actors had been discussed, to your knowledge. "What changed your mind?" You ask, unable to contain your curiousity. "You, partially," He says, looking straight at and seemingly into you. You hold his gaze and wonder if he can read the thoughts running across your mind right now, if your face is an open book to everyone else except yourself. Lee Seol looks away and you exhale, "Well I heard that you had accepted the role. What kind of senior would I be if I didn't accept the same challenge?" You groan and he immediately laughs. The first week on set as a kid, you'd taken to relentlessly calling Lee Seol your senior after your friends had insisted that you do so ("He's famous! Even if he seems nice, all famous people are super touchy about their titles, promise."). In your inexperience, you'd also followed him around everywhere to the point that you'd started to (unconsciously or consciously) mimic their actions. “I was flattered,” He insists at your unimpressed gaze, “I still remember that <<if $past is "ext">>bright girl on the first day of set.<<else>>shy girl on the first day of set.<</if>>” You wonder what Lee Seol makes of the grown you, if he still sees you as that young kid on set, if he's noticed any differences, if he likes the differences he sees. You put those thoughts aside to retort, “And I still remember how you treated me like a dog.” “Hey, I wasn’t around a lot of kids my age, let alone someone younger than me,” He responds in what could almost be a pout, the sight causing the corners of your own lips to quirk upward. [[Pat his head|1.4M13][$pat to "yes"]] [[Lee Seol reaches out|1.4M13][$pat to "no"]]

<<if $feeling is "lie" and $felt is "aah">>“I didn't expect it but I was excited to play Deok Im again and the new script was compelling,” You lie smoothly. There’s a part of you that doesn’t want to admit how anxious you were about the role, the sleepless nights you spent pondering whether or not to take the role, in fear of being unable to live up to the past actress’s portrayal. You don’t think Lee Seol would judge you but still, you find yourself hesitant to share your true feelings. Lee Seol looks at you with an inscrutable expression and you find yourself going for your cup, hurriedly bringing it to your face as a shield from his gaze. You peer over the rim of your cup, feeling safer, "What about you? What made you decide to take the role?" <<elseif $feeling is "lie" and $felt is "ugh">>“I was excited to play Deok Im again and the new script was compelling,” You lie smoothly. The filming is going by smoothly now but you don’t want to admit that you didn’t want to accept the role in the first place, that your company basically strong-armed you. You don’t think Lee Seol would judge you but you can never be too careful. Lee Seol looks at you with an inscrutable expression and you find yourself going for your cup, hurriedly bringing it to your face as a shield from his gaze. You peer over the rim of your cup, feeling safer, "What about you? What made you decide to take the role?"<<else>><</if>> He mirrors you, his every motion slow and decisive as he takes a sip of his drink before saying, "I honestly didn't think I would accept this role." This is news to you; you'd been the first to publically sign on to the drama but you'd heard that Lee Seol was in talks and it'd only been a week after your own acceptance that you'd learned Lee Seol had officially joined. There hadn't ever been a point where other actors had been discussed, to your knowledge. "What changed your mind?" You ask, unable to contain your curiousity. "You, partially," He says, looking straight at and seemingly into you. You hold his gaze and wonder if he can read the thoughts running across your mind right now, if your face is an open book to everyone else except yourself. Lee Seol looks away and you exhale, "Well I heard that you had accepted the role. What kind of senior would I be if I didn't accept the same challenge?" You groan and he immediately laughs. The first week on set as a kid, you'd taken to relentlessly calling Lee Seol your senior after your friends had insisted that you do so ("He's famous! Even if he seems nice, all famous people are super touchy about their titles, promise."). In your inexperience, you'd also followed him around everywhere to the point that you'd started to (unconsciously or consciously) mimic their actions. “I was flattered,” He insists at your unimpressed gaze, “I still remember that <<if $past is "ext">>bright girl on the first day of set.<<else>>shy girl on the first day of set.<</if>>” You wonder what Lee Seol makes of the grown you, if he still sees you as that young kid on set, if he's noticed any differences, if he likes the differences he sees. You put those thoughts aside to retort, “And I still remember how you treated me like a dog.” “Hey, I wasn’t around a lot of kids my age, let alone someone younger than me,” He responds in what could almost be a pout, the sight causing the corners of your own lips to quirk upward. [[Pat his head|1.4M13][$pat to "yes"]] [[Lee Seol reaches out|1.4M13][$pat to "no"]]

<<if $pat is "yes">> You lean forward and pat Lee Seol’s head, the motion exaggerated while still taking care to not muss up his hair. “There there,” You soothe with a melodramatic sigh, “It’s all right.” His hair is as silky as it appears and Lee Seol stares at you, surprise melting into something you’re hesitant to put into words. Your hand slows, your breath held as if afraid to shatter what’s forming in the air between you. Is he leaning towards you? Are you leaning towards him? His face seems closer, the browns of his eyes vast and magnetic like an abyss luring you to dive in. You can’t take it anymore and you are the first to withdraw, your hand falling limply to the table before returning to the safety of your lap. <<else>>Lee Seol leans forward, patting your head in an exaggerated motion while still taking care not to muss up your hair. The motion is familiar from when you were children and yet it feels entirely different, charged in a different way. Is he leaning towards you? Are you leaning towards him? His face seems closer, the browns of his eyes vast and magnetic like an abyss luring you to dive in. His hand slows and you hold your breath as if afraid to shatter what’s forming in the air between you. Lee Seol is the first to withdraw, his hand falling slowly back to his side.<</if>> “I enjoyed your last drama,” Lee Seol changes the subject. “You watched it?” You can’t contain your surprise. It’s not that you’re ashamed of your past roles as one thing you can definitively say about yourself is that you put your all into whatever role you’re playing. However, you admittedly act in mostly romantic comedies nowadays and a part of you can’t imagine the debonair Lee Seol watching them with all of their fluff (and all of the close up kiss scenes). “I watch everything, He says seriously, his voice turning low as if sharing a secret although it’s contradicted by the smile playing on his face, "I find it very valuable to watch what's trending. There's often a lot I can learn from how others act.” "What else made you decide to take the role?" You press on, undeterred by Lee Seol's change in subject. "I feel.... like I've been in a rut," Lee Seol starts hesitantly, "I was willing to risk more when I was younger. I took nearly every role that was offered to me because I just wanted to act, no matter the role. I wanted to show the world that I could do anything. But with each success, I lost that part of me until I found myself accepting the same kind of roles over and over again. I thought taking this role would help me find it again." "Although I clearly haven't been succeeding," Lee Seol jokes but his voice falls flat. "Don't do that," You find yourself speaking before you mind catches up. He looks up at you and you find yourself emboldened as you continue to speak, "You're being hard on yourself. We've only just started filming and you're working on it, //we're// working on it together. I can't speak to your past roles but I was truly excited to work with you again because you were the one who helped me learn how to enjoy acting. I want to help you in any way I can and more than anything, I cannot wait to see your Yi San." It seems you've left Lee Seol at a loss of words. He opens and closes his mouth several times before he exhales deeply and takes a look at you. He rubs his face with his hand and then confesses with a wry grin, "I missed you." [[Next|WIP]]