Debut Prep (1)

"Hello Flights..!" A microphone-less muffled voice spoke. It was Jung Hyun-Ok, stage name 'K'.

It was a vlog. 

Jung Hyun-Ok revealed himself to a handheld camera. His hair was dyed brown and was slightly curly, but not permed. He wore a white tee with black sweatpants and there was sweat barreling down his forehead. His pointy European nose and paler skin were highlighted with practice room light, his mixed features too. His movements were slow and gentle like an angel.

"By the time this video comes out, we will have been preparing for our debut for… three weeks." Jung Hyun-Ok held up three fingers to the camera with a small teeth-less smile. "Right now I'm just getting some extra practice in… The others are getting something to eat right now I think, but Reggie is in the bathroom, so I'm not alone." 

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the practice room opened and in came Reggie. 

His hair was still dyed blond, but the blond was lesser to a brown. It was a dirty blond. He was in basketball shorts that highlighted his long legs and a just slightly oversized tee. Nothing was different from the show. Nothing. Reggie smiled with a tired expression and waved to the camera playfully.

"Ah, Hyung, you're recording?" Reggie asked Jung Hyun-Ok. 

Jung Hyun-Ok nodded and handed the camera to Reggie. It took a moment for Reggie to adjust the camera into his hand contrary to Jung Hyun-Ok's easy handling. Close-up on his face, Reggie waved to the camera and repeatedly zoomed it on his face.

"Hi Flights, we miss you… We've been very busy with debut preparations so we can't update much… But we've been working very hard!" Reggie spoke with his face too close to the camera.

Like a true rookie, he awkwardly paused, unsure of what to say. 

"Mi-Yo, Du-Ho, and Hyun Hyung are getting us dinner because it is pretty late right now. I'm actually not 100% sure where Joon-ah is..?" Reggie turned to Jung Hyun-Ok who was off camera. "Hyung, do you know?" 

Jung Hyun-Ok nodded, getting into the camera's focus with a hum. "Joon-ah is very mysterious, you know, Flights? He really doesn't fit into the usual maknae image… He never tells us what lesson he has or what he's doing…" He pondered with his hand stroking his chin as if he was some proper English philosopher. 

Reggie nodded rigorously in agreement, "All I know after almost a year of knowing him, is that in his freetime he either draws or monitors social media. But mostly he practices dancing nowadays…"

"His vocals don't need any work." Jung Hyun-Ok said. "In our first group vocal lesson, our teacher had not a single suggestion for him. Really… It's crazy…" 

Reggie nodded in agreement. 

The door to the practice room opened again and Joon-woo walked through the doors. 

His hair that now ran about two inches past his shoulders, was now light brown and heavily curled and light around his head. He wore an attire most Flights were used to already: a black long-sleeve and black basketball shorts. The shorts seemed to shrink the 18 year-old more, highlighting his short legs. 

Joon-woo rubbed at his eyes as if he had just awoken, though he looked as if he had just gotten make-up done. He wasn't sweaty like his practiced-groupmates, not yet. Similar to Jung Hyun-Ok, his effortless looks made him look as if an angel.

"There's Joon-ah!" Reggie cheered, practically sprinting to shrink his friend in close contact. "Say 'hi' to the camera~" He slightly teased. 

Joon-woo's eyes slightly widened, but only for a moment. He kept his surprise to himself well. 

"Oh… Hello Flights…" Joon-woo greeted the camera groggily. "I'm sorry I look like this, I just woke up from a nap…" He scratched at his cheek with long but well-filed nails. 

Reggie rolled his eyes at Joon-woo's words. 

"Hey– Flights! Did you know Joon-woo came up with your name? He did!" Reggie informed, Jung Hyun-Ok nodded in confirmation. 

Joon-woo shrugged. 

"Joon-ah also came up with my stage name…" Jung Hyun-Ok added. 

Joon-woo sighed at that. 

"Hyung-ah… Do they need to know everything? What if I told them you and Reggie Hyung helped with some of the choreo?" Joon-woo slightly pouted. 

The atmosphere was playful in the vlog. It was nice. 

–+–

The atmosphere was somber, tense, and an aura of nerves engulfed ASCEND. Granted it didn't show on the faces of Mi Yong or Joon-woo, it was there. It was so there. 

Their new manager, department heads, and other important staff also sat with them at a large meeting table. They had papers and papers with pens. It was official. It felt official. It wasn't a vlog anymore. 

"Next on our agenda are the images we want to present with each member…" A marketing department head spoke. "For your debut we're following an angel, almost ethereal concept, so for this era we want each of you to take on a role in accordance to such…

For Hyun-ssi and Yong-ssi, we want you two to take on a more protective concept… So on camera we want you guys to be very protective and very concerned about your members and your fans' well-being. Also we would like to see more leadership from you both in interviews and music shows and such. Am I understood?" 

Down the table and passed to Mi Yong and Ryeo Hyun were two papers listing various traits and actions they were expected to exhibit. 

The department head turned to Baek Du-Ho. 

"For Du-Ho-ssi we discussed a want for a more… mysterious persona. Someone who seems very intimidating but we also want you to play a very soft role with your younger members." They gestured towards Reggie and Joon-woo. "Like a gentle giant." 

Baek Du-Ho nodded, taking a long printed paper list of traits and actions he would have to exhibit. It didn't really show his true personality…

Then attention fell onto Reggie. 

"Reggie-ssi, we want you to take on a playful persona. This would include messing around with all your group members, not just Joon-woo. Did you understand that?" They asked, as if Reggie wasn't fluent in Korean now. Reggie still nodded. "Okay, and this also includes being not too much with your Hyungs. We want to avoid rumors of you being rude to your sunbaes…"

Reggie took a list of traits and actions and even restrictions to the actions. He seemed to be confused. Not by the Korean words, but by what 'not being too much' meant. He went to raise his hand but was faced with judgmental eyes from the staff. 

"Did you not understand what I said?" The department head asked. 

Reggie looked around, ashamed and flushed. 

ASCEND took a long sigh at the harsh wording. Joon-woo in particular squeezed Reggie's hand in an act of comfort. 

"No… I understand, Senior…" Reggie replied, putting his hand down. 

The department head nodded, "Good. We don't have much time to explain this." Then, they turned to Jung Hyun-Ok and Joon-woo. For you two, honestly, just be perfect and proper. We expect you to act mysterious, yet polite to everyone. Lightly smile, never show too much teeth. For you guys, this also includes a stricter diet plan… We want you guys to be seen as angels who don't have faults. This includes being very elegant with even simple movements: walking, sitting, eating, and even talking."

A two-page sheet of requirements were passed down to the androgynous-looking idols. They overlooked the papers with blank and bare eyes. Perhaps the whole world was looking at them, too. 

"And I think that just about covers the individual images… With the rest of the time I'd like to go over something we expect the most performance in: BGP or Business Gay Performance." The department head informed. "This will be very vital for the images we want to create…"

All of ASCEND froze, Joon-woo and Reggie in particular. The information drop just about froze Joon-woo's brain. Even out of Producer10 could he never escape the BGP?

The department head's eyes locked with Joon-woo's, then Reggie's. 

"I think you guys know who and what I want. Similar to how you two acted on Producer10, exhibit now. I want Reggie to wear a more touchy and affectionate persona when you interact with Joon-woo-ssi. And Joon-woo-ssi, I want you to be almost ignorant to it?" The department head explained as if their words were so simple. 

"And with the rest of you… hmm… It will be discussed based on how your fans characterize you with each other. Am I understood?" The department head was satisfied when ASCEND replied with nods. "Good, good. Then Mr. Jeong, will you stand?" 

An average-looking man of a height close to Mi Yong stood. He wore glasses over short hair and appeared to be in his mid 30s. His suit was sloppily done, his tie especially. 

"Mr. Jeong will be the main leader in your management team. He will help with your diet plans, and for now, will act as your road manager as well. He will be the one that interacts the most with you guys." The department head introduced. 

"Please take care of me…" Mr. Jeong quietly spoke with a small bow. 

ASCEND replied soundly with a group greeting.