On Stage, Off Stage
Orbiting BodiesOn Stage, Off Stage
(After W&W Ch 37/Orb Bodies Ch 4; Date: January 21, 2017)
“Good behavior on stage, today, guys. We’ve had an amazing awards season, but keep in mind eyes and cameras are on you at all times,” Junmyeon lectures as they prepare backstage for the Nature Republic fest.
“Yeah, yeah, old man. How can we forget?” chides Jongdae, adjusting his hair in the dressing room mirror. “You need to relax. Dance some more Russian Roulette to work off that nervous energy.”
The others laugh, spread out among the various couches and chairs in the room. Jongin and Kyungsoo sit on the loveseat, waiting for the last few members to be done with hair and makeup. The dancer runs his hand nonchalantly up and down Kyungsoo’s thigh which is pressed up against his own. “You look good in pleather,” he whispers to the singer.
Kyungsoo gives him one of those closed-mouth frowns that’s really a smile in disguise before casting his eyes back down toward the ground shyly.
“I’m just saying, let’s BE SMART out there,” Junmyeon repeats, and Jongin notices the leader is staring holes into him via the makeup mirror.
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The best part about the game segments of events like this is seeing Kyungsoo display his competitive inner child. They tasked with imitating their zodiac animals this time, and Soo’s monkey is on point. Jongin tries to do an appropriate chicken but it doesn’t feel as natural or garner as positive a reaction from fans. A warm palm is wrapped around the back of his neck and reassuring words are murmured against his ear.
“Do your chicken walk,” Kyungsoo encourages.
Ah, yes, a safe go-to. Jongin adds it to his chicken clucks and gets a good response from the audience and emcee. Okay, he’s ready now.
When he’s asked to start the game, Kai clucks at the singer and revels in D.O.’s goofy monkey calls. He’s so enamored by silly Soo that he doesn’t realize they’ve been gravitating closer and closer together until he spots Chanyeol pointing animatedly toward Suho with an amused glint in his eyes. ‘Oh right. Group game. Thanks, Yeol.’ He spins around and clucks at their leader, who immediately turns to baa at Chen and pass the game further away from the romantic pair.
In a later round, Chanyeol and D.O. start picking nits out of each other’s hair as they make monkey calls, trying to make the other crack. When he notices the singer’s hands going lower inside the giant’s jacket, Jongin can’t help but hover to keep an eye on this development. Kyungsoo seems to sense his presence and whirls without warning to squawk loudly in his face.
Jongin loses it and can’t contain his squeals of delight. He steps back to keep himself from reaching out to pinch the elder’s cheeks, feeling overwhelmed because he’s too damn cuuuute.
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‘Be cool. It’s a stupid game.’ A few performances later, and then they’re drawing challenge slips from a cup. Of course Baekhyun has to pull that one and pick D.O. Jongin positions himself right in the middle of where the pair are supposed to do this stupid forehead kiss, feet taking him there automatically. It’s fine. Really. Just fanservice crap.
Then Baek just has to up the ante. “I’ll be the receiver, okay?” What the hell. The others need clarification, but Jongin already gets the picture and is crossing his arms to prevent them from reaching out to slap the rowdy vocalist. That little .
Kyungsoo’s eyes widen momentarily as he verifies head-to-head vs lips-to-head, and then reaches out to slap the instigator’s forehead, putting the whole situation back in check for a moment. It satisfies the pouty child inside the dancer for a brief moment, and Jongin forces a tight smile. There’s no way in hell Kai would
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