HORMONES : KENDALL BAEK

HORMONES KENDALL BAEK
 let's break the ice ! 
full name kendall haseon baek
other names 
 백하선 baek haseon her gran gave her this name because she has an affinity for rivers and wanted to maintain the name trend through her son's offspring. it was also because gran thought it'd be cute to mash up her son and his wife's names together. kendall went by the name while she was attending korean school, but following her graduation from there ages ago, the only person in her inner circle who calls her this with regularity is her gran. like if her parents were to wake up one day and actually start calling her by this name, her first thought would be that they're having a . this would then be followed by her questioning if the one having a is actually herself. that being said, although the name tends to be a rarity in her personal life, she signs her art under the name "ha seon."
 kenny although it's technically only two letters off from her name, it's a shorter and more endearing version. it first came up in her early childhood thanks to her mom and pop, but it's safe to say that it managed to stick beyond childhood. if a friend or family or even an acquaintance, they're likely forgoing kendall and going with kenny instead. also: kensken.
 ducky it was her best friend, mikey who came up with this gem. he said that she kind of looks like a cute little duck when she's in thought because her lips jut out. kenny found it kind of embarassing, but she was a good sport about it, so she let it stick around. it's mostly mikey using it, but his brother, calvin sometimes likes to call her this, too. 
birthdate & age july 5th, 1998 ( 22 )
 
 this is my heritage ! 
birthplace new york, new york
hometown tenafly, new jersey
ethnicity korean
languages 
 english native it really cannot be helped since kenny was born in the states, was raised in the states, and currently lives in the states.
 한국어 superior kenny was brought up to be bilingual because her mom and gran sure as hell were not going to let this child forget about her cultural roots. her mom often spoke to her in korean, but it never reached the extent that her gran went. for a very large part of kenny's life (up until middle school), gran spoke to her only in korean and it was customary that gran didn't reply back to her or even acknowledge what she said unless if it was in korean. kenny jokes around that it was a very traumatizing time. it once got to a point where she almost let it slip her mind that gran was very fluent in english. what also helped her in her learning was that her hometown has a very prominent korean community, and going to korean school was pretty much mandatory if you didn't want to be talked about by any of the aunties.
 français advanced mid she first took up french in middle school. in the beginning, it was more about knocking out foreign language credits and picking french just because giverny and the louvre are in france. but as she continued to stick with it, she ended up loving the language and even took a gap year hopping around france. she also used to frequently thank herself for being fairly serious about it because it really helped out a lot when she had to do research for some of her euro-centric art history classes. being able to pull out and use french sources was mint.
 
 it's only skin deep ! 
faceclaim weki meki kim doyeon 김도연
backup blackpink jennie kim 김제니
appearance 
 height 5ft 7in
 weight 118lbs
when kenny stands around, a cool neutral expression customarily on her face, there is a mixed air that encircles her. the reality is that she's just relaxed and unbothered, but her chicness can come off as intimidating. just wait for her to crack a smile, though, and she seems quite approachable. one of her prominent features is her hair. it's the same deep dark, that looks almost black but is brown under the sun, that mother nature bestowed upon her, and it sits around waist length. half of the time, she wears her hair down and au naturale, but sometimes she lets her hairstylist cousin, vivi do something with it like putting it into intricate braids or an updo or quietly giving her bangs so that they can be cute and matching. there's also the prospect of free advertising, you know. in the realm of makeup and beauty, she's into no-makeup looks, but she also has an appreciation for lip tints and glosses. then, there are her hands which are that of an artist's. best believe that she'd love to try getting a full set some day, but they'd only get in the way of painting and sculpting, so she does the next best thing which is to clip them short and paint them or press-ons for special occasions. and for body mods, she just has the standard lobe piercings.
style 
to put it one way, you could tell from a mile away that kenny is not a stem student. she isn't very conventional when it comes to her fashion sense, and a large portion of her wardrobe is thrifted, flipped, or handmade. we stan sustainability. she doesn't exactly stick to just one style of clothing and instead enters the boundaries of a wide assortment. she's very keen to take inspiration from past fashions of the 70s to the 00s, but she also takes note of the street fashions of today, particularly from the streets of tokyo and hong kong. while she can be feminine and chic at times, she isn't afraid to enter the realm of androgyny because clothes don't have a gender, and she really likes to mess around with layers and silhouettes, with her favorite combination tending to be big pants and little shirt or big pants and cropped big shirt. as for shoes, she has all sorts, but on a day-to-day basis, she's usually in chunky dad sneakers or doc martens sandals. then, there's every once in a while when she pulls out the cowboy boots that were supposed to be worn ironically at first, but she actually started to genuinely like them.
 
 take a glimpse at life ! 
occupation full-time art student, part-time art gallery assistant
living arrangements the moment kenny mentioned that she was considering going to nsu, vivi practically jumped at the chance to ask her to live with her. kenny regarding vivi as one of the loves of her life aside, she couldn't exactly say no to a comfy two-story with a pool.
license & registration? yesiree, and a y hot rod to go with it, too. more about that later, though.
"HOWDY!"
an abridged study of the foundations
 
 personality ! 
"you sure you wanna get to know me? you won't want me out of your life."
- to seok
tropes
 enfp-a in-depth breakdown: 61% extraverted, 59% intuitive, 67% feeling, 60% prospecting, 63% assertive  chaotic good  midori kobayashi vibes
traits
 positive easygoing, charming, perceptive, imaginative, adventurous
 neutral free-spirited, independent, ambitious, frank, learned
 negative hedonistic, vulgar / lewd, impulsive, mischievous, headstrong
enter kendall, solus. she is in her natural environment, the university's fourth art studio - yes, this is the spacious one on the third floor with the floor-to-ceiling windows and ridiculous amount of natural lighting - jazz music permeating the air, working on what appears to be a painting of a woman ing. kenny's face is aloof in expression, which is very much reflective of her extremely serious and frigid temperament. at last, she slowly glances up, the expression melting slightly before she cracks a cheeky grin and rolls her eyes. "i think you've got the wrong ," she voices as a vibrant laugh filters out of . sorry, didn't mean to be misleading! you just looked so stern right there, and i couldn't help going along with it! she laughs again,"no harm done. you've paid me a visit for your survey, right? i'll be done in a few if you don't mind the wait." take as long as you need. i'll let you continue your work! oh, wow. that's some great detailing on her- i'll just sit over there. in response, she briefly sticks her tongue out with a carefree smile before going back to the grind.
 
one of kenny's most alluring features is perhaps her way with handling and communicating with people in the first meeting. she possesses a certain kind of magnetism, warmth, and emotional openness that seems to dissolve any apprehension or anxiety, and she values establishing that social connection whether she's spending five minutes with someone or staying present for the rest of their life. she kind of makes it so that it feels like you've known her for years even if that's not the case at all. her social ease and flexibility is a spectacle. strong observation skills and sensitivity to others are part of what makes it possible. an artist - you could say it's in her blood - she enjoys breaking out of the conformist's box to push the boundaries, seek out unfulfilled experiences, and explore new concepts to transform into her latest creations. predictability isn't really in her cards, and maintaining the status quo bores her more often than not. "you've gotta stir the pot every once in a while, you know? what is life without a little fun and spontaneity?" you are your mother's daughter, kens.  
 
a result of holding the spirit of inquiry, she's quite knowlegable over a wide assortment of topics, which helps her hold her own in conversation. at times, she might come off as condescending or pretentious, but she is genuine in wanting to share any knowledge that she can provide. kenny's also an open and honest girl. she'll never intend to be rude about it, but she is unafraid to state her opinions, feelings, or emotions head on even they go against the current. as much as she is fond of the company of others, she appreciates being able to push back from the crowd and relax in her own company. she identifies more closely as an ambivert than an extrovert. while independence is generally viewed as positive, kenny can be independent to a fault. in this world where convention rules, freedom from restriction is something that she craves more than security. similiarly, she is aspiring and ambitious, but she doesn't seek to walk a path that outer forces have pushed onto her. she desires to have control over her own fate and wants to reach a succesful life based on her own terms.
 
kenny momentarily pauses from painting and glances back as if knowing what's coming. she quickly interjects, "before you start trying to attack me over there, i just wanted to say that i'm not ashamed." she's smug as she rests a hand on her hip and gives her paint brush a wave in the air, a playful twinkle nestled within her eyes. "okay, you can continue." alright, alright, i got you. her more major faults tend to lie in her penchant for self-indulgence. she appreciates life for its joys, and she believes that it's only right to take pleasure in them. this mindset has hurt those romantically interested in her in the past, even if unintentionally. it's not that she is noncommittal when it comes to the whims of love; she simply chooses to be. she's made a decision to commit her heart to her art for the time being or until the right one comes along. huh, you didn't really strike me as a waiting-for-prince-charming girl. she purses her lips and shakes her head, "i'm not." fair. i imagine that even if that person comes your way, it'll be hard on you. she thinks about it for a moment. then shrugs, "maybe."
 
she has no problem being indecent or provocative, whether if it's in her personal conversations or embedded into her projects. kenny makes a vague gesture towards her painting. exhibit a. would you please repeat what your parting words to calvin were from the other day? she throws her head back in laughter before admitting, "i told him to think of me when he jacks off." and where was this? "outside of the student union. i yelled it out as i ran off. don't worry. he was pretty unbothered when he yelled back that he always does and waved me goodbye." well, good for calvin. what others may consider vulgar, she considers ual liberation. she isn't bothered by it, but she also knows that it's not for everyone. coupled with her free spirit and ambition are her willfulness and sporadic impulsivity. whenever she sets her mind to do something - like creating a massive 5'x12' oil painting of naturists dancing in the rolling meadows - she'll try to fulfill her whims no matter the gravity of the project. "dream large!" see, it's like trying to remove a dandelion from a block of concrete. 
 
well, that's kenny for you.
 
 background ! 
"what? you've never seen a girl from jersey say 'howdy'?"
- to mikey and cal, probably
the fireworks weren't the only thing ready to burst.
july 4th, 1998 - july 5th, 1998
it was nearing 9 in the night. seonhwa jeong and hudson baek were stood hand in hand on fdr drive, surrounded by the vibrant throng of people, as they all awaited the 4th of july fireworks show being held over the east river to start. as per tradition, hudson turned over to seonhwa, who had already known what he was going to say, and delivered a joke about how they should have done the fireworks over the hudson river instead so she could say that she's hanging out on the hudson... with hudson. and just like years past, as if the joke he told was brand new, she threw her head back in genuine laughter and lightly slapped his shoulder. only this time, the gaiety died down quicker than years past because she found herself in realization of something. hudson gazed over at her as she lost herself in thought, as she counted in her head, as she gained confirmation. she finally looked up and stated that her contractions were getting closer, that early labor was turning active, and it was time to leave. he gripped onto her hand a little tighter, and they left right as the first firework ignited.
 
when kendall haseon baek was born in a new york city hospital at 3:43am on the 5th of july, her pops made a joke about his daughter's birth being a unique and memorable independence day after party. her mom was too exhausted and didn't have the energy to laugh, but it was okay because he knew she was laughing in her heart. and although she was told over the phone to go back to sleep and that they could meet first thing in the morning, kenny's gran doesn't take orders from anyone, most certainly not from a man, even if that man is her own son. she hopped right into her clothes and drove straight into new york city from tenafly. this woman wanted to see her grandbaby, period, and there was no stopping her. she didn't even so much as glance at those nurses telling her that visiting hours were over. thus, kenny's first few hours were spent encompassed in a cloud of silenced frenzy and intense love. and just two days later, she arrived in tenafly to the home where she would spend her first eighteen years and cultivate some of her life's greatest memories.
 
they say this is the free-trial before the actual game.
july 1998 - april 2016
during kenny's first two formative years, there were three figures who had played an essential role. these figures were as follows: kenny's gran, her mom, and her aunt. her pops, ashamedly, is not included on this list, and it wasn't for lack of trying. his career in new york had been picking up as he climbed the corporate ladder, and it became difficult for him to balance out being a lawyer and a dad. as if the universe was out to get him, kenny would almost always be asleep when he left for work and when he came back late at night. he really only had his days off to be her pops. it was a depressing time for him, and despite everyone telling him that it couldn't be helped, he still felt guilty for always having to relay his parental duties to his mother, who lived down the street, and his younger sister, who lived in the next block with her husband and daughter. guilt aside, the whole situation was actually something of a good thing because looking after kenny kept the family close, and this was an aspect that her mom valued especially having left an unsupportive family behind in tongyeong at 20.
 
with her mom being an artist and an exceptionally active and respected player of the art community, kenny was submerged in that world from the moment she drew her first breath. similar to her pops, her mom never stopped creating; she simply relocated from her new york studio into her tenafly home. then, by the time kenny was old enough to go to preschool, her mom was back in the studio. but as neither of her parents really saw the use in preschool because they felt like they could integrate her into the world in a way that could be more beneficial themselves, kenny often accompanied her mom to the studio until she was ready for a formal education. it made it easier for her pops to see her, and this set the stage for a brightly-colored childhood in which she was constantly surrounded by and interacting with an eclectic mingling of students, artists, gallery directors, and other creatives. this is a significant part of why she is the way she is at present. if you asked her, she'd say that the community also raised her and was as much her family as the one that is blood-bound.
 
kenny's elementary school years were for the most part spent in tenafly, where a prominent korean community exists. that being said, if kenny ever felt out of place, it wasn't due to a korean heritage before a white backdrop. it would've been because of deviating interests, values, and aspirations. it just happens when your parents and grandmother are non-tradish. at this point, she was spending a substantial amount of time with her gran, who presented her with endless charm and wisdom, and her cousin, vivi, who she developed a strong sisterly bond with. it was also in this time that she really developed her korean skills and began to establish a deep appreciation for her cultural roots. she thanks korean school, but she mostly thanks her gran for instilling that importance in her and vivi. once kenny reached middle school, she started going to school in new york. it was just easier for mom, pops, and kens to drive into the same place together, and in kenny's opinion, it was also nicer to see fresh faces and have an opportunity to thrive in a newer environment.
 
art was something that kenny had been cultivating all of her life, but it wasn't until high school that she became truly resolved to go professional. the thought had always hung over her head, and it was hard not to think about it. it was the most rational conclusion to reach. that being so, when she wasn't in class or frolicking around with friends or the family, she was painstakingly honing her techniques, particularly in painting, and crafting her portfolio. around this time, her mom started wandering out into the world for inspiration. maybe there was something about settling in one place for so long that made her antsy. so her mom would occasionally go off to a new city or country for days or weeks or even months at a time. there was no telling for sure, but one thing for certain was, if the yearning and frequent phone and facetime calls meant anything, she'd always come back. kenny has always held close bonds with her family, especially with both of her parents, but her mom's occasional absences made her take a closer look at her personal relations and enhance her gratitude.
 
it's said that the work that she produced in her mid-high school years are some of her most personal pieces, and it doesn't take an art critic to see that it's true.
 
huh, mom was right. the real world is pretty congested.
april 2016 - present
kenny was standing in a small manhattan art gallery, staring intensely at a white painting, when she had a revelation. she always got why her mom liked to wander, kens was even due to go to france for her own wandering, but it was in this moment, staring at the brushstrokes and textures in the white paint, that she really understood, or more closely understood at least. kenny was tired of not just new york; she was tired of northeastern united states. she couldn't really explain it other than she was feeling congested. thinking of all the art schools in the northeast that her peers already imagined her going to made her sigh... and sigh... and sigh. ah, she needed change. otherwise, she'd never leave france. by the time she left the painting, she concluded that she wanted to attend a school as far west as possible. but not california - also too congested. and not washington - serial killers. and not oregon - hipsters. ...nevada? perhaps. she considered vivi who lived over there, and by the time she left the gallery, she had her phone raised to her ear waiting to hear vivi.
 
it was already astonishing when, back in february 2016, news of her turning down schools like parsons, pratt, saic, etc. spread throughout her high school's arts sector. when they learned it was because she wanted to frolick around france first, they tended to be more understanding. like who wouldn't want to ditch school to frolick around france? but when she came back to the united states a year later, she was dropping bombs on her peers and former art instructors. they'd ask her where she decided to go, and she'd smile, give a nonchalant shrug, and say, "nevada state" like it was no big deal. honestly, it was fun seeing everyone react and get their in a twist, from mouths agape to the flabbergasted expressions. but she'd go on her merry way. she didn't need to explain to anyone that she wanted to make her mark where many haven't already. she wanted to be the brushstrokes and textures in the white paint. no, she knew she was going to be, and she stands by that.
 
 lifestyle ! 
"hey, do you think i could get a 5'x12' canvas through our front door?"
- to vivi
classification senior
major & minor studio art with track two emphasis in painting & drawing, transmedia, and sculpture & extended media ( art history )
daily schedule 15 credits12 work hours based off of ut austin
monday
08:00am - 09:00am ( arh 472 ) traditions of chinese literati painting
12:00pm - 03:00pm ( art 423 ) installation sculpture
tuesday
08:30am - 10:00am ( arh 449 ) east asia in global contemporary art 
11:00am - 01:00pm ( art 461 ) painting iv
wednesday
08:00am - 09:00am ( arh 472 ) traditions of chinese literati painting
12:00pm - 03:00pm ( art 423 ) installation sculpture
06:30pm - 09:30pm ( art 450 ) philosophy, theory, and criticism
thursday
08:30am - 10:00am ( arh 449 ) east asia in global contemporary art
11:00pm - 01:00pm ( art 461 ) painting iv
friday
08:00am - 09:00am ( arh 472 ) traditions of chinese literati painting
10:00am - 02:00pm first shift @ aisling connolly gallery
saturday
10:00am - 06:00pm double shift @ aisling connolly gallery
sunday
n/a
her ordinary weekday begins at 6am when the song "morning sunrise" by weldon irvine starts to blast from her phone's speakers. as per routine, she flips on her jazz playlist and goes downstairs to gulp down a glass of water before running back up to get ready. by the time she's climbing down the stairs again, vivi is in the kitchen making breakfast. sometimes, kenny beats her to it, but it's a one in four chance. the two of them tend to enjoy a slow and relaxed morning prior to heading out to seize the day.
 
when kenny isn't at a lecture or in mandatory studio, she can normally be found at the student union grabbing a quick bite, in the lib stacks doing research, or, with this being most probable, in the art studio on the third floor of her building reading up on her lecture notes or working on an art assignment. if she's on track, and it isn't hell day wednesday, during after school hours, she'll drive around, see any new exhibits, see a movie, or eat out. anything, really. whether she's with someone or solo depends.
 
on fridays and saturdays, she's working at the aisling connolly gallery as a student assistant. her responsibilities include taking phone calls, greeting visitors, handling art, assisting in exhibit installation, and admin tasks like filling documents, making copies, running faxes, etc. the job can be slow at times, and she can end up doing a lot of sitting around, but it's sitting around in an environment that she likes. it also helps that one of her close friends works with her. and she loves her boss. no major complaints!
 
she's always down to do anything on her friday and saturday nights, may it be bar hopping, going to a club or house party, or something chill. these days, she doesn't really have to worry about going overboard. compared to years past, she's older, wiser, and has got a higher alcohol tolerance! still, she prefers a milder friday night because of work the next day. and every first friday of the month, she's at the city's arts district for the first friday festival, sometimes with her own exhibit. but saturdays can go ham!
 
sundays are a wild card. if the gallery wasn't closed on sundays, kenny would honestly probably be working. instead, she uses the day based on her needs. if she still has to study or finish up an assignment, she'll spend time on that. if she's completely free, she either lazes around or finds something to do. sometimes, something to do finds her. who knows? sundays are a wild card.
 
 trivia ! 
"so i haven't scared you away, yet?"
- to seok
 online presence just like most young folks of the 21st century, kenny is on social media. she's mostly active on instagram and snapchat, though she makes an appearance on mikey's tiktok from time to time. she also manages a website for her art portfolio. (hover over pictures for captions!)
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kenny baek 하선
nsu '21
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 so how about that hot rod? kenny drives around a 1965 ford mustang convertible with a prairie bronze exterior and a palomino interior. yes, she will even say it like that when asked what car she drives. the car used to belong to her gramps, but after he passed away, it ended up under a dust cover in gran's garage. while kenny was in france, her parents got the car restored as a going away present so she could take it to nevada.
 mode of transport if traveling within continental united states, she tends to prefer driving over taking a plane, especially if she's going to stay in her destination for a while. it's just more fun and scenic. more so, driving out into oblivion without a set destination is even better. the more aimless, the more fun. there's nothing quite like the feeling of having the top of your car rolled down with the breeze running through your hair. adventure!
 ya like jazz? her music taste tends to gravitate towards jazz, funk, city pop, and bossa nova. but she's really open to listen to anything.
 no place like home she tries to make an effort to come back to jersey for breaks, save for thanksgiving and spring. for summer vacations, she's making the ambitious drive to her hometown around late june and stays typically until early august. for winter vacations, she's hopping on a plane the weekend before christmas and is back in nevada before new year's.
 4th of july after party birthdays are kind of a big deal in the baek family, and kenny's being the day after the 4th of july basically means double the festivities. it's usually spent in the form of a huge bash, but occasionally, they deviate from the plan, and she could end up at a week at a lake. she thinks it'd be fun to spend a birthday in nv, but it just hasn't happened. 
 wow that's sweet she doesn't have much of a sweet tooth. like she'll do 25% on the sweetness level on her boba order, and matcha is her favorite cake flavor because it's mild.
 are you even korean? okay, so she doesn't really like kimchi. sue her. it's not that she won't eat it; she just won't eat it by itself. if it's in fried rice or a pancake or a soup, it's free game. by itself? no.
 pick your poison you really cannot go wrong with a single malt scotch like talisker, and it has to be neat or she gets judgemental. she's more of the type to enjoy her drink instead of downing it like water. but if the plan is to get -faced, all taste goes out the window!
 that's some tolerance she attributes her high alcohol tolerance to all the past years when she actually liked getting -faced.
 can't party unless you hydrate the girl is actually ing related to a fish. must explain why she drinks so much damn water everyday.
 just a cold brew please she knows she can always count on it after a long night, and don't try to pass off an iced coffee as a cold brew. she can taste your lies.
 don't think of it as ; think of it as an art film you can sporadically catch her watching , but she doesn't watch it to get off or anything. it just makes for good art studies lol.
 i'd rather pass away you wouldn't think it, but she highly prioritizes skin-care. you won't catch her forgetting to put on sunscreen everyday, and no matter how late she gets home or how tired or drunk she is, she will do that nighttime routine, even if it's just condensed down to double-cleanse and moisturizer, before she crashes into bed. you may ask, what about if she goes home with someone? that's why we carry travel-sized.
 not everyone will like you she always accepts criticism with grace, but something that irks her is when it's nuisances, that hold no substance or justification, from rude individuals. if she's receiving criticism, she wants to be able to draw out a lesson from it and improve. she doesn't want to be straight up insulted.
 fast fashion? i don't know her sewing and making clothes is one of her long-time hobbies. it feels good to not support huge multi-corporations and child labor.
 can you say you've been arrested? it can be said that the united states is a very political country. kenny is ideologically a leftist but is politically independent because she can't stand either facet of the establishment. it doesn't stop her from voting blue, though. oh, right. i almost forgot the arrested part. yeah, she's been arrested several times back in high school for protesting. no worries. it doesn't stay on your perm record.
 yeah, no, she ing killed her husband there's just something about a documentary, especially if it's broken up into a series. she doesn't get why people trash them for being boring.
 la nature after living in all of these concrete jungles, frolicking in nature hits different. she tries to go hiking when she can. she usually rotates between valley of fire, red rock, lake mead or ash meadows, but every so often, she makes the extra drive to great basin.
 let's just talk about everything and nothing she appreciates having a good conversation, and it could literally be about whatever. like it could be completely outlandish; it could be philosophical. it could be emotional. it could be about art techniques or how technology is slowly taking over our lives. it could even be about how julius caesar burned down the library of alexandria and probably did deserve to be stabbed 23 times by the roman senate conspirators.
"WHAT THE , OKAY."
alternatively, "OH, TO HELL WITH IT!"
kendall baek in motion: an informal interview
 
 main questions are highlighted like this. 
kenny is finished packing up her painting supplies when she turns around and says, "well, i'm ready when you are."
 
okay, great! please, take a- she's already plopped herself onto a nearby stool with a subtle smile tugging at the corner of her lips and expression painted with slight expectance.
 
alright so your first question.  how do you feel about drugs? do you partake in them? 
 
her eyes flicker up as she briefly pauses to think. "do i partake in them? not normally... oh, hold on a second."
 
she promptly gets up and jogs over to her belongings, and as she returns, she's fiddling around with her phone. by the time she's sitting back down, her phone screen is fixed onto a self-portrait on her art portfolio site.
 
"so, my sophomore year i got inspired by this artist, bryan lewis saunders, who did a bunch of self-portraits back in 1995... but with a twist. so if you'll look here," she nods down at her phone. "this is a perfectly ordinary self-portrait."
 
she begins to flip through more self-portraits as she speaks. "and this one was done after i got -faced on booze... this one on cannabis... this one on lsd... shrooms... ectasy... and aderall." 
 
huh. very cool.
 
she grins. "thanks! to better answer your question, i messed around with that  for the sake of art and curiosity, but that was a one-time rodeo, and i have no plans to revisit. er, well, if it's just a joint, i might be down, but that depends on who supplied it. i've mostly accepted that my drug of choice is booze."
 
she thinks for a moment before going on. "normally, i don't really give a about what other people do. i'm not a dictator or anything. i just don't with meth, heroin, or crack. like i don't even want those  drugs in my vicinity. i've seen it ruin people, and i even know people who've died." she shrugs. "it's sort of a thing in the arts community."
 
oh, wow. thank you for sharing your art and thoughts. so you mentioned that you'd consider alcohol to be your drug of choice.   do you have any other thoughts about alcohol? 
 
she chuckles. "it's for sure one of my favorite things about the weekend. sometimes, you need something to take the edge off, and alcohol does it just right for me."
 
where do you normally spend your weekends?  do you go clubbing? 
 
"i might like parties a little more, but i go if that's where the night takes me." there's a playful glint in her eyes now. "you can get up to a lot at the club." she smirks briefly and doesn't disclose any more details.
 
"and i mean, yeah, it's loud and sweaty, and sometimes a head tries to grab your and ruins the vibe," she scoffs. "but i guess it's appealing because, for the most part, no one gives a . you're just there to have fun, whatever fun means for you."
 
thanks for answering those questions. she tilts her head she strikes a grin that reaches her eyes in response. i'm going to switch it up a little.
 
she nods. "alright, that's cool."
 
okay so...  birth control. how do you feel about it? do you take it? 
 
without hesitation, she nonchalantly answers, "to be honest, i like getting ed raw, so b.c. is a must." she starts to laugh. "i'd probs have so many kids with cal right now if i didn't. duggar family 2.0 or whatever."
 
it takes her a moment to fully recover.
 
"ahaha, sorry. but for sure use it if you're having , especially if you're not trying to get knocked up. i can't stress that enough."
 
it seems kind of funny now to ask you, but  are you a ? 
 
she laughs again. "absolutely not. i lost it to an ex-boyrfriend on my 16th birthday in a ing tent at round valley resevoir. i remember thinking, 'huh, i snuck around for that?'" she shrugs. "but to be fair, we were 16 having for the first time. has definitely gotten better with all the years and experimenting."
 
 how ually adventurous would you say you are? 
 
there is now a wicked grin plastered on her face, and even without words, her reaction is very telling. "oh, wouldn't you like to know... like getting spanked and choked are the necessary foundations, but i've got a lot of other things that i really like. for example!"
 
she starts listing things off on her hands. "getting screwed in front of a mirror, getting degraded and praised, doing in public..."
 
she pauses. "have you ever had someone control a that was inside of you while at a lecture? life. changing." she laughs before matter-of-factly stating, "oh, and i like getting ed awake. the works."
 
 and what's the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you?
 
she her head to the side. "like ually? or just in general? i'll just do both."
 
she clasps her hands together. "okay, so ually... cal and i were ing in the bathroom at this party, and it was getting really good when poor andy opened the door. his eyes were like popping out of their ing sockets." she pauses to laugh at the thought of it. "the thing is, cal and i didn't even bother to stop. we just kept going without missing a beat, and i was supes ing hell-bent on maintaining eye contact for all of three seconds that andy was glued to his position. the real kicker is that i got a lot more aroused, and even cal later pointed out that i got wetter once the door swung open." 
 
she gently smiles, and for a moment one forgets that she was just talking about her ual escapades. "and that's how we confirmed that i really am an exhibitionist." ah, spoke too soon.
 
"and just in general... i was 17, getting my hair done at this salon in new york, and the only people in the salon were me and my hairstylist. then this big, tough guy comes bustling through the door all angry, says he's looking for david. well, . i didn't know a david, and there def weren't any davids in the salon, so i'm confused as and looking at my stylist through the mirror. that's when she starts going off in mandarin."
 
she makes a sweeping motion with her hands. "all of a sudden, she doesn't know english. big, tough guy then looks at me for answers." she's jutted a thumb against her chest.
 
"i bust out in korean. all of a sudden, i don't know english. dude ended up leaving in a huff. i don't know what became of david or the meatball, but bottom line is that i minded my own business."
"THANK YOU."
a small register of individuals who add substance to kendall baek's life
 
 hudson hajoon baek 백하준 
the old man. associate general counsel. 53.
fc: jung woosung 정우성
"i guess my ideal type is someone like my pop? my mom and pops are like from two different planets, and there's even this running joke between them that pops is a dirty corporate pig and mom is a wandering anarchist bohemian, and although that might be kind of true, pops has always made himself open to be very understanding and loving." 
- to seok
her pops is one of the great loves of her life and is probably the anchor to her ship. for kenny, he represents, in her life, stability and a constant. a pillar of support. it seems that no matter how much the world shifted and changed around him, he is always content to remain the same warm, jovial, corny man he is. growing up with hudson as her father meant comfort in any form, long-winded stories that ended with strange life lessons, and laughter in perpetuity. tears are no match for his presence, even in the saddest of times. an four to eight day drive might separate them, but they are always just a call away from each other. kenny calls when she can because she loves their conversations. still, it's mostly her pops doing the calling, especially when her mom is off somewhere because he gets lonely and super sentimental and needs attention, but he seems to call her when she needs it most. when she mentions that to him, he makes the joke that his dad senses were tingling.
 seonhwa "sunny" jeong 정선화 
the blueprint. wandering artist. 50.
fc: uhm junghwa 엄정화
"hold on, my pop is going to call me in a bit... yeah, he's been moping around a lot, and gran told me she's tired of him coming over all the time, but it can't be helped. my mom is the absolute love of his life, and it's been nearly three months since she's been gone... oh, no. she's not dead. she's just in turkey."
- to vivi and nari
her mom is another great love of her life, and if pops is her ship's anchor, her mom is the ocean surrounding the ship itself, always moving with the current and at times creating a good type of minor chaos that is not to be reckoned with. there's a joke in the family that kenny is 65% her mom and 35% her pop, and it rings true as kenny maintains the artistic capabilities and eccentricity of her mom but is toned down by the core groundedness of her pop. it's funny how that worked out. although they can pretty much talk about anything and everything, art is the one aspect of their lives that is the true glue to their bond. there is never a shortage of inspiration shared between them, and kenny is always thankful for her mom's experience when she's stuck in a rut. sometimes, it can be hard to reach seonhwa because she's wandering, so when she's not in jersey, kenny usually has to wait for her mom to facetime her first. it's never a dull moment with that woman.
 vivian "vivi" taehui hong 홍태희 
the og ride or die. hair stylist + colorist. 26.
fc: im jinah 임진아
"my favorite memory of vivi? it's always good times with her, but i guess there was that time we spent a week at our uncle's up in hopatcong for the 4th and my 19th. it was a lot of sneaking out to the lake late at night and drunken skinny dipping, but on our last night, we were sitting out on the balcony in just our underwear having this huge heart-to-heart."
- to andy
kenny thinks that vivi is pretty much the coolest. they were both partially raised together by gran because both sets of their parents were career people. as a result, vivi's always been that older sister figure that kenny looks up to. it certainly helped that they were just a block away from each other, and their bond is actually why kenny doesn't have any siblings. mom and pops said that she already seemed content enough and didn't want to disrupt it. with four years between them, vivs plays the guide of her youth, always keeping it loose and always encouraging her to live. and if that meant a wild night of drinking or helping each other wax their 🐱 for a healthy appointment, then so be it. the years have definitely toned down the party animal in vivi, but she still keeps up that energy with kenny albeit being slightly more worrisome especially since they live together. she was a younger 20-something once, so she just wants to look after her. by all means, be a hoe. just be a safe hoe.
 michael "mikey" yifeng cui 崔易峰 
probable twin soul. senior, studio art. 22.
fc: dong sicheng 董思成
"if mikey bursted through my front door at like 2 in the morning and told me i had to come with him right then and there, no context, i would still 100% go with him, no hesitation. why are you laughing, cal??? just last weekend he held onto me while i was literally dangling over the side of a building for his photo project. if that's not trust, i don't know what is!"
- to cal
it's usually the case that you will probably never see the people that you met at orientation ever again, definitely not if you're a commuter who doesn't live on campus, but that for sure didn't apply in the case of mikey and kenny. the two crossed paths at their first of many info seshes. it seemed like everyone, except for the two of them, got the memo to bring their parents along to orientation, so they just naturally gravitated to each other. having the same major was a huge plus, too, even if they were looking at different tracks. mikey is a photography and print kind of guy, but they can at least agree on painting and drawing. being a local, born and raised, he had no problem showing her around the city, and he was eager to drag her to all of his favorite spots despite having only met that morning. needless to say, they became attached pretty attached at the hip. compared to kenny, he's more excitable but they are just always on similar wavelengths and get each other like no one else. kenny does not know this, but mikey occasionally talks to her dad after he made friends with him when kenny took mikey up to jersey just this summer.
 nari myeong 명나리 
actual wife. senior, art education. 21.
fc: lee naeun 이나은
"we're sorry that you had to find out this way, mikey, but we've decided that we're going to run away and get married. we couldn't resist each other's charms. we'll be holding the wedding in the spring in a villa overlooking lake como where we'll all wine, dine, and dance until the sun comes up. we'll send you an invite in the mail."
- to mikey
before they turned into the close friends that they are at present, they met as co-workers, at the beginning of sophomore year, at the aisling connolly gallery when aisling connolly strolled into the building with a new student assistant in tow. nari was extremely soft-spoken at first, but she was an absolute sweet angel. that moved something in kenny, maybe an urge to hold and protect her from all the bad in the world. nari was a breath of fresh air in a polluted college town. she has since opened up after getting entangled with kenny, but she's no where near party animal. she's like a mom friend, but she emulates the kind of mom who would cheerfully bake you cookies, listen to all of your worries without any judgements, and tuck you in to bed. kenny loves this girl so much. and so does mikey. mikey got shy meeting nari, but he doesn't get shy. kenny nearly busted her head trying to get them together. but them dating doesn't stop nari and kenny from being playfully lovey with each other.
 chariya "som" hongsakul จริยา หงสกุล
fashion hero. junior, fashion merch. 21.
fc: chicha amatayakun ชิชา อมาตยกุ
"babe, do you wanna pop by the fabric store later? i've got an idea for a two-piece set, and i'd ing appreciate your input. we can throw some drinks back afterwards, too."
- to som
kenny crossed paths with som around the start of spring semester of her sophomore year and som's freshman year. som commissioned mikey for some photos, and kenny was just chilling at the shoot because she had nothing better to do, and she liked watching him work the camera. at some point, som was asking kenny where she got her crop top-skirt set, and kenny let it drop that she made it out of an ugly nightgown that she found at the thrift store. that pretty much marked the start of their friendship. kenny does get that som isn't exactly for everyone, but she's fun as hell, wild, and unbridled, and kenny likes that about her. while the two of them wouldn't exactly consider themselves to be emotionally close, they don't really talk about anything deep, they do appreciate each others company when they link up. bottom line is that kenny would say they're cut from maybe not the same cloth but neighboring cloths.
 andrew "andy" midam yong 용미담 
quiet comfort. junior, game design. 20.
fc: felix yongbok lee 이용복
"hey, do you remember that time when you couldn't look at me straight for like two weeks because you walked in while cal was ing me in the bathroom? ...haha, who would've thought we'd be here, laying on my bedroom floor together like this and making concept art?"
- to andy
if you asked kenny about how their friendship came to be, she'd first say that she didn't think they would ever get as close as they are. she just didn't know if he'd actually like being around a girl like her. apparently, she was wrong. she really enjoys his more quiet nature because, like nari who she loves deeply, he's a really nice breath of fresh air. if you give him a chance for a conversation, he holds a lot of gravity in his words, and unlike a lot of her friends, he seems like he wants to actually get to know her rather than just talk about something shallow, which is a facet of their friendship that she probably appreciates the most. but something that kenny doesn't really get is why everyone is obsessed with his ity. like for 's sake, let him breathe. and if kenny is being honest, she kind of hates the little bro label that everyone seems to stamp him with, but that might be because she's had moments where she's had the urge to kiss him. blame it on the emotional bond?
 miriam "mia" hyeyeon hwang 황혜연 
drinking bud. junior, vocal performance. 21.
fc: roseanne chaeyoung park 박채영
"my pops just sent me this expensive bottle of wine, and i thought, 'who better to share it with than my dear friend mia?' and if you don't like wine, we've got other in our liquor cabinet, too."
- to mia
kenny met mia shortly after re-meeting noah via som. it was bound to happen as the two of them are pretty much a package deal. you know one, you'll probably know the other, too. for kenny, mia was someone who was relatively easy to establish a connection with, and alcohol might have played a little bit of a role in that. while, yeah, it's fun to down a ton of booze and get super wasted, it's also nice to simply enjoy it. mia gets that, and out of all her more casual friends and connections, kenny would probably choose mia as her preferred drinking partner just for that reason. it's also a plus that mia's got a good head screwed onto her body and is a real solid girl who kenny can chat about a wide range of topics with. it kind of hits different when you're at the club, and the music is blaring and people are grinding up on each other, but you're just having a completely normal conversation in one of the booths. in the future, kenny will seem fond to ask her about a certain guy at the school of music.
 noah dejun li 利德俊 
for history. senior, history. 22.
fc: wong yukhei 黃旭熙
"if you're going up into the stacks, i'll go with you. i've gotta get this art history paper out of the way."
- to noah
noah and kenny actually met during the spring semester of freshman year in a history class. she thought he was pretty chill, and they even paired up for the final project, but after that, they basically went back to being a pair of strangers. fast forward to him dating som. it was a pretty big surprise to see each other again and an even bigger surprise that they still remembered each other. in those four months, they sort of rekindled their history partnership and often studied and researched with each other. study meet-ups just work better when you're both in a similar subject. once the whole nasty breakup happened, things shifted a bit. when you are dating within a friend group and break up, there will be rifts, and it's almost inevitable that people are going to pick sides even if it's subconscious. that's just how it is, and kenny drifted towards som albeit not having anything personal against him. once things settled back down, though, kenny and noah's original friendship resumed.
"YOU'RE IN MY HEART."
potential lovers, inevitable heartbreak
 
 calvin fanxing cui 崔繁星 
1st year masters, chinese literature.
fc: wang yibo 王一博
"okay, tmi, i know. but hear me out, vivi. have you ever been subjected to the profound experience of having chinese love poetry recited to you in a soft, gentle whisper, lips brushed right up against your ear, while being mercilessly pounded into a bed? because cal does that to me, and i need to know if that's justification enough for me to fall in love with him."
- to vivi
other names 
• cal it's a shorter verson of his name that's mainly reserved for his family and friends.
birthdate & age may 8th, 1997 ( 23 )
personality
in contrast to his younger brother, calvin cui is like a coconut in the personality department. he possesses a cool and composed exterior and is routinely unfazed by his surroundings. he's rich in thought and sensitivity, and more often than not, he is content with observing or listening into the conversation without much participation on his end. at the same time, he is honest and doesn't hide his angles and thus speaks out his thoughts when he feels it is necessary.
 
once you get through his shell, a much softer and gentler nature begins to appear, and one might find that he smiles and laughs more at this stage of knowing him. you wouldn't think it since he doesn't let this side of him out very often, but he's got a great sense of humor. mikey actually keeps a record of his brother's most memorable quotes. even further along his development, with specific people, more like one person, he lets his vulnerability shine through to allow himself to be touch-feely.
 
status close friends with benefits
development 
that very same week of kenny and mikey's orientation, kenny had found herself standing at the front door of the cui household for a dinner that mikey's mom invited her to. at this point, mikey hadn't mentioned having an older brother, so she was pretty surprised when she was gazing into the eyes of someone who wasn't mikey. and it seemed like no one passed the memo onto calvin either because he looked equally surprised when a girl he's never met popped up at his parents' door.
 
mikey later commented on cal's behavior at the dinner as "strange" because he seemed to skip over the whole cold and aloof persona and was actually participating in conversation more than usual. cal also later justified that it was because mikey bringing a friend over was not something that happened very often, so she must have been a decent person. mikey to this day does not believe that was the only reason why he warmed up so quickly. but i guess that's a secret cal will never tell.
 
cal being a year older and in a different major, a bit of effort had to be involved in developing their friendship, so they often planned ahead to hang out, even if that meant without mikey. initially, mikey didn't like his brother taking his new best friend away and had considered gatekeeping, but on second thought, it was kind of nice seeing cal so... soft. even though it was weird! he's never even seen him that way with former flames. thus started mikey's "make-kenny-my-sister-in-law" mentality.
 
some early-june day after kenny's sophomore year, she and cal were laying on the floor of cal's bedroom together while his roommate was out. kenny was going on about her mom's newest exhibit while cal just listened patiently. there was a lot of glancing at each other's lips during this exchange until finally, cal reached out to brush a strand of hair away from her face, slowing her ramblings to a stop. next thing you know, they're making out and taking their clothes off.
 
both of them knew that kenny wasn't looking for a serious relationship, but they also could not deny the chemistry between them. so they just added to their friendship and were content with that. however, it would seem as of recent that kenny is opening up to the idea of relationship, and she doesn't know how to take that. 
interactions 
before ual partners, they are good friends first. they've always got each others' backs and know that they can always seek the other out for just a regular hang out or chat. a lot of the time, their conversations are mostly kenny talking and cal listening to her intently, but she knows he'll say something if he wants to. cal has also habitually seeks out non-ual physical contact with her, so it isn't unusual for him to back hug her when they're standing or rest a hand on her thigh when sitting.
 
like their friendship, their ual partnership involves a lot of communication, and they've made a point to make sure that they're both comfortable with what they're doing. initially, they didn't intend to be monogamous, and there's a rule between them to always be transparent with each other about any outside ual relations. she's had  with two other guys, and he knows that, but ultimately, she ended up just wanting him. it also helps that he knows all of her kinks and happily obliges.
ending your decision :)
 
trivia
• fear kenny does think about giving them a real fighting chance. it's pretty hard not to, but she's honestly afraid of it. she saw what happened with som and noah, and she cares too much about cal to have the potential to lose him.
• homies can cuddle, too as much as she loves the , kenny thinks her fave part is the cuddling and chat afterwards.
• it's called borrowing cal constantly finds himself the victim of clothing theft. she just really like the scent of the man-who-is-not-her-man.
• flowers for the star he never misses out on her art shows and exhibits and always has her favorite bouquet of lavender and baby's breath in tow.  
• team cal even after a certain music grad student enters the picture, mikey remains loyal to the cause of team cal.
 hyeonseok yi 이현석 
1st year doctoral, piano performance.
fc: kwon hyuk 권혁
"ugh, this is so rom-drama, but do you know that feeling when you meet someone for the first time, and the attraction is so fervent? it's almost like time just slows down until the world seems like it's at a complete standstill, and it's just you and that other person and no one else. then suddenly, you realize that you're no longer breathing... because holy ing . like what the , okay."
- to mikey
other names 
• seok the equivalent of kendall's kenny. he prefers to be called this over his full name.
birthdate & age march 14th, 1995 ( 25 )
personality
seok is one of those people who naturally finds themselves surrounded by others. you could say that he's something like that of a social butterfly, if you will, but it isn't that he actively searches for people to talk to or make acquaintances with. he's charismatic by virtue of an outward sensuality, but it's his laid-back charm and down to earth attitude that makes people find him quite approachable. while communicative, he's thoughtful and witty in his expression over purely reckless.
 
it's in seok's nature to be nonjudgemental in regards to others, and he's pretty genuine in wanting to understand the friends that he makes along the way. he's like a sponge, taking in all of his experiences and the world around him. and taking on the classical music world does not come without a sense of passion. he is quite determined to make his mark as a concert pianist, but he doesn't care to strive towards technical perfection but to connect with the music and share it.
 
status strangers... for now
development 
kenny was perusing all of the different exhibits at the first friday festival when the sound of a piano being played softly hung in the air. she did hear that there was going to be a joint collab of three art, english, and music grad students doing a show that was inspired by schumann's "scenes from childhood." she figured that's where the sound is coming from and that "scenes from childhood" was what was being played. she had no reservations to go check it out.
 
that's where she saw seok for the first time, playing the piano in the middle of a room full of hazy paintings of children and pieces of poetry. a beautifully constructed show aside, she found herself intrigued by him. he didn't exactly look like your typical concert pianist. he wore a hairstyle that resembled a mullet, and the tattoo on his neck was peeking out of the collar of his dress shirt. she could take appreciation in him playing the music with such finesse and sensitivity.
 
she ended up chatting him up during the first of his breaks. and then she came back for the second. and then the third. and then he asked her to grab a drink with him after the festival. they just sort of clicked, and it was pretty obvious they were really attracted to each other. she found out that he was from rochester and went to eastman through his master's and then came to nsu for a change in scenery for his phd. they couldn't really believe how similar they were, but kenny joked that she was the blueprint.
 
i mean, they're just getting to know each other at this point and being friends, but they both also like each other romantically??? he pretty much threw her off on a loop because she acknowledges that he could be the one who ends her non-committal love life, and she's left really confused because of cal in the mix.
interactions 
kenny and seok are pretty enthusiastic about each other, and there always seems to be a flirtatious air surrounding them whenever they talk. he understood the one thing that a lot of people in her life couldn't. that is, giving up a prestigious school in favor of a lesser known one. and he makes her uncharacteristically soft. the thing that kenny likes about seok the most is his ability to keep a conversation going. they'd have to hang out at an ihop or something.
 
as a piano grad student, he's usually pretty busy with preparing for his private lessons, so he doesn't get chewed out by his professors, and creating a repertoire for his end-of-semester recital. but sometimes, he sneaks her into the practice rooms for her company and so that she can listen to him. he also introduced her to ravel, the music school dean's cat who hangs around. so they kinda bond over ravel too.
ending your decision :)
 
trivia
• learn the ropes seok sometimes likes to give her impromptu piano lessons. it's a lot more messing around and laughter rather than actual learning, though.
• best when improvised after discovering that she likes jazz, he's been trying to learn how to play the style.
• team seok unlike her boyfriend, nari is a part of team seok. she sees how excited kenny gets about him, so it's hard for her not to support.
"JUST GO WITH THE FLOW!"
final words before parting
 
comments, questions, concerns? fjksds hi, hello, and welcome to the end of this app. i am so sorry that it is so long. i just- i get enthusiastic sometimes. i honestly didn't think that i would actually finish this, but here we are after putting my heart and soul into this lmaoo. 💀 anyway, thank you so much for the extension and for reading this monstrosity. i hope you like kenny and all of her antics. i certainly had a lot of fun developing her character and the characters surrounding her... even though i kind of burned out with seok lol. 🤗
scene suggestions
 shame a scene where kenny and cal are having , but she starts thinking about seok part of the way through it, and for the first time in her life, she's ashamed of herself and can't even bring herself to look at cal or discuss it with him.
 uh... what was that? (lmao i just had the thought) a very unexpected kiss between andy and kenny, initiated by andy because he had the urge. it doesn't change anything between them, but it does make them laugh when they look at each other.
 ravel and love just wholesome moments with kenny, seok, and ravel in the practice room.
password i've heard of shameless, but i haven't actually seen it or any of the other shows you mentioned. i'll have to give them a try one day!

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