ABOUT WINSTON
ENFJ-T. GRYFFINDOR. 4W3. CHAOTIC GOOD. 

TRAITS

POS　 charismatic, empathetic, kind, loyal, open-minded, passionate, sincere.
NEU　cautious, emotional, introspective, perfectionistic, protective, sentimental.
NEG　apprehensive, cynical, distrustful, hesitant, reserved, restrained, self-sacrificing. 

PERSONALITY

for almost as long as he could remember, winston yearned for a glorious rise to the top, a grand stage front and center before an audience's thundering applause. for such a simple childhood dream to become reality, it is thanks to his determination, resilience, and almost animalistic hunger for success and perfection. passion ignites his veins and drives him forward, but while his competitive nature fuels his climb to the top, he maintains a kind and noble heart, unwilling to step on others despite how much closer it may bring him to his goals. in the eyes of many, winston is someone who is born to perform, and it is not only his captivating aura but also his virtuous character that earn him respect as both an artist and an individual. 

but once vibrant and b with energy, winston now exists as a shadow of his former self following his departure from aeon entertainment, jaded from the failures caused by both what he lacks and what lies beyond his control. twice, he had success within his grasp, and twice, success had slipped away just beyond his reach, and along the way he has learned just how vicious the entertainment industry can be.

for that, he has grown cynical of people's intentions, assuming the worst and keeping others at distance in order to shield himself and his family. the less known about his personal life, the lower the risk of someone utilizing it to their own benefit, and while former peers recall winston's lively and almost carefree nature in the past, he has since grown more reserved and withdrawn, forcing himself to view the relationships he forms with the prism trainees and vesper as merely business instead of true companionship. rude and emotionless would be rather inaccurate terms to describe his attitude as he still addresses others with formality and respect, but that is all there is to such relationships—mere professionalism, nothing more and nothing less. 

but at his core, winston is still a boy with a heart of gold and so much love and appreciation to give. 

the wall he builds between himself and those around him are meant to protect him and his family, yet all he feels instead are loneliness and a deep longing for companionship. he cannot help but feel another person's happiness and want to celebrate their accomplishments, nor can he help but want to share another's burden and help aid them back on their feet after they've fallen.

winston is, in a sense, someone who feels too much and too deeply, and it is evident in the motivations that urge him towards his goal. while the desire for fame and recognition initially drives him to becoming an idol, his motivation has become to spread a message of warmth and positivity to those who hear him, of kindness and love no matter its form. it is no longer the concept of fame itself that gives him fulfillment but rather the platform it gives him to bring joy and comfort and encouragement to those who need it.

as harsh as the world may be, he was fortunate to grow up receiving unconditional love from someone incredibly selfless, and to experience such a beautiful thing only inspires him to uplift others than tear them down for his own benefit. while he may not necessarily always forgive and forget the wrongdoings of people against him, even against his worst enemies winston cannot bring himself to wish them pain and suffering. perhaps he is too soft-hearted, but he can only hope for their remorse and growth so that they will no longer cause further hurt to others. 

initially following vesper's debut, the only major glimpses into winston's warm and genuine nature are through his interactions with fans. details about his personal life remain private, of course, and there is only so much of his personality he can show when requested mundane things like aegyo and fanservice, but his character truly shines in moments of authenticity and vulnerability. hearing that his music can heal and his artistry can inspire during difficult times are some of the highest compliments winston can receive, yet even so, he cannot help but shift his focus to those he's speaking with, because he is proud of them for enduring their hardships and he wishes nothing but the best for all of their endeavors, nothing but happiness for their future. though winston has yet to open up to his groupmates, what's undeniable is the compassion and fondness he expresses towards their fans, and for that, he has become known for being a beacon of light for them to return home to after harsh days and harsher nights. 

it's only long before the distance winston forces between himself and vesper slowly but inevitably closes, and when that time comes, he will once again share the stories of his childhood memories with fondness and excitement, stories of his family now with a trust he hopes his fellow members will cherish and protect. when that time comes, winston will no longer walk behind them in fear of their intentions or betrayal but instead walk before them, a leader and defender who will do anything to shield them from the pain of their past and the uncertainty of their future.

ultimately, winston's fierce and undying loyalty serves as both his greatest weakness and his greatest strength.

in its unhealthiest form, his willingness to sacrifice himself in hopes of preserving someone else's smile can prove destructive and dentrimental to his own happiness and well-being; but at its best, it allows him to thrive with the meaningful connections he's created, to become the shoulder others can lean on and the safe haven that will shelter them through the most turbulent of storms.

though it will take a while before the bonds between winston and vesper strengthen, it is only a matter of time before they witness the gradual revival of his former and true self. 

 

BACKGROUND

ACT I: 1999 - 2015

though his journey is marked by humble beginnings, it is through the unwavering love of a mother that winston sets his sight on the sky, that he longs for and chases after a beautiful dream. 

born in san francisco, california, winston was raised by a single mother, elena kang, after an unplanned pregnancy during her second year of university, yet despite the hardships she endured, what mattered most had always been the well-being and happiness of her son, the most precious person to her. it would be a lie to say winston has never once wondered about the identity of his father, especially when the consistent monthly child support payments meant that elena still had some means of contact with him, but winston never dared to ask in fear that such question would make her feel like she wasn't enough. never once did winston ever feel she lacked giving him love and attention, and if anything, the sacrifice of giving up her original dream to pursue law and the overwhelming devotion she poured into taking care of him were more than enough to prove she was the only parental figure winston needed.

even so, there was no denying the financial strain that came with looking after a dependent as the sole parent and main monetary provider, especially at such a young age with no higher education, but it was through working part-time jobs that she was able to alleviate their financial burden. fortunately, the support they received from friends and family helped a great deal, as his grandparents and uncle—until the latter moved to south korea for work—contributed by looking after winston when they had time outside of managing their small, family-owned restaurant. in addition, his mom's closest friend since middle school, a woman named minah kim, would become the person he relied on the most outside of his family. 

winston's first introduction to music came in the form of after school guitar lessons at the age of 7, but it wasn't until 2011 that his journey with dance officially began after joining his middle school's dance club during his second year. in 2013, winston first started exploring more of kpop in which he became a huge fan of shinee and infinite, and what began as his desire to learn their choreography slowly developed into a fascination with the idol lifestyle. could this be something he could achieve too? was it possible for him to also become an idol? he expected his mom to turn down the idea but to his surprise, she showed an openness to it, especially when his uncle had moved back to korea years ago for work and had now settled there with a family.

it would, of course, take some time to save for winston's move overseas, but after two years of planning and preparation, the young boy finally bid his loved ones in america a rather emotional farewell in 2015 before arriving in seoul, where he would stay with his uncle and enroll into the school of performing arts. 

ACT II: 2016 - 2019. 

winston's successful audition with aeon entertainment in mid 2016 marked his first major step in pursuing his dream, and though adjusting to new surroundings and his now official trainee status required some time, winston's family in korea welcomed him with open arms. it helped that he had grown up speaking korean at home with his grandparents, and while he wouldn't necessarily be considered fluent at the time, the language barrier wasn't impossible to overcome. his pronounciation and comprehension improved significantly over time, but even in the early stages of his time at sopa and aeon, it presented little challenge against him befriending classmates and labelmates. 

with his friendly and upbeat demeanor, winston grew to be well-liked by his new peers, getting along with most and especially bonding with two or three people in each setting. however, there was one particular individual who seemed to not just dislike his company but actually loathe his presence: moon jaehyuk, both a fellow trainee at aeon and a classmate in his year at sopa. maybe it was the way they shared a specialty and focus on dance that seemed threatening to jaehyuk, but in truth, winston failed to see how he presented such a massive threat—not that he severely lacked confidence in his own abilities but rather he felt there was still much he could learn, whereas jaehyuk's skillset already allowed him to choreograph. 

whatever jaehyuk's problem with him was, there wasn't much he could do. though the other's distaste for him grew more and more overt over the months, winston generally ignored it, choosing to focus on more positive aspects like his own self-improvement.

throughout his time in korea, he of course continued to keep in close contact with his loved ones in america. video calls every weekend became an established routine once they worked out the timezone differences, and while he knew he'd worry over about his mom's health and well-being with the distance between them, he'd openly placed his trust into the only other person he could rely on: miss minah kang, who had been his mom's closest friend since they first met in middle school and who he more affectionately referred to as 'auntie'.

yet even with the years and years he'd known minah and her unyielding loyalty to his mom, it seemed like the air between them had shifted within the past year he lived overseas. lingering gazes, gentle fond smiles, hushed giggles and eyes filled with admiration—though all winston could see were glimpses through a screen, the person he knew best was his own mother, and the love and adoration she had always reserved for only him, he could finally witness it given to someone else.

and winston couldn't help but watch and listen with a knowing smile as they recounted their week, sometimes involving trips to the movies or to the beach or even to the mountains for a hike. he watched and listened as his mom revealed one day that she planned on enrolling into college again, that despite still needing to work and pay both the bills and winston's living expenses in korea, she could finally make time to finish her english degree and perhaps find a job as a teacher. though it wasn't her original dream of becoming a lawyer, it was a goal she wanted to work towards, one that he had no doubt she would soon accomplish.

and he watched and listened to the confession that confirmed his suspicions all along, the reveal that his mom and minah had developed romantic feelings for each other over time—the latter, apparently a long, long time ago—and that they had entered a relationship soon approaching their eighth month together, a relationship that they hoped he would approve of.

after all the sacrifices she had made for him, there was nothing winston wanted more than his mother's happiness. she had always deserved to enjoy life, and it was about time she could finally experience living for herself. 

ACT III: 2018 - 2019. 

shortly before winston graduates sopa in 2018, rumors begin to spread among the trainees at aeon entertainment that a boy group debut is in the works, sparked by the increasingly rigorous training sessions and consistent monthly evaluations with nearly the same group of trainees each time. among them is winston, and with how promising the future looks, he is eager for the day in which the official lineup is announced.

except when that day comes, winston fails to make it onto the list.

shame and disappointment fill his heart but before he leaves that evening, he is called into the office with another trainee who also fails to make n-igma's debut, and there it is revealed that aeon still has plans for them, that they will very likely be the company's representative trainees in the next upcoming season of the produce series, whenever that time shall come. so winston remains under aeon, watches in october of 2018 as seven of his peers beat the odds and successfully achieve their dream of becoming idols, and waits until produce x 101 is finally announced to premiere in 2019. soon begins winston's participation in his first ever survival show. 

on the show, winston becomes a massive hit, steadily climbing up the ranks from a low of 59 in episode 1 to consistent top 12 placements from episode 3 onward. the combination of his powerful dance capabilities, alluring stage presence, and charming personality earn him not only a grade A for both his first evaluation and his re-evaluation, but also the attention of viewers with his captivating performances and undeniable charisma. 

yet what may have held the most significant influence over winston's rise in popularity is his friendship with prism entertainment trainee, song jinhwa, whose bond with him blooms throughout the show and into one of the most beloved friendships in the season.

from the moment winston sacrifices sleep to pull a near all-nighter teaching the choreography to the younger and their efforts are rewarded with jinhwa earning an A for his re-evaluation, they become nearly inseparable. winston and jinhwa, jinhwa and winston, the audience watches with bated breath for the iconic prism and aeon duo to make their debut together in the final episode of the season—except, neither of their names are revealed to join x1's official lineup, and for the second time, winston gives his all but falls short of achieving his dream.

shortly after he returns to aeon empty-handed, he departs the entertainment company under the gut-wrenching realization that there is nothing left for him here, that there are no more opportunities for winston at aeon.

jaehyuk's cryptic final words to winston as he leaves the building serve as the final nail in the coffin: 

"with a family like yours, it's better that nobody remembers your name." 

ACT IV: 2019 - PRESENT. 

for nearly a year, former aeon entertainment trainee winston kang disappears into mundane oblivion from as far as the public eye can see. despite the numerous scouting opportunities from other companies and the unveiling timeline of produce's voting manipulation with his name thrown in the midst of it, he has fallen into radio silence outside of occasional public sightings. soon enough the rumors quell and his name fades into obscurity, though every now and then the question of what happened to him springs up, only to remain answered with speculations at best. 

winston's failures in debuting with aeon's n-igma and produce's x1 dealt devastating blows to his self-confidence, but what truly struck fear in his heart were the words jaehyuk had uttered with terrifying conviction. countless questions plagued winston's mind, about what jaehyuk could've meant, about how he could've known when the only knowledgeable parties should've been the aeon's upper management team. with how conservative south korea generally viewed such non-conventional relationships, his mom and minah had decided with no hesitation that they would keep their relationship a secret, not out of shame but out of understanding that the public opposition they might face could cost winston his dream.

under the crippling weight of all his fears and failures, winston's resolve crumbles. above all, he feels undeserving of the sacrifices that allows him to stand here, and he succumbs to what he believes is his fate with a life offstage and out of the spotlight.

maybe he isn't destined to be an idol, winston thinks, but that doesn't mean he can't continue pursuing a career in dance. it prompts him to join a dance group and enroll into a studio of relative renown, and for approximately a year, he sets out to both hone his existing skills and learn new ones, like freestyle and the fundamentals of choreographing, respectively—but the intense yearning for the limelight and centerstage remains.

despite how well he believes he hides these insecurities and uncertainties, it is clear that he has faltered. so elena, alongside minah, purchases a plane ticket without his knowledge and sets off for seoul.

for the first time in 5 years, winston is unexpectedly reunited face to face with the most important person in his life, and nothing can stop him from breaking down as she comforts and soothes him with the warmest of words—that even if he loses his way, no matter how much time it takes, she will always support him, her beloved son, her beloved angel. 

winston doesn't know what he's done to deserve a love so unconditional, but it gives him the strength to stand back up and press on forward once again; and so in september of 2020 after numerous contacts and auditions, winston officially joins prism entertainment with one final shot at achieving his debut.

though his journey is marked by humble beginnings, it is through the unwavering love of a mother that winston can continue to set his sight on the sky, that he can continue to long for and chase after a beautiful dream. 

 

LIKES

✩  PETS AND ANIMALS   he's a huge softie for animals in general but dogs are winston's absolute weak spot. fans have figured out that posting pictures of their pets on twitter is a way to boost their chances of receiving a response from winston, as he tends to compliment on how cute these animals are. before long, #vestenpetday has become a monthly trending tag alongside the fandom's selca day.
✩  DARK CHOCOLATE   he can't stand how sweet white or milk chocolate are—definitely team dark chocolate all the way. 
✩  PEANUT BUTTER   in ice cream, chocolate, baked goods, sandwiches, etc. his go-to ice cream order is actually dark chocolate with peanut butter cups, if available.
✩  TEA   all kinds, including but not exclusive to boba and milk tea. his favorites are peppermint, hibiscus, and assam, and while he prefers his drinks iced, he wouldn't pass up a cup of hot tea either.
✩  ROCK MUSIC   one of his favorite genres. just something about electric guitars in particular is so satisfying, and his solo music later on would reflect this style. 
✩  SPORTS   not that winston's ever been particularly gifted at them, but he enjoys the fun challenge nonetheless. with how competitive he gets especially when there's a prize for the winner though, the opposing team is in for a real treat.
✩  BEACHES   san francisco's beaches aren't the best for swimming but some of his fondest memories include visiting santa barbara and los angeles' nearby beaches with his family and minah. since moving to seoul though, he's never had a chance to travel to the coast, though he imagines this will change after vesper. 

DISLIKES

✩  INVASION OF PRIVACY   with how carefully he initially steers away from questions about his family, it's clear that he wants people to respect the boundaries and privacy of his personal life. this is to mainly protect his loved ones as he knows not everyone will be open and accepting of his family situation, and he'd very much rather not let his family come into public scrutiny.
✩  EXCESSIVE SWEETNESS   "not too sweet" is one of the highest forms of compliments winston can give for how much he enjoys a dessert. he gets clowned for how much he sounds like an asian auntie.
✩  WASTEFULNESS   food, water, electricity, etc. he's one of the group's trash cans when it comes to food because he'll eat whatever leftovers the others leave behind.
✩  THRILL RIDES   the 4d simulators and maybe the little baby coasters, he can handle, but those freefall rides? part of his soul would probably leave him by the time it's over.
✩  HORROR   considering his cool image, it's quite entertaining to see him lose his mind screaming while watching scary movies and navigating haunted houses. ghosts, urban legends, and horror movies will keep him awake for a good week, and if there's anyone to tease during vesper's horror special episodes, winston would definitely be a prime target. 
✩  DISHONESTY   he would rather receive honest criticism that might sting momentarily but allow him to improve his skills or recognize his fault—given it's good faith criticism.
✩  HALF-HEARTED EFFORT   as somebody who strives for the best with his skills and performances, one of winston's biggest pet peeves is a fellow teammate or groupmate slacking off. not only does it hinder progress but it's also a waste of his time and efforts. 

HOBBIES

✩  LEARNING DANCE COVERS   of  both male and female artists. with the latter, he has been acknowledged for approaching girl group choreographies respectfully by not replacing the original moves to something more masculine. 
✩  PRACTICING FREESTYLE   one of his specialties, which he started learning since high school while at sopa and aeon entertainment. it's a skill he's often asked to demonstrate during variety shows, and one that he likes to showcase during vlives. 
​​​​✩  PLAYING GUITAR   though not nearly as often as before, winston still picks up his guitar every now and then to practice or learn song covers. 
✩  CATCHING UP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA   considering how often he navigates around vesten twitter, winston is quite well-versed in internet culture when it comes to memes and inside jokes. he lurks on social media so often that fans are wondering if maybe one of their mutuals is winston's alt account. 

HABITS

✩  GIVING THE SIDEEYE   when interrupted or annoyed, though it's not always intentional. unsurprisingly, there are many compilations of him and said habit, but fans find it more entertaining than malicious or shady.
✩  BEING LOUD   once he starts opening up to vesper. he used to always be quite lively and rowdy, and it's about time he's comfortable again in his own voice, even if said voice is sometimes too noisy for his own good.
✩  AGGRESSIVELY SHOWING AFFECTION   similar, once he starts opening up to vesper. ruffling their hair, tackling them with cuddles, nagging them about reminders for their health—it's the doting brotherly side of him that naturally comes out, sometimes against his awareness.
✩  GIVING INTO MEMBERS' REQUESTS   even when he pretends to be reluctant in giving into their requests despite how silly they may be, at some point, winston will grow too fond of them to decline. 
✩  RECYCLING   second nature at this point, especially because he dislikes being wasteful. 
✩  TAKING QUICK SHOWERS   water bills weren't cheap growing up so he's used to being in and out of the shower by the 5 minute mark, if not, 10 minutes max—still thoroughly clean of course, just quick and efficient. it's almost a godsend in the dorms when there's over half a dozen boys sharing the same bathrooms.

FEARS

✩  HARM TO HIS FAMILY   they are one of the most important people to them, and winston will do anything to ensure their safety. in truth, the thought of joining prism and pursuing his dream again was accompanied by hesitation, but it was through reassurance that his family would stand behind him no matter what that he decided to give it what likely was his final shot at becoming an idol. 
✩  FAILURE   what's most devastating about failure is the thought of his mom's sacrifices being in vain. 
✩  HORROR THEMES   he's never done particularly well with horror themes, especially anything related to demons and ghosts. no doubt, he's one of the most entertaining members to watch when it comes to ghost pranks and horror specials around halloween.

TRIVIA

✩  FAVORITE COLOR   rose gold
✩  FAVORITE SEASON   spring
✩  FAVORITE FOOD   his mom's dakdoritang (spicy chicken stew)
✩  FAVORITE DRINK   iced peppermint tea
✩  FAVORITE MUSIC GENRES   rock, ballad, and edm
✩  FAVORITE GROUPS   exo, bts, and seventeen (the iconic trio) 
✩  FAVORITE ARTISTS   shinee's lee taemin, bts' j-hope, soloist chungha, and bibi

✩  EDUCATION   he graduated from the school of performing arts seoul (sopa) department of practical dance in 2018. 

✩  GUITAR LESSONS   as mentioned, winston's first introduction to music came in the form of guitar lessons at the age of 7, which began when he participated in his after school music enrichment program. this was typically offered for students whose parents could not arrive until past normal school hours, and so while waiting for his mom or someone else—usually minah—to finish their shifts and responsibilities, winston occupied his time with learning an instrument, one that the school even provided participating students to borrow and take home for practice until the end of the year. practicing the guitar became one of his favorite hobbies, and the praise he earned from his mom and family and minah only spurred him on to improve and learn more songs.

✩  HIS FIRST ACOUSTIC GUITAR   was a combined birthday present from his mom, grandparents, and minah's family after he finished elementary school. since winston needed to return the one he borrowed from his school for their after school music enrichment program, his loved ones wanted to allow him to continue playing to his heart's content with his very own guitar. since then, winston has taken meticulous care of it, both because of its monetary cost (for someone who never requested for expensive gifts) and sentimental value. it currently sits in his dorm room, played every now and then when winston wants to practice or learn song covers. 

✩  THEATRE KID BACKGROUND   winston's interest in the performing arts began after he joined his middle school's drama club in 2011. his first role in a theatrical production was this same year, and it was actually through wanting a bigger role in the following year's production that he signed up for the dance club, which was meant to help improve his stage presence and musicality. there was much to learn in terms of controlling his facial expressions and enhancing the fluidity in his body and movement, but as the year went on, he started to fall in love with dance, more than he'd felt with learning the guitar and more than he'd felt with learning theatre. 

✩  LIVING ARRANGEMENTS IN KOREA   during his stay in korea before moving into aeon entertainment's and prism entertainment's dormitories, winston lived with his uncle in seoul, or more specifically with his mom's older brother who had helped babysit him as a kid before moving to korea for work. this uncle now lives with his wife and daughter yeeun, who is younger than winston by several years and is an avid supporter of vesper. 

✩  JORJOR WEL   an inside joke between winston and vesten, prompted after he praises 'animal farm' by bibi (with an explicit content warning) during a vlive and jokes about how he likes it much more than the 'animal farm' book by george orwell, which he once tried reading before from his mom's library—except he accidentally mixes up the author's name with the online meme 'jorjor wel' and is immediately (affectionately) clowned by vesten for the mistake. with the way fans still sometimes bring it up again to , it's safe to say he won't be living this one down anytime soon. 

✩  DATING LIFE   given how early on he wanted to become an idol, winston never had a public official relationship, though naturally he's had a few crushes and moments of flirting here and there. 

✩  FAMILY PETS    one of the things he misses most about america is his family's german shepherd, daisy, who he hasn't seen for about 6 years at the time of vesper's debut and was only a year old when he moved to korea. he often speaks about his mom giving him updates of daisy's health and how much she misses him, and many of the photos he receives are saved to be posted on #vestenpetday. 

✩  SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY   twitter and bubble/weverse are his most active platforms while instagram is his least. it's impossible to reply to every single fan message of course but one of his favorite things to do is engage with them whenever winston has down time.

✩  IDEAL TYPE   someone who will stay equally devoted to him as he will be to them.

✩  PLAYLIST   seventeen 'pinwheel'  —  seventeen 'hug'  —  cix 'maybe i'  —  d.o. 'that's okay'  —  colde 'your dog loves you'  —  cix 'wave'  —  bolbbalgan4 'to my youth'  —  rm with youjeen 'wild flower'  —  stray kids 'waiting for us' 

RELATIONSHIPS

FAMILY.

ELENA EUNYOUNG KANG (1979)　biological mother   as the second and youngest child to first gen korean-american immigrants, elena too came from humble beginnings with grand aspirations of becoming a lawyer, and though she dropped out of college following her unexpected pregnancy at age 20, she would sacrifice her dream again without hesitation or regret if it means ensuring winston's well-being and happiness. she is someone who is kind-hearted and selfless, and it is clear she has much love to give, not only for winston but also even for vesper. the video messages she sends almost always offer words of encouragement that hold such reassurance and sincerity, they may even evoke some tears. but do not mistaken her gentle and soft-spoken demeanor for weakness, because to those who know her, elena is one of the strongest and most resilient people one can ever meet.

at the time of vesper's debut, she has graduated with an english degree and works as a high school literature teacher in san francisco, california. however, now that winston has achieved his dream of finally becoming an idol, she is once again considering returning to school, this time to pursue a certificate in paralegal studies. it may not be as glamorous as becoming a lawyer, but it is a job in law as she's always wanted—and since minah is currently a practicing lawyer with her own private firm, working alongside her partner and soon wife doesn't sound quite bad. 

MINAH KIM  (1979)　step mother   affectionately referred to as 'auntie', the initial extent of vesper and vesten's knowledge of her is that she is a very close friend to winston's mother. though winston is extremely cautious of what he shares about her at first, he gradually opens up about memories they've shared together and the impact she's had on his life.

minah has been his mom's greatest pillar of support outside of their family. the duo befriended each other after their first meeting in middle school and between the two, minah has always been known as the more outspoken one, daring and boisterous with a strong moral compass and immense loyalty. looking at minah now, most wouldn't expect she used to be quite a troublemaker during her childhood, not from mischief or ill intent but from her fiery temper and unwillingness to back down in the face of wrongdoing and injustices. since then, she has noticeably mellowed out, but it was actually thanks to elena that minah first considered and later ultimately pursued law. 

when compared side by side, winston greatly resembles minah in terms of character, as the two are fiercely protective and loyal to their loved ones. knowing elena would rather hold her tongue than cause anyone trouble, both winston and minah serve as the other's voice, quick to defend and call out those who wish to take advantage of her gentle nature and mild temperament. together, they are quite a force to be reckoned with.

though minah first realized she was biual in high school, it wasn't until years later that she began developing romantic feelings for elena after bearing witness to the other's resilience in the face of adversities. as of 2021, it has been 15 years since she fell in love with her best friend and 5 years since they have officially (though quietly) entered a relationship. it won't be long until they sign the paperwork for their marriage, and though at this time all they can celebrate with is a small private ceremony, perhaps one day when the world is kinder, they will be able to show their love in public without fear, not of shame but of what it will entail for winston's future. 

AEON ENTERTAINMENT.

MOON JAEHYUK　FORMER LABELMATE   the source of winston's troubles. since the beginning, jaehyuk has viewed the other as a formidable rival, though the competition between them was anything but healthy on jaehyuk's side. unknown to most, jaehyuk's blood relation to one of aeon's biggest shareholders granted him the power to replace winston's designated spot in n-igma's lineup, though it is unclear if he plays a role in winston also being rigged out of produce x 101's debuting group.

present day, their relationship remains tense. it is public knowledge that the two were former labelmates and high school classmates, though the exact nature of their history is still unknown especially to anyone who didn't train with them, with most believing they were merely friendly rivals. with those who are close to to jaehyuk though, winston wouldn't be surprised if the other talked about him, for lack of a better word. should they ever cross paths again onstage or at award shows, winston is willing to put aside their past and opt for a peaceful resolution to their former rivalry—but it seems like jaehyuk has other plans, and if it's ever revealed that he is indeed behind the public leak of elena and minah's relationship, then there will be no forgiveness. 

JEON TAEWOON　FORMER LABELMATE   the trainee who represented aeon entertainment on produce x 101 alongside winston. though they hadn't been particularly as close as winston had been to their other labelmates, their time together on the show before taewoon's elimination is what leads to him expressing his true thoughts about jaehyuk's ties to aeon, more specifically, about how jaehyuk's family's influence in the company and their potential role in winston not making n-igma's debut lineup. in truth, it's all just a theory, but even with no solid evidence, it seemed that taewoon wasn't the only aeon trainee who believed that more lied beneath the surface of jaehyuk's barely concealed hostility towards winston. taewoon's words planted the seed in his mind, and jaehyuk's final words towards him during his departure from aeon only served to solidify it. 

VESPER.

SONG JINHWA　though it comes off as a surprise when jinhwa first heard winston joined prism entertainment, he welcomes the latter with open arms and a wide smile; yet despite the beloved and well-known friendship they shared while filming produce x 101, there's something that's missing from their interactions now that the cameras aren't constantly watching their every move—substance, depth, sincerity. winston had joined prism with hopes of giving his dream one last attempt, and the thought of debuting alongside a friend who'd accompanied and also experienced the hell that is a survival show would be a dream come true, but it seems like jinhwa has more than enough company here and winston should've expected nothing less from someone so likable. for some reason, it stings. once more, though surrounded by many, winston feels alone.   

CHOI YUNBIN　to be added!

OPEN TO COLLABS　more to be added!

YEOMRA　　YANNI 　　60%
return to story

COMMENTS　hello again anne, this is my second boy who i hope you'll also find to your liking! please let me know if you would like me to change anything and i'd be happy to do so, especially since winston's family plays such a big role in his character arc + elena and minah's relationship being leaked will likely have some impact on him and vesper. 

the l/i section is also still a wip because haru and i wanted to wait until final lineup is selected/the collab period is open, buuut i love that you already see the idea behind it with the whole aeon and jaehyuk mess, LOL. i'll add more scene suggestions in the future too. other than that, thanks for reading and i'm looking forward to what you have planned for vesper!

SCENE SUGGESTIONS

✩  HIS MOM'S WEDDING   much later into the future after vesper rises in fame, winston fully trusts in his groupmates, and it is publicly revealed that winston's mom had secretly remarried a woman. seeing his mom and minah never had the chance to have a proper wedding due to hiding their relationship from the public, one of the biggest ways he could repay them is by encouraging them to finally celebrate with a proper wedding with all expenses paid by him. of course, vesper is invited (and welcomed to perform). bonus: winston being incredibly nervous about writing his speech for the wedding. and bonus 2: vesper having a mini vacation in california while there?

DISCOGRAPHY SUGGESTIONS

✩  ENHYPEN   future perfect (pass the mic) — paradoxxx invasion — drunk-dazed — fever — i need the light — polaroid love — tfw
✩  TXT   puma — eternally — trust fund baby — sugar rush ride — devil by the window —  tinnitus — farewell neverland
✩  SEVENTEEN   cheers — i don't understand but i luv u — april shower
✩  SF9   puzzle
✩  CIX   jungle — cinema
✩  NCT   the 7th sense — sun and moon — 90's love — saturday drip — perfume (dojaejung)
✩  ATEEZ   answer — cyberpunk — the ring — wave — 
✩  STRAY KIDS   taste — we go — wolfgang — miroh — maze of memories — behind the light — waiting for us
✩  THE BOYZ   the stealer — o sole mio (red wedding) — scar — got it — all about you — roar
✩  BOYS PLANET   say my name — en garde — over me — hot summer 

PERMISSION TO USE CHARACTER ELSEWHERE?　of course! if winston isn't chosen, i see him still remaining with his dance group and becoming background dancers for prism, and since he's also been focusing more on choreographing dance after leaving aeon, i can also see him going on to co-choreograph for some of vesper's songs.