Chapter Text
Tuesday 4:18PM, 28 days left until debut
"Y/n if I am being honest with you, you should think over this very carefully" you didn't think that your second PR meeting ever would be probably the most important meeting of your career.
There are so many concept drawings in front of you and documents.
'Y/N STAGE NAME IDEAS'
'Y/N SKZOO CONCEPTS'
'Y/N SOLO TRACK SHORTLIST'
'Y/N DEBUT SHOOT CONCEPTS'
"Do I... have to pick a stage name?" You trail off, you've never really given it any thought before, you didn't think you would need one since you didn't know of another idol with your name. "No, but it's worth giving it thought, especially for global appeals sake"
"What do you mean?"
"Some of the biggest stars are just known by one name, you want to be known as THE y/n, not just Y/n of stray kids, that's why in the industry we try to not share names between idols, but you're in a group that has global appeal, it's worth considering big names globally as well" you have to admit that a small spark of something hopefully dangerous ignites in your chest.
Could you be THE y/n? Are you capable of reaching that level? The PR team sounds pretty convinced that it was a possibility.
And suddenly it all clicks into place, why all these decisions are being laid out in front of you at the same time, why you are being told to think this through properly.
Identity, it's all about identity.
"You said that it is up to me, right? That the company is happy to explore any of these options"
She nods "We have preferences for what we think are the best options if you're stuck but your group has built a brand on being self-made and authenticity, in a way to keep that up we need to let you have a say" You smirk, thank you 3racha.
"I do...have one idea" you grab a pencil, pulling the papers towards you "If I can rename a track slightly, to 'final girl', we could do a bit of a horror movie homage concept?"
"Oh...wait I like that idea, we'll need to clear it with a few people..."
"Well, if it does get cleared, I think I want my SKZOO to be a deer"
"Really? If you're going for the concept of a survivor and final girl, a deer kind of implies the opposite"
"That's exactly why I want it" The pr girls stare at you with wide eyes, blinking "If that's what you want" one of them shrugs.
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"Ay y/n!" Changbin and Jisung are middle wrestle when you enter the studio "How was the meeting"
"Good I think, we're waiting for approval but I think we're going with either your only girl or eyes on me for the solo track, planning on changing the title of your only girl to 'final girl' though"
"Oh I like eyes on me good choice"
"What about final girl?"
"I love both for different reasons, final girl is definitely a big solo debut track but eyes on me would be so good to perform in a stadium"
"Mm I agree, final girl is so catchy though as a solo debut, especially with the circumstances, I wonder if they'll let me do eyes on me as like a b-side of final girl or something"
"Maybe....anyway! Now you're here " before we got stolen by jyp meeting last week you were in the middle of adding a bass line and we didn't know what chord progressions you were going for"
Oh yeah, music production, that's a thing you're doing. "Oh yeah, hold on" you throw yourself into the chair next to him, biting your tongue as you take over the keyboard.
"When is Ayen coming in to record do we know?"
"Not till this evening he's out filming a rachalog right now"
"Ah I wanted to mirror his vocals for this section is all"
"Eesh y/n do you want us to lose our jobs?" Changbin laughs a little, falling back into the couch. "I just haven't listen to this track to death yet, you've gone sound blind"
"I do feel like I have lost all concept of what the words 'do it' even mean at this point" Chan sighs, taking out his phone. "Have you eaten?" you shake your head "Haven't gotten the chance yet"
"I'm gonna order tteokbokki then"
"I'm not sure channie I haven't met with coaches yet I don't know if they want me on a meal plan before debut" Chan raises his brows, chin tilted down as he looks up at you. "Do you want to be put on a meal plan?"
"Not really but-"
"But you need to eat, what the coaches won't know won't hurt them"
You blush, you actually blush, you don't even know why you just do. Maybe it's out of embarrassment, maybe. You're scared to think what the other option may be.
That a part of you found it just a little too endearing that he was taking care of you.
You blink away the though, get yourself together y/n.
A ding from your phone provides a happy distraction, picking it up, gaze slowly flickering back and forth between the pc screen and the phone, that was until you actually read the notification.
Post from: @kpopdispatchupdates
New dispatch post!: 'sources close to their company claim a decade long trainee and producer set to rush debut in the next month'
"Shit." you mutter to yourself, tilting the screen to Jisung next to you "How the hell has that gotten out?" Chan places his chin on your shoulder to read the post which really does not help you as you feel a heat crawl up your neck.
He sighs "Well that narrows things down, we've been wondering whose been leaking stray kids things to dispatch for months, barely anyone knows about your debut the list has gotta be short, send that to our managers they'll be on it"
You nod, hitting share to drop it in your messages with skz management. "What are the replies saying?"
"Mostly confusion, some fans who watched sixteen and your survival show are excited from my 30 second cameo in that show, theres a lot of debate if that means theres going to be a new girl group or i'm debuting solo, no one seems to be close to the truth"
"Thats good...I think?"
"Yeah I think so...Its still a little too early for people to know yet I think"
A second ding from your phone recaptures you're attention "They want to move my dorms?"
"What? Where to? one of ours" Changbin's brows furrow as he tries to get a look at the screen "No I think I'm still having a solo dorm, they just want me in the one next to all yours, i guess that makes sense I'm not a trainee anymore I can't carry on living in trainee dorms"
That is...so much change.
Being faced with so many decisions in one day is one thing, you like having creative control over your project, but it is so much.
New schedule, new dorms, new name, new image.
You don't even realise that you've frozen in place until Jisung places a hand on your back, heat radiating across your torso. "Hey, I swear we're not that bad as neighbours" He jokes, letting out a nervous but soft smile.
Chan's phone dings "Oh food is here! We'll run down and get it"
Jisungs smile remains on his face until the two other thirds of 3racha leave the studio.
"It's a lot, isn't it?"
"It just is very different, I'm so used to kind of just being alone that I'm not sure I know how to be with a group" Jisungs face softens more, lips twitching almost as if he finds your expression cute but knowing its the wrong moment "Oh y/n, you know you don't have to change with us right? You can act around us the same way you always have"
Your breath hitches in your throat "That...means a lot actually"
"Good, you're already less annoying than the others so I will be mad at you if you change, okay?" he pouts at you
You laugh "Okay"
"Good, you don't want to see me when I'm mad" he jokingly threatens "Oh really?"
"Yes really, I'm very intimidating I'll have you know"
"I'm sure you are jisung" Okay maybe this won't be too bad.