✧。i am NEON

┌── ◦✧◦ ──┐

└── ◦✧◦ ──┘

the mentors finish their grading, but
before giving the scores, they stop
before the wall in the waiting room

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; wow, it's really full now

BEFORE THE TRAINEES ARRIVED

▎YU HEEYUN [ RAP MENTOR ] ;; give me something inspirational to write

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; 'the blindfold won't be the only darkness you're seeing'

▎YU HEEYUN [ RAP MENTOR ] ;; wtf???

after 10 minutes of thought, all
four mentors had finished
writing on the board

now the mentors read the wall full of words

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; "if they don't agree fry them" and "cry a river. build a bridge. get over it" ?

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; these are my type of people!

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; really because i think you believe "don't let the others stop you from what you want to achieve" more than those

▎YU HEEYUN [ RAP MENTOR ] ;; only angel taewoo would admit to that and i'm pretty sure he doesn't exist anymore

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; i think devil taewoo just takes up both shoulders

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; anyway, should we try picking which trainee picked which quote?

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; oh? did your cards also say that?

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; no... i just figured we needed content

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; haein you really need to stop exposing yourself

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; yes, but the cards don't tell me that so *shrug*

heeyun snatches her cards

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; hey!

▎YU HEEYUN [ RAP MENTOR ] ;; anyway... this quote says they're good looking so that's definitely hyunjin

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; yeah

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; give at least a little enthusiasm

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; oh! sorry that i was trying to read

fangjun sighs

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; *smiles* there's so much positivity on this board

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; i mean, except for a few

▎YU HEEYUN [ RAP MENTOR ] ;; *chuckles* including your own

▎YU HEEYUN [ RAP MENTOR ] ;; it's funny that, "beware, i'm willing to tell you the truth" is between two quotes talking about getting the most out of life

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; ah, that's what this quote is talking about?

▎YU HEEYUN [ RAP MENTOR ] ;; yeah, it's saying "it is how well you live that matters, not how long"

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; it's cute. someone played off of your quote heeyun!

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; "be the shining star in someone's dark night" i wonder who wrote it

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; maybe it's the one that was flirting with you?

heeyun hits him

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; wait- i mean the one you were flirting with

this time haein hits him

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; stop it

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; but myungjoon definitely wrote the green one

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; why?

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; who else would've had a green marker?

▎LI FANGJUN [ DANCE MENTOR ] ;; ok then who wrote the star one?

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; *shrugs* could've been anyone, plenty of trainees gave me those vibes

▎JUNG TAEWOO [ VOCAL MENTOR ] ;; great help haein!

◦✧◦

it's now time for the trainee groups to be made

follow us into a new room

the room doesn't seem fully constructed,

which is weird considering not much time was spent on the other two rooms

one half of the room had non wavering lights lining both the ceiling and the floor

glow in the dark stars were scattered across the wall

the other half only held one line of flickering lights around

the ceiling and a few fake candles dotted around the room

however, both sides held a plain white podium against the wall

there was a cluster of fold out chairs in the middle of

the room facing a screen projected on the wall

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / STARSHIP / SUNNY ] ;; did they run out of money?

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / CUBE / GENUINE ] ;; i don't think so?

jinu glances around

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / CUBE / GENUINE ] ;; but now, i'm not too sure

▎JEON RYUHWAN [ #07 / INCLUDE / CALM ] ;; it must be for the concept

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / CUBE / SENSITIVE ] ;; eh?! does that mean 'lights' are the 'losers'?!

▎XIA QINGYU [ #11 / PNATION / SINCERE ] ;; losers? oh no no

▎DANIEL CHOI [ #09 / BNM / PRANKSTER ] ;; *sighs* i knew they were going to pull something

▎KWAN BYULYI [ #02 / JaCKs / CHARMING ] ;; well obviously, it's a survival show still

the true factors hit multiple trainees, and some needed a second to full accept the situation

while others seemed more positive?

▎NAKAMURA TAKUMI [ #14 / BNM / EASYGOING ] ;; the stars are cute!

▎KWON MYUNGJOON [ #04 / PLEDIS / VACANT ] ;; the flickering lights are cute too, love the haunted house vibes

▎MIKAEL KWON [ #15 / STONE / UNIQUE ] ;; it smells like cookies???

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / 5DAYS / MISCHEVIOUS ] ;; there are cookies. want one?

hyeon moves the plate that he was already holding while taking a bite out of one

▎MIKAEL KWON [ #15 / STONE / UNIQUE ] ;; *grins* yes please

▎JACKIE CHOI [ #05 / INCLUDE / OVERTHINKER ] ;; we should sit down

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / SOURCE / VERSATILE ] ;; in these chairs?

▎JACKIE CHOI [ #05 / INCLUDE / OVERTHINKER ] ;; yes

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / SOURCE / VERSATILE ] ;; ah yes! guys let's sit!

hyunjin ends up in a chair with his leg crossed in one fluid motion

everyone moving to sit afterwards

the blank screen switches to display an image

▎SONG NARUU [ #06 / JYP / CUTIE ] ;; 57 and 58?

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / CUBE / GENUINE ] ;; *tilts head* and they're different colors

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; hello again!

after a few seconds of surprised silence, the trainees chirp back a hello

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; are you guys ready to receive your trainee groups?

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / 5DAYS / MISCHEVIOUS ] ;; uh...

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; let me try that again

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; *clears throat* are you guys ready to get to your dorms and sleep?

▎TRAINEES ;; yes!

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; *laughs* okay then

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; you must be wondering why these two numbers are on the screen

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; well, these are the number of points the 1st trainee in Lights and the last trainee in Neon got

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; as you can see, the difference is only one point

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; in just a moment the screen will switch and the trainees that appear will be expected to move to the designated side.

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; the side with the stars are for those in neon and on screen it's coded with blue

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; while the side with the candles are for those in lights and is coded with yellow

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; without a further ado, let's find out who are the first members of each!

the trainees turn their attention to the screen

none of them have particular nerves at this point as

this is only the first spot for neon, not the last

but who is the lucky one?

and who is only one step away?

let's reveal!

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / NEON / MISCHEVIOUS ] ;; oh?

▎XIA QINGYU [ #11 / PNATION / SINCERE ] ;; he's only 7? *quirks head*

▎JACKIE CHOI [ #05 / INCLUDE / OVERTHINKER ] ;; looks like it... i feel like i'm in trouble now ha ha sweats

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / STARSHIP / SUNNY ] ;; did you just verbally say 'sweats'?

▎JEON RYUHWAN [ #07 / INCLUDE / CALM ] ;; yeah, he does that sometimes

▎JACKIE CHOI [ #05 / INCLUDE / OVERTHINKER ] ;; yes, because i can't physically sweat

▎JEON RYUHWAN [ #07 / INCLUDE / CALM ] ;; the practice room begs to differ

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / CUBE / SENSITIVE ] ;; i thought it was because you're old and can't keep up with the trends

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / SOURCE / VERSATILE ] ;; *dying* omfg

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / STARSHIP / SUNNY ] ;; okay so minhyuk's in time out

hyunjin continues to die from laughter

▎KWON MYUNGJOON [ #04 / LIGHTS / VACANT ] ;; congrats hyeon!

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / NEON / MISCHEVIOUS ] ;; myungjoon...

▎KWON MYUNGJOON [ #04 / LIGHTS / VACANT ] ;; don't give me that look! you have more experience than me, you deserve it!

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / NEON / MISCHEVIOUS ] ;; are you sure you're okay...?

▎KWON MYUNGJOON [ #04 / LIGHTS / VACANT ] ;; of course! it's only the first round, i'll work hard and take your place next time!

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / NEON / MISCHEVIOUS ] ;; what?! take someone else's!

▎KWON MYUNGJOON [ #04 / LIGHTS / VACANT ] ;; hehe let's go to our sides

once the two are settled, haein speaks again

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; good job to both of you! hopefully you are able to train in the best condition for you!

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; next up we have the trainee who scored the lowest!

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; don't worry you have plenty of time for improvement!

the screen flashes, already revealing the trainee's name

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / CUBE / GENUINE ] ;; i'm not surprised

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / CUBE / SENSITIVE ] ;; eh? *starts blubbering*

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / CUBE / GENUINE ] ;; oh no minhyukie- i didn't mean it like that!

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / CUBE / GENUINE ] ;; i meant like i expected to see both of us at the bottom after the feedback we got

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / CUBE / SENSITIVE ] ;; your score isn't even out yet *tears still falling*

▎DANIEL CHOI [ #09 / BNM / PRANKSTER ] ;; he's not wrong though, we all expected you guys to be at the bottom

▎MIKAEL KWON [ #15 / STONE / UNIQUE ] ;; shut up! stop bringing down others when you didn't even do that well yourself!

for most, that would've shut them right up but that's not how daniel reacted

▎DANIEL CHOI [ #09 / BNM / PRANKSTER ] ;; what are you saying! you trained for what 9 years? and all you came to show was one measly song?! this is an idol show yet all you did was sing and you got praised, yet when we do anything but sing, we get sh*t on?!

▎DANIEL CHOI [ #09 / BNM / PRANKSTER ] ;; they probably just pi-

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / STARSHIP / SUNNY ] ;; *covers daniel's mouth* i don't really care if you get slashed online because you're being a d*ck *exasperated* but if you don't sit and calm down right now-

daniel tries to lick and bite korain but to no avail, so he finally sits down

▎KWAN BYULYI [ #02 / JaCKs / CHARMING ] ;; you should also calm down *pats mikael's hand*

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; *sigh* just a reminder, we don't allow violence here

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; now let's see the rest of the trainees in lights

jinu 22 ; hyunjin 22.5 ; korain 28

daniel 32 ; naruu 36 ; byulyi 40

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / LIGHTS / GENUINE ] ;; now how did you get .5?

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / LIGHTS / VERSATILE ] ;; my visuals give an edge

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / LIGHTS / GENUINE ] ;; my visuals aren't bad either

▎KWAN BYULYI [ #02 / LIGHTS / CHARMING ] ;; yes, you're both hot-

▎NAKAMURA TAKUMI [ #14 / BNM / EASYGOING ] ;; *tunnel hands* hot damn

▎KWAN BYULYI [ #02 / LIGHTS / CHARMING ] ;; not the point- anyway we should move our bodies towards the podium

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / LIGHTS / VERSATILE ] ;; i hear you want us to sashay towards the podium

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / LIGHTS / SUNNY ] ;; oh please do

▎SONG NARUU [ #06 / LIGHTS / CUTIE ] ;; the rest of don't have to, right?

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / LIGHTS / VERSATILE ] ;; oh, come on naruu~

the group of 6 reaches the podium some way or another

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; all 8 trainees of lights have been announced

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;;  therefore, everyone still sitting is already in neon

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; but i assume you want to know just how well you ranked or scored?

▎NAKAMURA TAKUMI [ #14 / NEON / EASYGOING ] ;; not really, i just want to eat

▎ROMAN HWANG [ #03 / NEON / COOL ] ;; i second that

▎XIA QINGYU [ #11 / NEON / SINCERE ] ;; 3rd!

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; the staff expects too much excitement from you guys

▎JEON RYUHWAN [ #07 / NEON / CALM ] ;;  *coughs* woo so much excitement! let's hear those scores!

there's a moment of silence before the other trainees catch up and fake cheer too

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / NEON / MISCHIEVOUS ] ;; yay! it's like i'm being reborn!

hyeon screams loudly after the cheers had started to calm down

he receives stares from around the room, causing him to hide his face in his hands

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; anyway... let's begin with the number one trainee!

the screen no longer switched into its waiting color format

instead, a pink 'loading' triangle appeared

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / LIGHTS / VERSATILE ] ;; snazzy

▎YOON JINU [ #01 / LIGHTS / GENUINE ] ;; these colors are going to be important, aren't they?

▎KWAN BYULYI [ #02 / LIGHTS / CHARMING ] ;; shh, ever hear of feigned innocence?

▎KWON MYUNGJOON [ #04 / LIGHTS / VACANT ] ;; who do you think it'll be?

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / LIGHTS / SUNNY ] ;; someone who already debuted, that seems like the story the show is going for

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / LIGHTS / SUNNY ] ;; personal bet's on jackie, the judges were giving him leeway

▎KWAN BYULYI [ #02 / LIGHTS / CHARMING ] ;; if it's someone from INCLUDE, it'll be ryuhwan

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / NEON / MISCHIEVOUS ] ;; ROMAN HWANG MVP!

▎ROMAN HWANG [ #03 / NEON / COOL ] ;; he's yelling way more than usual-

▎MIKAEL KWON [ #15 / NEON / UNIQUE ] ;; well... roman hwang mvp *laughs*

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / LIGHTS / SENSITIVE ] ;; guys! don't rule out the trainees! qingyu center!

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / LIGHTS / VERSATILE ] ;; they won't be first, they only showed one skill

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / LIGHTS / SENSITIVE ] ;; but then isn't it more likely they got at least one 10?

▎NAKAMURA TAKUMI [ #14 / NEON / EASYGOING ] ;; *gasp* mikael! you should've danced!

▎DANIEL CHOI [ #09 / LIGHTS / PRANKSTER ] ;; is this triangle going to change or...?

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / LIGHTS / SENSITIVE ] ;; oh!

who scored the best during the auditions?

guess here !

the first 1st place of the show?

find out next episode!

sike ofc

▎LEE HYEON [ #12 / NEON / MISCHIEVOUS ] ;; *covers mouth* oh my god, roman hwang mvp actually

claps and cheers are heard around the room

┌── TRAINEE INTERVIEW ──┐

▎ROMAN HWANG [ #03 / NEON / COOL ] ;; it's hard to grasp

▎ROMAN HWANG [ #03 / NEON / COOL ] ;; even though the producers already told me that i would be first when i came in this morning

▎ROMAN HWANG [ #03 / NEON / COOL ] ;; the producer's freaking out behind the camera

▎ROMAN HWANG [ #03 / NEON / COOL ] ;; *chuckles* i'm joking audience

▎ROMAN HWANG [ #03 / NEON / COOL ] ;; the producer was just as shocked as hyeon when i came in 1st

└──                                                 ──┘

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; don't be too disappointed because we still have 2nd and third place to reveal!

this time there are no fancy gimmicks, and the names immediately appear on stage

▎KWAN BYULYI [ #02 / LIGHTS / CHARMING ] ;; looks like i'm more on point than you

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / LIGHTS / SUNNY ] ;; okay okay i'll buy you dessert

▎JACKIE CHOI [ #05 / NEON / OVERTHINKER ] ;; you guys bet on which one of us would be higher?

▎KORAIN SEONG [ #10 / LIGHTS / SUNNY ] ;; most definitely *grins*

▎JEON RYUHWAN [ #07 / NEON / CALM ] ;; guess who has to dress up as sailor moon

▎JACKIE CHOI [ #05 / NEON / OVERTHINKER ] ;; what happened to you being the mature one?

▎JEON RYUHWAN [ #07 / NEON / CALM ] ;; *shrugs* you're the one that suggested it

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / LIGHTS / SENSITIVE ] ;; qingyu my ultimate rival

▎JEONG HYUNJIN [ #13 / LIGHTS / VERSATILE ] ;; is this your villain arc?

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / LIGHTS / SENSITIVE ] ;; yes

qingyu joins the neon podium with ryuhwan, who ruffles his hair

▎BAE MINHYUK [ #08 / LIGHTS / SENSITIVE ] ;; probably not, more like a determination arc?

▎JEON HAEIN [ MC ] ;; and last but not least...

jackie ; takumi ; mikael

EPISODE ONE COMPLETE

◦✧◦

EPISODE TWO PREVIEW

▎??? ;; what do you mean we're different colors?

▎???  ;; ***** noooooo!

▎???  ;; is it okay to say that this makes me feel like a princess?

▎???  ;; i swear you'll never see a star as shiny as me!

▎???  ;; can someone 'accidentally' stab me in the neck with a pen? so i have an excuse to give taewoo

▎???  ;; never too late too late to love~

◦✧◦

a/n - episode one is finally over!
(a lot later than i planned um anyways...)
one step closer to the mission i look
forward to because i've watched one
of the performances way too much !

if you have any feedback or suggestions
(things you want to see) for next episode,
feel free to comment or message me :)

EXTRA !