Chapter Text
“Kim Seokjin — on set, please!” comes a voice from behind the door.
Seokjin smiles at the makeup artist who finishes patting his cheekbone with a sponge and steps away, and stands up. Gives himself one last once-over in the mirror, smoothing out the lapels of his suit jacket.
Time to get to work.
There’s that pang of anxiety that he’s almost (not quite – but almost!) used to by now, the one that hits him every single time when he’s about to leave the dressing room. Can I do it? What if I fail this time? What if I end up disappointing everyone? He stares himself sternly in the eye and combats the wave of unpleasant emotions before it can manifest in the form of a cold sweat. The makeup artist worked so hard, she’d have to rush to fix it and we can’t have that.
Everyone is waiting for him — the director, the crew, the cameras. Time to take his place in the spotlight.
Seokjin nods, turns before he can start having second thoughts, and exits.
*
The set is beautiful, which is to be expected from a wedding ceremony scene. The room is spacious and airy, elegantly dressed extras are seated on rows of delicate benches, a man dressed as a priest is hanging out by the altar on top of a wide podium. Everything is drowning in beautiful flower arrangements. The crew is milling about, making final preparations. Looking around, you would’ve never guessed that this whole thing was quite messy and last-minute.
“God, I can’t wait for this to be over.” Seokjin’s best friend-slash-loyal manager materializes and grabs him by the elbow as he makes his way to the set. “I am losing years of my life as we speak”.
Seokjin pats his hand amicably. “Hang in there, Joon-ah, we’ve been through worse.” He straightens his posture and plasters on a huge smile as they approach the set. As the crowd of extras and minor crew members notices them, they are swallowed by a wave of eager attention. Seokjin tries his best to smile and wave at as many people as he can, while remaining collected and professional. “At least they’d managed to find a stand-in bride,” he continues in a low voice. “With last calls like that, you could say it’s a miracle the whole thing wasn’t called off.”
Whether it was actually a miracle or a curse, Seokjin himself couldn’t tell. It was a trainwreck of a production, and he would’ve bailed out of it a long time ago, if it wasn’t for the fact that his participation was insisted upon by a very important friend of his agency. In the glamorous world of show-biz, some connections required some sacrifices to maintain. Both he and Namjoon are well aware of that, but it doesn’t make dealing with this mess any more pleasant.
Namjoon scoffs. “You know, that might’ve been the better outcome. They pulled out some complete amateur, just starting out, no name, no portfolio. Someone’s in-law’s cousin’s daughter or whatever. The reference was so long I’m not sure I’d actually heard the end of it. I was running on twelve shots of espresso by that point.”
Seokjin somehow manages to throw him a disapproving look while never stopping smiling pleasantly at the people around them. “Hey, don’t be a snob. She could be the rising star of our generation for all we know.”
“I know, I know, sheesh.” Namjoon sighs and rubs his forehead. “It’s not her fault the original actress broke her leg, NOR is it the original actress’, I KNOW. It’s nobody’s fault, but still. I hate dealing with emergency stand-ins like this. Too unpredictable.”
Seokjin gives his hand a squeeze. “I hear you, bro. Still, no need to be a dick. We all started out at some point, you know how rough it is”. Namjoon grunts at that and Seokjin turns to give him a reassuring smile. “Besides, you know me, I can work with anyone. Even if she ends up acting as stiff as a log, I’ll make it look like she’s overwhelmed by my incredible charm and good looks”.
Namjoon rolls his eyes at that and finally smiles. “I love your confidence. I love you. Marry me instead, I’m better than her.”
Seokjin throws his head back and laughs. “Joon-ah, I’m afraid you know too much about my eating habits and I know too much about your taste in porn. We’d never work. But I am honored by the offer.” Namjoon tries to look embarrassed but he’s too busy laughing. “Besides, I have a perfectly good bride waiting for me… here, somewhere. I hope. Geez. A kissing scene with someone I’ve never even seen before is definitely gonna be a first. Oh well, I hope this one shows up, at least.”
Sadly, this has Namjoon frowning again, but what can you do.
“You go ahead and get into position, I’ll go talk to the director.” He pats Seokjin’s arm before letting go. “Let’s hope the fact that nobody — besides me — is having an obvious meltdown right now is a sign that everything is finally settled and we’re about to start filming.” Namjoon flashes him a soulless grin and steps away.
*
Seokjin makes his way up the carpeted steps to the altar and shakes hands with the twitchy man dressed as a priest. The smile he is greeted with is positively radiant. Seokjin suddenly feels like he should’ve worn sunscreen.
“Jung Hoseok. It’s an honor to get to work with you, Seokjin-sunbaenim. A real proper honor.”
Seokjin smiles warmly. “Nice to meet you, Hoseok-ssi.”
The man flails a bit, looking happily flustered. “Please, call me Hobi. Really, I insist. It would make me less nervous, I swear.”
Seokjin has never been big on formalities, so he is happy to oblige. He’s always happy to put people at ease, create a comfortable environment. He also can’t help himself. “Do you…” he obviously eyes the man up and down with a cheeky grin. “…swear to God?”
Hoseok stares at him and lets out a disbelieving giggle. “Wow, and just like that, the spell is broken.”
Seokjin laughs openly, not in the slightest bit offended. “I get that a lot. Wait ‘till I get a few drinks in me, the flying kisses really get out of hand.” More giggles. “And I can’t stop winking at people.”
Hoseok is laughing, covering his mouth with his hand and shaking his head.
Seokjin laughs as well but then puts on an exaggerated pout. “I’m being serious, I have a problem! I have to apply soothing eye masks afterwards.”
Hoseok looks like he’s about to say something, but suddenly the director’s enhanced voice cuts in, causing them both to jerk a little (Seokjin notes happily that finally he’s not the only jumpy person around). “Alright everyone, sorry for the short delay, it looks like we’re finally good to go. Actors — positions, please. Starting in five.”
Seokjin calms down immediately while Hoseok takes a moment to compose himself. It’s something Seokjin learned a long time ago — a reset button, a mental switch that triggers work mode. As he schools his expression within the blink of an eye, he sees Hoseok notice it and shake his head, looking impressed. Seokjin smirks internally and scans the crowd until he finds Namjoon. Their eyes meet and they exchange small reassuring nods. Namjoon raises his arms and shows two thumbs up.
Seokjin postures up and takes his proper place by the altar. Starts getting himself into the headspace of a man who is madly in love and about to get happily married.
A sudden thought occurs to him. He’s a very curious person, after all.
“Hey Hobi,” he calls out, barely turning his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see the man standing next to him, looking extremely solemn. “Have you seen my bride? What’s she like?”
“Eh, not really,” Hoseok doesn’t turn his head and only offers a tiny shrug. “I’ve heard the staff gossiping about her, but only in passing. Something about her being really cagey and awkward, and also her name, I think.” He stares up, looking like he’s trying — and failing — to remember something. “Can’t remember. Something something Yoon… ji?”
Seokjin nods and turns away from him to face the rows of extras, the filming crew and the tall wooden doors, currently closed but about to open to let his bride enter. Work is work. Her name doesn’t really matter that much, either way.
Dreamy wedding ceremony-appropriate music starts playing in the background. Crew members take their places and settle down.
“Cameras rolling,” calls out the director.
It’s showtime.
“A-and action!!”
The doors start opening slowly.