Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What Are We Listening to Today?”

Episode 6

Video Format: Portrait, taken by phone

The video opens to show one of Haeyeon’s training rooms. The wide, high-ceiling, room only has three visible occupants: a dark-haired man in sportswear, HAN YOOJIN, a Horned Flame Lion, Peace, and a small, chubby, light-feathered bird, CHIRPIE.

Music is playing in the background from an invisible source. Then, a hand holding on to a portable speaker appears for a second in front of the camera, partially hiding the three. The hand disappears and the video lightly shakes as BAK YERIM types a question into the live chat.

BAK YERIM : Anyone knows what song this is??

Unlike the previous videos, the current song playing had no lyrics. It’s a bright, cheerful, instrumental folk music. At first, the three are unaffected by the song. CHIRPIE is perched atop HAN YOOJIN’s head, who throws a large rubber ball. PEACE momentarily disappears from the screen to retrieve the ball. This sequence repeats a few times until the song’s tune picks up.

HAN YOOJIN starts humming along to the song, forming various noises similar to the instruments playing. CHIRPIE is swaying along to the song. As the song reaches its turning point, PEACE drops the ball and circles around HAN YOOJIN with light, bounce-like, steps.

Claps appear in the song and several new instruments join in. HAN YOOJIN spins around, trying to watch PEACE. A chuckle escapes past HAN YOOJIN’s lips as PEACE starts jumping to the timing of the claps. Finally, HAN YOOJIN follows along. He starts clapping to the beat, no longer humming, but singing along to the wordless tune.

As the song reaches its climax, PEACE jumps into HAN YOOJIN’S arms. Without stopping his singing, HAN YOOJIN dances around the room, footwork light and quick as he moves. The camera rushes to follow HAN YOOJIN and catches the moment PEACE happily howls. PEACE jumps down HAN YOOJIN’s arms and leaps all around the room. CHIRPIE flaps his wings and clumsily flies after PEACE. HAN YOOJIN laughs as he jumps along with PEACE and CHIRPIE, no longer singing, but going back to clapping.

As the song nears its end, HAN YOOJIN starts twirling around in one spot, turning faster with every spin. When the final note plays, PEACE and CHIRPIE jump into HAN YOOJIN’s arms, causing them to tumble onto the floor. A peal of laughter breaks from the three as they lay on the ground.

The video cuts off mid-laugh.

• Why is this song so familiar???
• I know!! I feel like I’ve heard it, but I can’t remember where???
• I have no idea what the song is, but Peace and Chirpie are both so cute!!
• They’re so comfortable around Han Yoojin! Peace is supposed to be a monster, but how is he so loveable QwQ
• I think Han Yoojin is the point of attention in this video. His voice and little dances are adorable. He makes me want to dance along!!
• OP I really did dance along with them
• I FOUND THE SONG. NO WONDER IT’S FAMILIAR, IT’S A DISN*Y SONG
• OP you’re joking, right??
• Our Yoojin-ah is singing AND dancing with (technically) animals to a Disn*y song?
• Really! The song’s called Kingdom Dance! It’s from the Rapunzel movie!
• OUR YOOJIN-AH IS SINGING AND DANCING WITH ANIMALS TO A FRICKIN DISNE*Y PRINCESS SONG????
• Okay, called it, guys. Our precious Yoojinie is now confirmed a Disn*y Princess. When is his contract deal coming in?
• Forget the contract deal; when's the PRINCE coming in???

Chapter Text

“What Are We Listening to Today?”

Episode 23

Video Format: Portrait, taken by Phone

The video opens to show a large karaoke room with bright, neon strobe lights spinning overhead. The table is littered with snacks and drinks; the side closest to the camera has juices and sodas, while the other side has cans and bottles of alcohol. HAN YOOJIN is already singing passionately to a foreign alternative rock song.

Though with ears red and feet swaying, a drunk HAN YOOJIN’s articulation is surprisingly clear. His grip on the microphone is tight as he shuffles around wildly while singing. The camera shifts momentarily to show the other people in the room: HAN YOOHYUN, MOON HYUNA, KIM SUNGHAN, and SUNG HYEONJE. All share the same disturbed, yet fascinated look as they watch. The camera returns.

“Oh, you. Clever little things,” HAN YOOJIN croons into the mic, sharply turning around to point at the S-Rank Hunters. His tone turns a bit mocking as he continues to sing. “What a precious basket case.”

The beat picks up and HAN YOOJIN spins around again. He nearly screams out the lyrics of the chorus, though he manages to stay in tune. HAN YOOJIN languidly walks around the room as he sings, perfectly matching the lyrics on the screen without looking at it. The camera follows Han Yoojin as he walks around the open space and stops at the center.

“So, bite your tongue and,” HAN YOOJIN stops screaming. He sings the line with a drawled-out whisper. He cockily nods towards the camera, a sharp grin on his flushed face, eyes half-lidded. “Choke yourself to sleep.”

The second verse of the song is short, and it’s quickly followed by the chorus again. This time, HAN YOOJIN doesn’t scream, but adds adlibs of his own to the song, occasionally singing the background singer’s parts as well. When the chorus ends, the music continues. HAN YOOJIN tries to dance but almost trips on his feet instead. He clumsily steadies himself and misses the first part of the repeated chorus.

With a laugh, Han Yoojin sings the next line. “I wouldn’t hesitate, to smile while you suffocate and die.”

The camera turns to capture the Hunters again. HAN YOOHYUN and KIM SUNGHAN are staring at HAN YOOJIN with scandalized looks, speechless. MOON HYUNA AND SUNG HYEONJE are leaning forward on their knees, amused grins and lit-up eyes on their faces.

The camera returns.

HAN YOOJIN continues making adlibs to the song as he languidly skips around. At the last moment, he trips again. This time, HAN YOOJIN falls to the floor, limbs sprawled out. He laughs again and brings the mic close to his mouth, raising his free hand to the air.

“Yeah, yeah.”

The video ends right after.

• What did I just watch??

• IS MONSTER DAD DRUNK?? IN FRONT OF HIS KIDS????
  • Hey, OP. To his defence, his kids are considered adults anyway.
  • Bak Yerim’s still 15, so she shouldn’t be in this place anyway.
  • So, she could go to a life-threatening place like the dungeons, but she couldn’t go out and have funs with her comrades??

• What was he singing? The song sounds sexy ㅋㅋㅋ
  • Hot, but like... scary? angry?
  • I understand some of the lyrics and it IS scary YOU KNOW
  • What's the song???
  • It's called Choke. The band's IDKHOW

• I LOOKED UP THE LYRICS! It's kinda threatening actually, but I don’t think anybody in that room feels scared ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
  • Our Disn*y Princess threatened 5 of the strongest Hunters in Korea??
  • Ah, I'm worried about our Yoojin-ie.

• That karaoke room already look like an annual conference for Hunters. Three major Guild Leaaders are there.
  • Yeah, there are FOUR S-Rank Hunters and ONE A-Rank Hunters, and our Yoojin-ie decided to get drunk ㅠㅠ
  • Props to the guy, I would have been scared shitless.

Extra : 

Bak Yerim releases another video the next day. It's a seven-second video of a thick blanket completely covering a curled-up person underneath. A part of the blanket rises and falls down several times, with the accompanying sound of a hand hitting a mattress every time. Bak Yerim laughs and the camera shakes.

"Ahjussi, are you embarrassed?"

A strangled noise, akin to a dying whimper, emerges from the blanket lump.

"Hyuna-unnie and the other Ahjussi sent gift baskets."

A pale hand escapes from inside the blanket, blindly reaching out for something. Once it touches the pillow resting on the headboard, it quickly pulls it inside the blanket fort. A muffled scream can be heard. Bak Yerim laughs louder.

The video stops mid-laughter and scream.

Chapter Text

“What Are We Listening to Today?”

Episode 30 (Deleted)

Video Format: Landscape, taken by Phone

The video opens with a smiling BAK YERIM. She’s talking in whispers, holding the phone close to her face.

“It’s kind of late right now. I couldn’t sleep so I was going to grab a drink, but then I saw this-“

The camera flips and shows the sight before them: HAN YOOJIN, sitting on the floor by an open sliding glass door, overlooking a beautiful roof garden. He’s with a few of his monsters, all asleep and wrapped in a large, fluffy blanket. A small lamp casts them in a warm, yellow glow amidst the darkening night sky. It’s lightly raining, and the soft pitter-patter is only drowned out by the song playing from a radio nearby.

The camera flips back to BAK YERIM. She’s smiling mischievously.

“I’m gonna hang out with ahjussi for a bit, but I’ll keep the Live on, just in case he sings again.”

The video shakes as BAK YERIM adjusts the phone, setting it somewhere so it stays upright and directed towards the group pile on the floor.

“Ahjussi, why aren’t you asleep, yet?” BAK YERIM comes walking into the frame, holding two steaming mugs. She goes to sit next to him, making sure not to step on or move any of the monsters.

“I should be the one asking you that.” HAN YOOJIN chides but accepts one of the mugs when BAK YERIM offers. “Thanks.”

“I woke up because of the rain. Is there something wrong with the baby monsters?”

“No. They just sleep better with the background noise, I think.”

“Ah.”

BAK YERIM and HAN YOOJIN make casual conversation while the baby monsters snore. In the quiet moments, HAN YOOJIN hums along to whatever song was playing on the radio. BAK YERIM occasionally steals glances at the camera and gives a thumbs up.

After a few minutes, a new song plays on the radio. It opens with a smooth, calming piano intro – one that has HAN YOOJIN swaying slightly to the beat.

“At some point, I used to wish I would disappear from this world.”

The female singer’s voice comes in a hushed tone. Wistful and sad, in accordance with the lyric.

“The whole world seems so dark and I cried every night.”

HAN YOOJIN suddenly stops his humming. He stops his swaying and as he starts to listen intently to the song. He seems to focus wholeheartedly on the lyrics.

“Will I feel better if I just disappeared? I was so afraid of everyone’s eyes on me.”

HAN YOOJIN’s quiet is soon noticed by BAK YERIM, who looks over at him. At first, in confusion, but soon, in concern. Unlike other previous songs, HAN YOOJIN doesn’t hum nor sing along to the song. His eyes are oddly blank and far away. He’s absentmindedly petting and caressing the monsters closest to him, Whitey and Blackie.

“As the days went by, I really got better.

But sometimes, when I’m too happy,

I’m afraid I’ll be in pain again.

I’m afraid that someone will take away this happiness.”

BAK YERIM doesn’t hide her staring from HAN YOOJIN. However, the latter doesn’t seem to notice, even as the song’s tune turns into a more spirited one, the pace speeding up just the slightest. HAN YOOJIN stops his absentminded movement and stays absolutely still. As his movement ceases, Blackie shifts and makes a sound of protest.

“Those beautifully beautiful memories were so painful,

I was hurting and hurting, but the pain wouldn’t go away.”

Blackie slowly rouses from sleep and the movement almost wakes the other monsters. HAN YOOJIN is quick to continue his caressing, trying to tempt Blackie back to sleep again before the others could realize.

“Maybe after all of that pain,

I can shortly shine a light.”

It takes a bit, but Blackie finally stops the noises and falls asleep. Its’ body relaxes completely and slumps onto HAN YOOJIN’s leg. A small smile forms upon HAN YOOJIN’s face at the sight. He continues his petting, no longer solemn despite his silence.

Beside him, BAK YERIM shifts to sit closer. Her face is stuck in between confusion and empathetic sadness. When she goes and rests her head against HAN YOOJIN’s shoulder, the other instantly wraps an arm around her shoulder.

“I couldn’t give up.

I couldn’t fall asleep peacefully for a single night.

Because maybe if I keep trying to get up like this,

I will find myself.”

As the song reaches its climax, HAN YOOJIN closes his eyes. The baby monsters groan and burrow deeper into HAN YOOJIN’s body, seemingly seeking his warmth. BAK YERIM does the same, snuggling closer to HAN YOOJIN’s side.

“How painful must it have been?”

A sound suspiciously similar to a sniff escapes the cuddling pile on the floor.

“How high must my hopes have been?”

BAK YERIM looks up. HAN YOOJIN’s looking out the window, gaze unseeing. His eyes are red but ultimately dry. The sight renders BAK YERIM speechless.

As the song comes to an end and a new one starts to play, BAK YERIM slowly and carefully extracts herself from HAN YOOJIN’s hold. HAN YOOJIN doesn’t seem to notice, still deep in thought.

“Ahjussi, I’m going to grab some more drink, okay?” BAK YERIM says, voice carefully gentle. HAN YOOJIN nods, a slight, barely there, movement, in response. BAK YERIM hesitates slightly, but in the end, picks up her glass and walks out of frame.

A hand appears in front of the camera. The video shakes as the phone is lifted and BAK YERIM’s face soon fills the screen. She looks a bit guilty, no longer smiling mischievously like in the start.

“I don’t think that was supposed to be broadcasted…” her absentminded mumbling is slightly picked up by the phone.

“Um, I’m going to end it here… I think I’m also not going to save this Live.” BAK YERIM says, in a louder voice this time. She awkwardly waves. “Um, bye.”

The video ends.

• Me at the start :D vs Me at the end :”(

• I can’t even enjoy the adorable cuddle pile on the floor :((((
  • I took a really nice screenshot at the start for a new background, but now I can’t use it since I keep remembering Yoojinie’s sad sniff ㅠㅠ
  • The cuddle pile, the warm lighting, the soft gust of wind, the rain in the background – it’s a perfect setting for an emotional scene.

• To My Youth is already a sad song, but watching Han Yoojin going through it makes it even sadder ㅠㅠ
  • The way he just got quiet and unresponsive when he heard the lyrics…
  • HIS SNIFF AT THE END BROKE MY HEART
  • Makes me wonder what he went through to feel the song so strongly…

• Because Han Yoojin always looks so happy and successful and thriving, I keep forgetting that his teenage years are probably not that good…
  • He lost his parents young, and he had to take care of Han Yoohyun when he wasn’t even an adult yet
    • Didn’t he also drop out of school to work?
  • When I think about this, Han Yoohyun’s actions when he first Awakened kind of pissed me off
  • He abandoned his hyung who’s taken care of him and only cared for him when the hyung is Awakened too
    • Hey, OP. Stop spreading rumors around, if Han Yoohyun really abandoned Han Yoojin, do you think their relationship will be good right now?
    • We don’t see Han Yoohyun a lot with Han Yoojin at first, but isn’t it because he’s busy building Haeyeon?
    • Plus, interacting with Han Yoojin so early on might be dangerous, too

• We should probably stop talking about this… Bak Yerim didn’t save the Live and she even talked about how it shouldn’t be broadcasted. We should respect their wishes and not spread this around.