[ Is he really that bad at singing? (Well, Claude's no diva either, so he can't judge.) Still, he offers a silent apology to Jinwoo's mother and sister for taking this precious moment from them. ]
Does it really make you feel that much better for me not to look?
[ He does obligingly turn around though, mostly because he doesn't want to spook Jinwoo out of his commitment to sing.
[ I'm going to make Jinwoo bad at something, okay. He can't keep getting away with this.
Also yes, it'll make him feel a lot better. Maybe his emotions are on their way out, but he can absolutely still look stupid and know that he looks stupid. And Claude's not exactly the ideal audience member Jinwoo wants for the occasion for reasons already covered outside of this thread.
Deep breaths. ]
I won't say anything if you want to plug your ears while you're at it.
[ And then... Jinwoo places his hand on the crystal, the song starts back up, and he tries (in a very frazzled manner) to sing along. His pitch is not matching up, he fumbles some words, and his energy? Not at all vibing with the song. ]
[ Well, apparently Claude doesn't need to cover his ears because he can barely hear Jinwoo's singing. There's some mumbling? The language is obviously foreign to him, so if Jinwoo is nailing the lyrics then Claude has no idea.
He glances over to where the exit door is hovering, and there's some... movement. A single crystal step emerging from the ground toward the door. Or maybe half a step?
Hm. ]
Jinwoo, you can do this.
[ Quickly, Claude switches tactics. This train is about improving, right? He can do that. ]
It doesn't matter what you sound like, this song is important to you and all I care about is how happy it makes you.
[ Why does that sound so disingenuous? Maybe because in all the conversations he's had with Claude, he doesn't know what genuine sounds like coming from him!
Well, whatever Claude has up his sleeve, Jinwoo will just scrunch up his face, close his eyes, and try to sing even harder. It's tough when the song is as old as it is and Jinwoo's memory as flimsy as it is.
Sure, he trips over more words than would land him a passing score with a karaoke machine, but shouldn't it be the effort that counts?
He's at least really trying over here. Even if his throat sounds like it's on the verge of giving out.
[ This isn't a magical shoujo thread, so the sound of Jinwoo's beautiful voice doesn't immediately cure all the corruption in Claude's soul, clear his pores, or make him fall in love.
Instead, he just bobs his head along in what he hopes is an encouraging manner. He has no idea what this song is supposed to sound like, so for all he knows, Jinwoo is nailing it!
Good job!
The stairs continue to build, and there's hope on the horizon. Claude gives Jinwoo a little pat on the shoulder, expression bright as he watches the steps build and build until they stop about halfway to the door. ]
[ Please, for the love of all that is good, put Jinwoo out of his misery. He is struggling in ways that he didn't even know he could struggle. There are actual beads of sweat pooling at his temples because of how stressful this entire ordeal is...
What he wouldn't give to be fighting a giant monster and getting the shit kicked out of him instead.
Claude's encouragement that there's an end in sight is at least relieving. Jinwoo's never been one to half-ass things, and so he belts out the final half of the song like his life depends on it.
[ Claude would love to say that Jinwoo's singing really peaks as the stairs grow higher and higher, but honestly he doesn't sound any better than when he first started. Which is, again, fine, because Claude definitely doesn't want to be the one to step up to the plate.
He taps his foot against the ground out of some desperation to find a rhythm to this "music" (electronic nonsense), patting Jinwoo's shoulder encouragingly.
And then, by some miracle, the last step manifests. ]
You did it!! [ HE'S KIND OF REALLY EXCITED because he was slightly afraid they'd be trapped here forever.
Instead, he jumps up and gives Jinwoo a congratulatory slap before making a run for the stairs. ]
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no subject
Also, kind of weird to think that Claude is going to be the first person ever to hear Jinwoo sing (badly), but that's how it be sometimes. ]
It was for their own good.
[ His hand goes back to hovering over the crystal, while his other one makes a turn around motion to Claude. ]
Alright, I'll actually start this time.
no subject
Does it really make you feel that much better for me not to look?
[ He does obligingly turn around though, mostly because he doesn't want to spook Jinwoo out of his commitment to sing.
He sighs, crossing his arms behind his head. ]
I'm still going to hear, regardless.
no subject
Also yes, it'll make him feel a lot better. Maybe his emotions are on their way out, but he can absolutely still look stupid and know that he looks stupid. And Claude's not exactly the ideal audience member Jinwoo wants for the occasion for reasons already covered outside of this thread.
Deep breaths. ]
I won't say anything if you want to plug your ears while you're at it.
[ And then... Jinwoo places his hand on the crystal, the song starts back up, and he tries (in a very frazzled manner) to sing along. His pitch is not matching up, he fumbles some words, and his energy? Not at all vibing with the song. ]
no subject
He glances over to where the exit door is hovering, and there's some... movement. A single crystal step emerging from the ground toward the door. Or maybe half a step?
Hm. ]
Jinwoo, you can do this.
[ Quickly, Claude switches tactics. This train is about improving, right? He can do that. ]
It doesn't matter what you sound like, this song is important to you and all I care about is how happy it makes you.
no subject
Well, whatever Claude has up his sleeve, Jinwoo will just scrunch up his face, close his eyes, and try to sing even harder. It's tough when the song is as old as it is and Jinwoo's memory as flimsy as it is.
Sure, he trips over more words than would land him a passing score with a karaoke machine, but shouldn't it be the effort that counts?
He's at least really trying over here. Even if his throat sounds like it's on the verge of giving out.
I am suffering right there along with Jinwoo. ]
no subject
Instead, he just bobs his head along in what he hopes is an encouraging manner. He has no idea what this song is supposed to sound like, so for all he knows, Jinwoo is nailing it!
Good job!
The stairs continue to build, and there's hope on the horizon. Claude gives Jinwoo a little pat on the shoulder, expression bright as he watches the steps build and build until they stop about halfway to the door. ]
We're almost there!
no subject
What he wouldn't give to be fighting a giant monster and getting the shit kicked out of him instead.
Claude's encouragement that there's an end in sight is at least relieving. Jinwoo's never been one to half-ass things, and so he belts out the final half of the song like his life depends on it.
Because it really feels like it does. ]
no subject
He taps his foot against the ground out of some desperation to find a rhythm to this "music" (electronic nonsense), patting Jinwoo's shoulder encouragingly.
And then, by some miracle, the last step manifests. ]
You did it!! [ HE'S KIND OF REALLY EXCITED because he was slightly afraid they'd be trapped here forever.
Instead, he jumps up and gives Jinwoo a congratulatory slap before making a run for the stairs. ]
Now lets get outta here!