Thread by @jihyestan

[actors au cont.]
kdj means to split her time between editing scripts and doing yjh's makeup, but she ends up spending almost all her time on set with yjh. from the mornings when she gets yjh ready for filming, to staying nearby for touchups, then helping her take it all off--

somehow, kdj is always with yjh. even when she leaves to grab the next scripts for her to work on, yjh is there, walking with her. or inviting her to read in the dressing room, where no one else will bother her (save for yjh, who keeps reminding kdj to drink water)

kdj is pretty sure she isnt supposed to do this, since she's still working under the film company and hasnt been hired by yjh yet, but no one is going to go against the rising star of film just to get kdj back.

there are other people to worry about, honestly.

now that they dont have to worry about sending new people to work with yjh, filming gets done faster, even with the amount of times yjh has to stop for touchups after she messes up her makeup.

kdj is /sure/ yjh does it on purpose, she just doesnt know why.

and when filming wraps up and they have a week to rest before having a party (at the director's large and fancy house, they have a /dress code/ for the party) kdj expects to have a week free of yjh where she can catch up on her webnovels and do her own makeup for once.

kdj spends the first day reading. she comments on recent chapters, discusses new developments with other fans, winds down from the stress of filming.

the second day, kdj decides to get more adventurous with her makeup. she aims for a white, ethereal look: white mascara,

white eyeliner, silver glittery lipstick. she draws on stars and constellations across her cheeks and forehead, all silver with the occasional gold. it takes the better part of two hours, but she's proud of the result, an original look not based on any character, just herself.

she posts a pic online and answers questions about the products she used before she gets a text from hsy.

'ure welcome lol' is all it says.
'???' kdj sends back, and drops her phone when hsy replies, 'yjh asked for ur address. have fun on ur date'

kdj stares at the message, too stunned to move. first, her address? why didnt yjh just text her? why hsy? second, A DATE? SINCE WHEN?

and then yjh texts. 'are you busy? im near your apartment. let's grab dinner.'

kdj has a face full of makeup and is still in her pjs.

she's not ready to go anywhere!! cursing under her breath, kdj throws off her pjs and quickly changes into the first dress she sees in her closet. it's plain and black and she /will/ be upset if any of her white makeup gets on it. if it does, yjh has to pay for a new dress.

kdj grabs her phone, wallet, and keys, then rushes out of her apartment. in the parking lot is yjh, leaning against a car that looks way too good and expensive to belong in front of her rundown apartment building.

yjh waves at her, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head.

kdj runs down, hoping no one has noticed yjh, but she catches a few curtains rustling and spots a few people walking by, glancing over curiously.

she prays that none of them will recognize her later.

"yjh? what are you doing here?" she asks, almost hysterical.

"i wanted to treat you to dinner while working out your employment contract."

"my what?"

yjh raises an eyebrow and smirks. "did you forget already? i told you i'd have you work for me, and i don't plan on letting you go easily."

kdj really wants to smack that smirk off.

"couldnt you just text me?"

"i did text you."

"before you showed up!! what would you have done if i was busy?"

"i would have waited," yjh answers, as if it's obvious. which it's not!! a celebrity saying all these flirty lines to her feels like a bad fanfic she's read before.

and yet here they are. in real life. where a celebrity, conquering queen of film yjh, is all but saying she'll keep kdj with her. professionally, of course, bc this /is/ about a job as a personal makeup artist.

but still. it's easily misunderstood!!

but kdj is hungry. and she hates turning down free food so...

"this dinner better be good," she says, and firmly doesnt look at yjh's smug face as she opens the door to let kdj in.

"it will be," she promises once she's in the driver's seat, and takes them away.

they drive for a while, towards the more expensive neighborhoods. they pass house after large house, all separated by fences and large yards. kdj cant even imagine living somewhere with so much space.

yjh pulls into the driveway of a house further apart from the others.

she gets out first, then opens the door and offers kdj her hand. kdj stares at it, wondering why yjh is doing this, but ultimately takes it and lets yjh help her out.

and then yjh just doesnt let go.

'have fun on ur date.' hsy had texted. but she must have been joking. right?

yjh unlocks the front door and holds it open for kdj. was she acting like this bc this was a date? or was she just being polite?? how is she supposed to know?? kdj has never dated anyone before and never cared to.

but she has to admit, this is pretty... nice.

"i thought we were getting dinner?" she asks, bc she did come with yjh for the food. "are we ordering in?"

"no. im cooking."

she's what?? yjh is cooking?? for kdj?? yeah, okay, that did make her heart flutter a bit but thats normal, right?

a beautiful woman cooking kdj dinner.... who wouldnt be flustered?

"this is the first time ive seen you wear makeup like that," yjh says and she guides kdj to the kitchen. kdj suddenly remembers that she drew a bunch of stars on her face and wants to bury herself in a hole.

"it's nice. you are very skilled. i hope you do something that creative for me as well."

oh. "you like it?"

"of course i do. you look lovely."

kdj bites her lip, forcing down her smile. not many people know she does makeup. she's not used to hearing such praise.

while she was trying to get herself under control and not smile like a fool, yjh had gotten closer to her, trapping her between her arms and the counter. kdj blinks at her, frozen as her heart hammers in her chest.

yjh's eyes sweep over her face. her eyes look much darker now.

"you look like starlight," she says, voice low. she's practically whispering in kdj's ear!

kdj looks away, feeling her cheeks heat up. "is that so?"

"i'd like to see you like this more. what do you say?"

her brain is turning to mush. kdj cant focus bc yjh is too close!

whispering to her with such a sweet voice! where is the cold, untouchable actress? is she acting? trying out a new role?

time to deflect before she melts into an embarrassed puddle. "i say that you're forgetting that im supposed to do /your/ makeup, not my own."

yjh sighs and pulls away. "fine. feel free to experiment with my makeup. ive gotten tired of the usual looks, give me something interesting like what you did today."

really? well, it's not like kdj is going to say /no/. she has permission from one of the prettiest women in

korea to draw on her face as much as she likes! maybe this job wont be so bad. yjh certainly doesnt seem hard to please. it makes her wonder why yjh refused to work with so many others, but thats none of her business.

yjh ties on an apron and gestures for kdj to sit down.

kdj sits in front of the counter, kicking her feet as she watches yjh pull out a cutting board and pans.

she watches as yjh easily cooks, cutting vegetables without hurting herself, passing things between pans and bowls without spilling things. it makes kdj wish she could cook.

but man, yjh is really spoiling her. its not like she's going to say no to being her personal mau with pay /that/ good.

yjh is focused on cooking, so kdj doesnt say anything, just watches and checks her phone, chatting with more people on her cosplay account.

its only when yjh sets the stove to a low heat and takes off her apron that kdj puts away her phone.

"so what did you want to discuss? i figured i'd just be doing the same thing as i did on set." kdj hops of the chair and follows yjh to the living room.

"you'll still do that," yjh says, "but i want you to do a few more things. accompany me to events, mostly. if you dont want to commute from your apartment, you can move in with me and do my makeup here."

kdj stares at yjh with wide eyes. move in?? for a job offer??

this is a really nice house though.... "how much would i have to pay to live here?"

"none. it'll be a job benefit. what do you say?"

kdj, eager to leave her apartment and stop losing half her paycheck to rent, agrees to live with yjh.

"great, we'll get your things tomorrow."

this is too good to be true. kdj is giddy and dazed, barely processing anything after that. they eat dinner, which is handmade murim dumplings (kdj thinks it's very unfair that yjh is pretty, rich, AND can cook. how is anyone supposed to compete) and then yjh all but demands kdj

stay the nigh, bc it's too late to go now, and she's moving in anyways.

yjh shoves her into what will become her room and tosses some spare clothes to her.

"dont stay up too late," yjh says, then shuts the door so kdj can have some privacy.

she looks down to the clothes she's holding, all white and soft and too big for her. she looks around the large room, which comes with it's own bathroom. she looks down at herself.

i will worry about all this later, kdj decides and promptly Stops Thinking About It.

she takes a quick shower and makes sure she's got all the makeup off. she could quietly panic about wearing yjh's clothes, but kdj is tired and still processing things so she shoves that thought away to never revisit it.

most of her wants to collapse into the bed but she doesnt

want to be rude to her new boss and... roommate? kdj buttons up the large shirt yjh had given her, then sets out to find her.

yjh is cleaning up the kitchen when kdj finds her, and she freezes when kdj clears her throat to get her attention.

yjh's stare feels heavy against her skin.

"um," kdj says, "thanks for the clothes. and for... yknow, everything."

yjh says nothing. she doesnt look away.

"um, i'll be going to sleep now. goodnight."

yjh blinks, and her eyes quickly go up and down, taking in kdj.

she just checked you out! kdj's brain screams at her, and kdj smothers that thought into nothing before it takes her out.

finally, yjh says, "it's no problem. im glad to see the clothes fit."

they dont, theyre way too big bc yjh is a buff woman and kdj has the body of a twig.

"yeah, thanks!" kdj says, voice a higher pitch suddenly. "i'll see you tomorrow, good night!"

"...good night." yjh turns away, putting away another plate, and before kdj leaves, she swears she can see yjh blushing.

she doesnt fall asleep for a long time.

when she wakes up, yjh is nowhere to be found, but there is breakfast waiting for her in the kitchen. kdj eats, slightly unnerved by how still and quiet the house is.

she wants to text yjh to see where she is, but she also doesnt want to be a bother.

kdj returns to her room and tries to distract herself by making the bed, then folding her clothes, then she gives up and starts reading on her phone again.

a good half hour later, yjh knocks on her door, startling her out of the reading haze she was in.

"morning," yjh greets with a small smile as she leans against the door frame. she looks like she's at a photoshoot, who does that? while looking that good? kdj belated realizes that acting normal while living with yjh is going to be an Ordeal.

it's not her fault she likes pretty people! yeah she'll never have a chance with them, but that doesn't mean she can't look and fantasize!!

"morning," kdj replies, completely normal and composed. "when are we leaving? i can change right now."

yjh glances at her dress, folded on the end of the bed. "no need, i'll get you something to wear. wait there." and then she's gone again. kdj shakes her head but waits bc what else can she do?

luckily yjh isnt gone long. she comes back with a black shirt and jeans, both too big

for kdj. at least she can roll up the jeans, she thinks, mentally bemoaning their size difference.

yjh leaves again to let kdj change, and when kdj opens the door again, yjh is holding a bag.

"um?"

"your new job starts today," yjh says like that explains anything.

"do my makeup. you can do yours first, though."

kdj wants to sigh and roll her eyes, bc she has specific products she uses! she doesnt settle for just /anything/! but she doesnt have much a choice, so she takes the makeup bag and goes to the bathroom to use the mirror.

yjh follows after and leans against the doorway (again!) and watches as kdj very quickly puts on some light makeup. just shimmery eyeshadow and a pale pink lipstick. kdj sticks her thumb in her mouth, twists her hand to be palm up, then pops her thumb out to get excess lipstick

off so it doesnt get on her teeth.

"alright, your turn." kdj wipes off the excess lipstick and make space for yjh in front of the mirror. yjh goes easily, closing her eyes and keeping still for kdj to work.

she really cant get over how unfairly beautiful yjh is.

at least like this, she can stare all she wants without it being weird.
kdj gently dabs off excess lipstick, her fingers lightly trailing over the edges of yjh's full lips.

"done," she whispers, pulling back.

yjh grabs her wrist before she can get too far. "are you?" she asks

"yes?" she's the makeup artist, wouldnt she know?

yjh brings kdj's hand up. "what did you need to stick your finger in your mouth for?"

put like that it sounds... dubious, but it works so it's not weird! "it gets lipstick off the inside of your lips."

"and mine?"

"what about yours?" kdj asks, hoping this isnt going the way she thinks it's going.

yjh opens her mouth and pulls kdj's index finger in. her lips close around her finger and kdj feels light headed, like she's going to faint, and she cant look away from yjh's mouth.

yjh presses her tongue against the pad of kdj's finger and looks kdj in the eye. without thinking, kdj twists her finger in yjh's mouth, then slowly pulls it out.

"done?" yjh asks, and kdj yelps as her hands squeeze kdj's waist. when had that happened?

kdj nods bc she cant speak, face red enough to make fire hydrants jealous, and grips onto the bathroom counter so she doesnt collapse.

"i'll go get dressed, then we can grab your things from your apartment." yjh leaves with a small, satisfied smile.

the moment the bedroom door closes, kdj falls to her knees, gasping for breath. she had stopped breathing the moment yjh opened her mouth.

what was that?! was that a normal thing makeup artists do?!

this job is going to kill her. at least it'll be a nice death.

she hides her face in her hands, and then remembers that she's wearing yjh's clothes. they smell like her, and kdj can't resist pressing the sleeves against her face and taking a deep breath.

yes she's absolutely fucked for falling for her celebrity boss, but at least it pays well. as long as she keeps her feelings under control, she'll be fine.

yjh won't ever have to know.

au continues here! from yjh's pov this time 👀

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