Chapter Text
He does honestly feel a bit bad over how he'll have to speak to Till during this scene, but he's sure it'll end up looking good. The directors have always been talented in the way they write, so he doesn't doubt them. At the same time... having to make Till scratch at his neck...
"Ivan!! You ready!?" The child actors run up to him, smiling incredibly brightly.
He loves these kids. They're really innocent but at the same time incredible actors, and he truly believes they deserve the world. So he treats them as he believes they deserve.
Playing a loveless character is a little difficult for him, considering how much emotion he can put in, but the idol work helps him keep his cool. Luka is similar in that way, it's where the manipulation idea came for his character. Ivan masks, Luka manipulates.
Knowing Luka, he's probably out cold at home now though. Maybe even with Hyuna... The scandal. Acting so mean to him for liking a fellow actor when he's just as bad...
He nods to Mizi's child actor, patting her head. "Yep. Are you ready?"
"The only scene we have to do is us hanging out!! Super duper easy." She stands proud, patting Till's child actor as hard as she can on the back. So cute. "I'm sure you'll all do incredible. Where's your Sua and little me?"
"Ah!! They're...." She stares blankly for a second... then two... then turns to little Till. "...Where are they?"
He blinks, looking back and forth and shrugs. "Dunno. Didn't ask."
"Well! That's alright." He can't help but chuckle. "How about we go find Big Till?"
They both nod at him a little too quickly, before Mizi demands to be carried. He picks her up, (no complaints from him, she's awesome,) and looks at little Till for a few seconds before he nods shyly. The little Till has always seemed attached to him, and despite not knowing why he's completely open to it.
The little Till is just as adorable as the adult one is cool. And Ivan can't not find him cool after the whole situation for Round 6.
He had struggled a bit before, but not as badly as he had in that scene. Whether it was just his composure being destroyed or not,
Words that helped him figure out how to do the scene without getting distracted, just getting to learn more about Till... So enthralling. He's still learning about him, and it's still so cool every time. The way he's so good at acting, the way he sings... Everything is so cool.
He can hear the little devil Luka on his shoulder calling him names.
He knows he's found Till when little Mizi jumps out of his arms, running right for him. Little Till doesn't leave his side though. "Hi, Mizi...."
"Hi big Till!!" And he hears the man groan. "How many times do I tell you not to call me that?"
"But you're big compared to him!" Little Mizi points right at the Till cuddled up in his arms, and the adult Till groans. "Don't say big. I'm not fat." Little Till speaks up. "Compared to me you are." He has to do everything to not die of laughter there. His face is completely scrunched up in pain trying to hide it away.
"Don't you dare laugh Ivan." He's already there!! How could Till ask that of him?
"Mizi.... they need to film now." A small feminine voice from around the corner peaks out. Ah... little Sua. He likes her, she's a lot like how he was as a kid. "We've gotta go."
"Aw man!!! So soon??" She sulks, and little Till jumps down to grab her pinky and lead her away. For such an expressive child, he's awfully quiet most of the time... Not that it matters to him. They're all equally as cute. "I'll miss you two!!" Little Mizi screams before running to follow Sua, little Till screaming as he gets dragged.
So much for quiet, heh.
They get into positions, like they're supposed to, and Ivan honestly missed this Anakt Garden outfit. It's nice and a little nostalgic, considering how long its been since he last got to wear it instead of the child actor.... Before they start again, for just a simple shot with a few words, he hears one simple whisper.
"You've got this, Ivan. Like before." And that's all it takes to get his heart thrumming. Jeez, he's seriously uncool.
A few attempts and an outfit change later, he's back leaning against Till's back. Listening to him ramble his lines in an emotional haze, staring at the fabric of his shirt, he feels a hazy feeling in his head.
And while he keeps on going, as Ivan circles to stare at his face, he sees it. He sees his character's life fully, from a fresh primary perspective. From a view of his childhood, his thoughts, his mind. From a longing for this man in front of him, with an urge to stay together no matter what.
To have those sharp eyes on him.
The hand that reaches out to his face but hugs him feels like a complete shock, with wet tears on his shoulder. Some strange, unfamiliar corner of his head wishes it was real, that he could have the real Till hug and cry his eyes out to him. What are these newfound feelings? These memories as if he's truly Ivan....
Well, he'll enjoy the touch of Till's body for as long as he'll be allowed to for now.
The moment the scene is cut, Till approaches him.
"You know, you seemed a bit more... locked into it today." Till swipes the tears off his face now that the scene is over, dabbing away more carefully around his waterline in case they decide they need a retake. "Not that it's anything bad. I'm glad you are."
Ah... how to explain this. "I'm not sure why, but I was reminded of everything Ivan had been through midway through... It felt extremely real, so I put what I felt into the acting..."
"...I'm happy for you anyway." He scratches the back of his neck, stretching a little on the way there too. "After this, if we have no more scenes how 'bout we go hang out?"
Ah..... What a dream come true if he could..... "Let me check my schedule!" Please, please.... if he checks his schedule and the agency has him booked after he might just cry. Till is such a cool senior he's genuinely begging...
"All clear! We're good to go!!" Both Till and him let out a sigh of relief. They share eye contact for a few seconds, before they begin to blink a little taken aback, before Till chuckles. "Why are you relieved?!" It's so cool. Ivan's going to become a serious fanboy after this... something in his heart already screams that he is though.
"Till is such a cool senior! How could I not be relieved that I'm going to hang out with him?" And he isn't lying. The fact he has Till's attention...
He hears a high pitched gasp. "You two are going out!?!!" Oh. Oh no, it's little Mizi.
"No, no we aren't!!" Till shrieks. Ah... how nice it'd be for it to be true. After that whole memory thing during their acting... he's felt a sense of yearning... which is unfortunately strong currently.
He pats Mizi on the head. "No we aren't... That'd be nice though, wouldn't it be?" He chuckles it off, but when he turns his head Till is bright pink. Mizi giggles and points it out, laughing at him as he holds back from yelling at her.
It's so calming to be around people like this. How nice. "The directors wanted to let you guys know that you're free to go!!"
"Don't we still have to film Till looking for Mizi?" Till asks, stopping in his tracks. "Apparently they decided they would use your stunt double for it, since your face is covered!"
They share a glance. Ivan can't help but celebrate a little mentally.
"Guess our date is due sooner than we thought?" He teases. And Mizi's loud gasp and pointing sets Till right back off. It feels more familiar then it really should, honestly. He isn't sure why he feels that way, but he isn't complaining.
He won't mention the flash of vivid memories, because in the end he knows better than to mention work off set to Till.
(And if Till is tired as all hell from the emotional acting, he won't tell Ivan. Not when they can actually go out right now, with his closest actor.)
