The Ritual (Taekook) introduction part 1

Introduction of characters

kim taehyung

Name: Kim Taehyung Age: 27 Family: Only child Estranged from his parents (traditional business elites who disapprove of his eccentric career and public persona) Grandmother raised him until her death—she was the first to notice his "dreams" Close Friends: Jimin (childhood best friend, loyal but increasingly worried) Jin (almost like an older brother, protective and rational) Lisa (BLACKPINK) (fellow creative, sharp-witted and fearless—Taehyung confides in her) Yeonjun (TXT) (intern in his fashion house, artistic and observant) Likes: Abstract and surreal art Classical music with distorted overlays Velvet clothing, candlelight, and deep red tones Exploring abandoned places for inspiration The feeling of being just on the edge of fear Dislikes: Repetition and rules Crowds without meaning People touching his sketches without permission His parents’ expectations Losing control of his own thoughts Occupation: Renowned underground fashion designer Founder of "DreamSkin Studio", a controversial fashion house known for eerie, haunting, almost alive creations Recently tapped by elite luxury brands but hesitant to go mainstream Role in the Story: The Dreamer: Chosen by the secret cult Nocturne to be the vessel for “The Dream,” an ancient force that awakens through suffering, beauty, and transformation Center of the Ritual Slowly unraveling as his art becomes prophetic and monstrous Personality: Enigmatic, sensual, and creative to the point of madness Fearless in vision but fragile in emotional boundaries Deeply empathetic, though he hides it under sarcasm and cold elegance Has a mind like a dream—fluid, non-linear, surreal Prone to dissociation and vivid nightmares Love/Relationships: Jeon Jungkook is the forbidden, magnetic pull he can’t escape Their chemistry is intense: love, fear, lust, and fate blend into one Taehyung feels both safe and completely vulnerable with Jungkook Eventually falls deeply for him—not despite the danger, but because of it Has never had a real, safe relationship—until Jungkook chooses to anchor him instead of letting him drown

Jeon jungkook

Name: Jeon Jungkook Age: 28 Family: Orphaned at 16 (parents died in a mysterious house fire) Raised in the foster system, moved often No biological siblings but considers Namjoon and Yoongi his found family Close Friends: Namjoon (mentor figure, helps him research the cult history) Jimin (emotional support, helps Jungkook reconnect to reality) Hoseok (used to dance with him—still deeply bonded through movement) Taehyung, eventually becomes his reason to fight, live, and love again Likes: Contemporary and interpretive dance Late-night walks, rain, abandoned places Tattoos with meaning (his body tells his story) Silence—he’s drawn to calm in chaos Watching Taehyung create Dislikes: Being touched unexpectedly Bright lights and loud rooms Cult-like structures and "fated" thinking When people ask about his past Feeling helpless Occupation: Dancer/Choreographer known for intense, almost brutal performances Former idol trainee, now infamous for his underground showcases Secretly documented by cult observers after surviving the last Ritual Role in the Story: The Anchor: Chosen to either pull the Dreamer (Taehyung) back from madness—or be consumed alongside him Sole survivor of the previous Ritual Haunted by trauma and survivor’s guilt His love for Taehyung becomes both weapon and salvation Personality: Silent, intense, introverted—but feels deeply Carries the weight of old pain in every step Loyal to a fault once he lets someone in Dark, protective, and self-sacrificial Has a sharp sixth sense—he sees things others miss Love/Relationships: Taehyung is the first person since the last Ritual who truly sees him At first resists the bond out of fear, but the connection is undeniable Their love is forged through terror, intimacy, and survival Willing to die or burn the world to protect Taehyung

park jimin

Name: Park Jimin Age: 27 Family: Comes from a loving but distant family in Busan Parents still unaware of the full extent of what he's involved in Extremely close with Taehyung—closer than siblings Close Friends: Taehyung (his best friend since trainee days—loyal to the core) Jungkook (complicated history, but he respects him deeply) Lisa (his chaos twin—together, they try to keep Taehyung grounded) Yoongi (someone he turns to when the darkness feels too close) Likes: Classical ballet and modern performance art Scented candles, soft lighting, vintage aesthetics Journaling his dreams Cooking for his friends Being close to people he loves Dislikes: Secrets—especially when kept from him “for his protection” Cult-like ideologies Seeing Taehyung spiral Being dismissed as delicate or emotional Cold environments Occupation: Professional ballet and lyrical dancer, often booked for high-end gallery shows and film installations Secretly researching lucid dreaming after Taehyung’s visions start to affect him Starts uncovering links to the Nocturne cult through movement rituals passed down unconsciously Role in the Story: The Heart: Emotional compass of the group, fights to keep Taehyung and Jungkook tethered to reality Begins to experience shared dream phenomena, connecting him directly to the Dream Plays a crucial role in the climax by unlocking the key memory Taehyung buried Personality: Gentle, nurturing, but fiercely loyal Sensitive to energy and people’s emotional shifts Thoughtful, often speaks with poetic or symbolic language Self-sacrificing to the point of danger The first to notice something’s wrong—and the last to give up hope Love/Relationships: Harbors unspoken romantic feelings for Taehyung, but never acts on them Develops a close bond with Yoongi through their shared trauma His loyalty to Taehyung may become his greatest strength—or his undoing

kim namjoon

Name: Kim Namjoon Age: 30 Family: Only child Parents are university professors; raised in an academic, skeptical environment Distant but supportive family—he often hides the danger he’s involved in Close Friends: Jungkook (his emotional project—he’s both protective and quietly proud of him) Yoongi (his longtime intellectual sparring partner) Taehyung (deeply respects his creative chaos) Seulgi (collaborates with her on decoding cult texts and metaphysical theory) Likes: Old books, dusty libraries, ancient languages Philosophy, especially existentialism and dream theory Forest walks, rain, and silence Whisky and late-night discussions about consciousness Ritual artifacts and symbols Dislikes: Ignorance Being dismissed as “just a thinker” when he knows what real horror is Watching his friends suffer without being able to help Time pressure—he likes control and planning Feeling helpless in the face of something supernatural Occupation: Renowned cultural historian and linguist, specializing in ancient rites, dream mythologies, and sacred symbols Runs a hidden archive of occult knowledge passed through elite academic circles Finds the first documented version of “The Dream” in a banned manuscript Role in the Story: The Seeker: He uncovers the true origins of the Ritual, the Dream, and Nocturne Acts as the strategist behind Taehyung and Jungkook’s survival Knows more than he reveals—because knowledge itself can summon the Dream May hold the final line of defense… or accidentally open the final gate Personality: Rational, measured, deeply introspective Curious to a dangerous degree—sometimes forgets the human cost in his pursuit of truth Emotionally guarded but loyal to those he calls friends Prone to obsession Carries guilt for introducing the group to the ancient text that triggers the Ritual’s reawakening Love/Relationships: Has a quiet, possibly one-sided affection for Seulgi, with whom he shares intellectual chemistry Deep, almost fatherly bond with Jungkook His love is quiet and sacrificial—more felt than spoken

lalisa

Lalisa Manoban (goes by Lisa) Age: 27 Family: Raised in Thailand by her adoptive mother, a spiritual healer Has a deep-rooted connection to Southeast Asian ritual traditions Estranged from most of her extended family, who feared her “visions” as a child Close Friends: Taehyung (art world ally, chaotic soulmate energy) Jimin (ride-or-die bestie, she calls him “Mochi brat”) Jennie (former lover turned distant; still has emotional scars) Yeonjun (adores him like a younger brother, often drags him into trouble) Likes: Tarot cards, fire rituals, night photography Sharp eyeliner, leather, and weapons she’s not supposed to have Chaos with a purpose People who tell the truth, even if it hurts Breaking into forbidden places “just to feel the air change” Dislikes: Rules—especially those made by men in power Feeling caged or used People who underestimate her because she’s beautiful Anyone who threatens her friends Waking dreams—she’s been haunted by them since she was 12 Occupation: Provocative performance artist and occult consultant Occasionally works as a “ritual translator” for underground events Rumored to be connected to a Southeast Asian cult she escaped years ago Assists Namjoon in decoding the physical movements tied to ancient dreams Role in the Story: The Blade: Unofficial protector of Taehyung and the group Has deeper knowledge of Nocturne than anyone suspects—she may have been chosen once, but refused Her powers are intuitive rather than scholarly Helps Jimin channel protective rituals during the climax Personality: Bold, fiery, witty Flirtatious but guarded—plays hard but trusts few Spiritual but not religious Loyal in a sharp, blood-bound way Would die for her friends without hesitation—but would make sure others die first Love/Relationships: Complicated past with Jennie—intense, painful, unresolved Deep mutual trust with Jimin, though not romantic Possibly developing a bond with Yeonjun, though she resists being soft Romantic love is something she once had and lost. Now she chooses loyalty over romance

min yoongi

Name: Min Yoongi Age: 31 Family: Cut ties with his family in Daegu after a personal tragedy Only brother died under strange circumstances related to the cult Keeps his past locked away, even from those closest to him Close Friends: Namjoon (his oldest and most trusted friend—keeps him sane) Jimin (grows protective of him during the Ritual, shares quiet moments with him) Taehyung (admires his art from afar, quietly supports him) Lisa (understands her fire, they balance each other) Likes: Old piano music, empty churches, late-night composing Dreams he can’t explain Solitude—he thrives in silence Watching others without being seen Finding beauty in horror Dislikes: Talking about his brother Flashing lights, loud places Ritual music—he once composed a piece unknowingly tied to Nocturne Anyone who exploits art for power His own emotions, when they grow too loud Occupation: Legendary underground composer and sound designer Has scored several of Taehyung’s fashion shows Secretly recorded a symphony based on dream whispers—now feared as cursed His music acts as a gateway into the Dream, even against his will Role in the Story: The Echo: Keeper of the cult’s forgotten songs and tonal triggers Hears the Dream before it arrives—through melody, frequency, and silence Unlocks parts of Taehyung’s and Jungkook’s subconscious through music May hold the key to either banishing or summoning the Dream fully Personality: Stoic, deadpan, but deeply sensitive Speaks rarely, but when he does—it matters Inwardly conflicted; his art calls the Dream even as he tries to resist it Comforts others in non-verbal ways—music, presence, stillness Carries immense grief he’s never named Love/Relationships: Begins to form a quiet, complex emotional bond with Jimin May still carry love for someone he lost in the last failed Ritual Love, for Yoongi, is not loud or dramatic—it’s an anchor in silence He loves through action—through protection, sacrifice, melody

Choi yeonjun

Name: Choi Yeonjun Age: 25 Family: Estranged from his father, a powerful figure with ties to Nocturne Raised by his grandmother, a folk healer who taught him protective charms Keeps his lineage a secret out of shame and fear Close Friends: Lisa (like a wild older sister—she toughens him up) Taehyung (deep admiration that borders on obsession) Jungkook (fears him at first, then learns from him) Jennie (confides in her when his own mind begins to spiral) Likes: Streetwear fashion, grunge photography, forgotten temples Drawing protective sigils on his skin Fireflies and stargazing Loyalty and quiet kindness Wishing he could be braver Dislikes: Being underestimated or dismissed as “too young” His own bloodline Watching Taehyung suffer Feeling powerless His reflection in dreams—sometimes it speaks back Occupation: Rising visual artist known for eerie light installations and sculpture Accidentally channels Dream-coded symbols in his work Secretly stalked by Nocturne for years—because he’s one of them by blood His body holds dormant energy that could either seal or awaken the Ritual Role in the Story: The Heir: Born with Nocturne blood, but raised in rebellion Acts as both threat and savior—he might be the final key Battles internal possession as the Dream tries to reclaim him In the end, may have to choose between self-erasure or sacrifice Personality: Sensitive, artistic, observant Naive but rapidly hardening under pressure Yearns to belong but fears he’s a monster in disguise Has a poetic soul and hidden bravery Tries to smile even when he’s terrified Love/Relationships: Deeply drawn to Taehyung—idolizes and wants to protect him Brief tension with Jungkook over Taehyung’s safety Possible romantic spark with Jennie, who sees through his pain Love is his rebellion; in a world of madness, it’s the only thing he chooses freely