Chapter Text
It was Sophia’s first game as the mascot of HYBE college and it would certainly be one of her biggest as the first game of her first year here.
She had the job of wearing the giant suit with a star shaped head with a big fake smile out in 75 to -5 degree weather for the football team.
She was putting on the costume about to go out to the field. She would come out pre game, fooling around during the game, and during the halftime which usually the band kids came out she had been told.
She would put on her own little performances, funnily at some point she shook ass in the parking lot as people rolled in.
Anyways the game was about to begin and she stepped out to the field. She heard the roar of the crowd through the giant mask covering her face, not one of them knew who she was inside.
It was only the cheerleaders out right now. The players were prepping to be walked out. She saw the usual cheerleader suspects, blonds, big blue eyes.
She had watched enough college football mascot compilations to know she was expected to be silly so she decided to walk up and mess with them. And the college told her to as she was equipped with a ring box. She walked down the line exaggerating checking them out and trying to pick one that looked like she could take a joke.
She saw a fair skinned curly haired woman who looked like she could take the joke. Immediately she pulled the ring she had hidden behind her back and got down on one knee.
Seemingly getting it, the woman dropped her pom poms to cover her mouth with both hands. Sophia then dragged it out by opening the ring box slowly showing the suspiciously real looking ring from the box.
The woman, still going along with it, nodded and slowly grabbed it and put it on. She then grabbed the smaller cheerleader spinning her around. And then for the cherry on top she grabbed her and put her on her shoulders and carried her out.
Actually that wasn’t enough. She grabbed her underarms and held her up, showing her to the crowd like Simba from the lion king.
Deciding that was enough she put her down letting her scurry back to the cheerleaders as the players started to come out. She disappeared into the crowd to start more mischief.
By the end of the first quarter she had gone back out and pulled some girl onto her lap in front of the camera. Yes she did ask for permission, she might quite literally be a star right now but she wasn’t going to be a perverted one.
The broadcaster had yelled “ LOOKS LIKE THE STARMAN IS A CHEATER EH? “ And the crowd had a collective laugh and her friends started a short chant of “ Homewrecker! “
Since it was Sophia and she obviously had to crank it up to 11, she quickly ran to the field and got on her knees in front of the same cheerleader and put her hands together in a pleading motion. The woman faking a hurt look turned her back to Sophia which made her fall over on her back in fake despair.
She went backstage briefly to take a water break and scrolled through her feed. Clips of her stared back at her, well not actually her, costume her.
The pulling that girl onto her lap, the cheerleader, the cheerleader, the cheerleader, cute cat’s falling, the cheerleader. Seriously who was she?
She noticed the person tagged someone. @danielaavazini. Well that was probably the cheerleader.
She did a quick look over of the girls profile. She actually looked to be a decent dancer from the pinned videos. And some of her content had a girl who, from the caption, Sophia quickly identified as Lara.
As she scrolled the dances only seemed more complex. But she saw a pretty simple looking one she could use for a trick. It was to a song Gabriela and it was mostly just simple hand motions, and it was popular too with over 800 million streams.
She quietly practiced the dance and then went back out to the field. Catching the cameras attention she started to do the dance a little sloppy but easily recognizable. The people around her started to do it too and then more as they started to do the dance.
When she finally stopped she turned to the same cheerleader and looked as if she were a child trying to impress their mom with a dance.
The woman smiled and gave her a thumbs up making her bounce all over the place, in her vision she could see another cheerleader, hey is that Lara? Knocking her on the shoulder.
Maybe-Lara shouted up to her. “ HI ARE YOU SINGLE AND AROUND 22? " She didn’t reply but walked away and once she was a fair distance away she turned, nodded, and continued causing chaos in the crowd.
———————————
Once the game was finally over Sophia took off the costume drenched in sweat. Some people were talking to her about thinking about how far she was taking it but she was not really listening.
When she got home it was quieter. That meant the walking chaos the landlord called ‘ her roommate Megan ‘ was out. Partying. Hooking up with girls. Sophia really didn’t care and couldn’t bother to ask.
She ate her usual meal of buldak. She could have made something better. She could live somewhere better. She made a lot of money. She just had no desire to do so.
See Sophia was the person people call a sheltered kid. She was kept inside away from others because she was smart and that meant she had to be a doctor. She was enrolled in HYBE in medicine but she didn’t really go. Just listened enough to not fail.
She was making enough to retire herself if they decided to fire her down the road. She couldn’t really be 75 and expected to do what she did now, the thought of a 75 year old lady in a costume attempting to backflip made her laugh.
She was watching the football highlights from the game. Her team had won. 64-33 she had heard. Her phone was blowing up with the football team’s messages. She was added to their group chat but didn’t really bother to say anything, didn’t feel like she had to. Only learned their names so she could name their contacts.
HYBE FOOTBALL 🏈
Mason : yo whos comin to afterpart?
Jason : o wsp im down
Ben : depends r there finna be hoes?
Mason : ye couple cheerleaders couple chicks who just want a good time
Mason : gays too if u into dat
Ben : sure im gna be there
Malcolm : Sure I’ll be there!
Kingston : we should put malcom in the middle seat
Kingston : yknow the show malcom in the mid?
Malcolm : It’s spelled Malcolm!
Ben : shut it
Malcolm : Okay
Asher : lol
Asher : anyways ill come
Mason : yo no one wants to here that you 🥜ed you gooner
Kingston : lol
Mason : if ur comin couple vans outside to drive u
Jason : yo new mascot u should come full costume itll be funny lol
Well she was planning on staying inside and wasn’t sure if she wanted to let a couple football dudes ruin that. She could already guess how these party’s went. Too loud music. Too many sweaty people constantly bumping into her. And they probably had many other parties she could go to. Not that she wanted to.
But she was in her early twenties. The “ golden age “ according to every 60 year old ever. “ I remember when I was your age. I jumped off cliffs and walked it off! Now look at you guys on your glowing rectangles and rotting on the couch. “ Was the last thing her grandma had said to her before she passed. Good riddance.
Maybe that’s what lead her to say,
Sophia : sure.
Maybe that’s what made her start to go to the stadium and take the costume. Maybe that’s what lead her to get in the van with 11 others all loud and pure energy. It reminded her of the musicals she watched frequently. If this was one she imagines this is where she would meet her Prince Charming.
She almost though she should leave the van. Go home. The guys would probably understand. But she didn’t. Why? No answer.
Stepping out at the club people instantly circled the jocks and laughed at the giant star in the middle of the room. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to come dressed as a star in a room full of drunks. People seemed to be going batshit ( oui oui ) over a star.
She only thought she would be there for 10 minutes, if not less. She had passed Megan a couple times attempting to get girls to hook up with her but none of them took her up on that. Poor Megan, she briefly thought.
At some point she made the fatal error of looking at Megan for a little too long which made the girl look over her shoulder, her expression saying,
" Hm giant star.. GIANT STAR? "
When Megan practically skipped over to her she could smell the booze on her immediately.
" STARMAN! " Which turned into everyone starting to chant that. That was the nail in the coffin making her leave the club altogether. Jeez for a cheerful mascot you would assume she would like parties, she thought.
The night air was humid through the suit. It might’ve been that which made her realize, she had no way of getting home. Honestly she could’ve and should’ve called a Uber but that wasn’t on her mind at the time. She didn’t wanna walk around full costume out in the middle of the street, and the van was gone and she didn’t have the number of whoever drove it.
She texted the group chat, a little panicked now.
HYBE FOOTBALL 🏈
Sophia : does anyone have the van drivers number?
Eli : Getting here before the annoying ones do the vans aren’t coming back tonight. You may have to call a cab.
Eli : Oh wait full costume.
Eli : Do you have a friend to pick you up?
Well that was one problem of being a sheltered kid. You get used to being the only one on your team and after a point stop opening it for new recruits.
She used to tell people this when she thought they were close enough. They used to freak out as if she was going to collapse and slit her wrists and jump off a bridge, she didn’t feel the need to do that.
She just had a not so good upbringing. A bit of childhood trauma she never truly got over. Everyone did in their own tiny ways. Some hide it better and some can’t.
HYBE FOOTBALL 🏈
Sophia : No. no one’s answering.
Eli : I can send out someone to bring you home?
Sophia : That would be great
Micheal : ELI X MASCOT = TRUE LOVE ❤️
She waited outside awkwardly for Eli’s friend. She realized she didn’t know what they looked like, but she assumes they know what she looks like.
After about 5 minutes of weird looks and pictures taken she heard a car approaching. " So weird guy wasn’t lying when he said the actual Hybe mascot needed a ride huh? "
She turned to see none other than Lara Raj who drove up beside her. She didn’t feel like talking so she just shrugged. " Well are you going to get in? "
She hurried to open the passenger door and slid into the seat. " So how did the menace mascot find herself on the side of the road in costume? Also yes I know you’re a girl, no I haven’t seen your face I can just tell by your posture. "
" Uh, I didn’t wanna stay anymore. “ was the answer she decided to give." Why don’t you take the mask off? It must be hot no? "" I kinda like the mystery asthetic I feel when I wear it. " She didn't lie about that part. She did feel it was kind of nice being able to do crazy stuff behind the mask and then take it off and be a normal member of society again.
" It’s not a football game and I wanna see you! Come on! "
After the persistence Sophia finally took off the mask she had on. Cool air came into her face making her sigh in pleasure. " Well there the mystery mascot is! You’re even prettier than I thought! Might have to steal you from Dani. "
Sophia just smiled before realizing she didn’t tell Lara where her apartment was. Which was creepy because they were there now.
Sensing her confusion Lara said " Football guy gave me your address, I’m not a creep I swear. "
Sophia just smiled before thanking her and leaving the car.