#but both parts are played by the singer/rapper and he does the same voice for both

[microwave-core]

I wish that music players on blogs still worked. If they did, I would put this on loop.

[dossi-io]

An introduction to DeVita

Do you want to learn all about the AOMG artist DeVita? This article will cover everything you need to know about the third female member to join the labels roster.

The content of this article is also available in video format, embedded at the bottom of this article.

Prelude

In early April of 2020, the Korean hip-hop label AOMG ambiguously announced that a new artist was signing onto the label. This label was grounded by the Korean-American triple-threat; Jay Park, who’s also one of its executives. This is a label with a very organic feel and artist-oriented nature, which stands out compared to many other music labels.

On April 3rd, the label’s official Instagram account posted a video. It was titled, “Who’s The Next AOMG?” where fellow AOMG members talked about this upcoming recruit. They sprinkled small hints and details by sharing their thoughts on the artist without mentioning who.

Around the world, fans immediately began speculating on who this could be. The major consensus was that it had to be the solo artist Lee Hi, due to reporting like this: “AOMG responds ‘nothing is confirmed’ to reports of Lee Hi signing on with the label”

A few other names got thrown in fan speculations like Hanbin (B.I), previous member of IKON, Jvcki Wai, and MOON (문) aka Moon Sujin. This despite a few of these already being signed to other labels.

On April 6th, three days later, the account was updated with a part two. This time dropping more hints, which would exclude many names from fan speculations.

On the 7th of April, the label’s official Instagram account posted a short teaser. The video sported an 80’s retrofuturistic setting, with a woman turned from the camera, dressed in all black, rocking braids, and some glistening high-heels. As it seemed to be a female, some were now certain that it had to be Lee Hi. A small few actually guessed correctly that the one who would be joining AOMG would be Ms DeVita.

Finally on April 9th, it was official! She debuted with the music video, from which the teaser clips was taken from, EVITA!, which accompanied the release of her EP, CRÈME.

What does the name DeVita mean?

The name DeVita, draws inspiration and meaning from two things. Firstly, Eva Perón – also known as Evita – who was Argentina’s former First Lady. When Chloe was learning about Eva’s life, it inspired her to combine “Devil” and “Evita”, thus creating “DeVita”. The name signifies the duality of how both Eva Perón and DeVita could be perceived. Either being a devil, or an angel depending on the eye of the beholder. Secondly, Salvatore Di Vita, a character from Cinema Paradiso, was also a source of inspiration.

An introduction to DeVita

Chloe Cho – now known under the artist name DeVita – was born and raised in South Korea, until the age of eleven. In 2009, she moved to Chicago, where she would learn English.

In 2013, she went back to Korea and participated in the third season of the show; K-pop Star. A talent show, where the “big three” (the three largest music labels in Korea) hosts auditions to find the next big k-pop star. However she didn’t win, therefore neither got signed.

Later on, she returned to Chicago and graduated high school. After reflecting on what she wanted to do next, she decided to make music. In 2014, her pursuit to become an artist brought her to the talent show Kollaboration. On this show, she performed covers and actually ended up being a finalist. Despite her talents, she did not triumph as the winner of the show.

Not letting these losses stop her, she started releasing music on Soundcloud. The earliest release I could find, Halfway Love (Ruff), was from 2016. Her catalogue consisted of both covers and original music.

One day, Kirin, an artist and CEO of the music label 8balltown Records, was introduced to DeVita’s music. He liked what he heard and the two linked up. In May of 2018, WEKEYZ, one of 8balltown’s producer duos released a track titled Sugar. This track featured both DeVita, and the AOMG rapper Ugly Duck. This was the beginning of many collaborations to come.

On August 28th of 2018, just a few months later, AOMG released Sugar (Puff Daehee Mix).

This was a remix done by Puff Daehee, the alter ego of Kirin. Along with this track, it was accompanied by a music video starring Kirin, DeVita, and Ugly Duck. For most people, this was their first time seeing DeVita.

DeVita continued doing features on many songs by Korean artists while creating a little buzz for herself. There’s one notable feature, which could be seen as an important milestone in her career. That is her feature on the track Noise, from AOMG artist Woo Won Jae’s project, titled af.

In a tweet a few days after the release of CRÈME, she shared the significance of this moment.

“I was still making minimum wage working at a restaurant back when Noise dropped- I wrote my part during my shift on the back of this receipt paper. This was about a year and a half ago. A little bit after that I got a call from Pumpkin at 3am Chicago time. He said Jay wanted to meet in Philly in 4 hours. They put me on a plane and the rest is history.”

The phone call she mentioned in her tweet, about Jay wanting to meet, must have been made around September 2018. Jay was performing in Philadelphia at the time. The moment they met in Philadelphia was actually captured through a photo of the two. However, this picture ended up getting removed later on.

Fast forward a few months and Jay had just released his Ask About Me EP. The project focused on a western audience, so he went to the States on a promo run. During his visit, he also met up with DeVita once again, as can be seen here.

Finally, on April 9th, her being signed to AOMG was officially announced and she debuted with her EP titled CRÈME. Her joining AOMG, looked like something that happened pretty naturally. The vast majority of artists she had collaborated on tracks with happened to be AOMG members. Getting comfortable with the AOMG family, likely made the decision to join crystal clear.

Artistically

Just a quick look at her body of work thus far, a majority of it is in English. However, she has no issues singing in Korean, as proven by her feature on Code Kunst’s; Let u in. The tone in her voice has this sort of mixture of many singers, a melting pot of sorts. It reminds me of Audrey Nuna, SAAY, H.E.R, some vocal riffs from Dinah Jane, and at times, just a tiny bit of Ariana Grande.

As an artist, she’s still in the early stages of carving out her own unique sound and style. There’s incredible potential here, but her distinct identity is not completely there yet. I see before me a caterpillar that within a couple years, will transform into a butterfly, with its own identifiable pattern to spread its wings out on.

From what she’s shown so far, I would say she seems most comfortable doing R&B and soul music. However, beyond a quick description I prefer to refrain from categorizing her. Mostly because artists generally feel limited when categorized. More importantly, because we have no idea what she has in store for the future.

Debut EP: CRÈME

CRÈME is DeVita’s “crème de la crème”. She constantly modified the tracklist to present her debut project in a way that held her personal standard; essentially presenting us her best tracks. The result is CRÈME, which consists of five tracks, with a runtime of fourteen minutes altogether.

This EP showcases the fact that she is a competent songwriter, able to write some soulful, emotional ballads. It is completely in English and all the tracks are written by her, telling both life stories of her own and that of others. A majority of the production was handled by her “musical soulmate”; TE RIM, but other notable names, like Code Kunst show up as well.

Tracks:

Movies, introduces the project in a very gentle manner. In the track, DeVita paints a picture of a criminal couple, getting a rush, by committing crimes together. The lyrics feel inspired by movies like Bonnie and Clyde. My initial thoughts were that, for some ears, it could possibly be “too” calm as an opener. It doesn’t demand attention the way EVITA! does. Simply put, it’s not a bad track. I would just have put this track later on in the EP.

EVITA!, is something different compared to what I hear from others in the K-R&B lane. I love the 80’s aesthetic in both the track and music video. Sonically, the nostalgic saxophone riffs, warm lush synth pads, thumping bass line, results in a trip back to the 80s. With this recipe, topped with DeVita’s “current” contemporary soul and R&B voice makes for an interesting combination. The music video had that futuristic 80’s look with the neon colors, and I loved how the guns she played around with looked a lot like the “Needlers” from the Halo franchise.  The title is once again just like DeVita’s name, an ode to the controversial Eva Perón. The instrumental was originally used by TE RIM, the producer of the track in 2017. His version has the same title as DeVita’s version and I recommend giving that one a listen as well, as it has a different feel to it. This track was definitely one of the highlights of the EP.

All About You, is a simple yet beautiful piano love ballad. Originating from her own tales of love, her vocals effortlessly capture what she felt during these moments.

1974 Live, is yet another ballad, but this time, with a calm guitar backing, playing a poppier R&B chord progression. DeVita’s voice is given a lot of space to be in the center of the track. As soon as I heard this track I became curious. What was the significance of this year, which would have her title the track as such? My questions were left unanswered… until the EP had marinated a while, when she tweeted: “1974 Live is about Christine Chubbuck”. In case you’re unfamiliar, Christine Chubbuck was a television news reporter, who made history in 1974. She was the first person to commit suicide live on air. According to her mother Christine’s suicide would on paper be due to an unfullfilling personal life. All throughout her life, she had experienced unreciprocated love. With this information tying back to the track, it becomes a lot less ambiguous and reveals a more cohesive narrative.

Show Me, is the final track of the EP, featuring immaculate production from the talented CODE KUNST. The sound is very moody, which fits her voice like a glove. This is my favorite performance on the entire EP, both lyrically and vocally. The lyrics present someone who’s fed up dealing with men, who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. Now she’s looking for love with someone who’s honest and “real”.

With the project being a year old now, it has already gotten her nominated for both Rookie of the Year along with EVITA being nominated for Best R&B & Soul Track in the 18th iteration of the Korean Music Awards.

A majority of listeners seemed to enjoy the project. Many seem to be in love with her voice judging by the endless amounts of praise she has received, often described as painfully addicting, soothing, smooth, and so on.

I also asked a friend who’s a huge fan of Korean music, especially the hiphop and r&b scene to share her thoughts on the project. Here’s what she said:

"This whole project is empowering, in particular the tracks Show Me and EVITA! DeVita being a new artist, managed to impress me and many more listeners through this EP. As mentioned earlier, empowering lyrics with unique melodies and beats. Especially with the track EVITA! The fact that 1974 Live and EVITA! was referring to, two historically important women, is something that I love. This is one of my favorite EP:s of 2020 and DeVita is now included in my list of favorite artists." @Haonsmom

From what I’ve seen, only a few have been vocal about not really being too fond of the project. Some were left a bit disappointed, as they were expecting more hip-hop and R&B from an AOMG artist. The lack of “danceable” tracks was also a concern to some. Despite these criticisms, one thing was always mentioned; the girl has a beautiful voice and is obviously talented.

After listening to this EP, I hear a lot of potential. Being an EP with just five tracks, it definitely avoids overstaying its welcome. It’s brief enough to allow a listen through the entire project, no matter what you’re doing. My favorite tracks would have to be Show Me and EVITA!, but I found the whole project to be enjoyable. This EP is sprinkled with lovely vocal performances and simple but captivating production. I do still stand by my opinion that Movies would have fit better later in the tracklist if you’re chasing that mainstream ear.

I think the way EVITA! kicks you in the face, demanding attention, would’ve been a better fit as the opening track. In contrast to the other tracks, the energy level is unique, making the placement feel odd as the rest of the tracks have a chill vibe. All in all, this project gave me a taste of the “crème” but left me with a curious yearning for what this chef will whip up for dessert.

Bright future ahead

The addition of more female artists to the AOMG roster was much needed. Hoody was the first and only female member for about four years. This was the case up until late 2019, where she was then joined by sogumm, who had just won AOMG’s audition program called SignHere. Now funnily enough after DeVita, Lee Hi actually did end up officially signing with AOMG on July 22, last year.

Based on what I’ve heard during Devita’s Kollaboration days, she has improved immensely. This topped with her leaving the impression of someone passionate about their craft, bodes well for what's to come. She seems to be someone who'll constantly evolve.

Following an artist, at the early stages of their career, is something that I always find exciting. With such a lovely debut, I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for DeVita.

To view the content of this article in video format simply play the video embedded below.

Thanks for reading, watching. If you enjoyed this content feel free to follow my socials to stay up to date on when new content is posted.

https://allmylinks.com/dossi-io

Credits:

The first image in article: Original photo, pre-edit from @jinveun

Gif from the Sugar Puff Daehee MV: @moxiepoints

[pervysagewisdom]

The Idol

BTS Fanfic

18+ Explicit

3 Chapters, Complete

Minjoon, Vmin, RM/Jimin/V AU

Summary: While at a club one night, struggling rapper Namjoon is chosen by the biggest pop star in the world for a night of pleasure that turns out to be more than he bargained for.

Or: Jimin is a polyamorous pop star who likes kinky sex. Ends with a threesome between Jimin, Namjoon, and Vante.

Excerpt:

“Hey Namjoon. You want to get out of here?” Suddenly he had butterflies in his stomach, which he would never tell Yoongi about when he recounted these events later.

“Where?”

“I have a room. Not far.” He couldn’t say no. That wasn’t an option.

“Sure. But tell me your name first.” The man’s lovely lips quirked.

“Jimin,” he said. Namjoon has to have him repeat it, so he does. Namjoon chuckled. That was funny.

“Like the singer,” he said. Jimin smiled a smile that just floored him, and something started to click in his mind.

“Yeah, like the singer.” Namjoon turned his head and looked back towards the booth with the bodyguards, confused. Jimin turned his head back to him with a finger on his chin. “Decoy,” Jimin told him. “This isn’t my first time.” He gave him a knowing look. Namjoon thought his legs might give out on him. His throat was suddenly dry.

“Me?” he asked stupidly. The Jimin, the famous pop star, the Idol, wanted a night with him?

“Mm, yes, you.” He seemed amused. Namjoon was lost. This was unbelievable.

“So do we just...leave?” Jimin shook his head. His hand ran up under Namjoon’s mesh shirt over his sweat covered muscles. It was distracting as fuck.

Chapter 1: The Club

He never did this. Namjoon preferred the dirty little clubs and bars where everyone knew you. He hated places like this, huge multi-room dance clubs that smelled like sweat and sex, where no one could really see anyone. It was just anonymous bodies grinding together to sounds that were more beat than music, under lights that were both blinding and too dark to let you see anything. And he certainly never dressed like this, in skin-tight back pants and a black fishnet shirt. He had insisted on putting a jacket over it. Yoongi had insisted that was lame. When you sat with the DJ, you had to look the part, he said. Yoongi certainly did. He was a natural behind the turntables, controlling the heart of the place, the conductor of debauchery. As a rapper, Namjoon preferred an audience--You know, one that was actually listening to you. Pay him enough, and Yoongi didn’t care. He produced his art with the cash from the DJ gigs, and business was good. Namjoon was certain any day now Yoongi would skyrocket past him into the fame stratosphere, but he wasn’t so certain about his own future. He worked, he hustled, but things just didn’t seem to go his way. The issue, according to Yoongi, was that he thought too much. He needed to get out of his head and fucking relax. Looking at the sea of people below them, he didn’t feel relaxed, though Yoongi looked like he was having the time of his life.

“Drink the soju,” Yoongi insisted, pushing an expensive bottle towards him. “It’s free.”

“I don’t want to drink alone,” Namjoon told him. Yoongi didn’t drink much when working. He was more of a fine wine type.

“You’re not alone.” Yoongi motioned to the crowd. “They’re all fucked out of their minds. Why shouldn’t you be?” Namjoon looked around. It just did not appeal to him. Still, a drink might be good. He had a shot. It was surprisingly smooth. He was used to the cheaper drinks he got free at bars during his set. “Nice, right? Now have twenty more and go dance.”

“I don’t know about that.” Still, he did have a few more while Yoongi worked the club with his beats. The reserved area caught his eye. It seemed to be catching everyone’s eyes. The crowd was denser near one roped off area in particular. There were a couple of large bodyguards making certain they didn’t get any closer. Namjoon nudged Yoongi. “What’s that about?” Yoongi glanced over.

“Oh. Pop star. That one who sang ‘Filter’. Never seen him here before, but I heard he came tonight.”

“You gonna play his song?”

“Fuck no. I don’t do pop.” Namjoon didn’t think the song was so bad. The guy had a great voice and he was sexy as all hell. Namjoon appreciated all types of music.

The soju really was smooth.

The club was really getting hot, he thought, and removed his jacket. He didn’t realize how much of it he’d drunk until he knocked over half a shot on Yoongi’s equipment. He got a good yelling at and was pushed out of the booth to “dance it off”. Namjoon always had been clumsy, but drunk Namjoon was on another level.

He was drunk enough not to mind being pushed out as much as he normally would. He made his way into the flow. He wouldn’t have called himself a dancer, but he wasn’t without moves. Just because he hated big clubs didn’t mean he hadn’t spent time in any. Yoongi knew his jams too and like a mind-reader played just the right songs to get Namjoon to relax and blend into the crush. It wasn’t so bad, really, as long as you were on at least your twelfth shot of soju...maybe sixteenth. He’d lost count. He even thought he was starting to have a little fun.

Something seemed to change around him. He didn’t notice it at first and when he did he couldn’t put his finger on what had changed, exactly. He kept dancing, the thought that something was happening floating in the back of his mind largely unacknowledged. There were hands on his chest. Small hands compared to his broad chest, coming from behind him. He could feel the fingers on his own skin through the holes in his shirt. They were moving with the music and connected to someone dancing up against his back. He moved his hips in time with the person behind him. By the hands he honestly couldn’t tell if it was a woman or a small man, and it really didn’t matter to him. He turned around anyway and for a moment he still wasn’t sure, but then he figured it out. Small man. Trim figure. Black baseball cap on, black silk shirt open most of the way down, tight back pants similar to his own. He couldn’t see the man’s face well, but there were lips there that looked nice. What he did notice was that the man could move. They picked up on each other’s rhythm and soon were dancing like they were choreographed. Damn! He’d never seen anyone move like that before, so fluid and sexual and perfectly timed with his own movements. This guy was a pro.

Namjoon was not aggressive. Yoongi would say that was part of his problem. He was, however, a hard worker, and he thought that was more important. Even now while dancing with a stranger, he wanted to please his partner. He touched him back, a hand on his lower back, but he didn’t touch anywhere he felt would be a violation of the other man. The young man didn’t seem to have such boundaries. His hands went everywhere as they danced. Namjoon was certain he had purposefully felt him up down below to gage his size. Well, his size was growing as they danced, but was luckily contained by his tight pants. Turned out those were necessary in a club scene after all.

Those small hands were talented too. Everything about this man was talented, right down to the tongue on his ear. Much more of this and he was going to have a mess to clean up when he got home. He tried to say something along those lines to the other man, but he shook his head. Too loud, he couldn’t hear. Namjoon did get a dazzling smile for his efforts, though, at the same time as the man moved Namjoon’s hand from his waist to his pert ass. Namjoon might not be aggressive, but he could accept an invitation. This guy had a dazzling smile. It seemed really familiar to him somehow, but he couldn’t place it.

The music changed to something slower and a little quieter though still pounding, just as Namjoon was reaching the point of overstimulation. Yoongi always was able to read the room. His partner dragged him by his shirt (if you could call it a shirt) to somewhere slightly less crowded and loud. He thought they were finally going to be able to talk. He certainly was interested in talking to this sexy man, but instead he was kissed. It was a forceful, sweaty kiss. The small man’s tongue entered his mouth, connecting with his own and sending sparks through him. He was even a great kisser! And those hands never stopped moving, running through his hair, down his neck, over his broad shoulders, and back down his body again, not to mention the thigh that pressed between his legs. Yes, he was going to lose it. He pulled back but with a smile to show nothing was wrong. He had to yell near his ear to be heard.

“Hey, I’m Namjoon. What’s your name?” The young man seemed like he would laugh, but he stopped himself. The man’s tongue ran over his full lips as he made a decision.

“Hey Namjoon. You want to get out of here?” Suddenly he had butterflies in his stomach, which he would never tell Yoongi about when he recounted these events later.

“Where?”

“I have a room. Not far.” He couldn’t say no. That wasn’t an option.

“Sure. But tell me your name first.” The man’s lovely lips quirked.

“Jimin,” he said. Namjoon has to have him repeat it, so he does. Namjoon chuckled. That was funny.

“Like the singer,” he said. Jimin smiled a smile that just floored him, and something started to click in his mind.

“Yeah, like the singer.” Namjoon turned his head and looked back towards the booth with the bodyguards, confused. Jimin turned his head back to him with a finger on his chin. “Decoy,” Jimin told him. “This isn’t my first time.” He gave him a knowing look. Namjoon thought his legs might give out on him. His throat was suddenly dry.

“Me?” he asked stupidly. The Jimin, the famous pop star, the Idol, wanted a night with him?

“Mm, yes, you.” He seemed amused. Namjoon was lost. This was unbelievable.

“So do we just...leave?” Jimin shook his head. His hand ran up under Namjoon’s mesh shirt over his sweat covered muscles. It was distracting as fuck.

“I’ll leave. My assistant will get you a car. I’ll meet you there.”

“Where?” Jimin chuckled again.

“Don’t worry. Just listen to Hobi.” He reached up to give Namjoon’s ear lobe a little lick and nibble and then said, “I’ll be waiting for you.” He ducked out of his arms and seemed to melt into the crowd. Namjoon stood there stunned, unable to believe that had actually happened. He still hadn’t moved when someone new was suddenly beside him, tossing an arm across his shoulders.

“Hi there! I’m Hoseok. Come with me, pretty boy. I’ll take care of you.” Namjoon looked up to see a tall man in bright designer clothes and a big smile wink at him. Behind them the bodyguards were moving out of the club with whoever was supposed to be Jimin, though he doubted now it was actually him.

“Let me tell my friend I’m going,” he said, surprising himself. Was he actually doing this?! Apparently he was. He went back to Yoongi’s booth and didn’t exactly tell him what had happened, just that he was going to a hotel room with someone he’d met. It was too unbelievable of a story to share just yet. There was still a chance it was all some sick joke, after all. Yoongi gave him his full support. Namjoon grabbed his jacket and one more shot before heading back down. Namjoon let Hoseok lead him out of the club. It was too loud to ask questions until they were outside.

His ears were ringing. The street noise seemed muted after the loud beats of the club. His head was swimming. He was suddenly cold as the night air hit his sweaty skin. He put on his jacket. He saw a large black SUV drive off. He wondered if that was Jimin’s car. Hoseok opened the door of a black town car for him.

“Hop on in, Romeo, and we’ll talk.” Normally Namjoon would think twice about getting into a car with some random man, but this was no ordinary night. He got in. Hoseok got in beside him. There was a leather satchel in the car already. Hoseok sat back casually on the seat with one arm thrown over the back, his legs crossed. He was perfectly at ease. Namjoon thought he was losing his mind. “Have some water. You need your hydration,” Hoseok said, nodding his head towards some bottles of water in the door. Namjoon took one and gulped most of it down in one go.

“Was that really Park Jimin?” he asked after. Hoseok laughed. He had an easy smile.

“What’s your name?” Namjoon told him. “Well, Namjoon, yes it was. And he’s hoping you’ll join him in his hotel room. How’s that sound?” It sounded fucking unbelieveable.

“Yeah. Good.” It was hard to form words. Hoseok seemed amused. How often exactly did they do this? How many other random men had been pulled out of clubs like by the hand of God to please the Idol? Speaking of, shit...he would need condoms. Probably. Hopefully.

Hoseok seemed to be able to tell he was in over his head. Maybe he was used to it. “Great! We just have one thing to get out of the way first.” He reached into the satchel and pulled out some stapled papers. They looked like a legal document. Namjoon stared at the papers. This was getting too real. “Don’t look so frightened. It’s just a super basic, very standard, nothing to be afraid of, non-disclosure agreement. That’s all!”

“That’s all, huh?”

“And completely not optional, I’m afraid.” Hoseok clicked a pen. “Date and sign and we will be on our way!”

“What exactly am I signing?” He took the pen but not the paper.

“You can’t tell anyone about this little night of fun or we’ll sue those tight pants off you.” At Namjoon’s expression he laughed and slapped Namjoon’s knee. “Don’t look so scared! Just think of it as a little secret between the two of you. Don’t tell any Press about how my dear friend likes to have his fun, and we all win!” He leaned forward, squeezing his thigh. “Trust me. It’ll be worth it.” Wink.

What the hell. Namjoon signed. Yoongi would have been proud. When would something like this ever happen to him again? Hoseok gave him a bright smile and tucked the pen and paper away. “Off we go!” he called to the driver, who pulled away from the club. Hoseok sat back again, fully relaxed. “Have more water. You’ll need it.” Namjoon did drink more, though his eyes were warily on Hoseok the whole time.

“How often do you do this?” he asked.

“Mm...not very often. It’s not exactly...easy to pull off. And we’re pretty busy, as I’m sure you can imagine.” That was somewhat reassuring, Namjoon thought. Then he remembered.

“Oh--shit! I need...supplies.” Hoseok grinned at him.

“You’re cute. You’re really cute. I see why he picked you. Don’t worry. Everything you need will be there.”

Namjoon didn’t know what to say next. He felt like he should ask a lot more questions, but his mind was foggy and blank. He just kept thinking about those rosebud lips, that tongue on his ear, the greedy hands on his body...He takes a deep breath.

“What’s he like?” He asked. Hoseok tilted his head.

“What’s he like or what does he like?”

“I mean, as a person.”

“Hm.” Hoseok seemed to apprise him differently now. He considered how much to share. “He’s really funny. He’s really sweet.” He paused, leaving something out. “Be nice to him, alright? It’s a lonely world, you know?”

“Yeah…” He thought he did know. He finished a second bottle of water as he counted back the months since he had last gone on a date or slept with someone. Too many. “So you’re like, his assistant?”

“Sort of. More like a friend. I’m the dance captain for his crew.”

Namjoon thought that was interesting. “How did you meet?” he asked.

“We had the same dance instructor back in the day. When he needed someone, he brought me with him.”

“Must be nice.”

“It’s a hard life, but it’s got perks. Mostly that I get to dance.” Hoseok grinned again. Namjoon noticed he didn’t ask questions back. He thought he knew why. Best not to get too involved with the boss’s one night stands. God, he was getting nervous.

They pulled up to a hotel, but not just any hotel, one of the swankiest in town.

Namjoon gapped. “Here?”

Hoseok nodded. “Top floor.”

Namjoon started to have second thoughts. “I don’t know, man…”

Hoseok pursed his lips. “You don’t have to go.” He was annoyed, not because he cared what Namjoon did, but because he’d be the one to deal with the fallout after.

Namjoon looked at Hoseok for help, but didn’t receive any. He would have to make this decision on his own. He thought of what Yoongi would say right now, and then gathered himself and got out of the car. Hoseok rolled down his window and leaned out, holding a keycard up but out of reach.

“Just one more thing. I need your phone.”

“What?”

“Can’t have any pictures or videos randomly popping up online. Don’t worry. It’ll be at the front desk for you when you leave.” He held out his hand. Hoseok really hated all of this. There’s a moment where Namjoon doesn’t move. “Look, I know it’s weird, but the world’s biggest pop star is up there right now waiting for you to fuck him. You going to walk away from that? Do you have something better to do tonight? I promise, you’ll get your phone back just as it is.”

“Fuck it.” He puts his phone in Hoseok’s hand and is given the keycard.

“Just go all the way up.”

Namjoon turned to the grand hotel entrance. He wished he had a little more of that soju right now.

As he stepped inside, doors held open for him by a doorman who’s eyes seemed to look right through him, he realized how he must look to everyone right now, and he was suddenly mortified. He walked in and searched for the bathroom right away and hurried to it as inconspicuously as he could. He went to the sink and looked at himself in the mirror. God, he looked awful. He looked like he’d gotten drunk at a club and was on his way for a hookup. Which was all true. With a sigh, he did his best to clean up, but there wasn’t much to be done now. What he needed was a shower and a change of clothes, but it was too late for that.

Trying to avoid all eye contact, he made his way to the elevator. Inside, blessedly alone, he hit the top button. The Penthouse. He had to use the keycard to even get it to go there. This was indeed the weirdest thing he’d ever done in his life. As he made his way up, all his self-doubt came crashing over him. Why him? Why would the world’s biggest pop star want an evening with him? It made no sense. He was average looking at best. He was an average dancer at best. Anything he excelled at, Jimin had no idea about. He just knew as soon as he arrived he would be laughed at and kicked out and it would all have been for nothing. Jimin would look at him in the light and change his mind. He’d have to ride the elevator of shame all the way back down and then go to the front desk to ask for his phone like an idiot. It would be a disaster. It would be the worst night of his life. God, he was so thirsty!

After what seemed like an eternity, the door opened to a small hallway. There was only one door and it was guarded by a huge man in black. Namjoon stepped out of the elevator, gripping the keycard like a lifeline. He cleared his throat.

“Hey. Uhm. I have a...I’m expected?” He had no idea what to say to this large man. What if he was in the wrong place? He started to sweat. The man didn’t say a word, but opened the door for him. “Oh. Uh. Thanks,” he said and stepped forward.

The view was stunning. The first thing he noticed was the wall of windows, showing the city below them. The ceiling was two stories high and the windows went all the way up. They were so high up, for a moment he had vertigo. Everything in the room was underrated opulence, but even in such a surprisingly large room, the furniture had a cozy feeling to it. He gaped for a moment and then noticed another guard standing on this side of the door, which nearly made him jump out of his skin.

“Namjoon!” His attention snapped back to the living room. There he was. Jimin stood and turned to him, having been sitting on the couch facing the windows. It was like something from a movie. He looked totally different, no longer wearing a baseball cap and all black. He was in a floral silk robe, tied at the waist that flowed around him like water. His hair was a dark blond color which seemed surprisingly natural on him. His eyes were a hazel color and his lips pink and glossy. “You came,” Jimin said. He sounded relieved. Maybe Namjoon wouldn’t be laughed out of the door after all. He smiled.

Chapter 2: The Hotel

With one more wary glance at the guard he entered the living room. Jimin motioned for him to join him. Namjoon left his shoes by the door and stepped around the couch. God, he looked so beautiful it made Namjoon’s chest hurt. Jimin offered him a glass of champagne. He took the glass, feeling hopelessly out of place. Jimin was still smiling at him, his hands playing with the belt of his robe. Was he nervous? That didn’t make any sense.

“Hey,” Namjoon said, trying to sound cool and certain he was failing miserably. “Nice place you got here.”

“Mm. Yeah. I like the view.” They both looked out the windows. It was stunning. Namjoon’s eyes went right back to Jimin though.

“Uhm. Sorry I couldn’t...clean up. I probably smell like--club. You look--amazing.”

“Thanks. You look amazing too, don’t worry. I didn’t really know what to...I’m glad you came.” There was that smile again. He definitely looked nervous, which somehow made Namjoon less so, even if just a little. “I know it’s a little...weird. I’m sorry. They won’t let me, otherwise...It’s a sort of compromise.” He looked so apologetic that Namjoon felt the need to reassure him. He put a hand on his arm.

“It’s alright. I get it. I mean, yeah, it’s weird, but...we’re here.” Jimin seemed pleased with that. He nodded and relaxed some.

“Sit down. Have some champagne. I’ll put on some music.” He went to a control panel Namjoon would never have even noticed. Soon Frank Ocean was playing in the background.

Namjoon sat and sipped the drink. He glanced back at the guard standing near the door. “Is he just going to…”

“Oh…” Jimin sat beside him, looking apologetic again. “Just ignore him. We can always go in the bedroom. He’ll stay here. He won’t bother us.” There was an unspoken unless in there somewhere, Namjoon was certain.

“That’s got to be weird, to never be alone.”

“I’m alone too much,” Jimin replied quickly, then seemed to regret it. He picked up the other glass and had a sip. “Do you like it? I can get you something else. There’s a bar. You can have whatever you want. There’s Soju.”

“It’s good.” He sipped the drink to show how he was enjoying it, though he wasn’t really much of a champagne person. He’d prefer something stronger. He felt far too sober for someone who had had so much to drink not that long ago.

“You don’t like it. What do you want?” He set down his glass and jumped up, running over to the bar.

“Are you going to bartend?” Namjoon turned to look at him as he started pulling out various bottles of drinks. It was quite amusing to see.

“Yes. I’ll make you a Jimin Special.” Namjoon went over and stood on the other side of the small bar.

“Well, this I have to try.” It turned out to be a crazy concoction of Makgeolli, blueberry Vinegar, Sikhye, and an energy drink. It was a hazy bluish color. When he was done, Jimin pushed one over to Namjoon with pride. Namjoon wasn’t too sure about the look of this drink.

“Your drink, sir. Be sure to tip your bartender.”

“I think I’ll try it first.” He took a sip and nodded. It was actually not as bad as it looked. “Not bad! I may tip him after all.”

“No rush! You can start a tab.” Jimin smiled and scooted around the bar to join him, hoping up on one of the barstools. He pulled over his own drink and had a sip. When he crossed his legs, the silk slipped down, baring his smooth legs up to his thighs. Did he even have anything on underneath that…? Namjoon took another longer drink. Thank god the Jimin Special was pretty strong.

“I’ma need another of these in a minute,” he said.

“You should make me one,” Jimin suggested.

“Deal.” Namjoon started to change the topic, to ask Jimin something about himself, but Jimin interrupted his thoughts.

“It’s really so nice you’re here. Tell me something about yourself.”

“Just...anything?”

“Anything you want.” Jimin leaned his head on his hand, elbow on the bar as he looked at Namjoon expectantly.

“Mm...well…” What did someone say about themselves to someone so famous? Everything sounded so lame. “I’m a rapper. I don’t usually go to clubs. And I never dress like this.” Jimin smiled softly at him. It was so hard to think when he did that.

“You look good in it. I don’t go to clubs either. I want to hear you rap.” Namjoon laughed right away.

“No. No way. I can’t rap in front of you.” Jimin looked offended.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re Park Jimin! You did a song with Drake!” Those pink lips go into a pout. Oh no. He was going to give in, wasn’t he? Now the nightmare would begin. “You might not like it.”

“I will! If I don’t, I’ll pretend I do and you’ll never know.”

“That is not reassuring.”

“Please?” Jimin’s voice got a hint of a whine in it and reached out and squeezed Namjoon’s thigh for emphasis. Namjoon could see he was used to getting what he wanted, and with good reason.

“...I’ll play you something off my mixtape.” That seemed to appease him. He beamed at him happily. Namjoon reached for his phone...which he didn’t have. He cursed. “They took my phone.”

“Oh...right.”

“I could…” text it to you? Email? Let you hear it next time? None of those things were going to happen.

“It’s okay! But I hope I can hear you rap sometime soon.” Namjoon sucked on his drink.

“Hey, uhm...can I ask you something?” he said. Why not make an awkward situation even more awkward? Jimin nodded, also drinking. “Why’d you pick...me?” Jimin made a face at the question. “Come on, there were way hotter guys there and better dancers too. Why me?”

“I picked you because I liked you.”

“How’d you know you’d like me?”

“I knew.” He hit the bar with his hand. “Make me a drink!” Namjoon could see he wasn’t going to get an answer just yet. Alright, fine. Drinks were probably a good idea. He drank down the last of his drink.

“As you wish!” Probably best not to push the Idol too far. The looming guard was a constant reminder of that. He got up and went around the bar. Damn, it really was fully stocked! He pulled out some Coke, Soju, and beer. “A Namjoon Special, coming up.” He mixed two drinks, heavy on the beer. It was not an original drink. Jimin smirked and took it.

“Is that the best you can do?” he asked.

“Hey, classics will outlive us all.” He clinked their glasses and drank half of his down. That was better. He could feel his buzz again. Jimin drank as well, his eyes on Namjoon.

“Do you get a lot of rap gigs?”

“I do alright. No stadium tours yet,” he jokes, “Mostly bars. But, you know, gotta keep chasing the dream, right?”

“Mm.”

“Do you like being famous?” As soon as he asked it, Namjoon realized it was a tacky question. “Sorry, nevermind. Don’t answer that.” The question seemed to make Jimin self-conscious. His eyes drifted away. Namjoon beat himself up internally. Idiot.

Before Namjoon could think of what to say next to ruin things more, Jimin chugged his entire drink and then stood up.

“Let’s dance!” He went over to the music controls without waiting for an answer and changed the music to Blackpink, turning it up so loud that Namjoon was certain people could hear it three floors below them. Wow. Okay. He really shouldn’t have asked that question, he guessed. He down the rest of his drink and joined him. At least he hadn’t been kicked out, just silenced. He really didn’t think he wanted to know what an Idol temper tantrum was like.

Before he could awkwardly wonder what kind of dancing Jimin had in mind, Jimin let it be known. He grabbed Namjoon and pulled him close against him. One of Jimin’s hands went right to Namjoon’s ass as he grinded against him. He knew what was expected of him now, and honestly, he was perfectly willing to try to give that to him, if he could manage not to mess it all up completely first. He danced with him, a hand on his lower back again. Did Jimin roll his eyes at him? He wasn’t quite certain. But then Jimin was pushing Namjoon’s jacket off of his shoulders and onto the floor. He felt a little self-conscious again without it, but Jimin didn’t give him time to dwell on it. He sang along with the girl’s song, his voice blending perfectly with theirs as he pulled him towards the giant windows by his belt. He didn’t have long to wonder what he was up to, before Jimin was undoing his belt as he sang and gyrated to the music. He gave Namjoon a naughty smile as he unbuttoned and unzipped him. Namjoon tried to remember to move to the song, but was soon frozen as the small hand reached into his pants. The guard behind him! The windows in front! He gulped. Jimin let his robe fall off one shoulder coyly and he sunk to his knees. He certainly had nothing on under the top half of the robe, but Namjoon still was uncertain about the bottom half.

Before he knew it, his pants were being tugged to the ground and the Idol was rubbing him through his boxer briefs. His heart was racing and his breathing sped up. This was actually going to happen. He was going to—No, he had to stop thinking of Jimin as some Idol. He was just a guy, on his knees before him, looking up at him, probably wanting the exact same thing he did. He consciously softened his expression and gave him a grin. Jimin grinned back and Namjoon felt something click.

And then his cock was out and this tongue licked up his shaft and he thought his legs would give out. Jimin held the base steady with his hand as his tongue worked around it, teasing him. He avoided the head until Namjoon was as hard as a rock, which drove him crazy. Then a condom appeared out of the pocket of Jimin’s robe and he rolled it on him. Namjoon was almost grateful for it. He didn’t think he could last long without it. Jimin’s mouth taking in his cock was the most erotic thing he had ever seen. He would be seeing those lips in his dreams for the rest of his life, he thought. When he began sucking, it was almost too much to take. Namjoon reached out and steadied himself with a palm against the window. He could see the whole city before them on the other side of the glass but none of them knew what was happening right above them.

“Ah, Jimin, I’m going to...I’m gonna…” He looked back down at him and with a groan he couldn’t hold himself back any longer. It was embarrassing, but Jimin didn’t seem to mind. A few tissues later, the mess was cleaned up. Jimin stood and went to the music controls. He changed it to something softer and looked at Namjoon over his exposed shoulder. “That was...wow,” Namjoon said.

“I know.” Jimin motioned with his finger and walked to the bedroom, not waiting for Namjoon. Unsure what to do with his clothes, he left his pants and tucked himself back in his underwear and followed. The room was similar in style to the living room but much smaller. It also had a wall of windows and there was a lavish bathroom attached. Jimin was on the bed sitting up on his knees, which were spread apart.

Namjoon’s nerves started to show again. Now it was his turn to reciprocate. Normally he wouldn’t be phased by that, but he felt pressure to live up to this gorgeous person who was obviously skilled in this area as well.

Jimin offered the belt of his robe to Namjoon, who took it, uncertain. “Pull,” Jimin told him, so he did, untying the robe. Jimin let it fall off of his other shoulder and onto the bed. Underneath he had on pink lace underwear that hardly concealed or held his growing erection. Namjoon’s heart was pounding in his chest. Jimin turned and crawled away from him on the bed. His ass was small, round, and tight. Namjoon felt his throat go dry. Jimin looked back at him over his shoulder seductively, as if Namjoon needed any further seducing...Still, he was uncertain.

“Tell me what you want,” he said to Jimin. Jimin smiled.

“I just want to feel good,” he replied, turning and laying on his back, propped up on his elbows, waiting. Okay, thought Namjoon, he could do that.

He removed his ridiculous shirt (God, he was going to have to leave wearing that, wasn’t he? Horrifying.) and crawled over to Jimin, hovering over him. Jimin looked up at him expectantly. Namjoon lowered his head and kissed him on the neck. Jimin tilted his head back, accommodating. Namjoon kissed him, taking his time, going lower and lower. He moved down to his clavicle, his chest, took a moment to pay attention to both small, dark nipples, and worked his way down his toned stomach. When he reached his groin, he continued his kisses over Jimin’s underwear, mouthing over him, kissing and tounging him down his shaft to his balls and back up. Jimin began to squirm under him and made a pleasurable moan. Encouraged, Namjoon licked over the head that peaked out of the lace and Jimin’s hips pushed up, encouraging him. He pulled down the lace with a finger and licked him more. He could hear Jimin’s breathing quicken as his tongue moved over him. Then Jimin’s hand was in his hair.

“Come here,” He beckoned before he finished and pulled Namjoon back over him. He brought their mouths together and kissed him deeply, invading Namjoon’s mouth with his greedy tongue. Jimin’s hand went down between them and palmed Namjoon. He whispered, “Get hard for me again.” It was not a difficult request. Jimin hooked a leg around Namjoon’s hip, pulling their bodies flush against each other and they kissed until Namjoon was ready again. Jimin pointed to the nightstand, where more condoms and a bottle of lube was waiting. Namjoon licked his lips in anticipation and made eye contact with Jimin. This was really happening? Jimin smiled.

“Hurry.” He didn’t need more encouragement. Namjoon climbed off of him and discarded his own underwear and got the condom on. He brought over the lubricant to Jimin who made no move to remove his own lace. He spread his legs, knees raised. “Leave them on,” he told Namjoon. Namjoon put some lube on his fingers. When he looked closer, he saw the panties had a slit for just such an occasion. Nervous as all hell, he rubbed a slick finger over Jimin’s hole and slid it in easily. Jimin watched him, a little amused. He moved his hips with him in encouragement. Namjoon worked in a second finger and hoped he was doing everything alright. Jimin rocked his hips against the fingers, pushing them in deeper, moaning a little for fun, fucking Namjoon’s fingers. God, it was insanely sexy, Namjoon thought. Jimin pulled back, Namjoon’s fingers sliding out. He licked his lips.

“Let’s go,” he said. Namjoon rubbed lube over his hard shaft, so nervous he nearly dropped the bottle in the process, and then lined himself up. He had to take a deep breath and let it out first, but then he pushed himself in. There was resistance at first, but not much. He leaned over Jimin, hands on the bed on either side of him, in to the hilt. It felt so good, so tight. Jimin tossed his head back and also took a deep breath and let it out. Then he looked up at Namjoon and pulled him down for a kiss with a hand on his neck.

“Start moving before I die,” He told him and Namjoon complied, pulling out halfway and back in again slowly. He could feel the lace rubbing against his cock. Jimin made the most beautiful little noises against his lips. “Faster,” Jimin insisted. Namjoon moved a hand to Jimin’s hip to hold him in place and started pumping faster, going deeper with each thrust. Jimin arched his back and wrapped a leg around Namjoon’s back. His small hands raked across Namjoon’s shoulders. “Harder!” Namjoon adjusted his position and began to fuck him in earnest, slapping against him until Jimin melted under him, eyes shut, mouth open, clinging to Namjoon desperately.

Before Namjoon could finish a second time, though, he stopped him, his voice breathless. “Window!” He said. “Pick me up!” Namjoon thought he understood. He pulled out carefully then pulled Jimin to the edge of the bed. Jimin wrapped both legs around him and his arms around his neck and Namjoon picked him up. He took him to the window, pressing Jimin’s back to it. Namjoon didn’t usually engage in such unusual positions, but he would have done absolutely anything Jimin requested at that moment just to be able to keep fucking him. He got himself lined up again and used Jimin’s own weight to enter him again. Jimin clung to him tightly, bouncing on Namjoon’s cock as he pressed back against the glass. He dug his nails into Namjoon’s shoulders. Namjoon did his best to go as hard as he could though the position was a little strenuous for him. Jimin seemed to love it. He gasped and bounced until he’d had enough.

“Ah! Namjoon!” Jimin whined. “Let me down!” He set him down. Jimin went quickly to the plush chair and leaned over the arm. “Go, go!” he insisted. Namjoon thrust right back into him from behind and slapped against him, holding his hips, faster and harder, as Jimin gripped the chair for his life, coming on it while he was pounded into. Not long after that Namjoon climaxed as well. He slowed and stayed inside Jimin as he caught his breath, sweat beaded over his brow and chest. Jimin collapsed over the chair, catching his breath as well. Carefully Namjoon pulled himself out and discarded the condom. He brought over the tissues for Jimin, who didn’t seem much interested in moving, so he cleaned him himself. Jimin looked at him over his shoulder and grinned. He held out his hand for Namjoon to help him up, which he did. Jimin pressed up against him and gave him a long, softer kiss, then patted his cheek. He walked past him to the bathroom.

Namjoon sat on the edge of the bed, looking out the window. He wiped a hand over his forehead, head swimming. Goddamn, that had been something else. A few minutes later, the bed moved and then two hands slid down his chest from behind. He turned his head and smiled. Jimin kissed his cheek then pulled back again. He tugged the covers of the bed down and climbed under them. He reached out for Namjoon to join him. As soon as Namjoon was under them as well, Jimin was wrapped around him, his head on Namjoon’s chest. Namjoon was surprised to notice that Jimin was fully naked now. His skin felt so good against his own.

“That was...incredible,” Namjoon said. Jimin hummed. “Thank you for...inviting me.” He didn’t get a response to that. “Will you tell me now?” Jimin hummed again with a question mark this time. “Why’d you pick me?” There was a little pause before he answered.

“I could tell you were nice,” Jimin said, eyes closed.

“How could you tell?” Namjoon asked.

“Mm...I saw you in the DJ booth. Was that your boyfriend?”

“Just a friend. Don’t change the subject. How’d you know I wasn’t an asshole?” Jimin’s fingers played over Namjoon’s chest lightly.

“You looked nervous up there. It was cute. You were respectful when you danced. Not aggressive. I don’t like aggressive guys.” Namjoon could guess why. Jimin was the aggressive one, he thought. Jimin opened his eyes and looked up at him. “I have a good radar for these things. And you could move so I knew you’d be good in bed. And you were so sexy. It was easy to choose.”

“What if I’d have said no?” Namjoon teased. Jimin reached up and booped his nose.

“No one says no.”

“I might have.”

“Then I’d have been sad and lonely tonight. Is that what you’d have wanted? Why are you so cruel?” Namjoon grinned down at him.

“No way. I’m too nice for that.”

“Exactly.” Jimin closed his eyes and relaxed again. Namjoon wanted to say more, a lot more, but he held back. He’d just end up saying the wrong thing again.

“Just...let me know when you want me to go,” he said.

“Not yet...” Jimin said. Then he opened his eyes again. “Are you hungry? We can get some food.”

“Sure.” Jimin sat up and pulled his phone from the bedside table and sent a text.

“Hobi will order us something.” He set his phone aside and settled back against Namjoon.

“You always stay in rooms like this?” Namjoon asked. Jimin chuckled. “What?”

“This isn’t my room,” Jimin confessed.

“What?”

“My room is on the third floor with the rest of my team. This was just for...tonight. For fun. I have a regular room like everyone else.” Namjoon looked at him in disbelief.

“You’re kidding.”

“These big rooms are too much for me. They always feel so empty. I don’t like them alone.”

“Hm. That makes sense.” They’re quiet for a moment and then Namjoon asks, “How long are you in town for…?” Jimin didn’t answer right away. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked that.

“A couple of days. For interviews.”

“Nice. Where to next?”

“Uhm...Tokyo, I think?”

“That’s cool. Do you like it? Traveling?”

“Sometimes.” Namjoon found it so difficult to know what to talk about, but he desperately wanted Jimin to trust him, let down his guard, and just let them get to know each other like regular people. He wanted to take him on a date, actually, though he could see that was impossible. Chances were once he left he would never see Jimin in person again. It was a really shitty thought.

“I want to travel more. When I can afford it. I think I’d like touring,” Namjoon said.

“Just make sure you take good people with you.”

“Seems like Hoseok is a good friend.”

“He is. I think I rely on him too much.” That was the first personal thing Jimin had said to him. Namjoon smiled to himself.

“He seemed alright with it.” Jimin didn’t have anything to say to that.

Not long later they could hear the guard letting someone in. The room service had arrived. Namjoon got up and put his boxer briefs back on and went and got the rolling cart and brought it back to the bedroom. He was surprised how quickly he got used to having someone else so nearby. The guy really did kind of disappear in the background. They sat up in bed and ate a variety of foods that Hoseok ordered for them and chatted. Namjoon noticed Jimin didn’t each much himself. He just nibbled mostly. It made him a little sad. They also had some tea and water. Hoseok had been right. He needed the hydration.

After, Jimin asked, “Do you want to shower with me?” How could Namjoon say no?

It was a large shower with a light up waterfall shower head above their heads. The water felt so relaxing on Namjoon’s body after their exertion. He thought he could fall asleep right there. They cleaned each other, laughing when it tickled. Namjoon thought this was his favorite part of the evening. He really wished he had a clean change of clothing once they were done, however, but he had no such luck.

As he toweled off, he watched Jimin remove his colored contacts and put lotion on his face and neck.

“You look really good like that,” Namjoon said.

“Like what?”

“Like...yourself. Natural.” Jimin looked at him and smiled, but it was clear he didn’t believe him.

“My skin looks so blotchy!” Namjoon went over to him and put his arms around him from behind, looking at him in the mirror.

“Naw, it looks perfect.”

“Hm.” Jimin put on some eye cream and lip gloss before he was finished. Then he looked back at Namjoon through the mirror. “You can stay a while, if you want. Take a nap…” Namjoon chuckled.

“Isn’t it like 4am by now?”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Exhausted.”

“Well, then.”

Namjoon joined him in bed again and slept for a couple of hours with Jimin’s head on his chest. He found he was indeed exhausted and fell asleep easily. Jimin woke him around 6am and he got dressed, still half asleep.

He didn’t ask if he would see him again as they kissed goodbye at the hotel room door. What would be the point? He didn’t thank him again for the evening either. He simply gave him a smile as the elevator doors closed and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach as the beautiful boy disappeared from his sight.

He nearly forgot his phone once he was in the lobby. He zipped his jacket all the way up and awkwardly went to the front desk where indeed his phone was waiting for him. He had several messages from Yoongi wondering where he was. Would Yoongi even believe him when he told him?

And then he saw one other message from an unknown number. Namjoon smiled to himself.

It read: don’t forget to send me your mixtape :)

Chapter 3: The Photographer (or The Third Wheel)

“You signed a contract in order to have sex with some guy? Are you insane?!”

“Okay, but he was really hot.”

“I can’t believe you did that. I’m so ashamed.”

“He gave me his number.”

“Booty Call number.”

“We’ve been texting! I thought you’d be proud of me for going outside my comfort zone. Taking a risk.”

“This isn’t what I had in mind.”

“He listened to my mixtape. He said he liked it.”

“And, what, now he’s putting you on his next album? Come on!”

“Did I mention how hot he was?”

Yoongi shook his head in disbelief as he tried to work at his computer on a song. It was no use. He was hopelessly distracted now.

Namjoon sat on his couch nearby, flipping through a Rolling Stone Korea magazine. Jimin was on the cover. He held up a full page photo of the Idol lounging seductively in a white suit with the shirt open to his navel for Yoongi to see.

“You wouldn’t sign a little piece of paper for this?”

Yoongi glanced at it. “Nope.” Though… if he were being honest, it might not be as bad of a deal as he was making it out to be. The guy was pretty hot.

“Liar.”

“Whatever. It’s not like you’re ever going to see him again.”

Namjoon grinned and flipped to the next page of the magazine without replying. Yoongi looked at him again.

“What?” he asked.

“What?” Namjoon asked back, innocently.

“When?” Yoongi corrected, catching his drift.

“Not sure. Soon. Tonight or tomorrow when he’s back in town.”

“I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

As if by fate, Namjoon’s phone buzzed just then. He grabbed it and checked who it was. His face lit up and he hopped onto his knees.

“Oooooh-ho!”

Yoongi’s attention snapped back to him.

“What?”

Namjoon showed him the screen. It was Jimin calling.

“No way!” Yoongi said, then added, “Put it on speaker.”

“Hey, what’s up?” Namjoon answered the phone casually, putting it on speaker for Yoongi, but holding a finger up to his mouth, telling him to stay quiet. Yoongi leaned in to listen.

“Hey Joonie!” Jimin’s voice said. Yoongie mouthed “Joonie!” and his eyes nearly rolled out of his head. Namjoon shoved his shoulder.

“Hey Jimin, good to hear from you! How’er you doing?”

“Good! We just landed. Heading to the hotel. You wanna come over tonight? Are you busy?” Namjoon thought he could hear someone talking to Jimin in the background. Was someone listening in on his end as well?

“Yeah, I can do that. Where are you staying?”

“The Lotte. Around ten. I’ll leave a key for you at the desk.” Jimin’s voice was muffled for a moment as he spoke to someone else. “Okay, can’t wait to see you! Bye, Joon!” he said, in a rush and hung up.

“Okay, bye.” Namjoon hung up the call and looked up at Yoongi. “BAM! How about that?” Yoongi refused to be impressed.

“Congratulations. You’re a booty call. I told you.”

“Better than a one night stand. Jealous? You want to come along? Meet a real star?”

“I’m good. No one likes a third wheel.”

***

“Jiminie! What are you doing?”

“I want to see him again.”

“You’re already seeing someone tonight, remember?”

“I know. I think they’ll get along.” Hoseok gave Jimin his version of a stern look, his lips puckered. They sat in the backseat of an SUV on their way to the hotel. “I want to see him and I don’t have any other nights free. It’ll be fun!” Jimin leaned on his shoulder. “Do you want to come too? There’s always room for more!”

“Tempting, tempting, but no, I have my own plans. I have a life too, you know!”

“You do? How dare you!” Hoseok ran his hands through Jimin’s hair, which was currently a pink color. His voice changed to a more somber tone.

“That guy seemed really nice. Just be careful with him, alright?”

“I’ll make sure he has a good time. Don’t worry.”

***

This time when Namjoon approaches Jimin’s hotel room, he’s properly dressed. He bought some new clothes for the occasion, but he didn’t plan to mention that to anyone--especially Yoongi. He wore jeans with a black t-shirt and a black leather biker jacket. Casual and cool, he thought, though he felt nearly as nervous as he had the first time he met up with Jimin. At least he knew what to expect now and he’d been allowed to keep his phone.

Jimin’s room wasn’t on the top floor this time, though it was a suite. He supposed Jimin didn’t feel the need to impress him as much now. That seemed like a good sign. Though in all honesty, he hadn’t needed to be the first time either. Jimin was impressive enough on his own. The guard outside the door let him in and once inside the room, he didn’t see the second one, which was a relief.

As soon as he stepped inside, he heard Jimin yell his name. He immediately ran up and jumped into Namjoon’s arms, legs wrapping around him. Namjoon caught him and laughed. He hadn’t expected that.

“Well, hey,” he said, nerves fading quickly. Jimin smiled, kissed him, and then hoped back down. He was wearing an oversized hoodie and jeans and somehow still made it look sexy as hell. He took Namjoon by the hand and brought him into the living room. Namjoon kicked off his shoes as they went.

“I want you to meet someone,” Jimin said eagerly. That’s when Namjoon realized they weren’t alone after all. Sitting back in a plush chair was another man. He had wavy black hair that fell over his face right above his eyes. He had his elbow on the arm of the chair and one finger touching his lips. He had the most sultry expression Namjoon had ever seen. His nerves returned in force. “This is Vante. He’s a photographer. He did my Rolling Stone spread. Did you see it?”

“Yeah, I’ve seen it. Hi. I’m Namjoon,” he said, trying to be as civil as possible and hide any disappointment. It didn’t make him feel any better to see that Vante didn’t seem any happier to see Namjoon than he was to see him.

“Hey,” Vante said, not moving, eyes narrow and appraising. Jimin didn’t seem to notice the tension or if he did, he ignored it. He clung to Namjoon’s arm.

“The photos are great,” Namjoon added.

“Thanks.”

“Joon is a fantastic rapper,” Jimin said.

“So you said,” replied Vante. When neither of them said more, Jimin went to the bar and pulled out as many bottles of Soju as he could carry and brought them over.

“Anyone want a drink?” He passed a bottle to everyone and then set out little cups. Namjoon sat on the couch and opened his bottle. He used a cup for his drink but Vante drank straight from the bottle. Jimin started with a cup but it wasn’t long before he drank from the bottle as well. It was going to be that sort of night, was it?

“Vante’s visiting from L.A.” Jimin told Namjoon as he cuddled up beside him on the couch.

“Oh cool.”

“Yeah. So cool.” Vante agreed as he took a sip, though Namjoon didn’t think he meant it. Why was this guy here? He’d expected some alone time and instead he had to deal with this blank faced guy who seemed like he wanted nothing more than for Namjoon to crawl into a hole and die. Was Jimin trying to make him jealous? If he was, he really didn’t need to work so hard at it. Namjoon already felt completely inadequate, he didn’t need some hotshot L.A. photographer to top it off.

Still, it was nice to see Jimin and he liked how he was sitting beside him and how he kept touching and rubbing on his thigh. Vante’s eyes went to Jimin’s hand and then looked away pointedly as he drank. Namjoon turned his attention to Jimin.

“It’s really nice to see you again.” He bit his tongue to keep from adding, I wasn’t sure I ever would. “You look really good.” Jimim managed to both look like he rejected the compliment and loved it.

“I just got back in town. What have you been up to? Tell me everything.”

He caught Jimin up on his activities, but kept it brief. After all, what could he have to say that would really interest a pop idol and a famous photographer? He asked Jimin the same question and got a short recap of his touring. He looked tired, Namjoon thought. Tired and trying to hide it.

“How about you? Why are you in town?” Namjoon asked Vante, trying to be civil. He had nothing against this guy. Maybe he was feeling awkward too.

“Just visiting on my way to Beijing for work.”

“Oh. Nice. Staying long?”

“No,” Vante said as he took a drink, both eyebrows going up for emphasis. And suddenly Namjoon felt like the third wheel. Should he really be here? He turned back to Jimin for guidance but Jimin just smiled.

“I’ll put on some music!” he said. He turned on some music and sat back by Namjoon. But Namjoon couldn’t get past his awkward feeling.

He asked Jimin quietly, “Maybe I should go? See you another time?”

Jimin whined immediately. “No! I want you to stay! Please stay.” He clung to his arm again and threw a look at Vante, who pursed his lips. Namjoon wished he understood the silent communication going on between them. Whatever it was, it had an effect on Vante. His expression softened and he tilted his head, looking at Namjoon.

“Stay,” he said, and ever so briefly his tongue appeared between his lips. “It’ll be fun.” Would it?

He stayed.

***

They were getting low on Soju so Jimin ordered more and some beer. All inhibitions and awkwardness from before had flown from Namjoon’s mind as it was filled instead with alcohol. They talked, they laughed, and actually got along.

Vante, it turned out, had a hundred outrageous stories about Hollywood celebrities that he freely shared. Namjoon silently wondered how many of them the attractive photographer had slept with. He was certain by now Jimin was one of them. There was a charm about Vante that was hard to place. Behind the distant exterior, he was quite hilarious and behind that, he was incredibly sultry, like an old Hollywood starlet from the 40’s. Namjoon found he was enjoying the stories and enjoying himself and he was definitely enjoying Jimin lounging all over him as they talked. The drinks weren’t bad either. Namjoon even freestyle rapped for them about Jimin and had him practically rolling on the floor.

“I want to dance!” Jimin pushed the coffee table covered in empty bottles aside and started to dance to the music between the two of them. He was mesmerizing to watch. Namjoon literally found himself slack jawed watching. A particularly sexy song started and Jimin grabbed Namjoon’s hand, pulling him up. “Dance with me, Joonie,” he demanded. He didn’t hesitate, dancing up on him like they had at the club. He knew he was grinning like a fool, but it didn’t matter. Jimin’s hands were on him and he was bewitched.

And then there was another pair of hands on him, coming from behind. Before he could react, Jimin pulled him down for a kiss. As Jimin’s tongue connected with his own, he felt Vante’s hands move over his hips and up his chest. Suddenly his heart was thumping loudly in his chest. He was glad for the haze in his brain. He would certainly overthink this otherwise. He didn’t stop it. He kissed Jimin back and ran his hands over his pert ass. He wasn’t quite sure how the physics of three worked, but they seemed confident, so he guessed he’d find out.

Events began to blur. They were kissing and touching, someone’s erection was rubbing against his thigh, or maybe more than one. He felt a straining in his own pants. Someone was rubbing him there. Someone else was untucking his shirt. He locked eyes with Vante for a moment. Vante grinned at him lopsidedly and licked his lips. That tongue didn’t seem to like to stay in his mouth and Namjoon was starting to wonder what else it could do.

Jimin dragged Namjoon to the bedroom. Vante followed. Jimin climbed on the bed as Namjoon stood at the foot of it. Jimin unbuckled Namjoon’s belt, undid his pants, and pushed them down while grinning up at him. He had a naughty glint in his eyes. As he laid on his back on the bed, his head towards Namjoon, he heard Vante tisk.

“Take off the hoodie first,” he said as he lounged across the other end of the bed, now shirtless and watching. Namjoon’s eyes strayed over his figure. He was lightly toned and slim. Jimin obeyed, tossing aside the hoodie. Namjoon was a little surprised. He thought Jimin was the one in charge during sex. Now he wasn’t so sure.

Jimin laid back down on his back and let his head fall off the edge of the mattress. He reached over and guided Namjoon’s waiting cock to his mouth, licking over the head while upside down. Namjoon took in a breath and looked over at Vante who was watching. Vante twerked a brow at him, a little smile on his lips. Namjoon turned his attention back to Jimin who wet his cock with his tongue before taking it into his mouth. There was something so erotic about watching his member disappear into Jimin’s throat as his throat was exposed like this. He thrust gently into him with Jimin’s encouragement.

Preoccupied as he was, he didn’t notice at first when Vante moved. He slid Jimin’s pants off of him, leaving him naked, his dick hard and waiting. There was something else too, he had something around his...Oh. A cock ring. Vante had Namjoon’s attention now as he started licking over Jimin’s erection. Jimin moaned around Namjoon’s dick, which vibrates through him. He found his heart was starting to pound harder in his chest. Shit, this was hot.

Vante lifted his ass up off the bed to bring the cock into his mouth. Jimin helped, feet planted on the bed as he gripped the bed with arms outstretched, and sucked Namjoon harder, deeper into his throat. Vante pulled him out of his mouth and moved his head lower, licking over the trapped balls and then lower still.

“Oh, Jiminie, what’s this?” he said, sounding like he was anything but surprised. “Did you prepare yourself for us? That’s so thoughtful.” He paused and there was a small pop! noise and then he set aside a moderately sized anal plug. Jimin groaned. Namjoon’s legs started to get weak. “Mm. So moist for us already. What a good boy you are.” Vante bent back down and showed his appreciation with his tongue, parting Jimin’s cheeks with his hands. Jimin squirmed and choked but kept Namjoon’s cock deep in his throat. Namjoon thought he would come at any moment.

Vante wasn’t done, however. He sat up and pulled out his own cock. Holding Jimin’s hips up off the bed, he lined himself up and plunged his cock into him in one firm thrust, all the way to the hilt. Jimin cried out against Namjoon’s dick and Namjoon grunted. Yes, he wouldn’t last much longer at all like this. Vante pulled all the way out slowly, so slowly, and then popped back in hard.

“Good boy, good boy,” he said in his surprisingly deep voice. “Suck on that cock. Take it all. You’re doing so good.” He did it again, pulling out and thrusting back in. Jimin was squirming and moaning and sucking and Namjoon couldn’t stand it anymore. He jerked forward and came in Jimin’s mouth, immediately pulling out as he choked.

“Oh god, sorry! Sorry!” He stammered. Jimin started to laugh as he wiped his mouth with one hand but Vante cut him off by choosing then to start pounding into him in earnest. Jimin gripped the bed again, crying out in time with the thrusts. Vante stopped abruptly, though, before either of them came, and pulled out.

“Get him some water,” he said to Namjoon, who immediately scrambled for a glass in the bathroom and brought it to him. Jimin sat up and washed out his mouth. He grinned at Namjoon and thanked him. Then Vante was gently wiping Jimin’s face clean of any residual mess with a tissue. Namjoon was surprised by the tenderness there. Vante kissed Jimin’s temple. They were making eye contact, seeming to speak without words again, and they both seemed satisfied with the conclusion of the conversation, whatever it was. Vante turned to Namjoon.

“Come on, Joonie. Time to lie down,” he said. Was Namjoon taking orders from Vante as well now? It seemed so because he laid down with his head on the pillows, grateful for it as his legs were jelly. “Can he do it again?” Vante asked Jimin. Jimin nodded, looking pleased. “Good.” Vante addressed Namjoon. “Jimin isn’t satisfied yet. He’s going to need you to get that fat cock hard again. Okay?” He turned back to Jimin. “What can we do to help him with that, hm?”

Jimin put a finger to his lips, thinking. “Hm...he seemed to like watching.”

“Good idea. Okay. On your hands and knees.” Jimin did as asked, in front of Namjoon. Vante spread Jimin’s legs a little further apart and then pulled apart his ass cheeks. Making sure Namjoon had a clear view, he licked Jimin’s hole, running his tongue over the opening, and then pressing it inside and fucking him with it. Jimin made lovely noises and sunk down to his elbows, arching his back. Fuck, thought Namjoon. These two were really something… He started stroking his own cock as he watched them. Yeah, this would do the trick.

Jimin moaned and whined. “V, I want to come now!” Vante paused his work long enough to reply.

“Not yet, baby. Wait.” Jimin groaned and wiggled in protest. “You can go a little longer. I want to see you sit on Joonie’s cock first.” Jimin swung his head towards Namjoon and looked at him with focused intent.

“Okay. He’s almost ready. Help me out.” Jimin said. He crawled up Namjoon’s body and kissed his way back down it, starting with his neck. He took a moment to pay special attention to Namjoon’s chest and nipples on his way before making his way to his hardening cock. He brought his tongue out again, licking over his shaft. Vante joined him and they both licked him all over his cock and balls until he was fully hard again. It was hard to stay still under the onslaught. He was still sensitive from his first ejaculation. He couldn’t take his eyes off the two of them. It felt so fucking good he could hardly stand it.

“Fuck, you guys…” Namjoon said. Vante pulled back with a chuckle.

“He’s ready.” Jimin agreed and grabbed a bottle of lubricant. He rubbed some over Namjoon’s hard cock and then straddled him, holding it in place as he sank down onto it. Namjoon couldn’t help but to moan. It was such a sight! He slid in easily but Jimin still felt deliciously tight.

“Ah! You feel so good, Joonie!” Jimin said, as he started to move, fucking himself on Namjoon’s cock.

“Faster,” Vante said, and Jimin obliged, bouncing on him. Namjoon put his hands on Jimin’s hips to try to help keep him steady. He watched his dick disappear over and over into Jimin’s tight ass. Jimin’s face looked like he was in heaven as his own cock bounced up and down with him.

Before either of them could finish, Vante’s hands wrapped around Jimin from behind and pressed up against him, slowing his movements. He turned his head and they kissed deeply, Jimin’s chest heaving. Then Vante pushed Jimin down gently towards Namjoon and they kissed as well. Namjoon wanted to start thrusting, being still while inside Jimin was a kind of torture, but before he could, he felt something pressing up against his cock. Jimin gasped against his lips but didn’t seem altogether surprised. It took Namjoon a moment to realize it was a finger, and then two. Vante was stretching Jimin further. Namjoon’s heart was racing as he felt another cock rub against his own as it entered Jimin’s tight hole. Vanted held Jimin, arms around him again, and ever so slowly moved in him. Jimin’s hands clenched on Namjoon’s shoulder, his mouth agape.

Vante whispered in his ear. “I knew you could do it, baby. Look how good you are, taking both our cocks.” Jimin whimpered but didn’t move. Namjoon didn’t dare move now. Vante was in charge. “I’m so proud of you. Here’s your prize.” Vante sucked on Jimin’s earlobe while one of his hands removed Jimin’s cockring. Jimin let out a relieved breath and then Vante started thrusting into him, slowly at first, and then faster. For Namjoon, it was the strangest sensation to have Vante’s slick dick rub against his own in such a tight place. It was all he could do to hang on and be still. Jimin cried out, gripping Namjoon’s shoulder tighter. Vante stroked Jimin’s cock as he pumped into him until he came all over Namjoon’s stomach, clenching around them. Vante was next to finish. Namjoon could feel the extra slickness inside. Vante pulled out carefully but stayed holding Jimin. “A little more. Help him finish,” Vante told him. Jimin moved more slowly now, looking spent, as Namjoon thrust a few more times and came as well.

“Oh my god...oh my god…” was all Namjoon could say as Jimin climbed off of him and collapsed onto his back on the bed. Jimin immediately started giggling. He pointed at Vante.

“I didn’t know you were going to do that!” he said. Vante grinned at him.

“You liked it, though.”

“Hm,” was all Jimin said back, but he was smiling like it was true. Vante went and got damp warm towels for them each to clean themselves off with.

“Is this like, something you two do regularly?” Namjoon asked as he wiped himself off. He still couldn’t quite believe all that had happened.

“No,” Jimin said. “We don’t get the chance. But we can if you want.” He gave Namjoon a little wink. Vante grinned to himself.

“I don’t know if I can keep up,” said Namjoon.

“You did great.” Jimin rolled over to him and gave him a kiss. Then he stayed, laying his head on Namjoon’s shoulder. He whined. “I’m too tired to shower!”

“My head is swimming,” Namjoon said, an arm around Jimin. Vante pulled the blankets down and helped them all get under them.

“Later,” Vante said as he got in bed beside Jimin.

“I’m going to be sore tomorrow because of you,” Jimin said in a sleepy voice.

“I’ll take care of you,” Vante promised. That seemed to satisfy him as he hummed happily against Namjoon’s chest. Vante’s arms went around Jimin from behind and they all closed their eyes.

They did shower together in the morning and Jimin got an appreciatory blowjob from Vante while they did. After, they had breakfast with plenty of aspirin and water. Then the time came for Namjoon to leave. He paused at the door, dressed and ready, unsure about what he should say.

“...Can I see you again?” he asked Jimin, who was dressed in one of the hotel’s fluffy robes. Jimin smiled at him and nodded and reached up and gave him a kiss.

From off to the side Vante said, “Have you ever been to L.A.?” Namjoon had not, but he thought he might enjoy a visit.

[konjoong]

waterfall and cosmos ranking intertwined??? i would like to see it 👁

you have activated my trap card ok this is not just a review this is an analysis of these songs. get ready

1. nineteen - i dont know what it is about this song but the way he composed it is just right up my alley. the lyrics themselves are very relatable to me and the slow rock vibe is always what i love to hear from hanbin idk why. this song automatically makes me wanna do that dance he did at the beginning of cosmos mv

2. flame & illusion - putting these songs together because they are That Bitch. he is my boyfriend he is an artist he is a rapper he is the shit he is the moment everyone shut up and listen. illusion is so fucking addictive i listened to it for like a month straight and his ICONIC "woah!" moments after certain verses??? yes. Flame gives me the same vibe, it gets me hyped and ready to go, the tempo for both of these songs are so on point. When I first heard flame i was like she is tied for sure with illusion

3. re birth- crying. sobbing. wailing. weeping. howling loudly. bawling non stop. my eyes are waterfalls (pun intended). this song brings out so many emotions from me. when he first released this demo i was practically BEGGING this man to finish it and im SO glad he did. this song means so much to me and his voice is so beautiful in it ugh

4. waterfall - she is the moment. this is so on par with hanbin's vibe of BE I and his vibe from when he was on smtm (which was like an insane time for him as an artist) the 'dont fuck with me attitude' is immaculate. also the beat is so addictive

5. help me - i know hanbin is still probs insecure about his singing voice but this song complimented his voice SO MUCH. i cant help but sing along with him because this song draws so much emotion out of me. this song gives me such theatric vibes esp with the instruments playing in the background. like i can just imagine him on stage singing this with just a stand up mic and cool visuals in the background. also do not even get me started on the lyrics bc i WILL cry

6. remember me - SHE IS THAT BITCH. the second i heard this song i knew itd be popular in korea and look where we are now. the notes at the start remind me of animal crossing and just the concept video he put out was my fav. ALSO THE LYRICS..DO NOT EVEN GET ME STARTEDDD i love his corny ass

7. daydream ft lee hi- NO ONE ELSE CAN DO THIS SONG LIKE LEE HI CAN DO THIS SONG. i am so glad he asked her to be on this song it made such a statement and she always adds so much emotion and story to songs she literally is like no other artist to me i love her so much. this song has such meaning behind it and literally throws me into daydream mode.

8. lover- literally he needs to shut up HE is MY girlfriend what are these lyrics what is this song and why do i love it???? like the "bang bang" part???? this mf spoiled this part months ago. why is this song so addictive

9. alive - why does this song remind me of bobby??? is it the flow??? the beat???? i think its the flow. it rlly emphasizes hanbins flow and ability to be fast af boy. also the intro reminds me of like a final fantasy song??

10. nerd ft colde- WHEN I HEARD COLDE WAS GONNA BE ON THIS SONG. dude i love colde and his voice adds like a cherry on top to this song and again it just rlly helps hanbins vocals in the song. the beat...hanbin is so sexy for these beats omfg....

11. cosmos - miss ma'am....this song is such a breathe of fresh air from hanbin. i'm so glad he made this the title track bc its something different from me that he needs to highlight. he said he was gonna do some more happy songs and this is what im taking about!!! he listened!!! although its not the most catchy imo because i typically like songs more like flame where the beat is intense and the lyrics are more tough i guess?? this song is so nice and created perfectly. AND AGAIN WITH SINGER HANBIN

12. illa illa- there he goes with those catchy beats this mans brain...i would like to pick apart his brain for a bit because the way he can just make songs like these?? this entire song is so catchy im glad he did this as his official comeback song

13. flow away - did this mf make this song with tablo because this sounds straight off an epik high album im not kidding. the flow he has and the beat he created is SO similar to tablos flow. which because of that this song is amazing, composed beautifully

14. stay ft tablo- my first reaction to this song was "OH??" because it sounds like hanbin but also???? nothing like hanbin which is amazing because it shows his range. tablo ofc is amazing but whats new here, not sure how about his verse and how it fits into the song but i still rlly like it regardless

15. numb- I FEEL SO NUUUUUUUMBBBB. tbh this song isnt my fav but its still a good song ofc. i think it rlly shows hanbins range of switching from slow rapping to singing. his singing has gotten way better over time and im glad hes using his voice like that more

16. gray- there he goes again with those funky beats you go funky man. this song is rlly fun and i think the beat is rlly dope. just not my fav personally. does make me wanna dance tho

17. then - this song reminds me of apology for some reason??? the beat gives the same tempo and vibe as apology for me. also who fucking hurt him??? i mean other than the obvious *cough* yg *cough* but like....mr ive never had a girlfriend before sure knows how to talk about breaking up and having heartbreak HMM das suspicious das weird (coming from a girl who has technically never dated but has experienced heartbreak lmao)

OKAY I COULD ADD MORE TO EVERY SONG BUT MY BRAIN HURTS

[actonbellworks]

BTS and art-pop; a postmodern analysis of the album Love Yourself: Tear (2017)

this is an essay i wrote for a uni assignment, and i really wanted to post it here, so,,,

The closest definition of postmodern music, by Jonathan Kramer, in his 1996 essay Postmodern Concepts of Musical Time, is described in several characteristics. It is not a repudiation or a continuation of modernism, but contains aspects of both; it is, on some level, ironic, disregards the value of structural unity, and seeks to break down the distinctions between ‘highbrow’ and ‘lowbrow’ music. Postmodern music refuses to be cast into a specific mold, includes detailed references, is pluralistic and eclectic, but above all, it locates its meaning much more in the listener than it does in the actual music and performance. In his essay, Answering the Question: what is Postmodernism? Jean Francois Lyotard defines postmodernism as part of the modern, conceding to perhaps the most influential critic of Postmodernism, Jurgen Habermas, as he writes, “The postmodern would be that which, in the modern, puts forward the unpresentable in presentation itself…”. The phenomenon of the postmodern, as critics have tried to define it, exists in spite of a definition.

This leads us to another, far more important question; can we define ‘popular’ music as ‘postmodern’? Critics still hesitate to attribute the ‘postmodern’ or the ‘art-pop’ tag to mainstream popular music, because they view postmodernist music and art-pop as a genre that is inexorably linked with modernism, which implies that there has to be a predecessor for popular music to be classified as ‘postmodern’. In another definition, one that is, perhaps, far more closer to the hypothesis laid out by Kramer, is that Postmodernist music, and indeed, the postmodernist movement, developed as a reaction to modernism, and as such, incorporates the attributes of modernism as well as defies it to a certain extent.

The genre of K-pop has been popularised all over the world largely due to the influence of the seven-member band BTS (방탄소년단 in Korean), and their detailed musicality, which is perhaps showcased best in their third studio album, Love Yourself 轉 ‘Tear’, widely regarded as one of their most intricate works. True to the definition of postmodern music, the album smoothly shifts genres, sometimes in the gap of a single song, although there is a thematic, sometimes singular focus on the feelings of loss and loneliness. To centre a musical venture around the idea of love and loss is nothing new, perhaps, but ‘Tear’ refuses to play into any of the common tropes.

The term ‘postmodern’ contains an air of elitism with it, as it still refers to practices that developed as a reaction to the modernist methods of the twentieth century. It directly challenges the strict rules of modernist art, a return to pre-modernist era art techniques, and above all, it removes the boundaries between the “classical” and the “popular”. BTS has been termed as ‘popular music’ by critics, and while the label ‘popular music’ is considered restrictive, for many music critics, ‘Tear’ represents how the genre can be pushed to its limits, moving beyond the limitations set by the industry and by music critics in general.

Perhaps one of the most dynamic songs in the LP’s tracklist is the title track, “FAKE LOVE”, the music video for which begins with silence, and the track is completed by a jagged guitar riff that cuts off abruptly to a scene of the seven members, dressed in robes and masks that look eerily reminiscent of the early Greek comedic tradition, in which every character is identifiable by their masks and their choice of costumery. The teaser for the music video, interestingly, had the piece, Waltz in A-flat major, OP. 9, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin, also termed as ‘The Farewell Waltz’ or ‘Valse de l’adieu’. Chopin’s music and BTS’ song both move in circles, without reaching a conclusion. Chopin’s waltz moves in ¾ beats, until it ends abruptly, and FAKE LOVE reiterates the same line,

Love you so bad, love you so bad

널 위해 예쁜 거짓을 빚어낸

Love it's so mad, love it's so mad

날 지워 너의 인형이 되려 해

널 위해서라면 난

슬퍼도

Which loosely translates to “love you so bad/ I create a beautiful lie for you/ love you so mad/ I try to become your doll by erasing myself.” Both pieces move around the idea of loss, with neither reaching anywhere fruitful. Chopin’s waltz ends where it had begun, in the middle of his heartbreak, and BTS end their song with the refrain of

기쁜 척 할 수가 있었어

널 위해서라면 난

아파도 강한 척 할 수가 있었어

사랑이 사랑만으로 완벽하길

내 모든 약점들은 다 숨겨지길

이뤄지지 않는 꿈속에서

피울 수 없는 꽃을 키웠어

Which again, translates to “for you, I could pretend to be happy even when sad/ for you I could pretend I was strong even when I was hurt/ Wishing that love is perfect as itself/Wishing all my weakness is hidden/In a dream that can’t come true/I raised a flower that couldn’t bloom”.

A particular characteristic of art-pop music and alternative music in general, is the recurring motif that runs through one or more songs. In ‘Tear’, the septet continue to use masks, in order to symbolise what is the loss of one’s self, in the process of another, perhaps more explicitly shown in their introductory music video to the album, ‘Singularity’, where singer Kim Taehyung (using the stage moniker V) sings about losing his voice, trapped in a lake, donning a mask that obscures half of his face, losing all his individuality. ‘Singularity’ is perhaps one of the most complicated songs to translate from Korean, as the songwriter, RM, lays down visual clues of what it feels like to wake up from a dream, only to find oneself trapped. The music video carries forward the baroque imagery, as well as the heavy classical influences in the slow progression of the track; it conjures the powerful imagery of being trapped underwater ourselves, in the lyrics

Tell me 내 목소리가 가짜라면

날 버리지 말았어야 했는지

Tell me 고통조차 가짜라면

그때 내가 무얼해야 했는지

Loosely translated, it refers to someone trapped underwater, who doesn't feel as though their voice belongs to themselves. ‘Singularity’ wonders whether or not it is worth it to sacrifice one’s individuality to mould themselves to fit in. Postmodern art talks about the truth of the artist, especially how difficult it is to maintain one’s sincerity to survive, be it in a relationship, or in the music industry, a sentiment expressed by the septet in the fifth track of the album, ‘Paradise’ (낙원 ), where rappers Suga and j-hope express their dissatisfaction with the world through an intertwined verse,

누군 이렇게 누군 저렇게 산다면서

세상은 내게 욕을 퍼붓네

세상은 욕할 자격이 없네

꿈을 꾸는 법이 무엇인지

(“saying some are living like this,some are living like that/ the world pours curses at me/ the world has no right to pour curses at me/ for it has never even taught me how to dream '')

The song ‘Paradise’ is not only about the futility of the dreams that we are forced to accept and work towards, it also serves as a reminder of the society that we continue to subject the future generations to, in the capitalistic pursuit of wealth and correlating it to happiness, we forget that perhaps, humanity is not defined by wealth. ‘Paradise’ sets a reminder that it is okay to pause the world to remind ourselves that the world does not exist in spite of us, it exists because of us.

Perhaps the strangest, most compelling song on the entire album is the final song, ‘OUTRO: TEAR’. A rap track featuring the three rappers, it has been one of the most lyrically intimidating songs. A direct continuation of the thought process in ‘singularity’, “OUTRO: TEAR’ also muses upon the threads of a broken relationship, and the precipice upon which it all began.

For music critics, the opening six bars of the outro are reminiscent of the sombre tunes in Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos, which reach a crescendo and give way to RM’s introductory verse. It is a song that has remorse at the very core of it, writing for one’s lost love, for which there is still regret. For RM and Suga, this comes with the words

어쩜 내가 너를 사랑했던 적이 아예 없는 것 같아서

(because it felt like maybe I had never loved you anyway)

심장이 찢겨져 차라리 불 태워줘

고통과 미련 그 무엇도 남지 않게끔

(“my heart breaks, please rather burn it, so that the pain and the lingering love disappears”) while RM denotes his regret with rhyming sequences that linger, and for Suga, it is in a series of archaic, perhaps even frightening metaphors to his breaking heart. Both the rappers are talking about their failed relationship, with music, their friends, and their love, how it has an everlasting effect on their lives, one that will never go away, even with acceptance of their fate.

Written at the brink of disbandment, perhaps the coda by j-hope is where the song hits the hardest. The most lyrically dense section of the song is the coda, where j-hope lays down a flurry of rhymes and rhythms, shaken at the prospect of leaving music altogether. Although the song stems from a personal story for the septet, it deals with the very real anxiety and fear an artist has, of having to separate from their art. For j-hope it is akin to a break-up, a sundering with the very people he had thought would be by his side forever, and he writes, “이별은 내겐 그 순간들뿐”(goodbye, for me is only there, just at those moments). He writes,

넌 내 시작과 끝That is all

(“You are my beginning, end, that is all”)

And to him, and to all artists, art is supreme, and the thought of parting from the art that has given them so much, would be akin to severing them from their soulmate. For many music critics, the outro is the most complex song they have heard form the septet, with some going so far as to naming it a magnum opus.

In Love Yourself 轉 ‘Tear’, BTS puts the spotlight on the human condition; something which is fallible, something which is dependant upon others. Postmodernism, and postmodernist art, especially, talks about the complex aspects of humanity, forcing people to pay attention to the world and to their own selves. It isn't the music videos with homages paid to Romantic era composers, neither is it the layered verses with the double entendres of lyrical meanings. ‘Tear’ is a postmodern work of art because it covers multiple aspects of the human condition, while also harkening back to the music that inspires artists to create; and the stories they tell in ‘Tear’ are universal.

(trans cr to @doolsetbangtan)

[gyllenhaalstories]

SOUTHPAW, PART 2: HEART OF GLASS.

summary: rapper!jake took more time than planned to make sure his surprise pleases you. in the meantime, you got impatient and decided to fix the problem yourself, but without his permission. that was a huge mistake. he comes home and finds you on all four, pleasuring yourself shamelessly. you, eventually, figure out you’re being watched by your boyfriend, but you refuse to move, frozen by the anticipation of what is next to come. however, all you can hear is a shocked gasp that did not come from jake. 

word count: 2111 words.

warnings: smut (duh), masturbation, threesome (or foursome?), degradation, use of toys, dom/sub, m/m interactions, spitroast, (sloppy) oral, d/p, creampie, anal and coarse language.

notes: miley cyrus singing heart of glass gives me hope in humanity. anyway! here’s the second part of southpaw, which mixes the angry sex headcanon and just more filth. it was supposed to be the third part but i loved it so much i couldn’t wait to share it! i hope you guys enjoy!!!! oh, have i forgotten to mention it includes singer!tom? and they said avengers infinity war was the biggest crossover in history... 

“Honey, I’m home.” Jake slammed the door open, but frowned when he did not find you on the couch. The living room looked messy, with pillows thrown on the ground and the remote control lost somewhere between the cushions. Not only ten minutes ago, he had texted you and you sent him a photo, cuddling with a blanket while watch television. What on Earth could have happened within ten minutes?

A lot had happened. It started with Jake leaving you hanging quite possibly all day long. Your eyes were glued to your phone, but he took forever to reply to your text messages. He told you he was at the record label, but he would come home early to finish what you two had started this morning. The problem was, he never came home. And you never got to come either. What a shame.

You waited, patiently at first. You did all you could to keep your mind busy. You even did the dishes. You hated that. You soon understood Jake would probably stay out for the night, so you had enough. Why was his surprise so important? What could he be planning, a whole wedding? The thought made your heart skip a beat.

So there you were. Your clothes were all over the bedroom floor. Your phone was blasting Jake’s songs. The only other noise in the room was your moans, they were loud and needy. You were on your knees, looking in front of you as you bopped up and down the pink glass dildo Jake bought you a while ago. You rarely got to use it, and you regretted it. The dildo felt divine. The cold glass instead of your heat sent shivers to your entire body. It did not feel as good as your boyfriend, but since he was not here to take care of the mess he made, it was better than nothing.

This morning, he had left in a hurry. He got a phone call from a producer and he left you, legs spread wide and your orgasm only a couple of thrusts away. “Some fuckin’ important shit,” He explained. “I’ll be back soon to finish you up. Don’t you there touch yourself, don’t be a stupid bitch”.

He would never know. You’d take a shower right after. You would clean up. You had all the time in the world, or so you thought.

“Where the fuck are you?” Jake shouted from the hallways, but you could not hear him.

You were humming to the lyrics of your favourite song from his in between moans. You had dropped down on all four, rolling your hips and riding the dildo with all the energy you had. You were so close.

So close, that Jake could see it from the door frame. So close, that he got hard just by the sight. “You’re just a dumb bitch.” 

You heard a gasp.

It did not come from you, nor did it come from Jake.

It came from the smaller body behind Jake’s shoulder. You slowed your movements and squinted. It could not be...

“I brought my friend Tom as a surprise for you and that’s how you thank me? By disobeying? Fuckin’ pathetic.”

His friend Tom. You lifted yourself up from the dildo, which fell on the group in a loud sound. Tom waved awkwardly. He used his other hand to palm at his crotch, where you could see his growing buldge. Tom, you remembered him. Your boyfriend brought him over a few times. You overheard they were working together. You liked him. He was talented, he had a great voice, he was cute, but he had one flaw: he was so in love with Jake that you wondered how he had not noticed already.

You stuttered an apology, as you stared quizzically at Tom. You were in big trouble and moving to cover yourself or put your clothes back on were not options. So you stayed there, kneeling and confused. “A surprise?”

Jake laughed. “Tell her why you’re here, Tom.”

Why did he speak to Tom with such softness but treated you like shit? You did not know, but you were liking it.

“Jake is sorry for making you wait all day, uh...” He had forgotten your name and his cheeks were turning cherry red. “Miss.”

You let out a long sigh. Jake smirked. You had never been called this way before.

“And he wanted to make it up to you. We wanted that.” He looked over at Jake.

 Your boyfriend encouraged him with a nod as he walked closer to you, picking up the slick toy from your feet. He presented it to your lips, you opened them. He pushed the cold again glass dildo slowly in. 

“We want to fuck you.” Such filthy words coming out of the mouth of the guy who sang about sunflowers and sunsets sent another wave of shivers to your core. “Double the fun.”

“Triple.” Jake corrected and pushed the dildo so deep you gagged around it. He pulled it out and laughed again. “Wanna show Tom you can be useful?”

You nodded. There was no time for questions or hesitations. If you wanted to come, you had to do whatever you were asked to do.

“Crawl.” Jake ordered.

And crawl, you did.

Tom unzipped his pants and took them off. You watched his cock, thick and red from the blood rushing through it, bop with excitement. You licked him, from the bottom all the way to the tip. He had just enough time to take his light coral hoodie off before he pressed his hand at the back of your head and forced you to take him all the way down your throat.

You gagged instantly.

Jake was stroking himself, he had taken his clothes off too, but you could not see him. “Use her.”

The way Jake was talking like you barely existed turned you on even more. Tom started to fuck your throat. It hurt, it really did, but it felt so good. The more spit that covered his throat, the louder were Tom’s moans. He was on cloud nine when you cupped his balls.

“Don’t come yet.”

And Tom pulled away. He was listening to everything Jake said, obeying like you did. Jake was delighted by the sight of your face and breasts covered with your spit while Tom’s cock kept throbbing.

“You’re gonna take all we give you, right?” Jake grabbed your neck and pulled you back, so your back was arched beautifully. “I asked you a question, bitch.”

“Yes, please, give me everything. I’ll take you so well. Please!”

Jake spit in your open mouth and he moved to the floor as well. He pushed on your neck. Your face was down, close to Tom’s feet as Jake used both of his hands to spread your ass cheeks open and expose your wet holes.

He spit again, this time on your cunt. You were still stretched from the toy, so he had very little difficulty shoving his hard cock inside of you. He bottomed out, making you gasp.

You thanked him again and again, with each thrust. You whined when he pulled out of you to work on your asshole.

He gathered some of your wetness and spread it on the hole. He rubbed on it gently and pressed one finger it. Then a second and a third. He was careful, he listened to your reactions closely.

“More! Fuck, I need more!”

Jake slapped your ass hard. “Shut this bitch up.”

Tom helped you sit up and he presented his cock to your mouth again while Jake kept working you open until he was satisfied.

Jake switched positions. He was underneath you and Tom was kneeling down.

“May I?” Tom asked, Jake nodded. “Are you ready, Miss?”

“Yes!” You cried out. “For what?”

“Such a dumb baby.”

Tom started to tease your asshole with the tip of his cock and he finally pushed it inside of you. He was slow, even slower than Jake with his fingers. He made sure you were not in pain too muchy and he spit a on you a good amount.

Jake was cupping your face, holding it lovingly while he watched your eyes roll inwards at the feeling of Tom’s dick inside of your ass. “How does she feel?”

“Amazing, sir. She feels really amazing.”

“What do we say?”

“Thank you, Miss. Oh fuck... She’s so tight.”

Jake smiled proudly and wiped the tears of pleasure from your cheeks. He talked to you the whole time you were taking Tom’s cock. He complimented you, he encouraged you, he apologized for bneing home late. A lot was happening at the same time.

But it was not enough. “I...” You panted, catch both men’s attention. “I need more. I want more cock.”

Tom pulled out of your ass, as he felt himself getting close again. Jake wa busy kissing you so he took the initiative and teased your pussy with his fat tip.

"Hold the fuck on.” Jake shouted, frowning.

“I’m so sorry, sir, I just thought...”

“It’s my pussy.” Jake barked. He reached between your bodies to place his cock near your pussy. You were dripping wet. He licked his lips. God how he wish he could taste you right now. He finally shoved his cock inside of you. He left you no time to adjust and started pounding into you.

Tom helped you meet Jake’s hip thrusts, taking him so much deeper. And just like that, you came hard around Jake who did not stop moving. He helped you ride on your pleasure and he looked at Tom again.

Tom pushed himself into your ass. You felt even tighter than earlier.

Your moans were driving them crazy, but Jake wanted to listen to the music that was still playing. It was his and Tom’s first collaboration together. Back when Tom was still innocent, too shy to even ask for a glass of water when he came over to rehearse the chorus of his song.

“Shut the fuck up.” Jake told you and grabbed the dildo, shoving it in your mouth again. He fucked your throat and your pussy in mtching thrusts while Tom moved slowly inside of you.

The song finally came to an end and you were crying, moaning, screaming. You were an incoherent mess.

“Do you love being full?” Jake asked and you nodded, mumbling inaudible words. “You’re such a cockslut, willing to take everything we present to your filthy holes. Take us. Take us three.”

And you did, as best as you could. You bopped your head against the class dildo and started to rock your hips again. The rhythym was off but it felt heavenly.

“Sir I’m... I’m gonna come!” Tom warned.

“Hold it.”

So Tom pulled out of you and watched your gaping hole closely.

Jake let go of the dildo for good and reached between your slapping skin so he could tease your clit and bring you to your second orgasm. You kept thanking him and praising him. You were so good to him no matter how roughly he was fucking you.

“I want your cum, Jake, please, give it to me! I want it so bad! I’ve needed it all day!”

“So that’s why you didn’t listen to my rules.” That was Jake said before he buried his face in your sweaty neck and shot his load inside of you. He decided to give Tom a show and pulled out, so his cum, mixed with your own juices, dripped out of your clenching pussy.

“Thank you, Daddy,” You tried to kiss Jake, but he sat up. You had nothing but your wobbly and tired legs to use as leverage.

Tom walked closer to your face and Jake stood up. He spit on his hand and went behind Tom so he could jerk him off. Tom came in long strokes on your face and some reached your chest.

Jake milked him until the last drop. He pat on his shoulder, congratulating him on fucking you so good.

You pouted and Jake giggled.

He really giggled. He brought Tom closer to you again and he let you suck them both clean. When you took both of their tips in your mouth, he wanted to take you for another round. But it was late, and Tom had to leave.

“Thank you.” Tom said shyly.

You gave him a big smile while you gathered the remaining drops of cum from your face and licked them off your fingers. “Your next collab better be the most awesome song ever to match what happened.” You sighed happily.

[stellar-starseed]

Never In A Million Years

Group: BTS

Pairing: Yoongi x fem!reader, Jimin x fem!reader, polyamory

Summary: You have just confessed to one of your close friends that you have feelings for them. Things don’t go according to plan, and you turn to your best friend, Yoongi, for comfort.

Word Count: 1,972

Chapter: 3/8

Previous Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2

Note: This is cross posted on ao3.

Chapter 3

You weren’t sure how to break the news about the kiss to Yoongi, so you didn’t. You planned to do it eventually, but Jungkook told you about a party that your mutual friend was throwing. It didn’t seem like the time to confess when you just wanted to have a bit of fun. Work had been stressful lately and even though your fight with Jimin wasn’t an issue anymore, you had been emotionally drained whether you wanted to admit it or not.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” Yoongi asked as he eyed your dress that stopped at your mid thigh.

“Something wrong?” You questioned.

“I mean—I know every guy in the room will be looking at you.”

“If they’re looking at me what does your outfit matter?” You smirked.

“Oh, is that how we’re starting off the night?”

“Just kidding.” You kiss him quickly. “You look great. I love the black on black look.” You lace your fingers with Yoongi’s and head out of the bedroom.

“Whoa, you know this is just a house part at Hobi’s right?” Jungkook tilts his head looking at you from head to toe.

“Why do you guys act like I’m overdressed? I haven’t been out in a while, I get it, but relax.” Jungkook shrugs.

You guys were “fashionably late” as Yoongi liked to put it, and the party had clearly already started without you. You could hear the music bumping from down the street. The lawn was littered with red solo cups and various other things, someone was puking in the street and a group of guys were trying to dance on the front lawn with one of them yelling ‘conga line’.

Inside, the house was filled with unfamiliar people. Hoseok definitely knew how to throw a party. You were certain he didn’t know most of these people, but when it came to Hoseok he made fast friends with anyone and everyone.

“Yoongi!” You hear an unfamiliar voice call from behind and you automatically turn to see who is trying to get your boyfriend’s attention.

“Hey, Namjoon.” They shake hands and Namjoon is already offering Yoongi a beer. “Have you met _______?”

“Oh, no. Hey, I’m Namjoon I work with Yoongi.” The tall man holds his hand out and you take it. He offers you the beer in his other hand and you politely decline.

“Are you a rapper or a singer?”

“Me? No, no. I’m a producer just like Yoongi. We’re working on a track right now that-“ he pauses to look around behind him. “That guy is the singer.” He points to a man who’s playing a game of beer pong with Hobi.

“He’s up and coming, really talented. His name is Jin.” Yoongi fills you in. You nod.

“And the flashy one next to him is Taehyung, he’s a rapper.” Namjoon points again in the same direction.

“You’ve heard his stuff before I let you listen to one of the tracks I produced for him.” Yoongi says next to your ear. You feel almost as if you’re holding him back from having a conversation with his friend. You didn’t need to be kept up to date on all of his work. You appreciated the inclusion, but you didn’t want him to have to break up the conversation just to fill you in on every detail.

“I’ll leave you two to talk.” You smile at him and slip away heading over to Hoseok.

“Hobi!” You call with a huge smile. When he meets your eyes his smile is just as wide.

“______! No one told me you were coming. I haven’t seen you in ages. Want to play?” He gestures with the ping pong ball in hand.

“Hey, if we’re playing with teams now-“ It was evident Jin had been drinking by the way he stumbled over his words. He pulled Taehyung closer. “I want Taehyung on mine.” He pouted, crossing his arms.

“Fair enough.” Hobi nodded. “you in?”

“I’ll play winner!” Jungkook called as he jogged towards you.

The game seemed to go on forever. You weren’t much of a beer person and you definitely weren’t making very many shots. Every time you’d miss Jin and Taehyung would throw it in your face by cheering and singing about how much you suck at the game. You were more than relieved when the game was over. Hobi threw a ball to Jungkook and asked if you wanted to dance instead. You were thankful to get away from the game, so you agreed. You searched for Yoongi on your way to the next room, but you didn’t see him anywhere. You figured he was talking Namjoon’s ear off somewhere over beers.

Hobi pulled you to the middle of the floor where several people were dancing and he began to let loose. You hadn’t seen him dance in so long it made you smile. He was a great dancer and you knew you weren’t that great, but he never once said anything about it. You enjoyed yourself while you were dancing and that was all that really mattered.

Hoseok pulls you in and leans down next to your ear, “I missed having you at my parties.” He admits.

“I miss attending them.” You giggle. “Work has been busy and then I had some personal issues.”

“Jimin?” He questions. Before you could ask how he knew you felt another body press against you.

“Noona,” you hear Jimin’s voice and instantly tense up, “I brought you some wine. I remembered you don’t like beer.” You turn around to see him smiling.

“Can I cut in?” He asks Hoseok who looks at you. You give him a pleading look and he shakes his head at Jimin.

“She’s my dance partner, Jiminie, you’ll have to wait.” He says as he pulls you closer. To your surprise, Jimin actually did leave. Mouthing a thank you-you sigh in relief; Hoseok laughs and shakes his head.

“Jimin always did have a thing for you. I can’t say I blame him.”

“Oh really?” You blush. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t find Hoseok attractive, but you two had a bond that you didn’t want to break over a one night stand. And you certainly didn’t think this party monster was ever going to settle for more than a fling.

You danced with Hoseok until sweat began to bead up on your forehead. You pulled away to take a break and noticed he was sweating too. He didn’t look like he was going to stop any time soon, though. You flashed him a sweet smile and headed to the kitchen. You were curious as to where Yoongi could be, but you assumed you’d run into him eventually.

“Enjoying yourself?” Jimin asks. His voice is low and almost seductive at this point sending shivers down your spine. He always did have a way of getting to you with the smallest of things. You can see in his eyes that he’s a bit tipsy. You take the wine glass he’s holding out to you and drink.

“I am.” You say simply and finish the rest of the wine. “Have you been holding on to this glass the whole time?”

“I’d like to finish what we started the other day.” He brushes past your question.

“Which is?” You cock an eyebrow. Jimin wraps an arm around the small of your back and pulls you close.

“I can refresh your memory.” He says as he leans in. You can smell the wine on his breath and you panic.

“Where’s the wine?” You ask. Jimin chuckles and waves you along as he heads out of the room. You sigh in relief that you dodged the situation for now, but the more you thought about it the more you needed to talk to Yoongi. In fact you also needed to talk to Jimin, but that wasn’t your top priority at the moment.

Jimin lead you to the wine room. A room you never knew Hoseok had. He grabbed a bottle of whatever he had previously been drinking and stumbles to the counter. He pops it open and pours you each a generous glass. After downing several glasses of wine and avoiding Jimin’s advances, you start to feel light headed. Instead of putting the wine down and finding water, you decide to finish whatever was left in your glass.

Jimin closes the space between you two and pulls your body into his. You aren’t entirely sure why you couldn’t pull away. His big brown eyes are boring into you and you could smell his familiar scent laced with the wine. He smiled down at you before gently placing his lips on yours. It wasn’t nervous crashing of mouths like the first kiss; this kiss was gentle and pulled you in. All you wanted was to kiss him. Allowing your head to tilt ever so slightly, you oblige his tongue as it slips over your bottom lip. This kiss was sensual and you thanked the wine for calming him down because this was the kiss to end all other kisses.

You heard the wine glass against the table as he set it down and wrapped both of his arms around the small of your back, pulling you as close as he could get you. This kiss— this simple kiss—had you melting in his arms. You had dreamt of this kiss often. All those feelings you tried to suppress when you weren’t speaking were bubbling to the surface. And then the guilt of the last kiss tugs at your heart strings and it’s then that you immediately spin out of his arms.

“Noona?” He questions as he reaches for you once again. You try to give him the most apologetic look you can before leaving the room.

Making your way around the house, you begin to realize just how drunk you had become over such a short period of time. You were dizzy and all you wanted was to find Yoongi and get out. You felt terrible for letting Jimin kiss you, and the worst part about it is you wanted to continue. You didn’t think you could get over him so easily when Yoongi asked you to be official, but you never thought you would be so torn.

After stumbling your way through a couple of bedrooms, Jungkook pops out from behind a door. Startled, you fall backwards against the wall hitting your head. You slide down because that’s all you can do at this point. The house is spinning. It’s been quite some time since you had a drink and the way you threw those glasses of wine back its a wonder how you were even standing.

“Fuck, noona, are you okay?” Jungkook asks kneeling down beside you.

“Yeah I’m fine. I just need to find Yoongi.” You wince once your hand reaches the area where your head hit the wall.

“I think I saw him in the den. I’m going to get you to the car. I’ll find Yoongi after that.” Jungkook informs you. Hoseok runs over to question what happened and he is soon followed by Jimin.

“______! Are you okay?” Jimin kneels down beside you.

“I think I might’ve had too many to drink.” You say.

“She hit her head.” Jungkook added. “So, I’m going to get her home.” You point at Jungkook nod.

“Are you okay, noona?” Jimin repeats, his eyes are full of concern and your heart skips a beat.

"Yes, Jimin-ah." You reassure him with a nod and a small smile before both Jimin and Jungkook help you to your feet. Jungkook escorts you to the car and gingerly lays you in the back seat before going back to find his brother.

“Just great.” You sigh to yourself. “Maybe I can fake amnesia? I did hit my head after all.”

————————————————————

Hey, lovely! Thank you for stopping by, see you next episode.

[dustedmagazine]

Dust Volume 7, Number 9

Les Filles de Illighadad

Another collection of short reviews closes out this week at Dusted, with selections ranging from avant garde classical to free jazz to whacko punk to an unusually gender-inclusive guitar band from Niger.  Writers this time included the usual stalwarts, Bill Meyer, Ray Garraty, Jennifer Kelly, Jonathan Shaw, Bryon Hayes, Tim Clarke, Andrew Forell and Chris Liberato. Enjoy.

All Set — All Set (RogueArt)

In 1957, serialist composer Milton Babbitt’s All Set applied his language-transforming compositional tool kit to the sonic resources of a jazz orchestra. Six decades and change down the road, such ideas haven’t exactly infiltrated the mainstream of either jazz or orchestral music, but they’ve become as handy for some music makers as hammers and nails are for carpenters. So, when saxophonic colleagues Ingrid Laubrock (who sticks to tenor here) and Stéphane Payen (playing the straight alto) needed to come up with a framework to make music together, out came Babbitt’s notion, which they did not play straight, but used as a suggestions for writing their own tunes, and for good measure named their band after the Babbitt’s piece The formative influence manifests in zig-zagging intervallic leaps, but instead of treating these of ends in themselves, the saxophonists carry on constant overlapping dialogues. The rhythm section of Chris Tordini (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums) can’t help but swing, but they do so in a shifting, discontinuous fashion that occasionally leaves it to the saxophonists to play the gaps as well as the horns they use the fill them.

Bill Meyer

 Rodrigo Amado Motion Trio & Alexander Von Schlippenbach — The Field (No Business)

The Field by Rodrigo Amado Motion Trio & Alexander von Schlippenbach

Motion Trio is one of tenor saxophonist Rodrigo Amado’s more enduring combos. But it’s not one that has played often in the years preceding this concert, a consequence of the growth and success of its members; Amado, cellist Miguel Mira and drummer Gabriel Ferrandini all keep busy with other projects. So, this encounter with pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, which took place in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2019, was not just a reenactment of the trio’s favorite tactic of improvising with a strong fourth musician, but a reunion of the trio itself. This means that the process-oriented can listen for three comrades finding reviving a common language at the same time that they confront with an outsider’s efforts to deal with it. Schlippenbach’s playing brings an unusual harmonic density to Motion Trio’s music, which seems to coax an especially dynamic and at times reflective response from the saxophonist. Ferandini, on the other hand, proposes shapes and timbres that seem to build out from Schlippenbach’s intricate constructions, while Mira keeps up a steady, almost subliminal stream of contrapuntal commentary that is simultaneously assertive and nearly subliminal. But some of the concert’s most exciting moments come when the pianist lays out for a second, and you can hear Motion Trio’s members responding to each other.

Bill Meyer

  BangGang Lonnie Bands — H2K On the Way (TF Entertainment \ Anti Media)

Lots of artists have watched small projects intended only as appetizers grow to surpass their grander efforts. BangGang Lonnie Bands’ recent work, especially his King of Detroit albums, contained a few gems but were bloated in length. There was an ironic twist, as Lonnie’s claimed the throne to the city where he no longer resides. While it remains to be seen what the rapper brings after H2K On the Way, this 15 minutes long EP is his leanest work in years, leaving a long list of LPs behind. Lonnie no longer flirts with scam rap and returns to murder music, fusing gutsiest Michigan-style punchlines with no hostage Californian approach to verse spitting. He’s the naughtiest when he’s trolling the music industry: “Copped a 100 pounds of crank \ should have bought a verse from Drake.” 

Ray Garraty  

  Buffalo Daughter — We Are the Times (Anniversary)

Buffalo Daughter always caught in the cracks between mainstream and experimental, layering vocal sweetness over chopped up blippy beats, not as wildly original as OOIOO, but not exactly girl pop either. This latest album comes after a long break and a slightly less lengthy COVID lockdown, and it’s got some prickly, dreamy jams, part dance, part pop, part funk, part inscrutable. “ET (Densha)” is the mad, moody single, full of low-end synth blasts and thundering drums, but leavened by high whispery vocals. It’s like Shackleton sound-tracking a Hello Kitty movie. “Global Warming Will Kill Us All” is similarly ominous, with vocoder chants and trippy pop choruses and blown out by phosphorescent blots of synth, but I like “Don’t Punk Out” the best, because it struts like an animatronic James Brown, the funk percolating through gleaming futuristic swells of sounds. If disco’s going to come back, can it be this weird and disorienting?

Jennifer Kelly

 Fashion Pimps and the Glamazons — Jazz 4 Johnny (Feel It Records)

Jazz 4 Johnny by Fashion Pimps And The Glamazons

This new EP from Fashion Pimps and the Glamazons manages to fit into the tradition of whacko punk records from Cleveland (and what a tradition that is…) and to comment on the problematic nature of tradition itself. There’s a decided No Wave vibe to Jazz 4 Johnny: listen to it, and you’ll flash on Buy Contortions and on Robert Quine’s attempts to channel Miles Davis and Pharoah Sanders through his guitar. At points you’ll swear there’s a sax somewhere in the buzz and thunder that the Fashion Pimps create — but that’s just Richard Glamazon’s skronky guitar tone, which does Quine one better by not only aping the cadences of a free jazz solo but also the sound of a brassy axe. That’s fun, but we should also recall No Wave’s sharp antipathies for concepts like “tradition” or “perpetuity.” A lot of those bands wanted to neutralize their own existence and thus evade the ultimately conservative action of canonization. Other tunes on Jazz 4 Johnny are more engaged with the later Downtown noise rock scene. The guitar on “Dream Police” gestures toward early Sonic Youth—but even there, the band can’t quite help themselves. Vocalist Steve Chainsaw shouts, “Show me your DNA!” Most of those references are based in Manhattan, so what about Cleveland? The city often recedes into the background when conversations turn to rock-n-roll history, which is too bad. Fashion Pimps and the Glamazons don’t sound all that much like electric eels or Pere Ubu, but the band is tuned into a similarly feral, post-industrial ethos and an avant-garde sensibility that makes anti-art into art you can dance to. Or break things to. Or both. Which may be the best response to the wild and smart tunes on this record.

Jonathan Shaw

 Les Filles de Illighadad — At Pioneer Works (Sahel Sounds)

At Pioneer Works by Les Filles de Illighadad

The entrancing At Pioneer Works documents the American touring debut of Niger-based Tuareg ensemble Les Filles de Illighadad, specifically a pair of shows at the eponymous Brooklyn venue. Travelling as a four-piece ensemble, the band created a swirling three-guitar maelstrom, as captured on this pristine-sounding recording. Founder Fatou Seidi Ghali — the first known woman Tuareg guitarist — and her cousin Alamnou Akrouni were joined by Fatimata Ahmadelher, the only other known woman Tuareg guitarist, with Ghali’s brother accompanying on rhythm guitar. Blending the traditional calabash drum and call-and-response vocals of the tende song form with the electric guitar, Ghali and company steep the communal origins of their sound with a gentle clangor. The music is simultaneously hypnotic and driving, the four performers acting as one multi-limbed, multi-throated being. For the most part, Ghali is content setting the pace and playing along with the melody. One exception is the trio of deftly executed solos during “Chakalan,” where she demonstrates her prowess with six strings. Reports from those Brooklyn shows indicate that the band completely enraptured their audience, and if At Pioneer Works represents only a fraction of how powerful Les Filles de Illighadad are live, this writer doesn’t doubt that at all.

Bryon Hayes  

 Henri Guédon — Karma (Outre National)

Karma by Henri Guédon

You don’t have to be a big fan of R.E.M. to feel overly familiar with “It’s The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” In dire times, it’s such an easy go-to tune that even adherence to lockdown prescriptions won’t keep it out of your ears. So, deejays, we’ve done your research for you, and found a new tune to soundtrack defiant frugging in the face of disaster. It’s called “Fin Di Mond,” by Martinique-based singer/percussionist/sculptor Henri Guédon. It, and eight more similarly motion-motivating tunes, can be found on Karma, a predominantly celebratory set of retro-futuristic, Franco-Caribbean grooves. Mind you, this music wasn’t retro when Guédon recorded it 46 years ago; the synth lines that swoop through its massed percussion were probably the height of modernity back in the day. Heard now, this music is just the thing to put time itself on pause.

Bill Meyer

HTRK — Rhinestones (Heavy Machinery)

Rhinestones by HTRK

Rhinestones is a sneaky one from Melbourne’s HTRK, a slight but incisive release that seems minor compared to their previous albums but cuts just as deep. Running to a brutally economical 26 minutes, most of the album is built around delayed guitar, drum machine and Jonnine Standish’s ghostly, dejected voice. To a world laid low by the pandemic, Standish sounds startlingly apposite for these times, and track titles like “Sunlight Feels Like Bee Stings,” “Real Headfuck” and “Straight to Hell” signpost the vibe clearly. This is sad, skeletal music, sure to offer a degree of solace if you’re weary, wrung out or wasted — 2021 in a nutshell.

Tim Clarke  

 Matt Jencik — Matt & Lyra (Trouble In Mind)

Matt & Lyra by matt jencik

Matt Jencik is a member of doomy, spacey Chicago band Implodes, plus he’s released two solo guitar albums: 2017’s Weird Times and 2019’s Dream Character. For his latest, Matt & Lyra, part of Trouble In Mind’s Explorers Series, Jencik focuses on the thick, fuzzy tones of the Russian-built Lyra-8 synthesizer (hence the album title). Having said that, he does pull out his guitars to add some acoustic strumming to “Cmellow Ayellow,” and builds 16-minute closer “Clandestine Half Pipe” around electric guitar drones before the Lyra begins to dominate the frame. Jencik apparently made this music to help him sleep, and while this music is suited to nocturnal listening, with an all-enveloping warmth, there’s also the sense of something looming in the darkness. Whether this presence is reassuring or threatening probably depends on the frame of mind with which you approach this immersive 35-minute release.

Tim Clarke

 Joakim — Second Nature (Tiger Sushi)

French producer and Tiger Sushi founder Joakim’s Second Nature is a reflection on the state of the world. It combines samples of whales, elephants, toads and other wildlife with the kind of pop facing ambient techno from aughts chillout compilations.  It is testament to his skill as a producer that the record doesn’t wear out its welcome despite the occasional lapse into the anodyne and the associations this kind of gentle background music evokes. When Joakim disturbs the tranquility on tracks like “Sferics & Whistlers” with its crackles of static and breakdown of discordant notes, Angel Bat Dawid’s klezmatic clarinet on “Waves Ahead” and the komische roll of “Kepler-39” that one is jolts from reverie and pays close attention, but at 16 tracks it feels like Second Nature needs more such moments.

Andrew Forell 

 The Killing Popes — Ego Kills (Shhpuma)

Ego Kills by The Killing Popes

Thank god this unfortunately named combo isn’t someone’s absurd scheme to crossbreed the sounds of Killing Joke and Smoking Popes. Instead, the Berlin-based project exists at the crossroads of jazz and electronics. I know what you’re thinking, and no this isn’t a modern take on acid jazz; this crew makes a jazz-on-acid sort of racket. The core Popes are drummer-percussionist Oli Steidle and multi-instrumentalist Dan Nicholls, who together conjure up a brew with a myriad of ingredients. Their genre-defying fusion of disciplines does have a center, however. Steidle’s dextrous drumming and the elastic band bass proffered by Phil Donkin serve as an anchor point for the other elements — both melodic and bizarre — to revolve around. The addition of vocals inserts the sense of narrative, creating a gravity that tugs at the sounds and prevent them from spiralling out of orbit. As zany as Ego Kills may be, it’s jazz-like enough for afficionados to appreciate. On their own, each of the instrumentalists demonstrates a mastery of their craft; together, they create an uncanny sort of magic.

Bryon Hayes

 Norman W. Long — BLACK BROWN GRAY GREEN (Hausu Mountain)

BLACK BROWN GRAY GREEN by Norman W. Long

Chicago soundscapist Norman W. Long walks his southeast Chicago neighborhood, listens deeply and records the ambient sounds of nature, the echoes of railyards, wasteland and industrial sites both working and abandoned. Adding subtle electronics and treatments to his field recordings, Long conjures atmospheres that speak to space, atrophy and the delicate symbiosis between nature and humanity. On BLACK BROWN GRAY GREEN he immerses listeners in the often unnoticed aural richness at the intersection of the built, neglected and the natural. His choices about when to augment or to present his sources as are forms a narrative of associations, displacements and tensions. Long’s is also a story of reclamation and recognition, a rumination on the situation of the largely minority and migrant populations who live in the neighborhood, many of whom toil as essential workers across the city in the face of ongoing prejudice and hostility. Site specificity is integral to Long’s art but his themes are universal.

Andrew Forell 

 Andy Moor — Music For Safe Piece (Unsounds)

Music For Safe Piece by Andy Moor

Music For Safe Piece is the antidote for every piece of children’s music that’s ever made you want to not hear another played or sung note, ever again. Electric guitarist Andy Moor (the Ex, Dog Faced Hermans) and dancer Valentina Campora have included their sons, Elio and Milo, in onstage performance ever since they were so young, they had to be swaddled and strapped to one of their parents in order to participate. The recorded results of this shared adventure are raw, unpredictable and exhilarating. Moor’s guitar, occasionally augmented by a child’s vocalization, a foot pounding the floor or some choice tune fragments on a cassette tape, blazes a trail of reverberations, scrapes and wobbles. In performance, the boys are known to get in on the act, helping pop to make his sounds while mom handles the movement. This music isn’t particularly pacific, but it’s pretty close to the way kids actually play when no one’s stopping them. The technologically adept will find a QR code inside the CD’s gatefold, which unlocks the short film, “Safe Piece.”

Bill Meyer

RXM Reality — Advent (Orange Milk)

Advent by RXM REALITY

Long-time Hausu Mountain dweller Mike Meegan has relocated to the Orange Milk abode, taming his frenetic brand of electronic mayhem in the process. The blown-out, off-the-grid beats are still plentiful, but with Advent Meegan injects his tunes with melody. He’s also allowed himself to slow down and relax. The vast expanse of “Character Limit” literally breathes deeply as Meegan allows it to swirl around. He drinks up the pleasant melodic aromas of the track before switching gears and unloading burst after burst of explosive beats. “These Days” comes off as an electro-shoegaze hybrid, with gauzy synth pads that float effortlessly among bouncy percussion clusters. Of course, the signature RXM Reality sound — a hybrid of 1990s video game and blockbuster movie — is present and accounted for in tracks like “Allure,” “Screaming,” and “Grip of Evil.” Yet even these balls of energy are tempered with shades of consonance. Having blunted some of the jagged edges of his frantic brand of electronic music, Meegan fits in nicely among the kooky ranks of the Orange Milk imprint.

 Bryon Hayes

 Macie Stewart — Mouth Full of Glass (Orindal)

Mouth Full of Glass by Macie Stewart

You might already know Macie Stewart as one-half of the complicated indie rock duo Ohmme or for her regular appearances as violinist of choice in Chicago jazz and experimental music scenes, but this solo LP shows another side.  These eight songs are lushly, intricately arranged with strings, orchestral instruments and brass, recorded with precision and clarity, but nonetheless personal and introspective.  “Garter Snake” sheathes flaying honesty with baroque instrumental flourishes. Stewart’s voice is bare and unaffected as she confides, “I am addicted…to indecision,” but she makes riveting choices in framing the melody.  Old-fashioned movie strings swell in the spaces between talking-right-to-you verses; agile guitar chords mark time.  “Finally” begins in bare, Bahian guitar play, as Stewart’s voice flutters and floats an unpredictable but fetching tune.  Strings swoop in at the end of the phrase, lavish and lucid.  The title track unlooses massed, harmonized vocals on the spare architecture of picked guitar, a shock of extravagant sung beauty in an otherwise restrained palette.  Like Wendy Eisenberg, but with different instruments, Stewart weaves post-modern complexity into the delicate fabric of pop songs.  The difficulty — combined with the beauty — makes this music memorable.

Jennifer Kelly

 Stingray — Feeding Time (La Vida es un Mus)

Feeding Time by Stingray

In places where heavy music is played and endlessly debated, 1982 might be most strongly associated with English street punk — see the ersatz “genre” of UK82, which enshrines the year and ties it to acid green liberty spikes and scuffed Doc Martens. Fair enough. But street punk was thoroughly informed by the dirty working-class metal being made by bands like Motörhead and Venom, and this new EP by Stingray celebrates those noisy intersections of influence. Of course, Stingray’s version of celebration likely involves several cases of Bass Ale, an eightball of something white and a fistfight or two. Or five. The English band features members of other current hard-driving acts, including Subdued, the Chisel and Chain of Flowers, but Stingray doesn’t prize currency. The songs are short, hard and nasty, landing their punches like a “Bomber” and also like a bunch of “Death Dealers.” The guys in Stingray understand the past they’re drawing on, but does music like this have a future? Fuck knows. Do any of us have a future? Does the earthball? The tunes are less interested in such flights of existential angst, and more intent on their rapacious appetites for speed, sweat and raunch. It’s Feeding Time. Get it while you can.

Jonathan Shaw

Nick Storring — Newfoundout (Mappa)

Newfoundout by Nick Storring

You’ll miss some towns if you blink. The ones that have given their names to the compositions on Newfoundout might confound both eyesight and your GPS, since they are all ghost towns in Ontario, Canada. The music that Nick Storring has made to go with these titles is correspondingly elusive. Performed entirely by the composer, using strings, percussion and whatever bric-a-brac happened to be at hand, it is by turns lush, staccato and propulsive. “The sounds are never particularly difficult, but they rarely telegraph where they’re going, so if you listen passively, sooner or later you’ll look up in dismay, wondering how things got from where they were to where they are now. “Khartum,” for example, starts out sounding a lot like “In A Silent Way,” and finishes up sounding like a respectfully paced conference of grandfather clock chimes. So, put your head back and your ears forward, and let Mr. Storring do the driving. 

Bill Meyer

Ten Ka — Sonic Geometry: Structures, Patterns And Forms (Jersika)

sonic geometry: structures, patterns and forms by TEN KA

Ten Ka is experimental side project of Deniss Pashkevich, a Latvian woodwinds player. The album title’s invocation of mathematics is apt, since this music is produced by dissimilar musical values acting upon each other. Pashkevich’s sound on tenor sax is full and soft around the edges, which is probably what it takes to be a working musician in a part of the world that doesn’t have much of a jazz tradition; on flutes, and especially the Bansuri, he hints at a far Eastern vibe. He also plays Fender Rhodes and prepared acoustic piano, bringing in further elements of user-friendly jazz, but also some sharp, Cage-y edges. But most of the nine tracks on Sonic Geometry: Structures, Patterns And Forms feature modular synths, which provide a foundation of pulsing bass patterns and some intriguing disruptive, acidic sizzles.  It all adds up to something simultaneously familiar and out of the ordinary.

Bill Meyer

 Luis Vicente / Vasco Trilla — Made Of Dust (577 Records)

Made of Mist by Luis Vicente & Vasco Trilla

Not many improvisational settings are more exposed that the drums and trumpet duet. The two instruments are sufficiently different in timbre and frequency range that you can’t help but hear everything each player does, and also how those actions fit together. Trumpeter Luis Vicente and percussionist Vasco Trilla approach this situation with a combination of relaxed consideration and wholly earned confidence. Vicente can power-play when necessary, but for this session, he exercises restraint, using mutes to extract the most lyrical and vocal sounds he can muster. Trilla likewise seeks out the extremities of his kit, drawing continuous ribbons of widely differing characters, such as the alarm clock-like clatter and low-scrubbed drumskin heard on “Swirling Mist.” Their interactions are not just sonically novel, but trusting and deeply intimate.

Bill Meyer   

 Simon Waldram — So It Goes (Self-released)

So It Goes by Simon Waldram

Simon Waldram’s refrain-heavy eighth solo album, So It Goes, is a song cycle on love, loss and acceptance influenced by classic indie pop bands like The Field Mice, The Fat Tulips and The Go-Betweens. Indeed, it was the Grant McLennan-channelling “Don’t Worry,” a plaintive reassurance to a past lover, that initially caught my attention. But “I Miss The Sun” betters it, really laying on the Hammond, and squeezing in something noticeably absent from the other songs: a bridge. “When will we see the lull again/Feels like these dark days will never end,” Waldram sings, reestablishing buoyancy as it winds down repeating the title phrase. There’s promise elsewhere, like on the 1960’s-flavored psych strummer “Boats In The Sky,” before it lifts its bow in harmonic repetition a few too many times without checking its fuel gauge first, stranding itself in the firmament. “The Wild Wanderings of Wildebeests” is another one with potential, but its flawless first verse’s worth of strum and fuzz just recurs instead of building towards something of greater impact. The record hits its lowest point on the nearly nine-minute “Windswept,'' a “Primitive Painters'' rip that goes nowhere productive. When Waldram starts repeating ad infinitum “I miss you so much/ I can’t let go of this dream of ours,” you wish you could step in and save him from himself. A pleasant enough acoustic instrumental with birdsong follows in the form of “One May Afternoon,” serving as a much-needed palate cleanser and bridging the gap to the album’s closer. However, “Shimmer” is another moaner that never quite rounds into shape and instead fades out and then, unremarkably, back in.  There’s an EP’s worth of good material on So It Goes, but as an album it only ends up burning itself with the flame its carrying, leaving the listener wondering, “Who hurt you, Simon?”

Chris Liberato

[newcaptainofsquad9]

So When Can We Tell The World?{6} Min Yoongi x black! fem! reader~Final

Parts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 

Pairing: Yoongi x reader

Genre: Angst, Romance, Smut, Idol AU

Summary: After figuring out Yoongi’s mistake, you try to make it through the rest of the night at the Grammys away from Yoongi. However, it turns out that you needed time with Yoongi before you actually needed space from him.   

Word Count: 21, 777

Warnings: Smut in this chapter and so much angst.

Author’s Note: All right ya’ll the last part, I hope ya’ll have enjoyed this series and let me know your thoughts on it. I’ve been thinking of writing a prequel and even a sequel with this story, so let me know of your thoughts on that as well.  

Katie was able to talk me down from leaving the Staples Center early. ‘Enjoy the show’, she says. ‘Maybe you’ll win’, she tells me. I’m now seated between Taehyung and Namjoon, only after begging Jimin to switch seats with me. I would be sitting beside Yoongi right now, yet I don’t think I can bear it, at least right now. 

He told me the truth. Big Hit released a statement a few days about us, it’s all over the internet and the entirety of Twitter. For the first time in history I’m trending number one, yet my heart doesn’t feel full. It’s slumped down further against my rib-cage as I scroll through Twitter, more specifically ARMY Twitter. 

A few of the comments about Yoongi and I are fine, a little flattering even.

Some of them read:

Yoongi and Y/N looked so amazing on stage, looks like tuning in for the Grammys was worth it.

Yoongi not only collaborated with a powerful rapper and singer, he also managed to date her. Ahem Namjoon it’s your turn 😎.

Did you see the way Yoongi stares at Y/N? And ya’ll say they aren’t really dating. smh Some of ya’ll don’t know what love is and it shows. 

The more I scroll, the more hateful it becomes. Not much for Yoongi, how could they bash him? In their eyes he could do no wrong, even though he blabbered about us in front of the entire world. I swallow a heavy lump as the comments pierce me. 

They read:

Apparently this isn’t a fucking joke and Yoongi isn’t dating a Korean woman like I thought. What does Y/N Y/L/N have that a Korean woman doesn’t? 

I mean of course Yoongi would date a black woman, he is from the ghetto, it’s what he’s used to.

I’m sure Y/N’s problematic. Let’s dig something up ARMY! Maybe her address? I just wanna have a discussion with her.

“Y/N?” Namjoon asks, breaking me from my phone screen. 

I glance over to see his face clouded in concern. 

“What are you looking at?” Taehyung asks while craning his head down in my screen.

I turn the screen away before tucking it away safely in my my purse by my feet. 

“Nothing,” I whisper, “just n-nothing.” 

Namjoon nudges my shoulder. 

“I saw it Y/N,” he says, “just the haters, ignore them.”

“It’s kind of hard to Joon,” I say, “your ARMY aren’t people to play with, you of all people should know that.”

Taehyung shrugs. 

“The ones saying that aren’t true ARMY,” he notes, “we’re here for you and Yoongi hyung, ok?”

Namjoon nods sharply. 

“Enjoy the rest of the show, ok? Look, they’re about to announce the next category!” Namjoon exclaims prior to pointing up at the stage.

My eyes follow up as John Legend strolls up to the mic with an envelope in hand. He reads off the nominees for ‘Song Of The Year’ as each song, along with it’s music video flashed the huge screen behind him. 

It’s difficult to keep the tears back, however I do with power I never thought I had. Watching our video for ‘All The Crown Players’ tied the knot already in my stomach even tighter. All I want to do is leave, yet I can’t. I can’t do that to the people who helped me get here, hell I worked to get her too. Even for Yoongi. No matter how I feel about him, I can’t let him down like that. He may have done it to me, but I wouldn’t do that to him. 

“And the Grammy goes to.......’All The Crown Players!’ Y/N Y/L/N and Min Yoongi!!”

I freeze. Namjoon, Taehyung, Jin, Hoseok and Jungkook all popped up, screaming in my ear as they grab at me. Jimin does the same with Yoongi, who’s eyes are blown wide and lost. He manages to get to the aisle while Jungkook gently pushes me towards him. Yoongi forces a tiny grin as he nods up to the stage. I notice the make up around his eyes look more fresh than the spots around his cheekbones. He cried. 

“Y/N!Yoongi! Go on!” Namjoon shouts. 

On a spur I take Yoongi’s hand, surprising us both and walk towards the stage.

Once we get up there I shake hands with John and thank him. 

“Congratulations guys,” he says, “you’ve earned it.”

Yoongi shakes his hand as well then bows. We take each of Grammys respectively and step towards the mic.

“You go ahead first, Y/N,” Yoongi says. 

I nod and wave towards the audience. 

“I’d like to thank everyone who supported us! My manager Katie, my brother Kevin, my fans, ARMY! Everyone! Thank you so much for this!” I scream. 

The crowd roars and I could have sworn the guys were the loudest. Of course they were.  I pull away from the mic to let Yoongi go ahead. He flashes another small smile, pats the small of my back and goes to say what he has to. 

“Thank you ARMY! This is only the beginning! More Grammys will come, I promise my fellow members will be up here with me for it!” he declares. 

Yoongi pauses to blink through teary, reddening eyes before turning to me. 

“I-I just want to thank Y/N for working with me and-”

My heart sinks down even further as Yoongi breaks down completely while sobbing into his hand. I pull him towards me as he trembles against my chest. 

“Thank you,” I say. 

We leave the stage and move backstage. Yoongi still clings to me, saying those heart wrenching words over and over again. Even after Namjoon manages to calm him down, they still rush around my head. 

Please forgive me Y/N, I’m so sorry.

  * * *

The soft sheets of my hotel bedroom are soft, comfy and extremely accommodating, yet my mind can’t seem to unwind. Not with Yoongi’s tear stained face clogging my memory. I had to keep my phone out of sight to keep from reading Yoongi’s constant messages. I told him that I needed space before we have a proper conversation right now. My head space isn’t there yet, and I don’t think his is there either. 

Just when I start to slip under the covers and relax my phone vibrates yet again. A groan escapes me as I rise, throw the covers off and retrieve my phone from under the basket my room service nachos came in. 

What I saw wasn’t another text from Yoongi, but a missed call from Namjoon. I quickly call him back and press the phone to my ear. 

“Hello? Y/N?” Namjoon answers.

“Hey Joon, is everything all right?”

He releases a heavy sigh before answering right back.

“It’s about Yoongi, “ he says, “have you talked to him? 

My skin flares in equal parts anger and heartbreak. 

“No,” I admit, “I told him I needed space, I really haven’t read most of the messages.”

“Well, he hasn’t eaten anything, no matter how hard we try,” Namjoon says. 

I pinch the bridge of my nose as a shaky breath comes out of me. The words spill out before I can get a clamp on them. 

“Put Yoongi on the phone, please Joon,” I whisper. 

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Namjoon mutters. 

There’s some scratching noises, a few mumbles and footsteps. Namjoon utters something in Korean before going quiet as more loud footsteps can be heard. Yoongi lets out a deep breath, forcing me to brace myself.

“Hey,” he croaks.

His voice sounds strained, lower than it usually is. 

“You have to eat Yoongi,”  I say. 

“Ok,” he says.

He barely whispers it, worrying me even more. 

“Are you ok?”

“No, I’m not,” Yoongi says, “my head isn’t right, I can’t eat, not without thinking about how much I fucked up.”

I bite down on my bottom lip at the emotion in his voice.

“It’s ok Yoongi-”

“No, Y/N it isn’t!” he growls.

The change in his voice forces me to sit up. My mouth is already moving before I can think, the weight of what unfolded tonight makes my blood boil.

“I’m sick of this!” 

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean,” Yoongi counters. 

“I’m tired of everything! The arguing, the decisions that have been made-the fans, all of it!” 

My voice cracks as tears fill my eyes again. God, it’s so hard. I love him too much, if only I was a little cold hearted, it’d be easier to do this. 

“I know,” Yoongi groans. 

“Yoongi, please eat and get some rest,” I say, “for me. I’ll meet you at your hotel to talk, that sound good?”

“Ok,” he whispers, “I’ll try.” 

There’s a pause, I expect him to say something but the call ends. 

My chest tightens as I rest my phone on the nightstand by the bed. 

He didn’t even say I love you. The tears flow on their own. 

* * *

If there’s one thing Yoongi and the guys taught me throughout our times together (well besides solidifying a strong foundation of self love within myself) it’s being incognito. Yoongi gifted me my own cool, white face mask a few years ago when I traveled to Korea to record a few songs with him and the guys. This is my third time using it since there’s hella paparazzi outside of their hotel and I don’t need anymore scandals for one week. 

Once on their floor I can’t help but hold the coffee cup in my hand tighter. There’s a strange howl. It’s got to be one of the guys, Yoongi said this floor was reversed for them, along with their managers, I hope everything's all right. I get to the door and give it a few tentative knocks. 

Jin answers it with a relieved sigh. 

“Y/N, finally someone here that has some sense,” he says. 

“Hi Jin, do you know what that howling noise was-”

I get cut off by Jungkook bellowing a deep battle cry. 

“WOOO! Told you I could swamp you Tae!”

I peek my head around the corner to see Jungkook pumping his fist in the air and Taehyung tossing his controller onto the carpet. 

“Whatever,” he grumbles as he stands. 

“Y/N, hey,” Taehyung says rather awkwardly. 

“Hey Tae-”

“Thank God you’re finally here,” Jimin groans as he strolls into the room, “please talk to Yoongi-hyung, he’s been moody all night.”

I raise an eyebrow as Jimin, Jungkook, Taehyung, Jin, Namjoon and Hoseok all slip on their hoodies, coats and masks. 

“Where are you guys going?” I ask. 

“Out,” Hoseok says matter of factually.   

Namjoon hums. 

“You,” he points at me as he speaks, “are going to deal with Yoongi-hyung while we leave you to it.” 

Taehyung flashes me a boxy smile as he nods to the cup of coffee in my hand.

“Iced Americano?” he asks. 

I nod. 

“Well, that’s one way to start,” Jin says, “bye.” 

He’s the first one out and the others aren’t far behind. Namjoon remains. He steps towards me to rub my shoulders gently. 

“He loves you,” Namjoon says, “and I know you love him. You got this, ok?”

I nod and Namjoon grins, dimples appearing because of course they do. 

“Good luck,” he says before leaving and shutting the door in the process. 

* * *

The coffee in my hand feels frigid against my palm as I wonder around the huge hotel suite. I texted Yoongi moments after the guys left, letting him know that I’m here. He gives me no answer, left on read as I wonder around looking for him. 

“Hey,” a voice croaks. 

I turn on my heels to see Yoongi. He’s bare faced and fresh even with his slight frown. His light blonde hair sweeps across his forehead beautifully, he sports an old concert hoodie and grey sweats. Like yesterday, I want to jump into his arms, yet there’s more restrain with me today. 

“I got you your favorite,” I say and hold out the coffee towards him. 

Yoongi raises an eyebrow prior to walking towards me, closing the distance between us both. 

“Iced Americano? Y/N you didn’t have to,” he grumbles. 

“No, Yoongi, I wanted to,” I say, “you look like you could use the pick me up.”

Yoongi stares at me for a moment eyes boring into my own before they sweep down to the coffee in my hand. He takes it. 

“Thank you.”

He leads me to his bedroom. 

“You can take the bed or the chair if you want,” he suggests. 

I look over the messy white sheets of his bed, but opt for the small lounging chair directly across from it. Yoongi flops on the edge of his bed, eyes drawn to the floor as he places the coffee by his foot. 

“How’s the coffee?” I ask. 

Yoongi shrugs. 

“Fine, a few extra sugars would make it better,” he says, “but it’s fine.”

“Ok,” I say, “were you able to eat at all last night?”

Yoongi’s lips quirk into a tiny smile. 

“A little,” he admits. 

I nod and play with the chair’s armrests. Silence washes over us. I can feel Yoongi’s eyes on me, why isn’t he saying anything? Why can’t I say anything? We’re here to talk, so why can’t I do that simple thing? Is it because of what happened last night? We won a Grammy last night. We should be celebrating yet, here we are lost in silence. 

“It’s being taken care of,” Yoongi blurts. 

“What is?” I ask. 

He sits up and plays with his hands in his lap. 

“The hate comments,” he says, “Big Hit can take legal action against them.”

I scoff at his words. 

“Do you know how many hate comments there are, Yoongi?”

Yoongi stands.

“I know it’s overwhelming, but it can be done,” he says.

“Yoongi-”

“Just let me fix this!” he yells, “please.”

I blink as he’s now closer, up and standing in front of me with pleading eyes. 

“You can’t fix this Yoongi,” I say, “the damage is done, and they aren’t being toxic towards you, it’s all on me.”

Yoongi kneels down in front of me, his eyes flooding with tears. 

“That doesn’t matter, you’re my girlfriend,” he says, “it affects me. Does that even matter to you?”

“Of course it does!” I growl, “all I ever did was care about what you wanted! I wasn’t comfortable with going public and I still felt bad for you! Yes I’m your girlfriend, but does my opinion even matter!”

“You know it does Y/N,”  he says.

I laugh, stand and step past him. 

“That’s hard to believe since you didn’t think about the consequences,” I say, “after I told you it wouldn’t work out as smoothly as you thought.”

“Well it’s out!” Yoongi shouts, “maybe if you just ignore the comments it wouldn’t be so bad!”

My heart hammers against my ribs as the tears roll don’t my cheeks. Is he hearing himself right now? 

“Y/N-”

“I got death threats Yoongi,” I sob, “how the fuck am I supposed to ignore that!”

His eyes soften as he approaches, wrapping his arms around my waist to pull me close. I try to push him away, yet it’s futile as his strong embrace draws me in as the sobs continue. Words bubble up in my throat, but the sobs that wrack my body defeat them as Yoongi pulls me as close as he can. 

“Shhh,” he coos, “I’ll protect you, I promise, Y/N. I promise.”

His lips brush against my forehead as he leads me towards the bed. I giggle through the tears at how messy his bed is, in this moment I don’t even know why. 

“Are you ok?” he asks.

“No, I don’t think I am.” 

Yoongi frowns before gesturing to the bed. 

“Lay down, if you want,” he says, “get comfortable, let’s talk.”

I allow myself to fall against the soft, satin sheets, eyes fluttering close at the feeling. The bed dips, Yoongi’s body shifts until I feel him right beside me. My eyes open to see his soft expression; eyes still soft, hair falling further against his forehead, almost over his eyes. His mouth stays in a fixed frown as his hand reaches out to my face. 

“C-Can I touch you?” he barely whispers. 

I nod and scoot until we’re an inch a part. Yoongi opens his mouth a few times, however he doesn’t speak. All he does is stroke my arms lovingly and stare at me. It’s nice, a change of pace from our constant arguments lately. The circumstances could be different, but in this moment I’m content. 

“Be honest with me, Y/N,” he says, “do you-”

He pauses to purse his lips as his eyes water. I hold his hand and gently stroke his knuckles. 

“Yoongi, it’s ok,” I say, “tell me.”

Yoongi sniffs, face contorting in pain as he tries to get himself together. 

My heart breaks at this, of course I’ve seen him raw and emotional before but it wasn’t at this level. He’s never broken down this hard in front of me, I can’t help but let my own tears fall because of it. 

“Y/N, d-do you want to break up with me?” he asks. 

The words slip, so does his tears. His body heaves, rocks and trembles as he buries is face into the sheets below. My hands find his back, he tenses up, then relaxes as his sobs start to lessen. He turns over with a heavy sigh, eyes red and damp once our eyes meet again. My thumbs rush up to wipe the tears for him as he chuckles lowly. 

“I-I’m sorry I’m such a fucking mess I-”

I silence his words with a kiss, forcing him to freeze before he gradually returns it. Our lips move through unwanted tears, along with soft touches until Yoongi pulls back to look at me. 

“D-Do you want us to be over?” he asks. 

I shake my head. 

“No, Yoongi, I don’t,” I declare, “we need time from each other though.”

Yoongi nods. 

“We go back to Korea tomorrow,” he says, “this might be the last time you see me for a while.”

“I-I had a feeling. Yoongi-”

“Y/N-” 

Yoongi chuckles when we cut each other off. 

“Y/N, you can go first.”

 “Yoongi, I love you, I-I just wanted you to know that. It just felt like you didn’t believe me when you asked if I wanted to break up.”

Yoongi plays with my fingers and shakes his head. 

“You know I believe you,” he says, “I just, I thought I screwed things up for us big time but I’m glad I didn’t. “ 

“Were you serious about dealing with those hate comments?”

Yoongi nods sharply. 

“Yes, and those people who wrote those things aren’t fans,” he says, “a true ARMY respects us, everything about us.”

His voice is laced with so much passion, my heart swells, in a good way this time. Our eyes stay connected as we kiss once more. Yoongi moans into it, head lulling back as his hands make their way down my sides, brushing underneath my hoodie. 

“What are you feeling for Yoongi,” I say against his lips.

Yoongi ducks his head into the crook of my neck, pulling me so that I straddle him.

“I missed you, I’m going to miss you when I leave,” he whines, “I watched you all last night in that dress, urging for your touch.”

I giggle at his words.

“But we did touch, held hands even.”

“You know what I mean,” he grumbles, “only if you want to, that is?”

Yoongi pulls back with an adorable, inquisitive stare. The dryness under his eyes remains from his tears, yet the easy going, soft stare he’d usually give me is back and I can’t help but kiss him again. 

“Yes, Yoongi,” I say, “you can touch me, can I touch you?”

“Please Y/N, I’m yours.”

We kiss, bodies pressed against each other: me flushed down on Yoongi’s while he presses himself against me. My fingers move to his hoodie, he lifts it to help me get it off quickly. Underneath he smells of fine lavender, his toned chest revealed to me without a shirt. 

“No shirt?”

Yoongi shakes his head. 

“I had just finished in the shower when you got here,” he explains, “to lazy to put one on. Now come back here.”

Yoongi pulls me back towards him, lips attaching themselves to my neck as his hands gently ghost over my breasts. He groans as he bunches my hoodie up and over my head. 

“Why didn’t you take this off sooner?”

I can’t help but giggle, toss my hoodie to the side, along with my shirt and lean down to nibble his neck. His soft groans force me to continue and plant soft kisses down his chest. I gasp at the growing need in his sweats, he bites down on his lips and shudders. 

“You’re so reactive, Yoongi.” I whisper against his skin. 

“Only for you jagi,” he purrs, “c’mon, I need to feel you. All of you.”

I nod in agreement as he fiddles with the buttons of my jeans, sliding them down to my ankles. 

“No, all the way down,” he breathes, “I want you against me.”

I do what he says giddily. 

“So, this isn’t our usual quickie?”

Yoongi shakes his head while discarding his sweats, revealing nothing underneath them as well, his member springing to life. 

“Of course not, Y/N,” he mutters, “wait, didn’t we have time when we did it in my studio?”

I roll my eyes. 

“Yeah, but Namjoon interrupted us, remember.”

“Oh yeah, well just come here, please,” he groans. 

I discard my underwear and lay back down next to him. Yoongi’s quick to get on top this time, hovering over me with arms on either side of me. There’s so much admiration in his eyes, I get lost in them as my eyes begin to water again. Yoongi notices and gently cups my face. 

“Are you ok? Do you want to stop, Y/N?”

I shake my head. 

“No, I still want you Yoongi, it’s just, you look at me-the way you look at me is a little overwhelming sometimes.”

Yoongi flashes a gummy smile. 

“I hope that’s a good thing.”

“I-It is, you’re too adorable for your own good sometimes,” I say, “I’m so happy my first Grammy was with you.”

Yoongi’s eyes sparkle before he kisses me, easing himself close towards my entrance.

“I’m happy too, God Y/N-”

His hitches and my back arches as he carefully slides inside me. My arms rush around his back, forcing him to groan as he settles completely inside.  

“Yoongi, ah y-you can move.”

Yoongi nods as he pulls out slowly and thrusts back in, repeating his action as his speed steadily builds. My head lulls back at how he manages to hit my sweet spot so well, over and over again. 

“Mmh, Y-Yoongi-”

He cuts me off with a low grunt and presses his lips against mine, suppressing the moan that came from low in my throat. 

“Y/N, how close are you jagi?”

My eyes barely stay open as he continues his powerful thrusts, hands holding my waist as my climax grows closer. 

“I-I’m so close Yoongi!”

“Ah, I feel it!” he groans, “I-I love you!”

My climax comes as I cling to him. Yoongi removes my arms from around his to intertwine our hands as I finally reach my high. He groans, pulls out before coming all over the sheets beside us. The sound of our breaths fill the room as we both laugh in the afterglow.

“Y-you could have grabbed a condom, nasty,” I giggle. 

Yoongi shrugs and pulls me back against him. 

“We’re leaving tomorrow anyway,” he notes, “gosh, you’re so beautiful, do you need anything before we clean up?”

I shake my head and snuggle against his chest. 

“Nothing, all I need right now is you.”

  * * *

“So, you guys won’t be back until your tour in a couple months?”

Yoongi nods. 

He’s in his studio right now, alone while we’re on facetime. 

“I know you said we need space apart, but I hope to at least grab some lunch together before tour actually starts,” he suggests, “your choice.”

I can’t help but grin against my pillow. 

“Sounds like a plan. Yoongi I-”

I’m cut off by Namjoon stepping into his studio with a notebook in hand. They must be ready to work. 

“I’ll catch you later,” I say. 

Yoongi frowns. 

“What were you going to say?” he asks. 

He’s so adorable when he frowns, the duality of this man. 

“I love you, don’t work too hard.”

Yoongi flashes that same gummy smile again. 

“I love you too.”

[jdevyn]

AU! IkeRev Suitors in a KPOP Group! HCS

Because while I was making the Just Do It Lyric video if Blanc, Oliver and Kyle were to sing it had me thinking if they were part of a subunit, what the actual group would be like... 

(I wanted to do a super group and have all of the suitors in one big group but it was too much to try and make facts for all of them so I handpicked my own suitors I would put in a group together. They are listed in order of oldest to youngest for this AU)

Stage name: Lance Real name: Lancelot Kingsley Position: Leader, Lead Rapper, Sub Vocalist, Producer Nationality: Korean-Taiwanese

Has trained the longest out of the everyone in the group with 6 years

Has also known Harr the longest amongst the members

Although he is half Taiwanese he only speaks Korean

Is known for his amazing charisma on stage, however off stage he is very quiet and actually very clumsy. One time after their comeback stage as they were exiting he walked into one of the floating cameras

In a Dingo interview when asked who was the most troublesome member he said Oliver. "Mmm... He might be the most troublesome but... He takes care of the other members well."

He produces the group's songs, and often co-writes music with Harr

He is very shy with people he doesn't know very well

He gets very competitive when they play games, and if they can choose partners he will normally choose Jonah who is just as competitive, so that he can win

All the members agree that he is the best listener and they can go to him if they have any problems

He is good friends with Bang Chan from Stray Kids

Currently shares a dorm with Fenrir and Jonah

Stage name: Blanc Real name: Blanc Lapin Position: Lead Rapper, Lead Vocalist Nationality: Chinese

He is known as the mother of the group 

He is also known as the gentleman of the group by the fans 

He is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, his Korean is actually a lot better than he gives himself credit for

He is known for his signature deep voiced raps

Actually has a really good singing voice which surprised a lot of fans when he first sung an a song

He trained for 4 years before debut

He is closest with Kyle and Oliver. Kyle approached him first as he was able to speak Mandarin to him. "I was really happy when Kyle spoke to me in mandarin when I first joined. I was really nervous my Korean wouldn't be understandable."

Oliver makes fun of his Korean when he can though, and sometimes teaches him the wrong meanings to some words

He is the leader of the subunit with Kyle and Oliver

He is good friends with Jackson from GOT7 and Lucas from NCT

Currently shares a dorm with Oliver

Stage name: Joker Real name: Harr Silver Position: Main vocalist Nationality: Korean

He was forced by his friend to audition because he has such an amazing voice

He actually failed several auditions before he was accepted

He actually didn’t want to pursue any more auditions. “My friend, he kept pushing me to keep auditioning. He would help me with the critiques I got so I could better polish them for the next audition. If it wasn’t for him, I really wouldn’t be here.” 

When asked if he was still in contact with this friend he said he was “He’s self declared himself as my number one fan. (Laughs) He’s really crazy, I honestly feel like he would be better suited in an idol group. He has red hair and amazing visuals.”

He still gets very nervous performing in front of a crowd. He was once criticised that he was lacking in his dance and stage presence in the  comeback they were doing in an interview once. This made Jonah mad who is also the group’s other main vocals, "I would like to hear you sing as well as him then." Jonah got reprimanded by Lance soon after the interview

Learning choreography is hard for him, he is always the last to leave the dance studio, luckily for him Oliver always stays to help him out

He writes, and composes some of the groups songs along with Lance

He is good friends with Hwasa of MAMAMOO whom he looks up to for her stage presence and singing

Currently shares a dorm with Seth and Kyle

Stage name: Oliver Real name: Oliver Knight Position: Main dancer, Lead Vocalist, Visual Nationality: British

Born in London

1/2 of English line

Speaks English, Korean, Cantonese and Mandarin fluently. He is currently learning Japanese with Kyle

He was scouted when he was 12 when a video of him dancing went viral

Was a YG trainee

Is an overall well rounded idol, he can sing, dance, and rap

He is actually a very good singer and originally joined to be a main vocalist, however they needed a main dancer and his position was switched

Is pretty active on his Instagram often posting pranks he pulls on the other members

He is often thought to be a fairly quiet person, however he is the most playful, and when people get to know him they say his visuals and personality don't match at all

He likes to collect teas from the places they tour

He is good friends with Kai from EXO and Woozi from SEVENTEEN (Woozi: "... This greedy guy, share your height with me.")

Currently shares a dorm with Blanc

Stage name: G.SPEED Real name: Fenrir Godspeed Position: Main Rapper, Sub Vocalist, Face of the Group Nationality: Korean American

He is the group's mood maker

2/2 of English line

He was born in Los Angeles

He was scouted at the mall

Passed his audition with his vocals, but he ended up really loving rapping

He along with Seth appear the most on talk shows to promote the group

Amongst the group he does the most V-LIVES. Sometimes when he appears with Oliver they both speak English for the international fans. Kyle also sometimes joins them as he is trying to polish his English

His idol is G-Dragon

Has the most energy on stage and is often the one yelling SORI JILLUH!!!! (Make some noise!!!!!)

He was voted as the most ambitious of the group always wanting to do a different stage for the fans

Friends with Bobby from iKon

Currently shares a dorm with Lance, and Jonah

Stage name: Seth (Stylized as SETH✩) Real name: Seth Hyde Position: Lead vocalist, Lead dancer, Visual, Sub Rapper Nationality: Korean

He is the official visual of the group

He skipped school to audition

He did not get along with Oliver when they first met. They get along much better now and fans consider them adoring frenemies. They often get competitive against each other, however if they are on the same team for games they actually get along scarily well for the sake of winning

They once almost had a full blown fist fight when during dance practice Seth had really accidentally extended his leg too far and tripped Oliver

Lance had to intervene to calm the two

Now they often reenact the moment during fansigns for laughs

When asked if he would ever cut his hair, he said “It’s my charm point don’t you think?”

He said he would consider cutting his hair for a comeback, MAYBE

He is friends with a lot girl idols including YooA from Oh My Girl, Miyeon from (G)I-DLE and CHUNG HA

Currently sharing a dorm with Harr and Kyle

Stage name: Kyle Real name: Kyle Ash Position: Main Rapper, Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist Nationality: Korean

Fluent in Korean, Mandarin, and getting very good at English. He is also learning Japanese with Oliver. His reason for learning is actually because he loves anime

He is extremely intelligent, with an IQ of 155

He originally was planning to study to become a doctor after high school 

He auditioned on a dare but he passed

He became friends with Jeonghan of SEVENTEEN during Idol Olympics when he went searching for a quiet place to nap between events, and he found Jeonghan napping in the space he was going to

He is also close friends with Vernon of SEVENTEEN

He is often praised for his rap flow and writing

He is currently learning the guitar in his spare time

He says he is envious of Oliver’s dress sense, “Oliver hyung always dresses so well. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in just a t-shirt.”

He really admires Seth’s fashion sense even if he annoys him, “Ahh it’s annoying... Seth hyung always is on trend.”

Currently shares a dorm with Harr and Seth

Stage Name: Jonah Real name: Jonah Clemence Psoition: Main vocalist, Visual, Maknae Nationality: Taiwanese

His parents originally wouldn't let him audition, but he kept singing late into the night and would annoying them all day until they caved and said he could audition. He ended up being the only one who passed the auditions

He is currently starring in a Korean drama

He is a huge fan of Girls’ Generation Taeyon

He is actually really good at aegyo, but is really shy to do it

Has a younger brother named Luka

Seth told a story of how whenever Jonah would talk about Luka on a talk show Luka would always text him right away saying, “STUPID HYUNG DON'T TALK ABOUT ME!!”

The interviewers laughed, and asked if Luka actually calls his brother stupid and the whole group was like, YES!!

Jonah completely missed the point though and he was just overjoyed that his younger brother watched him on TV

He is the maknae of the group however he hates it and all the other members make fun of him for this especially Seth

He is friends with Jungkook from BTS and Eunwoo from Astro

Currently shares a room with Lance and Fenrir

[loverspersonas]

the most beautiful moment in life | v

pairing: ot7? x reader

genre: hyyh au, high school au, angst, drama, fluff, smut?

length: 6.8k

summary: Eight strangers with different stories happen to meet one day, by fate or some kind of cruel, exquisite happenstance, and realize that they’re not as different as they thought.

a/n: so the story is a little slow paced right now, because i wanted to set the tone and relationship a little with all the characters first before really diving into the hyyh storyline. soon, the entire gang will get together and that's when the friendship and adventure can actually begin. and thank you to everyone who’s reading and liking and looking forward to my writing!

↳series masterlist

It was some time in the early evening during your shift at the Brew when the bill dinged and two familiar faces entered the cafe.

“Y/N!” Sana exclaimed with a smile. Her bright pink hair was pulled into a bun on her head that day. And behind her, Li-on walked in, comparatively less excited than her.

You couldn’t deny you weren’t at least a little glad to see her. Sometimes the cafe wasn’t as busy and that was when you tended to get bored fast. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Why else would we come to a cafe if not to get coffee?” Li-on asked. You looked at him patiently. “Okay, so maybe that’s not the only reason. But in all honesty, I do want coffee. Can I get an iced cappuccino?”

As you started on his order, Sana placed her hands on the counter. Her lips were pulled into a grin. “Guess what I have?” From her bag, she pulled out a small pack of Carpe Noctem’s organic cigarettes. 

Your jaw dropped as you took it from her quickly, hoping your co-worker or any customers hadn’t noticed. “I’m at work! You can’t go waving this around so casually!” When you were certain that no one had heard, you let out a breath and looked at the pack like it was the most prized possession you could hold. “Sana, I love you.”

“Aw, you’re sweet, babe."

Li-on held his hands up. “Woah, guys. Maybe at least get a room first.”

Both of you looked at him at the same time, but it was Sana who said with a laugh, “Li-on’s just uncomfortable around any form of PDA.”

He scowled. “Am not. You know what, Sana—“

“Come on, guys,” you spoke, waving your hand in between them as though they would start a fight. “I’m working. Do this some other time. Preferably when I’m not here.”

While Li-on moved to study the menu on the board, Sana leaned over the counter, pushing her hair back. “Anyway, I was going to ask you. We’re going to Cypher later tonight. Want to join?”

Your eyebrows furrowed as you scribbled Li-on’s name on a plastic cup. “What is that?”

“It’s an underground club. They do a lot of performances, mostly rap and hip-hop. It’s pretty cool."

“I’m sure.” You nodded sarcastically, not wasting a second before saying, “I’ll pass.”

“You didn’t even think about it,” Sana said as she tugged on your arm. “Come on, Y/N. It’ll be fun.”

You shrugged her off of you, not in a rude way. You just weren’t much of a touchy person. “When has a night club sounded like fun? And besides, we’re barely legal.”

She looked at you incredulously. “This coming from the girl who smokes on a pretty much regular basis? Anyway, that’s what fake IDs are for. Besides, you don’t actually have to drink anything. You like music. Why not come for that?”

“I don’t like rap music,” you reminded her, focusing mostly on preparing the drink.

“That’s true,” Li-on said. He moved closer to the two of you again. “Every time I play Drake, you yell at me to turn it down. Also, can I get one of your banana nut muffins?”

With a scoff, Sana turned back to you. “That’s because Drake is overrated. Most of these singers and rappers are the complete opposite of mainstream artists.” She gave a small shrug then. She wasn’t going to fight you about it, but she would’ve liked if you chose to come yourself. “We haven’t gone out together in a while. And it’s good to try new things, right? At least, say you’ll think about it.”

You were still uncertain. Clubs and bars weren’t your scene and most of the places Sana and her friends liked, you ended up leaving early. But the look on Sana’s face made you hesitate. You supposed you hadn’t had a chance to go out with her in some time. It was mostly you unloading your problems, and that made you feel guilty suddenly. “I guess…”

The bell dinged again, a reminder that you were still working and your personal life would have to wait. You motioned for Sana and Li-on to move to the other counter before you gave him his muffin and drink.

“Hi, what can I get for you?” you asked as you returned to the main counter.

“Y/N?”

Only when you looked up, properly registering the two new figures who’d arrived did your mouth open in surprise. “Namjoon… and Taehyung.” The latter stood close behind the former, sending you a small nod of acknowledgement.

“Since when have you been working here?” Namjoon asked, surprised. “I’ve never seen you before.”

“A few months,” you replied. “I only work a few days a week, so… um, what can I get for you?”

“Right,” he said with a nod. His brown hair was covered by a baseball cap, but he wasn’t wearing any glasses today. “I’ll have an iced americano.”

You entered it in the machine, glancing up at the younger boy. “Same thing for you?” 

You wanted to ask what they were both doing there together. As far as you knew, none of you were close and hardly spoke outside of detention. Well, this week proved different, because fate seemed to be conspiring for the eight of you to cross paths again. It wasn’t that you minded it; in fact, a part of you believed it even before now. 

Taehyung shook his head, his hair almost falling into his eyes. His hands were idly playing with the skateboard he’d brought with him. “I don’t like coffee.”

“Okay. How about a frappe then?”

“You don’t have to—“

“It’s no problem,” you interrupted, already writing their names on plastic cups. “Besides, you can’t come to the Brew and not get a handcrafted drink made by yours truly.”

His mouth quirked into a slight smile as Namjoon chuckled and said, “Handcrafted? Really?”

You raised your hands to show him. “These are the hands of an espresso goddess.” In reality, you’d never actually made an espresso until a few months ago, but he didn’t need to know that.

He handed you some bills. “I bet.”

“It’ll be a few minutes.”

After they walked over to wait by the serving counter, you started the espresso machine. That was when Sana and Li-on came up to you again. 

“The hell?” Sana’s voice made you briefly shift your attention to the pair. Her eyebrows were raised high on her forehead, expression one of disbelief before looking at the boy with her. “Did you see that?”

Li-on nodded like he was in shock. “I did.”

“Y/N,” she said as though forcing herself to be calm. “That’s Kim Namjoon and—why did Kim Taehyung just talk to you like he knows you? And did you talk to him like you know him?”

Your eyebrows furrowed and you would’ve sent her a strange look if you weren’t so preoccupied with filling a cup with ice. “Um, yes? What’s the big deal?”

Sana’s eyes widened. Her voice dropped to a whisper-yell, but in the way she was actively moving her hands, you could tell she was trying to hold back from exclaiming. “The big deal? How do you know him? How does he know you?”

“We’ve talked a few times. Why is that so shocking?”

“Because he’s him!” she exclaimed—this wasn’t too shocking since it was really only a matter of time— and raised a hand to point in the direction of the mentioned boy and then gesturing to you. Thankfully, the two boys were too busy with their own conversation and gazing around at the decor to notice. “And you’re you!”

You waited a second, trying to grasp what that was supposed to mean. “Am I supposed to be offended right now?”

“He’s like that kid from the other side of the tracks,” Li-on explained. “So is Namjoon, in a way; he has a better reputation with the school and teachers though which kind of separates them. For Taehyung, everyone knows of him, but not in that privileged, arrogant or pretentious popular kid sense. More like the kid you’d rather not get involved with. Basically, people like him and people like you don’t mix.”

“People like me?” you echoed. That pretentious and privileged category was supposed to be what you were; that was what everyone thought of you. But now, you weren’t even that, and still, you were being cast in that light. All of a sudden, your mind was filling with this anxiety and these thoughts that people were never going to stop judging you. That that was all you were ever going to be.

“Li-on, when are you going to learn to shut up?” Sana snapped under her breath.

Pushing back the loose strands of hair that had come undone from your ponytail, you sighed. “Look, I’m busy. You should go.”

Sana opened her mouth but then closed it right away, studying your expression. Her features softened. “Let me know if you decided to come, okay?”

You didn’t say anything, waiting until they were both gone before finishing the drinks. You slid them across the counter, not noticing when Namjoon and Taehyung walked towards you.

“You okay?” Namjoon asked after a moment. “What was that all about?”

“Nothing,” you answered. You didn’t want to think too much about it or you’d only feel more anxious. You didn’t want to seem so bothered by it, but you didn’t realize that the boy in front of you could tell. “So, how did you guys end up coming here together?”

They exchanged quick glances, a little surprised by the abrupt question. Good, you thought. Take the attention away from you. “We ran into each other earlier,” Namjoon said. “Decided to get a drink.”

“I’ve seen you with those guys before,” Taehyung finally spoke. “They your friends? It’s kind of weird how all your friends only seem to upset you.”

How could he be so quiet for a minute and then go on to be so crude? you thought as you narrowed your eyes at him. And to use that incident in the storage room against you? “You don’t know anything about me.”

He didn’t appear to be taken aback by the sharp remark, but eventually nodded in a way that told you that he knew you were right. “Right. Leave you to it then.”

He turned to leave and your eyes flicked past Namjoon. His expression made you start to think that maybe you’d come across more rude than needed. “Taehyung, wait,” you blurted, after sighing. “I—didn’t mean it like that.”

He looked at you and shrugged. “Doesn’t matter if you did.” It was almost frustrating how he could act so unbothered. You wished you could do the same.

“Do you guys think about it?” you decided to ask. “How we all ending up at Han River. How we met in detention and found that writing…”

“Honestly…” Namjoon started. His mouth pressed into a line as he thought about it. “Yeah. Every time I see or talk to one of you guys, I think about it.”

The relief that swept over you made you realize that you were glad to hear that. You thought it couldn’t have just been you. It was starting to mean something how you kept running into these boys all of a sudden— and now you knew that they were running into each other too— after years of going to the same school without so much as a hello.

“Y/N.” You looked behind the boys to see Sana walking back into the cafe. “Look, Li-on says dumb things all the time. In fact, even when he’s not drunk or high, he’s going on about… oh.”

Her gaze finally fell on the two you were previously conversing with and she stopped awkwardly. It was either what she’d just started to say or the fact that she’d been talking to you about the said boys earlier that made her stop.

When Sana and the boys only once sent each other awkward and uncertain glances, you decided to try and alleviate some of the awkwardness. “Namjoon, you know Sana already. Taehyung, this is my friend, Sana. Sana, this is—“

“I know who he is,” she cut you off, taking a step in his direction. Despite her shorter height and bright pink hair, the fire in her eyes seemed to make Taehyung a little nervous. He didn’t move back, but his posture straightened. This wasn’t so surprising to you, knowing how many people she could intimidate if she tried. “Y/N is my friend and she’s free to talk to whoever she wants. But I’ve heard the kinds of things you like to do in your free time, and if I hear she ends up getting dragged into any of it, I’m going to take that fucking skateboard and shove it so far up your—“

“Sana!” you exclaimed, mouth opening in shock. You shot the boys an apologetic smile. “She’s joking. She gets like this sometimes. It’s the caffeine.” With a sharp look and a jerk of your head to the side. “Sana, do you want to wait over there for a second?”

She tore her glaring eyes away from Taehyung to look at you, before begrudging saying, “Fine.”

You released a sigh. “Sorry about that. I don’t know where that came from.”

“A little scary, I’ll admit,” Taehyung said, clearing his throat. Some part of it seemed to have amused him a little too. “But sounds like she’s looking out for you.”

“It’s good to see you guys are close,” Namjoon added. “Maybe this year, everything won’t be so fast paced. When you’re with people you actually like, fun things are actually fun.”

Taehyung nodded. “That’s a good change from people like Yuna, you know.”

Your mouth opened slightly, either from surprise or because you were going to say something. But what?

“I don’t think you’re arrogant or pretentious, for the record,” Namjoon said, making you look up in surprise. So, they’d heard everything. “I think you need to stop viewing yourself that way before you expect everyone else to do the same, you know?"

They took their drinks after a couple parting words, already starting to leave. But you couldn’t just let them without saying something else. Not after the things they just said, the fact that they remembered your conversations, the little things you mentioned. Even your own old friends didn’t do that. Just the fact that it seemed like they cared even a little bit.

“Hey, wait,” you said, suddenly unsure as soon as they looked at you again. “I don’t think you guys are ‘from the wrong side of the tracks.’ And we’re not complete strangers anymore, you know? Any of us. If you want to talk or just hang out…”

“Funny,” Taehyung said, something like a smile curving on his lips as he glanced to the taller boy beside him. “I think you said something like that too.”

“I think this was a mistake.” With one arm folded around you as though you were trying to comfort yourself, you glanced around the area uneasily. “This isn’t really my thing.”

“Maybe not,” Sana said. “But the point is to try something new. Who knows? You might end up liking it.” She tapped your arm, making your gaze turn to her. “And hey, don’t think too much about what Li-on said earlier. He’s an idiot. Certified and all.”

“It’s not that, it’s just—“ You bit your lip, thinking of all the kinds of people around you, very different from all the friends you’d ever had. Why did you agree to come again? “I feel kind of out of place. I think everyone can kind of sense it too.”

Sana looked at you, speaking calmly. “Y/N, there’s no sign on you that says former cheerleader, competitive swimmer and princess of Sky Academy. No offence,” she added with the sharp way you looked at her. “No one actually knows who you are. That’s why people like it here. You can be whatever you want. So, just… loosen up a little.” She placed her hands on your shoulders, having to tilt her head up slightly because of the extra inches you gained from your shoes. “If you’re standing out in any way, it’s probably your uneasy vibe. And maybe the outfit.”

You frowned. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”

“Nothing,” she answered quickly, before briefly eyeing your black thigh-high boots, miniskirt and velvet blue blouse. “It’s just a little… too nice for a place like this. But that’s okay. You’re a nice girl.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means don’t take any drinks or pills from strangers,” she said while nodding. “And if you need me, I’m a text away.”

You let out a half scoff, half chuckle. It was almost rich for her to tell you to watch out for things like that, when you were pretty sure you were the more level-headed one. “Yeah, well, same goes for you. If anyone has to watch what they drink—“

She groaned, covering her face with her hands. “That was one time. Okay, a few times. Will you ever let it go?”

You gave this a considerative hum. “Probably not.”

With one last mild glare and a pat on the shoulder, Sana was off, either to join the several people on the dance floor or to find any of the people she knew here. 

As you looked around the club, you knew that no one you knew could possibly be at a place like this. You didn’t mean it in a demeaning way. The underground rap scene had its charms for sure. It was sort of an anonymous setting, as though people outside who didn’t come here didn’t know who you were. It was a place for people looking to drink and dance and listen to a more raw, dirty kind of music. Everyone there felt like they were meant to be there. Except for you.

The bar was where you decided to go. It was located more to the side, so hopefully people would stop shooting glances at you whenever they walked by. Maybe Sana was wrong. Maybe somehow they knew about the kind of person you were and the things you’d done. Maybe they didn’t want you there.

“You’re new here.”

You turned your head to see the man now occupying the bar stool next to you. Your eyes subtly shifted toward the sleeve of tattoos on his arm and the half empty drink in front of him. You couldn’t give off any impression that this place and the people were intimidating to you. That would only set you apart more. “Why do you say that?”

“I know most of the crowd that comes here, but you…” His eyes followed your face and all the way down your body, studying yet appraising. “You’re definitely a new face.”

Your eyebrows lifted, deciding to turn your face away from him. “Um, okay?”

“How about a drink then?”

Sana’s voice rang in your ears again and your own common sense activating. “I’m fine, thanks.”

He leaned forward a little. “You sure? You look like you could use one.” When you didn’t say anything, he laughed. “Wait, don’t tell me. You don’t drink. How old are you anyway?”

A twinge of irritation passed through you. Did he really not understand ‘no’ when it was clearly right in front of him? And to resort to belittling you instead? “Even if I didn’t drink, there’s nothing wrong with that. And frankly, your persistence is starting to get on my nerves.”

He was still staring at you when he said, “You’re cute.”

Rolling your eyes was something you couldn’t stop yourself from doing at this point. “And you’re annoying. I think we established that already.”

“What’s your name?”

You raised a brow, only then turning to him again, wondering why he didn’t get the hint. You severely hoped he didn’t mistake your insults as a way of flirting. “And why does that concern you?”

He smirked. “How else will I call you?”

“She won’t.”

Your eyes snapped towards the new voice, jaw nearly dropping when you saw a familiar figure standing beside you, his gaze like ice towards the man in front of you. “Yoongi?” 

He didn’t tear his gaze away from the stranger, but directed his words at you. “Lets go.”

The man with the tattoos gave a low chuckle, something similarly cold in his voice. “Relax, man. We were just talking.”

“Well, now you’re done talking,” Yoongi said with a finality in his voice, leaving no room for arguing. “And we’re leaving.”

You’d never heard him speak so commandingly before, and you could see now why some people might find him intimidating. After you followed him to the other side of the club, he turned around to look at you, incredulous and maybe even a little angry. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Funny,” you said. “I was just about to ask you the same thing.” He could act as intimidating as he wanted, but you wouldn’t forget the quiet, aloof boy who went to the same school as you, who, along with six others, you’d felt a sense of familiarity with. You took a moment to assess him, out of the academy’s uniform, now in ripped jeans and leather like everyone else around you. He blended in with all these people. Maybe they were his people.

He rolled his eyes, not in the mood for witty or sarcastic banter. “What were you doing, talking to that guy?”

You had to admit you were a bit taken aback by the hostile undertones you caught. “I don’t know. I don’t even know him. What’s wrong with you?”

Why he seemed somewhat irritated by your lack of awareness, you weren’t so sure about. “Look, um, I don’t know how to say this without potentially sounding like an ass. This isn’t a place for you.”

“Wow, thanks,” you said dryly. It was easy to act like his comment didn’t affect you, but of course it did when that was all you’d been thinking since you’d got here. “I’m not edgy enough to be here, is that it?”

He shot you a puzzled look. “No, I just mean… there are some weird people here, okay? Sometimes even dangerous. Like that guy you were just with. Do you really think he just wanted to talk?”

Was he really presuming what you thought he was? You crossed your arms in kind of a defensive manner. “What, you don’t think I can take care of myself?”

“That’s not what I meant,” he said, edging on frustration because of your constant retorts and dismissals to answering his questions. “It’s not you I’m worried about, it’s other people.”

“Why are you worried?” you asked, both confused and disbelieving. It was starting to feel like he was singling you out or putting you down, and now what? He was looking out for you? You couldn’t believe that when he’d already expressed how he felt about you and the rest of the detention squad. “I thought you didn’t care. I thought there was no such thing as fate.”

There was a minute of him just processing your words, dark eyes shifting with whatever thought appeared and disappeared. Finally, he scoffed. “Of course I don’t.”

This didn’t surprise you or hurt you, but maybe somewhere deeper, it was a little disappointing. You shrugged. “So, then why are you here?”

“I…” He looked like he wasn’t sure if he even wanted to speak. “Like music.”

Your eyebrows lifted from surprise. “You do?”

He gave a tentative shrug, maybe even a little nervous. “I’ve been playing since I was a kid. I just like coming to watch.” He looked directly at you, fleetingly analyzing you. “You’ve clearly never been to a show.”

You raised your arms in disbelief. “Seriously? Is my outfit really that bad?”

“What?”

You studied his face for a moment, coming to the conclusion that he really had no clue what you were talking about. “Nothing.”

“I didn’t mean you look bad, just that you seem… out of place.”

I feel like it too, was what you wanted to say. If he could sense it too, who was to say other people couldn’t? You knew you were making a big deal out of something small, but the last thing you wanted to do was stand out. As the princess of the academy—that was what everyone called you, at least—at some point, it had been normal to be put under the spotlight, to be seen. But the last time all the attention had been on you, well, lets just say, it was the same time you lost that title.

“Look, I have to go.”

You looked at Yoongi when he’d spoken again, suddenly starting to feel anxious at the prospect of being left alone in this place. “Go?”

“Yeah, it’s just for a bit,” he reassured you. Despite saying that he didn’t care, he seemed to understand your nervousness as your eyes darted around you. “Don’t talk to any strangers and don’t do anything stupid.”

You scoffed at that. What was he, your father? There was no time for another snarky comment on your part because he’d already disappeared, leaving you amidst the crowd and the flashing lights.

“I leave you alone for not even half an hour and you’ve already managed to do something stupid.”

“Smoking is not stupid,” you replied, unbothered and without looking at the boy as he came to stand with you where you’d found a quiet spot outside the club. Anyone else, and you would’ve been alarmed. But you had a guess to whose voice it was. Or maybe the nicotine was getting to your head. “It’s not good, but it’s not stupid. In fact, it’s quite an effective way to relieve stress.”

“Yeah, and very effective for developing cancer,” Yoongi retorted. From his peripheral vision, he looked over you. “I never thought I’d see the princess of Sky, smoking at an underground rap club.”

You sent a grin his way, blowing out a ring of smoke that disappeared as it reached him. “I’m just full of surprises today.”

While he seemed unbothered by the smoke, there was a hint of amusement across his face as he watched you. “That, you are. Toss me one.”

You passed him the box from your bag. It was your favourite brand, Carpe Noctem, that had been introduced to you by one of Sana’s friends. “I thought you were too smart for cigarettes.”

“Organic?” He turned the box around to show you the front of it, his expression half amused, half incredulous. “Really?”

“What? I have taste.”

He snorted at that, tossing the pack back to you. “Sure you do.”

You watched from the corner of your eye as he lit his cigarette. “Where’d you go anyway? You missed the last performance.”

“I had something to take care of.” He didn’t really leave much room for you to further question it, despite how vague he was being. He took a drag from the cigarette. “So, you stayed for that. How was it?”

You had to take a minute to gather your thoughts. “I was… surprised, to be honest. I wasn’t expecting anything like that when I got here.”

“How so?”

“Most rappers rap about drugs and sex and partying,” you explained. “Superficial things. But this one… he wrote about how life can get hard and scary all of a sudden. Like we can grow up so fast without even realizing it. That things are going to get hard and you’ll want to give up, but you just have to push through even harder.”

“You sound like you can relate.”

You shrugged, eyebrows furrowed in a thoughtful manner. A part of you definitely knew the reason why you were openly spouting out all this was because of the slight buzz from the cigarette. But either way, you wanted to keep going. “I think everyone can relate. We all have these thoughts, we’re just too scared to say them out loud. I think it was brave of him to write about it.” 

More brave than you had ever been, at least. Maybe if you’d been able to voice your thoughts and feelings, you wouldn’t have lost everything that wasn’t yours anymore.

Yoongi’s voice broke through your thoughts. “I didn’t think you liked rap music.”

“Yeah, I mean, I guess I’ve never thought of myself as a rap kind of girl. But I think this guy could possibly change my mind.” You rolled the cigarette between your fingers, a grin playing at your mouth. “Maybe I should ask for an autograph. Shit, I don’t think I even know his name.”

“Agust D.” He noticed your quizzical glance. “He comes here often, so I’m familiar with him.”

“Have you ever met him?”

“Not really,” he answered with a shrug. He put out the cigarette. “The performers like to stay under their stage names. They don’t really socialize still in costume, you know.”

“Makes sense.” As your phone buzzed in your pocket, you got rid of the cigarette and reached for it. Once you read the text, you couldn’t stop yourself from sighing in annoyance.

“Something wrong?” Yoongi asked, when you didn’t say anything for a while.

“No.” You let the screen go black, your mother’s name disappearing with it. “Just my mom, asking why I’m not home yet.”

He grinned, lopsided. “So, the princess has a curfew after all.”

You rolled your eyes, lighthearted but still annoyed. “Just when I was beginning to think you were actually slightly tolerable.” With a glance at the night sky above you and another at the time, you realized that maybe it was a good time to get back home anyway. You could feel most of your energy draining too. Or maybe that was from smoking. “It’s late. I should get going.”

As you pulled out your phone to text Sana, Yoongi asked, “Are you waiting for your friend?”

“No, I don’t want to make her leave early because of me.”

“I’ll help you get a cab.”

Your eyes shot towards him in surprise. “You don’t have to—“

“Hey.” It was that tone again. It wasn’t demanding or rude, but calm and finalizing. “It’s fine. You look like you’ve had a lot to smoke anyway. Come on.”

You avoided eye contact as he motioned for you to walk first. Sure, it was a nice gesture, but you were ready to say it wasn’t necessary. Maybe you were overthinking it. Not everyone had ulterior motives. Sometimes people could do good things just because they were inherently good. The question was: was this boy, who you knew but didn’t know at the same time, doing this to be kind or was there something else to it?

“Let me know when you reach your place,” Yoongi told you as he opened the taxi’s door.

You started to nod but realized something. “I don’t have your number.” You raised a finger before he could say anything sarcastic. “And don’t say something stupid like this is my way of getting your number, because I assure you, that’s the least plausible case.”

When he rolled his eyes, it was playful and amused. “Whatever you say, princess.”

You shot him a pointed look as he entered his contact on your phone. “I’m beginning to think you don’t actually remember my name.”

“Just get in the car.”

“All right, all right.” He closed the door once you were in, and you looked up at him momentarily through the open window. Why was this so weird all of a sudden? “Um, thanks.”

He nodded, his version of ‘you’re welcome’. By the way, he was avoiding direct eye contact too, you thought that maybe it wasn’t just you who felt weird. “Get home safe.”

As the taxi began to drive away from Cypher, you didn’t look as his figure grew smaller in the side mirror.

As you walked towards your apartment building, your were coming up with what you would say to your mother. A late night study session at Sana’s house sounded believable. But then how would you explain the smell of smoke on your clothes? You slowed your step when you saw a figure sitting on the porch steps in front of the building’s entrance.

“Jungkook?” Your guess was confirmed when the boy’s head jerked up at the sound of your voice. “What are you doing here?”

He looked at you as you moved towards him, as though only then seeing you and realizing what he was doing. He got to his feet. “I’m sorry. This was stupid. I’ll just go.”

“Wait,” you said quickly, holding a hand out to stop him. He glanced at where you’d grabbed him by his arm and you awkwardly let go. “You’re here now, so you might as well… stay a little longer.”

He turned around fully to face you, staring the floor for the most part. He looked like he’d thrown on a hoodie and just left the house by the way his hair was a bit disheveled. You only then realized that despite your first impressions of him and him being a little younger than you, he was taller you. “I just—I couldn’t stay there,” he spoke finally.

“Your home?” you asked, frowning.

“No,” he said right away, a darkness covering his eyes. “That’s not my home.”

You decided not to pry anymore for now. It was like seeing a different person suddenly, one that wasn’t just quiet or closed off but had so many more shades you never thought of. “Have you eaten yet? There’s a ramen place a few blocks away.”

You led the way when he didn’t refuse the offer and ended up sitting at a table at the restaurant near the windows. The waitress recognized you and took your orders right away, even bringing the food to you in a surprisingly short time with free drinks. While you ate, you couldn’t help but steal glances at Jungkook. He was pretty concentrated in his food in a way that made you think he didn’t get to enjoy meals like this often. Was his home life really as it bad as it seemed? 

“You didn’t have to pay for me.” Jungkook’s voice broke your trance. You’d just left the restaurant and were walking down the sidewalk leading away from the bustling town centre.

“Well, I wasn’t going to let you.” You raised a hand to count on your fingers as you continued talking. “Firstly, this isn’t a date. And the guy doesn’t always have to pay. And second, I refuse to play into society’s gender conforming roles.”

He laughed quietly. “Thank you, Y/N.”

The tenderness in his voice warmed your chest, and made you look away. “It’s just ramen.” There was also no need to mention that this was coming out of your pay check.

He shook his head. “Not just for this. You stopped me from doing something so stupid, and you’ve tried reaching out to me after, and I…I was being an asshole. I’m sorry.”

You hummed lightly. “Asshole is kind of strong.” You didn’t like the tension in his shoulders so nudged him playfully as you walked. “But apology accepted.”

“So, where did you come from?” Jungkook asked after some moments of silence. “Why are you dressed like that?”

You groaned for what seemed like the hundredth time tonight, wishing you had a coat or jacket to cover up. “Ugh, all right. You hate my outfit. I get it.”

His eyes widened like he believed he genuinely offended you. “What? No. You look pretty—I—I mean, nice. You look nice.”

You thought it was cute how he fumbled for the words, closing his eyes at the end like that could hide him from his embarrassment. Not wanting to only add to that, you decided not to comment on it. “Then you’re the first person all night to think so.”

“I don’t believe that.”

Stopping in front and turning to look at him, you sent him a big grin. “You know what, Jungkook? I think we should hang out more. I think having you around will be good for my self esteem.”

The shy introvert in him seemed to disappear when he snorted in amusement. “Are you sure? I think your ego is growing.”

“No, that’s my self esteem.”

“Nope, definitely not.” He blinked, shaking his head. “Sorry, that was too forward—“

You raised a hand in his direction to stop him. “Hey, you don’t have to be so careful around me. I can take a joke. Are you this serious with everyone?”

He thought about it for a moment before shrugging. “I guess so. I just don’t want to say the wrong thing, you know?”

You did know. Before this year, it was like you’d been walking on eggshells around your old friends, especially Yuna. You didn’t want to start any conflict or be thought of as anything less for not saying or doing the right things. But only now did you realize how exhausting living like that had been.

“That’s very dichotomous, don’t you think?” you spoke finally. “Like there’s only one right thing and one wrong thing. But there are a lot. Not just right or wrong, but shades in between and so many more. I think you were doing well a few minutes ago. When you weren’t thinking too much.”

“There aren’t a lot of people in my life I think I can be that… comfortable around,” he admitted with some reluctance, but you admired his courage for saying it anyway.

You nodded. “I get it. I’m a little introverted myself.”

His eyes found yours, full of disbelief. “You? Introverted? But you get along with people so well. Everyone loves you.”

The reflexive flinch was something you had to hide as Yuna’s words came back to you. She’d meant it in a bitter, patronizing way, but the boy in front of you seemed to really believe it. “I did what I had to do to get by. Anyway, people don’t actually know me, so they don’t technically like me. They just like what they think I’m like, what they expect me to be.”

Jungkook bit his lip, looking down at his feet for a moment. “Does that ever bother you? When people have these expectations from you?”

“Yeah, it used to.” You frowned when you noticed him. “Why? Are there people who’re expecting a lot from you?”

He sighed. He was somewhat more comfortable talking openly to you, probably because you’d shared something about yourself first. Something that wasn’t common knowledge or an easy thing to say. Something personal. “Just my mom… my stepfamily. It feels like they want me to be this poster child, good at school and quiet and submissive. Does as he’s told, doesn’t cause any trouble.”

“Is that what you meant before?” you decided to ask after thinking through it first. “That they wouldn’t notice if you disappeared?”

A sheepish, embarrassed smile crossed his face as he averted his gaze again. There wasn’t a lot of wind and it wasn’t very chilly, but a light pink colour appeared on his cheeks. “Ah, sorry. That was stupid.” He spoke after some seconds. “Sometimes I feel like an object there. Like I don’t have a voice. And if I screw up… they can easily replace me.”

You stared at him sadly, hating that someone so young, someone your own age, had to feel like their existence was meaningless. Maybe you felt more deeply about it because it struck a chord with you. “You’re a person, Jungkook. I’m sorry they don’t treat you like one.”

He shrugged, but it was like his shoulders felt heavy and carrying this burden was hard for him. “It’s been like this for a while. I thought I’d have gotten used to it, but some days, I’m just tired, you know?”

“I know,” you said quietly. “Tell you what. Give me your phone.” He seemed reluctant at first but complied. You added your number as a contact. “If you ever feel tired of anything, don’t do anything rash, okay? Just call or text. Tell me how you’re feeling. Rant, shout, let me take you out for ramen again, do whatever you have to, but…”

“I will,” he promised, taking his phone back. There was a small smile playing on his lips, a little shy and a little grateful. “Call, that is. Not do anything stupid. I’m sorry about that again. I must’ve really freaked you out.”

“Scared me a little, for sure. Maybe a lot.” You gave a small chuckle. “I’ve done my fair share of stupid things though. But at least, now we don’t have to do stupid things by ourselves.”

These past few days, in your interactions with these boys you’d met in detention, felt like a different you, one who was starting to feel okay with opening up again. A year ago, you wouldn’t have shared personal things with your friends so easily, mostly because you were used to internalizing your emotions. You had to when the picture of you that was painted for the entire school was composed and pretty and likeable. Your true feelings wouldn’t have fit with those words. 

You’d never been that kind to people either. Being in the middle of the group you’d associated with, none of you looked to make friends with anyone outside your social circle. And to the people on the outside, you were all unapproachable. So you never got to speak with other people at the academy often. You wanted to think that this was a good change. That maybe it was okay to help people and to be kind to them, and to let them do the same for you. You knew that you would’ve liked that for yourself a few months ago.

part iv // part vi 

[kihaku-gato]

Among Us Fansong gushings

(Putting down the timestamp of Sept. 26th, as I’m sure more good fansongs/animations for the game will come up after this)

“auuugh you’re deep in this too-“ yes yes, here you go, under readmore cause this is turning into a bigger happy ramble than I anticipated (mainly cause I’m eating my words when I gonna say “there are surprisingly few fansongs for Among Us yet”), and #Among Us tag so you can have it filtered out of your feed ANYYYYWAYs

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I gotta say before we start that I LOVE the ryhyming in most of these fansngs. 10/10 love.

Emergency Meeting by Random Encounters

- The live-action for it was unexpected as I’m used to most video game fansongs being 2d or 3d animated and/or showing gameplay footage. They put a good amount of effort into this and it shows.

- The dramatical music that sounds both comedic, dramatic, and villainous (despise the context being that it’s the non-imposters singing it)

- The screaming for every poor person struggling to escape before they are thrown out of the spaceship as everyone else sings

- The classic silly sound effects when throwing stuff etc. around at some points

- The crew members being VERY physically animated/expressive with their bodies, really reminiscent of oldschool Power Rangers when they’re talking in their suits

- How it escalates more and more and more and more crewmembers get thrown out of the ship till it’s two facing off each other being both suspicious that they are the imposter

- The fact that after all of the crew is either in space or dead, that it’s revealed that the first dead person who set this in motion was actually alive all along; just was in a food coma and just wakes up to find everyone missing or dead. That is some (dark?) humor right there.

Imposter Imperceptible by NerdOut!

- A LOT of different voices (mainly cause several other really good videogame rappers/singers are in this video are involved in this one) which really expands its vocal variety from the usual, and makes it really feel like the different crewmembers are different; cause they are being voiced by different peeps

- wordgame sharp and quick as expected from them. I really hope some Rap-rating youtubers get on reacting/analyzing this video cause I’d love to hear the lyrics broken down.

- starting with one of the Imposters for the rap and has that dizzying nature of wordgame that intentionally confuses you even though clearly they are the Imposter as they vehemently deny that they are the Imposter

- huge awknowledgement of the gameplay mechanics and even terminologies/accusations that are frequently used by players (”sus” is used multiple times between crewmembers arguing between each other). Despite being animation it stays fairly faithful to the source material. Multiple watches and I’m discovering more and more details that are big nods to the actual gameplay.

- While the Imposters do win in this fansong animation, one Imposter is definitely discovered and booted out of the spaceship

Show Yourself by CG5

- while it keeps faithful to the videogame character models (save for the glass of the helmet being translated as a large singular eyeball- but the previous fansong animation did the same thing so that doesn’t count) this animation makes some liberties in several points that add much comedic affect (ex- the chorus of “I don’t want to be carried away in a Hearse” show him riding on top of a Space Hearse rocketship)

- The fact that the singer bobs to the beat of the song pretty much the entire time. really adds bounce to the entire thing.

- the singer themselves checks off both as the Paranoid one as well as the actual Imposter, and it goes for great comedic affect as well as tragic affect. Those who are not familiar with the game could be easily tricked into thinking that he’s not the Imposter due to not spotting the small signs peppered in the animation (ex- jumping through vents, and more symbolically dressing up like an actor while they say “The actor’s playing the part”, and the mirror of themsevles showing a reflection of themselves holding a knife)

- following the above point, being that he never kills in any alien/monster sort of way, it can be headcanoned that the singer is actually a regular crewmember that became the Imposter due to paranoia that may kick in while living out in space. The fact he keeps pointing at people they kill and accusing THEM as the Imposter really feeds to that tradegy headcanon

- How dramatically lit/shaded the scenes are where crewmembers are being killed or are dead, it really adds a sharpness despite the song being rather upbeat

- The fact the singer disturbs many of the crewmembers during the animation while accusing them of being the Imposter; disturbing them while they are on the toilet or sleeping or videogaming much to their frustration. It’s quite funny

- The Imposter/singer does NOT win in the animation, and it ends with them being kicked out after killing several people and there’s the nod “CG5 was the Imposter“ like you would normally see in the game

[mellowmoonballoon]

P2 of the Primer - Minho!

Fandom primer for fandom feels.

So, Minho, dance leader!

Minho (Lee Know, Lino...) is the Stray Kids’ Marilla Cuthbert. Very controlled with showing his feelings. Wants to feed everyone. Hard working and practical. Dresses like an old woman who is constantly freezing.

His lack of desire to embarrass himself on screen is very relatable to all anxious perfectionist introverts. He often gets confused for shy or cold because of this, when he will just not do silly things in front of the camera if he’s not sure of the result. His terrible art? He knows it’s terrible and that’s acceptable. His amazing dancing? He knows it’s amazing and that’s acceptable. Things he’s not sure about which include being vulnerable in front of strangers? NOT ACCEPTABLE. I respect that. So this “primer” will not perpetuate any “mean-ho” ideas thank you bye. (Felix calls him tsundere so if you see me use it, it’s not my fault.)

Anyway Minho is a dancer. That was his job before he joined SKZ (he toured with bts etc) and it was his primary role in SKZ for a while. When he first joined he wasn’t a good singer or rapper, but he would have been ok if he wasn’t constantly shaking because he was convinced he’d get kicked out. Which is valid because he did get kicked out.

oh also - I will treat his and Felix’s story as if the elimination wasn’t a setup just because whatever else was going on, they thought it was real.

His singing voice wasn’t great so he was asked to rap instead. He had never done it but said he’d be willing to try. They were given... what? No time? To prepare for that change and famously, Changbin rapped backup for him and Han held his hand and timed the beat with it.

so i cried, and then he did get eliminated because he messed up the lyrics next time so i cried more and then he sent a final message and i FUCKING BAWLED.

To Han: “The time I failed, was it because you weren’t holding my hand?”

Changbin helped him a lot during practice for the second song and they both felt so bad for different reasons. Minho kept saying he was sorry that someone younger than him had to be helping him and that he was failing despite it. “If I had slept one hour less, would I have been able to do it better?” and Changbin with “What did I do for him, that I couldn’t teach him better?” Anyway this show was torture but I’m gonna go back to the good stuff now.

Minho got to come back and they were a band happily ever after. Before the elimination tho he helped the other members with their dance routines. So, shit i learned about kpop peripherally: most bands are made by formula like “2 members rap, 2 members dance, 2 members sing” or something like that. Minho could dance and Changbin could rap and Seungmin could sing and the goal is rarely to get everyone to be great at everything. And Minho was like “nah.” And he made it his goal to make everyone as good a dancer as possible. So while others were helping him with singing and rapping, he was helping them with dancing.

For me a very important scene in the show was when Bang Chan kinda lost it at IN’s lack of ability to dance and he had everyone stand aside and kept telling IN to try again and Minho gave Bang Chan side-eye and went over to IN to teach him how to do it better.

baby bread’s defeated baby face :(

and Minho’s face just saying “you’re not helping” as he walked over in clear defiance of any hierarchy.

So Minho’s whole approach to the group was “I will help everyone be better at dancing”. According to Chan he picked Minho with the idea that Minho would be in charge of dancing. Which is a big fucking deal. For Bang Chan personally and band as a whole.

Changbin asking this question, who else. Chan was like “that phrasing doe?” But eventually:

(Changbin is listening but also not giving a shit, he’s just waiting for Chan to be done so he can ask what his role is and be told he’s the visual, Minho feeds him so fucking well.)

In group dances Minho tends to not stick out. In fact, Minho would really like it if no one stuck out. His goal is to have them all as synchronized as possible and he’s really good at it.

His solos fucking murder us every time tho :(

m... where was i.

Oh yeah. He’s very good at his job. He has also gotten SO MUCH better at singing. I don’t think he gets enough credit for how fucking hard he must have worked on that on top of everything else they do. I know the color of his voice doesn’t pop out like Seungmin or IN’s, but he can hold his own now. (His parts in Slump and Neverending story for example. Slump in particular because apparently Han wrote that whole ass song to fit HIS high notes and everyone just went “I guess” and then Han said “but I’ll only rap in it”.)

But enough about how much I respect him as an artist. Let’s talk about how if he is your favorite in the band, there’s a 99% chance your kink is being spit on followed by a good aftercare. Look I don’t make the rules. Just accept it like Hyunjin has.

Did he tickle him after that? Who knows. Not Hyunjin.

but he feeds him well so it’s all good.

In fact, other than making everyone dance well, Minho’s second mission in life is to make sure everyone is well fed. (He is definitely that grandmother who will tell you you’ve gained weight and then get upset when you don’t eat everything she made for you.)

Life is too short for a full compilation of Minho feeding people so here’s a little vid and a few pics.

How is this post still fucking going? How do I have so many thoughts on this one man wtf? Anyway just a quick note about his ex husband.

Back in the olden days Minho made lunch and wrote a lovely thank you letter to Seungmin and things were great. Now they jokingly call each other the divorced couple and even though they are roommates they both claim they can’t be roommates. I have a theory that could be way off but I will type it up here anyway. My theory hearkens back to the first paragraph which is that Minho doesn’t like doing things in front of the camera when he’s not sure how it’s gonna end up. And I think Seungmin for his own reasons isn’t very expressive either. And maybe sometimes on camera he didn’t react like Minho needed him to. And it ended in Minho adjusting his on camera attitude. Again, I could be way off, but the way I see it, there is safety in teasing. The same way he’ll show off his giraffe picture and be like “isn’t it beautiful” when he clearly has functional eyes, he can show his friendship with Seungmin and say “lol isn’t it horrible” and he gets the expected feedback and it’s fine. It’s better than being seen as overly needy or reaching out and not getting what you want. And tbh I think he and Seungmin pingpong this at each other and this is why every tsundere needs a Felix or Han to hug them despite the shit that’s coming out of their mouth.

But Seungmin can still recognize him by his tiddies so clearly they’re fine off camera.

As far as fan stuff goes, Minho has a regular live where he eats delicious food and talks to fans. Sometimes fans are really shitty and he plays it off but he is human and y’all need to get your shit together. But since all his fans are subs it all works out in the end. (Go on, tell me he’s your bias and you’re not a sub, I won’t believe you.)

I’m going to end this now and sneak edit when I remember other shit like I just did with BC.

Oh PS: I am not getting into Minho and Han now. Maybe ... MAYBE by the time I’m on Jisung’s profile I’ll be emotionally ready for that.

Wait did I do a whole fucking primer on Minho without mentioning his cats? Shit I’m gonna get arrested. He has 3 cats, adopted or found. He also does a shitload of charity stuff, a lot of it animal related. Ok ok ok there.

Bang Chan - Minho - Changbin - Hyunjin - Han - Felix and Felix2 - Seungmin - Jeongin

[chaeryybomb]

july comebacks review

CHUNGHA ft. CHANGMO: PLAY

holy shit this is definitely my favorite song of the month!!!

the entire song just screams F E S T I V E

the music video, choreography and outfits were all so amazing

and it’s only a pre-release

honestly I can’t wait for her album to come out

I love how she interpreted Spanish elements in this comeback

I love the tango part in the dance and when the hip hop dancers come out!!!

and at the end where everyone just comes out like it’s a huge fiesta!!

this song also has quite a lot of high notes but chungha’s voice gets a rest during the rap part

speaking of the rap part, her expressions during that is amazing!!

overall, definitely my favorite song of this month (maybe this year), its so colourful and festive and its perfect for summer!

IRENE & SEULGI: MONSTER

this song exceeds my expectations

when I first saw the teasers, I thought the song would have quite heavy edm and maybe some bad boy/peek-a-boo elements

while the song does have some of those elements, the entire thing is literally not what I expected

the music video is very aesthically pleasing and it reminds me a lot of a dreamcatcher mv

the mv was also delayed because I heard that they needed to edit some parts out. for example, someone said that if according to the teasers, there should be a scene where Irene stabs a doll with scissors but that part has been cut out I think

ngl I wanted seulrene to perform in the white corset outfits because holy shit those outfits s e r v e d

it also definitely proves that Irene is not just a visual, she’s a very talented rapper and singer so people need to stop seeing her as “red velvet’s visual”!!!

irene has sort of a husky voice like Jisoo’s, just not as deep

I also love Seulgi’s part after the first chorus?? she’s literally g r o w l i n g

as much as I love blonde Irene, why did they give her the wig dhshdhd I bet she was uncomfortable dancing in that

especially she has to bend her back at one point. and speaking of that part, there was one stage where she “winks” while doing it it but Irene said she was actually wincing in pain. (also the mv scene of it where her part morphs into a monster scared me dhshd)

which is why I think irene likes performing “naughty” more instead. maybe it’s because it’s more a mature concept but Irene seems more natural doing so

do not get me started on “naughty”’s choreography,,, it’s SO PLEASING to watch, all those tutting w o w, it looks so hard but Irene and Seulgi make it seem effortless

and when they released the “easy” version on tiktok 😭😭 it still looks so hard please

overall, I hope they make another Irene and Seulgi comeback in the future like EXO-SC! I also hope they try this subunit thing with the rest of RV as well, I’m looking forward to a Seulgi Wendy Joy subunit and Irene Yeri subunit!

ATEEZ: INCEPTION

*inhales* what does seonghwa ACHIEVE by SHOWING his ABS every performance

like hongjoong come collect your MANS

waiting for an episode where yeosang calls him out for over doing it

speaking of yeosang, he’s improved so much! he’s gotten more than one part of the song this time and I’m so proud!

and I’m in love with their “I’m in love” during the beginning and chorus

also woosan is out for my bias list-

ngl I find it kinda weird there’s a mini breakdance in between the the song cause usually breakdances are at the end

I also hope Jongho isn’t overworking himself as it seems he’s just recovered from his injury, I hope none of the boys will injure themself like during wonderland era

also yunho and hongjoong exchanged hairstyles from wave era dhshdh

per usual, hongjoong and mingi’s rap parts are my absolutely favorite

the music video honestly has a lot of theories going on and I’m still waiting for the smart atinys to decipher them dhshd

honestly, ateez reminds me a lot of bts, they’re both from small companies and I hope like bts, ateez will be able to rise to fame

overall, I like this comeback a lot but I wouldn’t say it would be my favorite era of them. Again I hope none of the boys overwork themselves this time

SOMI: WHAT YOU WAITING FOR

ahhhh I’m so glad she’s back!!!

I love this song a lot and somi seems more comfortable with it too!

at first, she looks nervous performing it but I can see her getting more confident through out promoting the song

and it’s definitely more different than “birthday”

personally I like this song more than “birthday” (but “outta my head” will always be my absolute favorite)

somi’s “ring the alarm” has the same energy as “oops you’re not invited” dhshhd

I also love how she interpreted her name in the music video as “ennik” means sword in Dutch

I’m also glad that this time she isnt matching outfits with her backup dancers

personally, I feel that this song fits somi’s vocals better than birthday and she switches from high to low in the chorus

the chorus is 2nd verse is my favorite part of the song

overall, this is a really nice comeback from somi and I hope next time she’s back with more songs

GFRIEND: APPLE

HUGE GODDESSES VIBES!!!!

the entire mv just SCREAMED Greek Goddesses to me

the dresses were so beautiful this era

I especially love the black dresses

and all the accessories made it 10x better

personally I feel very wrecked by yuju and yuju alone

(and maybe sowon's red eyes but shhh)

I was kinda hoping they'd make a comeback like "labyrinth" but boy this comeback was amazing

ever since they joined with big hit, everything has become so much better

plus umji getting her lines and centers!!!

I'm addicted to the "wee o wow wow wow" and the "kiss dance" parts

I'm honestly quite impressed that gfriend was able to perform in long dresses but I feel its better than performing in fitting short dresses

overall, I really like this comeback and the entire album is a bop. my favourite song is "eyes of the storm" because it sounds so much like an anime opening

APRIL: NOW OR NEVER

omg I'm so glad I started stanning them after lalalilala era

also yena said she wanted to do a beach concept next in an interview during lalalilala as well soooooo

the song is soooo catchy and I can't help notice how smiley chaekyung and yena are this era!

I'm so glad that yena and rachel has actual lines this time (also I noticed rachel kinda has a lisp?)

chaekyung was rlly smiley during lalalilala so I thought a cute/fun concept would suit her and it does!

she's shinning during now or never era!!

I feel like the line distribution is pretty fair for 4 vocalists and 2 rappers

plus yena's "eottae" is really adorable!!

my favourite part of the song is the "nunbushin nunbushin" parts and I find the choreography for it rlly cute

and paradise is really catchy b-side!

overall, the comeback is very refreshing and it's nice to see them back on stage again. personally I'm not a huge fan of some of the outfits because I like matching sets instead but other than that, I really like this comeback!

LEE HI: HOLO

did this song make me weep?

yes, yes it did.

queen lee hi making me cry with another song again

I just find lee hi's voice very emotional okay

it reminds me of the time when I first listened to "breathe"

honestly the song is such a breather for anyone's who's having a hard time

listening to the words "one day it will stop, and I'm gonna stop crying, stop feeling, stop thinking about you my baby" is quite comforting to hear

it really makes you think that is being alone really a bad idea?

I've listened to song on repeat ever since it came out

[staylovehearts]

Headline: Dating Scandal - New celebrity couple?

Han Jisung x Reader

Word Count ~ 2.5k

Summary: “And how are you supposed to defend what sometimes you are not even sure of yourself?”

Tags: Idol x Producer, kinda, well Jisung is like a solo rapper artist, y/n is a producer/ low key singer, also they are secretly dating, whoops, warning for insecurities and self-doubt, but I promise it’s all fluffy

"Are you really sure about this?", you ask, for maybe the tenth time already in the past hour. Jisung is spinning around in his office chair next to you but halts the movement to look at you and roll his eyes.

"You know, with how often you are asking I'm starting to believe that you want to back out after all", he laughs but upon noticing your grief expression he stops and pushes his chair closer to yours so that he can grab one of your hands with both of his and give it a little squeeze. "Hey, we don't have to do this if you are uncomfortable. We can still stop the whole project. I would totally understand if you don't want to do this after all."

And that is exactly the part that is killing you so much. Jisung is so sweet about all of this. So understanding and loving and absolutely perfect. You don't deserve him. You don't deserve being with someone as wonderful as him at all. And yet here he is, squeezing your hand tight and reassuring you and being overall the sweetest person you have ever met. He made it near impossible for you not to fall in love when you first met. And he didn't even do much. All he did was be himself. But when you're Han Jisung that is probably already more than enough.

When you first met he was a rising star, rapper and idol, good at dancing as well and always funny and charming on variety shows. He'd pull funny faces for the camera and cutely whine over punishments just to turn around and spit several syllables of fire per second into the microphone. A reverse charm is what the suit-clad people in the pr department call it, but you think that does not quite fit right. Jisung is just a natural with the camera and the audience because he is just the same with ordinary people. He is nice to everyone he meets. Makes polite conversation and laughs about stupid jokes. Also, he's ambitious enough to make it in this dog eat dog world. You were eager to work with him and pretty much agreed on the spot when the project was proposed to you. Producing a track for his upcoming album. An amazing way to get your name out there. But an even better way to get to know your idol up close and personal. Actually, you were just curious at first. Eager to find out the dark secret behind the honey boy rapper with the sunshine personality. You wanted to know how everybody's darling acted with no cameras about. Because he seemed just to perfect to be true. Well, truth is, that Han Jisung is just that. Too good to be true. And way too good for you.

You fell for him on the spot but you tried to not let it show. Continued work as usual. Went to meetings, pitched in ideas, made beats and changed them according to feedback. Just the same way you'd work with any other client. Well, except that usually you are not that stuff. Usually you don't insist on using honorifics and being formal and never before have you turned down a client inviting you for dinner after a day of work. You tried to put distance between Jisung and you, but despite you playing the stone-hard professional he remained his sweet, charming self.

Months after you actually started dating Jisung told you, that he was actually intimidated by you at first. But he fell for you eventually. After you sent him the final guide audio with your voice in it. The one he liked so much that he called you in the middle of the night only to ask if you were down with him using samples of your voice for harmonies and stuff like that. You said yes. And that would not be the last crazy idea you agreed on.

"Hey, you're kind of zoning out there, is everything alright?", Jisung asks, pulling you back into here and now. The end of the latest crazy idea. You quickly shake your head and then immediately nod because you are not sure what to answer. A deep sigh escapes your mouth.

"I just got lost in thought a little", you admit. You have been doing a lot of thinking the past few days. Weeks. Months. Basically, you have been racking your mind non-stop since meeting Jisung. And he always seems so carefree that you don't want to drag him down with all of it. Another sigh. "I'm just a little... anxious I guess. That's all. I mean you are so popular and you have all these crazy female fans that are obsessed with you because, let's be honest, why wouldn't they be? What if they'll hate me? What if the press tears us apart? What if this hurts your career?"

It's a risky move. A stupid move. But once again you found yourself agreeing to produce an album together the second Jisung placed a notebook with some handwritten lyrics scribbled in it onto your desk. You did not even read through the song entirely, the chicken scratch handwriting sometimes hard to comprehend, when you had the baseline for a beat in your head that would work great with that. Agreeing to do the album together was one thing. But agreeing to open up about you dating as part of the promotions was an entirely different thing. And yet all it took was one puppy eye look from Jisung for you to agree to it. Right now he is puffing up his already chubby looking cheeks even more and rolling his dark brown eyes like a child that is frustrated by an adult not grasping a concept that is so simple and straightforward when looked at with innocent eyes.

"If they say anything mean about you I'll make sure to defend you. You know that I am really grateful for my fans, but they don't own me and I don't owe them anything. I'm an adult and I can date whoever I want. And it's not like the press isn't constantly trying to dig up dirt on me either way. Do you remember two weeks ago when they made up these crazy rumours about me and some actress that I shook hands with like once at the set of some drama where I did a small cameo? I think us being official is actually going to help because then they can't make shit up anymore", he huffs, visibly annoyed. Not with you of course. Never with you. Although sometimes you wish he would be frustrated with how indecisive you are. How unsure and moody you can become. Sometimes you want him to get upset with you because you think that's what you deserve. But Jisung never gets mad. Not at you. Towards you, he is always so sweet and compassionate and understanding. And that makes it so much harder to convince yourself that it's actually alright for you to be with him.

It was easier when no one else knew. Of course, you were already nervous when the whole thing started, constantly stressed about paparazzi catching you with your new celebrity boyfriend. Even though technically you belong in the industry as well, have even worked there for longer than Jisung has been in the spotlight now. But you have always been a more behind-the-scenes kind of person. You may appear in some interview every once in a while but for the most part, you are just a name on the credit list. Prod. by. That is where you belong. The occasional feature maybe. A SoundCloud link on your personal twitter. A few dedicated hardcore fans that like the tracks you make. But you are by far no big name. You are not in the public eye like Jisung is. Yet, it's not unusual for dating within the industry to happen. Artist and managers, stylists and producers, artists and other artists even. And the agency you and Jisung are currently under is a very lenient one when it comes to dating and giving you leeway for your private life. As long as it does not damage the image of the company what you do is pretty much up to you.

But for the sake of not wanting to cause a scandal so early in Jisung's career, you still kept your relationship pretty much a secret from everyone. Of course, the people working with you know. As well as some close friends and family members. But you never really thought about going public with it. You were just fine with busy schedules that rarely allowed for secret alone time and hastily arranged dates in the middle of the night. Empty family dinners past midnight with grumpy waiters that ask no question as long as you tip them enough and overly crowded coffee shops where there is too much business to pay attention to two more people with masks covering half of their faces. A piece of cheesecake for Jisung and a piece of chocolate cake for you. Because you don't care too much for either and since you are sharing he gets to take a bite from both of his favourite cakes.

But going public with the relationships mean that other people are going to judge you. And how are you supposed to defend what sometimes you are not even sure of yourself?

"Hey, I can see those gears turning, tell me what you're thinking about", Jisung hums softly. One of his hands reaching up to gently cup your face and tilt your head up a little, forcing you to make eye contact so he can give you the concerned puppy look. Big round eyes filled with worry. You let out another deep sigh.

"I'm just really not sure about the whole thing. About us." The second the words leave your mouth you already know that you could have worded that differently. Should have worded that differently. It's all wrong. You always mess everything up. Jisung looks hurt and you are flailing around your free hand as if you could catch the words midair and stuff them back down your throat to unsay them. "Not like that! I love being with you. I want to be with you. It's just... sometimes I don't feel like I actually deserve it. And I'm not sure if I can take it when your obsessed fans start attacking me for stealing you away from them when I don't even believe that I should be with you sometimes. You could do so much better. You're so sweet and talented and hard-working and just... ugh, you're so perfect it's almost irritating. What do I have to offer that could compare to that? I'm just... me."

"Hey, don't say it like that", Jisung sounds mad. For the first time, he actually seems to be upset with you. The sudden change of his expression and his raised voice actually makes you flinch back a little and he immediately softens again. "You know that I like you for being you, right? You are really amazing. Even before we started working together I always liked your music. I was actually following your SoundCloud, did I ever tell you that? And then I got to work with you and I was so excited about it because I've always admired you and when we met you were so cool and you put so much effort into our project. And I had the stupidest crush on you pretty much from day one but after you sent me that vocal guide it was completely over for me. I still have that by the way. I like to listen to it sometimes when we are both to busy to really spend time together. You're an amazing producer and probably work even harder than I do. You've put so much effort into our first album together and when you sent me that final mix I knew that it was the best thing we've ever made. I'm so proud of this album. And I'm really proud of you and I want to show you off to the whole world. But if it makes you uncomfortable we can just pull the project. You are what's most important to me."

After the whole rant – or should you call it a scolding? – you remain silent for a moment, not quite sure how to handle your emotions properly. You are somewhere between hiding your face and squealing and actually bursting into tears right on the spot. But neither seems like a proper reaction at the moment so you just sit there stunned and confused. The longer the silence drags on the more Jisung seems to become embarrassed by his own outburst and dramatic declaration of love. Just now he was saying all this super cheesy stuff with a super serious face, acting all cool and tough but now his face is mirroring the blush that is spreading on your cheeks. You can't help wanting to tease him when he looks like that.

"So, you followed my Soundcloud? Could it be that you were the fanboy all along?", you chuckle. Jisung rolls his eyes but secretly he seems to be glad that he has got you to smile again. You will have to talk this whole thing over again with him later. But right now you two are expected to go live in a couple of minutes to promote a new album. And announce a relationship.

"Oh shut up", Jisung scowls, but there is still a hint of a smile on his face. You smile back at him. "So, we have a live stream in five minutes. Are you ready?"

You nod your head without saying a word. You're ready for it now.

Jisung has just turned on the live stream but you can already see the numbers of viewers rising, surpassing hundreds within just a few seconds. The chat at the side of the screen is blowing up with comments and while Jisung is smiling and waving into the camera you anxiously read through the stream of words. It's almost too much to keep track off, comments just keep flying by, an endless stream of words and heart emojis, but every once in a while you manage to lock onto something and read it before it disappears again. Oppa, I love you! someone comments, for some reason the whole sentence is in English, including the very not English word Oppa. A bunch of viewers are just spamming hearts or trying to get attention with comments like Say hi to Brazil pls. But the comment that you see appearing most is some variation of who is that??? Jisung must have noticed it as well, he's chuckling a little to himself while he is scanning the comments.

"Oh, you want to know who this is?", Jisung looks over at you with a wide smile before he turns back to grin into the camera, a stream of comments and hearts flooding the side of the screen. His natural charm amplified with the live audience happy to interact with him. "This is my partner. We have some really exciting news for you!"

[erekuri]

OK BIG BRAIN TIME! Joker Game x BABYMETAL AU

For anyone who may not know who BABYMETAL is, they are a Japanese idol group/metal band with 2 (formerly 3) members. They are popular for the way they combine Japanese idol cuteness with heavy metal, and some have dubbed their style “kawaii metal.” Their music is amazing for real please check it out! 

BABYMETAL are loved in Japan and around the world, and they’ve met many big names in metal/rock such as Metallica, Judas Priest, and Dragonforce. They have choreography in their songs and their performances are really fun to watch :D

So, I was in the shower when this idea came to me. Since originally they had 3 members, I was thinking that the 160 cm trio of Miyoshi, Hatano, and Jitsui would be well-suited for this. BABYMETAL also consists of a band, so the other 5 spies would be in said band, and Yuuki would be the manager. So it’ll look like this:

IDOLS:

Miyoshi (center/lead vocalist)

Hatano (vocalist/rapper)

Jitsui (main vocalist)

BAND:

Kaminaga (drums/waidako)

Tazaki (keyboard/piano)

Fukumoto (lead guitar/violin)

Odagiri (bass guitar/cello/harp/acoustic)

Amari (secondary guitar/trumpet/saxophone) 

IDOLS:

By center, I mean that Miyoshi will almost always be at the center of their photos and is deemed as the ‘main member.’ (In K-pop terms, think of visuals and centers such as Yoona from Girls’ Generation or Kai from EXO.) He’s the member who will usually take the lead in interviews because he’s the oldest, though all 3 seem to have drunk from the fountain of youth lol. Jitsui is the main vocalist, so he gets the most lines as well as the high notes if the song has one. Hatano gets the least, but generally the line distribution is even enough that there are little complaints. He will also rap on occasion (think Linkin Park or Hollywood Undead) but most of their songs are singing-based. Hatano and Miyoshi will also do adlibs while Jitsui is known for his stunning vocal runs. Even though Jitsui is their main vocalist, Miyoshi is the one who gets put in the center of their dance formations more often. 

Ah right, their voices. (Since I am more familiar with K-pop rather than J-pop vocalists, they’ll be my main references here. My apologies in advance.)

Jitsui is the main vocalist. He needs a sweet voice to compliment his sweet face, but it’s also gotta be powerful. Ryeowook from Super Junior would be the perfect fit here, because it’s got this sweet tone to it but also nice and clear and the high notes would sound like a literal choir of angels. 

Miyoshi’s vocal color would be like Suho from EXO. Clear and sweet and comforting. His falsettos are the most flawless thing you’ve ever heard, and the emotion he puts into his singing is on another level. His voice is, in a word, PRETTY.

Since Hatano does both vocals and rap, I’m thinking his vocal color would be like Key from SHINee. With that higher tone he has, it suits Hatano’s appearance and personality wonderfully. Both his singing and rapping are amazing and he likes to scream sometimes to hype up the crowd lol.

(All vocalists mentioned are from SM Entertainment groups,,, damn, I really said SINGERS ONLY and I really like all 3 choices I made omg. MY MIND.)

(In the real BABYMETAL, member Su-metal sings the majority but I am not deep enough in the fandom to know how fans feel about it. I don’t mind too much since the songs slap either way lmao. And I think the balance is nice but that’s just me. However, for the 160cm trio, I had to even it up because I am someone who typically prefers more even line distributions when it comes to idol groups.)

As for their dancing, BABYMETAL’s choreography is a unique one where 1 is center and the other 2 are backup. For my AU, however, I’d make the choreo more like EXO-CBX in that it’s suited for 3 people, while also taking notes from Super Junior (for their earlier metal songs) or Dreamcatcher (for their famous ‘anime-style’ music.) 

BAND:

Because they’re a metal group, Kaminaga will almost always be on the drum kit, and by God he is good at it. The drum kit he uses is one you’ll see in most metal bands, but he also uses an auxiliary drum kit (which is electrical and has sensors and stuff) for the group’s more experimental tracks. When they want to go something more traditional or epic, he’ll bring out his wadaiko (traditional Japanese drum) and go at it. He’s also the unofficial leader of the band. 

Tazaki plays the keyboard. I personally envision Tuomas from Nightwish when I think of this position, but there are other keyboard players in metal bands out there that are fun to watch. Tazaki is generally a calm person, but when he plays he headbangs like crazy. He’ll play the piano when they do softer songs, and his pretty fingers are mesmerizing to watch. Oh yeah, and the keyboard he uses is a synthesizer due to the underlying ‘pop’ aspect in their music, considering it’s for an idol group.

Fukumoto would be the main/lead guitarist. He’d get pretty much all the solos (though Amari might join in as the secondary guitarist). He’s hailed as one of the best guitarists of all time, and he plays a major role in the musical arrangements of the songs. He’s also a prodigy when it comes to the violin, which he’ll sometimes use instead of his guitar for a more ‘symphonic’ sound. In reality, he’ll switch between them as he sees fit. 

Odagiri is the reliable bass guitar; underrated, but without them, the song just isn’t the same. As the bass player, he helps to balance out the guitars. He plays the cello when they want a jazzier theme or an orchestra kind of sound, and when they go the traditional route, in comes the harp. When the boys want to sing an acoustic version of their songs to show off their vocals, Odagiri will be the one to play the acoustic guitar to accompany them.

Amari is the secondary guitarist, and arguably the most versatile player in the band. He can not only play the electric guitar, but he can also play the trumpet and the saxophone. Their jazz songs would require them to be in the same song, but he can switch between the two easily enough, provided he’s given enough time to transition (otherwise he’ll simply use a pre-recording of one while playing the other live.) When a song requires both violin and guitar, Amari will take the role of the lead guitar while Fukumoto plays violin.

(The instruments mentioned are their main ones, though I’m sure they could all play more if they wanted to. I just don’t have the brain cells to spare for this lol. Maybe some other time I can give more thought to the band, but I’m ok with what I have for now. Besides, most metal bands will have 1 person per instrument or will bring in a whole orchestra, so what I have is farfetched ngl, and yet I like it because the D-Agency boys are just so talented at anything they try hehe)

OTHERS:

As stated earlier, Yuuki would be their manager. He is known to all as just “Yuuki.” He is the one who brought the group together, as the trio were originally part of an idol group but were mostly in the back, while the others were notable musicians who had no band to belong to. In his prime, he was an acclaimed songwriter and producer, but he’s also super happy doing what he does as a manager/producer for the 160cm trio and the band. He fought tooth and nail for the formation of this group and is more than satisfied with their explosive popularity. He will often clash with the CEO of their label, IG Productions, because he refuses to let them hold back the band’s growth. 

Now, y’all may be wondering… where is Sakuma??? 

Sakuma, Gamo Jirou, Yuriko Nogami, and Miyoko Yasuhara are all well-respected actors under the same agency (not IG but another one lol.) 

Yuriko and Miyoko are mostly in theatre, but Yuriko is a recurring favorite in J-dramas while Miyoko is popular in movies. 

Jirou is super versatile, and he’d be kinda like Robert Pattinson in the sense that he will often make fun of the stuff he’s been in. He likes to take on bizarre roles that test his limits as an actor, and his range is pretty much unmatched. He’s recognizable but people will still lose themselves in his brilliant acting. He is more often seen in movies, but sometimes he’ll star in a drama, especially one where he plays a villain/antagonist or a second-lead.

Sakuma is another J-drama favorite, and he has a legion of fangirls; as of late, those fangirls include aunties who love his clean and respectable image. He made headlines once when he shaved his head for a role as a soldier because it was such a shock that he looked as handsome as ever. He loves being in movies with a lot of angst/sad endings, and don’t get me started on how sad some of the dramas he’s in can be. And as a bonus, his characters almost always die and oof it really breaks people’s hearts. Occasionally, he’ll take on a more light-hearted role such as a friendly teacher. 

Sakuma and Gamo are both openly gay, and many fangirls will wish for them to find boyfriends because they want these actors to be happy. They have starred in movies together and their friendship off-screen can be considered ‘iconic.’ Fans ship them platonically. 

Sakuma would also be a major fanboy of the D-Agency band, and Miyoshi is easily his favorite member. He attends their concerts in disguise because he has a reputation, damn it. One time he dragged his actor friends along, and Gamo fell for Jitsui HARD. Meanwhile, Yuriko eventually starts a romance with the bassist, Odagiri, when she wanders backstage by accident on her way to the restroom. (Sakuma is jealous as fuck that she managed to get backstage but he won’t admit it.)

Alain, Marie, Jean, and Johann are all foreign celebrities, who are all wildly popular in Japan. Marie would be a popular actress who travels to Japan to participate in a film (directed by Jean, a highly-respected director) that takes place there. It’d be a collaboration project between a French studio and a Japanese one. Alain would be a famous pop artist in France, and his songs can be meaningful and uplifting or super raunchy and inappropriate as hell, no in-between. He goes to Japan because he’s interested in their newest idol/heavy metal fusion group. Johann is a talented lyricist/producer and he prefers to write songs for other people and avoid the drama that comes with being a celebrity. Alain drags him to Japan because why not?

END:

Back to the band, their debut song would be ‘Reason Triangle’. ‘Double’ would be for a J-drama collab in which Sakuma finally gets to meet his favorite group (???) idk but their discography would also include songs like:

Taking Off - ONE OK ROCK

Fukagyaku Replace - My First Story

Take Off - 2PM

Cosmic Railway - EXO

CORE PRIDE - UVERworld

Signal- TK from Ling tosite sigure

FEED THE FIRE - coldrain

Kyouran Hey Kids!! - THE ORAL CIGARETTES

And that’s all I can think of for this AU. I can’t believe I wrote so much but this idea just wouldn’t leave my head so I had to write it all down. I hope y’all enjoy my ramblings lol.