#i've just seen some conversations about this that i vehemently disagreed with not because of the conclusions but how they arrived there

[uncanny-tranny]

I think it's a mistake to assume that computer generation (so-called AI) is the only manifestation of the exploitation that workers (especially in artistic fields that are already considered lesser) experience. The problems that they experience are, I think, exasperated by computer generation, but it isn't like there were no problems with compensation, theft, or other forms of exploitation.

The problem is the exploitation, and I think sometimes, people lose sight of that in these conversations.

[kkikiwi]

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i vehemently thought that there was no way i could reconcile with people who don't hold the same values as me.

i think this is indicative that i'm beginning to mature.

i'm always so caught up with my feelings that i don't see logic, and i can't wrap my head around people who can be so different yet remain friends.

of course, there are limits. if their actions are unforgivable, i would leave it at that. you can't take back actions, but you can change minds.

that video tyeshia posted really made me think that change could happen, if only we talked about it with other people. if we are willing to have conversations with people. maybe then we could change the world for the better. or at least, change the mind of a group to understand.

"agree to disagree" but we never actually listen. maybe some thoughts will remain the same. that's why it feels so much easier to just dismiss people and their rationale if it doesn't line up with yours. in addition to that, i don't think it's right to be passive about something you're passionate about. speak for what you think is correct, otherwise, how can we help each other be better people?

i had this thought because i don't believe settlers are innocent. they have perpetuated zionism with their very existence. pushing out natives from their homes. being privileged enough to leave when their lives are at stake. having resources given to them. but i've seen more than one instance now where they've doubted their own ideals. one of them chose to be imprisoned than to serve in the iof. several had renounced their citizenship (if not for palestinians, but perhaps for the criticism. i'm not sure. hopefully it's the realization from all the discussion.). the whistleblower who'd seen the atrocities. and now an iof medic has seen the horror and wreckage.

maybe redemption is possible. i would never forgive someone for being a bystander, let alone the perpetrators. but it must be difficult to abandon what you believed your whole life to be right, turn out to be wrong. i hope they take a step back and start advocating for what's right.

[dark-muse-iris]

I completely agree that Big Hit have made all recent decisions pertaining solely to make as much coin from BTS as possible. They've even admitted publicly that having majority of their income come from BTS when they have an expiry date is a poor business model and they are attempting to diversify because of it.

My issue with it is... as an old fan of BTS who's first MV was Fire and comeback was BST/ Wings Era... I have seen them build their fan base and brand on a promise of authentic engagement with fans. Their whole buzz was that in a highly commercialized kpop world, they were not chained and restrained nor was their focus on money, but on uplifting people through their music. They were given more voice and choice than any other kpop group of their time. I feel like with the amount of massive commercial success they've had that authenticity eroded from them. Maybe it was just a marketing strategy which has shifted... but I bought into it and I miss it which makes these decisions a little harder for me to swallow.

I don't mean to be *that* fan... but I really miss the old comeback days when things seemed (although still manufactured) less commercially geared towards the sole purpose of taking money? I miss the individual comeback intros. I miss the complicated theories that each MV held. I miss the clear distinction between eras that had decisive goodbyes. I miss that... genuine buzz and engagement that we as a Fandom got freaking out over the significance of something as simple as Hoseok eating a snickers.

The simple reality is they don't need to actually put that much effort into their music to sell it anymore... they don't need elaborate MVs and long term era themes/ plots, linked stage themes and cohesive links between new albums. Heck... if anything this announcement proves they don't even need new albums anymore full stop and people still will buy them.

I don't blame Big Hit or BTS. I'm old enough to understand the decisions from a business point of view. Why put in that amount of effort when it isn't needed? I still think their new songs are a bop. I enjoy their collaborations and think it's fun. I'm not bitter about the decisions they're making nor am I going to be a hater or anything.

But... I just really really miss the way things were from a consumption point of view. The engagement just doesn't feel the same for me.

I agree with you, anon. (Placing a cut for length)

I got into them right before Run era started and I remember all of what you're saying from the old days. I lost a lot of sleep because fan engagement was a blast back then, especially during BST which was one of my top fave eras. I'm always going to miss that time and remember it fondly because I had some many great interactions on this blog about all kinds of random shit going on with the members. No one talks to me about their faves here anymore; it's just recirculating gifs now. That's why most of my fan engagement has been in Discord and Twitter the last few years.

The shift in marketing definitely seems like "work smarter, not harder" and I get it. Through BTS' success, HYBE has acquired other companies and groups in an attempt to diversify with varying opinions on it. While I've vehemently disagreed with most of their acquisitions and business ventures like getting Source & Pledis, working with McDonalds during a nationwide strike, and NFTs, I have continued to listen to the music I enjoy.

Being disappointed that a group isn't going in the direction you hoped after years of enjoying their music doesn't make you a hater. I think that label gets thrown around a lot by fans who haven't had their views challenged before. I honestly feel relieved to read any critiques at this point, whether I agree with it or not, when it comes to a group and their company. Those are the kinds of conversations I like having with other fans, especially older pop fans who remember the BSB vs. NSYNC & Britney vs. Christina fanwars like I do.

If you're open to branching out (no pressure), I can say with confidence there are multiple 3rd and 4th groups who have an active voice in not only songwriting, but production, arrangement, choreography, and concept. I'm a huge fan of several of them now. Not all groups fit the bill, but several do that thematic open and close with concepts and eras like what you're describing. My favorite thing about k-pop is how songs, outfits, landscapes, and choreo are used to communicate larger themes to an audience who many or may not share the language--just like theater.

[beyoncesdragon]

title: catch up now? 

× pairing: Idol!Jungkook x Interviewer!Reader, old friends from highschool kinda stuff, abandoned but maybe rediscovered love on both sides. 

× summary: Three years are a long time. In three years, many things can and will change. But three years hadn’t been quite enough to change how two people feel about each other. 

× warnings: a little teeny bit angsty but it’s nothing, really. Mainly fluff, some flustered, overly eager Gguk and old memories coming up. 

× wordcount: 2k

× a/n: Not gonna lie, this might be one of my favourite pieces I've ever written. I really hope you enjoy this too! it’s somehow inspired by ‘Love Maze’ (BTS) and also ‘50 Proof’ (eaJ). Will probably not have a pt.2

main masterlist | bts masterlist

When he had read the name of the interview host - or hostess more like - Jungkook had already felt the familiar tingle in the pit of his stomach that he had thought had disappeared over the course of time. Yet, he wasn’t surprised that it was still there.

He had however not dared to hope that it could actually be you, there sure were other people called (Y/N) (Y/L/N), who has pursued their dream of becoming an interviewer, media person, whatnot. He didn’t even know if you had actually graduated uni and made it in the job, hence he hadn’t seen any of you in about four years of him debuting now. He had occasionally checked out your Instagram or Twitter, yet he shied away from following you on any social media platform. You weren’t really public about your work or personal life on both, you mainly retweeted stuff (he found out about your love for Bingsu and Makgeolli ice cream like that) and posted a few selfies or landscapes. He hoped that you had been able to pursue your dream of traveling around for a bit, in South Korea and outside of it. Though again, he didn’t know.

Jimin was seated right in front of him and Jungkook couldn’t help but nervously play with his hyungs honey blond dyed hair. Jimin chuckled surprised yet amused about his open display of nervousness and turned around slowly.

“Everything okay, Jungkook-ah? You seem more nervous than usually.” He remarked, making Namjoon look over to the maknae in wonder. “He does, right? I thought so too. Did something happen?” Jungkook only shook his head.

Not yet, he thought to himself.

The cameras around them started to blink all at once, the light has been set up correctly and the camera and sound team had settled down around them in the dark. Manager and publicists stood somewhere in the back, swallowed up by the dark. The only person that was missing still, was you. Or the person called (Y/N) (Y/L/N), Jungkook tried to tell himself.

Suddenly there was a soft laugh from somewhere off the scenes and his heart tripped over its own beat and finally, finally, you stepped into the light.

You looked pretty as ever, grown into your features entirely, like a lotus flower finally in full bloom. Jungkook had to swallow dry. The light coral red of your lip balm complimented your skin and the subtle almost invisible make up you wore, accentuated your already beautiful features even more. You hadn’t changed your hair much, but it was a bit longer and looked so soft in the bright light. His eyes almost subconsciously darted to your fingers, searching for evidence of a possible relationship. He was almost ashamed how quickly he ended up thinking about this, his own boldness making him even more flustered. (There was no formal looking ring on your ringfinger though, to his relief.)

There was a warm smile on your lips as you bowed deeply to them all, greeting them respectfully. The boys returned your greeting immediately and a bunch of annyeong haseyo-s sounded through the studio. Jungkook felt Namjoon look over at him again, a piercing gaze Jungkook knew he wouldn’t be able to withstand if he met it. So he just kept looking at everything but Namjoon...not that this was hard to do when you were right in front of him.

“Thank you so much for being here with us.” You said with a smile, looking at everyone with the same look of respect and polite distance. Like you were supposed to, at work, as a professional. Like you didn't know them personally. Everyone, including Jungkook.

He felt his heart drop to his stomach. Could it be that you...forgot about him? It couldn’t really be, right? How would you actually be able to, you really...in this moment your eyes crossed again and something flickered in your eyes, a facade crumbled for a few seconds only. It was an amused twinkle, like a cheeky wink and a minimal curl of your lips. 

Acknowledgement.

And Jungkook’s heart did multiple flips, breath caught in his throat and eyes widened.

You had started with the questions, keeping the conversation light and flowing. The vibe in the room was comfortable and built up on mutual respect - yet Jungkook felt as if he was sitting on red-hot needles. He wanted to talk to you, ask about how you had been, what you were doing (if you had a boyfriend) if you were happy, if you got a cat, how your mother’s little business was going (he’d anonymously purchased countless items, to support your family), if your favourite colour still was cyan blue and your still religiously bought Pajeon and Makgeolli on rainy days, if you ever spent a second of your day thinking of him (because he did).

Him, your somewhat ex-best friend from highschool, him, the one you spent hours talking to in the ungodly hours of the morning, him who you had lost your first kiss to (though lost wasn’t the right word: you gave it to him more like). Him who you had poked fun of when the first girl approached him in his Rookie days and he’d been flustered to no end.

Him, who had promised to you that he wouldn’t abandon your friendship and yet the two of you drifted apart anyways.

Not for the lack of trying on either side though. Jungkook’s schedule had just become even fuller, his nights shorter, training longer and fans more obsessive. And you had seen each other less often, greetings were shorter and late night talks turned into good night wishes over text quicker.

You on your part weren’t mad, a little disappointed maybe. Sad for sure, but not mad. After all, you had expected it to turn out like that. So had the rest of your little circle, Haneul, Hwang, Kyong and Myunghee. Whilst the five of you had supported Jungkook on his journey with all you’ve got, you all tried to overcome the obvious pain of him drifting off.

Some (mainly Hwan and Kyong) with working harder in school for example. You did that too, but sometimes you also partied a little harder, were awake at three AM a little more often, missed him a lot more. It hurt letting someone you love go.

Jungkook and you had always been a bit...closer. Why you didn’t know, how you couldn’t possibly explain. But you were and him rising into the heights and new dimensions of being an idol destroyed this almost completely. This strange world of fame, those walls of flashing cameras, the flow of expensive goods and seas of screaming people, that was his world. He was a star, figuratively and somewhat literally. He shone more radiant, higher, longer, prettier and too bright for an innocent, young love to coexist.

So you stayed behind, soon having lost his number due to him having to change it, his contact information soon had less to say than what you could find on the internet.

His new hair colour? Well, you could google it. Height? Current weight? Several fan sights knew the answer. Achievements? The internet again.

 It was strange, ridiculous to some extent. And it hurt. But you couldn’t blame him, so you never did.

⋄

When you had heard that you would be interviewing BTS last week you could help but feel scared. You hadn’t seen him face to face for three or so years, three years with no FaceTime, texting, three years of not seeing his bunny smile, smiled just for you.

And when you had seen him again, laid eyes on him for the first time in thirty-five months, you realised that nothing you ever felt for him had faded away. It was all the same again, your heart still jumped in your chest and your stomach still fluttered whenever he did as much as breathing. The only thing that had changed was his height and him having had the biggest glow up you had witnessed in your life, yours included – though this Jungkook would disagree vehemently. 

This Jungkook who got pulled out of his thoughts and memories almost violently, as you directed a first question at him only.

“I…” he started, gulping hardly, having forgotten the question already halfway.

“Sorry I can’t – how have you been?” you stopped shortly, stunned and a tad confused at first. You hadn’t expected him to be so bold. Or clumsy, for that matter. Yet you couldn’t help but giggle, and all the unsaid words and ignored truths between the two of you disappeared into smoke, taking all tension with them. Just like that.

“I’ve been fine, Gukie. Busy. Long-time no see, hm. How about you?” somewhere behind the cameras someone dropped a pen and there were multiple gasps being heard. The rest of the bangtan boys didn’t look any better; Jimin had his mouth open, Taehyung was looking back and forth between the two of you, Yoongi just froze, Jin and Hoseok had clasped their hands in front of their mouths and Namjoon just looked like someone poured a bucket of ice water over his head.

But Jungkook? Jungkook was smiling widely, his bunny smile, smiled just for you. 

“Busy too. Yes, very long time no see.” He replied sheepishly, a small laugh escaping his lips as he looked around the dead silent studio. “Why…how do you know each other?” Yoongi finally asked, eyes snapping back and forth between the two of you.

“Well I guess we have to tell them now. We know each other from back in Highschool. We were pretty close friends back then.” You explained softly, giving him a small smile. Jungkook nodded quickly. “My apologies. I didn’t wanted to completely ruin the interview but…I haven’t seen you in three or so years. Sorry.” You waved it off. “It’s okay, Jungkook. We will catch up later, alright?” Jungkook nodded, making the mistake of looking over to Namjoon, who looked like he finally understood everything. “Is that why you were so…never mind.” He ended in a mumble and Jungkook was glad he did.

⋄

The second the interview was officially finished and all the cameras shut off, Jungkook was on his feet and approaching you. He didn’t even care about formalities anymore as he just wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into a tight hug.

The first thing he noticed was that he couldn’t nestle his face in the crook of your neck as easy as he had been able to do in high-school. The second thing was that you had changed your perfume into something more flowery and fresh. The third thing he noticed was how much he liked having you in his arms again, especially because he could now rest his head on top of yours.

The first thing you noticed was how broad your Kookie had become. Broad and tall and firm everywhere. The second thing you noticed was how he smelled more expensive, faintly musky but still very much like Jungkook. A scent you could pick out from a thousand, unique and everything you loved. The third thing you noticed was how familiar and how looked after you felt in his arms, how protected from every harm. You had missed this feeling.

“Aigoo, Junkookie!” Jin yelled from behind, causing you to chuckle embarrassed and trying to break the hug. But Jungkook simply tightened his arms around you, having no intentions of letting you go any time soon.

“Just ignore them. They’ll leave, eventually.” His voice was muffled by the skin on your neck, since he had now buried his face there, taking deep breaths.

“And we?” you asked with a small laugh, not moving either. “We stay. We catch up. Got a lot of that to do.” Sounded good enough to you…just that you had expected them to make a bee-line for the exit after the cameras cut due to their busy schedule.

“Catch up now?” you asked after a few seconds of him still having his arms around you, unmoving. The young man shook his head.

“No…not right now.” He took a deep breath, hiding his face in the crook of your neck, mumbling against your skin and the fabric of your blouse. 

“In five minutes. Let me just hold you for a little while, you…you have no idea how much I missed you.” 

If he only knew.

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