AbbyGG

18+ | ult: Ateez | ✨️Kpop group curious✨️3-4-3 formation: MonstaX, Enhypen, SVT | soloists: D.O (STRICTLY BUSINESS) | bands: The Rose, Xdinary Heroes | some (a lot of) IWTV stuff ~Akasha; I don't know if I want to be her or be with her (ty Louis) |

[abbiegg]

Leaning into writing more...

ATEEZ: Mingi The Producer; My reading of a Serious Seonghwa; The bare bones of my ideal Wanteez episode; Thank you Ateez meta writers; The Yunho acting dream might not be realistic; Mingi Possible Solo Debut; more under the cut.

General kpop: Intro fairies vs Not Quite Bias; Most anticipated March 2026 album; Imperfect chaos is my preference in side content; BTS Into the sun and documentary thoughts;

IMMORTALS: Is Akasha Negging Lestat (?); Refined Akasha Negging Post Mini Dynamic Analysis; Teaser clip for The Vampire Lestat debut; Idle eyes, grateful for iwtv music (everyone in that crew tbh) - Summer 2026 debut!!!!!!; Lestat inspired Damiano David (Måneskin); Akasha I loved you - farewell ; the final stretch till Akasha appears in first ever The Vampire Lestat adaptation ; absolutely gorgeous Sheila Atim appreciation; Too many things are happening in The Vampire Lestat;

ATEEZ 2: Fun speech and analysis recap;

[nefiriouschemes]

ATEEZ : 2024 MIND MAP 'SUMMER'

260406

Hello! Today I have something interesting to talk about, something that also hasn't been done in relation to Ateez before, so this is going to be very fun!!!

In 2024, for the summer photobook, Ateez were asked to do one small, cute exercise. Basically, they were given one word 'Summer' and told to make a sort of visual diagram centered around it, with related topics generally branching outward like a tree. Each branch can have sub-branches for more details, using keywords, colors, or whatever they feel like.

I'm going to post each member, talk about what I'm visually observing, then what I think it potentially reveals about how they think and how they process information. I'll try to stay as neutral and accurate as possible, but since I am no medical professional, do take what I say with a grain of salt.

I will also be ranking them. I won't tell you what the ranking is, but it's going to be so obvious as you read. Hahaha.

(In case you can't tell, I'm very enthusiastic about doing this!)

As always : This is a work of interpretation. I am in no way claiming direct access to ATEEZ members' inner lives, thoughts, or feelings. Everything I write is subject to revision as more information about the teezers comes to light and as my own opinions and perspectives grow.

Post Disclaimer :  Everything in this post is also based purely on one creative exercise. I have no professional medical qualifications to diagnose anyone with anything. What I do have tho, are visual analysis qualifications, so I will be observing creative choices. My discussion of cognitive patterns is speculative curiosity. And also, it's fun. I'm having fun. This is for fun. Don't come @ me.

The scans on which this interpretation is gonna be based are provided by yours truly. You're welcome to save and reuse them.

English translations are already provided by KQ, Just zoom in the pictures !

Okey let's start !

8. Park Seonghwa

As you can all see, this mind map is very clean. Everything is visually balanced. 'Summer' is written big in the center, while everything branches out evenly, filling the entire page. No obvious empty spaces. The link between each word makes sense, there's a clear logic following through. The lines are slightly wobbly, but his writing is legible. Seonghwa also makes good use of colors, grouping every subcategory with a different color.

This, y'all, is what the standard mind map looks like. Let's take a moment to applaud how amazing Park Seonghwa is at this exercise! He's so very clearly well organized while still leaving a bit of leeway for fun and joy!

Overrall: 10/10, a model student truly, no notes.

7. Choi Jongho.

Similarly to Seonghwa, his mind map is all very clean. Everything is visually balanced. 'Summer' is written big in the center, while everything branches out evenly, filling the entire page. The link between each word makes sense, there's a clear logic following through. His lines are also wobbly, but it's an obvious stylistic choice, and his handwriting is legible. A good use of colors, too.

Here's where it differ, tho. You'll notice that Jongho has a different way of categorizing his coloring. Where Seonghwa colored each section separately, Jongho colored by degree, by depth of layer. It's very hierarchical.

You'll also notice that he wrote down three layers, where Seonghwa wrote down two. And at the very last one, Jongho got more personal. He brought up his OST, where he wants to go next, home, surfing, freediving—aspirational or challenge-based activities. You need to dig a bit deeper to access Jongho.

And because there are more layers, his writing is smaller. His mind map is also more condensed; it's almost forming a circle. Seonghwa's mind map is more airy, with more space for other thoughts to filter through. But Jongho holds his together and closer to his heart. Still, within that condensed circle, Jongho made it a point to leave space between 'Summer' and the first layer of keywords. It's an implicit boundary or protective circle so that the word can sit properly at its center.

He's very organized as well, more rigorously than Seonghwa, very structured with a clear attention to detail. In terms of how much satisfaction it brings me to look at it, visually his is my favorite. But Jongho has a natural talent for the arts and design.

Overrall: 10/10. The most insight I ever had on Jongho. A round boy through and through.

Also man has a whole section dedicated to food that's insane. The little tiny captain after boat is so cuute toooo

6. Jung Wooyoung

Wooyoung's mind map is very similar in structure to Seonghwa's as well, just waaay messier. You've got 'Summer' at the center with branches spreading to each corner of the page. Each section is organized by color, with generally two layers. And there's a clear logic following his words, tho his writing is a bit messy and inconsistent.

Wooyoung has more empty space, and his mind map is less visually balanced. It's more go-with-the-flow. You can see it in how he cares less about specific coloring : 'Summer' is in the same color as the sea section (blue), and 'Heat' is the only bright pink colored word, but I can't tell if that's accidental or on purpose (doesn't matter tbh, he didn't care).

His mind map is also very focused on experiences and sensory exploration. The heat section is particularly hilarious because he's just listing words that are related to making it less hot. He also makes it a point to list specific locations like Okinawa, Hawaii, Namhae and Gangwon Province. He's not thinking abstractly but concretely in the moment. He couldn't just say 'travel' and call it a day, he had to be geographically precise as to where. Those are places he's been to before, he's potentially imagining being there.

The S in his MBTI is very fitting.

Here's the interesting detail in this mind map: Wooyoung has a loose, confident line going from 'Summer' to each of the first four branches. However, between each layer after that is a line with a little twirl. Still confident, but also still a twirl.

It's a very small detail, but it adds a bit of personality— a small mental detour before coming back in. He's having fun with it. He's not stressed about the mess, or the gaps. Wooyoung trusts his first instincts enough to put them on paper without overthinking or over-editing himself. His hand is trying to keep up with his brain. The little twirl is an extra beat before picking back up its pace.

Overrall: its messy/10 but the twirls are cute so i'll let it slide.

5. Choi San

This is where I genuinely start to worry. From here on now, it's all going downhill, y'all.

This page terrifies me (/hj). I don't know what's going on inside San's brain, and that's exactly why it's so scary (puddings, don't kill me please).

San's mind map is extremely clean, straightforward. There are no colors, no scribbles, no distractions, no wobbly lines. His writing is neat af. It's visually balanced. It's neither condensed nor too loose, it's the right amount of space between categories. But all around his page is empty. There's so much space unfilled, so his words feel exposed.

San is often perceived as the most expressive member on stage. But his page has very little emotional leakage.

And the content. Work. He put work under summer. Where everyone treated the exercise almost like a diary, a fun escapism, San thought about work. He wrote 'fun' after, though, so that was interesting. He's also the only one to mention something "negative" : Stress, followed by Mosquitoes and Heat (funnyyy). His summer isn't a separate, carefree vacation. It's a season within his ongoing life cycle.

The empty space, San didn't add extra words just to make the page look fuller. He gave us exactly what he thought was relevant, nothing more, nothing less. It's very minimalist, but it's also very honest in its presentation. He strips summer down to its essential contrasts in his life: work vs rest, stress vs healing. Tensions he's living in.

The only decorative element there is, is the little blue cloud surrounding 'Summer.' Not a circle, not a square, not a colored scribble or a heart or whatever, but a cloud. He contained Summer inside a soft, protective boundary. And it's floating. It's detached. A touch of romance.

When San says "simple is best", he's not just using it to talk about his clothing style. I'm starting to think it's an insight into how he thinks as well, a philosophy of sorts. Keeping things uncomplicated and straightforward for peace of mind. A part of me still feels like he's guarding himself on the page tho.

Overall: unsettling/10. Idk how to feel. The page is too sterile and clean for my personal taste but San is sooo... mmmmm let's just say he's one of the members I find the most interesting.

(my brothers liked his page the best so clearly its a matter of taste)

4. Kim Hongjoong

My secret favorite. I love this page so much. Kim Hongjoong wiggled his way through my heart with how cute and earnest he is with his mind map.

Some patterns are gonna start emerging soon, and I'm gonna start pointing fingers.

Right off the bat, what jumps up from the page is the illustrations. Where the past members were all content with coloring and scribbling over the words or just one simple doodle, Kim Hongjoong is treating his page like a sketchbook, with visuals enhancing communication. Which... isn't surprising when you know the guy. The second thing you notice is that whereas everyone before tried to keep the mind map centered, with four branches running toward each corner of the page, Kim Hongjoong has his visually leaning toward the right side of the page.

This is also the part of our analysis where we start seeing full sentences forming instead of the regular keywords. Thankfully, Hongjoong is still within the standards four branches, two layers in (mostly). "The best summer song" attached to "Wave" (hell yeah, captain) and the small "Gotta Work !" attached to "comeback". Can't tell if he's speaking to us or himself tho, maybe both ?

His mind map is definitely more free-spirited than the last four. There's less of a rigid following of the standard structure, but differently from Wooyoung. Wooyoung is a bit messy and added one unique detail, but he's still essentially functioning within the rules of the mind maps. Hongjoong is aware of the structure he needs to follow, but he has no issue deviating from it, doing his own thing. He prioritizes creativity over rules.

Hongjoong's mind map reads as intentional and expressive. One reason for that is the lines linking words are straightforward and confident, and the overall map still looks visually pleasing (it's super cute). The illustrations aren't random either, they're associative. 'Summer' is literally drawn as a word, then surrounded by a sun and wave.

The other interesting detail is his mention of Ateez, Atiny, and San. The word "mountain" is San, it's automatic! Just as Ateez and Atiny are both linked to the word "Wave" and, more importantly, to each other. In Hongjoong's mind, they're not separate entities but always connected to each other. He even drew little hearts (again, he's super cute)

A few of the others mentioned "Mountain/산" , but Hongjoong is the only one who directly wrote Choi San/산. His people are never too far off from his mind. He's direct about his connections.

His map so far is the warmest of all four and also the one with the most personality, because while everyone else put theirs in the words they wrote, Hongjoong put his on the page itself. You'll find It's a similar approach to how he handles his fashion style and eveything else about him.

Overrall: very creative/10 very cute. i love him, hes amazing.

3. Song Mingi

My Brain is starting to hurt.

*deep sight*

Summer is slightly off center, leaning up. At first glance, there is no clear structure to Mingi's map. He didn't follow the standard four branches at all. His lines are crossing over one another, intertwining, multiple lines pointing at a single word. He's all over the place, filling the entire page, contradicting himself in his words, but at least his writing is legible-ish (small mercies).

Mingi colored thematically, not by depth or degree. He wrote full sentences, and is in full conversation with himself. How can we tell? Because there are at least ten mental steps between thought A and thought B. Like what do you mean you drew "Summer" with 'Mingi' on top, linked it to "my birthday in August" and then linked that to "all four seasons are fine" ?

Practically everyone so far went: Summer → Travel → Sea, and ended it there. Meanwhile, Mingi is going : Summer → my name → my birthday → but all seasons are fine → but chicken → but which chicken → oh actually, dakbokkeumtang → wait, that links to happiness → happiness links to first win → first win was Wave → Wave is summer → back to chicken. This is associative thinking in its purest form.

My guy slow down on the thoughts.

Mingi's structure is nonlinear. His mind map is a network, Everything is connected, there's no "level" system, no hierarchy. A tertiary thought can loop back to the center or jump to a completely different branch. This is so clearly a neurodivergent brain. Like, if he doesn't have at least ADHD, I don't know what to tell you guys...

And the FIX ON logo to the side, the clearest tie to his identity. Mingi left a footprint. This is him. Mingi. Zero filter, zero desire to simplify himself. This is the most inside a member's head we've truly been so far. Mingi argues with himself about chicken, writes lol on his mind maps, and is unapologetically himself. FIX ON.

In all seriousness, his mind map is also very sentimental. He sees the sun and says he's grateful. He thinks of happiness and immediately associates it with ATINY and their tours. The word 'comeback' reminds him of their first win, 'Wave'. His page is filled with feelings. It is the most alive out of all 8.

Overral: Severe case of neurodivergence /10. No wonder he's such a cool guy.

2. Kang Yeosang

This is where I start fearing for my life. /j

You know what? It took me a while to figure out who I wanted to rank in first place. But I had to give Yeosang his point because at least he tried. At least he put effort into this exercise. You can't fault him if he has zero understanding of spatial structure or just no general feel for how this exercise should actually be executed.

This is.. very yeosang coded actually.

And by that, I mean my guy should really consider that autism diagnosis fr.

Yeosang is the only member to begin this mind map exercise from the top right corner of the page. Mingi's map looks all over the place, but his words and lines still followed a logic you could more or less understand. Yeosang does not. Not because his words don't make sense that is—they're straightforward and simple most of the time— but because the structure is so unconventional compared to everything we have seen so far. It is weirder than if all of it was collapsing like mingi's.

To explain more Yeosang circled all his words and colored inside the circles, but the coloring has no clear logic. It's not organized by theme, degree, or section. They're just colored. (sure by his own internal logic that we do not have access to). It also looks like Yeosang started his mind map and halfway through realized he lacked space (or maybe he just didn't care ?), so he just kept expanding on one point over and over again: Summer → body → exercise → protein → meat → beef. It's an interesting chain he broke down. Truly a one-track mind. He stops at beef even though he could go further. He was done.

His writing is messy, and so is the coloring. He doesn't care about staying inside the circles. Matter of fact, I wouldn't even call them full circles because they're just... not ? But he did contain each word in a bubble-ish shape, and the link between each is a straight line. There's a lack of performance from Yeosang. Most members were, more or less, aware of the audience; they tried to make their mind map look pretty in some way, shape, or form, but Yeosang does not. Either he doesn't care, or it genuinely didn't cross his mind to do so ?

And the most interesting detail : "YS brain" linked to Summer, not 'my brain,' but '"YS brain" I also have no idea what that actually means. Does Summer remind Yeosang of himself? Is it the exercise he's doing right now ?

Like ???? What is going on ???

Overral: I don't understand what's happening actually. This is very funny tho. Get this man a screening /10 and I say this with love.

1. Jeong Yunho

If i was a teacher and Jeong Yunho was my student i would consider a career change.

See, the difference between the last two is they, at least, tried their best. Yunho just feels like he's clowning everybody.

"Ah yes! You gave me a mind map exercise, but instead of actually writing words and structuring it with the conventional linear, four sections, two-layers-in structure, I am going to link 'Summer' to only five words, which I am going to draw and represent very poorly, knowing that I have zero drawing skills."

And despite this, this is the most insight I have on how one member thinks (besides Mingi). Yunho thinks in visuals.

Hongjoong drew decorations beside his words. Little boats, little watermelons, little mountains. But Yunho encased his words inside the drawings themselves. He didn't just write "seagull" and drew a seagull beside the word, no. The seagull as it is written is the seagull he drew. They are not separate in his mind. He didn't just draw waves for 'Wave', he drew the exact album cover as he remembers it, as it is. He's not imagining something that's not here. He's tapping from memory.

This is the same instinct that pushes Yunho into mimicking objects or people around him, as well as miming the other members' words or lyrics as they're spoken. Just watch any 'Now This House Ain't a Home' Yunho fancam. He's not just dancing to the song, he's trying to visually represent the lyrics and his thougths through his physical body. It's how he understands and connects with the world— through replication.

show don't tell

Aditionally in Yunho's map, 'Summer' is contained inside the sun, and the five words/images are inside it's field touching said sun, orbiting around it like a solar system. That's exactly why he's number one on this ranking for most unconventional — because everyone else attempted a tree diagram (hierarchical/linear), but Yunho drew a solar system (gravitational/cyclical). His words are held in place by gravity, not by logical descent. That's the most different model we have of how concepts relate to each other.

Suddenly I understand why ATEEZ keep saying he's the weirdest out of all of them, and they can never figure out what goes on inside his brain. (Timing is crazy because San just called Yunho a smiling lunatic/maniac)

Overral: I'm quitting my hypothetical job as a teacher /10. I need a new job. Hire me. He's also neurodivergent af i'll die on this hill.

one day i'll write more more about the cyclical thing and yunho

+BONUS

*After trying the exercise myself (really recommend it btw, it's easy and quick and really does reveal things about your own thought process, even if you're aware of it), it is much harder than you think to come up with words or decide what to write or add. It made Jongho's mind map stand out to me due to how layered and detailed it is. That's a lot of patience, and desire to get to the bottom of things. It might be overwhelming for people who prefer simpler processes.

*The natural impulse for me has also been to follow the tree diagram model with branches and sections. Made me realize that the members who deviated drastically from the standard— Mingi, Yeosang, and Yunho— are all the more unconventional for it.

*I set Seonghwa as the standard, but really, most people will not be as polished as he is. If anything, Wooyoung is closer to what the average person would make. Seonghwa is just the ideal. And by being the ideal, I can't read him as well as the others, which is why my observations of him are so short. All I can say is that he has good visual-spatial awareness, and he has the patience to color-code neatly.

*Ateez clearly love their watermelon and their food. Everyone had a food section, or mentioned some type of dish they love. Food, beyond being something you eat and experience sensory-wise, is also something you share with people.

And CUT !

This was fuuun, hope you enjoyed it too. As always feel free to drop comments or asks ! Let me know how you would have ranked those hehe

byeeeee

[kpopblorbo]

I don't think I need to put out the hotteok distress signal just yet, considering the fact that I crashed out so hard in my slide to me mv reaction post that it earned me a content rating (which is a bit cheeky when I think about the unfiltered smutfics that show up on tags), but my head is being turned by another member...

He has bias-wrecked me, body and soul!

Let's dive in, shall we?

Seonghwa.

He's not in my bias line (bias, Yunho; bias wrecker, Mingi) but I'm a matz shipper so I've always retained a huge amount affection for Seonghwa along with Hongjoong. My attention seems to bounce between all the members though, so, what changed?

Well, a few things.

I hate to start this off by revealing how shallow and superficial I am but the beach pics rewired my brain chemistry.

I can't imagine the discipline, willpower and effort needed to maintain a body like that. It would be rude of me not to look, frankly, when Seonghwa has worked so hard for our viewing pleasure. Now I understand why Hongjoong told Seonghwa he had a fit, pretty body. I would also grab the chance to tell him how fine he is. Seonghwa's body is tea.

I'm Lisa fan. I don't call myself a blink or lily because I resist being part of the fandom but truthfully, I love her album even though everyone says it's dogshit 😭 Maybe I have terrible taste but to me she's great, so I was primed and ready to love this cover, and Seonghwa, Wooyoung and Yeosang did not let me down.

The song requires lots of sass and confidence which they delivered in abundance. Seonghwa twerking and waving his peachy lil tush like that had me on the floor. Lisa is a baddie which aligns perfectly with Seonghwa who is also a baddie! They're both incredibly sensual in the way they dance; their bodies have that snake-y, fluid, agile movement that is entrancing to watch while also hitting the beats hard. I don't know why he surprised me. I mean, he's a performer. I should know this already! I saw the videos of him sticking his fingers in his mouth on the last tour!

His sensuality isn't limited to movements either which brings me onto this image...

This clip is old but I'm a new atiny (relatively speaking) and when I saw this in a fan edit I nearly had a meltdown.

Like, what, why, when, how?? I feel like I'm watching through the keyhole of someone's bedroom!! I found a longer version of this clip and when he takes the blindfold off he stares directly at the camera, breathing heavily. Is he trying to kill me? We need to take a moment to appreciate Seonghwa's acting skills. He can project the feeling of intimacy to the masses like no one else. And those sensual lips...

He co-wrote Skin - a song which perfectly matches his vibe. I mean, with these lines?

Swallow everything deeper //

I can hear your breath, faintly and trembling

I'm loving what I hear //

Trapped in the darkness

Feel each other's breath //

It's written on my skin

You get what I mean about the sensual thing? It's at the very core of his being. He is fully engaged with his senses. Can you imagine what he'd be like if he directed that kind of attention on you?

At this point, I'm like, Yunho, who?

I'm kidding! Sort of...

Ok, ok, I need to walk back from this delulu cliff before I jump off. Let me say I also love Seonghwa's vulnerability, his openness, his artistic integrity.

He's bookish and reads but not only that, he annotates the pages, makes notes, reads out passages on lives, shares his thoughts and reflections with atiny. This man is a scholar on an intellectual journey! It's the reason his anniversary message is so well written. Men who read are sexy and fuckable, them's the rules. Period.

And what about Seonghwa pairings? I love matz but sometimes I feel like I'm sustaining myself on breadcrumbs of very limited interactions while the shippers do the heavy lifting. Meanwhile, Sanhwa are a delicious combination of personalities. They seemed so boisterous and fun on their recent lives. Seonghwa nearly giving San whiplash with the bugatti challenge is chaotic sibling energy. They have a rough and tumble 'lads being lads' vibe which I think guys need as a physical release or vent, and they are clearly comfortable with each other to do that kind of thing. They were also at the beach together where we got the gorgeous thirst trap pics that sent me spiraling in the first place. *dreamy sigh*

There's a million other reasons why Seonghwa is pookie (Seonghwa reading out the word 'jealous' as "jellyous" just like illit song was frickin' cute) but this post has been exhaustive and if you're still reading this please have a cookie as reward 🍪

Oh, Seonghwa, you beguiling, tempting siren. I've been dashed upon the rocks after hearing your siren call. I'm still alive, barely breathing. Wrecked.

[nortism]

It seems like people are automatically assuming that ghost Claudia is 100% telling the truth in regards to her feelings towards Lestat and Louis rather than saying things she knows will hurt Louis out of rage at being stuck in purgatory while he reads her diary entries to her rapist and gets back together with his ex who abused her. Ghost Claudia is clearly in so much pain over her death and separation from Madeleine and is lashing out in the only way she can.

I really don’t think the seance is retconning the Louclaudia relationship into her always having preferred Lestat. I think it makes it clear that Claudia was more easily able to manipulate Louis than he was aware of, or wanted to be aware of. But I also think the ambiguity and the fine line between love and hate remains.

[couldnt-think-of-a-funny-name]

people need to understand that claudia meant every word she said during the seance but that doesn't mean it was always true. she's had what, 80 some years alone in hell? with nothing to do but fester in her thoughts and anger? she can't even have peace in the afterlife? of course she fucking hates them now! of course she's recontextualized her entire life through the lens of suffering and bitterness and revenge. they BONDED back together over her death!!! that doesn't mean louis and lestat's memories of happy years with her are wrong- she just cannot possibly see them that way anymore. they GET to miss her and mourn her but she can't do that. of COURSE all her good memories are tainted. she hates them that much because she used to love them and it wasn't good enough.

[mingiblr]

[consciousferality]

Meta about Jeong Yunho's Slide to Me MV and How It Ended Up Being That Way aka why it doesn't quite satisfy. Disclaimer: I'm Yunho biased, and while the MV felt lacking to me this is not hate, and if the MV gave you everything you wanted I'm happy for you! This is my opinion and you can disagree/block me etc. etc. Shoutout to @storkmuffin and @thirstkanaphan thanks to whom I found out K-pop meta is a Thing that exists on tumblr dot com.

“Yunho performs openness yes, but always on his own terms.” - @neflheimen {link}

Throughout the Slide to Me MV, Yunho is giving us an illusion of being more accessible than he is. We start as watchers, and he knows he's being watched, he looks back at the CCTV before entering the elevator, and then he's inviting us closer, closer. We're in a hotel room alone with him !! we're hovering over him in bed !!! Even being alone in the elevator with him is imaginary proximity. The illusion breaks in the bathroom, because he's fully clothed, but besides that, the rest of it should have worked. In his idol persona in general, Yunho has perfected pretending to be more accessible than he is, to a high art, and this MV is just an extension of that. So it should have worked for me, but it didn't. I've been mulling over why that is.

What Yunho is supposed to be offering here (I have read other ATINYs say this, but opinions may differ) is a restrained sexiness. But I've always been baffled by the portrayal of seduction as Serious, Dark, and, especially if it is a man portraying it, Emotionally Constipated. Flirting is fun, seduction is thrilling and exciting. Desire is expressed dynamically, not just through hooded gazes or whatever. And restraint can be tortured or shy, neither of which Yunho is here. Why did he choose to make desire look like this?

When desire is portrayed as this dark, compelling, irressistible force that renders you helpless, ashamed, guilty (the association of desire with sin and danger that was In Your Fantasy), it just doesn't do it for me (clearly it does it for others though). It doesn't do it for me because that's not how I experience desire, despite shame around sex being ingrained in my upbringing: part of what drew me to k-pop fandom was the unabashed desire of k-pop fans over hot men, and that's also the part of k-pop fandom that helped me heal from my upbringing.

Yunho's demeanour in Slide to Me implies dark seduction, while the lyrics don't. (In Your Fantasy worked because the lyrics matched the Darkly Seductive vibe). In general, when k-pop groups do a sexy concept, it also happens to be dark (not just in aesthetic but the way the performers express it). It's like they struggle to protray it any other way. But since Lemon Drop was an exception, I'd expect Yunho to be able to escape the Default mode of portraying sexiness in his MV. The MV is meant to make us want what we can't access/have. The shot of Yunho touching his neck accomplished that. The rest of it didn't, in my opinion, and I'm disappointed to say that the one shot that worked was one in which we can't see the expression on Yunho's face.

----------

This is where the references-to-Ateez-only portion of this essay ends. Feel free to skip, although it has a point, I promise. There are reasons I want to constrast this MV with Yunho's.

Lee Junho's Imagine MV begins with a book titled 'Imagine'. An actress starts reading the book, which seems to be a romance novel. It describes a desirable and seductive man, and the character is very like Yunho's character in Slide to Me, the suit-wearing stoic type. She imagines her partner, and we imagine our idol, Junho, in the place of the character described. The book also describes his seduction of a woman, who the actress (and we) identify with. Zoom-ins on pages of the book precede the scenes sensually described in that page, and we see them rendered as sensually if not more so on screen. We see Junho in bed, waking up, in the bathtub, like Yunho. Except Junho is unclothed with wet hair in the bathtub, and we see him shaving, so the illusion works. If we didn't know it was our imagination based on the romance novel we're reading within the MV, those shots would all be almost convincing. All throughout, Junho exhibits an awareness of being watched, his movements are deliberate and performative, like Yunho in Slide to Me. Junho is styled to perfection throughout, even in the scenes where he is supposed to be getting ready for the day, and he punctuates these scenes with frontal address (looking back at the camera). Both Yunho and Junho keep returning the voyeuristic gaze.

The next chapter of the romance novel moves on from how the hero is in his home to how he is at work, and we see him with his jacket slung over his chair, sleek and well-groomed. After that, there are scenes with Junho blindfolded, partnered with the actress. Here he can only be looked at, he can't look back; but Junho records and watches the blindfolded scenes. Finally, he and the actress are supposed to have dinner together. The actress arrives, and as Junho closes the door behind her he looks right at the camera. The overlap between the actress and the viewer is broken. Then he embraces her.

When Junho embraces the actress and looks into the camera over her shoulder, this shot changes into a zoom-in on the last page of the book: “We are in a perfect imaginary space with him. Forever…” When the actress closes the book, she looks up to find Junho next to her on the couch–her actual partner Junho, as opposed to the role she imagined for him while reading the book. The actual Junho has his hair fringing his forehead instead of swept back from it, a visual cue for the kind of character he plays; he wears a bright, primary-red shirt, and he smiles innocently.

As I once said in a Dreamwidth post, this MV is remarkable among K-pop MVs for a number of reasons, related to self-reflexivity. The MV is self-aware about K-pop opening up a space for imagining possibilities (of desire, modernity, etc.) for its fans. It also returns the gaze of the voyeur, even when the viewer is supposed to be looking in on a private world (when Junho is bathing, shaving, and so on). Most significantly, Imagine is self-reflexive about the relationship between idols and their fans being constructed as an imaginary sexual relationship. This is remarkable because, while the idol-fan relationship is a simulated romantic relationship in K-pop, K-pop texts generally do not choose to emphasise the imaginary nature of the relationship, and instead seek to consolidate the bond between idol and fan; their addressal usually treats the bond as if it were real.

You know you want me like this, but you can't actually have me, you can only fantasise. Both Yunho and Junho are saying this. It's just that Junho said it so loud and clear that I, perhaps unfairly, wish Yunho said it louder, clearer, better than he did. Yunho operates under several layers of repression: from what is permissible in society (and his specific culture), from his Catholicism, from his idoldom and consequently the persona he created for himself, from events and influences specific to Yunho the person not Yunho the idol (I'm projecting my own doozy of a childhood, but I suspect he grew up being taught that he would earn love by being good enough, yet that love was always withheld). Perhaps what Yunho unwittingly is having us fantasise about is him expressing desire with vulnerability instead of the restraint of having to be the one who withholds and therefore has the upper hand, always. Now I'm going to go fantasise about Yunho realising that these other modes of desire exist and that he can access them and wants to perform them. Imagine Yunho deciding that desire is not a reeling in but an unravelling.

[voidnull-crow]

Yunsang’s mutual playfulness

Fuck it, I love y’all’s meta posts and I want to share my thoughts too. Don’t take it too seriously, it’s all in good fun ;)

Welcome to the puppies playing together, episode 192933836067. Seriously. If you’re unfamiliar with yunsang’s dynamic, playfulness makes up a major part of it.

These guys dynamic pie chart is comprised of sweetness, nudity, deadpan humor, deep respect and admiration of each other, and playfulness, as wonderfully demonstrated with the above clip.

Yunho is wandering down the stage. Yeosang is dancing and interacting with Atiny (a common sight) but he’s gradually backing away from the edge of the stage because he knows a dance break is coming up and he’ll need to head to his place.

Yeosang catches Yunho’s eye, and in a split second decision Yunho falls into a metaphorical play bow. Everything about his body language and face says “play with me” to Yeosang, and he stands there waiting for it.

And Yeosang knows as soon as he sees Yunho what he’s asking for, and adjusts accordingly. You can see it in how how moves his feet; he was going to walk past Yunho in order to get to his place for the dance, but he corrects his autopilot and steps into Yunho’s space instead.

I’d like to point out Yunho’s crossed arms, and how that makes their play more inviting to Yeosang. We know that’s he’s not the most touchy person, and if it was San or Wooyoung posing like this then he’d probably give a wider berth, expecting to be trapped in a hug and/or kiss. But from Yunho, this mock-disappointed pose, almost like a “and where are you meant to be?” tease, also tells Yeosang that Yunho isn’t going to touch him.

So, just like we’ve seen him do with Jongho, Yeosang gets bold, putting himself right up in his face and twirling around him.

Bold Yeosang seems to be exactly what Yunho wants. These two aren’t unfamiliar with being closely face to face, and they’re immune to held eye contact with each other. Yunho’s teasing nudge meets Yeosang’s measured indulgence.

Something common in their skinship is Yunho letting Yeosang take it as far as he wants. He doesn’t push Yeosang into or out of anything. It’s one of the few areas where Yunho cedes control, which is both fascinating and makes complete sense. He trusts Yeosang’s nearly unshakeable professionalism. (And admires it, but that’s a whole different post on its own.)

Neither of them are going to take it farther than intended on camera/stage… unless Yunho’s cute aggression breaks his resolve one day. Which is unlikely but I hold out hope.

Yunho leans in, happy to engage in this tiny moment of play with Yeosang, before both jump right into the muscle memory of the dance break as if nothing happened.

My point is, they are both getting enjoyment out of this, regardless of whether or not it’s fanservice. They fall in and out of this playfulness so easily because they do little things like this all the time.

I could name you dozens of other instances of this playfulness between them, this constant need to amuse the other even if it’s only for the briefest moment on stage.

It’s small, but I think it says a lot about them.

[mininging]

part 1 ┆ part 2

Now that there is an understanding as to the conception of Yungi's dynamic. It is then important to transition to a more in-depth discussion of their friendship: how it works, what makes it work, and why it works.

Yungi's Role in Each Other's Life why

The most important information one should familiarize themselves with to understand Yungi is this: At their core, Yunho is an older brother, and Mingi is a younger brother. This little tidbit of information can explain most of their character.

First, Yunho is what you would describe a golden child. He's extroverted, handsome, tall, athletic, talented, and every time he's been mentioned by others, it's always with a compliment or praise. He's the blueprint for eldest children. If you want to make your parents proud, be like Yunho. To understand a person like Yunho, you need to understand the psychology of the eldest child. And, yes, to constrain him with such a title would be dismissive of all his other personality traits, but it doesn't really (at least to my opinion) because Yunho fulfills the role of the eldest child, even in Ateez really well and seems to recieve gratification from fulfilling said roles. The habit of being the eldest is so deeply ingrained in him that it's already become an unconscious role to him.

To summarize, the eldest children are in particular, more attributed to being leaders, being academically more inclined, organized, dependable, and assertive about their position due to their upbringing where more expectations are placed upon them, with the additional responsiblity of having to be the primary cartaker of their siblings in the happenstance the parents are absent. This might seem familiar to some because that is literally Yunho. Though behavioural studies is a complex branch of psychology and there are numerous variables that might affect the upbringing of a child that would render this theory null; the idea itself is direct enough that without even further speculation, it can be gathered that Yunho's primary personality is similar to that of an eldest child.

Why is this particularly important? Well, that is because Mingi's role is in direct juxtapose of Yunho's. The youngest are usually receptive to follower roles since their position in the family allows them to be in the vicinity of numerous authority figures. They are often described spoiled due to being the deposit of all the parents' love without the threat of dethronement, with fewer responsibilities since they are the responsibility, usually better with interpersonal relationship since their position in the family allows them the ability to converse with different people in the house without consequence. This is not to say that this is the entirety of Mingi's personality; it is only a part of it.

As mentioned, for a relationship to be sustainable, it is not enough to only be polar opposites; it should also be that individuals should share similarities. Yungi works because not only do they have the same work ethic and ideals; it works because as much as they are similar to each other they are also opposites enough that they fill in each others' missing components. Though Mingi is capable of independence, he is still a younger brother at heart who is more comfortable in having a pillar by his side. Not in a way that would control his life, but someone who would reassure him of his decisions, this is even more significant since Mingi is an overthinker. Mingi's need for this pillar is what brings Yunho to the equation. In contrast, Yunho receives comfort when he knows he can be depended on by people, when he can make the decisions, and can be allowed space to be assertive to problem solve. In simple terms, Yunho is a provider. And Mingi is all the more glad to relinquish any responsibilities that would eventually lead him to overthink, to Yunho. Which Yunho is all the more happy to comply.

Yungi's Love Language

Now that it has been established who Yunho and Mingi are to each other, it is only appropriate to continue: How do they show appreciation to each other? Because as beautiful as their dynamic is, the aforementioned points of their friendship relies on an intuitive sense for the other's needs, and no relationship can thrive in such conditions where an apparent sense of love is disguised. It is why it's important to know how you make that love known.

Mingi is a forerunner in this area because he is loud with his appreciation. Unabashedly, so. His straigthforwardness has always been a focal point of his personality and has bled through even the philosophy of his life: Do not be afraid to try something because the worst you can do is try again and fail. Mingi is the type of person who, if he likes someone, would be unafraid to say so. But also the type that if he didn't, he wouldn't make it an effort to make his vindiction known instead, he would channel that energy to create a professional distance. All of which are admirable traits. And though Yunho does not make it known, he is as appreciative of this quirk of Mingi as all of us are.

In attribution to being born the eldest of his family, his partiallity to being a provider, and his deep sense of altruism. You can probably tell that Yunho is a people pleaser (so if you're still wondering who between them has a praise kink, it's definitely Yunho). Though not as overt as others, because Yunho still retains a sense of independence and this quality of his is probably done unconsciously, stemming from the fact that as an eldest, there might've been multiple points in his life where he was expected to be agreeable even in most tactile situations. This habit of repression is common to eldest children since there is a silent burden of them to conform to the standards of the adults. His upbringing might not have given him the chance to explore his feelings as they are, always having to mind the emotions of others. In contrast to Mingi, who we all know is quite frank.

Mingi is Yunho's reprieve because through Mingi, he can see a version of himself willing to express what he thinks because he can never be so frank with his emotions as Mingi is. In turn, in appreciation for Mingi's unconditional loud love, Yunho is more service-oriented, which is the best love language for them because it is in Mingi's nature to question what he cannot see and to demand tangible evidence that he is loved. With words, there's always a space where you can nitpick: the tone, the length of how it is said, the expression it is said with, etc. But, with service, with action, there is little room for doubt because a person expends time and effort to make it known. In simple words, Mingi's words of appreciation compliments Yunho's need to feel needed while Yunho's acts of service can't be misinterpreted by Mingi's T personality.

Yungi: Beyond the Friendship

Even with all the relevant points made, it is not actually the length of their frienship in which should be commemorated, rather it is the ability of that frienship to allow Yunho and Mingi to improve as individuals.

Yunho, thanks to his natural exurbence, softens Mingi somehow, and it doesn't hurt that he presents Mingi to the world as he sees him as this cute and emotional creature that needs tending too, rather than allow Mingi to present himself as this cold-heart boy with hearts for chains. Yunho taught Mingi trust and presence. And if there is more arguement in this area, Mingi said so himself in Youth. He taught Mingi how to be kind. To be kind to himself, to the world, and with that same kindness to trust that the world would be kind in turn. And, most importantly, he showed Mingi a youth worth remembering.

In reality though, it is Yunho who benefits most out of his friendship with Mingi (it is only because Mingi is so vocal about his appreciation that we think it's the opposite). Not only do we see Yunho in his natural role as a caretaker because he has a model to be able to express it with. We can also see Yunho as someone dependable because Mingi is so vocal about his appreciation and because Mingi can be viewed as someone who will only say what he wants, we cannot take his words as anything else. Through Mingi, most of Yunho's emotional needs are fulfilled. And through Mingi, he also found inspiration, a competitor, so to say. Yunho's competitive streak wants someone who is either better than him or someone who can catch up to him. Both of which Mingi fulfills greatly. Mingi's inclination to being a songwriter and Yunho's jack-of-all trades quality sees Mingi as a culpable source of inspiration he can use as his role model for being an artist.

In each other, they found a soulmate that could transcend beyond what we can understand. A relationship we can only hope to conceptualize because it is that deep. It is a miracle, truly, that they found each other in all their likeness and opposites. Their story makes you want to believe in fate.

ps: what i want to say is that if you want your relationship to be successful, just emulate what yungi have. they're dissimilar enough that they compliment each other's flaw, but similar enough to maintain interest with each other. and both those qualities have allowed them to grow beyond what that relationship needs and became their own persons because of it

[storkmuffin]

Ms Muffin!

Hate to add to your back log but very interested in your thoughts on Yunho’s treatment of Mingi in this recent content: https://youtu.be/3d91_RcGGuM

Even though it’s a fact paced competition, he seems to have suppressed the mean oppa and competitiveness in favor of being very gentle and supportive of Mingi. Maybe the setup was already too mean to Mingi. Why did they put him first? Why didn’t they switch him out like the other team did for Jongho? If Yunho had come down on Mingi in any way he would’ve looked terrible. Still, this seemed like a very sweet reminder of team supporting, team player Yunho.

26.4.4.

.... Who are you. Did Yunho send you. Isn't he busy bias wrecking everybody by being adorable during the on-going Asia tour and going viral for looking at dildos and stuff? Like why are you in my inbox prompting me so irresistibly to write about him. - I WAS ALMOST OUT.

BUT HERE WE GO WITH THE YUNHO META AGAIN. This really is getting to be a compulsion at this point. I'm delighted, let's be clear, that there's new stuff, but like, resentful about my delight.

THE REASON THIS IS PRIMO YUNHO META FOOTAGE:

Yunho is ready to clock out for the day here. He's not trying to DO anything, in particular. He just wants to get through whatever this thing is that San, the fanservice King and Jongho, who makes everything worse, came up with, as quickly as possible and then just GO HOME. So we are getting something very close to echt Yunho. Yunho not clowning, not trying to 'gain' footage, not trying to be funny. Usually, you know, if we were to use make-up as a metaphor, Yunho the Idol is wearing a full face of make up - color correction BB and foundation and concealer and highlighter and powder and setting spray, you know? But THIS Yunho is at most wearing tinted sunblock, persona-wise.

And what does echt Yunho naturally do?

Yunho protects Mingi from the start to the end.

Physically protecting Mingi by being a wall between Mingi and the Rest: This silly game they're playing requires coordination, concentration and patience. In direct proportion to how smooth, fast and excellent as a dancer he is on stage, Mingi just can't cope with like, objects or his body off stage. (He's constantly dropping shit, bumping into things and falling over). There's also an alarming clattering noise that comes with this game, regardless of success, and Mingi is hypersensitive to sound. It's is evidently not going to be an easy game for Mingi to play.

So Yunho automatically brings Mingi to his side to sit with him. He physically becomes a barrier between Mingi and the members who might get annoyed at Mingi and start screeching at him, disorienting him further. (In fact, both Yeosang and Jongho try this, screeching at Mingi to fluster him). And you know it MAY be coincidence that the people most likely to have at Mingi for repeat failures are all on the other team, BUT CAN WE BE SURE?

Mingi apologizes to his team when he fails over and over, but in net effect he ends up apologizing only to Yunho because Seonghwa has decided that staying far away and uninvolved is the best strategy for his mental health and San has understood what Yunho's action in placing himself between Mingi and everyone else means, so he doesn't even look at Mingi, because he's not about to fight Yunho.

Mingi knows that if he had been on the same team or seated next to Wooyoung, in particular, he would've at least sustained temporary hearing loss from being yelled at each time he failed - that's why he has to launch that zinger about how much Wooyoung sucks at this game on his way out the door.

Emotional Protection by Making Ming Go First: Yunho thinks a step faster than everyone else in games of strategy (which is why he often wins them) and actually, in relay games like this, that require some sort of skill, you want to have your worst player go first, because that way, as long as you're over the first hurdle, everyone else is smooth sailing. If you keep failing as the first runner, it's only the second runner who yells at you, but if you've gone through first and second players and you fuck up as the third or even worse, the final player, EVERYONE hates you. Making Mingi go first was Yunho protecting Mingi.

Emotional Protection by Playing Assistant and Coach to Mingi: Yunho is the one that rearranges the bowls every time Mingi fails. He examines Mingi's form very closely (he knows Mingi's body and movement tendencies much better than Mingi does Yunho's, I bet) to give pinpoint coaching which is never, ever critical. There's even praise: It's not working because you're too strong. (SHOULD WE LEAVE YOU TWO ALONE FFS).

Yunho might be getting impatient but his volume and temperature (warmly reassuring) of voice and speed of speech towards Mingi does not alter even as Mingi himself gets increasingly aggravated at never moving beyond stage 1. There's a startling amount of self control there (which can only be fueled by love - fuck you Yunho, I can't believe you made me say this, I AM NOT A YUNGI SHIPPER), because as soon as Mingi DOES make it, and we sail through Yunho's turn, because he has fully figured out exactly what to do (from watching Mingi and the other's failures very closely and also just being a freak who's good at all physical endeavors), and it's now in San's hands, Yunho is standing up, his voice is loud, he's talking fast, he's PRESSURING SAN to do it JUST DO IT RIGHT IN ONE GO in a way he hasn't done through like, six? seven? eight? tries that he closely observed Mingi fail.

When Seonghwa fails and we have to go BACK to Mingi, Yunho goes right back to calibrating his voice and speech, speaking quietly and warmly and patiently to get Mingi through it again, and playing assistant with very fast hands again so Mingi doesn't lose momentum.

......

My teeth are rotting in my goddamn skull from how sweet this is. This must be what Yunho is actually like to Mingi all the time, in real life, behind the scenes and away from cameras. Because we know Mingi and the compulsive truth telling - if it was unusual behavior, Mingi would have HAD TO say, Why are you being so nice to me? or Thank you for being patient or something, but he doesn't He just takes this tender, warm, protective care that Yunho automatically locks into providing as his due.

........................... STORKMUFFIN IS DONE, POSSIBLY FOREVER. GOODBYE EVERYONE.

[ateezhub]

ATEEZ performing 'Ghost'

[kpopblorbo]

I'm going to be spending the next 7-10 business days thinking about Hwagi's Troublemaker, which will include but not be limited to:

How gaggy it was

Watching every fancam I come across on every social media platform I use

Mingi unleashing his inner diva to perfection

The garter strap on Mingi's thigh that tightened when he hit his diva poses

Mingi's vocals (the deep voice but also high notes hello???)

Mingi slut drop

The back grab

Grabbing Hwa's tiddies

Hwa controlling Mingi's bakery buns with fingers clicks

Hwa switching up day 2 by clutching Mingi's swaying buns

Mingi rizzing up Hwa, getting him all giggly and shy

Mingi's luscious pouty lips inches away from Hwa's face

The head tilt angled perfectly for a kiss

It's Hwagi's world and we just live in it.

And to think Mingi slipped down my bias line. This was his way of saying "I'm gonna serve exactly what you are... CVNT!"

[starcatching]

SEONGHWA & MINGI TROUBLE MAKER 260719

[abbiegg]

What I was looking forward to in the TVL season was chemistry galore with Lestat and Marius, Lestat and Akasha, and Lestat and Louis. The pilfering didn't leave even a spark for the first two pairings.

[asliceofoceanmist]

STOCKS HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE UP

[giadishere]

I am the meteor above it Writing your name in dust as I fall

[sugarcarnation]

really struck by how claudia grieving madeleine seems to be the thing that gets most to lestat during the seance. he only starts to cry when claudia tells them that she can’t find her companion, that’s she’s been alone this entire time. and of course this is what would get to him. the thing he fears the most is loneliness. so knowing that his daughter found a companion only to lose her again in death. it’s devastating