Jikook's relationship is a reflection of their stacked history, drawing from their personal experiences and their daily encounters of over a decade.
I talked (ranted!?) before about how the mundane elements of their trip was the centre focus of the first two episodes. Just two guys driving, talking, playfighting, stroking, hiking, boating, shopping, cooking, eating, pooping 😔✊🏽 and sleeping together. Rinse. Repeat. Their chemistry is the glue that holds AYS all together. Their relationship has been years in the making, leading to that dynamic that only they know.
Jimin knows a Jungkook only he knows. Jungkook knows a Jimin only JK knows.
They know the special nuances their voices take on when one of them is tired, joking or serious, or teasing. They know. And it's not for us to judge from afar. We're lucky we even get to watch.
I love the idea of stacked history. Their rainy day fight stacked along with their first encounter: "I thought he was my hyung," 🥺 .. the late night dance practices and the sleeping outside, confessions shared. Their first Tokyo trip and so many more moments we know nothing about. Their relationship is like a stone tower built with the best rocks. A couple of lager ones to make it tall and sturdy, the smaller ones to fill in the gaps. But each one is needed to create a strong tower: balance.
These two have been so obvious and blatant for years. Luring me in with cute ass pics and flirty behavior disguised as clumsiness.
In reality, what they have transcends brotherly and two dimensional bonds. They are as real as two idols who can't seem to stop the gravitational pull fusing them together.
My coochi beat for Choochi long before I knew what to call them, how I felt about them and who's shenanigans it was that kept me coming back.
It was #them all along.. This duo.. Their bond. It was the sparkly glint animated into their eyes as they longed to bounce their bloated bodies into one another.
I guess moments like these remind me of how serious Jikook’s situation is and help me realize and remember, always, respectfully, that behind the joy and the reposts, and the fan theories and the shows, there is a bit of tragedy. Just a tiny, tiny bit of melancholy, that’s been lingering and will linger until they’ll feel totally free.
In no regular friendship or situation you’d ever have to control yourself from hugging, touching, resting on the other. And, overall, in no loving bond, you should ever be forced to hold that back. But it happens, and it has been happening for years, as we know.
And of course it depends on context - a stage is different from a travel show, for example, where we’ve seen them being a bit more open. This moment above does not determine neither that Jikook’s bond has changed nor that they feel more or less free, it does not put an unshakable spell on their destiny.
Their situation requires them to accommodate their relationship differently based on where and how exposed they are and feel, and holding back from touching does not mean things are doing better or worse; they touched throughout the entire concert anyways.
It just represents, to me, that some patterns are still there, and that we - I, let’s say, need to take a step back when it comes to it all, because while the focus on my end is supporting and fangirling, I feel like it is also acknowledging.
Acknowledging that Jikook have been trying, for a decade, to show more, and open up more, and give hints and signs, and it all might just be bullshit I hallucinated, but I won’t risk ignoring it.
Acknowledging that there are no such things as “louder phases”, or “louder years”. It’s been a lifetime of trying to reach out to people and trying to make them see what they can’t show.
Acknowledging that I’m proud of them. I’m incredibly, deeply, sincerely proud of who they’ve become. Of Jimin’s long hair, of Jungkook’s tattoos, of the way they speak, the way they have overcome so many battles, the way they prioritize each other. The way they protect, defend, and claim each other.
I’m proud of how they’ve adjusted, step by step, year by year, on a flow that respects their timing, and fears, and needs, with love as the only goal. I’m proud of their resilience, and collapses, and getting back on their feet. I’m proud of their journey.
Of all they share, all they do, of how they’ve claimed their relationship with a show that’s only theirs. With saying “it’s better when it’s just you and I”. I don’t give it for granted, because these are all huge signs of braveness and healing, brick by brick.
But still, this was a good reminder, once again, of how deep Jikook’s bond is and how delicate their story is. How delicate their situation is very likely to be, beyond twitter threads or fan wars. Beyond all the noise, it’s very likely that a wounded human story exists, and it’s made of moments like these.
Of hiding in bathrooms, of interrupting v-lives, of feeling scared if someone catches you taking a picture, or laying close on a chair. Of challenges, I’d say, to keep it respectful as the stranger that I am.
Because we mention the beauty of what they have going on so much, and I always will, I’ll never stop. It deserves to be praised loudly, louder and louder and louder. But, I hope, without getting too used to the fact that it’s not fully bloomed.
Maybe because they don’t want to, even if society allowed them to; maybe because they don’t feel the need; maybe because they have other plans in the near future.
All I want to say is that if even for a small, small instant, Jimin and Jungkook have felt like they were wounded, trapped, or oppressed, it’s that instant the one I don’t wanna forget. The one I wanna give recognition to. Because their lives go on as they always have, but if Jungkook feels even the tiniest bit of discomfort when he has to walk away from Jimin, squeezing his shoulder before he goes, then I wanna acknowledge it and say that I’m sorry, I see it, and I pray for different times only if they want it too.
Just so that “hidden relationship in an homophobic country” does not become an automatic expression that loses intensity. Just so we can always remember that behind, or maybe at the base, of this support, love, cherishing, there is a bit of unfairness. A layer of injustice that needs to be spoken and that we shouldn’t get used to.
I had the same thoughts over Jungkook’s reaction to a coming out at an Harry Styles concert, I just couldn’t find the words to express it properly back then. The way he nodded when Harry asked “do you feel good?”, the way Tae put his hand on JK’s head, with the true gentleness of a friend, and, above all, the way Jungkook shrugged his shoulders that just…touches my heart.
It’s like he was hugging himself.
Because maybe this is all a bunch of nothing. And a lot of people will think it is as they do with 90 percent of the stuff I share.
But, as I always say, I’d rather be wrong, delusional, unrational, than find out that a queer couple was struggling and asking for recognition the entire time and I simply ignored it. I wouldn’t be able to bear the weight.
I’d rather come on here and say that I’m sorry Jimin felt like he had to step back, and that Jungkook sighed when someone came out, and that he cheered for them as loud as he could from his mask and hoodie, and shrugged his shoulders in a way that I can’t quite talk about because it aches.
And I’m sorry that they had to hide in bathrooms or pretend on so, so, so many occasions that we all know about. I’d rather say that I see it, and I love them. And that if there is really something to set free…
then I hope they will, when they’re ready, if they’ll ever want it. I’ll be right here.
tbh I feel the same ache when I notice those tiny pauses. the way they seem to measure their gestures. the way a glance lingers just a second less than it wants to. It’s not loud not obvious but it’s there if you’re paying attention And it makes you wonder how much of them the world actually gets to see and how much is carefully tucked away because it has to be...
What’s frustrating is that we live in a time people love to call 'progressive' yet for so many queer individuals, that freedom still comes with conditions. It’s like you’re allowed to exist, but only within lines someone else has drawn. There’s always this invisible checklist of what’s acceptable, what’s too much, what will invite judgment. And that constant awareness doesn’t just disappear, even for people who seem powerful or celebrated.
😔
If you really think about it, life is already so short and unpredictable. Most people spend years just trying to understand themselves, to figure out what makes them feel alive, what love means to them. And then even after finding that, there’s this whole other battle of whether the world will allow you to live it openly. that’s such a heavy thing to carry for something that should be simple and human.
In my opinion, Love shouldn’t have to pass through a filter of public approval. It shouldn’t be something you dilute or hide just to fit into expectations that were never made with you in mind. And yet, so many people still have to weigh their happiness against acceptance, safety, reputation… things that others don’t even have to think about..
It really comes down to one question: why does anyone else get a say in something so personal?
Why should someone else’s discomfort outweigh another person’s right to live honestly?
No one else is living your life for you. No one else feels what you feel. So why should they get to decide how much of it you’re allowed to show?.
I think that’s why those small, restrained moments hit so hard..they remind you of everything that isn’t being said, everything that’s being held back. And at the same time, they make you hope for a world where someday, no one has to hold back at all...
When the announcement of BTS’s new album came out, the complaints, the demands and the entitlement all started again. But, to many people’s surprise, it didn’t just come from the industry, the press or other fandoms; it came from BTS’s own fandom.
There were countless complaints and even more accusations. Everyone seemed eager to point fingers, carefully avoiding placing any responsibility on the seven people they claim to support. Because, of course, whenever it suits the narrative, they suddenly become nothing more than pawns of a company that controls them and uses them purely for profit. It is a convenient argument, one that removes any need to acknowledge that BTS are grown men with agency, opinions and creative control over their own work.
Different reactions emerged almost immediately. Some things were praised by one part of the fandom, questioned by another, and outright rejected by others. It created a strange atmosphere where no one seemed fully satisfied. Even when something was objectively well done, it was still not enough for everyone.
Then the album was released. It is different. It is more mature, more introspective and, in many ways, more restrained. It is also excellent. Yet the complaints, the demands and the entitlement didn’t stop. Some people tried to present themselves as satisfied, but there was always an underlying reluctance, as if they were forcing themselves to accept something that didn’t align with what they had imagined.
What followed was almost predictable. Critical acclaim began to pour in. Reviews highlighted the growth, the cohesion and the artistic direction of the album. The numbers spoke for themselves as well, reflecting a successful and well-received project. Suddenly, the tone shifted. There was pride again, because if there is one thing a large portion of the fandom values deeply, it is validation through numbers and awards. Those achievements become tools for comparison, for proving superiority over other fandoms. In that moment, everything seemed fine again. Yet beneath that surface-level satisfaction, the expectations for the tour had already been firmly established.
When the tour was announced, people began constructing their ideal versions of it. Everyone created their own setlists, imagined transitions, and visualised specific performances. These imagined concerts were built from personal favourites, songs from different albums, different comebacks and different emotional attachments. In doing so, many forgot a very simple and consistent pattern. Tours are usually centred around the most recent album. That has always been the case. And that is exactly what happened here. The difference is that this particular album doesn’t demand the same intensity in terms of choreography. Its tone is calmer, more reflective, less focused on high-energy performances and more on musicality and atmosphere. For many, that was disappointing, not because it was objectively lacking, but because it didn’t match the version of the concert they had already created in their minds.
There was also an expectation that this tour would resemble the PTD concerts. Or maybe the free concert in Busan. However, those concerts were built around a different concept. They were structured in a way that allowed for a broader selection of songs from across their discography. This time, there is a clear album identity guiding the tour. The structure is not new; it is simply being applied to a different kind of project. Yet that distinction seems to be overlooked.
The deeper issue lies elsewhere. While BTS have clearly evolved and moved forward, a significant portion of the fandom has remained attached to the past. Nostalgia plays a powerful role here. It shapes expectations, influences perception and creates a fixed idea of what BTS should be. This affects not only long-time fans, but also newer ones. Many of them experienced their first comeback in real time with this album. When it didn’t match the stories they had read or the moments they had seen from previous comebacks, it led to disappointment. Those expectations, built on past experiences rather than present reality, became the foundation for frustration. And instead of adjusting those expectations, many chose to criticise the outcome.
Having expectations is not inherently wrong. It is natural to anticipate something you care about. The problem arises when those expectations turn into rigid demands. What is happening now goes beyond simple disappointment. It has turned into open criticism of BTS’s work, their artistic choices and their direction. People dismiss the album, question the concert and undermine their decisions, often hiding behind the excuse that it is the company’s fault. This argument persists despite the fact that it has been stated repeatedly that BTS have significant involvement in their careers. They are not passive participants. They contribute to the creative process; they make decisions, and they shape their own path. Ignoring this reality simplifies the situation in a way that is both inaccurate and dismissive of their autonomy.
The reaction also highlights a broader issue within the fandom. There is a tendency to selectively acknowledge information. When something aligns with personal preferences, it is accepted. When it doesn’t, it is dismissed or misunderstood. This is evident in the way some people interpreted Bang PD’s interview with Billboard or parts of the Netflix documentary. Rather than engaging with the content critically, many filtered it through their own expectations.
Now, yesterday’s concert. Looking at the concert itself, it is important to consider the context. The first show was affected by heavy rain. That alone introduces variables that impact performance, staging and overall flow. Jimin himself addressed this, indicating that adjustments had to be made. It is reasonable to expect that future shows, under different conditions, may present a more accurate representation of what they had in mind for the tour.
Even so, the core question remains. What are people attending these concerts for? Is it solely for choreography, or is it for the music, the atmosphere and the connection between artist and audience? Performance is a combination of many elements, not just physical intensity. If BTS chose to prioritise certain aspects over others, there is likely a reason behind that decision. Another recurring complaint has been the duration of the concert. The concert lasts approximately two and a half hours; it is not a short show by any standard. The absence of solo stages and extended VCR segments contributed to a slightly more condensed structure. However, those elements serve specific functions. In this case, the structure appears to have been influenced by both the album and the stage design. A more complex stage setup can limit movement and increase transition times, leading to adjustments in how the show is organised. The lack of solo songs also aligns with the album itself, which doesn’t feature individual tracks. This consistency suggests intentional planning rather than oversight.
I was actually going to compare the number of songs on this tour’s setlist with previous ones, and the difference really isn’t that significant when you look at it properly. But someone on Twitter already did that breakdown, so I’ll just post a screenshot instead. That honestly saved me the time and effort, and it also helps to have everything laid out clearly in one place.
What stands out when you look at those comparisons is that this tour is not some huge outlier like people are making it seem. The structure is actually very consistent with what BTS have done before. Most of the songs in each setlist have always come from the album that the tour is centred on. That has been the standard approach for years. The only real difference this time is that the album itself has fewer tracks, so naturally, the setlist feels more limited in variety to some people.
But that does not mean the concert is lacking. It just means the focus is tighter. Previous albums often had more songs to pull from, which made it easier to create the illusion of a broader mix while still technically centring the tour around one project. This time, because the album is more concise and cohesive, that structure is more noticeable.
It also highlights something else people tend to overlook. Setlists are not just about cramming in as many songs as possible. They are designed with flow in mind, with pacing, with transitions, with the overall experience of the show. Adding more songs from older eras just for the sake of variety could easily disrupt that balance, especially when the tone of the current album is so distinct from their past work.
So when you actually take a step back and compare things properly, the difference is not as dramatic as people claim. It only feels that way because expectations were built around a different idea of what the tour should be, rather than what it was always likely going to be based on how BTS have structured their tours in the past.
So maybe the problem is that some people expect too much of different things.
When I became a fan years ago, I remember seeing comments from people who were angry at the agency in the past for pushing them too hard on tour, for putting them in situations where they needed oxygen masks backstage, where they would collapse from sheer exhaustion, where they had to step on stage and perform just days after losing a family member. Do you remember when everyone was genuinely upset about the level of pressure they were under, especially after they revealed in 2018 that they had even considered disbanding because of it? Do you remember when they were finally given a proper break in 2019 and people praised that, saying it was long overdue? Because that is what I remember seeing. But now, those same fans are the ones asking for more. More intense choreography, more tour dates, more output, even under conditions like performing in the rain, as if none of those past concerns ever existed. All of this is justified simply because they are fans, as if that alone gives them the right to demand more and more without limits.
At what point did that shift happen? When did the conversation stop being about their wellbeing and start revolving entirely around expectations? When did they stop being seen as human beings with physical limits and emotional realities, and start being treated like products designed to deliver a specific experience on demand?
Because that is what it starts to feel like. Not support, not appreciation, but consumption. And there is a difference, even if many people refuse to acknowledge it.
“But it’s my money… I didn’t pay for this.” Then don’t. Don’t listen to them. If this version of BTS doesn’t resonate with you, go back to their older songs, revisit their past content and enjoy what you already love. That option has always been there, and it still is. Their earlier comebacks haven’t disappeared just because they’ve chosen to move forward.
And to be fair, the agency has done a good job preserving all of that. There is a huge catalogue of past comebacks, performances and tours that people can return to at any time. Nothing has been taken away. If anything, there is more access now than ever before.
Supporting an artist has never meant having control over the direction they take. You are choosing to engage with what they create, not dictating what they should create next. If the current direction does not align with your preferences, stepping back is a valid choice. But demanding that they go backwards just to meet those expectations is something else entirely.
Like Hobi said, they haven’t changed. Not in the way people claim. The core of who they are is still there. What has changed is the context, the stage of life they are in, and the way they choose to express themselves. The real shift has happened within the fandom. And that is what makes it disappointing. Not that BTS have grown, but those parts of the fandom have struggled to grow with them.
I’ve always believed that the only thing a fan can demand from an artist is good music, and BTS have consistently delivered quality music. That is the one expectation that can reasonably be held, and they have met it. Beyond that, their artistic direction is theirs to define. Each member brings different influences, different perspectives and different goals. That diversity is part of what allows them to evolve. Staying the same indefinitely is not sustainable in any creative field. Growth requires change, and change inevitably leads to division in audience response. Ironically, those who criticise them for changing would likely criticise them for stagnation if they had remained the same.
The ability to explore new sounds while maintaining a core identity is what sustains longevity. It allows artists to remain relevant without losing themselves. And Arirang confirmed it.
In the end, this situation reflects a broader dynamic between artists and their audience. Change is inevitable, but acceptance of that change varies. Some will adapt, others will resist, and some will choose to step away.
The reality is simple. The past cannot be recreated exactly as it was. It can be revisited, appreciated and remembered, but not relived in the same way. Expecting it to return unchanged only leads to frustration.
So for those who find themselves disappointed, there are two options. Accept the direction BTS are taking and experience this new phase with an open mind, or remain with the version of them that resonates most personally. Both choices are valid, but they require honesty.
Because at the end of the day, supporting an artist should not mean controlling them. It should mean allowing them the space to grow, even if that growth doesn’t always align with what you expected.
'KooKoo San who takes his pretty blonde boyfriend to meet his Dad'
The ChooSungHoon content began with this weird akward vibe that slowly dissipated thanks to Jimin’s infinite charm and the comfortable laidback setting. They literally warmed up to eo, it was so cute!
Jimin and Jungkook acting like a married couple, bcs they can't help it.
And trust me.. father approved, he even fell a love with the blonde a little himself.
Every once in a while, with while meaning 7 days a week, the absolutely craziest Jikook lore comes visiting me, and I know some people hate to go back on stuff that has already been discussed but my brain… my brain loves it.
Today’s pick of my fried neurons is this vlive from 2016 I’ve linked above. Lots of fun, laughing, lots of just genuine lovely vibes going on thanks to Jin’s warm and funny presence over all. But like…as usual… when Jikook’s involved…here it comes…
🐘
the elephant in the room.
Someone should write a poem about it.
This poor boy has been hanging out with Jikook since debut and good lord someone give him a medal.
Going back to the live, I thought I was gonna feel more nostalgic re-watching it, but with promotions and comeback happening now it actually made me feel very at ease and happy. If you want, give yourself these 30 minutes of pure chaos. Chaos and…
🐘
So Jimin’s hair by this time looks blonde, and lots of lollipop action is going on, plus the low quality of the vlive app and the general 2016 aesthetic of it all. Basically, Jimin’s hot as fuck throughout the whole thing.
Then at one point, Jungkook knocks. Knock knock knock knock, had your little fun fella? and all that.
And that menace on the other side won’t let him in unless he says…
🐘🦓🐆
The whole fucking SAVANNA has been summoned.
Then the iconic Jin’s dolphin laugh happens, which is honestly top 5 army moments, and then some picture (yes guys, you can come too 🐟🦞🐙) starts being mentioned.
Jungkook is left in, after some threat about posting a certain picture of HIMSELF on twitter makes Jimin’s ass shake. As soon as he’s in the room, they start literally FLIRTING over candy.
Then they start having their fun interactions. All good. Like Jungkook saying:
PLEASE. I NEED YOU TO WATCH THIS LIVE IF YOU HAVEN’T THEY’RE THE MESSIEST TRIO😭😭😭. Anyways.
From this moment on, around 15:25 min., the flirting vibe is HEAVY. The elephant is giving birth to twins, and they’re all walking around the room. Jimin starts sucking on the lollipop as if he’s deep in thought and he’s releasing all the energy on the poor candy thing. And he’s looking at Jungkook the entire time, while Jin’s asking him “why are you here?”.
Jungkook’s excuse, as usual, is that he was watching them and thought of joining for fun.
Then Jimin says:
Now you know Jimin. You know this face. This smirk. This tone. YOU PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IM GOING CRAZY OVER.
Jimin starts saying that Jungkook used to listen, but now he doesn’t, smiling and all that, and then he teases fans by showing 0.1 milliseconds of Jungkook’s body laying on bed while sucking lollipop too. Repeating “you wanna see Jungkook, don’t you? You wanna see him? You want me to show more of him?”. At this point he’s talking too fast to be really reading any comments about showing JK.
Jimin, honey, you’re talking to your own soul.
And I’d be going feral too. Look at this diva.
An insane amount of funny moments happens in the span of 15 seconds, STOB IT too, and I can’t help but notice how young they were, and how immature and still unstable Jikook’s interactions- and overall relationship - still was. They had a lot to work on, and definitely there was something unspoken going on. Something fresh starting.
And then, towards the end, Jimin starts complaining. He says that the livestream is missing some sense, as they’re just playing around and laughing non stop. Jungkook understands that Jimin wants to escape and get to his room, since he just asked “can I go to my room while on air?”, and asJK hears this, he takes his phone out saying “you guys…”.
As Jimin gets up to leave, ready to run, Jungkook’s arm stops him, holding him by his hips (this is not ao3 I swear on jesus). And here we understand why Jungkook took his phone out: there is a picture of himself, which is very clear from the vlive frame, that he wants to post on twitter.
Apparently, this picture is not approved by Jimin for some reason. So not approved, that Jungkook saying he’s gonna post it is enough for Jimin to sit back on his chair, say “no, no, no, okay, I won’t leave”, while looking shy and obedient.
🐒🦄🦖
If you zoom in the left corner, you’ll see that the picture Jungkook took OF HIMSELF and that he’s threatening JIMIN to post is this one:
Now if you don’t see it your blind my love, but still deserve awareness: in the picture, Jungkook has a hickey on his neck. Which would make explainable if he, himself, was hesitant about posting it.
But why is Jimin…. Why does Jimin… why….
🐡🦭🦧
Yeah. I mean. It’s pretty obvious. You got it, right? Okay. Yeah. Whatever. I’m COMPLETELY normal about this cousins behavior.
You threaten your friend about posting a picture where you’re alone, in a car, looking super hot and confident, with a red mark on your neck that is, of course, a hickey. Oh, if you’re wondering how I got the picture… it’s because Jungkook ended up posting it.
Now you might be thinking “wow, Jungkook being a brat like that?” and I’m like he has always been a freak, BUT, this was 2016 Jungkook, so…
I would’ve been leaving hickeys on that neck too Jimin my boy you did THE RIGHT THING.
And in Jungkook’s shoes, I would have been BRAGGING about it non.fucking.stop.too.
And man, I never had a single doubt that Jimin was territorial. Never ever in my life. We’re talking about the man who told “marry me Jungkook” armys that “Jungkook is sleeping”. Who asked Jungkook “what have you decided then?” after he read a marry me comment, who looked pissed at the waiter being charmed by Jungkook’s personality, who wrote his OWN name with sunscreen….
on. his. abs.
and. took. a. pic. of. it. we. will. never. see. and. god. knows. how. many. other. pics. of. each. other’s. bodies. they’ve. got. on. their. phones. because. we. have. just. learned. that. they. like. taking. pics. of. each. other’s. marks. on. their. bodies. or. to. be. more. specific. of. Jimin’s. horny. ass. leaving. marks. on. Jungkook. because. he’s. large. but. I’m. in. charge.
It’s been 10 years. And the lore has only gotten worse. In the best sense.
In the sense that now Jungkook’s no longer embarrassed when he has to praise Jimin or show complete devotion towards him. In the sense that they don’t have unresolved tensions they ignore, and that there is commitment and growth that they have worked towards and achieved together.
In the sense that they are the closest, protecting each other, taking care of each other through life, which gets harder, and can feel lonelier, and yet they’ve chosen each other as anchors. Because they were kids, they were young, they were figuring it all out.
But man, also in the sense that they were horny, and they still are and they make me too and I’m like WOAH. Some things never change. You take the man out of the city not the city out the man.
Happy to share rooms in AYS, spending quality time with bro while writing thinking pieces at the window, pants exchange, sharing showers and slapping butts. Oh…
How have you been handling this comeback so far? I have been very overwhelmed by the amount of content we are getting, it’s hard to keep track of honestly.
Im a baby army and this is my first ot7 comeback so i didnt expect it to be so robust with the content, but i am enjoying it a lot. Love the album, love long hair jimin and have been loving the jikook crumbs
Hi kind stranger,
I can only imagine how overwhelming it is to have this be your first cb! My first real comeback was Dynamite. Back then we were still living in that covid lifestyle. Less outside responsibilities and (me at least) had more free time to be glued to my phone and inhale all of the promo videos. Remarkably, back then we didn't have bangtan on Instagram or the clock app, so it wasn't as wild as it is now.
I say: just embrace the fomo. You're bound to miss something as it's happening and there is no point to burning out over missed content. Follow at your own pace and prioritize whatever is important to you. Be that streaming 'right', or keeping up with the posts on sm, or engaging with your army friends. Everything is fine! There is no right way to stan bangtan.
I have been less active here for instance. It's been difficult to keep up with Twitter, so I decided to be IA there..and only scroll every once in a while. I do prioritize streaming and watching the og content like the live cb concert and the documentary. Did you enjoy those as much as I did?
Maybe you'll inspire me to pull my thoughts on those two things together, just for myself and whomever wants to read it.
I've also inhaled my Jikook crumbs. And damn, they really are crumbs 🥲 I think anyone who knows them, knows they're meaningful little moments, but they're few and far between what we were swimming in only 6 months ago.. I'm not holding my breath for any Jikook in official content, but I'm sure we'll get them once the tour starts.
When all is said and done, once the public fronting business of being a member filming BTS content is done, that's when the mask drops. It's in the behinds, the bangtan bombs, the little moments of humanity where Jimin’s Jimin takes his time to listen and engage with him.
That's where the layers start shimmering into diffusion and their bond becomes fully visible. Why that is? I can only speculate and I won't. That's for everyone to decide for themselves. But seeing those moments is what I love most. That's why I'm still here writing on this silly blog, because I see something real there. Something that elevates my bts experience to another level. I try (and try) to keep my expectations 'with no strings attached'.
I have no expectations, there is no set script they need to follow for me to 'believe', or stop believing. I love Jikook, over and out.
If what we saw in the past is all we get, then I'm happy for them. I we get more, same. Picking these people's bones so I can feel satisfied is not why I'm here.
I haven't seen anyone talk about this, but I've been thinking about Jimin's verse in Normal:
Heavy is the head when you chasin' true
Will you color me red? Will you color me blue?
Two sides of a coin, and they both ain't true
Is it different for mе? Is it different for you?
Even though there could be many interpretations of these lyrics I'm sure these - red and blue - colours weren't an accidental or random choice.
They make up taegeuk at the center of the South Korean flag, representing the dichotomy and balance of yin (blue) and yang (red), the concepts of which are commonly associated with female and male among other things.
We've seen Jimin express androgyny, gender nonconformity, and gender fluidity many times over the years. There are too many examples for this to be insignificant or coincidental:
His self expression in the "Jimin's room" photos for BE, with different make up and accessories applied on each side of his face, the right side being more feminine.
His hand drawn tattoos in ARMY.zip photographs from 2020
His choice of clothing and accessories from womens ranges
His gender-fluid references in the Like Crazy MV, again dividing his face and styling half feminine/ half masculine with makeup and accessories.
The Latin writing on his hands - "Illecebra" and "Arcanus" using masculine and feminine forms, and the womens' clothing on the mannequin in his performance of Filter.
The concept photos from Muse, which show a feminine styled top underneath his uniform, not to mention the abundance of Smeraldo flowers.
Performing a korean fan dance, which is usually reserved for women
Taemin, who knows Jimin very well, commented on the gender neutral charm Jimin and he both have (in ep. 20 of Suchwita, with Yoongi).
Considering that the credits for the song include RM, j-hope, and SUGA, people close to Jimin, I can't imagine the obvious implications would escape them.
I could name a hundred references for why purple is a significant color for Jimin, leaving out the most obvious ones, but iykyk.
There is meaning there beyond 'borahae' and ARMY. Hell, even ARMY can hold more than one meaning for Jimin.
One could even say the lyrics references the 'unity' one achieves when those two colors are combined. It could reference the comfort he found within his group, within himself, a place where those two sides are accepted as one.
I'm leaving out mentioning the boba eyed elephant in the room. We all know.
I'm trying to be mindful and not project onto him and his lifestyle. He shows so little of his life, I want only to be grateful he shows us this much already. Jimin, may life outside your chosen spotlight roller-coaster be as fulfilling as it is from inside it. You deserve the moon itself for your grace and courage under pressure.
Bold of him to assume I wouldn't combust at this extremely special and specific declaration.
We all know the importance of food and meals in Korean culture. People don't ask 'How are you?', rather they ask 'Have you eaten?' when they meet up.
In my culture the saying goes 'Love passes through the stomach'.
We've seen Jimin and Jungkook’s shared passion for food and how it signals care and comfort from one to the other. It's homely and domestic and extremely special.
Jungkook missing Jimin’s gochujang stew is him missing his special hug from the inside. A comfort more special due to the one who prepared it.
