Hello and welcome to another episode of Jess does an analysis of fanfiction as if she is still in her college Literature course. This one gets very long. I have a lot of thoughts but what is new? If you arenât already reading Void you are doing yourself a disservice and I highly encourage you as always to jump in and join the ride. Bee is an amazing author and deserves all the praise and attention she can possibly get so please also take the time to leave her some love when you do get sucked into the wormhole that is Void.Â
This continuation/opening scene is priceless. I really think the character work here is worth pointing out. Bee is incredibly good at crafting characters that feel alive and these small instances of giving us glimpses into their thoughts via their actions in group scenes and the dynamics that go along with those is truly a talent. I love the humor that is a hallmark of Bee's writing. The way she weaves moments of levity into the serious is one of my favorite things that she does. Two of the stand out lines for me in this particular scene are.
"It's important to cite your sources," you mutter, shuffling your feet.
Jungkook mouths the words "start with" to himself, still staring at the table.Â
Oof. So you know I kind of assumed that Namjoon would be a hard sell for the entire concept of a group-wide sex contract but for him to do an evaluation of the cognitive abilities of our heroine? Daaaaamn. I enjoyed the ending line of this scene very much. Unstoppable force versus immovable object. An apt description. I enjoy conflict in stories where there is no clear cut right or wrong and I feel that this discussion balances that knife's edge spectacularly. I can see both of their sides and each has its own merits. My personal opinion is that this is going to crash and burn because sex always changes the dynamic between people and jealousy can get ugly rather quickly. No matter how much the OC wishes for the relationships within the crew to stay professional, the mere act of sexual intercourse blurs that line.Â
The flashbacks in this chapter are very nicely woven throughout. I enjoy the way they aren't one big narrative scene but instead are placed as almost memories that are popping up in OC's consciousness as we move through this portion of the story. I'm not sure if this was a purposeful choice on Beeâs part or if it was her natural instinct but I find it to be enjoyable as a narrative device. The content of them helps us glean a bit more into the relationship with Hoseok, whom I find to be the most elusive emotionally in the story thus far. A particular part stands out to me, in which Hoseok asks the OC if the crew has ever made her feel as if they see her in an unprofessional light. I think this thought process has likely stuck with him throughout the years which gives great context to the way he acts in the greenhouse scene later on.
Jiminâs scene gives me such conflicting emotions. On one hand, I'm not usually a fan of telling others that they do not know their own emotions but on the other, I think the OC has him pegged. In this case, I have to fully agree with the OC here. The interactions that we the readers have seen between the two support what that OC is telling him at this moment. His feelings are tied up in his loneliness and have been heightened by the basic hormones of sex. Jimin's character here feels as if he's the sort of guy that does not like to be alone and surely in the vacuum of space that would be magnified beyond normal circumstance so it makes sense that he would look to fulfill that need with the only female option available if he leans more towards the hetero side of the spectrum.Â
I do, however, feel sympathy for Jimin. I believe he believes that his feelings are legitimate. As we find out later this is a recurring theme with Jimin from Earth via the conversation with Tae and OC. I doubt he is self-aware enough to realize that he mistakes lust for love on the regular. On Earth, this isn't as much of a problem as it is when you have an entire sea of choice but on the Minos, there is a severe lack of choice. You can glean how much Jimin likely uses romantic interest as a way to boost his confidence and self-worth from the way he reacts. In particular, this selection from the chapter really highlights how Jimin views relationships to me as well as the insecurity he likely tries to fill with them.
"Am I...am I not enough?" Jimin asks. "I can be more. I can do better. I can do whatever Yoongi does that you like so much."
"This isn't about Yoongi. It's about the mission."
"You said you liked me. You said you wanted to be with me. Was that just about the mission?"
I'm looking forward to seeing how this story thread plays out especially because it seems as if Jimin is going to continue to make me cringe with his attempts to woe the OC into a relationship we can clearly tell she has no interest in other than from a sexual perspective. I think at times it can seem as if I might dislike Jiminâs character since his actions tend to make me cringe but itâs quite the opposite. I think Jimin is a very strong character that is very relatable. I long to see him find fulfillment and happiness just not with somebody he is in my opinion incompatible with. For me, Jimin and the OC work on a purely sexual level. A relationship between the two would not work out in the long term.
The pollination of peppers scene for me is the first true moment in which Hoseokâs actions clearly show the depth of emotions that lay unsaid between himself and the OC. The scene starts off with Hoseok still awake from the previous day so wrapped up in emotions that rest evaded him. This is a clear indicator that the issue goes well beyond his assertions that this is out of character. Heâs masking his emotions behind the excuse that this isnât her or that this wonât benefit the mission when in reality Hoseok is going through a wide range of emotions. Hoseok has always been a character that has held a lot in and now we have a good idea as to why with the flashback scene. Throwing the idea of loving Yoongi in her face here he shows all his cards. Hoseok does not want just sex. Hoseok wants emotions. Hoseok wants the relationship. Unfortunately for Hoseok, another contender has entered the ring but thatâs what makes for a compelling story.
My favorite scene of the entire chapter is the gym scene with Taehyung for very personal reasons. This subplot connects with me because I too spent a number of years in the limbo of loving somebody who you do not think is going to love you back. This is fiction so Iâm optimistic that Taehyungâs tale of love will turn out far better than mine did BUT I am fully prepared to fight fictional Park Jimin in a parking lot if he breaks Taehyung's heart. It is going to be interesting to see if this entire fake entanglement Taehyung and the OC have formed is going to play out. Iâm the most stressed about this story thread.Â
Yoongi has now adopted the Hoseok method of dealing with emotions. Jealousy is the only acceptable emotion to cop to when dealing with a love octagon in space. Yoongiâs points are spot on even if he spouts them out to mask his emotions regarding the plan. The idea of sex every single day for twelve years makes my vagina hurt just thinking about it. So I feel Yoongi is right in his assertion that she definitely did not think that part through. Which I mean she didnât because OC is desperate for her plan to come to fruition in an attempt to fix something that she feels responsible for breaking. She is trying to get back to a sense of normalcy when the parameters have changed and the definition of normal has shifted.
The OCâs kitchen plan when Jin shows up to jumpstart Yoongi and Jungkook into action is brilliant. It really shows how desperate she is to right her perceived wrong while at the time being entertaining and showing a different side to her as a character. Jungkook leaping for that tablet is the most Jungkook thing he could have done and I got really tickled at that part. Yoongi just waited to call her bluff. The two of them have such a fiery dynamic and itâs a nice contrast to the dynamic she has with other characters. The Namjoon moment in the hallway had me laughing so fucking hard. Commander Namjoon really is having a hell of a time on this ship. I hope he gets paid well.
Throughout this chapter, we get a slow progression in the emotional state of the OC. Iâll admit on my first read-through of this chapter I had a harder time relating to her character as she moves further into her mania over the lack of signed forms showing up in her inbox. The culmination of this is of course the argument with Yoongi that spills over into the kitchen.Â
On my second pass, though I realized this is the reflection of insecurity, she has been showing us this entire time. She has consistently put herself down by saying that these attractive men on this ship would have no interest in her outside of the context in which they are in. Therefore it only stands to reason that as days go by with none of the crew members sending her forms to consent to a sexual relationship with her that these insecure feelings would send her into a tailspin of emotion. Itâs an interesting juxtaposition from the logical way in which she has behaved through all previous chapters of the story. Itâs also a clear shift that shows the readers that as we move forward her emotional concerns will likely move closer to the forefront.
I am hoping to see her mindset shift in regards to her thoughts of not being desirable for the men of the Minos. I think she does herself a disservice as we usually all do when we give in to negative thoughts about ourselves. Granted I do not know what she looks like as she is left fairly blank in the second perspective but the character aspects we do get of her are highly desirable. She is a strong, independent, dedicated, hardworking woman that any of the men on the Minos should be happy to have. As the story continues Iâm interested to see how her character develops when the entire crew has signed up to show that they do find her desirable. Do these insecurities continue to plague her and cause issues with the relationships she begins to cultivate? Or does she realize that she is a desirable prospect and not just a tool for the sexual relief of her male counterparts?
