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icouldntresistit · 5 years ago

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The hidden language in Jimin’s Birthday Video (Warning: Long)

to Jeongguk.

So, I’m finally talking about this like I said I would--but not in the same way as everyone else. When this video was first released, some people were endeared that Jimin posted a whole video birthday card, and some were curious as to why he didn’t post more. But me, I was curious for one key reason that I want to explain in detail. I’m calling this “The Impersonal Personal Message”.

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I personally like to approach these sorts of things as more or less a lesson in language than a lesson in the nature of two people’s relationship, but you can apply these ideas as you will. Please understand that I’m just interested in looking at the language and not necessarily trying to make any claims here (though I do have my own opinions).

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The Impersonal Personal Message

In this video Jimin says the following: 정국씨! 생일축하합니다! 생일 진심으로 축하하고 맛있는거 많이 드시고...어.....만수무강 하세요. 나중에 술을(?) 합시다!

(Romanization: Jeonggukssi! Saengilchukhahabnida! Saengir jinshimeuro chukhahago mashineungeo mahni deushigo...eo.....mansumugahng haseyo. Najoongeh sooreul(?) habshida!)

The reason why I wrote the Korean is two-fold: A) You probably already know the english translation but haven’t seen the Korean transliteration; and B) The tone of what he’s saying can only really be relayed by explaining the hangul. So, let me explain, line-by-line so to speak.

정국씨!

First, let’s talk about “정국씨! (Jeonggukssi)” - Right off the bat, we can tell he’s being overly formal by his use of “씨 (shi/ssi)”, meaning Mr./Ms. You only really see this type of formality for 2 reasons. 1) The person being spoken to is a stranger and authority figure for the person speaking. And 2) The two people speaking are extremely close and joking around--though this reason can have a romantic undertone

Formal Language Between ‘Close Friends’

Next, “생일축하합니다 (Saengilchukhahabnida)” - This is to be expected as the video is more so toward ARMYS than it is Jeongguk. I say this because it’s released on a public forum for more than just one end user to interpret. However, this usage of “Happy Birthday” gets another layer when you take into account the previously established tone of the video. As many may know, the verb conjugation ~ㅂ니다 (~bnida) is the formal present-tense high respect form. You may recall from my last language-related post that there are generally 3 respect forms to conjugate into in Korean. One is the informal low respect (ILR) form, predicates ending in ~아/어 (~ah/eo); one is the formal low respect (FLR) form, predicates ending in ~요 (yo); and one is the formal high respect (FHR) form, predicates ending in ~ㅂ니다 (~bnida). ILR is commonly used between close friends, individuals of the same age, lovers, and immediate family members. FLR is commonly used between strangers and with individuals who are older than the speaker. FHR is commonly reserved for authority figures (boss, president, CEO, etc.), strangers, and when addressing or speaking in front of large groups of people

I’ve discussed the uses of FHR before (see this post) as it pertains to idols, but not in close relationships. You typically only see this use in close relationships in more of a joking or even flirty tone. It’s almost never seriously used like this in close friendships. This is important to note because the entire tone of the video takes this weird detour when you consider exactly what Jimin is saying. Now, I want to backtrack just a bit to say that 생일축하합니다 is not at all uncommon for idols to say to their fellow members/friends when giving birthday shoutouts. It is really not playful at all in that sense. Even in this case it doesn’t seem playful. BUT, I still needed to point this out because of the overall formal tone of the video and as an excuse to explain respect levels in Korean grammar

Now, let’s look at “생일 진심으로 축하하고 맛있는거 많이 드시고 (Saengir jinshimeuro chukhahago mashineungeo mahni deushigo)” - This stood out to me for one main reason--the use of “드시다 (deushida)” (this is the verb stem of what Jimin actually said, which is “드시고”), instead of “먹다 (meogda)”. Both of these words (먹다 & 드시다) mean “to eat”. The only difference is that ~드시다 is very formal. It’s the honorific version of “들다 (deulda)”, which is another less commonly used version of “to eat”. You only really use this word when the subject of your sentence deserves high respect. It’s very polite. The only way I can even kind of translate this directly is to think of it as “Please eat, kind fellow” lmao. This sentence helps add to the very cold atmosphere the video has. But if you consider that the video is ‘to’ Jeongguk, it makes it seem more playful than cold

Now, I want to take a look at “만수무강 하세요”. This is where meaning can get a little shaky for me because, in my understanding and experiences, “만수무강 (mansumugahng)” is like...something people in their advanced age say more often than young people.... And then you have 하세요 (haseyo), which is common to use with 만수무강. It’s the formal version of 하다 (hada), meaning “to do”, but in this case it simply just makes the noun 만수무강 a verb. 하세요 itself sounds more like a request because of the use of the honorific ~시다 (shida) and the FLR conjugation ~요. Note that ~시다 + ~요 = ~세요, and 하다 + ~세요 = 하세요. The reason why I liken this to a request is because the translation is something like “I hope you live long and prosper/Please live long without any difficulties”. It gives the added sense that the speaker is being polite to the receiver

Now, let’s talk about “나중에 술을(?) 합시다 (Najoongeh sooreul(?) habshida)” - Jimin kind of slurs his words, he also has a bit of a quirky speech pattern and can sometimes speak very quickly as well, so it’s hard to really pick up on every little particle ending, verb conjugation, etc. But, we do know that he says “Let’s have a drink later.” Here, I’m concerned with 합시다 (habshida), which takes 하다 (again, meaning to do), and the FHR propositive verb conjugation ~ㅂ시다 (bshida), which gives the meaning of “let’s do (something).” Propositive mood is when the speaker is making a suggestion (e.g. “Why don’t we go here?” “Shall we do this?” “Let’s have a drink,” etc.) The propositive conjugations are as follows: ~아/어 is ILR, ~자 (~ja) and ~ㅂ시다. Here, Jimin is using a higher respect form than necessary, though not as high as what it could be

The Meaning of It All

So, what does this all mean? It just means that Jimin’s been extremely formal with Jeongguk this whole time as demonstrated by his use of FHR & FLR verb conjugations (~ㅂ니다, ~시다 + ~요, & ~ㅂ시다), honorific verbs (드시다), really old-timey nouns (만수무강), and honorific titles (씨). This is not necessarily strange, but given their closeness it gives off a slightly playful vibe when taken ALONE (i.e. not counting the mood of the video/his perceived nervousness, etc.) I made this post because so many people felt it was cold and impersonal based on the atmosphere, the almost stiltedness of Jimin’s disposition. But, that can be explained by the idea that the video was covering for a surprise of some sort (for whom--I don’t know). When you look at the language, contrast that with the context and relationship (that we know of), the video is actually kind of playful in a sense. He was laying on the formality very thick but it didn’t seem shady at all, just mischievous

Anyway, I hope this was interesting to someone

#jikook #kookmin #jm jk km #keep in mind that my korean is of an evolving nature but most of this is really basic stuff #1st year grammar in a sense #the impersonal personal message

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fmdrorinarchive · 3 years ago

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━━━━━━ 𝖆 𝖓𝖊𝖜 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖕𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖆𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖘… 💋 〈 Below the cut is an intro for Michelle Chae of Chroma // Please 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖕𝖔𝖘𝖙 to plot, and thanks for reading !! 〉

𝖘𝖊𝖑��-𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖉𝖚𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓.

Hi again, friends !! This is Boone ( 19+ / MDT / HE & HIM ) and you may recognize me as the typist behind Vive’s maknae, Yoo Rioh. I’ve decided to bring in another muse! Like Rioh, Michelle’s just starting out in her career and I can’t wait to see her grow. ♡ To find out more, please read onwards !! I can’t wait until she gets to meet all of your muses !! Oh, here are a few trigger warnings to look out for if you continue to read: mentions of drug addiction and parental abandonment; mentions of slut-shaming and misogyny.

𝖖𝖚𝖎𝖈𝖐 𝖋𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖘.

MICHELLE RORIN CHAE, b. 19990620

BORN & RAISED IN VALLEY GLEN, CA

FORMER COMPETITIVE FIGURE SKATER

BC ENT / CHROMA & CHROMA EMBER

SUB VOCALIST, SUB RAPPER, VISUAL

𝖋𝖚𝖗𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖎𝖓𝖋𝖔.

RESEMBLES KIM MINJEONG ( WINTER ) OF ÆSPA

SHE STANDS AT A MODERATE 163 CM ( 5 FT, 3 IN )

CISGENDER FEMALE, USES SHE / HER PRONOUNS

GEMINI CANCER CUSP, YEAR OF EARTH RABBIT

HETEROFLEXIBLE, KINSEY SCALE #2, CURIOUS

𝖉𝖊𝖊𝖕 𝖉𝖎𝖛𝖊.

TRAJECTORY / Michelle was born in Valley Glen, CA to David and Heesun Chae—the owners of a struggling restaurant in their neck of the woods. As a kid, she trained to become a figure skater, but when her father bailed on her and her mother because of a drug addiction, she couldn’t afford the expenses for coaching, etc. so she retired from it for now. / Instead of being able to truly enjoy her youth, she had to pick-up after school jobs in order to help her mom with bills, and for awhile, her only source of comfort was spent with guys that showed her affection. Her relationships with boys grossly gave her the title of a “whore” to her peers, so she sadly didn’t have many friends to lean on in high school. / Originally traveled to Korea to earn a nursing degree from SNU, but got scouted by BCE on her first day—prompting her to drop out of school to focus primarily on training. This enraged her mother as the plan was for her to become a nurse so they no longer had to worry about money. / After only a few months of training, she’s selected to debut as a member of Chroma. OTHER FACTS / Not mentioned in her biography is the fact that she grew up in a fairly religious family. Mom and dad were raised Christian, so they raised their daughter the same. She was never into church, though. She always felt as though she was being judged harshly by the others in attendance. Hell, she even thought that of her mother quite often. Her style was never as pristine as her mom would’ve liked and no one understood her interests in the occult, in anime, in video games, and so forth. By the time she was eighteen, she stopped showing up to service altogether—which her mom didn’t like, but respected nevertheless. / She still likes to skate in her spare time... but she doesn’t really have any nowadays. You’d think that she’d be in the dance line due to her past in performance, but since she stopped skating, she’s lost a lot of her flexibility and power. She hopes to improve though! / She’s never had many close female friends, so she looks forward to hopefully bonding with her members as they grow closer. This is something she wants to change about herself a lot. INSPIRATION / For Michelle, I pulled a lot of inspiration from a few different characters from television series, mainly Cassie Howard from Euphoria; Manuella “Manny” Santos from Degrassi: The Next Generation; Tessa Campanelli from Degrassi JH / High; and Britney Orton from We Are Who We Are, among others!

𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖞.

01. On the surface, Michelle’s reasonably pleasant to be around. She has a deep interest in people, especially those she’s close to, so if you’re a friend of her’s, she genuinely wants to know all about you and deeply cares about how you’re feeling / doing. Some might perceive this high level of intrigue as romantic, and she’s... not ever really going to confirm or deny those types of feelings. She’s a huuuge believer in love and doesn’t want to end up like her parents, but also has no idea what she’s doing when it comes down to it. She didn’t have the best example to look up to, so you know. 02. Michelle’s really talkative, and she’s witty, and she knows how to charm the pants off of most people, and while that’s loud and present in her character, she also has many faults. For one, her emotions are really strong and her mood is easily affected by others and events that occur in day-to-day life, so she has a tendency of being moody. That, and she also isn’t the best “rule follower” either. Does she care that there’s a dating ban in place for she and Chroma? Absolutely not. Did she experiment with drugs and alcohol in high school when they were forbidden to her? Yes. She’s not the best at making decisions, but she believes that taking risks shape better people... even if that belief’s a little skewed. 03. Some people say that she might be a little too “sweet” for her own good sometimes and she’s prone to getting her heart stomped on, but she’s not all that innocent. While she’s a huge believer in love, she’s not exactly good at it. She enters in and out of relationships all the time, and she loves the honeymoon phase, but whenever it starts to get too “real,” she gets nervous and bails. Abandonment issues FTW? A very strong possibility. 04. She’s also empathic to a fault on occasion. It’s easy for her to pick up on the emotions of others and it’s hard for her not to carry them on her shoulders. She’s had a difficult time learning that boundary for herself, and well, at this point, she doesn’t even realize that it’s a thing. Mother taught her how to be kind and nurturing towards loved ones, but she can take it to a degree that isn’t healthy for anyone—especially if love / romance is involved. 05. Her chattiness can sometimes land her in trouble, but that’s because she has a hard time filtering what she says. Her mind runs a mile a minute and her speaking patterns are similar, so sadly, she can’t control what comes out of her mouth sometimes... pray for her.

𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖉-𝖈𝖆𝖓𝖔𝖓𝖘.

01. If I were to make any sort of “claim” on what I imagine her voice sounding like, it’d be a lot like J from STAYC, maybe with a little mix of fromis_9′s Seoyeon. There’s a delicate husk there, and it’s a little lower than the others, but it’s extremely recognizable and unique. That is her biggest asset as a singer and rapper. She’s not had enough time to truly make drastic improvements to either skill given her short stint as a trainee, but she’s working really hard to get better and doesn’t want to be seen as just a pretty face forever. 02. Dance-wise, she’s actually pretty strong—just nowhere near as trained as Chroma’s dance line. Due to her extensive background in figure skating ( and a little bit of ballet ), she’s got a really natural gracefulness to all of her moves; a fluidity that allows for strong body rolls, etc. Additionally, she focuses on clarity and sharpness, angles, as that’s what she’s most familiar with. Michelle also has great control of her hip-area and often adds variations to moves using her hips. If I were to select a reference, I’d say Oh My Girl’s Arin and TWICE’s Mina. Some of her faults are that her movements are often too light and soft, so whenever power is needed, she lacks strength there. She also has a tendency of making choreography look a little “sensual” without necessarily intending to. 03. Loooves when people call her Mish or Chelle/Shell. Honestly, she adores nicknames—both giving and receiving them. She’s also a heavy user of pet names in conversation, but tries her best to stop if people are uncomfortable with it. 04. Michelle’s typically not afraid of making her affections known, even early on. She’s the type that’ll definitely hit on you if she thinks you’re handsome / attractive, and goes with the flow if the person responds positively. If she gets really cozy with you, she can come off as clingy in the beginning, but that typically subsides with time. That’s applicable to both her friendships and her romantic relationships. 05. Her public image is similar to that of Alice in Wonderland and Snow White—beauties with fair skin and wide eyes; imaginative and curious; trapped in purity and sweetness; soft, feminine, and delicate—but with a slight “edge” because of her rapping and quick wit. It’s hard for her to keep up with it all the time—especially when she’s a bit different personally—and she’s barely starting in her career. She hopes it evolves over time. 06. She’s decided to go by her Korean name as an idol because it made the most sense, to be honest. Though, a few other stage names tossed around were: Chelle, Wooah, Hayan, Rozy, and Baekseol. In the end, she’s happy she’s just Rorin or Michelle to everyone.

𝖕𝖑𝖔𝖙-𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘.

This section will be updated when her plots page is complete. Please look forward to it !! I’m getting it done as fast as I can. In the meantime, I’m happy to brainstorm and look over your muses’ plots pages too !! ♡

#〈 INTRODUCTION. 〉#〈 YOUR ONE & ONLY. 〉

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theangryjikooker · 3 years ago

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About the hickey and why wouldn’t they hide it if they’re dating for real, I think we tend to forget that they’re probably evolving in a relatively accepting environment right now. The music industry is a bit more open minded than the rest of the society (there was a video on YouTube of two former trainees talking about this if I remember correctly). There are many kpop idols who are part of the lgbt community, it’s known, people just keep things to themselves out of respect. Also Bang PD has shown many times his support,and it seems that Hybe at large is a very supporting and accepting company regarding the lgbts. Being in a closeted relationship in that environment is probably very different than for the average korean citizen. It has his downsides and struggles as well for sure, and a closeted couple would still not be revealed for many reasons especially homophobia, but they could afford some kind of freedom I think. And maybe they just simply don’t want to hide absolutely everything? I don’t know, when you’re in love you want to show it to the world, it only seems natural to me that they’d try to do that in a sort of way that doesn’t reveal them. And at this point I think they are well aware that they can get away with a lot of things, most people would still brush it off as they’re BFF/bros/family so… maybe they’re taking advantage of it and as long as it don’t expose them as undeniably real they don’t care that much? This is just my own feelings btw, I could completely be wrong of course. (I think they’re dating so I’m probably biased ^^)

Hi, anon!

Thank you for your sharing your thoughts! I have Jikook supporters following or watching my blog that would also agree with you!

I can see why people might think it was a hickey, but I personally don't think so and so often approach the topic as if it wasn't.

Two things that I'll comment on:

1) Yes, I think HYBE is relatively more accepting than other companies, and I think the Korean music industry is considerably more accepting than they were even 5 years ago, but I also don't want to assume that it isn't something they have to worry about. So I operate on the notion that there would be some pushback if they ever decided to make it known that they were together. All it takes is to look at the K-pop idols who are out, and while they seem to be trucking along fine in their respective careers, they're also not making any big strides as far as I know. Might it be different for Jikook who are already big and have enough support to carry them if they did come out? Maybe, but it's just as likely that a potential fall from grace would be more damaging--professionally, mentally, emotionally, etc.--and therefore would be avoided as much as possible until the time is "right" for them.

That being said, it's why I'm not sold on this idea that they would frivolously act upon their affections for each other just because they can or because they can get away with it.

2) I've mentioned this before in an ask, but if Jikook really were dating and not caring about how their behavior might be interpreted by everyone else, it wouldn't explain the reactions of their members towards them. BTS sometimes react to Jikook jikooking as if it's a surprise that they're acting in a way that would be normal for couples. I don't think they would pretend not to know but still say things that imply a coupled situation because BTS genuinely seem flabbergasted/speechless when they act the way they do. If the members constantly ignored their shenanigans and have stopped commenting on them entirely, even in the weirdest cases, I would perhaps cede to a reconsideration of their status.

That's just my thoughts on the things you mentioned, but I fully understand why Jikook supporters would feel the way you do on the matter and think it's proof they're Real. It's just not something I agree with. :)

#TAJ asks #lovely jikook supporters #jikook #kookmin

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jeonggukkiepabo · 5 years ago

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SIREN [JJK] | MONSTER SMASH

Hi guys! This is my submission for the KSMUTCLUB MONSTER SMASH. I wanted to try out something new that I haven’t read on here so far, so I decided to go for Siren Y/N. I changed some mythological things, but I still hope you guys enjoy it.

Summary: Siren Y/N lives on Jejudo island, coming out once a year to “hunt” for the ocean. This year, she goes for 7 pretty boys that decided to have a beach day, but she gets to meet them before the accident has to happen and directly falls for Jungkook - but if she talks to him, he will die.

Warnings: smut (fighting for dominance, choking, spitting, unprotected sex, sub!yn, dom!jk, idk what else, it’s disgusting), character death

Word count: 7k

The sea always has been fascinating to you, back in the days, when you were still a small girl, you loved running into it, splashing around with one of your many siblings as your parents watched you with a soft smile. This peaceful memory was nothing compared to those who were hunting you ever since: war, bombs, death. Six-Two-Five, better known as the Korean War, an endless war that somehow lasted until today, 2019. It may not be as violent as it was when you were a teenager, but Korea still wasn’t a peaceful unit like you always wanted it to be.

Your family was one of those who had the chance to flee, a huge American ship was collecting random families that had a better chance in another country – and who was your father to deny such offer? You could never forget that day, the 27th March 1952, almost two years into the war, when a friendly officer lead you and your siblings to the haven, guiding you onto the boat and told you that your parents would be there soon. Well, there you were: one of the oldest girls on board, trying to calm down all those smaller children that were also waiting for their parents, so you did whatever you could do to calm them down. Singing. You’ve always been a great singer, but not many people had the chance to ever listen to you because you were too shy to sing on the streets, nor in front of other people who could possibly be judging you. The only people that ever had the pleasure to listen to your beautiful, warm voice were your siblings and parents. Until now.

Humming to the first melody that came up to your mind, you smiled at a little girl that recognized the song and started to sing along, the others soon following her lead. But every single one of them stopped singing once they heard your voice, almost hypnotizing. They remained quiet until you stopped, nodding towards the officer that announced another ship would bring all the adults separately. You raised an eyebrow, but who were you to mistrust an officer’s lead? The only thought that came up your mind was that with much luck, you’d never have to smell napalm again. From that moment on, Busan was just a bad memory burned into your brain.

It’s probably unnecessary to say that you never saw your parents again, neither did any of the other poor children, because maybe three hours after the boat left, a loud explosion erupted from the ocean, causing your boat to struggle, mass panic to evolve and soon enough, loud cries and begs for help were the only sound heard. Everything went way too fast to explain what was really going on, but a soft melody – not fitting into the loud explosions – echoed through your ears, leading almost everyone to jump over the railing and into the open water. Right into their death.

You were confused, unsure what was going on, but also intrigued by the beautiful singing voice that tried to lead you into the water as well. Step by step, you walked closer to the edge of the boat, glancing into the sparkling water that had endless bodies floating around on the surface. You were the only person on deck by now, voices growing louder in your ears, causing your sight to go black as another explosion caused the boat to crash and slowly sink with you on board. You’ve always been a fighter, but right now you were close to giving up, knowing this situation was already ticked by fate. You felt your body going numb, not even being able to feel the cold burn the water left on your skin, your heartbeat going slower and slower while dizziness and tiredness were taking over your body. “You are a strong one, my love.” You tried opening your eyes, but you couldn’t. Yet, you desperately wanted to know who was talking to you. ‘Who are you? What is happening?’, your thoughts were running wild, but somehow the voice was able to understand you. ��I am the ocean, my love. The sea, the lakes and the rain pouring down on you. I can be salty, but I also can be sweet to those who give me love and respect. Would you give me love and respect, dear?” Her voice was almost motherlike, soft and gentle – and maybe the reason you were still alive. ‘I-I don’t know, Miss. Where are we? Why are they dead but I am still alive? Am I alive?’ A warm laugh was heard, hitting you directly into your heart and causing you to smile as well. “You are alive, love. And so, so strong. Tell me, if I gave you a chance, a chance to survive and serve me, would you take it? You are such a beautiful young woman with a voice gifted by the gods, it would be a waste to just let you die under my touch. I can help you survive for at least another hundred years.” The cold waves around you were suddenly just as warm as a comfortable bathtub, your eyes weren’t as heavy anymore – and you were finally able to breath again. Under water!

‘But what about my parents? All those children? Who am I to accept such an offer while seeing this destruction around me?’ Another gentle laugh was heard by the ocean, then it felt like she was stroking your hair and pressing a kiss on your forehead. “That is why I chose you instead of them, you were the only one to worry about the others not just yourself. Now, what do you say, my dear? Would you like to be a part of us? A siren? Living for the ocean, but being able to walk around on the earth just like you did before? Just, maybe once a year, I’ll need your help. You know, this is how I keep alive”, she opens your eyes for you to see all the pain and suffocation, “It may sounds rough to you, but I need this kind of sacrifice to keep all those humans alive with my water. Rain costs energy, so does transporting boats and all those things you humans want me to help you with. You understand that, love, don’t you?” ‘I think I do…’, you whisper, ‘If that’s so, I think… I’d like to be part of your family.’ “I knew you were a smart girl, my love. Now, open your eyes for me, look at you, it is time to wear your ocean dress with pride.”

You do as you’re told, sinking your gaze onto your naked legs just to see beautiful fish swimming around them, pressing thousands of little salt flakes onto your skin until the most beautiful dress you’ve ever seen covered your body. All those wounds you gained from napalm and war in general were gone, it even seemed like you’ve gained a few extra pounds, giving you a healthier look than before. You swim around, laughing from all the new energy you felt, until you took your chance to look around – without seeing anyone. “Ocean?”, your voice was finally heard out loud instead of being just in your head. “I am here, love, everywhere around you. You will never be able to see me, but you can always feel me once you touch water. Just as I will always be able to feel you, my love. Now, swim, decide where you want to live and wait for me to call you once I need your survey. Good luck.”

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Good luck, that’s what you indeed needed whenever your mother ocean called you. Singing other people into death wasn’t exactly what you could call an easy job, even after 50 years of doing to, the weight of thousand dead bodies on your shoulders, you tend to hate every minute of being under water to serve. “She will call soon again, Y/N”, Eunae whispers as the two of you were sitting on rock in the surf. After the ocean sent you away, you settled down on Jeju-Do island, loving the peaceful nature – and the little humans that come here during spring and summer. “I know… And I still have almost another 50 years. Sometimes I really wish I was the one to die during the accident.” Eunae sighs, hugging you from the side as she gives you a sympathetic smile. “You need to forget about that night, Y/N, just like all of us. I don’t know why you’re still holding onto it. Its over, mother ocean made her decision and you should be glad she chose you. What are you missing from your human life? War? Pain? Starvation? Let me tell you that we have the best life right now, despite the little serving we need to do once a year, that’s nothing compared to what mother gave us.” Eunae was always the one to enjoy her new, better life. She didn’t mind all the burdens it costs you.

“I miss speaking to people other than you and Chunhei. I miss having company, I miss going to concerts and restaurants because wherever I go, I’m not able to speak unless I want to cause a mass death.” Eunae laughs, shaking her wild locks with every head movement. “But, Y/N! You can do all of that! Chun and I, we go out with guys all the time, we go to clubs, we go to parties and we have sex, for fucks sake! Just because your voice means death to them doesn’t mean you can’t go out and live your life. You have the chance to travel more than anyone else, we can swim wherever we want! America, Italy, Germany – hell, you haven’t even been to Hawaii or Bali! We need to change that as soon as possible, let me call Chun real quick, maybe she’s up for a little trip-“, “Stop, Eun! Believe me, I don’t want to. I enjoy every second I’m not in the water, sometimes my thoughts are a little to depressing for mother and she scolds me. I don’t need that right now. Besides that, we will need to go into the water sooner than I’d like, let’s rest until then, nobody knows what kind of accident she wants us to create this year”, a heavy sigh leaves your lips as you stand up and climb down the slippery rock, trying not to step into the bigger puddles to avoid any connection with the ocean.

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“My loves, it’s time, come and visit me.”

Sighing, you put your book aside and checked your phone – it was early noon, an unusual time for the ocean to call out for you. “Y/N, are you ready?”, Chun knocked on your door, waiting for you to answer. Instead, you shuffled out of the warmth of your just to walk out in your pajamas. The ocean would change you into your dress anyways. Yawning, you nod towards your friends while opening the front door of your beach house – mother ocean always wanted you close to her. “Let’s get things done”, you mutter while walking towards the calm waves. Instantly you felt the change, tiny droplets of saltwater formed into diamonds on your skin, forming the dress you’ve worn ever since the ocean turned you into her Siren. “Hello mother”, Eunae giggles as her own dress covered her body and she was ready to dive down. You and Chun followed her, but you were the only one feeling a bit off. “Y/N, my love, is something wrong?” Shaking your head, you tried to smile, but you knew it looked fake. “I’m just a bit tired these days, maybe I’ll head off to the volcanos after our job. Don’t worry, mother.” “What is our mission going to be?”, Chun asks curiously, her red curls surrounding her head like Arielle the Mermaid. “7 boys… They will visit your island very soon, I want them. I know this is very specific, but they’re energetic and could feed me for almost two years because of their bond. Their names are Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, Jeong Hoseok, Kim Namjoon, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook. They will arrive within the next couple of days for vacation, I’m sure you’ll recognize them. It won’t be hard, sing for them, draw them towards the water and the rest will be my work. You can go now. Oh, and Y/N. Make sure your tiredness will be gone by then, I won’t forgive mistakes for this one.”

Your eyes widened at the ocean’s words, confusion and adrenaline running through your veins as you nod, mumbling a quiet “Yes mother”, before swimming off as well.

Unlike your friends, you weren’t always looking for the seven boys that were soon to arrive on your island. Chun always took your missions very serious, not daring to fail them at all. “I wonder how they look; their names sound Korean too… Usually mother wants us to go for big parties on boats or on the beach, she doesn’t care about names. What’s different about them?” Eunae sighs as you were currently walking through the empty streets, allowing you to use spoken words instead of thoughts. “Mh, I don’t really know, maybe they did something bad while going for a swim? Maybe they used her power more than once, were supposed to die a long time ago but didn’t? We never know why mother ocean chooses specific boats, there must be something about those boys”, you mumble while enjoying the last slurp of your milkshake. Soon, those ice cafés would close due to the lack of tourists coming by. The summer was about to end, and you couldn’t decide whether it was a good or a bad thing. Sure, at the end of summer, when nobody was left in town, you were able to actually go out and speak instead of living a mute girl’s life, but you always missed the beaming heat of sunlight on your skin whenever the weather got colder. “Well, I might go and check the beach area, maybe they already arrived”, Eunae sighed as your paths split, leaving you alone on the promenade.

Walking all by yourself was something you recently learned to enjoy after decades of being alone. In the beginning, you really hated it, thinking people would stare at you, the way you used to dress. But time changed, you went shopping quite a lot and even found a new sense of style for yourself – but you by far favorite invention were smartphones and music apps. Ever since, you weren’t really seen without headphones, eyes wandering through the sky or over the ocean, but you also loved to watch those different tourists from all over the world. Today was quiet though, you’ve passed one or two inhabitants, but neither of them was interesting to you – until he came.

You mind was off, your music too loud and there was no way to prevent the little accident that you and that disgustingly handsome man were about to have. Soon enough, the both of you were laying on the ground, a hurtful expression on your faces. “Fuck, I’m sorry”, the guy decided to speak up as he looked at you with doe eyes, lips in an adorable pout. “I was too focused on my music and the landside; I didn’t even see you.” You sighed, standing up and wiping the dust from your jeans. Your mouth opened – but then you realized: you weren’t going to speak to him. Instead, you nodded and offered him your hand with a sympathetic smile. His hand was slightly sweaty, just like the rest of his – toned, tanned and delicious looking – body. “I just arrived today, never been here, so I thought a run is the best way to discover this island, isn’t it?” Again, you just nodded, biting your lip to hide the smile that still lingered on it. He laughed, running his hand through his damp hair to get them out of his eyes. “You’re a shy one, huh? Don’t worry, I won’t bite”, he tries to joke, but realizes that it sounded like the most douchebag thing to say. “I didn’t mean it like- Ugh. I’m sorry”, he winced, but you waved it off, using sign language to show him that you weren’t shy – just not able to speak. His eyes widened, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “You can’t speak?” You nod. “But you can understand me?” You nod, again. “Weird, but cool”, he shrugs. “So, would you mind me taking you out for another milkshake just to make things up?” Smiling, you nod once more, leading the way towards your favorite place.

Time went by, you started by drinking a milkshake together, but ended up in one of the island’s most popular restaurants. The fact that you weren’t able to speak wasn’t a problem – laughing was. You just couldn’t laugh, otherwise he’d hear your voice anyways, but that young man was just too funny that your silent laugh almost wasn’t enough. One thing led to another, dinner wasn’t just dinner anymore, because soon enough you opened your front door for him, lead him into your bedroom and that’s when things got heated.

In the beginning, your lips met in a soft, lovely kiss, different to what you were expecting, you thought he was one of those guys that needed full dominance in the bedroom, but by now he just made your heart flutter in the most amazing way possible. You kissed for what seemed like hours, exploring your still clothed bodies while you sat comfortably in his lap. He didn’t give you a single chance to pull away, instead he buried his hands in your unruly hair, quietly moaning into the kiss that gave him more than it probably should. The erotic sound was your chance to break the kiss, enjoying the view in front of you for a while: swollen lips on that precious face, messy hair that almost reached his chin – and those eyes. You could swear they were able to see right into your soul.

“Fuck, I don’t even know your name. I’m Jungkook”, he breathed out as he waited for a reaction. Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook. Realization hit you quickly once you remembered that you’ve just heard this name a couple of days ago, he was one of the seven boys you were supposed to serve the ocean. You wanted to scream, to run away and never see him again, but you suddenly felt it: the urge to fulfill your mission, the bond with mother ocean. There was no chance for him to survive this night, if you found Jungkook this way, your friends would’ve probably already found his friends – if they were still alive by then. You pout while slowly tracing the letters of your name on his still clothed chest, thinking how to solve this situation. He was going to die, it doesn’t matter if you were the one to lead him towards the water, the others would find him anyway. But you could give him an amazing last night on earth. “Y/N”, he whispered your name, causing tiny tears to swell up in your eyes, but you swallowed them down quickly enough for him to not notice, instead you smiled, forming his name with your lips.

Then, you quickly pulled his shirt over his head, leaving him only in his black cargo pants. You nearly gasped as soon as you saw his broad chest, gulping at the sight of his veiny arms, wanting his strong hands to choke your life out of you. As soon as you saw him in this godlike state, you couldn’t help but pull him onto you and kiss his swollen lips. Wrapping your legs around his torso, you pull his waist against yours, enjoying the friction quietly. Your lips were dancing against each other’s, sloppy and wet, the sound echoing through the room combined with Jungkook’s heavenly moans. Your black fingernails wander down his back, scratching lightly before finding their way into his pants. Breaking the kiss once more to almost rip your shirt off you, Jungkook could feel the electricity between the two of you, tingling as if little sparks would light up on your naked skin from time to time.

Gazes still locked, admiring your opponents still half-clad body in the pale moonlight, you smile up at him, biting your lip while waiting for his next move. Soon enough, your face was covered in strands of his hair as he moved his lips down your neck, sucking onto sensitive spots and inhaling your intoxicating scent. He covered your bra-clothed chest with a mixture of sweet little kisses, soft nibbles and even some bites here and there – but you didn’t mind at all. Your eyes were closed, lips parted, and your mind went absolutely crazy. One of your hands found its way into the messy hair of your affair, loving the incomparable and satisfying feeling of Jungkook on top of you. But as amazing it was, you couldn’t control yourself anymore, pushing Jungkook off your body and howling over him, holding his upper arm in a tight grip while smiling down at him with a satisfied grin. Jungkook couldn’t believe what you just did, growling with furrowed eyebrows to show you who’s in charge, but also loving the fact the you were quite a challenge. And then you did it – you growled back at him, causing his neck hair to erect, leaving goosebumps all over his body. Soon enough, Jungkook’s hand was wrapped around your neck, his thumb pressing against your chin to move it towards his face just to capture your lips once more.

Your tongues start to fight over dominance while your way smaller hand wraps around his throat as well, your tiny hand not even fitting halfway around his thick throat. Spit was dribbling down your chin, loud smacking sounds were heard, while you slowly traced the lines of his abs, letting your nails dance around his belly button which makes him hold his breath and flex. Pointing towards his rock hard middle, you used your tongue in your cheek with a questioning look as to ask him if he wanted you to suck his dick. You smiled innocently as you removed your bra, freeing your wonderful tits right in front of his face. Jungkook breathed out, quietly thanking god for creating this girl. Little did he know. “Yeah, babygirl. So bad, please”, he groans while grabbing your boobs with his large hands, watching your nipples harden in awe. “Wait with that blowjob, I need them first”, he mumbles while already having one of your nipples in his mouth, playing with the sensitive bud and pulling it with his teeth.

You throw your head back in pleasure, pulling on his silky hair and almost mewling under his touch as Jungkook decided to tease you even more, letting one of his giant hands wander down your stomach, under your jeans and teasing the lacy material of your thong before sliding underneath it, gazing the silky skin under there. Your nipple pops out of his swollen lips while he stares at you with an adorable pout. “You’re so wet, angel. Your pussy is already begging for my attention, isn’t it?” He softly strokes your wetness along your folds, the task being almost impossible because of your tight jeans, so you quickly take the hint and pull it off – leaving you in nothing but your favorite pair of peach colored lace thongs.

Once you’re undressed, he doesn’t waste any time to pin you back underneath him, having you clawing onto his broad shoulders. Jungkook chuckles at your desperation and pops his tongue before shaking his head. “No-uh, princess, not now.” With that, he undresses as well before crawling up on top of you, sitting down onto your chest and grins down at you. Smirking, he grabs his throbbing dick with one hand and your jaw with the other, slapping his cock against your cheek a few times. “Open up, pretty girl.”

Of course, you obeyed, opening your mouth and letting him shove his dick down your throat, trying to relax your jaw, but he was thicker and longer than you were used to, so you couldn’t help but gag over it. Jungkook chuckled, pulling back a little bit to have you playing with his tip, licking around it and tasting every single drop of precum while his masculine scent filled your nose – you couldn’t help but purr in pleasure, already being glad you decided to take Jungkook home with you. His hand leaves your jaw just to press down on your throat, causing your breath to hitch. “Moaning around my cock, huh? You’re so desperate”, his tongue pops once again, causing shivers to erupt all over your body. Your hand slips down, trying to reach your painfully wet core, but Jungkook is fast enough to slap it away, leaving you frowning and gently biting down onto his cock. As soon as your teeth met his sensitive skin, he pulls back, growling at you and pulling you up towards his face. “How dare you?” His eyebrows were furrowed, eyes darkened from lust and anger. Yours on the other hand were sparkling mischievously as you shrugged your shoulders while biting your lips to hide the smirk forming on them. “Tz, acting all that innocently whilst we both know what a filthy thing you are, princess. Now, c’mon, show me how sorry you are and open your mouth again.”

Of course, you listened, how could you not? You’d do anything for him in this situation, so you obeyed and opened your mouth, sticking out your tongue for him. You just see his jaw moving, curious what was about to happen now, all you thought was that he wanted you to suck his cock again. But then it hits you; you heard the sound of his lips right before you feel a wet sensation around and inside your mouth. Raising an eyebrow in disbelief, you smirked while shaking your head, acting like you were swallowing his spit – before collecting even more of yours in your mouth, swirling it around before spitting the entire look back at him, aiming right at his face. Licking your lips in satisfaction, you enjoyed the fuming expression on his face. Never had anyone dared to even disagree with him – yet be disrespectful towards him. Jungkook was used to be the dominant one, loving to have girls and boys underneath him, never even having to fight to be in that place. But there you were, acting like a brat, doing whatever you liked without even having to use your mouth for it – Jungkook was absolutely digging it. He couldn’t help but smirk at you, using his thumb to wipe away the spit on his face before sucking it clean afterwards. “I knew you were delicious, angel”, he shoots you a wink before rubbing your nipple with his still wet finger.

“But now that I got to taste your delicious spit, I really need to taste your juices. I can smell them from here”, Jungkook shoves you back down again, holding your hips against the mattress while enjoying the view of your ruined thong, the peachy color complimenting your skin type so well that he didn’t even want to remove it from your body. He decides on leaving it on for a little longer, just pushing the soft fabric to the side before taking a deep sniff of your scent. “Delicious”, he mumbles mostly to himself before dipping his finger into the glistering paradise, rubbing your juices between his fingers and licking them off slowly, wanting to taste everything you gave him. He spreads your legs even further, bopping your clit with his nose while going right in your hole with his tongue, exploring your insides, slurping out everything you gave him while groaning against you. You were – obviously – a mess underneath him, in need of more friction on your clit which he just didn’t give you by just licking your cunt. You squirm, trying to rub yourself against his nose but he just laughs it off, moving his head away a bit. “It doesn’t work like that, angel”, he scolds you, looking directly into your eyes. Anger flames up in you, annoyed by his attitude and you couldn’t play this role any longer, grabbing him by his locks, pushing him back and placing your aching core onto his face. With that, you began moving on his tongue, his lips and his nose, spreading your arousal everywhere, even in his sweaty flop of hair sticking to his forehead. Jungkook’s hands automatically grab your buttcheeks, spreading them apart while enjoying the meal you gave him. The movements of your hips got faster and faster, you were literally fucking his face, your body shaking and you almost couldn’t contain to be quiet – you were close, and he knew that. Seconds before your orgasm arrived, he pulls his tongue back inside, lifting you up from his face and smirks at you, having you look down at him in disappointment and even more anger. “Sucks, huh? I feel you, hun. Maybe next time.” But you just shook your head, your body still weak while your entire weight was balancing on Jungkook’s hands – you wouldn’t be able to hold yourself up anymore.

Furrowing your eyebrows at him, you moved your tiny fingers down your body to rub your clit quickly, knowing the spots that’ll make you cum in literal seconds. Soon enough, your body was trembling again, legs shaking and toes curling, so you quickly plunged two fingers inside your hole, moving them in and out the fastest pace you had to offer. Jungkook watched carefully, his throbbing length about to explode, still holding you up in front of his face. His eyes tracked the way your fingers moved, droplets of your wetness falling down onto his face here and there, but he didn’t knew what was about to come at him. Seconds later, you couldn’t hold it anymore, squirting like a champion all over his face, the mattress and even yourself while Jungkook watched in awe, trying to catch most of it with his tongue, but couldn’t even swallow the load you let out. Once nothing comes out anymore, he presses his lips back onto your cunt, licking it as clean as possible before kneeling over you with a satisfied grin.

“Didn’t know you had that in you, angel. So, so dirty.” He smacks one of your tits before grabbing onto your throat again, making you look at him. You didn’t know what came into you, never wanting to fight for dominance that bad, but Jungkook made it easy for you. Even though he was a giant, he let you flip him over and take control whenever you liked and you fairly enjoyed that. But this time, you wanted to be underneath him, wanting him to use you and make you his slut. You wanted him to mark you, leave bruises around your body and be reminded of this fuck even two days from now. Jungkook growls at you, sticking his tongue out for you to suck on it which you do happily while wrapping your legs around his toned torso.

Then, without even warning you, he thrusts into you, burying his cock balls-deep in your tiny pussy, leaving him groaning and you gasping for air before he screams out in pleasure. Your eyes kept locked while he bites your lip, sucking on it and letting it go with a pop. You were just about to close your eyes to let yourself fall into the hole of pleasure when Jungkook pulls you back to reality. “Open your eyes, princess. Look at me while getting fucked. Show me how good I am to you.” You obeyed, clinging onto his shoulders, frowning because of the amount of pleasure he was giving you with his giant cock, filling out every inch of you and you bet you could feel him in your stomach. You quickly lost yourself in the dark vortex of his eyes and feeling the infamous knot in your stomach again. Jungkook feels you starting to clench around him and goes slower, clenching his jawline while his abs flex uncontrollable, covered by a thin layer of sweat. “Not yet, baby. Want it to last”, he whispers while kissing you quickly. You pinch him in frustration, not wanting to miss any chance of an orgasm. Using all your strength left, you flip him back under your body, quickly slipping his cock back in and sighing in relief. You you start moving your hips, swinging them while kneading your own tits and looking down at that beautiful man.

He just shakes his head in disbelief, crossing his arms behind his head and watches your divine body grinding on him. He could see your wetness running down your thighs, meeting his own ones. The vein of his neck was popping, and you couldn’t stop yourself from wrapping both of your hands around it, supporting all of your weight onto him. Jungkook stopped breathing for a second before realizing that you had him whipped – nobody could ever do that to him without getting slapped the fuck out of them, but you were fucking hot like that. He could even feel your nails sinking into his skin, only imagining how your fingers would look like around his muscular neck. You enjoyed the view as well, your body was about to explode – you felt powerful, admiring Jungkook for letting himself submit to you even though he could crash you in seconds. But there he was, completely relaxed and full of trust in you, indulging your effort and completely admiring you. He wanted to take his time with you the next time you’ll interact that way, wanted to praise your body and wanted to get to know your perks and habits. You on the other hand were concentrated to build up your orgasm, ready to let go just yet, knowing that Jungkook would last just a bit longer to switch up positions once again, you just knew what he wanted to do next. You didn’t even need to rub your clit like you used to with other guys, the sensation of his cock deep inside your pussy was just too much to handle, so you came once more, even squirting a little again, but not too much to actually be seen. Grinning at Jungkook, you climbed down off him and get on all fours, shaking your ass at him. Jungkook understood and was quick enough to pound into you, pressing your head on the mattress and lifting your ass up even more, his thrusts becoming quicker and quicker while wrapping your hair around his wrist. “Jungkook!”, your screaming echoed throughout the entire room and brought Jungkook over the edge once he felt your orgasm shaking your body a final time. He quickly pulled out and grabbed your face towards his already leaking cock, pumping himself a few times and finally releases right inside your mouth.

Then, you realized what just happened, eyes wide as you looked at his changed expression, eyes empty as he looked out of the window- right towards the ocean. “I need to go”, he monotonous mumbles as he made his way towards your patio, not even bothering to get dressed. “Jungkook, no!”, you screamed, knowing that you made things just worse for him. He smiled, your melodic voice filling his ears, combined with the song of the ocean. “Let him, Y/N! You promised! He is just another human, let him go. Don’t disobey me!” The ocean’s voice filled your ears just as she filled Jungkook’s with her melody. But to you, her voice sounded rough, disappointed and… not as loving as she used to talk to you. You grabbed Jungkook’s arm as soon as his feet touched the soft sand, pulling him towards you, but he was unstoppable, reaching the soft waves of the water, that weren’t going to stay soft and peaceful. Within seconds, they would eat Jungkook alive, leaving not even a dead body for his family to cry over. “Jungkook”, you whimper as he lets himself fall into the water, tears running down your face as you sob uncontrollably. “Mother, don’t! Take me, please!”, you scream, trying to pull his body back up onto the surface, but you knew he was gone, he wouldn’t come back to breathe the salty air, his lungs were already filled with water. “Don’t be stupid, my child! He is just one of them, the other six are already here, let him be! Remember what would happen if you saved him”, she scolds you. “He would die the next time he touches water”, you whisper as you let his hand go, watching his still beautiful but way paler body sink into the darkness. “I could’ve loved him, mother, you know?”

Hours later, you were sitting on your couch, a mug with your favorite tea in your hands, but your empty heart couldn’t get any warmer. Jungkook died, another beautiful soul died, just because you weren’t dead. Because you decided to follow the ocean’s lead. Your eyes were dry, tears no longer forming. You were just staring at the wall, waiting for your Siren sisters to come back from their mission.

The door opens with a squeal, heavy steps were heard, and you turned your head in confusion. Were they really going to hook up with some guys after they just ended six lives? Male laughter echoed through the room, melodic and soft, as the steps came further, and a handsome man came into your sight. “Oh, hi! I’m Jimin! I suppose, you are Y/N? Our new… sister?” “Jimin, don’t scare her, she doesn’t know about this!”, another godlike male stepped into the living room, an annoyed expression on his face. “I’m Yoongi, I don’t even know why I’m here, my voice isn’t made for this. I don’t want to sing people to death, I want to die myself” “Yoongi, shut up!”, a red-haired man flipped Yoongi’s head while plopping down next to you. “I’m Hobi, the entertainer of this group, I will turn your life into a rainbow!”

Your mouth hung open as man after man stepped into your living room, introducing themselves, until… “Hi, I’m Jungkook. I guess mother ocean gave us one more chance.”

368 notes · View notes

purplesurveys · 4 years ago

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1030

1. What did you do on the last nice weather day? I’m guessing ‘nice’ here universally means sunny and fair, even though that isn’t my weather of choice. But that said, yesterday I just stayed indoors and caught up on rest by binge-watching Friends, which I haven’t done in a while. I also ordered another embroidery kit online since my first kit, which I had mostly used as a trial since I’ve never done one before, has since run out of the given floss.

2. What do you love the most about your work? I work in an agency, so I’m not forced to do PR under just one company which I think would get boring for me pretty quickly. With the nature of my work, it’s fun working with many different brands/companies at one time because I get to be exposed to and learn about different industries, and I’m also challenged to come up with campaigns that would best fit the different groups that we work with which is always fun. Also, PR is a great way to keep up with the trends and always remain hip because I always know about upcoming campaigns or promos before they’re even unveiled to the public, lol.

3. What do you think about what is going on in the world today? I think wealthy people and big corporations are a crucial, if not the main, root of the world’s problems and it’s frustrating that the task of mitigating those issues is always delegated to everyone below them.

4. What is your favorite way to work out? By not doing so, hahaha.

5. What motivates you? I don’t know if anything has been lately. I’ve been taking life slowly and easily these days and I’m allowing myself to just go through the motions as I digest all these big adjustments currently going on in my life. For now I’m not putting any pressure on myself to be motivated to do anything big. I’m still a little overwhelmed with everything as it is.

...where’s #6?

7. What is something people do that drives you crazy? When people need something from you so they message you, but do unnecessary small talk before asking for a favor. The fact that they need my help does not bother me; the fact that they are only talking to me because they need something from me does not bother me. It’s the small talk that irks me. I’ll be ready to help anybody at any time and it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since we’ve spoken – but just go ahead and ask for the damn thing and don’t waste my time trying to sound like you care about what’s going on in my life.

8. What are some things on your bucket list? Go to Wrestlemania, travel with my own funds, have my own place, have kids.

9. What are some of your deal breakers in a relationship? Do I even have any? Gab dropped so many red flags in our relationship that should have been dealbreakers and my dumb, ever-forgiving ass always saw past them. I think the thing with me is that I think I have a list of dealbreakers, but when actually confronted with them I’m too afraid to speak out about it, so I just forgive and forget and eventually they just stop being dealbreakers. I have to work on that.

10. What do you never leave your house without? My top three are phone, keys, wallet. And of course, as a given – a face mask and face shield.

11. What was your most memorable vacation? Sagada and Singapore/Malaysia, since that was my first trip abroad.

12. Do you have any phobias? Needles and fire.

13. What is your favorite ethnic food? Indian, Thai, Indonesian, and Korean. 14. I love Italian/Thai etc. Would you like to go to my favorite place sometime? I love both, though I like Thai a tad bit more. And yessss, I’m always open to anyone’s recommendations so long as it’s got something to do with food.

15. What TV shows have you binged lately? I’ve been rewatching Friends again and I’m in between seasons 5–7, which I believe to be the show’s peak. Currently, I’m several episodes away from the Ross/Elizabeth storyline and Chandler’s proposal.

16. Send me a funny meme that you shared recently. I haven’t been active on social media, so I haven’t seen any new memes lately. I hate missing out.

17. What do you hate about technology? This is more nitpickiness on my end than anything else, but battery power. I hate being constantly cautious over my gadget running out of power or dying on me especially when I’m out. I often find myself wishing for technology to evolve to the point that we won’t need batteries or to charge stuff anymore, which idek if it’s even possible haha.

18. What sites do you find yourself visiting the most? YouTube, by a mile.

19. Do you have any favorite apps? Again, YouTube. I also like going through Reddit at the end of the day.

20. What is the best part of your day? Any point I don’t find myself feeling miserable.

21. What time period would you like to visit the most, if you could time travel? 70′s punk/rock scene, maybe? < Ooh, this is a good one. Also, late 90s Attitude Era-era WWF/E. And whenever Pompeii was around.

22. What scents do you really enjoy? (a certain flower, cut grass, fireplace, perfume) Bakeries, a newly-cleaned hotel room, coffee shops.

23. What is something that you are terrible at? Giving and following directions, drawing, and cooking.

24. What are some favorites on your playlist right now? Because I mentioned The Japanese House on a survey last night, I am ALL over Saw You In A Dream again. Seriously, god-tier. One of my favorites ever. Outside of that, haven’t been listening to music lately because I’m still sad; but I might find myself back on Spotify soon. As much as I haven’t been tuning into music, I do miss it.

25. What comedy movie is your favorite? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Also, a bit of a garbage choice but White Chicks.

26. Have you ever meditated? No. I don’t think I have the patience/required attention span for it.

27. What is your dream job? I wanted to be in PR. I currently work at an agency which is my dream for now so yay for me achieving that, but like I’ve said before it would be such a dream come true if I can come work for WWE, my dream company, in any capacity. Getting to work for their in-house PR team would be the perfect icing on the cake.

28. What comes to mind when you think of a great moment in your life? Being in a relationship, and how much I miss that feeling. Now that I’ve experienced both singlehood and having an SO, I can definitely decide that I don’t particularly enjoy being by myself.

29. What do you miss the most about college? The independence I learned to gain. My campus was such a freeing environment and it allowed me to grow so much, to wear whatever I want, to join whatever protest or rally was going on, to meet new people, to hear different perspectives from my classmates. I miss being there.

30. Whenever you text it makes me smile! ???

31. What are you planning this weekend? My weekend is nearly over, actually...for the remaining 10 hours and 20 minutes of it, I willllll probably just watch a bunch of wrestling and maybe find something to watch on Netflix just so that I have something interesting to share for the weekly check-in tomorrow with the team.

32. Who is your favorite band? Paramore, but you knew that already.

33. How do you like to spend your free time? If I manage to find a few free minutes while at work, I gobble that shit up by lying in bed and finding a video to watch. On weekends I like doing embroidery, taking surveys, maybe even find a black hole of articles to read on Wikipedia. I’m also looking forward to playing video games once I’ve finally bought the ones I’ve been eyeing to get.

34. What do you like about springtime? I don’t know. I can’t relate, we don’t have that season.

35. Is your personality similar to anyone in your family? I’m most similar with my mom, but I share traits with my dad as well.

36. How have you handled having to stay in? It was sucky at first, but after eight months you kinda get used to it and just make the most out of things you can do only at home.

37. Are you able to work at home? Yeah, we’re all on a WFH set-up right now.

38. How would your friends describe you? The most popular opinion would probably be ‘shy.’

39. Did you ever take a really big risk? Sure.

40. What do you want to be known or remembered for? Anything but negatively.

#survey #surveys

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dailyexo · 6 years ago

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[NEWS] Baekhyun - 190310 Allure: “How EXO's Baekhyun Put His Identity into Privé Alliance”

"Allure's Devon Abelman sat down with the K-pop star during his first-ever solo appearance in the U.S to discuss how he defines beauty and style on his own terms.

BY DEVON ABELMAN

If I didn't know who Baekhyun was before meeting him in February, I would have thought he was just a random handsome dude I met at a nightclub while on vacation in Los Angeles.

As he politely tells a roving cater waiter offering us mini cannolis, "No thank you," I find myself believing that Baekhyun truly is that guy. I'm fully aware of his claim to fame, but he doesn't look or act the part. For starters, Baekhyun's lids aren't defined with expertly blended smoky eyes, and his lips aren't stained with a raspberry lip tint. Those tell-tale signs of a man with his job description are noticeably missing. Not a single stroke of eyeliner or fleck of glitter is in sight, either (honestly, to my dismay). A part of me hoped we'd bond over our eye makeup.

Makeup aside, Baekhyun carries himself with a quiet confidence that is so unassuming that he seems weirdly familiar and incredibly normal compared to the influencers, actors, and singers milling around us in the private VIP area. He never acts like he's better or more important than any other person there. Instead, he has the affability of the construction worker who waves to me every morning on my way to work rather than the larger-than-life bearing of a superstar from Seoul who effortlessly hits high notes while simultaneously performing powerful choreography. During our interview, I felt like I should ask him about his dog instead of his skin-care routine. If I didn't know who Baekhyun was, I would have wondered why I was interviewing him for Allure at all.

Baekhyun's wavy hair reminds me why this article exists on the Internet and not solely as a story I recount to my friends over text messages. Parted in the middle and styled to have a wet look, his auburn ends are relics of internationally beloved K-pop group EXO's most recent concept. His hair, for all intents and purposes, is the reason why we ended up sitting together in a cushy booth in the back corner of the dimly lit VIP section of a club on a Tuesday night. Trust me, neither of us frequent this fine L.A. establishment, located next to the Museum of Death. You won't even catch me in a club when I'm at home in Brooklyn. To put it bluntly, I'm only in this club talking to a nice guy because he's a member of EXO.

The EXO Connection

If this is your introduction to Baekhyun, please know that EXO is a Big Deal. Among their long list of awards and chart-topping accomplishments, the nine-member group performed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and has racked up more than 100 million views on each of their music videos on YouTube.

By extension, Baekhyun — full name Byun Baekhyun, age 26 — is a Big Deal, too. In addition to being a talented performer with 14.5 million Instagram followers, his bright dye jobs, innovative hairstyles, and experimental eye makeup have sparked beauty trends in K-pop since EXO debuted in 2012. You can, more or less, blame him for the influx of mullets and red-streaked black hair among other idols and thank him for the proliferation of red eye shadow. No matter how controversial or dramatic the looks Baekhyun tries are, he always pulls them off with ease and joviality.

Back to Baekhyun's auburn hair, though. Like most K-pop stars, he constantly undergoes vibrant dye jobs in hues, like pink, silver, and platinum, to fit the group's concepts. For "Love Shot," EXO's latest music video, he paired his newly burgundy hair with a glimmering eye shadow of the same shade and sooty black liner. Now his look is an extremely streamlined version of this.

His current lack of makeup may be a stark contrast from the bold eye looks he typically wears onstage and in music videos, but his skin is just as dewy as ever with the help of a nearly undetectable layer of foundation. His brows are probably lightly filled in, too, but I could be reaching. If anything, Baekhyun's wearing the standard amount of makeup for celebrity men. Just enough to amplify his glow, not enough to make a statement.

Baekhyun's glow is due in part to a consistent regimen; he lists toner, lotion, and moisturizer as the official order. But how many times do you wash your face, I ask, causing a couple of people in the human bubble of managers, publicists, and security guards surrounding us to laugh. Baekhyun ignores their snickers and answers, "Two," in English. (That's right, double cleansing is no laughing matter.) "If I wash my face too many times, I get skin troubles," he adds.

Baekhyun says he hasn't changed up the steps of his skin-care routine in L.A., or ramped up the number of sheet masks he uses. With EXO constantly traveling for concerts and events, "My skin gets used to the environment," he says. "So wherever I am, I use the same skin-care routine."

The Privé Connection

In hindsight, I should have anticipated Baekhyun would present himself in this low-key manner for his first-ever solo appearance in the U.S. In Privé campaigns, he's usually seen as he is now: natural, casual, effortlessly cool. His makeup is minimal; his natural-colored hair looks like all he did was run his hand through it; his outfits are sleek. With all this in mind, I ask him if he could dye his hair any color for the next campaign, what would it be.

How did I end up interviewing Baekhyun in a club, you ask? Let's go back to May 2018. Baekhyun made it onto Vogue's home page when he was named the co-creative director of streetwear brand Privé Alliance. Alongside Danyl Geneciran, the brand's CEO, Baekhyun helps create pieces that "put highlights on the basics," Baekhyun explains to me. He later reveals that he's surprised that almost all of his ideas have been executed.

My favorite part of Privé is how its offerings have a certain fluidity to them, much like Baekhyun's onstage persona. None of Privé's shirts, jackets, and bags are confined to overtly masculine or feminine silhouettes, and the same designs are available for men and women. "It's very important to have everyone be able to wear the clothes comfortably," Baekhyun explains. "Without any official communication, we agreed that [Privé Alliance] is going to be unisex."

With the newest Privé Alliance collection launching in April, the brand invited the public to join Baekhyun for a fashion presentation. The location: the very club we are sitting in. Although he doesn't act like he is (he kept to himself for most of the event), Baekhyun is undoubtedly the center of attention. He is the reason the floor below us is with filled with people from all over the world. Everyone's here to see Baekhyun, not the latest Privé pieces.

The Identity Connection

This is the only question Baekhyun doesn't answer concisely and without hesitation. "I don't know," he says in English. After taking a couple of seconds to think about it, he adds in Korean, "I love the black," adding "simple" in English.

This single word — simple — perfectly mirrors Baekhyun's personal aesthetic. "Basics, but with many little details," he explains. "It’s like you just came out of your house, but it’s still cool." In other words, he's the epitome of "Oh, this old thing? I just threw it on." I ask if he prefers to keep his hair and makeup natural and low-key, too, and he quickly replies, "yes, yes," in Korean.

The fact that Prive's aesthetic is similar to Baekhyun's is intentional. "I put my identity and myself into this collection," he tells me, echoing a line he shared when he made a brief appearance onstage before the fashion presentation commenced. The theme of the collection was his birth year, 1992, with zip-up corduroy jackets and hoodies adorned with '92 in big text.

Another adage he repeats throughout the night is, "Be brave. Be humble." The same words are printed all over the collared white satin shirt he's wearing, layered under a similar navy blue one. After the event, I saw people saying the look recalled EXO's "Lotto" era, back in 2016 when his hair was styled in a similar way and he wore collared shirts with several of the top buttons undone and silver necklaces. Onyx shadow was blended all over his lids back then, though. Fans likened Baekhyun's look that night to a mafia boss. (Seeing those tweets made me laugh, because his charm is far from disarming.) But for Baekhyun, his outfit is more a matter of comfort. "I like how silky it feels," he says. I go on to compare it to pajamas, which makes him chuckle.

Baekhyun doesn't ignore the fact that he typically presents himself with intricate details. Performing, he points out, is his go-to form of self-expression, outside of working with Privé. And let's be real, Baekhyun's performances, which ooze confidence and allure, wouldn't be the same without his stunning hair and makeup.

To borrow a word from Baekhyun, identity — and the way we present ourselves — isn't fixed. For example, the way my best friend describes my identity could be strikingly different from the way my sisters would. The way I dress when I'm going to get a bagel on a Saturday morning (track pants and a T-shirt) is different from how I dress for work (vintage floral dresses) or an event like this (a blue-and-white plaid suit). The way I do my colorful makeup is also evolving, too.

We often see K-pop stars in narrow, controlled situations, though, so we know and define them according to what we're able to see. I'm as guilty of this as the next person, i.e., assuming Baekeyun would show up with eyeliner as bold as my own. When you take a K-pop star out of a K-pop setting, a different side of them is revealed. They no longer have to adhere to a group aesthetic, just their own. We get a glimpse of Baekhyun's at the airport and in the selfies he posts on Instagram, but Privé Alliance has given him a platform to truly show his identity on his own terms.

At that club, I felt like I was being introduced to Baekhyun all over again. Back when I watched EXO's music video for "Monster" the first time, I saw him as part of a carefully crafted package; the second time, I saw him the way he sees himself."

Photo links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Credit: Allure.

#EXO #EXO K #Baekhyun #190310 #190226 #exo im #exo k im #baekhyun im #190226 prive #p:news #t:news #fs:allure #comeback:Tempo #followup:Shot

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howwelldoyouknowyourmoon · 5 years ago

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Missing Pieces of the Story of Sun Myung Moon

by Frederick Clarkson September 8, 2012

The reporting and punditry in the wake of the death of Sun Myung Moon has left a lot to be desired. Even long, seemingly comprehensive treatments of Moon's life and empire, such as the one that ran in The New York Times, did not delve deeply into Moon's profound far right and criminal involvements; antidemocratic politics; or even the mysterious sources of foreign cash for The Washington Times, and extensive political operations in the U.S. for decades, let alone the Moon organization's broad, insidious affects on American culture and democracy. There has also been some embarrassingly credulous material published about the nature of life in the Church itself, and some odd, unsubstantiated pooh poohery about the problem of cultism.

Of course, history lives, despite the best efforts of some of us not to notice.

Here are a few things from my own knowledge that merit far greater, and better attention than they have generally received so far.

No report that I have seen has gone very deeply into the role of the Moon organization in the Koreagate scandal of the 1970s. A Congressional investigation exposed a massive covert operation and influence buying effort by the government of South Korea against the U.S. The Korean Central Intelligence Agency, (KCIA), some of whose operatives were top leaders of the Unification Church. The church itself was revealed to have been crafted by the KCIA into a "political tool." A notable exception to this unfortunate trend, was a remembrance by a staffer on the Koreagate investigation, published in the MinnPost. The article quotes from a book by Koreagate staff director Robert Boettcher, Gifts of Deceit: Sun Myung Moon, Tongsun Park, and the Korean scandal. For details on the investigation, see the conclusions of the Report by the House Committee on International Relations, October, 31, 1978.

One of the architects of the "New Right" of the 1970s and beyond was Richard Viguerie. He was best known as a direct mail entrepreneur. Much less well-known is that one of his first clients was a front group for the KCIA and the Moon organization called the Korean Cultural Freedom Foundation. This group, ostensibly about anti-communist education, was broadcasting KCIA propaganda radio programming into North Korea and Vietnam. Viguerie has had many Moon front groups as clients over the years, and when his businesses foundered in the 1980s, the Moon organization purchased his office building for ten million dollars. (I detail some of this history in my book, Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy.

In 1987 I published an expose in Extra!, the magazine of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, on how top executives of The Washington Times and its parent company [NWC – News World Communications], were current or former KCIA agents:

Three NWC executives are not only top Unification Church officials, but have also had high-ranking posts in the Korean CIA (KCIA). Sang Kook Han, a "personal assistant" to the KCIA director in the early 1960s, later served as South Korea's ambassador to Norway and Panama. In 1984, Han was installed at the Washington Times, precipitating the resignation of editor James Whelan. Currently senior vice president of New World Communications, Han is described by Whelan as the "de facto publisher" and "inspector general" of the Times.

Kim Sang In, another NWC executive, was KCIA station chief in Mexico in the '70s. There, according to U.S. congressional investigators, he functioned as the "control agent" for Tungsun Park, who bribed U.S. officials to gain favors for the South Korean government in what became known as "Koreagate." Congressional probers disclosed that illegal espionage operations linked to Koreagate were carried out by the Unification Church at the behest of the KCIA.

Bo Hi Pak, the president of NWC, served as liaison to the U.S. intelligence community while posted in Washington as South Korean military attache in the 1960s and early ’70s, according to the Koreagate inquiry. Pak is also president of CAUSA (Confederation of the Associations for Unity of the Societies of the Americas), the political arm of the Unification Church. CAUSA was instrumental in providing aid to the Nicaraguan contras.

Although I wish the paper had gotten into it more, The Washington Post's epic coverage of Moon's life and empire offered a few telling details about the way that the Moon organization has intervened in our domestic politics and foreign policy.

During the height of the Nicaraguan civil war in the 1980s, the Washington Times led a fundraising drive on behalf of the contras, a rebel group that sought to overthrow the country’s leftist government. Another church-linked organization, the American Freedom Coalition, paid for a direct mailing to 25 million households that criticized 1988 Democratic presidential candidate Michael S. Dukakis.

What the story does not mention is that Richard Viguerie was an officer of the American Freedom Coalition and did direct mail for the organization. In Eternal Hostility, I discuss how the AFC was, between the collapse of Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority, and the creation of Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition, the leading political organization of the Religious Right; for example, spending millions of dollars printing and distributing presidential candidate scorecards tilted to favor George H.W. Bush over Michael Dukakis in 1988 -- among many other campaign activities.

While the issue of religious freedom is much in the news lately, Moon and his supporters who were waving the bloody shirt of alleged violations of religious freedom to advance their interests in the 1980s. Moon was convicted of tax fraud and served 13 months in federal prison. (I wrote about the case and the subsequent bruhaha at the time, and later in Eternal Hostility.) Moon was shown to have been specifically advised by his attorneys to keep his personal and church accounts separate. He didn't. He diverted contributions intended for church purposes to his personal use; and later supervised the production of a false books. He is a convicted felon. But you would not know that to read most of the accounts of his life.

The Moon organization has played a pivotal role in underwriting vast political and media projects in the U.S. But the sources of the funding has always been mysterious, although every investigation has shown that most if not all of the funding comes from foreign sources, primarily Japan. This includes as much as three billion spent to underwrite the The Washington Times alone over the past 30 years.

Former Newsweek and Associated Press investigative reporter Robert Parry has published a vast amount of material on this, including Moon's involvement with military dictators and drug cartels in Latin America and the Japanese Yakuza.

Parry reported:

But Moon's relationships with drug-tainted gangsters and corrupt right-wing politicians go back to the early days of his Unification Church in Asia. Moon's Korea-based church made its first important inroads in Japan in the early 1960s after gaining the support of Ryoichi Sasakawa, a leader of the Japanese yakuza crime syndicate who once hailed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as "the perfect fascist." In Japan and Korea, the shadowy yakuza ran lucrative drug smuggling, gambling and prostitution rings.

The Sasakawa connection brought Moon both converts and clout because Sasakawa was a behind-the-scenes leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. On the international scene, Sasakawa helped found the Asian People's Anti-Communist League, which united the heroin-stained leadership of Nationalist China with rightists from Korea, Japan and elsewhere in Asia. [For details, see Yakuza by David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro]

In 1966, the Asian league evolved into the World Anti-Communist League with the inclusion of former Nazis from Europe, overt racialists from the United States and "death squad" operatives from Latin America, along with more traditional conservatives.

For more on the World Anti-Communist League, see the book Inside the League, by Jon Lee Anderson and Scott Anderson. For a serious discussion of the role of cultism in the Moon organization, see Combating Cult Mind Control, by Steven Hassan.

The Moon organization has undermined American democracy for decades, and helped to make the conservative movement what it is today. The cult totalism that made ordinary Americans into zealots for a messianic Korean with a fascist political agenda and ties to the people who brought us World War II, is not something to be taken as lightly as seems to be fashionable among some of those who have been asked to comment on the life and death of Sun Myung Moon. As always, there is a battle going on for the narrative of American history, and the role of the Moon organization is part of it.

_____________________________________

Frederick Clarkson September 9, 2012 at 08:20:30 PM

“We are so disconnected from history. Even recent history of great consequence. It is just astounding to me. I had written a great deal about the Moon organization over the years, but was otherwise occupied when Moon died. I figured that much of this would be well covered elsewhere, and I was shocked when it wasn’t.

On reflection, I shouldn’t have been Progressive publications do a somewhat better job than they used to in covering these things, but the mainstream media does much less well.

Progressive political conferences do not much discuss current trends on the political and religious right, let alone how it connects with eye opening understandings of our own history. And I have had people I know and respect adamantly insist that they should not.

I really did not anticipate having to write this diary. But here we are.”

Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy

“I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”

– Thomas Jefferson, who was attacked by the religious right in the election of 1800. These words are engraved inside the Jefferson Memorial.

_____________________________________

“Moon’s Law: God Is Phasing Out Democracy” by Frederick Clarkson

_____________________________________

NPR: Church and State: ‘Eternal Hostility’ with Frederick Clarkson

_____________________________________

Reclaiming and Renewing Religious Freedom in the 21st Century

https://www.dailykos.com/blog/Frederick%20Clarkson/

_____________________________________

RESCUING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM with Frederick Clarkson

_____________________________________

Money and Power and Moon’s Washington Times by Rory O’Connor

Investigations into the Sun Myung Moon / Hak Ja Han organizations

The Tragedy of the Six Marys website

#Frederick Clarkson #Sun Myung Moon #Religious Right #Unification Church #Family Federation for World Peace and Unification #Hak Ja Han

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rosellateece-blog · 5 years ago

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A Historical past Of Musical Type In Modern Europe And America (Norton Introduction To Music.

It is official - science has basically confirmed, with a research, that Pop music is indeed each getting louder and diminishing in selection. What we think about traditional Greek folks music is intently tied to the wealthy history of Greece. In Historic Greece, the music was an integral part of Greek theater. Afterward, music evolved and was influenced by the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and in a while, the Ottoman Empire. In this instance, you will be listening to a Latin music clip. In Latin music like merengue and salsa, the percussion instruments, piano, and bass line all work collectively to make an incredible intricate rhythmic internet. Within the clips below you'll hear the entire different Latin percussion instruments solo. Then you'll hear the full observe (repeated once for a total of eight measures). Provided that we do find that MySpace musicians group genres into constant complexes (3 worlds, sixteen style communities), we turn to our third question, about the structural dimensions of those complexes. To do so, we look at the extent to which the permeability of genre communities' boundaries differ. Here we return to the 2x2 desk from above, and show how the most important genre complexes within the MySpace universe fit inside it. Thanks MagicKat. A lot of girls do say they've encountered important quantities of sexism and harassment in the rock music scene, which can clarify why some ladies might have felt they wanted to be more masculine to fit in. But I agree that's not necessarily each lady's experience. Nonetheless perceptions depend for lots. If women believe the rock music scene will likely be hostile to them, they could be wary of coming into it to begin with. Fewer female artists might then imply fewer feminine followers.

Initially from the Dominican Republic , bachata is likely one of the most popular Latin music genres today. Though the making of Bachata music began again in the Sixties with the songs produced by Jose Manuel Calderon, this rhythm was not capable of compete with the recognition that Merengue used to have. Popular music serves as an id badge for certain social teams, www.magicaudiotools.com a badge that's worn with nice satisfaction. Its bonding mechanism can, North argues, ‘be useful to weak youngsters', regardless of any anti-social message it may proclaim. He commends style radio, such because the BBC's Asian Network, as being notably helpful.

Live performance Music: Many composers mixed jazz music elements with different music kinds such as classical and blues. Music during this time additionally spoke of nationalistic fervor. Among the composers whose works had been drastically appreciated have been George Gershwin (Rhapsody in Blue), Aaron Copland (Rodeo) and Dmitry Shostakovich (The Golden Age). You'll be able to hear parts of submit-‘Royals' pop in ‘Hands to Myself' and ‘Bad Liar' by Selena Gomez, ‘New Americana' and ‘Now or Never' by Halsey, ‘Gold' by Kiiara, ‘Right here' by Alessia Cara (the Grammy's Greatest New Artist), Troye Sivan, Banks - even ‘Clean House' and ‘Look What You Made Me Do' by Taylor Swift. But there is another excuse for that past altering occasions. Its name is Jack Antonoff. Pop, which is not synonymous with the time period fashionable music, arose out of rock'n'roll, people and beat music in the mid 50s USA. Nevertheless, Elvis Presley is also counted as a pioneer of the popular culture. The complexity of the original music fashion largely disappeared. In its place, easy harmonicas and series' of melodies straightforward to recollect had been launched, giving the populace higher entry to this music. With its catchy melodies the brand new style of pop was especially effectively obtained by the younger era.

On the one hand, we generally imagine biology refers to a hard and fast actuality. Our body is doing issues whether or not or not I believe it's doing these issues, no matter whether or not I'm conscious of them or understand them. It follows with this pondering that there are no privileged locations. Gravity functions the identical in Bangalore as in Paris. But at the identical time, the postmodern statement that our understanding of the world is conditioned by culture and historical past in ways in which we aren't even able to being aware of. The unknown unknowns of Donald Rumsfeld's amateur philosophizing could in the future hang-out us greater than his foreign coverage. This point is nicely taken, even if it must be balanced towards a backdrop of real waveforms and ear canals.After slapping on some reverb, the chamber strings sounded pretty lifelike, but before bouncing them I placed on my producer's hat (accessible at Asda shops for only £2.99) and added a dash of my unique keyboard patch to the combination to sweeten the sound. I despatched the composers two stereo information: a mix of my demo strings and their tough mix (so they might hear the arrangement in context), and a separate strings‑solely file so they could pinpoint its musical details. The relationship between music and hashish begins with understanding how music impacts the mind. In accordance with Michael Thaut , a professor of music and neurology at the University of Toronto, sound is processed from the spinal cord to the cortex. This means that the complete range of the central nervous system is activated after we take heed to a bit of music.Did not Arthur C. Clarke write a story about this? If I keep in mind, the researcher distilled standard music to a series of good" notes. For the centerpiece of his 1993 album, Billy Joel put collectively this stream-of-consciousness, gospel-influenced recording. It spent three weeks on the top of the pop singles chart and is likely one of the most uplifting hits of Joel's career. Typically a producer throws the whole lot they have into the arrangement, with the concept that pop music, by nature, ought to include every track you'll be able to cram and more. As a mixing engineer, you do have a little bit of freedom to mute an unnecessary sound—particularly if it is so outside the realm of at this time's pop that it might instantly detract from the mainstream expertise.You'll have listened to plenty of techno music whereas clubbing, but it is Detroit techno that is thought of to be the foundation of this type of music. Unlike the times of its emergence, the use of technology as we speak has tremendously enhanced the quality of techno model music and popularizing it amongst folks day-to-day. This was a spacey techno-trip - with a mild beat, so's dancers could come down" slowly. Aaa-ah. And as the Eighties gave solution to the Nineties, this evolved into TRANCE. Trance started, basically, as Ambient, but slowly developed into a more light type of Dance music in its personal right. And it had LYRICS. Which by definition (see MANNER above) made it POP.Future musicians can usually hear more sound than the common person, according to Gardner (2006). They could expertise their feelings auditorily. As an example, the drone of a spring rain or the out of tune E string on a guitar has the potential to turn into categorized fairly than heard in environmental bulk to those individuals. These sounds are related to emotion and will be reproduced, remembered, and referenced back to on command. You're right that numerous Okay-pop hate comes from racism, but I do not think this was hate. That is just stating reality. I am a Korean learning in US proper now and I can see that BTS is on loads of information and charts however it is just because of a particular group of fans, not widespread reputation. Individuals who like Kpop are still seen as weird like otakus, BTS has not modified that to date. Most Americans around me will not be BTS followers.

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my-obsession-with-wayhaven · 6 years ago

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So... The idea to do this has been kicking around my head for a while and I finally said why not? So! Here’s my Mood Board for one Detective Virgil Sanders!

Stats (Typically):

Charming 59% /// Intimidating 41%

Impulsive 53% /// Cautious 47%

Sarcastic 41% /// Genuine 59%

Friendly 75% /// Stoic 25%

Easygoing 58% /// Stubborn 42%

Heart 60% \\\ Mind 40%

Optimist 68% \\\ Pessimist 32%

Team Player 71% \\\ Independent 29%

Skills (Typically):

People - 36%

Combat - 43%

Science/Technology - 65%

Deduction/Knowledge - 32%

By The Book 64% /// Bend The Rules 36%

Constant canon for Virgil:

Cross-dressing gay man

Short, dark brown hair

Grey eyes

Lightly tan skin

5′ 5″

Has the middle Mood Board image (without the background moon) as a tattoo on his back along the length of his spine, starting at the base of the neck and ending at the bottom of his lower back

He and Bobby dated, and hasn’t been on a date since they broke up;

Coffee is his lifeblood

Mild insomnia

Always believed in the Supernatural before finding out

Doesn’t give two shits that Unit Bravo aren’t human, and loves them all anyway

Actually enjoys Mason’s company (both in and out of romance)

Criminal background

Didn’t want the promotion

Close friends with Tina and Verda

Has shot a gun before, but is hesitant to do it again

LOVES REBECCA TO DEATH AND WILL ALWAYS HUG HER WHEN HE CAN

Cozy style for apartment (though it does change to minimal in Adam Romance, and dark in Mason Romance)

RARELY drinks

Now, I use the same character for each playthrough, but I like to think of the different playthroughs as alternate universes, where he just ends up with a different member of Unit Bravo (or two during the Love Triangle route).

As for his outfit, it depends on the season: in winter, he wears a hoodie, t-shirt, and jeans; in spring, he wears a pencil skirt, shirt, and some jewelry (two rings, one on each hand, and a necklace); in summer, he wears just jeans and a t-shirt; and in fall/Autumn, he wears a leather jacket, t-shirt, and cargo pants/trousers. And yes, I did actually spend half an hour thinking about what he’d wear.

On the unpleasant topic of Bobby, Virgil’s thoughts on how it ended change depending on who he’s gonna be romancing:

Nate, and Love Triangle: No issue

Adam: Hard to be around

Felix: The grudge of grudges

Mason: BEGONE THOT

Virgil has always been a friendly, caring person since he was young, but after his father was no longer apart of his life, he quickly turned to a criminal life when he hit puberty at 12. He took the offer to join the force to not go to jail since he already knew a man like him won’t do too well in such a place and it ended up fitting him well. Tina and Verda, as well as Bobby--unfortunately--know that Virgil openly believes that the Supernatural exist, and that they’ve evolved with the human race to hide themselves better. When his very first case as a Detective began and he met Unit Bravo, he was very welcoming with them, happily greeting Nate, accepting Felix’s kiss on his hand, teasing Mason on his introduction, and noticed that Adam had been very tense when they shook hands after he mentioned that they might have met the night prior.

As they got deeper into the case (with Virgil spending as much time as he could with whoever he’s romancing, or splitting his time and attention between Adam and Nate in the Love Triangle), Virgil quickly picked up on the oddities with the blood and focused on that, much to the strange discomfort of Unit Bravo.

When the team found him in a bar with Tina after he returned from the hospital, he was calm when he was told the truth about Murphy, understanding from how close he was to his mother the reason somethings needed to stay secret, even if it annoys everyone by doing so. After he was knocked out and awoke in the medical bay of an Agency facility, and was told the truth about the case and about Supernaturals, a lot of the strange things he’s noticed and picked up on clicked into place, and was very accepting of the whole situation.

In the end, during the fight in the warehouse with Murphy, powered up on his freshly altered blood--having remained calm and tried to keep him talking to buy a little time--figured out what needed to be done to remove his blood from Murphy, and with Adam’s help, managed to succeed in doing so.

Virgil Sanders tends to be friendly and a little flirty when he talks to people he’s close with, and is very accepting of people for who they are. In every playthrough except Adam’s, he gets close enough with Mason for him to hold back the branch for him when they check on Murphy’s Thralls; I don’t know what it is about Adam’s romance, but he nearly smacks Virgil with that branch every time!

Sarcastic comments are reserved for high annoyance or stress, or if he’s trying to defuse a tense situation, otherwise, he’s upfront and honest in what he’s saying.

Due to the mild case of insomnia he devolved in his mid-teens, Virgil has trouble sleeping anytime before 1 or 2 in the morning, even though his job has him waking up around 6 or 7 am; it’s part of the reason he has such a heavy dependence on coffee. That, and he has a caffeine addiction that only coffee can sate.

Virgil, because of how friendly he is, as well as his criminal background, can pick up on social cues that people give off when they’re lying or trying to hide something, and he’s WAY too cunning for Adam’s sanity, so he knew right away after the first power struggle between Adam and Nate the day after he met the team that something else was going on, and no one was allowed to say.

Um... Let’s see...other facts about Virgil...

Knows how to pole dance, and does so for exercise

Loves to dance in any style for any reason

Fluent (speaking/reading/writing) in Spanish, French, Latin, and Greek

Can read and write in Russian, German, Korean, and Polish

Great cook, and can make foods for those with sensitive palates (looking at you, Mason)

Bakes like he’s a Goddamn grandmother

Can play the guitar, violin, piano, and drums

Loves to read; especially fantasy romance novels

Can fight and run in 5″ heels

Has a runner’s build in muscle tone

Is actually strong enough to lift Adam above his head with one hand

Knows how to hack computers

Knows how to pick any lock

Crafts jewelry and accessories from scratch

Can give deep-tissue, full body massages

Lots of casual touches

Is actually a little touch-starved

VERY physically affectionate; tons of hugs and cheek kisses

Loves running his fingers through people’s hair no matter the length

Cuddlebug

Street fighter/brawler fighting style, but with a dancer’s grace to the movements when he dodges out of the way

Has broken a solid steel pipe by kicking it

Will wear skimpy women’s lingerie in public and be unashamed

Sleeps easier and deeper when he smells sandalwood, so Mason usually has an excuse to crawl into Virgil’s bed after he tells him (both in and out of romance)

Will sit in one of Unit Bravo’s laps if he wants to be in contact with people; this normally ends up being Nate or Felix

Has a pair of Adam’s boots, Felix’s jeans, Nate’s shirts, and Mason’s leather jackets in his wardrobe after he snuck into their rooms and ‘borrowed’ them

Wants to bang all four of them at the same time, but know that will never happen

When he’s scared, he’ll seek out Adam, since he makes him feel safe

When he’s lonely, he’ll seek out Felix, since they can just talk and cuddle for hours

When he’s unsure of himself/things, he’ll seek out Nate, since he can relax the most around him and fully open up

When he’s extremely exhausted, he’ll seek out Mason, since his naturally occurring scent of sandalwood easily lulls Virgil to sleep; usually, they end up someplace that Virgil can easily rest again Mason without him really needing to hold Virgil against him

And...yeah. That’s everything I got for details about Virgil for now! Love you and your game so much @seraphinitegames and I can’t wait for Two Book to be finished when it lets you be done with it!

#The Wayhaven Chronicles #Detective Virgil Sanders #moodboard #Book One #spoliers #i spent way too much time on this #unit bravo #adam du mortain #nathaniel sewell #felix hauville #mason #original characer

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ignissa · 7 years ago

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So I wanted to get your take on something that's been stuck in my head recently about SU. I've seen a good number of people using the PD's zoo as material for pink being a bad person, but the more I think of the time depictions the more I think this is wrong. I keep thinking of it as a snapshot of how the humans were. Like it was their natural environment but without threats. I think this has interesting ramifications on the timeline, specifically in regards to Pearls hunter gatherer remark

Pt2. People I think humans could have grown to be co-dpendent on Gems before the war. Like that was the start of civilization for them. It could explain how we have this sliding scale of culture being referenced and how gems were shown to have left some icons in the culture behind.

If you don’t mind, I think I’ll use this ask as an opportunity to also talk a bit more about what the Zoo actually is.

I should start by saying that I do think the Zoo is perfectly consistent with what we know about Pink. She was clearly fascinated by unusual and novel things (just look at how she interacted with Garnet and how it’s implied she interacted with humans), even though she didn’t understand them. Empathy is based in understanding and respect, but Pink clearly lacked the emotional maturity required for both things - she was never a “bad person” but she was definitely immature and motivated by selfish desires. Regardless, her motivations don’t change how good or bad the zoo actually was.

(On a related note, do you know who does apparently have the emotional maturity to understand and empathise with humans?)

So, exactly how “bad” was the Zoo?

When we talk about the issue of “human zoos” it’s worth acknowledging that they were, in the not-so-distant past, a real thing:

This is Ota Benga, a Mbuti man who was put on display in St. Louis (1904) and at the Bronx Zoo Monkey House (1906). He committed suicide due to depression at the age of 32 when it became clear that he would never return to his native Congo.

Apparently, humans don’t take well to captivity, but once you understand their needs, they’re easy to control. - Holly Blue

During her reign on Earth, Pink Diamond stole humans from their families as trophies of her conquest.- Garnet

Oh no. It was very serious. When I still served… Homeworld, I saw it myself. A private menagerie deep in space. Humans in captivity. We were never able to rescue them. We had no way to get to them after the war.- Pearl

It’s fairly heavily implied that, at the Zoo’s conception, the humans housed there were not having a good time, to say the least. Holly Blue’s words imply that there was a time when they didn’t understand the needs of the humans, and as a result the humans were difficult to control. This, however, clearly happened before she arrived, suggesting that it was under Pink’s guidance that conditions in the human zoo improved. That’s not too surprising either, given the fact that the “solution” that was decided on looks suspiciously like the way Pink/Rose herself would infantilise humans. This suggests, to me at least, that the purpose of the zoo evolved as Pink spent more time on Earth.

What was a little vanity project very quickly became a serious undertaking, likely as Pink realised the true implications of colonisation and saw the effect captivity was having on the humans in her care. It would have only taken a few generations for humans to lose their emotional and sentimental ties to home, and humans are exceptionally good at adapting to new environments. Towards the end of her time as a Diamond, Pink probably justified the Zoo as a way of keeping some of humanity safe from the horrors of colonisation and war. I definitely get the feeling that she saw humans as somewhat interchangeable, especially given that Gems seem to view gem types in a similar way. Add to that Pink/Rose’s lack of respect towards humans in general, and it’s not too surprising that she never thought to return the humans to Earth (even after starting the rebellion for the sake of Earth - we know she was living a double life for quite some time at least) until it was far too late. That’s not to say she didn’t regret it.

Garnet describes the humans as “trophies of conquest”, which is very similar to the plight of people like Ota Benga. I’d bet that these original humans suffered with similar bouts of depression and self-destructive (and from a gem perspective unexplainable) behaviour. The comparitive docility of their modern-day counterparts can be explained away as a result of nurture and a lack of selective pressures - the lack of competition (including sexual competition) and absence of risk would naturally remove any evolutionary advantage from things like predispositions towards aggression and violence. Selective breeding via the “choosening” is another explanation.

It could be argued that Garnet wasn’t privy to all of the details of the Zoo, but Pearl certainly was and her own word choice paints a similar image. The word menagerie has some very specific connotations:

The aristocratic menageries are distinguished from the later zoological gardens since they were founded and owned by aristocrats whose intentions were not primarily of scientific and educational interest. These aristocrats wanted to illustrate their power and wealth, because exotic animals, alive and active, were less common, more difficult to acquire, and more expensive to maintain.

The focus on the exotic can even be seen in the humans that were chosen to live in the Zoo:

We see a whole range of skin, hair and eye colours here, as well as variation in height and build. There is a clear suggestion here that humans weren’t just randomly grabbed from a single community, but were specifically selected to be as diverse and exotic as possible (I mean 6000 years ago the genes for blue eyes, pale skin and light hair were fairly new and rare - they would have really needed to go out of their way to find one of every colour, so to speak). Garnet calls the Zoo “insidious”, meaning “proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects". This implies that the humans were gathered over a fairly long period of time, perhaps even continuing after the beginning of the rebellion.

Was humanity dependent on Gem technology?

The most likely answer is no. We have nothing that suggests this was the case. Beyond the Zoo, gems had no reason to interact with humans at all; going by Aquamarine’s reactions gems don’t seem to have any problem considering humans sentient, they simply don’t value sentience to the same extent we do. I think, with the exception of the rebellion, it’s fairly unlikely that gems ever co-operated with humans in any way. Gem technology wouldn’t have ever been particularly valuable to humanity; their materials are useless unless you can learn to replicate them, the only technology that could have helped humans survive would have been light-years away at the Zoo, and even exploring gem-related locations would have been dangerous. Most gem locations are inaccesible to humans and non-gems don’t seem to be able to operate warp pads.

The only gem tech we’ve even seen humans use are the Replicator Wand (used by Onion) and the Warp Whistle (used by Greg). Now you could certainly make the argument that the Warp Whistle was designed for non-gem use and is therefore evidence of co-operation between gems and humans, except we already know that humans were involved in the rebellion so it doesn’t necessarily tell us anything about the situation between humans and Homeworld gems.

We see examples of gem-related iconography in human culture, so I think if there was any part of human culture that was effected by the presence of gems it would be folklore and mythology. Even then, the only concrete hint we get is in the money (which is extra interesting now we know that it likely depicts Steven’s gemstone), which could be handwaved as a reference to Rose Quartz and whatever involvement she had with the country’s history.

The state of Human Civilisation

All things considered, 6000 years ago really wasn’t that long ago. Humans had already reached more-or-less the same distribution as modern day (with the exception of a few islands) and plenty of early civilisations had moved beyond the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and on to agriculture and organised society.

The official guide places the start of the gem war 5,500 years ago, so the time period we’re looking at is around 3500 BC. The state of human society at the time depends pretty heavily on where you look in the world. For example Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) had already been fairly advanced for about half a century at that point; they had basic writing, mathematics, civil law, knowledge of various sciences (astronomy, hydrology), boats, pottery, the wheel… They were also just entering into the bronze age. The native American inhabitants of the Delmarva Peninsula (presumably the closest real-world equivalent to the area around Beach City), as well as the Koreans, on the other hand, did not generally practice agriculture, didn’t yet create pottery, had no written language (and would continue to not write for several thousand years after that), and lived as hunter-gatherers and nomads.

Indeed, it is a possibility that the gem presence on Earth either accelerated or set back human development, but there are simpler explanations. It’s likely that the hunter-gatherers Pearl refers to are the aforementioned native American and Korean tribes. In any case hunter-gatherers exist to this day in small pockets. Besides, we don’t actually know when Gems first arrived on Earth (and it can be assumed that Pearl was among the first) - Gemkind could have easily had run-ins with humans at much earlier dates, via scouts for example. Things like writing, mathematics, law, science, etc. were developed independently by many different civilisations, so even if one group was set back by dependency, others simply would have eclipsed them in technological development.

#su #su analysis #ask ignissa #justicemode

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nightmareonfilmstreet · 7 years ago

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Dad-Bods and 6-Packs: The 14 Dreamiest Dads of Horror

Father’s Day is a day to let Dad know we care about him just as much as he cares about us. It is on this day that we celebrate the men who have been there to teach us, those that have guided us, protected us, and … made us swoon.

I know you’re thinking this is wrong, wrong, wrong and anyone who keeps tabs on the hot dads of others must have some sort of ‘daddy-issue’ of her own, but I can assure you I do not and this is all sorts of right if you can recognize a good looking man when you see one.

This is a list of dad crushes and appreciated fathers of a very specific focus, leaving out the neighbors’ husbands and my friends’ dads (much to their relief). What we’re looking at here are the dads and father figures of the horror genre, an archetype that has since evolved by way of appearance and family involvement. Modern generations have appropriated the term ‘daddy’, once used to solely label our own fathers while we were children, to now refer to other attractive, older, men of all kinds including those with fit, rock hard abs to the worship of the ‘dad-bod’ in all its glory. We might as well enjoy the gratuity these casting directors have thrown at us and let our insides fill with butterflies before the gore and jump scares become a distraction.

Let’s take a taboo look at the dreamiest daddies of horror, in every sense of the term you’d like to apply:

Jesse Hellman in The Devil’s Candy

What line do I need to get in to meet a man that has great taste in music, has mad artistic skills, and has a super ripped body? While watching The Devil’s Candy, I kept thinking about how good of a dad Ethan Embry’s Jesse Hellman is to his daughter as he encourages her to be a confident individual, and how much I wanted to join their family. It’s clear to anyone with eyes that Ethan Embry has gone from playing the hopeless, hapless, friendzone inhabitant to the role of a bad-ass, hard core, head-banging king. His portrayal of Jesse Hellman has redefined the typical ‘dad’ image, bringing on a new wave of ‘cool dads’ to the horror genre. So metal. So devilishly hot.

The Devil’s Candy? More like The Eye Candy, am I right?

(Thanks, Keith!)

Leo Barnes in The Purge Anarchy

I know how the typical saying goes, but in my experience I believe revenge is a dish best served piping hot and I consider Frank Grillo’s Sergeant Leo Barnes to raise mercury when it comes to that. The vengeful father is hellbent on taking full opportunity of murdering the man responsible for his young son’s death the night of the annual Purge, but he also has a tender heart for the innocent and helps them live through the night no matter the cost. Under that black trench coat, armored car, and dark smouldering look, Leo is a protective softie at heart. Major daddy vibes!

Leo, well, Grillo, gets bonus points for having great hair too.

Michael Hamilton in The Cloverfield Paradox

Quite possibly the only one on this list that makes all of the right decisions while also being the most compassionate is Michael Hamilton (Roger Davies), husband to engineer Ava Hamilton. Ava leaves her husband back on Earth to board the orbiting Cloverfield Station in hopes of saving the planet from a debilitating energy crisis. Aside from allowing her to go without so much as a plea, he is a real man who supports his wife’s intelligence, decisions, and abilities. Michael is the man running into the terrible unknown attack to offer his professional assistance when a more immediate crisis occurs. We learn that crisis is New York City being deconstructed by one of our favorite movie monsters, Clover. His care for a stranded little girl and sincere love for his wife stuck in space is a recipe for not only a good former dad, but also for a good man.

Plus… look at those biceps and appled cheek bones! I don’t know which I want to grab first. The Cloverfield Paradox lacked in a lot of areas, mostly in Michael Hamilton screen time.

George Lutz in The Amityville Horror (2005)

Whether you’re attracted to men or not, I think everyone can back me up when I say Ryan Reynolds as George Lutz in the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror is one of the hottest dads in cinema. That body of his would have me burning through firewood in hopes he’d go outside to chop some more so often that the ghosts would flee on their own from smoke inhalation quicker than the Lutz’s did. Who needs a priest?

Why the kids have such negative feelings about him becoming their stepdad is beyond me. I’d be willing, eagerly, to take up residency with George at the Amityville house, oozing walls and all.

Lee Abbott in A Quiet Place

Anyone into the strong, silent type? If existing with John Krasinski’s Lee Abbott means a vow of silence, then consider me forever on ‘mute’. I think what makes Lee so appealing to viewers of this year’s breakout films, A Quiet Place, is the familiarity and comfort most of us have with him as loveable Jim of The Office, but Krasinski has since matured in both his career and his look. Lee is intelligent, bold, and, like Jim, a bit of a romantic. Silent swoon!

Say goodbye to the days of Krasinski playing the cute, sweet, funny co-worker and hello to the crafty, well-built, and handsomely bearded leading man we’d gladly sit tight in silence through the apocalypse for. Monopoly, anyone?

Will in The Invitation

Speaking of quiet types, Logan Marshall-Green as the paranoid dinner guest Will in Karen Kusama’s The Invitation is one smoking brooder. Green has recently made a bit of a name for himself in the horror community with starring roles in M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller Devil and Leigh Whannell’s super charged Upgrade, but it’s this particular serious role of a grieving father suspicious of his ex-wife’s dinner party motives that has really drawn our attention. His tortured performance full of sizzling glances and lingering stares is intriguing and, despite the emotional pain he’s feeling over the loss of his son, is unfortunately quite sexy. Who wouldn’t want to haveWill sulking in their lap while running fingers through those long locks?

There is no mystery behind it, Will is the white hot flame of this slow burn.

John Form in Annabelle

Have you ever met a man so smart, yet his common sense skills are a little… off? Dr. John Form is one of those guys. He is a clean cut, all American, Boy Scout of a man who is focused on achieving his goals and being enclosed within a white picket fence with his wife and growing family.

If you dig pleated pants, sweater vests, and having a hot dinner ready on the table for your husband when he arrives home from work (despite an obvious household haunting) then John is the ideal daddy. His pearly white smile and perfectly parted hair makes it a little easier to forgive him for ignorantly gifting his pregnant wife with a deadly, obviously creepy, conduit doll in Annabelle. It’s the thought that counts so we’ll gladly accept the sweet stupid sting from this handsome WASP.

Johnathan Shannon in Wish Upon

Theres a clever saying people use down here in the south that applies well to Ryan Phillippe’s character Johnathan Shannon, in Wish Upon. It is used most commonly when someone wants to “politely” pity you without sounding mean: Bless is heart.

The role is not exactly ground-breaking front neither is the film, but it is Ryan Phillippe so naturally some part of you is going to react to his level of bad boy charm.

Normally, a man that can be found rummaging through the town’s trash cans as an all-day hobby is not truly an appealing quality I seek out in a man, but I’d be willing to make an exception here.

Imagine if he was your dad, or better yet, imagine if he was your friend’s dad? I knew exactly how Barb (Shannon Pursor who plays Phillippe’s daughter’s friend, but she will always be Barb) felt when she stared at him, mouth agape, while he pumped out some sizzling tunes from his saxophone. Oh yeah, did I mention he is a jazz musician? It’s not necessary for him to utter any of the poorly written lines for us to appreciate him for exactly what he is: a hot, dumpster diving, saxophone playing, widowed hoarder.

Yeah… I’d still go for him.

Tom Witzky in Stir of Echoes

Kevin Bacon’s Tom Witzky is the hot, young dad on the block in Stir of Echoes. Though him and his wife have been forced from the party scene to settle in the more suburban part of town to raise their son, Tom still knows how to have a good time. He too is a modern, sexy rocker dad who appreciates a snug t-shirt and a good vinyl. I’d be okay with him destroying the backyard in search of a random dead girl’s body if it meant he’d do it shirtless each time.

I don’t want to objectify Bacon too much as he is a pretty talented actor, he’s just never really been my cup of tea aside from this film. Tom Witzky and his 90’s post-grunge demeanor must have me hypnotized…

Seok-Woo in Train to Busan

Does anyone love a professionally dressed man in a tailored suit covered in sweat and blood as much as I do?

Workaholic Seok-Woo in Yeon-Sang ho’s epic South Korean zombie thriller Train to Busan might start off as an absent minded, selfish man trapped in the middle of a horrendous undead outbreak with his young daughter, but it’s his protective and ultimately selfless decisions that redeem him as a character and as a father. He is an extremely good looking and confident man that just needed a reality check. Being aware of the errors of his ways only makes him that much more attractive. If I was going to be trapped on a train I wouldn’t mind the uncomfortable claustrophobia nor the impending doom-by-zombies-masses if it meant he’d be close to me!

Sacrifice is always hot and always gets a guy extra points in this genre.

Dr. Steven Murphy in The Killing Of a Sacred Deer

I briefly hesitated a little when adding Colin Farrell’s odd character from the divisive The Killing of A Sacred Deer mostly because of two reasons: 1. Out of all the dads on this list and in general, he’s pretty much the worst as far as decision making and being selfish and 2. His intimacy predelicition towards getting off on his wife acting like a corpse was decidedly a huge turn-off to me… or was it?

Thanks to some sage reasoning from a trusted fellow Contributor (Thanks, Tyler!), Dr. Steven Murphy made this list by the scrape of a scalpel. His intimacy kinks are not to be judged as he is, on the outside, hot all over. You know what they say about what goes on behind closed doors.

The thick handsome beard, hairy chest, kind eyes, the accent, and the fact that all of those are attached to Collin Farrell was enough to win me over (combined with a palette cleansing viewing of Sophia’s Coppola’s The Beguiled).

As much as I hate to admit, this cardiovascular surgeon did indeed get my heart pumping whether he liked that or not.

Jim Hopper in Stranger Things

While Chief Jim Hopper is adult mourning the loss of his daughter at the start of Stranger Things, he is a reborn daddy the minute he takes in Eleven come the second season. Their relationship is absolutely adorable and pulls on our heartstrings in the best of ways.

But that’s not why Jim makes this list.

David Harbour, specifically as Hopper, has one of the best dad-bods in horror and science-fiction alike. I like 6-pack abs just as much as the next girl, but hugging up on a dad-bod like his is my heart’s truest desire. Hopper is a good looking testament to attractive beer guts everywhere and proves that dad-bod is THE real deal.

Average is sexy, so is a uniform. We totally dig it, guys.

Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice

Though considerably a stretch, this suggested from another fellow Contributor (Thanks, Jessica!) couldn’t go unnoticed. Adam Maitland is not a father in Beetlejuice, but rather he acts like a dad to our favorite outsider, Lydia, and is certainly more of a father figure to her than her own. Adam’s willingness to step up to the plate when so many real fathers bow out, gives him enough dad credit to be considered for the list.

What really qualifies Alec Baldwin’s early role is that Adam is living and breathing (sort of) Dad-style incarnate. The khakis, the glasses, the belt, the plaid, the modeling hobby. Adam is all dad from the inside out without actually being one and for some, I’m assuming, psychologically explainable reason we find him to be completely crush-worthy, ironically hitting us right in our amorous feelings.

Adam is the one dad on this list we can safely fantasize about only because he is not a dad by law nor by biology.

He can haunt my house anytime.

Lucifer in Rosemary’s Baby

As one of our brilliant Nightmare on Film Street hosts pointed out, I really can’t complete this list without including the biggest, baddest, and most physically hottest dad in all of horror and cinema, the devil himself (Thanks, Kim!).

He’s actually fiery and steamy, being the King of Hell and all, and is, biologically, father to the otherworldly offspring he’s forced upon poor Rosemary in Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby. He may not be a pleasant looker, unless your into horns, hoofs, and a tail, but I’m gonna label him the ‘wild card’ of this list because all groups need one. Looks are subjective, so the criteria for being a ‘hot dad’ of horror is not necessarily reliant on outer appearance alone.

Lucifer is the hottest, literally.

There you have it, a sizzling handful of dreamy dads to make your Father’s Day either super uncomfortable or a lot more enjoyable. Horror is getting hotter and hotter every day and the cast lists for the roles of daddies, I mean, fathers is setting off smoke alarms in all directions. If we have to face flesh-eating zombies, tormenting demons, blood hungry murderers, invading creatures, and the inevitable end of the world why not sit back, embrace the modern times, and enjoy the view?

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there! You’re all automatic additions to this list for being horror fans to begin with.

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taemdeul · 5 years ago

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KR:/ IDOL Q&A

an idol life questionnaire.

all idols have an image determined for them by the company. how do you feel about your persona and how true is it to your true self? keeping this image in mind, do you ever feel that you were given said image because your real personality is too bland in comparison?

“when shinee first debuted, the company really wanted us to have a “younger boyfriend” image to match our debut song. they expected us to act cutely and coolly, and especially because i was the youngest, i really had to focus on coming across as a cute person. with growing older and trying different concepts, shinee’s image also changed a lot over time, and there were times when the company really wanted to highlight my more feminine features and promote them. looking back, i don’t think it was a bad thing, but at the time it was something i felt really sensitive over. it wasn’t something the general public was thoughtful towards, and i received a lot of comments about being a girl and not coming across as manly enough. i even had long hair for a time, and i felt subconscious going places publicly because of the reactions i would receive. back then, i really hated it and just wanted to fit into the ideal, muscular masculine image— and i couldn’t even if i wanted to, because of my natural features and how my body is built. it caused a lot of frustration, but then i had the chance to explore different concepts and try my own colors as i debuted as soloist. it took a long time, but i think i’ve become comfortable with the sides i show now and with the person that i actually am. i’ve learned to accept my natural features and learned how to enhance them with makeup or through workouts... it’s a perk of being experienced, too, but i think that i show more of the real taemin than an image these days. for me, it’s been a process, but i’m happy with where my image is now.”

do you have any habits that your fans might find unfit for an idol? if ‘yes’, what are those habits and how did they come about?

“i’m trying to think of something, but there isn’t really anything..? only things that everyone does, i think. there’s times when i like to drink with friends, and times when i’m lazy and eat delivery while watching a tv show in bed. there’s always something that netizens like to criticize and i bet there would be a controversy if i were seen during off time, but in the end, it’s things that most average people tend to do and i don’t think there’s any shame in it. idols are human, too, right? we just have to be more careful. i’ll be careful with my laziness~.”

what is your relationship with your family like? when was the last time you’ve contacted them?

“i’m actually really close to my family, since they live in seoul and i lived with them for awhile after moving out of the shinee dorm. i would say my relationship with them is average, though? i have an older brother and we get along really well, but have disagreements like all siblings do, i think. we talk about music and he’s helped me compose things in the past, since he has an interest in producing. i’m closest to my mom, though, and i look the most like her, too. i let her drag me along on shopping trips and help her pick out things for their house, and she meets with the other members’ moms for trips and events. with my dad, i didn’t understand him all that well until i got older, but we’ve recently gotten closer and he’s someone that has always solidly supported me. we can talk about finances and politics, and i think it’s nice to have someone that i can go to for advice now that i’m an adult living on my own. as for when i last contacted them? it was earlier today when my mom asked if i would be having dinner there. i think i’ll be taking home the leftovers... it’s the best.”

after becoming a celebrity, have you noticed a difference in the way your friends perceive you? do you still communicate with old friends or have you cut ties?

“this is something i talked about a lot when i was younger, especially right after debut since i felt a bit bothered by it, but i lost a lot of friendships because of schedules and being a “celebrity”. because i was so young, still in my last year of middle school, it made it really difficult to stay friends with those that i had made when studying and i was a bit lonely even with the friends that i did have, because i wasn’t able to meet with them or contact them often. there is that famous friend group, though— you know it, right~? they’re known as the padding squad. it includes my closest friends since i as young: jongin, moonkyu, and kwonho, and even more friends that we’ve all made since then. i think it’s fair to say that while there were a lot of friends i cut ties with, there were also friends that i became even closer to and have kept for a long time. i think we’ll always be friends, too.”

feuds between companies is arguably what keeps the industry booming. even if idols from opposing companies may not dislike one another, many ceos make sure to keep their artists apart. what are your thoughts on the separation of idols by company? do you think it has become an epidemic particularly with the new generation of idols?

“i think it has changed a lot since i debuted in 2008. the korean entertainment industry seems to be one of the fastest evolving entertainment industries in the world, and because of that, there’s always new trends and new ways that companies are trying to improve, get ahead. when i first debuted, it’s true that companies were a lot more open to working together and collaborating than they are now. the variety shows were more interactive for the idols, and we got to meet others often and work together for interesting stages for the end-of-year shows. there are some shows and projects with similar concepts these days, and i think some producers are trying to bring these kinds of things back, but you can definitely feel more of a divide among idols and companies now. personally, i think it could be really fun to collaborate with other idols, especially those that have newly debuted. i’m still young, too! let’s work together and have fun. you can learn a lot from experiences like that.”

some might say being an idol is restrictive in terms of personal growth. do you agree?

“it depends on the person and their personality, and on the company that they’re apart of. for example, with my company, it’s uncommon for artists to write and produce their own music, right? sm is known for having specific ideas and concepts, and so there’s been friends at my company that have felt frustrated with strict systems like that in place. there’s other companies that encourage songwriting, or provide classes on social interaction and other things that might help an idol personally, and there’s also companies that are really rigid in their routines. there’s also the fact that, as idols, we’re under a lot of scrutiny and it’s difficult to go out or date without it becoming a controversy, so it’s a bit true that it can be restricting. everyone handles it differently.”

do you ever feel disheartened when viewing photo shopped images of yourself?

“when working in an industry that edits a lot to fit ideals, i think you definitely have to have a certain type of strength to not feel disheartened by the differences in images of yourself. mostly, i think it’s about having confidence in both looks— reality and on a screen. for me, rather than feeling upset that i look different in pictures of myself, i work hard to maintain good skin and a good physique so that more of my natural attributes might show through. i think most people know that what they see in images isn’t reality. for example, i have freckles in places and stretch marks just like the average person, but you would never see them in a pictorial.”

how many languages do you speak fluently or otherwise? have you ever been annoyed by your own voice or accent when communicating in another language?

“fluently is a heavy term, ah~... i can only confidently say that i’m fluent in two, and even then i think i have a lot of room to improve. it’s my own language, korean, and japanese. since i’ve been focusing on touring and promoting in japan a lot, my language skills have naturally improved and i can speak confidently on variety shows and with staff, dancers, and fans. i’ve even received praise, and it feels good to know that i’m doing well and doing the language justice while working. i’ve also started working on improving my english, but i’m not fluent at all and i feel subconscious about the sentence structure and my accent when i speak. it’s necessary to improve it since i’ll be working overseas and in western countries more often, and it would also be nice to improve so that i can confidently speak when i travel or do things in foreign countries on my own. despite feeling insecure, it only motivates me to do better in my studies, so i hope to be able to show off my improved english skills soon.”

in what areas do you think the industry has room for improvement?

“since i’ve been working in the industry for so long, i’ve seen a lot of changes and also noticed things that could be useful to change... if i’m thinking about the things that would benefit everyone the most, wouldn’t it be nice to change the standard on dieting and the way schedules are handled? there’s been dangerous circumstances in the past and even now where the artists aren’t able to take care of themselves like they should. even i’ve been guilty of pushing my schedules and body to the limit, and sometimes it’s good to have a reminder or someone to stop you and tell you that you should rest, or eat really well so you’ll have the energy to keep going. there are more things, but taking care of ourselves would be a good place to start.”

if you could go back in time, would you still pursue your idol career under your current company or would you opt for another company?

“i would definitely pursue it through sm again, but only if i would also be placed with shinee. since i’ve already experienced the idol life, unless it could be with the same members by my side, i wouldn’t want to do it again.”

share an anecdote about a time you were treated differently in school or otherwise by those around you after becoming an idol or trainee.

“i mentioned it before, but i debuted at a really young age, when i was still in my last year of middle school. because i was young and maybe a bit naive, and because the school i attended wasn’t too far from the company, i thought it would be a good idea to continue to study there and then at the high school in the area rather than leave the friends and home i had known. it was hard, though, because of schedules and shinee’s public recognition slowly rising. it was natural that the kids i went to school with and the friends that i had heard about it, and when i would attend classes, i would get followed or pushed around by everyone trying to see the idol that debuted through sm. i think they might have had innocent intentions, but there were also some kids that weren’t the nicest and would get a bit more physical. it was hard to study, because someone would always be looking or standing over me. i would be late to school or leave early because of work, and i would get scolded by administration... managers and the members would walk with me to school, just in case. there were a lot of factors in my decision to transfer to a performing arts school, but i felt that i had a hard time being understood by my peers and my teachers and it was one of the biggest reasons that i chose to leave. i honestly don’t have many memories from school, like playing or school trips. because of my career, i never had the chance to experience them.”

what would you say to those who belittle idols on the web? additionally, many idols have began to take legal actions on negative comments left on the web. what do you think of their decision?

“the things netizens say can be really damaging and hurtful, right? i like to read articles on myself and there’s times where that isn’t a good thing, because i see the negative comments that offer nothing constructive too. the ones where i’m called too feminine, or a girl... misgendered. those kind of comments affected me for a long time, and i can see why some idols might want to fight back against the comments left about themselves. i think it takes a lot of courage to do something like that, and i’m not sure if it’s something i could do, but i understand why they would. comments can affect your career, mental health, and others’ image of you.”

idol diet regimes are infamous for their severity. diets such as the paper cup diet and cucumber diet are industry favorites. considering that many look upon idols as eye-candy and those idols who fail to fit into this criteria are reprimanded, do you think strict dieting is justifiable/ just another part of your job?

“dieting in a healthy way can never really be a bad thing. if it’s healthily, then its just that— living a healthy lifestyle. there are a lot of idols and others that don’t do it healthily, though, and i think that makes it harder to maintain a good figure and body than eating the right amounts of the right foods. there are some companies that enforce that kind of thing, too, but i was lucky to have management that made sure we never skipped meals, even if were busy and didn’t have a lot of time to eat. it’s apart of my job in the way that i need to be careful about what i eat, such as avoiding greasy foods to keep bloating down and my skin in good condition, but i still eat things that are good for me— meats, vegetables, fruits... it’s a responsibility, but i’d like to think i would live this way even if i wasn’t in the public eye. i might miss greasy and unhealthy foods, but it’s good for me.”

often times managers go above and beyond to protect their artist. some even resorting to physical cruelty to keep fans in line. have you ever witnessed your manager doing so? do you feel their demeanor is vital for your protection or do you think managers of idol groups take security measures too far?

“this is difficult topic because it’s a high stress job with safety involved, for everyone— fans and idols alike. there’s definitely been times where our managers have been more strict, and times where we simply didn’t listen to them because it didn’t seem reasonable, but it’s also that they’re older and responsible for us and, honestly, care about our well being. physical violence is never the right option, whether it’s from fans or managers or idols themselves... i think it would be nice if everyone could be a bit more careful and mindful of space and their actions.”

some fans believe that because they financially support the idol they own the idol. what would you say to these fans?

“in a way, because our careers are thanks to those that support us, we do owe them gratitude and owe it to them to do our best. we owe it to them to put on our best performances, and to live as upstanding citizens— good examples— but there are ways that the line between our jobs and personal lives get blurred when talking about what we owe to our fans, too. personally, i think it’s good to separate our personal lives from our public lives, and i think it’s fair to live comfortably outside of public settings or events. i’ve struggled with this in the past, because there are things i would like to do in my personal life that could upset fans, but there is a right way to open up to them so that they’re more comfortable with things that may come out in the future. someday, i might get married and have kids, right? it’s important to connect with fans over these things. they don’t have to be involved in my personal life, but it’s good to slowly let them know that it will happen, if it does happen, and if it comes out publicly one day.”

is rejection something you struggle to accept? have you ever been rejected? if ‘yes’ does it make you want to give up or try harder?

“i’m the type of person that takes rejection a bit hard, but not in the way that i might cry or blame others. if i’m rejected, it’s for a reason, right? like when i was young, and i couldn’t sing because my voice hadn’t broken yet. they rejected my requests for vocal lessons, and it hurt my pride a lot when i had to debut without singing lines, but i ended up learning a lot from it by working hard to overcome the reasons i was rejected in the first place. i practiced on my own, and i slowly began to receive more lines each time we received an album. my vocal tone got better, and i could sing more notes with a more stable sound. at the time, i might have pushed myself a bit too hard, because i even ended up suffering from nose bleeds and losing my voice... but it paid off in the end, and i think that’s important. rejection shouldn’t stop you— it should inspire you to prove them wrong.”

how often do you rely on stimulants be it caffeine, pills or energy drinks to stay awake during schedules? which of the three are your favorite?

“coffee! i’m a big fan of coffee, even if i don’t have schedules and if i’m not tired. iced americano is my favorite— i drink three cups a day, usually.”

after a few years, companies allow for their artists to move out of the dorms they were required to stay in during training. did you decide to stay, or are you now living elsewhere?

“ah, this~... i was actually one of the first members to move out of the dorm, along with jonghyun hyung who was my roommate. the members and i get along really well, but we have a hard time living together because our personalities and lifestyles are so different. because i like to have personal space when i have free time, i just thought it was best that i move back in with my family when i had the chance. they live nearby the original dorm, and it made it easy to travel back in forth, so it wasn’t a problem with the managers or the company. before the members enlisted, we would stay at the dorm to make it easier to travel for schedules, too, but all of us have recently bought our own apartments to live comfortably in. we get along better when we have our own time and space. i think we all can say that we’re closer now than when we lived together. we see each other freely rather than having to see each other daily.”

take a look at all of your hairstyles(comeback specific) thus far. show us your least favorite and tell us why you chose it as such. and lastly, do you forgive your stylist?

“my hairstyle at debut! it became really famous and a lot of students and other celebrities copied it, but i didn’t like it as much. it was fine as it grew out, but the bowl shape looks too funny now. i regret wearing it like that.”

name one factor that inspired you to become an idol. was it the pay, the fame or the passion?

“i didn’t know much about the idol industry, and so it wasn’t fame or money or the industry itself that inspired me to try for it. rather, it was that i was really interested in dancing and it seemed like the most viable way to make something of my interest and to improve my skill. prior to training, i had never formally trained in dancing at all.”

arguably the hardest part of idol life is the training period. many restrictions are put in place, some of which are even frowned upon by fans. which restriction was the most prominent and how does that restriction affect you to this day?

“the restriction that affected me most was probably the areas that the company wanted to train me in. like i’ve said before, they refused to train me in singing and it was something that affected my focus and training in the future— even now. before i came to know more about the idol industry, i really only knew idols as soloists; rain, boa, michael jackson, chris brown... there were celebrities like that that i looked up to, and all of them were singers, not dancers. i really wanted to sing, and i wasn’t allowed. rather than helping, i was just told “no, your voice isn’t suited to singing. just dance.” and it really hurt my confidence. although it would have been true that i couldn’t sing, support in situations like that would have been better. in the end, i didn’t even want to debut and begged my family to ask the company to wait until i could sing. i’m grateful that i was able to have the opportunities to improve my singing later on, though.”

outside of the industry, mental health in south korea continues to be a taboo. within the industry that taboo exacerbates. with more and more idols such as brown eyed girl’s ga in, big bang’s top, and aoa’s choa to name a few admitting to suffering from a mental illness, some might think the public may gradually sway to be more open to mental illnesses. do you agree with them? why or why not?

“it’s definitely important for the industry to become more open about the struggles that idols deal with. i think it’s a good place for change to start, too, because if the general public sees that it’s more accepted and less taboo, then it will also begin to change among the public. it might be difficult for those that are more open at first, but changes always start small before growing into something big. eventually, it will become more understood and accepted.”

do you feel that you fit into korea’s beauty standards? if ‘yes’ do you think this feat gives you advantage over those who aren’t? if ‘no’ do you think that being below the standard has affected the way you perceive yourself?

“it might sound a bit arrogant, but ever since i was a toddler i had people approach to say that i was really pretty. i would always get shy and hide behind my mom when i heard those things, and as i grew up and entered the entertainment industry, i kept hearing similar comments from coordis and fans and other celebrities. ‘taemin is pretty! taemin is good looking.’ but, personally, i think i have flaws just like everyone does, and i don’t think that i necessarily fit korea’s standard. aren’t monolids the trend these days..~? and mine are double, ah... i can’t help the way i was born..

is being an idol a career choice your parents have always been supportive of? what was their initial reaction when you announced to them you wanted to become one? have they grown to support you?

“it was actually my family that encouraged me to become an idol. i knew nothing about entertainment companies back then, but my parents saw that i liked dancing and thought i did it pretty well, and so they said it would be good to try for something like that. we searched around and sm was the most well known, so it was the first and only audition that i attended. since i was young, i think there were probably some parts that made my parents worry, but they were always really supportive and gave me discipline and encouragement when i needed it. if it weren’t for them, i probably wouldn’t be where i am today.”

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2019weekendproject · 6 years ago

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not your usual long weekend getaway

5th Feb - a message pops up!

Ants: You free from 22-25? My bday is in the 24th.

Me: 25th holiday! what do you have in mind?

Ants: We're planning to go to Baguio in those days. Down to come?

Me: sounds exciting, G!

Ants: Nice. Let you know the plans.

Fast-forward to the 18th (Monday before the long weekend trip)

Me: wanted to confirm if this weekend is a go?

Ants: So it’s gonna be the whole Cem crew and Lou. And my mom.

The CemCrew

Lou wasn’t able to make it eventually, but mom was present - and oh, did we enjoy having mom around! Not only was she responsible for the non-stop eating (refer to previous post for all the juicy details), I also got schooled on Korean rom-coms, of all people!

We called our little clique, CEMCrew - a mix of very different characters glued together by a solid bond like... CEMent. Well, not exactly.

Yes to the mix - it’s an unlikely and unique mash up. The bond also holds true, in more ways than one - which all started in a... CEMETERY! Manila American Cemetery to be exact! That’s where we first came together one fateful day back in 2014, I think? I’d go detail the relationship web, but you can also figure out with this photo, we’ve come a long way since - consider this the before shot.

Back to the weekend - batch one left on a Friday night. I forgot to bring my neck-pillow for the six-hour ordeeal but apparently didn't have to worry - we each had ready allocation of huge pillows and blankets on board. Tita Liza thought of everything! Ready to roll!

Not a lot of talking in the van, it was late so it was a lot of snoozing instead. I haven’t seen Anthony’s mom in the longest time, we are facebook friends though, so I guess that sort of means we both still ‘see’ each other from time to time (LOL). It’s perfectly acceptable then for me to still feel somewhat awkward, yeah?

The one I should give credit to, however, in finally breaking the ice is.. JOLLIBEE stop-over! No proper road-trip is complete without one, if you ask me. Not so much that we had the most meaningful of conversations over Tuna Pie and sweet spaghetti, but we found ourselves in ‘level-playing field’ that is, it was neither in my turf or hers. I was mostly giving one line answers to China questions though (and beating myself over in my head how terribly un-smooth I was in Conversation 101. Partly blaming it to the fact that my brain cells are midnight owls no more)

We arrived at the house at 3am and we were greeted with the fancy fireplace setup - I say, the best part of any Baguio home!

Again I say, BEST part of any Baguio home!

Netflix (Chill). Rinse (Optional). Repeat.

story of this weekend.

There was really no need to go out of the cabin, and your sense of time and day gets blurry, which is telling of a wonderful vacation.

The Breaker Upperers played after lunch (the Kiwis know their comedy). This movie is definitely the fave in this trip. I can’t help but also associate it with the awesomeness of having free flowing coffee brewed on demand, while we were snug and comfortable on beanies covered in knitted wool blackets. spell COMFORT!

We then shifted to a couple of Oh My Venus episodes, that surprisingly went well with our meat and cheese platter. Oh that honey-truffle. *drool*

Batch two (the other pair of love birds) made an appearance almost midnight going into the birthday salubong - which became game night (captured quite a few jenga faces) - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTHONY!

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

Unbeknownst to most, Shek (my ex) is now with our friend, Gab. Before, during and post this weekend trip, I got a few inquiries asking how I felt or simply, if I was okay with it. For the most part, yes. It’s been ages since, and Gab had done due diligence (more than I thought he should have) in informing before the courting and making it official.

In a fun, unplanned twist however, all three of us ended up sleeping in the same room (separate beds), sharing the same bath!

So did it occur to me to dip their vulnerable toothbrushes in the toilet? Perhaps looking at it from a third person's POV, thinking it would be funny that I’m thinking of writing about thinking about it ~kind of way, Yes. Definitely not out of spite or anything remotely close to that. I also DID NOT DO IT, just in case that needed to be clearer :)

There really is nothing much to say about it, apart from acknowledging that it sure was an interesting spot to be in. Someone pointed out that perhaps I put up walls in anticipation of the moment. Maybe. But was I constantly, actively on guard waiting for the potential awkward moment, ready to steer to make it less so? Hardly.

New Edition

I miss having this solid unit around. After the Cemetery chill day (it’s really more of a memorial site, where you can find a quiet spot to think), there were more birthday celebrations, chill@home hangouts, a hyperactive messenger group, even attending church conferences and retreats together! I still recall that one Christmas break when I was back for a visit ~ I was in tears, crying in front of these same people, in an honest outpour.

SIDE NOTE: Many relationships from my past have since evolved, they're not quite the same. And I know that's as expected. I've come to embrace the notion that since your friends now were once strangers, there’s no reason why the friends in your yesteryears can’t be strangers tomorrow.

I did not nor have I been unfriended, at least that I know of. There is, however, just a natural course of increasing or decreasing interactions.

Who knows, this could very well be the beginning of many other connections waiting to be rekindled. It should also be no surprise if people who were part of your life then, can continue to play perhaps an even bigger part tomorrow. Keep doors (and windows) open.

We had quite a laugh before taking the first group photo above with the bad good joke that Gab blurted out, that we were seated according to our original pairs plus the adjacent connections that brought the group together.

Here is the now shot, I’d simply call it CemCrew 2019 edition.

#baguio #friends #cemcrew

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jarrettfuller · 7 years ago

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Jeong Kwan, a Buddist nun known in food circles for her Korean temple food, visited Manhattan last week to cook at her friend Eric Ripert's restaurant, La Bernardin:

Kwan had already cooked at Ripert’s restaurant once, back in 2015. But that was before fame found her — when Jeff Gordinier shared her story in T magazine, which led in part to Kwan’s episode in the third season of “Chef’s Table.” While she would again serve her traditional temple cuisine, this time her guests knew to expect an exquisite, maybe even transcendent, vegan meal, the kind that has captivated the elite food world.

For the occasion, Kwan hauled 23 boxes across the Pacific, filled with 62 bowl sets, a 15-year-old soy sauce, two kinds of kimchi, a variety of homegrown vegetables and homemade sauces. A team of four from Korea would help her, as would the Los Angeles chef Kwang Uh and his assistant.

I first discovered Kwan from Ripert's PBS series, Avec Eric, where he spends a few episodes with Kwan learning about temple food. She became more widely known earlier this year as the feature of the first episode in the new season of Chef's Table, making it easily the more captivating episode of the series.

In 2015, Jeff Gorinder traveled with Ripert to Korea for his T Magazine piece, The Philosopher Chef:

Kwan believes that the ultimate cooking — the cooking that is best for our bodies and most delicious on our palates — comes from this intimate connection with fruits and vegetables, herbs and beans, mushrooms and grains. In her mind, there should be no distance between a cook and her ingredients. ‘‘That is how I make the best use of a cucumber,’’ she explains through a translator. ‘‘Cucumber becomes me. I become cucumber. Because I grow them personally, and I have poured in my energy.’’ She sees rain and sunshine, soil and seeds, as her brigade de cuisine. She sums it up with a statement that is as radically simple as it is endlessly complex: ‘‘Let nature take care of it.’’

Korean temple cuisine is rooted in a principle that, from a chef’s perspective, doesn’t make any sense: You’re not supposed to crave it. The way you find yourself almost aching for a gooey slice of pizza? Not here. Temple cuisine is engineered to provoke a different reaction, one that goes back to the Buddhist concept of nonattachment: You may relish it as you eat it, yes, but you should have no urge to stuff your face with another heap of it when you’re done.

I also love the idea of time and its relation to food:

If you wander the grounds of the monastery, it becomes clear that Jeong Kwan has another rare ingredient in her larder, one that rarely comes up in discussions about the latest hot chef: time. Cooking, for her, might be seen as the ultimate long game. She specializes in pairing what’s freshly plucked with what’s patiently funkified. On a roof at the monastery, just up the way from her garden, she keeps an open-air arsenal of urns and vats that teem with invisible activity. These are her secret weapons: condiments like soy sauce, doenjang (bean paste) and gochujang (chile paste) that have been fermenting and evolving in slow motion. Some of these age not for weeks, but for years. She grabs a spoon, opens a ceramic pot, reaches in and lets me taste a soy sauce that has spent a full decade inching toward deliciousness. Propped up with supports right outside Kwan’s residence is a citrus tree, whose fruit is known as a taengja, or hardy orange. The tree is about 500 years old. It still bears fruit, and Kwan uses its sour juice in her cooking.

Ripert has posted a few series on Instagram of his visit with Kwan here, here, and here. If you haven't seen her episode of Chef's Table or her appearances on Avec Eric, I can't recommend them enough.

#buddhism #jeong kwan #cooking #food #eating #eric ripert #korean food #south korea #time #kitchen #the new york times magazine #la bernardin

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247krp · 8 years ago

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— Rejoice, little lambs! We have recovered our own Jeon Jeongguk, spotted prancing about in the Southwest Side. I remember seeing him with The Nobodies back in high school, but I’m not here to spill yesterday’s tea. So straight to the rundown: can you say goal-oriented and analytical? Apparently now he spends time as an assistant inspector in Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and a volunteer at Lucky Paws Rescue Centre, and keeps skeletons buried at Prague Tower, 502. But those won’t stay hidden for long, if you and I have any say on it. Welcome back, The Allegiant; we missed you so.

TW: mentions of abuse

In case you don’t remember the devil’s name, here’s to refresh your memory:

He was boring.

Cold, analytical, stoic. Or at least that’s what the surface tells everybody who Jeongguk is.

A straight A-student and a clear contender for his class’ valedictorian, Jeon Jeongguk has his whole life planned out and living it to the blueprint without a miss. A calm and level-headed student, Jeongguk was always known to be the human embodiment of clarity and “having his life figured out at a young age.” His set of friends was also lowkey, yet a single scandal, starring yours truly, had made his boring and somehow nerdy image into smithereens, eventually evolving into a porn star overnight with his girlfriend. Everyone knew about Jeongguk, though. He was wild at parties, head over heels for his girlfriend, plus, a great actor to hide everything from his strict and authoritative family; a typical rich-kid’s story, which made him so boring. Yet the scandal was just a spark, eventually had turn into a great wildfire in the forest with the news he didn’t think he’d hear in his high school life.

Congratulations, you’re now a dad!

And boy, did his family almost flipped out finding it out. Good thing he graduated anyway with flying colors, right?

Nevermind the memory lane though, the present is always the ripest fruit:

Jeongguk was relatively the same, yet if you look closely on his edges, he’s now… sharper.

Jeongguk was now closely monitored. If you think he already was in high school, then best you believe the strict collar around his neck from his parents was even more so tight. But his grandfather’s authoritative nature and plan for Jeongguk to place him in the police workforce and sign him up for Korean National Police University in Yongin had pushed through right after his graduation in Cheongnam, making Jeongguk grant his silent wish to be a little bit free from the tight grip, which thankfully got him to redeem his image to his own family.

Finishing with yet again, being the class valedictorian and receiving the highest honors, Jeongguk is now a police officer and an assistant inspector in Seoul, right after he graduated which is a position many graduates would have wanted to have immediately. And not only that, since his grandfather was so pleased with his achievement, he finally loosens his grip on Jeongguk’s neck.

Now, living alone on the graduation gift of his father his own place and a nice car, Jeongguk has a lot of cash to blow and a lot of criminals to chase, living the life of Law and Order in place.

But what happened in high school was not something he can just leave behind. Now that he’s back in Seoul, will he face his fear that is his high school romance that created a human being?

But we are nothing if not open books – my job is to ensure you get to the best pages:

The Jeons are a prominent family in Seoul. And being the youngest of the family was nerve wracking. Ever since he was born, it was as if his whole life was now structured to be lived in a certain way. “Take these classes”, “be the top in your class”, “walk like this”, “talk like that”. As a child, he understood his family was different from the general children he sees playing in the afternoon on his window outside of his room. Instead of going outside to play with those children, Jeongguk was taught how to live accordingly as how “a Jeon should live”. He was never given the chance to question the way of life he was crammed into, and why should he, when everyday he eats like a king and dresses like one? He was always told he should study harder, strive harder and be athletic and know the difference between right and wrong. For he didn’t knew it back then, but his older brother was being “raised” into a perfect heir of their father’s company, Jeongguk meanwhile is being “raised” for the perfect chief superintendent general in Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, just like his grandfather.

Jeongguk knew his morals at a young age. He knew how to stand up, what are the right words to say and overall, a perfect gentleman.

Until he started to go to high school in Cheongnam. It was the first time his parents and grandfather didn’t cared too much about his whereabouts, as long as he comes home with grades that are not less than A-, that he’s at least taking up more than two AP classes, and that he is consistent in his standing. Ever since grade school, Jeongguk was known to be the top student in everything. So he didn’t want to risk his position… that much. His first taste of “freedom” was sweet and exciting for him. Sure, he was calm and calculated in the day, yet when he wasn’t at his house studying for a quiz he could probably easily ace without studying, at night he was someone else. He made his small circle of friends who didn’t care too much and just enjoyed to waste their youth away and there was his first serious girlfriend that he adored way too much. She was his kryptonite, and he was inevitably the cause of his own downfall.

It wasn’t a smart move for the both of them to video tape their actions of passion and the heat of lust. A supposedly intimate event was now spread like a wildfire due to his closest friend, receiving him the first betrayal of trust and his most worked hard reputation of being a perfect student shattered like a glass, thanks for the fuel Gossip Girl infused.

And if you think that this wildfire only lasted in the halls of Cheongnam, it was the initial spark inside his household for Jeongguk to receive every beating he could possibly get from his father and his grandfather, who were utterly very disappointed in him.

“You’ve wasted every opportunity we have given on to you!” “You’re useless to this household; you can’t even do anything right!” “And now you’re telling us you made this girl pregnant? You are a piece of shit that can’t use his brain to think!”

The next day was horrible. He could hide his physical and emotional scars he had received. He stopped going out to dates, to any parties, and eventually shying away from the crowd. But it was impossible to try to just finish his last year without being labelled as some sort of a porn star, and even more so difficult that his chances of being the class valedictorian is now at stake. What will my father think of me if I don’t graduate as valedictorian? Where will I go now? Jeongguk was level-headed, but at those times, he was nothing else but a nervous wreck, not being able to conceal his worries with an I-don’t-care attitude anymore.

Yet, somehow, maybe his prayers to anyone worked, Jeongguk graduated as the valedictorian. His initial plans of getting into Korean National Police University pushed through, with one sole wish and goal in mind.

“To get my grandfather’s approval and make him proud of who I will be.”

For the most part, Jeongguk succeeded with his plans. Graduating from the university as the class valedictorian, immediately being placed in Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency as an assistant inspector, and having gifted a place to live and a car by his grandfather, Jeongguk felt like it’s his time to repay his family the honor the Jeons should have, and continue his own legacy as a talented officer who fears no one.

#247: accepted

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