How the Pin Community Functions

 

The pin community is a totally different beast from any other fandom I've ever experienced. 

I'm used to ignoring flame wars and not even stepping into grounds that I know annoy me. Curating your fandom experience is better than nothing. 

At the time of writing, there is a lot of shit going on. Fan merch makers are always treading on a wire regarding IPs. 

Hoyoverse is a-okay with fan merch, but that's not the case for everyone. Disney and Nintendo are the hard hitters of this one. Heck, even stuff like Steven Universe and Avatar: The Last Airbender have been known to be hits. 

Even in Disney fantasy pinmaking space, there is always a chance that one of them could be struck down, no matter how big or small. 

Nuwa kept the Disney pins behind a paywall, so if you want her Free to Dream series or any Disney designs like the Landscapes, which are available through other means via the secondhand market, you can buy from her through her pin club personally. Or if you are going to a convention, she'll have them there too. 

Fanmerch space is very trend-heavy. The art that was churned out for Kpop Demon Hunters and Arcane are just one of the many examples to be made in so many fan merchandise. Stickers and art prints are the easiest so if any artists have conventions, you will see them and can buy them then. Pins take months in production. Who knows what will come in once this post is up? 

That means any rare pair, less popular, or dormant fandoms will not be the focus. From a pin collector once said, Shounen is the stock market in the pin community. 

This is still a business, and fan merchandise has to go with the trends because that's what it is. 

There are pinmakers who create original art. For example, Nuwa has a line dedicated to original art. They are at least not harmed by the waves of the trends because they created a fanbase for their original art. 

Consistent fanmerch that always sells are Disney and anime like Sailor Moon and Pokemon. Heck, I don't think there is much drama in the Pokemon pin space except for Shinnoyume who has horrid customer service and I don't recommend buying from because buy with caution. He won't even ship out and refuse to entertain concern from customers. He won't update any preorders and for the pin club as well so I won't recommend him. Buy from him only at conventions only. 

I wish I could avoid just how personal the drama is. The money is personal because it's their hard-earned money, and they haven't shown shit. 

Scamming is apparently easy to spot now. But it's not always clear that they would be a scammer. I did miss a spot for a pin I wanted from a maker who would wind up being a scammer, which is disappointing. I really did like the Saturn pin, and people got theirs. 

Most of what I read about scammers used to be big makers, but one way or another, they mismanaged funds or refused to take responsibility and ran away with the money. 

I know that for some, it's a hobby or a side hustle, but they still have to treat it like a business. Being able to make it a full-time business like Mamobot and Mualcaina isn't the case, nor is it easy for everyone else who prefers their full-time jobs. 

However, even if some businesses have questionable policies, they still need to show themselves to be trustworthy. Honestly, it's better for anyone's sanity that you actually show manu updates. 

Mintyxpins, for example, has awful updates. Even when she eventually delivers on the products, she still has pretty terrible updates. I still think her pre-orders every month are way too much, even with LE. Heck, I didn't bother getting the Shugo Chara specifically of Ikuto because of this. 

There are businesses that do pre-orders every month, but they really have to limit themselves because they can't overreach and bite off more than they can chew. This is a business with lots of money involved. 

Sometimes I'm just wary of Minty doing preorders every week of the month. At least I can trust HFP and Liu because their turnaround is relatively short and timely, never exceeding three months. Minty takes a long time and still 

There’s so much drama that I feel I’m in the crossfire of flames. At least I feel I don’t need to have an opinion on those things. I understand the gripes and the ickiness of wrong actions and what was said. I simply don’t have to buy them or those particular items. 

Honestly, there is always drama, but I've seen more than I have in my more than twenty years as a fandom lurker. 

It's saying something when artists, pinmakers, and customers are fighting, I feel more at peace in my other fandoms I'm in. Again, I usually side-step anything volatile or anything that makes me take psychic damage because I curate my fandom experience. It's much more difficult, so the best I could do aside from reading up on scammers and troublesome businesses, I try to avoid pin community drama as much as I can. 

It’s a necessity to at least have a pin collection for at least a few posts. If you really want to involve yourself in some of the practices, at least have some pin posts of some parts of your collection or in your stories. It's much easier for pinmakers and other collectors to semi-relax around you. 

It’s actually easy to get pins and build a collection. Etsy and artists have storefronts on Shopify, Big Cartel, and other platforms. Put collections together on a board or try photography and plaster them on your Instagram, posts, reels, and stories, and they should grant you at least that much leeway. 

Certain artists might swing your side. Crowd pleasers like Mamobot's video game designs are always great and have lines everywhere he goes. I experienced such a line at AX. 

Considering the tariffs, if you are in the US, best shop US pinmakers for the time being, who have the deal with the burden of tariffs themselves. 

The supposed point of the tariffs was to shop American-made things. Considering how America is still unwilling to go into manufacturing and that this stupid administration is doing everything in its power to punish the American people while stealing from the poor, that's not going to happen. Businesses are still going to rely on other countries to better make them rather than being isolationist to the point of destroying allies' relationships that will take decades to recover. They're destroying everything in their path to keep their power, regarding everything that opposes them as terrorism to their 'values'. 

There is nothing wrong with relying on other countries for things America cannot do. It's okay that manufacturing is something difficult for America to even do because the infrastructure is not there. Largely, if you look at my Notion, you see mostly American-based pinmakers, but that was a thing even before the tariffs. 

Tariffs and getting rid of the de minimis are just heartbreaking as it's been the flow of so much relief for everyone. Of course, Trump had to get it of it for lining his own pockets and he's a guilty coward who loathes laws and will do everything in his power to be king. 

Anyhow, building a collection and showing some of it must be done. I have monthly pin mail that I usually show off at the end of the month. That's a great way to provide some level of semi-trust in a fellow collector. It's not much. I mean, you don't even have to be that active in your Instagram account as long as you have pins on your account to be at least semi-trusted. 

It's gatekeeping in a way, but when the small businesses have to protect themselves from losing their businesses from bad eggs reporting to the large IPs, it has to be done, unfortunately. Even Mamobot has to deal with this because he ain't making ATLA and SU pins anymore after that experience. Nuwa was able to escape, as all she puts up fanart and explains they are preorders in the post itself and as I said before, puts her Disney pins behind a paywall. 

It's an unfortunate situation for anyone unused to such things to even want to be part of a commitment group just to buy that one pin, so the best approach is to feature pins in posts or stories. It's only that much. 

There's not much that one can do besides show pins. Collectors leave every day just as pinmakers come in. This is a hobby that can be easily exploited by scammers more so than others, as frauds can utilize good artwork and open preorders, requiring no self-funding on themselves. That's a red flag and making no effort to show updates is also another. I know people are pressuring Minty to showcase more updates in the clubs I'm in for her. 

Unless they are already in the community and can be trusted, as I know is the case with one, they must self-fund. There's this one new guy who's making pins now who only opens preorders because people wanted it, and since he wanted to do good, he took a lot of advice from those in the community. He consistently updates his clients and always ensures that he showcases trustworthiness in handling business finances. 

There are lots of scammers in this, so really be careful to place your hard-earned money in the right hands. There are smaller makers out there doing their best while scammers are using art to scam people and ran off. I wasn't able to get into the Facebook group that called out pinmakers, but I've been in enough Discord servers to avoid pinmakers. 

Zhuliuhai

 

Okay, so this topic RPS is making me happy alongside anime/manga. Let me be happy in the time of depressing times especially after reading complicated topics that I feel should be rightfully discussed. Things may be getting better but it’s very slow. 

I have already ranted about this pair in snippets in the past RPS posts I made. Like the other posts, I might bring up BJYX and Taekook because these pairs are the only RPS I made an effort to learn, and diving into the rabbit hole of these pairs alone makes me cry. I don't want to dive into more RPS because I think diving into more RPS in my current state - emotional wreck/existential crisis - is going to demolish me. 

Again, just thinking of the odds make me cry. I thought I left math behind in college, not to use it to think the probabilities of romances of people halfway across the world that I will likely never meet in my life, even from afar! I never thought in my life I would actually discuss these celebs to know or decipher their sexuality and relationships! Is this really the norm for the Eastern fandoms? No, don't answer that. It's rhetorical and I already know the answer. 

On a brief note, people will have different timelines for how the relationships will go. Seriously, I have seen different explanations for certain actions. For example, I have seen one that explained BJYX started out as an online relationship while another disagreed, stating the CQL filming is where awkward courtship began like does this guy like me or not until they got the confirmation then flirted incessantly complete with an intimate relationship. And others thinking the committed relationship began after the Japan trip. And every new CQL BTS released by the fansites either throw a wrench or just make them more convinced; they are simply working out the timeline since they don’t have to worry about the actual couple’s status with SZD.

As for Taekook theorists, while a consensus was made about one separation during the HYYH portion and Tae breaking up about fears of the future while still having feelings after officially getting together in 2016 (many agreed the committed relationship began 2016-7), everyone disagreed if there is a third separation and that isn't the decrease of public interactions that people don’t look too closely writing it off as friends becoming distant unless you mean candid cameras catching them still close off-camera kind of 'separation'. I'm talking about the third separation in which they broke up again this time Jk doing it though not exactly saying it and took several months for Tae to win back JK. Apparently, there’s a 2019 mini breakup but I don’t see it - I’m the person pushing they are close all this time! Especially with all those cute moments! - and what little info we get could be purposeful misleading because the fans aren’t supposed to know the private life. 

By the way, do we know when they film certain stuff like Summer Package and Bon Voyage? Because time and dates are a thing when those things were released later. Because I'm having a hard time with the summer filming dates of CQL, I could only get the general idea of how the relationship goes instead of getting the exact date of which date is which. 

I did notice a discrepancy with the HYYH concert making with Taekook being forced to stay away. In the video, it took place in November 2015 when most people put it in the last days of the On Stage in March in Kobe. The place I matched up was Sk Olympic Handball Gym when the last place was Kobe World Memorial Hall. Checking the outside of the venue, we see it was the former rather than the latter. I know they are also trying to think of Dispatch discovering Taekook with the threats and Bighit cutting them out of content starting from somewhat the end of 2016. Probably around November 2015, Bighit could've caught wind (or they already did notice long before and taking precautions) about whatever is going on with Taekook and maybe Dispatch sending them initial threats or the staff could've seen Taekook is growing way too intimate for bros and becoming way too obvious about their affections. The possibility for either is high. I mean if I were there and seen two of the idols I am investing heavily in and both of them same-sex gradually falling in love, I would've taken precautions too. Honestly, anyone in the idol industry and any industry unless they come out and make it part of their image or build a base of respect first before coming out. For me personally, if Taekook is coming out in the near future, I suggest it would likely before the end of their 2024 contract and/or the beginning of their enlistment. If Suga is bi or pan, I bet we would likely to see him coming out before his enlistment as if rebelling against his country and especially the military’s maltreatment of queers, saying if you are going to mistreat them, mistreat me as well, change the law and if you’re going to treat me like an equal, then treat the other queers the same way in the military, know my sexuality is part of me, and it doesn’t change I’m in your words Korea’s Pride. I bet none of BTS are pleased to hear about the military’s maltreatment of queers and would fear it as well as wanting definite change. I mean in early 2020, the dismissal of that trans woman made news in SK and abroad.

So really, if we are gonna get a Taekook subunit in the future, we must be aware of the coming out and how they are gonna do it, especially if they plan to do it before enlisting. If they truly want to be revolutionary as they already are with their connecting albums that tell a story, both personally and fictional (they give personal songs of Wings that were part of the BU a double meaning or a subversion), I get their support of BLM because they’re global and they had changed around a word of two in Fake Love because the Korean word sounds like the n-word, so if they want LGBT change and they are the soft power of SK, what would SK do when the stars who are Grammy-nominated, were invited to speak at important events like the UN twice and made so much money for them? All BTS wanted was to be happy emotionally and coming out would be such a catharsis for the queer members; they know they could climb higher but put their emotional mental health above success. I want the queer celebs in Asia (and queers in general) to come out at their pace and usually, their own pace is in their mid-thirties. So I hope the queer members in BTS are ready because they would be setting an unprecedented route regardless if they aren’t already in the global music market. 

I mean BJYX itself is setting an unprecedented path itself. On one hand, history can be amazing as watching BTS and BJYX/CQL setting an international stage with their sheer presence and popularity to the point their homeland noticed and gave them more power just by congratulating them or in CCP’s case hire them in propaganda shows like AT & BAH that they promoted like crazy on state-controlled CCTV television just like anime and manga that preceded them; though in CQL/BJYX's case, they never promoted outside of China but is well-aware of the popularity overseas. However, history isn’t pretty as detailed by 2020 alone. I love history and I know that political volatility remains high and these stars must tread carefully if they want to stay in power to fight against injustice. History is fascinating with all the editing and winners thing so I want to see what these stars are gonna do. I love fictional politics precisely because it’s a reflection and fictional. When Asian media is crossing over and questions are being raised about the validity and prejudices of certain topics like a culture war that any Asian media from anime to games to music are forced to contend with even though many of them are undoubtedly cultural to these nations or pure common sense, bad and good things about what the society acts especially in 2020. Watching history is like watching a GrayStillPlays video where he tortures himself and his victims. 

I am planning around Taekook (the pair didn’t even have a subunit song, only singing in response to each other, when they sang so easily in karaoke) because unless the group is preparing to go in twos that would still leave Taekook or go by half, they must be ready; they got subunits but no Taekook that have a weird narrative surrounding them pushed by their company which has no official selca and vlive together alone without being left alone by their bandmates for years until now where they’re ‘reconnected’. We know Taekook is immensely popular and fans wanted to have a selca or a vlive by themselves for so long that they ask if it’s edited because that’s how much they are starved. Even media picked it up because the fans go crazy just for a little friendship interaction, not even asking the real questions. So really is BTS ready to come out with their true selves, especially the coming outs? Because I’m waiting for the coming outs as if the clock striking midnight for Cinderella. 

Just for this, because I’m a huge Persona series fan, if I am seeing the whole Jungian thing for them, they are currently Persona-users wielding the Greek mythology figures, users who accepted both their repressed dark/positive sides of themselves in which they were and are denying about that they are either still learning or growing from themselves and the world that impacted them as Personas grow stronger the more you age and mature. Basically think Futaba who accepted the positive sides to herself after rejecting it for so long though the P4 Shadows comes up when it comes to global fame and mental health. Hey, I’m just trying to wrap my head around what direction they are going since they piqued my interest they used Jungian philosophy as far back as Wings though the MOTS series is the obvious one. Just with something I’m a huge fan of and have researched that I have to make the connection so I would know where they are going with this. They wanted to reveal themselves more to the public with Break the Silence hinting in the direction. So...they’re probably mid-tier 2nd Persona right now, not yet into the 3rd one. Hey, it’s much easier for me to tell what trajectory they are going with the hints and Taekook that has a strange history when I used the Persona-user metaphor to understand. When anyone brings up Carl Jung, my first thought will be the Persona series and it helped me greatly to understand what BTS is going for. So for BTS, I am thou, thy art I. I can’t help it!

Ya know for well-documented timelines and compilations, there seemed to be a conflict with late 2015 and early 2016. That Pann rumor said that the article was laying for months, that could mean anything starting from November and we never ever saw the original article from Pann and whatever news outlet it was - Dispatch because who else is immoral enough - in any way, shape, or form but since the rumor was released during March 2017... There was a Dispatch clip where Tae back-hugging JK around January so the likelihood of Dispatch having potentially catching them seems really likely when they follow every celeb at this point since they have spies everywhere. Again, the queer couple Dispatch caught could be anyone but Dispatch had an unusual interest in Taekook since many of their articles regarding BTS had these two as a unit separate from the rest. When Bighit is not planning to use them as a subunit anytime soon; yes, present tense since the new album there is still no Taekook subunit and Bighit is still cutting back on their moments even though Taekook supposedly reconnected. The estimated timeframe for Dispatch catching Taekook would be around November 2015 at the earliest to March 2016 at the latest. 

At least when the conflicting timelines come up for BJYX, it's which shooting was which date since that's slightly difficult to figure out. All we got was the general summer of flirting and possibly sexual relations. BXGs found out the same didi ai ni moment happened the same day as the sleep with me~ moment that left everyone stunned but WYB howling. They figured the first days were the teens' punishment scene as well as some interactions with LHK with GG telling him about the shooting he did the day before which is the Burial Mounds Cave and DD staring at him the entire time. It's probably one of the few BTS where we see GG talking and DD just staring at him. 

Y'know what, I'm going to take the generalized timeline for the time being since I don't know for certain when which thing was filmed outside of official events, social media, songs/performances, and other little things when because I'm going to focus on the more telling signs that would convince me because there is no way bros and even closest friends act that out except perhaps best friends but even that can be explained that couples do act like best friends because of best friends. There is a reason why many couples say their partner/SO is their best friend while having their own best friend in another person. 

Ya know what is funny? The convincing data I would believe would be the early years of knowing each other with considerable time passing and the little moments. It’s just the later years I have trouble deliberately since I think I need more data. The subtle moments are how I got convinced while loudness is understandable due to circumstances when they couldn't either meet each other or because of the narrative their company is pushing. It's the little moments that cannot be read any other way because I will not let go of the Rookie King tongue kiss of course game where V, Hobi, and Suga have to confirm to Jk that V never used tongue. It's small but Suga visibly turned to Jk, not RM or V or Hobi, to say this and I will not let this go because does best friends worry about tongue kisses to what that friend knows that it's just a friend while the rest of them laughed it off as a joke and knew it's part of the game. I won't let that go because why?!

A popular RPS trope with these two ships happened to post break up so it’s not gonna be close to common theories, just pieces of fiction. It isn’t always timeline reliable as most fics don’t bother to write their own perception of the timeline, mainly reactions to events in the fandom like posts made by the celebs in question. 

As I said before, I need to know the context, culture, and translate without getting mistranslated thus misinformation. It's something I'm trying to avoid since this is a different culture from the West after all. 

Unlike BJYX and Taekook, Zhuliuhai is so lowkey they can get away with things without getting hit on the hot search or trending. That means for us, it means things could slip through. Good for them because not too many eyes are on them as say their main counterparts who have to deal with way too drama just being linked to BJYX that they kept looming over with candies. 

Everyone knows about or aware of BJYX now (or at least those who bother to hear) due to the Ao3 incident and probably saw it as RPS going wrong for these actors because RPS is wrong in the West. That’s all they need, not it’s the antis and people in the industry jealous of XZ whose the main reason the smear campaign got as far as it did and RPS is such a huge thing in Eastern fanbases, especially in China and simply BJYX is the catalyst for the fragile topic over in China. And not for the usual reasons, simply solo fans' initial reactions eventually blowing up that antis and jealous industry people co-opted. And XZ who had all the ammo to shut the Weibo supertopic down did not and continue to show favor to the cp fans over the solos.

I have mixed feelings because they deserve their privacy and I'm pretty sure BJYX, while obviously loving the support the BXG give them, wanted to show each other off without being scrutinized too much and would like to switch places just so they can get some privacy without getting hounded by solos who refused to let them think each other as mere friends. Zhuliuhai can show each other off and their love without getting into the crazy of trending. They are not required to give fans any candy. Like BJYX, they are separate celebs so it can be easier to detect. People in the same band can be shrugged off for the most part and harder to detect so it’s best to see the smaller moments and interactions with other people especially their bandmates; while they might share similar stuff to other separate idols who aren’t in the same band such as matching jewelry or personal items, it can be harder to detect still, especially with queer idols dating in the same band. Hyuna and E’dawn were not suspected except by their dedicated fans since once they confirmed their relationship status, the gf fans once in denial pounced on them. The same-sex couples in the same groups were easily denied as bros thus escaped scrutiny except for the subset that believed them. While it will be hard to hide their relationships no matter how much they want to shout on the rooftops their love, the general public would be open to idols dating except the queer idols dating and the fact queer idols exist at all. 

I seriously wonder if the CQL filming staff is so used to BJYX's antics that Zhuliuhai's lowkey flirting just seems so normal after a while. Because the newly released CQL BTS from the fansites is any indication, they were witnesses to the bizarre mating dance of two weird yet hot guys super into each other. 

I bought up examples in other RPS posts so hopefully, I won't bring it up again. Hopefully. I'm going to bring up BJYX as an example a lot though, not so much Taekook. 

So...if I want to prove their actions are homo, I would like to see heterosexual explanations for certain actions. Many, many things BJYX does point to SZD due to having no heterosexual explanations for what they do. The probabilities for it being romance than a BFF dynamic are far higher though that is not to say they aren't BFFs since, in many romances, a BFF can be a lover too. If you know, you can transition between them effortlessly because not all BFFs become lovers. Like platonic love exists. 

So after digging, a lot of digging, I have to find sources that don't spread misinformation and tried their best to be as objective. And I only found one that even remotely does anything the thoughtful BXG does. And that's hard when it's not Taekook and BJYX that has a lot of reliable sources. 

Because the base of evidence seems lighter, I hope to keep this short. The base of info for these two seemed so damn small I think it would be shorter, unlike the other previous posts I made. 

Besides, there is another example of an RPS being smaller than the base fanbases of these two can be shown here too. Because these two have a reasonable fanbase but their RPS is even smaller. 

Like I said before, because of their relative popularity, they aren't as scrutinized as BJYX. As such, it would be hard for me to decide. It should be easier since not a lot of eyes are onto them and they can shout their love without being forced to be subtle about it, well these two are still subtle like BJYX but BJYX is growing into the no fucks given about their connection in public, only downplaying their relationship as a close friendship until they are ready to come out. I mean the public still loves them together that promoting their newest shows is enough to drive up hype because nobody can think XZ without Web. That is how interconnected they are to each other and it's for the better too since I'm pretty sure fans, the public, and the couple themselves wanted to share the same stage and filming again. 

I feel like I would feel remiss not to mention the camera parts of the relationship, especially queer and celebrity. It would play into their actions. I mentioned briefly in the last RPS post but I don’t think I analyzed it. The last post was long enough and I don’t want to make it even longer without splitting it.

Celebs have to deal with cameras, no matter how small. This is why coincidental shots of celebs out in public or outright stalking from paparazzi/sasaeng were almost inevitable when you become a star. Keeping a relationship private or secretive in the case of idols in Asia is a must. Queer celebs and idols must be straight in the image because homophobia is pervasive. Though that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t want to be loud and public affectionate, just that and not airing out every problem to their relationship to the world. Admitting they have problems and do work them out would probably be as far they are willing to say on the matter. Of course, they have to worry about antis and paparazzi who will spill, especially in Taekook's case where I'm certain they're afraid of Dispatch even though it's against the law to out someone. Threats still count but antis will do anything to spill if they as much as catching them in the act with definitive proof because those who believe this data to be true would be protected by them saying it's fake and everyone else would not believe it anyway. 

For BJYX, I think they would like to be open and gross about their love, moreso Web. WYB hates being seen as heterosexual, only using heterosexuality in acting. Other than that, he wants to be seen as gay; he clearly doesn’t enjoy circumstances outside his control is not making him shout his love for XZ loudly, having to resort to subtlety to get his point across. And even then, if there’s a tiniest rumor a girl even talked about him vaguely on top of mentioning other guys, he will still be picked. However, there’s a line between keeping things private and being loud since I think they wish to keep their relationship private while public with their love. 

The inevitable BTS cameras at CQL sets are a thing and either they care or just don't. The poor CQL editors had an easier job editing the drama than the BTS where they had to over-edit and downplay the intimacy to make it friendship not intense flirting. They have to be careful with the cameras to hide their relationship. When they do slip up, only the dedicated fanbase and the subset will take a second glance because it's just weird to respond that way.  

As for Taekook, Jk explicitly stated his relationship with V is not for the cameras. Cameras play an important part especially since they are well known around the world. They were separated on camera and knew they couldn’t as much touch each other, often pouting or glaring. They know it’s for a reason but they wanted to touch. This is why until now to the Korean public screen, they weren't as clingy while they were cozy in Japan and America where they were exceptionally clingy. As photographers themselves, they seemed to love to take each other's photos and videos since I'm pretty sure we haven't seen Jk's Tae GCF collection beyond four photos and perhaps Tae's Jk Vante collection is all his own too. 

But when it comes to other cameras operated by BH staff, they don't like it so they took advantage of concerts even though that would be waved off as fanservice if you don't know the context and pre-existing data from early years and events that third-parties will catch even though those would be shrugged off again if you don't know the context; it's ironic that BTS wished to show themselves in the docuseries they released but in order to hide a queer relationship, BTS and BH have no choice but to edit out Taekook interactions to the point that those don't bother to look see them 'drifting apart' when evidence is to the contrary. While both the CQL BTS and BH staff have to edit out moments for protection, they go the other way, one presented them as simply close friends and the other 'drifting apart', yet they cannot stop the pair from their loudness when one really looked hard enough and asked why separate when the said separation doesn't look natural? It's questionable when they could just make it look natural and cut off when it's just too much. I mean they pan away when V put his arm around Jk's waist during a concert. 

The narrative BH pushed with In The Soop and that Taekook vlive was the drifting apart then reconnected and there hasn't been a one-on-one vlive that featured only them and no other people that will leave them alone and official selca. When the people who do look outside that see them still close but finds them questioning why they are acting so awkward that the vlive and In The Soop because they don't believe in Taekook anyway as a romantic couple so why push that narrative when people if only they bother to look see them as close. Yes, I am still questioning this because BH is pushing this narrative to the general public, hoping they won't notice the subtleties and the Taekook moments that the pair does show brazenly like in the earlier 2020 we still see their closeness at the Grammys and GDA. It's needless; it's fine to know the members are living separately and not in the dorms yet they are still close because y'know best friends do live separately and that doesn't crush their friendships. People who date also live separately and that didn't destroy their relationships so why? Just look at the Try Guys, four men who became best friends/brothers and they don't live together. But that doesn't make them grow apart like the same way BH is trying to portray Taekook for years now. I am trying to look at BH's handling of the Taekook separation and their narrative of distant friends' reconnection with rationality and the questions I'm running through are a constant. 

Perhaps it holds true that they wish to keep details about their relationship private, only letting people know through vlives and answering questions. But even then, I think they wish to be loud, just affectionate and loving in public; if it's up to them, they just want that. Being forced to act ‘distant friends who later reconnected’ due to Bighit’s plan to hide them on top of editing their moments out regardless unless third party cameras like fancams or events will make it a point to tape them. Because they’re part of the biggest boyband and that’s inevitable. But it's not like that's changed since off-camera candid shots show they are still close despite Bighit's plan so it will make people question. If they bother to or the truth comes out, these actions enacted by BH is going to have a rewatch value. Just like the rewatch value of the officially released CQL BTS can now be seen in a different light with the new CQL BTS released by the fansites. There are things I cannot unsee, knowing the leadup to the convos that were in the official BTS.  

Zhuliuhai doesn’t suffer these problems as in one fanmeet, ZZJ grabbed LHK’s hips to prevent him from falling when falling is the game. They can stand next to each other without causing a fuss; seriously, BXG and Taekookers are desperate for photos they will edit. They are still subtle yet loud if you read between the lines. Still better than either since the media isn’t quite as interested in them. Like BJYX, they are separate and don't share the same stage most of the time and could meet each other again; as far as I see, for now, BJYX would have to work with the variety shows or music appearances if they wish to share the same stage again. 

LHK is primarily an actor. While ZZJ is an actor, he's a classical dancer and loves to show off his flexibility. There might be a chance they could cross paths in variety shows. They could star again, unlike BJYX who can't starred together for a few years, they are much like Xuan Lu and CYC who are starring together as well as Marius Wang and Zoey Meng who is starring in another drama. They have a chance at that but getting star roles opposite to each other in BL series is gonna force them in the limelight which I don't think they would like because they're seeing what BJYX going through. Unless they are willing to take that chance, I don't know. 

I am careful since matching clothes in official events is gonna be gray. This is why I am ambivalent about potentially matching outfits or outfits that called to mind other outfits worn by another idol. I don't know what to think of Taekook wearing a matching shirt to one event when I don't know if BTS has a hand with their stylists what they want to wear for their performances. This is why I'm trying to be impartial with Web's Versace on the Dancefloor performance; the dance is obviously for XZ and the outfit does call to mind a striking outfit for XZ in one of his very first Roseonly adverts. But at the same time, the Asian celeb industry is prone to bad styling decisions, just copying the runway looks is not good when fashion is all about making the celeb look good than just the runway looks. Even I know this and I'm not the most fashion-inclined, unlike my brother who actually goes out of his way to style his hair and make an effort to look good outside of casual events. It’s minor but still, I’m still going to be dubious about this.

Thankfully, Zhuliuhai doesn't have the issue so I am relieved. Well, unless their stylists unintentionally gave each other similar outfits, I don't know. 

First thing, first, let's check out matching clothes outside of official events. 

Like BJYX, there are matching clothes at airports. Airport fashion is a thing since G-Dragon made it a thing for Kpop and had spread to other nations. BJYX has the trendy street style clothes to the point their solos have a conniption trying to figure out who is who. Ironically, the BXG figured them out. But because they are lowkey, Zhuliuhai doesn't exactly blast it out to have similar clothes at airports. 

Instead, it's more like having the same coats that are the exact same brand and all. Now having the same brand among friends and family is not uncommon. However, the difference is that 

Dedicating love songs for each other, romantic love songs, bitter or otherwise; yes, I'm counting breakup songs too since both Taekook and BJYX definitely has a mix of them. Then cross-referencing with an interview. Again, much like BJYX, they have romance songs for each other and have tangentially referenced each other through things like the blue sky and white cloud. Much like BJYX, a commonality is stars.

Unlike Taekook and BJYX that have a mix of both love songs and breakup songs in their repertoire, the only songs I seen from them are love songs. 

I have a question. There are friendship songs in the world. There is an abundance of them and I doubt these guys wouldn't know. Heck, BTS has friendship songs in their repertoire so it's not they wouldn't know the difference between a breakup song that is explicitly romantic in nature and a friendship song. Why choose songs that are explicitly romantic, yes, even the breakup songs are specifically point in the romance direction? I don't choose romance songs for my friends and certainly, not for someone I view as an older bro like Taekook and BJYX was widely seen as close brotherly friends or even family to the general public. Do you think I would choose Taeyang's Eyes, Nose, Lips for them? No fucking way. It's on my romance and wedding playlist for a reason. Unless I mean it a tongue-in-cheek way, I don't think I would do that but since these guys are doing it seriously, it's hard to read it as friendship when the lyrics point to the romance direction. 

Like BJYX, they have matching jewelry too. Remember, matching stuff can also be indicative of friendship. Even in the East where matching couple wear and items can be easily shrugged off when it's a group thing, again a group thing. But when it's two-person, it's either friendship or a couple. While we haven't seen any matching jewelry for GG...potentially, the reason why we only see them wear like one half of a couple necklace like one person gets a lock and the other a key, we still do see them. It's just not as documented as the infamous ox and the daisy/star necklaces. We don't see either guy wear it as constantly as the fiercely loyal Yibo who wore the ox necklace everywhere to even a surf show where he could've lost it! I don't expect anyone to wear jewelry as constantly since nobody is as insane as Yibo to wear it constantly just to show his unerring love and devotion to the man he loves. 

Appreciating male body and beauty and being attracted to them. Look, these guys are hot. BJYX had that weird mating ritual that encompassed the entire shooting. According to BTS, they gave each other compliments to encourage each other and there is nothing wrong with appreciating male beauty. There is a difference between appreciating and being attracted to men. Jimin and XZ have a high number of men fawning over them based on their beauty alone. I don't know if Zhuliuhai ever complimented each other on their handsomeness since BJYX and Taekook do this a lot and there are loads of evidence if you only look beyond the surface level. Do guys frequently comment on other guys’ good looks? Unless they are attracted to them? I know guys do comment on male beauty but for those not attracted too much, it’s just how far you’re going get typically.

Posting on the same night. Now unlike BJYX who posts differently like lyrics or especially noted posts and usually referred to kadians, these guys have the fortune of posting at the same time, hours or so ahead of each other. The dumpling incident at New Years' is evident to this with the captain even referring to the hours ahead to another post about time. I don't know any other posts as of currently but still to make one post that makes damn clear of the time is eye-opening. Apparently, according to the Zhuliuhai-er (I don't know the official title they gave themselves like BXG for BJYX), they have done this before. Tangentially referenced each other through subtle means that couldn't possibly be looked at because we don't know the inside of their apartments as well...besides their living rooms that are. 

It also hints that they still spend time together. While BJYX has a far more busy schedule, I'm sure they would like to meet up and call their friends. I'm certain they called them during quarantine because the pandemic would make anyone cling to their loved ones. There have been posts that other CQL castmates still spend time together such as Yubin, Ji Li, and Song Jiyang I think going to an amusement park together while we see Marius Wang and ZZJ having a meal together. 

Speaking of spending time together, apparently, they spent time at hotels together. Now BJYX does spend time but again, the secret service level that fake rumors do pop up. For example, fans were able to see that BJYX was able to spend 520 together at Shanghai because XZ posted himself at a cafe in Shanghai at the same time SDOC3 was filming and stalkers catching Web going into a van with umbrellas everywhere obscuring the person in the van at the dead of night. 

Unlike BJYX, Zhuliuhai can come and go from hotels without causing much of a fuss. Seriously, the fans who followed their weird patterns is enough, especially when one of them switch hotels after. 

At CQL's second filming location, rumors have popped up that Zhuliuhai and BJYX spent time at another hotel, a honeymoon hotel where only within six miles radius, there's no food but sex shops. Yeah...

Now unlike the other posts like spending time together with CQL castmates, like BJYX, they referenced each other if they did spend together through subtle means. The photos in their case is to very subtle that they might've spent time in the same house, just in the different rooms because well the places they stayed in aren't known too much to the public outside of LHK's living room and dog. 

Like BJYX, there's antics in the BTS to contend with. Unlike BJYXSZD where we get to see so much evidence, I don't think I have seen Zhuliuhai evidence as much. Unless the main stars are the source of attention for these BTS in the first place so more attention is drawn to them. I mean I have seen other BTS of the other stars like Xuan Lu and Marius Wang. Heck, the Zhuliuhai part like sharing noodles is there alongside the new footage of Yibo plying XZ with food every chance he gets. 

Then again the CQL staff seemed so nonchalant about BJYX, Zhuliuhai seemed like a cherry on top of everything going on with just one queer couple's weird mating rituals. I mean if I learned that my production has produced two romances on the set, I'll cheer them on with beer and fried chicken. 

I have learned certain CQL staff became BXG and a major source for BXGs. As for now, fake rumors around the set of CQL are definitely fake rumors. But as the new BTS was released, giving more context to already friendly BTS content, a couple or so fake rumors turned out true after all. I don't know any fake rumors myself but I would believe other BXG who kept up the list and crossing them out when they become true. 

I don't know any fake rumors as I already have a hard enough time just finding a reliable source that already compiled every damn thing that the couple did either together or referenced each other. Finding BJYX and Taekook data is so damn easy to find because they are popular and under heavy scrutiny by the general public; however, said general public doesn't look too much into something so that allows subtle things that only the dedicated fans will catch like say weird stuff. I just wish there is a compilation of fake rumors so I can know which is which. The only reason I know the new CQL BTS have fake rumors confirmed was by the analysts who apparently kept a list. 

Fake rumors for RPS will remain that until just enough evidence could prove it to be true such as the new CQL BTS released by fansites. Even rumors like Web and XZ visiting the latter’s family for a week and the whole Taekook meeting Jk’s parents at a cafe in Busan thing will remain rumors; we know for the latter, BTS already met each other’s families, given back in an early log, Jk stated the families actually gave him a cake for his birthday, V’s mom gave them sandwiches for In The Soop and RM & Hobi going to Jin’s brother’s wedding so the likelihood Taekook telling their families are high as well as possible clandestine meetings since Asian celebs especially idols do this all the time. 

Yes, I like the thought of accepting family towards queer relatives and their partners because the non-accepting family is terrible in the LGBT community. For every queer person accepted by their family, there will be another queer person disowned by their family. All I want for any of them to not be ostracized by their family and accepted the partner their son chose. I don’t think I heard any rumors about Zhuliuhai meeting family or at least that I know of. I heard enough rumors about BJYX and Taekook meeting parents rumors though the latter has more basis since the families of the group already met each other. 

Zhuliuhai data is so damn small I just wanted to cry. Why can't they upload it to a reliable site so I see everything in one place? Digging for this pair alone makes me think of my researching for essay days and to find something that isn't compiled as much is stressing me out. I'm certain that it's compiled but for international fans, it's difficult to track them and bring them over. 

Yes, I know it's a dead horse just bringing up again but CQL and MXTX did the impossible - though the other extreme of impossible was learning James Cameron appropriating the very culture he paid to create. I am still amazed to learn about this and consider it an achievement in human ignorance since he asked for basically alien music but denied it because it doesn't sound right to his western ears. He literally wasted everyone's time instead of expanding his knowledge. - to bring together two queer couples. 

The looks on the faces of CQL, MDZS, and probably MXTX gotta be amazing because they probably never thought that it would happen. That would be my reaction too if a book I wrote accidentally played a part in helping not one but two couples getting together to the point they actually got married. 

If I were part of one of the couples, I would send thank you gifts. I would send MXTX a basket full of homemade treats just so I can give them the thanks just for writing the thing that led me to meet the person I will love most in the world. Though considering depressingly MXTX is confirmed to be arrested in 2019 just as CQL aired and just been sentenced November 2020, I hope the CQL staff and cast send her gifts before her arrest. She must have been investigated after all at least during the filming of CQL. 

Please, I'm pretty sure Taekook is pretty grateful to Bang PD for bringing them together they will invite him to their wedding as a thank you gift for all he done for them and accidentally playing in the hands of fate that led them to meet. 

Because every day BJYX makes me believe in fate just a little more each and every time fate like timing just go for them. For example, if Fefe's reincarnation theory (Xiao Zan and Yuan Ziyou) is true, then that is haunting since reincarnation does exist in this world. The stars aligned for those two and I wish them all the best. 

I'm going to eat Chongqing hotpot just for them on their wedding day and/or coming out. I know it will be damn spicy but I hope my spice tolerance is able to reach that level by then. I'm at mild right now but hopefully, with enough tolerance, I can get there because I do want to eat the typical levels of spiciness. What I deem my personal tolerance is eating spicy without my tastebuds burning thus not needing water or milk at the first bite. I couldn't tolerate one Hot Cheetos and something like Soondubu Jjigae is a good base for me. 

I have no idea what I'm going to feast on to celebrate Zhuliuhai's potential coming out and wedding day but I'm gonna drink either way and eat something for them! 

Besides, so far the RPS couples I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and can’t get out of, if these men come out in the future, I will laugh and toast to their love while downing alcohol and eating a feast. Because they must present the image of dating the fan and fans having those ludicrous y/n dreams when in actuality, they’re queer and taken long before their gf fans realized it, probably just as they were gaining popularity. Perhaps just about then meaning those gf fans never had a chance in the first place because these men chose the men who probably are the love of their lives and see no one else for them and may have been attracted to each other upon first meeting or so at least seeing pics or videos on them before the meeting. Meaning they were likely taken way before any gf fans ever realized it.

TMZ and Dispatch

 

Just to give my own perspective. And for extra measure, I'm gonna have this on New Years'! The same event of Dispatch releasing any info of a celebrity couple that deserved their privacy. Now I'm referring to idols only since they are the ones who are the most fearful while actors, bands that aren't idols, and solo musicians seemed to be just fine.

As much as people like to say yellow journalism shouldn't exist, it's still freedom of speech. Though they should be careful, especially when gossip is gossip in the end. 

And if MDZS is any indication, gossip can ruin lives if you don't know how to counteract it. Gossip feeds into reputation. Anything did wrong to that reputation and things go down the drain. The gossip crowd will fly to it like honey and gossip would have an outlet whenever celebrities are involved. 

In the West, TMZ has a bad repute. Their TV show just showed just how they work as paparazzi. I remembered watching some TMZ when I was really young, vaguely seeing reporters putting mics to the faces who clearly wanted to get away and obviously don't want to answer to whatever controversy or scandal that popped up. I remembered lots and lots of laughter from the staff as I think they roasted the celebs. I mean roasting is fine, but the way they give off felt like they are just gossiping about whatever thing the celeb is going through. 

But for Dispatch, they worked similarly but with far more power.

Like I said in a previous post, they held power over the rabid gf/bf fans who probably believe whatever BS they wrote for their annual couple reveal. 

However, we should note the gray here. Companies like Big Hit and SM worked with them because better to stave off by keeping close with the enemy. 

Although that means they are also close to inner workings. 

Dispatch enacted these kinds of actions. Their forte is gossip first and foremost. Think Eastern anti behavior but has more power due to intrinsically involved with the entertainment industry.

• has a tendency to blow things out of proportion. Just look at how they accused JK and his friends of going out to clubs when the clubs are available to fucking open! It’s only when the shutdown happens did these guys didn’t do it. 
• fabricate things outright. Pretty obvious since they do this so frequently it's like water to them. 
• spread rumors that may or may not be true. Fake rumors are also applicable since there are loads of them developed in every area in Eastern entertainment you can find. The couples they revealed have this because we don't even know if this is true or not. For all we know, they could just be rumors, fake or otherwise. They could just be friends as apparently opposite sex friends don’t exist. It doesn’t have to be a date no matter how tantalizing it is. Jk and V have to make clear the ladies they met up with are friends and have no romantic interest. I have reason to believe they aren’t dating the ladies. Even then, idols won’t even dare reveal their dating status unless they are ready to and the company will back them. Well, unless you are not one of the better companies.
• might have truths if sensationalized. They are still the major source for scandals that proved true enough that other news channels report on it like the Burning Sun Scandal and music award shows’ suspicious activities. But only the true ones that other news will report but even that’s a low bar since there are far more gossipy articles than actual researched ones. Sometimes when certain Dispatch articles have so much malice in them, we are gonna see them on other channels. The rumors and the couple reveal since I don’t know.
• For companies when they have them in their pockets
• diverting if something goes wrong for companies. This has been a running theory with 
  JenKai reveal. Again, at the end of the day, it's celeb news. This is just a theory as even the companies would throw off itself by debuting new group to throw off. 
• covering up or looking the other way of some shit. 
• pressuring tactics to achieve control over them such as blackmail. Spilling rumors for example just to keep more control such as those rumors to out a gay couple came up again two years after the original. It died off quickly but it came off suspiciously strategic as if it's intimidation. I'm positive the queer idol couple discovered by Dispatch and proof of their date that probably had explicit romantic actions caught on film is still in the backburner and hold it over those idols' company's head even though they can't release the info now since they have made the public promise not to out any queer idol and/or their romance. That doesn't mean it's safe, it's being used as threats. 
• Blackmail on companies’ celebs to hold it over their heads as a threat and keep control. This differs from celebs messing up and managers may or may not drop them because a new celeb would come to take their place. Unlike those incidents, the blackmail Dispatch specialized in are primarily private or the better word for idols’ case secretive life. 

Dispatch likes to say they aren't paparazzi but they admitted they took inspiration from American paps. They sure love to pass off their so-called nighttime stalking as coincidental when people pointed out its clear stalking. Well then...let's go through this story that probably happened already. 

Just imagine their glee when they caught two queer idols going on a date whom they recognized from a rising band with a quick google search that they have a two-year difference. Imagine the increasing excitement they have so much material on the queer couple, explicit romantic actions like kissing or outright hearing one man call another man pretty, that they decide to keep track of their movements, knowing they got a story without considering the idols’ rights. Once they got enough and uploaded the article, they sent the material to the agencies with blackmail threats. 

Meanwhile for the agency, having been alerted to the article beforehand probably did not expect this or perhaps never thought it would come to this when they were sent the photos from the very outlet that said they got the juicy scoop on the two recognized. Immediately in the middle of the night, the boss called every manager of that band for an emergency meeting while calling for NDAs made. 

Imagine the terror going through the closeted idols’ whole bodies when they were called in because they were discovered and they could’ve to lead to disbandment. But the companies' lawyers made quick work for the outlet to take the article down, only leaving rumors.

Then now that the company is aware the queer couple has been discovered and kept their eye on them, just knowing that romance is just blooming or already had been bloomed and cannot be stopped. Perhaps they have been aware of the attraction since the trainee days but tried to remain in ignorant bliss until they were caught and they have no choice but to make damn sure the PR around the couple just seems like bros. Saying something like that reminds me of the Sailor Moon dub debacle of Haruka and Michiru being cousins than lovers, but apply that to closeted idols and celebs on a grand scale. Every time I see people believe the bro thing for potential lovers, I want them to think about what is really happening. BJYX aren’t lovers, they’re cousins! Taekook isn't lovers, they're cousins! 

I'm going to have brought up the gay couple Dispatch threatened to release. As I said before, there are many, many closeted idols and couples. If by chance, they are dating another idol is up in the air. I'm pretty sure Sehun, a gay man himself, is dating a non-celeb so he's safe though I'm sure he's worried for his peers and colleagues who probably were freaking out if he knew anyone dating another idol. I would be freaking out too if I was there as an idol. Any queer Korean idol would worry regardless because regardless of culture, a forced coming out is not okay. Even though forced coming outs do happen and still occur, it's still not okay. Finn and that damn commercial outing Santana to the school and the wide county does not make it okay. 

Thankfully, Dispatch has not released any info although rumors had popped up again later in 2018 or just before. That got shut down fairly quickly though the rumors are enough to drive up to any paranoia. 

Just that Dispatch threatened it and decided not to reveal it when it just happened in the country a political crisis. Only then they stated it would divert attention from crucially important politics. Politics are always important but which couple is important enough to actually divert attention? Is it because they're queer or because they just happened to be very famous people who just happened to be queer? I mean just being a queer celeb in Korea is enough to attract some attention from the country. I mean look at the openly queer Holland yet he certainly isn’t famous enough to divert political attention away. In South Korea, he’s known as the openly gay idol thus his popularity is fairly modest. Because unless you fit in the mold, it’s gonna take long years if not more so for out young celebs to make it. But is the latter case enough to divert significant attention? Just who on earth are these queer couples who have the power to actually capture a country's attention when there's a political crisis going on?

Hey, I'm trying to look at it from all the angles so I could see which one people would take away from it and which is implied from Dispatch's statement about not releasing info on the couple than the requisites of same group, two year age difference, and in a rising group.

Because now, unless the couple is still together, Dispatch won't be able to release information until the couple comes out in the future if they choose to and probably want to if they truly wanted the future. 

What I should note is that Dispatch has a strange relationship with Taekook in particular. They almost exclusively sectioned these two off from the rest of the group entirely. I don't know why these two. Does Dispatch have dirt on these two or what? Is it because they are the two most popular members of BTS? But then why only bring them together than individually since JK is insanely popular? Are they a popular subunit even though at that point it's clear to many people they're 'drifting apart'? I'm trying to think why only those two when given the chance to write anything outside of BTS as a group? 

That's what's curious about it. It had been clear Big Hit and Dispatch has a contract until 2020 and I'm sure they got dirt on them on the backburner, dirt that can't be aired out lest Dispatch themselves wanted to be sued. That's the thing I'm curious about what kind of dirt they would focus entirely on Taekook. In the articles themselves, they referenced as bros and nobody is decrying that. But the articles and their photos are almost exclusively Taekook. Dirt or no dirt, it's just weird to focus on just the two of them. Yes, they got other BTS articles and promotions as part of a contract, but when given the reins, they choose Taekook to focus on. 

I mean after the contract with Big Hit was up, Dispatch immediately went on war, writing 'controversy' after another on any members, and deleting any mention or adverts of BTS in any way, shape, or form. 

This is why I never believe the meme that Dispatch doesn't have anything on BTS. Just because they snapped a pic of them in the airport after the HYYH tour (maybe they caught something before this and wanted to air it out and did send threats to them but can't due to lawsuits and later saying they won't out any queer celeb couple. It doesn't have to be that but Dispatch did say they won't out any queer couple in the K-ent business) does not mean they didn't have any blackmail material on them that just can't be aired out lest they want to have lawsuits and people calling them more morally reprehensible for even releasing such info; what's better to use blackmail material that you can't use to circulate than to keep it over their heads as a threat. I firmly believe Dispatch got something on BTS and BH that they still hold over their heads to this very day but they can't trade the info or release it probably because either people won't believe it or it's just better for their use than any other company whose jealous of BTS and BH. That very info might be too valuable for Dispatch to not consider trading the info. I wouldn't be surprised. When BTS accomplished so much for K-pop, music, and SK, wouldn't you think there would be material that is so good for Dispatch and would utterly refuse to give it to other jealous companies? Because it would only benefit them, BTS, and BH if push comes to the shove. 

At least, other companies got the idea now they will have to deal with a nasty Dispatch after contracts end. 

More of the usual but with a more venomous edge. 

I’m sure they got supposedly insiders to feed them or claiming they have to appear more legitimate. It’s a thing for gossip tabloids. Former gossip columnist Shallon Lester does this all the time as the supposed insider when she isn’t even working for them anymore! 

Gossip culture lives in their own world filled with slander and cruel judgment. This is what Shallon Lester thrived in until people called her out and commentary Youtubers deconstructed her that she can’t really argue against. Gossip can exist but it is meant only for the brainless. Gossip feeds a lot into people not knowing the right information mixed with lies. 

Unlike gossip Youtubers, a whole industry is not going away. There will always be an audience for gossip. Nothing is gonna stop Dispatch barring destroying the celebrity gossip market. 

People want them to stop stalking the celebs. Stalking is bad no matter how much you cut it. Dispatch is stalking celebs for any juicy details they can use. Invasion of privacy is a no-go when the life of a celebrity is not normal. Stalkers will be there so celebs have to take measures just to not get stalked. Getting in a gated community is the best choice for any celeb like just what BTS did. Anything to push them away. I mean just happening a chance upon them getting in their fave cafe is enough for a normal fan.

I’m sure Dispatch played off their stalking as coincidences like fans who happened to catch idols visiting a cafe. I know that fans happened upon Taeyang and his wife one time. 

There is a difference between that and attempting to catch Jungkook on the act when he simply went to the store to buy banana milk aka running quick errands. What were they expecting? Going to a sex shop? Buying porn? 

The Kpop fanbases have a treasure trove full of finding couples based on matching clothes or items, wearing brands they don’t usually wear or endorse, buying cars when there is no need unless you are so rich you can buy cars anyway, sns love posts, etc. Usually, the biggest piece of evidence is the people they know closest to them would drop subtle hints, sometimes obvious ones. Fans are the ones who would find these things and because people usually go searching for it, fans have the unspoken truth that they would never air it out to the public; as long as they know it to be true, the rest of the world would think of them as clowns when the rest of the world are clowns for not believing in them. That got to the point that the latter would say the fans would already know about this. Believe me, this is the case of the Eastern fanbases. 

Check out the video with Pentagon knowing about Hyuna and E’Dawn’s relationship and that’s one example I can name at the top of my head. 

These evidence fans use are mainly those actual coincidences and public info. Noticing an idol buying a car when there is no need for it strikes me as weird. 

I honestly don’t care who is dating who, rumors or otherwise. If JenKai is happy, good for them. I do take issues with dating rumors with Sehun with women; it’s fine if they’re beards but he already has a boyfriend. Just to clear, beards are gonna be seen a lot if they wish to be public and don’t want to come out in the sociopolitical climate. I have my suspicions with EXID’s Hani, whom Dispatch previously exposed to dating. I don’t follow all the idols in the industry since it’s hard enough for them already with the secretive life off-camera. Remember, only the public info and coincidental sightings. 

I mean even Dispatch used the exact same process just with a little more stalking and lying. I’m sure they got workers stalking them just so they can get blackmail. The infamous JK scooter bulletin says just enough how far they are willing to go.

Remember at the end of the day, they are a tabloid. The fact there are some truthful articles does not level out they have had threatened to destroy idols’ careers when they are fully aware just airing it out is enough of a backlash from the gf fans. Seriously just threatening to out a queer idol couple in a homophobic society is horrifying when just being in a heterosexual idol relationship is career-threatening enough. Not everyone is going to be like VIPs when Taeyang finally got his girlfriend and later wife.

I mean BTS is trying their best to shake out the gf fans, clearly not enjoying them. At the beginning of their careers, they used that to their advantage because they are struggling and really anything (seriously, fanservice and gf fans are the tips of the iceberg of them just believing they get some modest popularity to maintain their group. Some even thinking the handsomeness of certain members is just enough. You can even find their gf fans idol fantasies videos when they were rookies at the time. Remember they did not expect to win a daesang, given their reactions. By that point, they have in no way knowing they would be the Beatles and/or Seo Taiji and Boys of the new generation and simply content with one daesang and a decent following. Unlike BigBang who didn't aim to gf fans because by then Korean idol music was budding, BTS didn't have fortune like that at the beginning.) to maintain even just a little bit of money is good. This is why in Rookie King they said their fans are their girlfriends and all that 'interacting' with the camera acting scenes and doing heavy like there's a lot there than usual fanservice in their early years - the typical amount of fanservice is usually how they have done since they got reasonably popular to stand though they use fanservice to show each other affection. But not when they earned their success and don’t like gf fans fantasizing themselves when they just saw Chen getting backlash for marrying and starting a family. Do you think any idols watching these rabid gf fans being interviewed only to be hit that these girls whined the idols are supposed to be dating them? To refuse to even buy any more of the idols’ merchandise just because these girls expected the idols to marry them? 

Just when they thought it was even though it has its circumstances (either fans believe them or not since people have thoughts whether it is to divert attention for the companies) JenKai seemed relatively accepted, the loudness of the Chen incident revealed there is a long way to go. But when years have gone by with idols and companies forced to apologize to the rabid gf fans, no matter how famous, it's gonna take years. This means queer idols coming out is gonna be a maelstrom since when they are so damn popular. We have seen idols coming out by making it part of their image but the reasonably popular ones are so subtle they are never listed on the official queer idols list. This means someone more popular than Exo may or may not change the paradigm because they have so damn popular and have spoken on LGBT rights in the past to actually come out. I am just giving a thought. Since we have seen idols on varying levels of popularity somewhat comes out but have to be subtle but for someone extraordinarily popular is gonna do something since people around the world see the person as straight but that's gonna change once the coming out was released. 

I already ranted enough about gf fans so I waste any more breath just talking about this delusional subset. 

Dispatch has so much power of these fans and their visceral reactions that the fans will become the one that will drag their celeb down if the celeb doesn’t know how to weather it. 

Remember despite the internet making it look big, they are loud and small. When the gf fans who showed up to protest Chen’s marriage, it’s only a small amount. This goes to every loud fanbase unless it’s a consensus and even that, general fans would be sick and tired of whatever the louder fanbase subset is loud about, agreeing with them but throw in sarcasm and apathy towards either the creator or the works or both. 

The most extreme cases were Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who where the original was revered but the new ones banked off nostalgia and being woke without considering what it means to be actually diverse. A lesser case would be JKR and Harry Potter. I have seen people doing ‘read another book’ for the latter (thankfully dying off though I still recall remnants like transphobe wizards book/movie) when the Potter fans have been disillusioned by the author since she tried to force her authorial intent on them with her Word of God statements. Don’t hurt the fans, the death of the author is and will be recommended, just don’t hurt anyone wanting to read something that has a strong legacy despite the author is less than great. Potter fans have learned to close their ears and eyes from her anyway. Just don’t hurt the fans or anybody just wanting to read a damn book. People have listened to music written and sung by musicians who do horrible things like Phil Spector straight up killing a girl! Why is transphobic fame getting to the head author any different?

Off-topic but you get the idea. 

The subset is always louder and the subset of the said subset will be even louder. Only when there is a consensus, largely apathy or sarcasm will be the response from the general crowd or fans. Sometimes for the general fans, they can ignore if they are used to whatever the creator says and do. Seriously JKR isn’t even the first, just look at many preceding her like Ronald Dahl and H.P. Lovecraft. 

And Dispatch has power over them.

And this is what truly makes Dispatch powerful. The gossip was just a cherry on top since they already got enough power just revealing couples. I mean the only thing setting apart TMZ and Dispatch is the vicious ways the latter played in the industry. If TMZ has blackmail, they wouldn't be the same TMZ today. 

Yes, their stalking doesn't make the situation and their extremely dubious actions. At least TMZ has the decency to not out a queer celeb and/or relationship. Yes, I am not letting that go because when they threatened to do that in a homophobic society that will reject the couple and forced the couple to quit the industry altogether. And that's one of the worst-case scenarios because the truly worst one is suicide and that's an unfortunate fact. 

What one can do to dissuade is to not let any celeb catch in the act so secret service level from management, the company, and everyone else in the know - celebs will inevitably slip and blackmail will still occur in the industry although laws are put in place - and don't believe everything they say. Idols keeping their private life secretive is already distressing enough so to add Dispatch and coincidental happenstance by fans and media is not what they want. For queer celebs, it's already upsetting enough they have to pass as straight but on top of that, they are passing off their lover as friends or siblings. Well, that is if they are dating somebody. I mean dating a non-celeb is enough to get on the news in some form for hets. At least when non-celeb 'friends' for closeted queer idols are easily shrugged off as simply friends. I have seen this happen to Sehun, BJYX, and Zhuliuhai. The last one is the one I have a problem deciding because the pool of evidence I managed to find is just so damn small. I'm just waiting to dive into the Taekook pool if it's even possible since it's just sixty-ish percent. 

They will still exist because gossip is still a major thing in the world, especially celebrity gossip. Even if it's the wrong sources. Freedom of speech is still essential though an addendum should be one be careful about those words lest those words can be really bad and do deserve the backlash. 

I am still not forgiving Dispatch for trying to out a gay couple when they should be fully aware of what it really means. Then again they did out couples, true or not, and just let the tidal wave of gf/bf fans wash over the chaos. So yeah, they crossed the line when they tried to force out a gay couple when that is far worse than any het idol would ever have to deal with if their relationship was revealed. At least theirs will be accepted by the general public exempting the rabid gf/bf fans. 

In comparison to idols dating and/or queerness, idols’ family lives are kept very private. If you thought a hidden relationship was something, then family means just as much. BTS kept their family very private, used to show in their early years but stopped as they grew so popular. I mean we got tiny glimpses such as Tae briefly mentioning his sibs being distant from him. Should be thankful that the idols were able to have that at least. 

While heterosexual celebs relationships gossip and speculations run rampant while even suggesting one idol may be queer and have a queer relationship with another makes you delulu. Dating news means nothing to people overall. It doesn’t hurt anyone that they’re even dating in the first place. Except when they're queer because of homophobia. 

TaeKook/VKook

 

Before I discuss this, I will make a comment about BJYX or BJYXSZD to be more accurate. While there are lots of things that convinced me BJYX is real, mainly the little things, coincidences that can't be explained away, things they did that are certainly romantic than BFF/mentor-like, and candies that can't be washed like the ideal life painting and now NanHai and Kepler that is undeniable for the other guy. I'm sorry but I have to comment on this. I mean Nanhai is undeniable since WYB gave it to XZ in an instant so now I'm pretty sure XZ knew Web gave him the song during CQL filming. Seeing that interview gives me a new way of looking at it if XZ already knew. Little by little, I'm pretty sure fate pushed them together. I'm a clown about these two because I'm willing to be the deluded clown if only to show I am supporting their love. The more CQL BTS released, the more I want to know more of their love story I can decipher and paint how it went. 

So you will see comparisons as I do need to draw some for people to get the idea of this discussion. I’ll also bring up Zhuliuhai for good measure because I need examples so you and I can see my thoughts and what it could mean, especially for their careers. So, long post, and I do mean long. 

When I said idol, I referred to the entire idol industry in Japan, China, and Korea that has their own weird set of rules. The music is a different matter entirely due to history and so forth because I'm only referring to how they were advertised as the ideal idol gf/bf for their fans. 

Anyway, let's go discuss this couple. Now while I haven't deep-dive into the Taekook fandom, there is a reliable timeline with all the BTS events and such. Analysis aside, it does give you whatever you can make a judgment because even those handling that blog made it clear they are trying to be as objective as possible. And the compilation will make you judge for yourself with the available info. Use probability to think about the possible theories and the likelihood. 

I am open to the idea they might be Not Straight. I will not say straight until proven otherwise. I do not have any knowledge of what sexuality they might identify with as I don’t know them. All I can say is to wish the best of luck wherever they might go in their journey and their happiness. I am open to BJYX and Zhuliuhai as Not Straight too though I am firmly BJYXSZD for the many things I consider candies can’t be washed and coincidences that can’t be explained away, and other little things that one needs closer inspection without over-analyzing. I’m a clown for them but I am willing to be one for their love if I were to speak out about it. 

At the end of the day, I'm just a woman speculating the love lives of guys I don't think I would ever meet and being a clown. At least, people are willing to admit they are being clowns rather than the people making them. I have no real horse in this race so I'm a willing clown for them. 

First thing first, Dispatch. Ah, Dispatch, Korea's TMZ, who ended up being powerful because of the visceral fan reactions from the gf fans variety. They have threatened to out a gay couple from a rising group that has a two year age difference. We don't know and unless the gay couple does come out from their own power and confirm Dispatch did threaten to out them, it's unlikely to be revealed. And there are loads of closeted idols in Korea, not just queer idols but het idols who are forced to hide their relationships. And not just for privacy either since Chen is so willing to reveal he's going to marry the woman of his dreams. 

Even though the media has been trying to normalize idols dating and marrying, the recent Chen incident revealed there is still a long time to go before they get rid of the mentality altogether. It's fine to have celeb crushes but it's another to actually think the idol will be dating you when you know you don't know him personally. There is a difference between investing time and money for supporting them and another just to think you are dating them even when you know they don't know you and have their personal lives. 

But I'm digressing. If you want to see my rant about the idol industry's gf/bf erotomania perpetuation, then go see my previous posts. When I discussed at length, I'm not going to discuss even more when I have my insight on things. 

Again, we don't know which couple Dispatch threatened to out that has the requirements of being two years apart in a rising band. Now, Dispatch may or may not be lying since this is a tabloid that has a tendency to blow things out of proportion, fabricate things outright, spread rumors that may or may not be true, and might have truths if sensationalized. They also have the K-ent industry in their pockets, particularly the idol companies, where they do have blackmail materials just to ruin the idol's lives and careers. I'm pretty sure they got blackmail material on BTS due to how long they have been in contact with them and holds it over them even now. 

Again, the upside is Dispatch can't release the information now since it's banned from out a couple without their consent in Korea. I'm pretty sure they still have the photos in the backburner and still have it as blackmail. 

There are many rumored queer idols, some of them probably in relationships and might've been the ones Dispatch wanted to expose. Regardless, we still have them as candidates and probably these two. I am open to whatever sexuality Kpop idols are. Hell, Sehun is definitely Not Straight and his groupmates' responses points in that direction, showing their support. While Taekook does fit the requirements for Dispatch's threats, I'm pretty sure other closeted idols that are dating other idols were freaked out. Sehun and other closeted idols that are dating non-celebs should be fine although worried for the would-have-been outed couple. 

I am open to the possibility BTS has at least queer two members or more. This is why I can be understood about Exo's case with Suho and Sehun. On a side note, no, they aren't together by any means and are bros. Several Exo members have referenced Sehun's lack of attraction to women. Again, most people shrugged it off because they don't notice or bother to look into more of the context or pure homophobia. Especially the gf fans who demonstrated homophobia towards any of their idols even trying to start a new chapter in their lives with their SO. 

As I said before, from these pairing chapters, I'm a clown. But when it comes to queer, let these dudes be them and allow space and time if they wish to come out. 

Let's compare how they could've hidden their relationship. Again, they don't have to give out candies nor do they have the duty to. For example, Chen released the info about marrying the woman of his dreams and having a family together because he wanted to share that happiness with his fans. Sehun didn’t release any info but rather by odd choices because he obviously likes to keep it private for his non-celeb SO. Unlike the pairs I will be discussing, Sehun is dating a non-celeb and isn’t scrutinized as much; the info the fans got is from deciding he’s gay and having a boyfriend right now, suspicions bring the chef.

The companies would have to know since they would be the ones to hide it the most. I'm pretty sure BJYX's managers and companies know about their stars' romance which is why they hid and did secretive things. While I don't like to bring this up because stalkers, stalkers caught Web going into a van I think it was with five or six umbrellas covering him and the person in the car. Sometime before or later, I don't know, fans know XZ was in Shanghai at the time of SDOC3 filming because he posted himself at a cafe in the same city SDOC3 is being filmed and that is Shanghai. So why the umbrellas in the dead of night in a clear sky with the express purpose of hiding? I don’t like bringing up obvious stalker moments but the point is still the same: they are hiding to the point it seemed they are covering all the bases. 

So yeah, the big businesses have to know. Why else do people expect the companies to give out statements when something like a couple was revealed? So hiding a couple in a rising group gotta be hard on them since as they were soaring as the company was too, BigHit had to deal with hiding with twofold the problems with having a queer couple and two members dating each other. So secret service level hiding is what idols have to do just to keep their personal lives out of their fans, antis, and paparazzi's eyes. This is basically how E'Dawn/Hyuna, BJYX, and Chen hid their relationships. They aren't as lucky as Luhan and his girlfriend who made their relationship public. I'm pretty sure while the staff and Bang PD are supportive, it's stressful because they have more to hide from the public eye until the boys might come out one day. 

Why separate two guys in the same band when just knowing that people see them as bros would be an easy deterrent to being seen as a queer couple? To the rest of the world, BTS is a family and bros so separate them publicly makes questions pop up; I have seen people seriously thinking Vkook wasn’t as close anymore precisely because there aren’t any official content when if you really look at the evidence, the two are forced to separate and the editors underplay their interactions. If you look at candid vids, you can still see their closeness. 

Hell, people like to make fun of RPS fans in the west so much while the East just lets it ease on by. I mean it's clear those guys are still close and cooped up together in quarantine. So the In The Soop Taekook night talk might not be weird for those who just follow the official stuff but to those who really followed closely, it's staged and raised questions since it's just after quarantine and even in the Taekook vlives there are times we see their closeness due to slipups. Again, they're pretending to be distant in the public eye officially when off the camera they're still as close as ever and we do see them comfortable on each other's bodies like cuddling after quarantine on camera with ease. Why in the hell would the staff make it clear they can't touch for too long and didn't even promote Taekook when it's the most popular RPS in Kpop? Again, what is the point of them being drifting on-camera when off-camera they are still close? Why do this at all when BTS kept saying they're a found family? When they don't drift apart from petty fights like dumplings? 

Heck, from what I have seen, many just want them as a subunit. A singing duo. A damn picture that isn’t a fanedit or a fancam or something official that is known to the public rather than placed in Weverse would be nice too. It got to the point that fans especially Taekookers have trust issues because the staff kept cutting and editing back any Taekook content. Again why? I’m pretty sure Taekook have loads of recorded songs through the years as BigHit is not gonna announce them as a subunit. All we got out of a Taekook subunit are singing to each other in group songs and covers that they sang to each other that includes karaoke. Isn’t that too much to ask for BigHit to have one official song or a pic that isn’t fancam? What is so bad about them as a subunit? It certainly doesn’t feel like they were building up to it. They’re pals and bros according to the rest of the world so why aren't they going to make them a subunit outside of singing to each other in the group songs? The other members who have yet to make a subunit of their own can be easily explained away since BH has no problems with them, just with Taekook and what little official content they give to the general public and when they do, they sent a narrative of drifting apart then reconnecting. 

At least BJYX has an excuse because they are busy with their own projects after the Double 11 event, the last event they will ever share the stage. The audience does want to see them work together again because that's how much they can't think one without the other. The reason BXGs goes crazy is that despite having no public photos at official events since Double 11, they are screaming over the fansites' CQL BTS because that's how much people just want to see them together in some capacity. And any tangentially references made by either one that hints they still get together once their schedule cleared for a period of time such as the recent Beijing snow/skateboard video and the infamous hotpot confirmation in SDOC3 though everyone knows they get together for hotpot due to taste changes either made comment about like Web's gradual tolerance of spices while XZ can't tolerate spicy after eating bland food. 

That's the total opposite of Bighit cutting back on Taekook content despite them being in the same group like editing out Tae giving an orange slice to JK, only cutting to him eating the slice. Why?! It's a damn orange wedge and friends give food to each other! Is it because to focus on JK but we don't need a closeup? It's basically the same thing as XZ and Web pretended to not know they don't like eggplants and carrots respectively when LHK spilled that Web will eat XZ's eggplants for him? Why the hell are they trying to pretend about something so damn trivial when friends would know food preferences? Like it's normal. Everyone else in BTS knows RM and Jin hates mint chocolate so why is that any different from knowing a friend doesn't like eggplants and you will eat the leftovers since it's food? It's the same thing as the CQL editors who probably have an extra workload to edit out the potentially incriminating and scandalous material while Bighit does their best to not focus on Taekook whenever they can. That's why CQL BTS are so over-edited to downplay BJYX's flirtations while Bighit edited to make sure the moments are not shown and panning away as soon as Taekook as much sits next to each other in a bus. 

If I’m guessing the plan, BigHit wanted to protect them and their relationship so they did questionable stuff like separation and editing and 2017 till now muting them (decreasing the visibility of their relationship in official content) as officially drifting apart. However, candid photos and vids show them just as close. Maybe the couple took it in stride as one of them did make it clear their relationship is not for the cameras though they gleefully enjoyed Taekookers’ support. However, due to personal issues, they developed a plan so they can be publicly affectionate again so the vlive and In The Soop was semi-scripted or at least have directions. Probably they even plan to come out so they needed to explain this so-called distance and immediate closeness first. Only let in your family and closest friends but the band can show you off as a couple in subtle ways through music. As for letting people know outside the circle, make subtle remarks you don’t mind the shipping and clearing y/n fantasies. Whatever hints they want to drop is up to them through subtle meanings like songs with meaningful lyrics that you reply to each other and personal jewelry. 

As for BJYX, the plan is secretive love life, let in your closest friends and family, give out candies because you wanted to show off the love, and keep the relationship as a close friendship to the public. However, make your relationship an open secret in the industry as those in it will be suspicious but can’t confirm, deniable plausibility here. Only come out when garnering enough respect. 

Again, this is only if Taekook is real as much as BJYXSZD. I have not yet made the decision. I am looking at the probabilities of what can explain such and such. BJYX has a lot of higher chance for romance on their percentages of the many interactions pre, during, and post-CQL filming. Because can you explain something like the ideal life painting from XZ has that definitely no heterosexual meaning and the Nan Hai/Kepler songs for each other that they actively changed the lyrics to? And those are some candies that can't be washed. So yeah, for me, about BJYX, I'm toasting their love while wearing a clown nose and wig. 

Being in the same group would mean having their bandmates knowing thus can cover up shit or give hints. Closest family and friends can give hints that this particular idol is taken or queer by subtle means. Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin used this subtlety because only if they really look at their words and how Sehun didn't even reject what they said. Just look at Wang Yibo's TTXS bros who kept hinting the idol has a partner and slipped up multiple times as well as saving him from saying too much. So my guess BTS and BH does know since the freaking Rookie King with the tongue kiss of course game with Suga, Hobi, and V reassuring to Jk that V never used tongue, Suga visibly turning to Jk, not V or RM. It was so damn clear at that moment my brain can't move past it because no best friend would worry about tongue kisses with another friend while other friends would react the same way, knowing it's just a joke and part of a game. All they needed was Hobi and V's words, not Suga's confirmation on top of it. So yeah, I think Suga and Hobi first had suspicions then Jin and RM, could switch around the latter two. Jimin could fit between them. While Bang PD and the BH staff managing BTS would have their suspicions probably a year later after the rest of BTS figured it out. 

Unfortunately, when two members are dating, the other members are in the crossfire for being used as part of jealousy ploys. Especially when the cameras aren't trained on them such as the MAMA 2016. Poor J-Hope looked so done. I'm pretty sure it's a consequence of fanservice being used when two members do have genuine feelings for each other and conflicted currently. BTS members have to be used to what's going on and have some insight. RM even looked at the two of them; that's important since if it's just fanservice, he doesn't even have to look at them both since he would know it's just bros being bros doing fanservice. Nope, the possibility when cameras aren't trained on them is to look at them and see their reactions. Because usually seeing reactions when you know that a member has feelings for another and do use other members as part of jealousy ploys wouldn't exactly go up there as y'know at least a seventy percent or lower. Bros being bros doing fanservice in a Kpop group would be higher but when other members have reactions and looking at the two members have another probability. 

These guys would have to know at least. Especially when other groups that do have LGBT members give subtle hints that fly over the heads of the general public and fans. Again, only if you truly look at the evidence and particularly the people who would be in the know, it's become increasingly obvious. Given their reactions to some questionable moments such as the kisses on the cheeks that Namjoon flat out asked if they could air it and the others stated they done it at home implied frequently and Jimin's kissy noises after the infamous private convo vlive, these reactions would say that they know. Why make a kissy face if it's just gonna be a conversation best saved not for the cameras and had not JK react afterward he will stop after saying he wanted for a longer vlive and say to Tae that the conversation can be saved after the vlive but no, he immediately wanted to stop? Why react negatively to two guys sharing a room to be known to fans or asking if they should even air something like a kiss when in the same video the other guys did kiss each other but didn't react like that? Speaking of kisses, after Hobi and V kissed each other during Rookie King, why turn to JK after the kiss to reassure that they didn't use tongue? Why the hell would any best friend/brother worry they would kiss with fucking tongue to another brother/best friend when they know it's good fun anyway? And then lost any sense of competition when you are known to be? I am trying to find a heterosexual explanation for this! The possibility for it being romance is high when Jk took the effort to make eye contact with the staff whose off-camera and making motions as if he wants to retake the shoot and continued to be nervous until Suga and Hobi made it clear V never used to his when beside him his bros were laughing and didn’t even care whether or not they used tongue? Because everyone but Jk was reacting suitably as bros should be! I will not let this go because it cannot be read any other way and the probability for romance is super high. 

Fanservice is gonna be hard to decipher, especially when there are queer idols involved. As we saw with Sehun and Suho, they do partake in the fanservice and that's because they're bros. But in the case of Taekook, they seemed to use fanservice partly to either flirt or act upon using it as some sort of ploys like jealousy or public affection outwardly to the public without backlash. So yeah, it's hard to tell which is which whereas BJYX doesn't do normal fanservice as in they don't do fanservice. Other companies used BJYX to get customers from that fanbase without those two consenting. What those two do consent is having showing bias towards them. That is not to say Taekook doesn’t show bias to their shippers because they do. It's not that the individual of BJYX doesn't do fanservice since Web loves fake kisses fanservice a lot as he kept doing it, just not with XZ. 

So this brings up the question of why certain 'fanservice' moments are so damn subtle instead of blatant? Because fanservice is usually so blatant like hugging and fake kisses so I question when people found JK kissed Tae on the nape on the stage with Seventeen? Where people can’t see it? It's so damn subtle I question what is the point of the kiss when not a lot of people are going to see it the first way around? Because I'm pretty sure not everyone is going to catch it when the point of fanservice is for the fans to see? Y'know just like hugs and fake kisses? Why the subtle moments that are definitely not fanservice and a clear show of affection? That is clearly not bro-like that everyone else likes to say these two are? I'm trying the probabilities of each and every circumstance so I could rule them out! 

Intertwining hands is also questionable too since, in Asia, it has major romantic connotations that I don't think best friends do it. So why do it at all in a country that has romantic connotations to intimate gestures like interlocking hands? 

In the same group, it would mean that typical fanservice or not doing fanservice or intimacy that is absolutely bros don't do nor do they would be shrugged off as with the fact that most people would take it as bros. Matching outfits or items that are often a sign of a couple could be easily shrugged off as bandmates wearing similar stuff to show their friendship. Look at Japan where friends and couples wear matching clothes and items. 

But what defines an idol relationship would be the items they don't endorse that they wear and only two-person close to each other wear it. Buying a car could be evidence since they are transported by their companies anyway and they don't need their own transport. Look at BJYX that bought Eyefunny and Gucci necklaces alongside the trendy street style that even their own fans have their hard time telling which guy is which nowadays. Things either they bought out of their own pocket and/or wear something that the other endorses but that idol, in particular, don't. Again, Xiao Zhan is with Gucci and Wang Yibo is with Chanel yet many comments that while the latter does wear Chanel's women's fashion and jewelry - there are certain items like the Chanel Crush rings that are undeniably BJYX evidence due to wearing it in most CQL promotions, most of his personal jewelry seemed to be Gucci. 

Asian celeb industry has a problem with just copying the runway looks and don't always have a 'deeper meaning'. Look, as much as these celebs can pull off those looks, those are bad styling decisions and I'm the type to just throw on those are just similar enough clothes to not be eyestrain. So this part is a hesitancy for the most part and only if they have a hand like say performances and the celeb refused to be a dressing doll, for the most part, then things are gray. This is while the entire Versace on the Floor performance from Web is obviously for XZ - not singing along to any mention of a girl, miming an embrace of a taller lover with head tilt-up, the performance felt so intimate that Web is in his own world -, the clothes are a matter of gray. He may or may not have a hand in the final choice of clothes so I'll just leave it up there for now. This is why I’m dubious about Vkook’s clothes at concerts and award shows. Do they have a hand with their stylists and give the okay at the finished piece they would wear? Since their stylists would just throw them on runway looks. 

So for possibly matching clothes on official events, etc is gonna be gray. When the other members have a similar style, it runs into the problem of what most people identify as a couple's behavior when it could be a friendship circle. However, sometimes jewelry or personal items can be a sign like Web's ox necklace that he wore everywhere and it's pretty easy to see just how significant it is when he refused to take it off only with XZ's insistence he did. So the Mikro rings and other matching jewelry V and JK have is a sign. Just not as crazy as Web did to show his wild loyalty and love for XZ since neither wore it everywhere they go. 

BJYX are two separate idols therefore it makes it easier to identify as a couple. Eastern fanbases can actually tell whether or not their celeb may be queer or in a relationship due to the commonalities or oddities they find. Many in the Eastern fandoms who followed loads of celebs can tell you how they tell the difference before and after and the evidence that showed they are. Idols have to hide their relationships and this is not just the queers who would definitely want to show off their awesome SO and their relationship. Again, this all boils down to the rabid gf fans and homophobia that they could lose future opportunities. 

In the same band, these commonalities or oddities can be easily explained away because the other members can make it evident by the number who share common things like having matching watches, especially if they know that two members are dating each other. In Exo's case, neither queer members are dating each other but other people, making it easier for the members to drop hints without backlash and people looking closer. 

Because looking closer at particulars is how fans can tell. And the general public and fandom usually don't notice the oddities or commonalities except the people who follow the said trail. That's how BJYX escaped scrutiny from the general public and even their fandoms. Only if you really look closely, then you would miss it entirely. I would know since I checked BJYX out of curiosity and look at me now, a fully converted believer and supporter of their love. I'm pretty sure that not only BJYX are allies in the LGBT community but also part of it. Who knows there are probably pictures of XZ at some pride event because I wanted to attend one but didn't have the time to. I'm pretty sure Web wants to attend a pride event unless he attended one privately in Korea before debut or something. I'm pretty sure Uniq and TTXS bros know his sexuality, even Cheng Xiao. Due to their job though, they can't come out until they are respected and have enough stability that backlash won't destroy when they do come out. Unless they truly made part of their image like most queer celebs, like it's a part of them, but it doesn't define them entirely because their sexuality is only a part of them. To boil down the LGBT community to their sex and identity would mean to generalize people as simple rather than complex. Because the feelings I get from Web are the same as queers who feel no need to vocalize they are queer, comfortable being gay but not out because they felt no need to talk it out. If others can't see they are queer, then whatever, that's their problem. Then again, Web really doesn't like it when you see him as straight and he will make a point of being as gay as possible that can't be shown as being comfortable with one's heterosexuality. Seriously, he lolled his tongue sexually at a male competitor when that guy tried to use him as a straight guy prop. People explained it away as a duel boss thing when that explanation doesn't have to rule out the other possible explanation. He also lets two team members grope him during a performance and let another sit on his lap. Again, he seemed to enjoy pulling the fake kiss thing with men many times and seemed to enjoy it. 

Besides, hets have their own problems that are questionable. 

How about songs and song choices? It's much easier as these guys are singer-songwriters and have their choices of songs for their partners. I don't think we haven't seen any love songs come from BJYX outside of two songs that made reference to light, something BXG noted to be very similar and have commented similarly to each other but I'm putting on the lighter shade of gray evidence for now. Yet we saw song dedications that took up to level with lyrical changes that made SZD moreso because BXG knows NanHai is for GG since DD is so firm about it but now with Kepler, the definitive confirmation the song is for DD from GG, yeah... BJYXSZD everyone. There is no washing this candy though the NanHai candy can't be washed anyway. I'm pretty sure XFX and MTJJ are fuming about the songs candies... 

Now BJYX does have song lyrics put on their Weibo with kadians. So something similar in the 123 theory with Taekook is totally plausible, given how the Eastern fandoms used numbers to communicate special days or messages. I am willing to believe this, especially when they kept doing it. Ahh, how I would love to use numbers for my romances because it's a secret message! It's a romance! At the same time, again BTS uses 123 so it’s not unusual but what is slipping a love song cover on someone’s birthday, someone the person singing the song knows really well.

BJYX covered lots of songs in the BTS and in the fan meets. So for BXG, these songs have strong ties to their relationships, especially when songs are placed on important trips like the Japan trips and possible anniversaries. They are singers so this is why I can believe it. 

That is why I am pretty ambivalent about Taekook's choice of songs, singing, or writing cover or their own. Because songs are typically how these guys can show their true selves and feelings behind whatever they are writing down. It's a good stress reliever, especially for a music person. Even if the resulting song might not be good, the point is they got their feelings out. BTS is known for writing personal songs and has explained it, some of it vague and broad but others explained a lot unless it's really personal. 

I am willing to see that yet interpretations of songs like Stigma and DNA are exactly interpretations. The difference between Nan Hai and Kepler is that the two idols explicitly changed the lyrics and later evidence shows that the songs are for each other. Unless they made it explicit while being subtle enough to fly over like Sehun and his bros did, I am going to remain on that opinion for now. 

In Taekook's case, aside from saying these songs are written from their heart and perspective and things they do reveal, the other members either didn't go much into what it means. There is a possibility they might know or might not know. It might show VKook might be queer if their members do go into more. Some are weird song choices like choosing a breakup song for V from JK on one occasion when to everyone else, it's a friendship and why choose a romantic breakup song unless the guy has feelings for the other? Why let go of something when as bros you don't have to let go of anything? It’s not like the band was considering disbandment at that period.

This is why motifs and lyrics are what I look for if I do want to look for romance. For example, XZ and Web chose songs that have among other things, loneliness, rainbow, cloud, stars, and dream. For Taekook, the songs they wrote that are potentially for each other, recced, and covered have motifs in which among were fools, sins/crimes, time, young love, and leaving someone behind. I am willing to believe this since having a common theme means it's much easier to track and what it could mean for that couple. Also, I felt like an English major again, just seeing the commonalities and the analyses. 

Again, I have to raise this. Friends do sing breakup songs together, especially in jest and y'know it's just a song. There is a difference between that and actually dedicating said breakup and/or longing love songs for each other. This is why Kepler/Nan Hai was such a breaking point for many to actually becoming SZD outside of CQL BTS for BJYX, especially when there was evidence of changing lyrics. While there aren't any changing lyrics in Taekook's case, there can be a case made by the songs that could be replying to each other through specific lyrics at a specific time. 

Now seeking out and identifying with LGBT songs and celebs are another thing. They may identify with them and their struggles. It doesn't mean they are queer at least entirely. Just because a straight person enjoys a queer song written for another queer doesn't make them queer. It can be just the enjoyment of music. And that's not even getting actually supporting the movement. Again, XZ and Web are definitely part of the LGBT community and not just allies. I think BTS is definite allies since I do think they do mean what they said. Again, I am willing to see them as not straight, just covering all the bases of possibilities.

Then there are looks, looking at each other with adoration. BJYX is so guilty of this that MTJJ, Yibo's solo fans, complained they can't get a good picture of him when he's looking at XZ. It's gotten to a point they furiously yell why is he looking at him!? in the vicinity, captured in fancams. There are many looks directed at the other when asked innocuous questions about love, career, and the future in general. Sometimes, the remedy might be even worse than the question as GG is known to do this to questions that BXG notes are just innocent questions like knowing or not knowing what the other likes or dislikes to eat. Friends would know what friends don't like to eat and like to eat. My friends know I like mild spicy for now since I do want to build my spice tolerance while I know others don't like sweets, preferring savory and salty. It's normal for friends to know this since Liu Haikuan spilled about the food thing anyway while GG tried to hide. Why hide something so basic to a friendship? I'm pretty sure throughout BTS pre-debut run, they know what the other likes and don't like to eat. 

Now VKook does have questionable looks at each other during romantic lines in their music. Heck in the All of Me - a song I have an eh reaction to and definitely not my go-to romance song - cover, they looked at each other during a song that is said to be romantic by many people and not by me. Y'know, if you're in a boyband and you're going to cover a romantic song, can you sing it to the crowd? At least XZ has a double meaning for singing Kepler even when he changed the lyrics to definitely sweeter lyrics to a lover. XZ made it a point that Kepler is for his fans and he does want to sing it for them, it's also a song for his DD, his lover. VKook? No excuse besides fanservice but given the exasperated reactions from the other members, it seems low. Though anyone would be surprised to see two men sing to each other staring into the eyes on stage singing a romance song when fanservice being common in the industrial idol stage. If it was planned and often just get laughs out of the bros making it clear fun because fanservice typically is such as in the early days with that fake head kiss; The way they reacted were exasperation and soft amusement, complete with joking handshakes. It clearly wasn’t planned.

Then there are living quarters. Now I am going to bring up not only BJYX but also Zhuliuhai. In the second location aside from Hengdian, BJYX and Zhuliuhai moved into a rumored second hotel. A second hotel that has definite honeymoon vibes and the food can only be found outside of six miles radius while in that said radius are sex shops. So yeah, definitely romantic for a couple who wants privacy. 

VKook definitely shared a room together. They stated outright they were roommates in hotel rooms. Though what's weird about this is that apparently, BTS can't share that these two are roommates when y'know in their vacations they showed who roomed with who. This is basically the same thing as GG trying to remedy a problem instead of playing along with it, completely misunderstanding the situation. 

Now, unlike BJYXSZD whom we know are at least intimate from their Dragon Boat date and the next morning Web's walk of shame and his brightness at Happy Camp filming that his other castmates noticed on-set and just how sexual dirty minded they can be, there are things to explain away. 

BTS are humble and are used to bunking together. Anyone can look up their old dorms pics to see those close quarters. Again, due to two members dating in the same band, then the things the other members do like being comfortable in their heterosexuality and supporting the queer community. Fanservice is encouraged to idols so to anybody else, it would be fanservice that indicates they are bros either way. Two other members wore watches so another two members wearing the five-set of rings could be easily shrugged off. 

When BJYX does fanservice, it comes off as awkward and nervous and only companies promote BJYX without the men's express permission. However, when BJYX and the BTS editors try to underplay their intimacy, it's over-edited and cautious. Seriously, watching the unedited footage makes it clear just how intimate they are. This is played differently with Taekook. Taekook has to hold back on touches for some reason when it's clear they do want to be affectionate to the point they are willing to use the fanservice excuse. The staff and the other members have to work overtime to underplay them. Again why stave off touching when fanservice is a thing? Bighit never actually promotes Taekook the same way they did others and they are fully aware Taekook is immensely popular. Heck, V brought up Taekook in a vlive he did with JK. 

Context is important. That's why I firmly believe in BJYXSZD. To a casual person - and I would know -, XZ and Web come off as close friends. Nothing wrong with that. Before I became a converted BXG, I thought they were just good friends but only when I look at the evidence, it was when I started to believe. Unlike other RPS, this seems to be a lot of people who genuinely believe the romantic inclinations of the evidence and supports the queer couple, willing to be the clown if only to protect and show support. Alongside context, you have to really look at the evidence, a really close look, and make your own judgment. This is why couples and sexualities can be detected by fans who would catch subtle and explicit evidence. For example, the fans of Aaron Yan were completely unsurprised he's queer due to evidence only they know and it's only the dedicated fans who would compile and theorize. Whether or not other fans and non-fans actually believe it is another matter. This is why I'm diving myself into Taekook right after BJYX just so to see if my judgment is correct. Thankfully, my steps into RPS come from the thoughtful analyses of BJYX which would be helpful for my Taekook lookover. Rather than being just an outsider, I am actively participating and making my own judgments whether or not they are a couple or not.   

This is why I am ambivalent about VKook overall since I don't know the context. Moments definitely need answering like that v-live that has a paywall for some reason when in other v-lives we see drunk behavior and eating so why? Why the hell would Bighit and BTS tried to distract after that infamous private convo vlive when they could've just said that it's just a conversation that is best left not for the cameras? I can see why things are questionable and I don't know if things will turn out like BJYXSZD. I still want to understand the Korean language and culture, which is why it took a while to convince me of BJYX because of languages and cultural barriers so I make an effort to understand to make my judgment. Not only that but also the idol and entertainment industry so I can make my opinion without lording over another country. I hate cultural imperialism so I made a damn effort to know things from another culture that also expanded my comprehension. 

As for the marriage, keeping marriages, even symbolic ones, should be easy in Korea, especially for a queer couple. Let's just say they have a private symbolic ceremony since even Chen hid his wedding from the public eye so it should be easy for any idol to hide their marriages, only inviting their closest friends and family. Seriously, as for the cake, I could see them ordering a customized cake with their preferred flavors. Really, it should be easy when they're rich, and having a celebratory cake should be easy to order. Though considering how used they were to eating cheap stuff and humble eateries, I don't think they're used to having money now, even when they bought apartments for themselves. Because sudden fame and money would make one feel discombobulated. 

I do think BJYX considered eloping or having a destination wedding because like Wangxian, they aren't the types to wait too long and probably have no obligation to anyone else's happiness but theirs. XZ may want someone to wait for him but I think even waiting for too long is not going to do it. Probably engaged at this point by the ring - promise ring? engagement ring? - on XZ's necklace that we won't see but many agree it's a ring. In China, it's well-known that the queer community preferred to elope in another country than to wait for gay marriage to come to fruition, probably not wanting to wait any longer than needed whereas the Korean LGBT community are willing to wait till the gay marriage law becomes official thus the symbolic marriages. Much in the same fashion of having no obligation to anyone else's happiness but their own, I can see Vkook doing the same with their ceremony. 

It's much easier for the Korean queers to hide, especially if they wish to be private. Overseas weddings or elopements, especially for celebs, would be discovered relatively easily and won't be able to hide. For the most part. Weddings seemed to be easy for celebs to hide in Korea. 

Like I said before, Asian celebs must gain respect first before coming out to the public. That way they won’t lose future opportunities. We got the time frame of when BJYX could come out at ages 35 and 29. As famous as they are and people still have their eye on them even after CQL ended, it would take a while for them to come out without losing everything. 

As for Vkook, judging by Break Your Silence, moments of vulnerability BTS allowed themselves as well as their songs, I can see the two coming out before disbanding because disbandment seems like it’s inevitable for the group who probably wanted to stay together as long as they wanted to but knew they have to let go voluntarily or not. Sorry for bringing up the sad topic but the point is that I see the boys coming to themselves, showing who they are to the public, and growing into their best selves and that might include disbanding. A part of showing their best and true selves would be coming out and BTS seems to be the type who would throw South Korea to disarray when their songs are already game-changers for Korean music and criticized South Korea for many things through music. So yeah, if any members are coming out with the backing of BigHit, expect it to happen not too soon but in the near future. For them, it’s not only for their emotional well-being but also to spark change as they are famous celebs in positions of power. That I hope they still kept that power because who knows the public homeland and worldwide reaction would be. 

Edit: The group wants to stay together as long as they can so I don't know forward what will happen. Maybe they'll come out years into the future. They are private and together most of the time so that would be harder. They want to change and SK is increasingly conservative when SK got the polls about the young men who are conservative. BTS has a lot of influence and they could push for change in ways. So I guess BTS could move things in ways they hope are positive. Seriously, if any member chose to come out, then I'll watch the world go up in shock while I eat popcorn. It doesn't have to be Taekook. It could be Yoongi or RM. 

Because celebs who come out young have to be subtle like Izone’s Sakura who hasn’t officially come out but hinted at it else she would've been on the open queer idols list by now or made it part of their image like Holland doesn’t have the same popularity. So coming out young in their mid-twenties give or take a couple years when most other celebs won’t come out till their mid-thirties at best is gonna throw things to hell in a handbasket. Really, when most het celebs won’t marry till their thirties, that’s the best time frame I could see Asian celebs coming out without backlash if they have respect backing them. Though that’s not saying much since backlash is going to happen.  

So I guess I have to toast to them for even thinking about this so I will throw back the hardest sake I own just for them when the time comes. Because if they really plan that and the public reaction is visceral, I need a drink while celebrating whatever chaos was made. I mean I already planned to eat Chongqing hotpot on the day BJYX comes out and/or has their wedding so I might celebrate Vkook with chimaek. I need beer for whatever they’re going to do and fried chicken, while not a fave of mine (sorry, Keith!), I can eat it well enough even though fried foods are so far down the list I like to eat though I definitely enjoy popcorn chicken. 

Besides the looks on the faces of gf fans as well as western fans and media alike are gonna be glorious, especially if Jungkook reveals his first love and the man he loves is none other than his ‘brother’ Taehyung whom he fell for nearly at first sight. Shatter those gf y/n dreams, you two! I know V doesn’t like that aspect and did what he could to discourage it but the finishing blow that the two of you are planning a symbolic marriage in the future will destroy those gf dreams forever! This is the same way I see Web with his coming out because he’s in the public eye as a tv host for a popular weekly variety show while XZ might maintain his popularity through his genuine efforts as an actor and singer. Still, Web is a variety show host so he’s gonna shatter those gf dreams! Just like ‘hyung’ though in this case it’s used platonically, Zhan-‘ge’ aka the same gege that Chinese uses for their SO not the one to describe older bro is going to break the minds of gf fans and people who thought of them as close friends ala Uniq and DDU. There is a joke Web is collecting a gege harem. You don’t know how I love queer celebs not just het to smash those fantasies!

Man, why just by chance the RPS I fell into the rabbit hole happened to have love at first sight yet escalating attraction that the people around them and the companies they worked to see it for what it is. And yet done the similar strategies (separation/muting of public interactions for their safety and career yet found a way to explain such a thing to the public who don’t exactly follow or scrutinized everything) but seemingly planned the rest of their lives? Now I am just wanting the hardest liquor in the house for accidentally falling into this rabbit hole and cry that I’m a goner in these fandoms since I feel like I’m going crazy with just discussing the logistics - just thinking of the percentages on the chances makes me cry because I thought I left math behind in college - and my intuition is screaming with emotions going off like fireworks. Thankfully, I entered the thoughtful side of the fandoms because it had been smooth sailing for several months now. 

I will consider more evidence and write more in future posts. I seriously feel like I need to do that just to parse my feelings and thoughts. Maybe I'll write about Zhuliuhai next, who knows since I still need more info about those guys to decide because I'm certainly BJYXSZD. For now, just place Zhuliuhai on the same boat as VKook for now. While BJYX is the most popular CP on Weibo, Zhuliuhai is lowkey so it would be harder to seek out data without getting misinformation and mistranslations. Because that's the thing when international fans don't have the data the original fanbase does. Because Zhuliuhai isn't scrutinized like BJYX and Taekook, things might slip through the edges while the other two have swiftly collected everything just to explain why they are a couple in the place. 

I'm pretty sure now that the reason MTJJ and XFX hate BJYX because they have that info and BXG insiders that were there at the filming kept the most incriminating BTS footage. It's kind of an open secret yet also a secret because well they need to 'protect' their future for now since only if their idol chose to come out in the future because coming out now will not make any future opportunities open to them. I actually haven’t seen either solos making a fuss about excuses for hours now since new incriminating CQL BTS was released from fansites. Maybe BJYXSZD finally defeated homophobia for their solos and the stans at least once and for all. 

I know I have discussed BJYX at length but I do have to comment on Zhuliuhai. I haven't seen enough to seriously consider the possibility. But if they are a real couple, then the CQL production team and MXTX had not only helped one couple to get together but two couples, queer to boot. The stars aligned for XZ and Web, so maybe they are also laid for Zhuliuhai. Maybe. 

I seriously wondered if XZ sent thank you gift baskets to MXTX and CQL producers with his homemade baked goods. Because I would if they were part of the reason I met the love of my life. Seriously, starring in the Bachelor franchise and actually finding love can happen if relatively low-ish. But the point is they are part of the reason why I even met the love of my life and I would want to thank them. Look, even if they met before as in the case of BJYX who met up in DDU, the very show that only a year prior Web became the youngest host of, meaning Web and XZ have to also be grateful to whoever suggested XNine comes to DDU. Again, fate is looking out for these two and I wish them all the happiness in the world. 

Yes, it's funny that CQL and MXTX would be responsible for two queer couples who found the love of their lives in each other and I'm pretty sure MXTX and the MDZS fandom would have fun faces to look at when BJYX comes out in the future. Especially the fandom who will realize that romance on the set situation did happen and that the fans aren't delusional.

Okay, so I may have said about two couples. Again, I don't know enough about Zhuliuhai to judge for myself. I can judge for myself about BJYX and Taekook for the massively compiled info from the Tumblr blogs who followed the two stars and their relationship. When I don't have all the info that isn't misinterpreted and obviously misinformation - fake rumors that stands as rumors only, cultural notes, etc. I am open to the possibility of Taekook being an actual couple just as I am open to the possibility Sehun and Suho are gay and bi. I just want to wait for now until I jump into the pool via diving board over something that really tipped me over. Because there were many things that tipped me over little by little but it was the new BTS that truly pushed me over the edge like really pushed me. So you can say I am on the diving board, for now, not the ladder, but the actual board, slowly moving when I see real evidence that cannot be explained in either a heterosexual manner or explained cultural meaning that has meaning. Because cultural meaning is important and it will help in exploring how the LGBT community is in the country. 

Again, I know people dismiss queer couples that have so much evidence of being a couple because of homophobia and the belief of fanservice among bros but mostly homophobia. They would rather believe bros than lovers. However, they didn't consider that being friends, best friends is a great foundation for any romantic relationship. But at the same time, being best friends doesn't necessitate being in a romantic relationship. I don't expect my cousin to get together with her best friend besides that they're straight. The Take explained this well with the Monica/Chandler relationship dynamic comparing it to Rachel/Joey, as two sets of best friends but one found the transition to a romance who worked for that romance. 

I think people forget the couples do treat each other like best friends.