Alright. My love for BTS is a secret by no means. If you didn’t know though…I am absolutely enthralled in everything that is the top global 7 member k-pop group-BTS!
For Context: Earlier this year, it was announced that BTS would be doing a collaboration with Webtoon– one of the most popular graphic comic website/app in the bizz right now. It was January 14, 2022 that the first episode, “The Prologue”, was published, yet somehow I still have not given myself the opportunity to read it. It’s now March 31,2022. I will admit that I am no avid comic reader, and I only started because of BTS; however, three months later I am seeing what this comic has to offer.
The Webtoon comic is titled 7Fates: Chako and is loosely based of the 7 BTS members. I’m going to be focusing on the first three episodes, including the prologue, to focus on what the comic has been initially giving as I have started it off.
Warning –Spoilers Ahead– Warning
Right off the bat the reader is thrown into an action scene. It is a vivid moment which I assume is introducing the audience to the main 7 people. There is little dialogue in this action scene which could have easily left the reader extremely confused as to where/who/what is even going on, but this isn’t the case. This strategy actually works for a number of reasons.
For starters, since there are such few words written, each word passing becomes vital. The writing team knew an immediate fight scene could be overwhelming with 7 new characters being introduced all at the same time, so a third person narrator gave a very broad description of the story as the main protagonist and antagonist groups were introduced– the Chako team and the Beom monsters.
The delivery can be compared to a microfiction. Like in a microfiction, one wants to say the most with the least amount of words. This is exactly what they did while giving the reader enough information to be interested but not overwhelmed.
After this, the story dives into what seems to be a few moments in the past before the intense prologue scene. The story continues to unfold by jumping back and forth through time. The actual characters aren’t time traveling, but the story is being told by flashbacks and flashforwards. Now, this is exciting and keeps suspense from one transition to another and all, but I am afraid it can be just slightly confusing at times. Luckily so far, when a transition happens, it will begin with two seconds of the scene from where the reader previously left off.
I’m not saying shifts through time are a bad way of telling a story at all, especially because the main character keeps recalling lost memories about his past in this story. For some reason though, the flashes through time do not feel like smooth transitions to me. It’s almost giving me reader’s whiplash. I hate to say any negative critiques about anything associated with BTS, but this couldn’t be a truthful review without me mentioning this.
Other than that, through the first three episodes I am having no major negative feelings that would cause me to cease interest. Granted I may be a little biased 😉 I feel like so much and not much has happened already, and I am not sure if that is a good thing or not. I’ll leave that up to your own judgement.
But yeah! This is a fun story that is outside my usual reading zones, and I am glad BTS were the ones to help me explore other horizons of story telling. If you want to see what I’ve been clamoring on about for an entire blog post check out WEBTOON and search for 7FATES: CHAKO for the weekly updated series. Hopefully you won’t be disappointed. I haven’t been so far Thank you so much and have a great day ♥
Hey. >.< This week I’m not going to bombard you with another rant or tell you to go out and try something. I have been kinda stressed lately, not gonna lie. Maybe you have to?
When I do get really stressed, and I mean the apex of like maximum stress level I have to walk away physically and/or mentally. Schoolwork has sent me to that place recently, so I figured maybe I could provide a short story I have recently revised to give you that well-needed distraction or just a time-passer.
It is a short little gay story about a couple facing their hardships and becoming united through the complexities of IKEA. Hopefully you enjoy it? If not I also provided a video afterward that might also pique your interest… 😉
Trouble in Ikea
As Kennerlocked the door to an empty apartment, Ringot into the passenger seat of their 2013 Jeep Wrangler. Kenner lifted his way into the vehicle and looked over at Rinwith a smile. He was too distracted to notice however, so Kenner began the trip. There was little discussion between the couple besides light chitchat. This was simply how it had been. Kenner even shivered at one point, noticing the cooler atmosphere inside the vehicle, and after a while, the young couple arrived at the Swedish furniture store early on a Saturday morning.
“Have you ever been here?”
“No, have you?” Rin inquired.
“No.”
They walked into astonishment,for, the store was setup as a maze with shortcuts and all. Both of them were as confused as the time they were forced to go to Home Depot. with their lesbian friend, Gale.
“Okay, well, I guess we just start at section one and go from there,” Kenner said.
The store was spiraled within itself. To a novice, of the store, it may be compared to anaccordion knot.This place could even parallel with a void of confusion for the couple, if they were not careful.They did not focus on the matter, however, and would go onto spotlight objects that piqued interest within themselves.
Kenner immediately noticed something that would look great in the living room against the harsh brick wall.
“What do you think about those?”
“Track lighting? Your mother would hate those. Besides, the kitchen has enough lighting.”
“Well it is our apartment. She can say what she wants. Besides, these would go in the living room, obviously,” Kenner remarked with a raise of his eyebrows.
Rin quietly added, “Oh…okay.”
With a sigh Kenner replied, “Thank you.”
The couple kept perusing Ikea for anything that might add a touch of fabulous to their new apartment. Kenner,naturally,pushed the shopping cart section across section, not that he minded. Rin roamed along, occasionally veering off to closer inspect an item thatriveted his curiosity.
“Kenner, what about these little glass snakes? I am sure your mom could find these nice.”
“And why would she?” Kenner asked while looking directly into Rin’s eyes.
The tension caused Rin to shift his gaze to another part of the room whilst replying, “I don’t know.”
Kenner plainly sighed and the two continued their search for anything they didn’t know they needed. The store kept turning and twisting the couple into many “rooms,” like a labyrinth disorientating its on-goers.
“You know, I actually love the way this place is set up. Sweden really knows what’s up,” Kennerremarked.
“Makes me wonder what the gay scene is like in Sweden,” Rin added.
“I’m sure you would, Rin.”
Rin crossed his arms as his cheeks rose to a pink tint. Silently, he proceeded walking. The couple continued their reticent journey. One would point to an object and the other would give a simple shake of the head to indicate their response. It kept on like this for quite some time. The occasional statement piece may, however, receive a sentence or two of discussion.
“Now, this rose painting is incredible. I mean, Kenner, this has to be perfect for our bedroom. The way the thorns are so detailed and highlighted. All those Fire Island gays are going to eat this up and you know it,”Rinunder a lower breath, while trailing off, added, “also oddly enough my high school art teacher.”
Agitatedly, “Rin, why would they need to be worried about our bedroom?”
Rin raises his hand to facepalm for a moment, but quickly lowers in attempts to avoid escalating the situation, “I just meant it would look good there. That’s all,Kenner.”
“Okay, besides, I don’t like how the thorns are so gruesome with the heart in the picture. I- I do not want that in our bedroom. Okay?”
“Okay. No, I get it. It’s fine. No heart and thorns. Gotcha.”
Kenner looked away as he asked, “Rin, maybe we could each find some stuff and then reconvene.”
“Well actually-” Rin was not able to finish his statement before Kenner had walked away through a shortcut. The only problem was Rin had no clue how the store was mapped, so he was now lost in a foreign land of Swedish furniture. So lost, he did not even realize until a few moments after that Kenner had taken the shopping cart as well. This was all new to him.
Rin tried to actually find something, or at least figure out how to get through the store.
“Okay, well, I am at,” he motioned his head up to the map. “Kitchen?” Rin looked around and saw silverware which confirmed hiscurrent ideology,“Right.”
“These bowls sure are…bowl shaped, and these spoons sure are…nice?”
“I could help you find a good spoon if you needed one.” Rin was shocked as a man had approached him from behind, and it was not Kenner’s voice. Without haste, Rin flipped around to see who it was, but wait.Was he the one from the new gay dating app,Cumall, he had seenearlier?Rinpondered as he looked down at the man’s pants, examining, and then moving his gaze back up. Oh my god, he was.
This man continued while following with his eyes where Rin’s eyes had trailed down to, “You remember me, don’t you?” The man leaned over to whisper in Rin’s ear bluntly, “You know it’s even bigger in person.”
Rin blushed as the heat of the breath on his eartold the brain to tughis yearning and he had tofight it. Henodded no while replaying internally, I can’t do this to Ken. I can’t do this to Ken.
“Sorry, but I am here with someone. Thanks for the spoon offer though.” Rinsaid attempting to escape the situation. He could not move his body or stare from this man. His mind clashing with his selfish desires into a perilous war of morality.
In a deeper voice Kenner didn’t quite have, the enigma-of-a-man replied,” Are you sure?” He looked around and leaned in ever so slightly to Rin and continued, “Like, really sure?”
Rin could smell the prominent masculinity wafting from the unknown man. Close, oh so close– close enough for a foolish mistake to be performed. So close, the unattainable trust of Kenner would now become even further irreconcilable. So close now, desire may deem itself free and rampantly ensue all its motives.
“Are you kidding me?”
A squeaky voice called from behind Rin, and he knew to frantically push this mystery hunk away from him. He turned around with god speed.
“Kenner, this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Not what it looks like?”
“Yeah!”
“Well what should it look like then Rin?”
“I-I told him no.”
“Oh, so no, now, still allows getting two inches apart and eye raping people.”
“I swear Ken-I am sorry-he came onto me.”
“Yeah, you’ve said that before haven’t you Rin?”
As a couple tears escaped Kenner’s eyes, Rin gawked back with his hand covering his mouth, with not even the faintest clue how to reply.
The man who had been pushed away spoke nervously, “He’s right. I mean I did come onto him.”
“Get out of here!” Kenner and Rin unanimously yelled in reply.
Kenner continued through clenched jaws,“Rin, you too.”
Rin attempted to near Kenner but was struck with a vicious amount of force in return. Falling to the ground backwards Rinlooked up at Kenner speechless.
“You’ve never hurt me before…Ken you promised you would never hurt me after we talked that night on the balcony.”
“I guess I should have made you promise the same then. Foolish of me, wasn’t it?” Kenner released his sigh.
“Ken,” Rin leaned over into the shelf of oriental plates and brought his legs and arms towards himself.He began to outwardly unleash his sorrow, his wails were unheard by Kenner except for one other time. Kennerpaused to watch, and he couldn’t help but see himself. A man who has been hurt. A man who is causing pain to others due to that hurt. They weren’t so different.
“K–Ken, I’m so sorry. You know I never meant to make y-you feel like,” Rin struggled at attempting to vocalize his remorse. His tears were on-flowing. There were even slight convulsions every time he gasped for air through cries, “l-like I felt before. I would never wish that pain!”
Rin relentlessly wailedinto Kenner as he got down on the floor. Kenner told Rin little,I knows,andIt’sokays,all the while contemplating his own belief of the statements,he himself was saying. The couple would need time, and as the couple had learned, pain never enjoyed drifting away quickly. It lingered and festered within unless continually resolved.
Rin lifted his head towards Kenner as they both sat on the ground. Neither knowing whether the tension had dissipated. They simply saw each other. For the first time in a while, they actually saweach other. The air was dry. It was as if the vibes being omitted were strong enough to warn others because not a single worker or customer was around. Finally, Rin handed the spoon he was considering, before events transpired, to Kenner. It was a set of only two large spoons. There was an olive branch indented and colored onto the stem of them. Kenner mildly grinned accepting the spoons and placing them in the cart.
“Ken, I’ll push it.” Jerry offered while sniffing his last sniffles and using his sleeve to clean his face of any remorse.Kenner, slightly shocked, motioned his hands to the cart handle. Rin began pushing the cart around. Before attempting to understand Kenner’s translation of Ikea, Rin went to the Cumall app icon and uninstalled it.The two chuckled when a wrong turn was made and busted into laughter when a collision with another customer transpired. After a while, through a united effort, they made it to checkout, together.
I hope you enjoyed that for whatever reason you may have needed. Whether it was that distraction from busy, busy life or just an interesting time 😛
Also if you have any revision offers feel free to comment them below?
I did promise you a video though… This is one that gives me joy when I’m down. The revolting happiness that has been integrated into the music, lyrics, dances, scenes, and members really rubs off onto the soul.At least, for me.