This dinner was shot pre-White House, but post-Vegas and PROOF LIVE... the timing is important, here.
Koo has just refreshed the JM on his hand. That's important. And we know it is because he gloved it, part of the time. And yet the seating chart has him separated from Jimin and they're still in the golden closet and there are entirely other factors at play which I will elaborate on in my next post. Not right here. BUT. It's not time to worry about the Jeon-Parks, Scout.
They are all DRUNK AS HELL because this is HARD. They all end up in tears because growth is painful, often, and they are young men with lives to lead and they are not breaking up with us, exactly, but they need some space. To grow. To not be BTS all the damn time.
Right now they need to be Namjoon
And Seokjin
And Yoongi
And Hobi
And Jimin
And Taehyung
And Jungkook.
And sometimes that means they can't tell us everything: who they're with, who they love, where they live, what they're doing. Because, they did NOT say but didn't need to, is that their lives have been dangerous and not private enough for too long.
BUT PAY ATTENTION KIDS.
What they are not telling us is that, at the time this was shot, their military service was (maybe is, on today) still up in the air. I'm not sure it will be announced before any of them actually go. Maybe a little bit before, but not much. But I suspect that it's a very good chance Seokjin's papers are already submitted. Possibly others' as well.
What they are telling us is that we can expect a fair bit of solo work and we should plan to pay for it, this time, as we should.
We should not expect a Run BTS performance soon but later on, we can, and also Run! BTS, if they have anything to say about it.
And based on Tae's most recent shot of the other six, posted on Weverse just a little while ago, we have not seen the last of BTS as a group.
It's not time to worry. It might be time to cry, a little bit.
It's time to let them grow, each on their own, so they can come back together.
You know what that means.
FOUR DAYS UNTIL STATESIDE JIKOOKERY COMMENCES KIDS.
I'm kidding, mostly, because ALL the guys will be on the international political stage again, no doubt with diplomatic passports in hand. And this is really our President Kim Namjoon's wheelhouse.
If this means what I think it means, given the timing, it may be a very big credit toward their military service requirements. Which: not a bad thing, given Seokjin's current time crunch for enlistment paperwork.
ALSO WHAT IF JEON JUNGKOOK SHOWS UP LIKE THIS AGAIN SOMEWHERE OMG
I will be posting more on this after I have (a) slept and (2) had a conversation but
The reason we don’t have a tour announcement is because we don’t have a military exemption at this time.
Within a few weeks Seokjin has to submit his intent to enlist paperwork unless BTS’ proposed exemption passes the legislature.
A tour is outlined, planned, ready to drop. The comeback is happening either way. It is almost certain that some dates will be announced at that time- because by June 10 Jin will already have officially put in for enlistment unless a vote goes through in BTS’ favor.
Under the new administration that commences May 10, that seems very uncertain.
And I believe they’ll all go in together if the exemption doesn’t come through.
I’m not surprised we don’t have a VLive after that announcement. How do they talk about total uncertainty without scaring the hell out of a bunch of people whose main worry is whether they’ll speak English or if Jimin will “finally get out of the way” so “Taekook can be together in public”?
I have a whole ass long post partly done on this- Kevin is my Government Go-To Guy and he's been up to his eyeballs the last couple of weeks. But.
I HAVE BEEN TELLING Y'ALL FOR MONTHS.
THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION.
But. Please read the attached link for a clearer idea. Also I am not in love with this particular source but by and large it's accurate as I understand it, so:
The reason they need to get their ass in GEAR is because Seokjin has about a month before he has to submit his intent-to-enlist paperwork. Literally A MONTH. No time like the GOT-DAMN PRESENT to iron all this out.
(Of course if Jin's hand doesn't heal properly he may be unfit for duty, that's a whole other can of political worms I am not currently prepared to deal with given that the man IGNORES A CHAIR)
But seriously. When did I first tell y'all this was how it was gonna be? Last fall sometime? Just because they're copping to it now does not mean this just came up. That deal has been in the works for AGES. Since before the 2021 Grammys. Why you think Jin's like "well I'm letting the company (Hybe) make life decisions for me"?
THE DEAL WAS GET A GRAMMY GET AN EXEMPTION.
AND THE GRAMMYS FUCKED OUR GUYS SIDEWAYS. TWICE.
All we can do now is wait for the Billboard Music Awards and see how the negotiation with the new asshole administration works out, but it's gonna be a very close call on that deadline for Jin. And Yoongi right behind him.
And some of y'all *coughtkkerscough* are more worried about who rides in what car. AHEM.