My Favorite Things

Zoey: Bonjour. Le growl

Rumi: I like to clarify that my stomach growled in french class. My mistake

Mira: It's too late

Bobby: She's too far gone now

"I'm serious, Bobby. I'm covered in the same patterns as a demon. I'm half demon. Doesn't that freak you out?" "... No? You've never been anything but good to me — and to your fans." At her stare, he starts up some particularly animated hand gestures. "Alright, so demons being real is going to haunt my nightmares for a little while. But just because you're a tiny bit different and you have your own unique problems — that doesn't change anything! And why should it?"  She should have never questioned that Bobby would say anything less, and yet the disbelief is palpable. He's rendered her speechless for a moment, because she had anticipated literally any other scenario but this. These dramatic moments where a friend comes along and happily embraces the person she was born as? They were silly little daydreams when she was eight or nine, just before reality backhanded her with the need for secrecy. "Have you ever tried to hurt someone?" Bobby asks. "Other than the demons trying to eat people." That's a complicated question, but she knows it's not meant to be. Sometimes she feels like she's hurting Zoey or Mira when she leaves them in the dark. When she was little, there were times when she'd see Celine sitting and staring at a photo of her mother — and she'd wonder if she was hurting her through an unspoken obligation. Eventually, she relents. "No." And Bobby smiles, despite everything. Facing him, it's like two people born in different universes. "H'oookay, then what's the fuss? You're still one of my girls." As he places a hand on her shoulder, she can only look away, struggling with the large lump in her throat. As he studies her face, he holds her hands up toward her gaze, as if asking her to reconsider. "Maybe the Honmoon didn't fix you because there's nothing to fix. You're part demon because you were born that way, and... maybe there's nothing actually wrong with that."

Celine knew she got lucky with being a hunter, that she was always "naturally feminine" and that her mentors had good connections to the industry that could wipe any knowledge of her being "born a man", even if she had been a girl since the moment she could tell the difference between boys and girls.

Bobby who was part of a "girl" group in his teens, who was the resident "girlcrush tomboy" of the group, who wanted NOTHING more than to be himself but couldn't. Not if he wanted a good life, if he wanted his spot in the industry to remain intact.

Celine who found Bobby young and miserable, who instantly could see the truth even if Bobby was too scared too say anything, and helped him after he left the group, getting him a spot as a manager and funding his transition.

Bobby who learned by Celine how to love himself and come to a point where he no longer experiences dysphoria, where he's so happy and proud of himself.

Them both subtlety fighting for queer rights in the idol scene, letting their girls and anyone else under their lable be safe. Letting Rumi be open about being bi, helping Mira transition by all means she wanted, helping Zoey figure herself out and squash any news about her being queer because she doesn't wanna come out and that's her right.

He is the son of a single mother, who saw Celine being treated so badly by the media and saw his own mum in her, everything the media said about her was something he’d already heard a thousand times over. So he decides that he could be better than the media who was so quick to disparage Celine. He gets into managing idol groups, small ones at first, but he’s quickly given the ones with scandals.

It’s his choice to go after misogyny rather than one of his idols that makes Celine aware of him. She may have been ousted, but she still has contacts in SLE. Contacts shes all too willing to use for her daughter’s sake. Bobby gets the job of managing an up and coming K-Pop girl group, protégés of the two Sunlight Sisters.

He’s the first one to be made aware of Rumis upbringing, because he sympathises with Rumis discomfort around the SLS. She breaks down one night, asks him why he’s so nice to her- the bastard child of a whore mother. Bobby tells her that they’re the same, and Rumi begins to trust him. Eventually, she tells him about her mother, and he picks his side.

He trains Rumi in the art of the spin, how to flip interviewers questions on their heads by making obvious their personal bigotry. Bobby is a prodigy in media training, and Rumi is his magnum opus. They work together to raise awareness for the difficulties single mothers face, beginning the long process to repair Celines reputation. No one but them can see what they’re doing.

Imagine Rumi, so angry at the way her mother was treated, turning herself into the media’s darling. Making it so that if Huntr/x or the SLS ever turned on her, they’d be the ones attacked the worst. Bobby protecting her, helping her change the publics perception with each game show and signing. He loves his girls, he never wants to see them fall. But Rumi is different, she’s his reflection.

King Bobby, give him a crown. 😔.

Industry question, questions about her family, about being the successors to the Sunlight Sisters all ending up sliding into a conversation about misogyny in the industry and society (because industry reflects society and idols are nothing without the fans).

Initially I was going to post about what I think Huntr/x's birthdays are and how it's actually pretty symbolic but I've been getting questions about hochingeo (호칭어) and hogyeok josa (호격 조사) lately so I guess I have to fast-track this one instead (for the anons and non-anons, don't take this too seriously, I like answering your questions (about Huntr/x and other characters in kpdh, please don't ask anything personal, I'd rather keep my privacy) so please feel free to keep them going).

Glossary

-ya (-야) – added to the end of the names that end in vowels, when addressing a person younger than you [Ex: Minji-ya, Jisoo-ya]

-ah (-아) – added to the end of the names ending in consonants, when addressing a person younger than you [Ex: Soyeon-ah or Hyejin-ah]

-ie (-이) - added to the end of the names also ending in consonant but cuter, when addressing a person younger than you [Ex: Hyejin-ie]

Unnie (-언니) – added to the end of the name when addressing a woman older than you that you are intimately familiar with it but still from around the same generation as you, think older sister or a female friend who is 1-2 years older than you, this is only used by female speakers [Ex: Joohyun-unnie]

Oppa (-오빠) – added to the end of the name when addressing a man older than you that you are intimately familiar with it but still from around the same generation as you, think older brother or a male friend who is 1-2 years older than you, this is only used by female speakers [Ex: Baekhyun-oppa]

Imo (-이모) - added to the end of the name when addressing an older woman around your parents age like a biological maternal aunt, mother's friend, or friend's mother (imonim (이모님) is used for extra respect)

Maenijonim (-매니저님) – added to the end of the name when addressing a manager (this word is specifically referring to managers in the entertainment industry).

Seonsaengnim (-선생님) – added to the end of the name when addressing a teacher, instructor or mentor or experts who can teach their craft.

Update: Some additions to the glossary because somehow my buzzed self forgot to add these last night:

-ssi (씨) – is the polite but neutral form of address added to the end of the name who you have a formal but somewhat equal relationship with.

-nim (님) – is the more respectful and deferential honorific added to the end of the names of people who are authority figures, clients/customers, etc.

(Example: if Park Jihyo is a colleague, you'd refer to her as Jihyo-ssi or Park Jihyo-ssi; but if Park Jihyo is the head of your department, then she would be Park-bujangnim)

Rumi

Mira: Despite being at constant odds with Rumi throughout the film, Mira ultimately cares about and worries for Rumi, and does respect her as a leader, she only starts to question and fight with Rumi when Rumi starts becoming secretive and unpredictable. So I do think Mira would refer to Rumi as Rumi-unnie or just Unnie since Rumi is, socially (different calendar year and Korean age), considered older than Mira despite only technically being 6 months apart, but would call her Rumi-ssi in professional settings like TV shows they're in, radio broadcasts, etc.

Zoey: Zoey definitely calls Rumi unnie since Rumi is a year older than her and Zoey often looks to Rumi and Mira for directions. Also call Rumi, Rumi-ssi in professional settings.

Bobby: Bobby loves his girls and is very affectionate with them so he definitely calls her "Rumi-ya" but when in a professional setting, he might refer to her as "Rumi-nim" for formality sake.

Celine: Rumi is Celine's child in all but blood so to her, even when distance grows in age, Rumi will always be "Rumi-ya" to Celine.

Mira

Rumi: This is relatively straightforward, since Mira is 6 months younger than her and they're very close, Rumi would call her "Mira" and "Mira-ya" in casual settings, and Mira-ssi in professional settings.

Zoey: Zoey would also call Mira, Unnie, because Mira is older than her, and also refer to Mira as Mira-ssi in professional settings.

Bobby: She would be Mira-ya and Mira to him, but Mira-nim in professional settings.

Celine: Although they don't have the closest as Celine does with Rumi, Celine would still refer to Mira as Mira-ya since that's just how kids are addressed by adults including students by their teachers. In the beginning of Huntr/x's training, Celine might've refered to Mira with a more formal and polite "Mira-ssi" since they weren't close with each other just yet.

Zoey

(look at my baby being so cute, I love her)

Rumi & Mira: Zoey is the beloved maknae so of course, Rumi and Mira would refer to her as Zoey-ya, but in formal settings, call her Zoey-ssi.

Bobby: Also refer to Zoey as Zoey-ya because again, Bobby loves his girls and is affectionate to them, and Zoey-nim in a professional situation.

Celine: Like Mira, although they don't have the kinship Celine has with Rumi, she would still call Zoey, Zoey-ya, but might've addressed her as "Zoey-ssi" in the beginning of their relationship.

Bobby

Rumi, Mira & Zoey: He is their Oppa! Their Bobby-oppa! But maenijonim when they have to be professionals.

Celine: Would definitely be formal than the girls and call him maenijonim for important conversations about HUNTR/X, and maybe Bobby or Bobby-nim in more informal situations.

Celine

The whole reason that prompted me on making this post was when the first time I watched this movie, I got slapped in the face when the girls just call her "Celine". Like, what? I can forgive this if it was just the US dub - different culture, different customs (even though I don't particularly understand it. I feel like I'm basically cursing an older person if I call them just by theiir given name), but it's also in the Korean dub so here we are.

Rumi: I was weighing between whether Rumi would've called Celine eomma (엄마/mom) or imo, but I have a feeling Celine would have Rumi call her Celine-imo or just imo because she doesn't want to replace Miyeong.

Mira & Zoey: We don't know how exactly close Mira and Zoey are to Celine but we do know they can casually mock her but also fear her a little bit. I'm very much leaning towards "Seonsaengnim" since they met Celine as trainees and learned from her.

Bobby: How Bobby addresses Celine really depends on what Celine's position is in HUNTR/X's label, but miight call her Celine-nim in informal settings.

But I'm not sure what I should have her do for Bobby. The only things I can think of so far would definitely lean more into what she says to him, like telling him "I trust you %110 to take care of my girls," which is exactly what I don't want. The whole theme of this fic is the phrase "actions speak louder than words."

This man is literally the mediator of so many heated conversations, the messenger for so many tense discussions, and has the negotiation skills of an international ambassador trying to prevent nuclear war. This man gets paid well, but it's not nearly enough for the delicate balance he is maintaining every second of every day. He's like that poor kid who gets used by their parents to relay passive aggressive messages during fights. He and Zoey probably have a text thread sharing similar experiences...

Anyway, just a thought. Enjoy. (Abandons angst in your lap like a birthday gift nobody ever wants to receive and nonchalantly walks away like I've done my good deed for the day)

“CELINE WAIT- They’re just screwing with me!”

“Not yet ;]”

“SHUT UP MIRA”

LMAO yeah HAHSHSHAHAHAHAH and celine isnt even fazed one bit. she's used to it by now 🥹

also broooo i literally have this in my drafts 😭