Chapter Text
Play.
FADE IN:
INT. HAI CHAU DISTRICT MARKET – MORNING
In the heart of a covered market, shoppers rush along, purchasing durians and bargaining for colorful cloths. The customer interactions are happy and lively.
CUT TO:
EXT. CITY STREETS LINING WATERFRONT – MORNING
A motor bike whizzes past, the rider’s shadow stretching towards the Han River. Behind the rider, motorized basket boats rev away from shore, rejuvenated and ready to start another long, hot workday.
The motor bike moves farther into the distance, more clearly exposing the river.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. THE HAN RIVER FLOWING INTO DA NANG PORT – MORNING
The arches of Dragon Bridge glimmer in the morning light, it’s golden paint reflecting the sun’s rising rays. Steam jets out from the metal dragon’s nostrils, and passerbys down below clap in awe.
Past the steam, larger cargo ships drift in an estuary, waiting to leave the Han River or seize a spot at an unoccupied berth.
CUT TO:
EXT. SON TRA (MONKEY) MOUNTAIN PENINSULA – MORNING
Swooping around the large hulls reveals the lush, mountainous peninsula, and the pristine, white beaches that encircle this national park’s jungle.
A seabird gently glides the expanse of the shore, before diving away from the private cove of Seascape Resort and towards the dancing waves of the South China Sea.
The sand sparkles below.
JUMP CUT TO:
JEONG DONG-HYUN, host of Idol Play: Travel Edition, smiles boyishly. With his windblown dark locks and Hawaiian shirt, he seems perfectly in his element. He splays out his hand, the beach and Seascape Resort in the background.
JEONG DONG-HYUN
Welcome to Da Nang, one of Vietnam’s most vibrant
cities. Home to striking landscapes, mouthwatering
cuisine, and pristine beaches, for the next week this
metropolis will also be home to some of your favorite idols.
That’s right, I’m you’re host, Jeong Donghyun, though
you can call me DJ, and this is Idol Play: Travel Edition.
Over the next seven days, five K-Pop groups will travel Vietnam,
experiencing the unique culture while completing challenges.
Caught by our hardworking camera crew and the hundreds of
cameras placed throughout the hotel’s grounds, you’ll watch
your favorite idols laugh, cry, and play their way to victory. In
the end, only one group will take the crown. So come, explore
Vietnam with me as we search for Korea’s. Top. Idols.
*****
“We are now beginning our descent into Da Nang International Airport. For your safety, the ‘fasten seatbelts’ light has been turned on. If standing, please return to your seat. And, from the whole crew to you, thank you for flying Korean Air.” The intercom above crackles for a moment, its message signaling the graceful flight attendants to clear the aisle, even as the plane wobbles from turbulence.
A grin blooms across Jeongguk’s face.
He leans forward, hoping to get a good view from out the window, but Taehyung’s heavy head keeps him from shifting enough.
Wrinkling his nose, Jeongguk fights an inner battle between waking his hyung or letting the elder rest. Eventually though, the thought of missing such a view, especially with his camera in hand, outweighs the dreamy sleep Taehyung is getting.
Plus, Jeongguk hasn’t felt his left arm for at least an hour.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Taehyung reach up to bite on his nails while simultaneously mumbling something about buying meat. Jeongguk lifts a hand of his own, but unlike earlier, when he would pry Taehyung’s digits away from his teeth, his fingers move up, past Taehyung’s lips, to clamp around his nose.
Jeongguk can’t hold back his snickers as his hyung sputters, hands flailing. His eyes snap open, and past the tired haze, he manages to glare Jeongguk’s way.
“Plane’s ‘bout to land,” is all Jeongguk mutters, too focused on bodily leaning over the now conscious elder so that he can smoosh his camera up against the windowpane. The plane hits another air bump, and though the camera shakes, much to Jeongguk’s dismay, the little tickle in his tummy makes the turbulence worth it.
The still drowsy singer groans beneath his weight.
“Jungkook-ah, can you—” another bump, and Jeongguk is now all but crushing the lankier of the two. He feels more than hears the air being pushed out of Taehyung’s lungs.
Biting his lip, Jeongguk keeps his camera pointed at the bay below for a few more fleeting seconds, and then begins to gather himself. However, he halts when Taehyung’s long fingers land on his side.
His hyung’s low, scratchy voice echoes in his ear. “Where you going, Jungkookie? You seemed happy to crush me a minute ago.” Then the fingers on his side start to wiggle.
Now usually Jeongguk would be able to handle the offending digits. He would press his lips together and ride it out, only to get his hyung back in the future. However, right now the younger is in a rather awkward position, and he can’t fight back for risk of dropping his camera. Still, he thinks his competitive nature can win out.
It’s the shaking of the plane as it descends towards the runway that pushes Jeongguk past his breaking point, his tummy tickling from both inside and out.
Warm laughter bursts past his lips and rings down the aisle.
Jeongguk wants to stop. He doesn’t want to disturb the other passengers or draw attention to himself as he squirms around on his hyung’s lap, seatbelt digging into his waist. He doesn’t want to look so foolish in front of the pretty flight attendant, who can surely see his flailing feet from her seat at the front of the cabin. But here he is, futilely stiff between his hyung’s practiced hands and eighty-five centimeters of legroom, the only thing keeping him from getting stuck in the canyon of backpacks below being the very same seatbelt trying to chop him in half.
“Hyung!” He pleads, attempting to elbow his attacker in the side.
The seatbelt light ‘dings’ above, indicating their arrival at the gate.
With that in mind, Taehyung begins to slow his wiggling to a light tapping. Letting out a shaky sigh, Jeongguk moves to sit up, only to hear the unsnapping of a seatbelt, and feel all of his support slipping away. The next thing he knows, he’s sandwiched face first on the floor, nose flattened against Taehyung’s feet, and Yoongi’s voice is growling from above, like a vengeful angel.
“You know, some of us were trying to sleep throughout the whole flight. The world doesn’t revolve around your guys’ childish antics.”
“Sorry, Yoongi-hyung,” Taehyung regretfully mutters.
Jeongguk would say something too – if he could breathe that is – but he is kind of dying, stuck there on the floor, suffocating because of Taehyung’s feet and Yoongi’s harsh, post-nap tone.
Eventually, he frees himself, and as he exits the plane, he bows to the flight crew. Even with his face mask and hat now in place, Jeongguk can’t help but shield his eyes with one hand, hoping that the pretty flight attendant will forget this ever happened. Stuff like this has to be a common occurrence, right? Just another day trapped on a flying metal death box, traveling the world.
If attendants got to move around more often, Jeongguk thinks it might not be a half-bad life.
Still, being a famous idol is definitely better; he is in a position people would literally kill for. And he gets to travel the world, all for the purpose of singing to his heart’s content. He even gets to fly to Vietnam for a week to be part of a show.
A show that lots of people will end up watching. A show that Namjoon had told them was important to their image.
'Be authentic,’ he said. But also, ‘be smart.’
And Jeongguk had just gotten stuck between airplane seats before even touching foot in Vietnam.
Great. Always living up to the title ‘Golden Makane’.
Unexpectedly, an arm slings itself around Jeongguk’s shoulders, dragging him down. It’s only then that he realizes they are halfway through customs. Jimin is mischievously peeking his way, voice dripping like honey.
“So, Jungkookie, how was sleeping next to TaeTae? Our last plane flight he kept kicking me in the shin and making noises like a drowning buffalo. You know how many times I had to assure the flight attendant he wasn’t dying prematurely?!”
“Yeah?” Taehyung challenges, slight pout to his voice. “Well last time you slept next to me you kept grabbing me like a koala. You know how badly I had to get up and pee? But you had been complaining about how tired you were, and so I, being the mature one, let you and your weirdly muscled arms squeeze me to death!”
At that comment, Jimin’s arm slides off of Jeongguk in favor of flexing in front of Taehyung.
“You’re right, I guess I am pretty buff.” He sighs dramatically. “Really, it’s a curse.”
Jeongguk joins in. “But, Jimin-hyung, who was it that won the last arm-wrestling contest we had?” Suppressing a grin, he watches Jimin lower his arm, and spin on his heel to glare a Jeongguk. His face is scrunched up in the very opposite of intimidation, especially with the cute kitty whiskers mask on.
“Why you little—”
“Next,” the custom officer calls, and Jeongguk is all but skipping away from a snarling Jimin being consoled by Taehyung. “Don’t worry, Jiminie. Because of your smaller height, you’re probably proportionally stronger than Jungkook-ah.”
Jimin slaps Taehyung on the bicep.
Easily sliding through customs with only a couple awkward hand motions and no words exchanged, Jeongguk hurries to catch up with his hyungs at baggage claim, leaving Hoseok to bring up the rear. Why his hyungs didn’t think the Makane Line could be left alone together, he still doesn’t understand.
In the distance, he sees the eldest members pulling luggage off of baggage claim and slows his hurry to a tiptoe. Quietly, he sneaks up behind Seokjin’s broad shoulders, tapping him on the right one before ducking left.
“Hey, Jin-hyung!” he calls, a little too loudly for the proximity between them. He doesn’t miss the way the eldest’s eyes blow comically wide. He also doesn’t miss the way Yoongi flinches as he dips down to grab his suitcase.
Seokjin’s hand flies over his heart. “JK! What are you trying to do?”
“Sorry, Hyung. I’ll be more careful next time. I wouldn’t want to cause you a heart attack in your old age.”
“Do you see this, Yoongi-yah? Do you see how he bullies me? I’m a victim, you hear? An innocent victim whose only sin was being born too beautiful for this world!”
Yoongi sighs, blatantly done with the both of them. He grabs his bag, lifts the lever handle on his suitcase, and starts plodding towards Hoseok’s approaching form.
Jeongguk bites his bottom lip. Better to distract himself by removing more bags from the carousel. He reaches down for a Louis Vuitton suitcase that he’s ninety-nine percent sure is Taehyung’s. Why his hyung loves fancy brands like this, he never totally gets. It just looks like a normal suitcase. It’s not even a cool color.
Not to say that Jeongguk doesn’t buy nice stuff – it’s basically a must with all the appearances they make – but seriously, why a four-ish million won cow on wheels?
He hands the suitcase off.
“Hey, Hyung. Where’s Namjoon-hyung?”
“How should I know?” Taehyung distractedly replies, busy showing Jimin something on his phone, at the same time as Seokjin says:
“He’s over talking to security and the crew that’s come to pick us up from the airport. Recording for the show doesn’t start until we make it to the hotel, but they are going to tell us some preliminary stuff in the car. Speaking of which,” he turns to face all five members, “I don’t want to hear anyone complain about getting information repeated to you multiple times. Some of you don’t listen half the time anyway.” Seokjin’s eyes lock on to all three members of the Makane Line, and Jeongguk ducks his head.
He knows he’s been goofing around a lot over the last couple days, but that’s because he’s really nervous. Even after being on so many shows and having so much of his life revealed to complete strangers, who hang posters of his face in their rooms and post videos about him on YouTube, he still can never be completely comfortable in the spotlight.
So, sometimes, he hides behind his hyungs. And sometimes, he… overcompensates.
He knows his actions stress the other members out occasionally, and he wishes more than anything that he could stop it, but sometimes, caught up in the moment, he forgets.
“W-well, at least Namjoon-hyung remembered his passport this time.” It’s enough to make Seokjin chuckle, and then the group is on the move. Jeongguk takes his suitcase as well as one of Namjoon’s bags – one less thing for Seokjin to carry – and silently migrates to Yoongi’s flank.
The rapper doesn’t glance his way, but doesn’t step closer to Hoseok either, which is basically just normal Yoongi, so Jeongguk counts it as a win. He can’t hold anything against the elder either – though really, Jeongguk wouldn’t have been so loud if Taehyung hadn’t started to tickle him in the first place – because Yoongi had been working in the studio well into last night, riding a wave of inspiration right before the trip took them from their work. He knew the elder was worn-out.
They hand their luggage to a driver, bow politely, and systematically scramble into the van. Jeongguk slumps in relief and pulls down his mask.
“Hello, BTS. My name is Park Hyunjae, and I am so pleased that you all agreed to take time out of your busy schedules to join us for this humble show.” The woman in the front passenger’s seat adds something in Vietnamese to the driver before turning to face them from around the seatback. She cards away a strand of ash-colored hair.
“I am one of the assistant directors for Idol Play and wanted to come greet you personally.”
They all give a tiny bow from their seated positions.
“Thank you so much for meeting us, Park Hyunjae-ssi. We are honored to be guests on your show. I cannot imagine the amount of effort it must have taken to organize a large project such as this. We are all thrilled.” And like always, Jeongguk is dazed by how well Namjoon can speak to a new face, his eyes twinkling and dimple showing.
Hyunjae seems just as enthralled, if the way her smile grows twice as large is any indication.
“I’m glad to hear that. Now,” a stack of papers shuffles in her lap, “I know you all probably just want to relax and enjoy the sights, but there are a few things I must address immediately.”
“We’re all ears,” Namjoon avows, even as Jeongguk does indeed find his attention being drawn to the city streets.
“Perfect. So, as soon as these car doors open, filming will begin. Keep in mind, the next seven days, starting today, will all be prerecorded, edited, and released on a weekly basis, launching in June. That means a day will be condensed into an episode, so most things caught on camera will not make the final cut.” The papers shuffle a little more vigorously. “However, in accordance to the contracts signed by your persons and your representatives at Big Hit Entertainment, all footage collected officially by our cameras, provided or otherwise, is permissible for public release, or for usage in any of our future private ventures.”
She pauses, not continuing until every member has nodded their head in understanding. Now that Jeongguk thinks about it, he does vaguely recall signing something along those lines.
“Two of the four other groups have already arrived and are currently settling in and exploring the hotel grounds, to which you will be provided a map.” Out of nowhere, maps are being distributed throughout the van, along with room keys.
“Those keys allow you access to your bungalow, one per group, as well as the many amenities at the resort. I cannot guarantee how much time you’ll have to enjoy them, however.”
Jeongguk twirls the key on his finger, watching it catch the daylight. When he zones back in, it’s to find them passing over a river.
“… re video cameras in the bungalows, as well as spread throughout the grounds. They are clearly visible but for your information there are none set up in any bathrooms nor closets. If you have any concerns, my number is programmed in these phones, as well as many other staff numbers, player numbers, and basic Vietnamese emergency contacts. Don’t forget to charge it before tomorrow.”
Almost dropping his key, Jeongguk confusedly stares at the toy-like mobile Hoseok had just placed in his unsuspecting hand.
“Kook-ah,” he whispers, sensing the younger’s uncertainty, “she’s collecting our phones so we can’t post photos or access the internet. This one is just for emergencies.” Blinking a few more times, Jeongguk obediently places his phone into Hoseok’s open palm and looks back toward Hyunjae.
He doesn't remember this in the contract.
“You’re free to mingle with the other groups, but the official meet time will be at nineteen hundred at the starred location on your maps. Moreover, this evening’s special attire has been placed in your bungalow. Further information will be covered at the dinner. Any questions?”
Jeongguk whips his head around, hoping one of his hyungs will ask something because he doesn’t remember half the things she just said, but none of them make a move to speak.
“I don’t think so, Park Hyunjae-ssi. You were amazingly thorough. We’ll get our luggage situated in our bungalow and then either rest or explore, as you suggested.”
She claps her hands once. “Perfect timing. We just entered the hotel grounds.”
Like a switch going off in his brain, Jeongguk scrambles for his camera. The jungle surrounds them, thick tree branches nesting colorful macaques and screeching monkeys. The van dips over a rise in the mountain side, and speedily they drive beneath one of the gondola lines that connect the resort’s estate. In the open distance, out of the thick jungle foliage, the ocean twinkles.
Jeongguk’s hands tremble in excitement.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. I thought I had collected everyone’s personal cameras earlier. If a camera is required, it will be provided by Idol Play.”
His finger twitches above the shutter-release button.
“Kook-ah,” Hoseok warns, hand moving to cover his own. “She just said you can’t take pictures.”
The scenery rapidly shifts around them as they descend the mountain side, ever nearing the shore.
“B-but…” but he had been planning on taking his own footage, not to be posted in one of his films or on social media, but just for himself. He wants to capture his hyungs having a good time on vacation, and look at it through his own eyes, not the eyes of hired professionals.
Rubbing his back, Hoseok gently removes the camera from Jeongguk’s grip and passes it up front. “Don’t worry, Kook-ah. There will be so many cameras, you’ll be sick of them by the end of the week. And if we add one more, I’ll be worried about it going to Jin-hyung’s head.”
“Hey! There aren’t enough camera’s in the world to capture all my good angles.” Seokjin feigns offense at Hoseok’s cute tone and heart smile. Jeongguk halfheartedly chuckles along.
He’s acting childishly. Almost everything will be caught on film for him to watch later, he reminds himself. And sometimes the best memories are the ones that can’t be captured through a lens.
From up front, Hyunjae clears her throat as the van rolls to a stop. “I’m terribly sorry to ruin the moment, but I know you all will make many more moments while here. So, without further ado, welcome BTS, to Seascape Resort, you’re home away from home for the next seven days, and the center of all your adventures on Idol Play.”