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“Ahhhhh no Hoba! You just don’t understand” Yoongi groaned out, low and gruff, as he slowly leans forward and buries his face in his crossed arms on the table in front of him.
From across the booth, Hoseok takes in his best friend’s dramatic antics with a roll of his eyes, chuckling gently. “Come on hyung, I know you don’t like to work with professional models much, but you did agree to do it, so surely it can’t be that bad?” he says, reaching across the table to gently nudge Yoongi’s shoulder.
Reacting to his touch, Yoongi raises his head slightly, just enough to be able to look at Hoseok directly in the eye, and huffs, then lets out another dramatic groan, making Hoseok chuckle again. Hoseok can’t hide the mirth in his eyes as he watches his hyung – the internationally renowned photographer – known just as much for his edgy style, no-nonsense attitude and stand-offish public persona, as he is for his striking ‘avant garde’ portfolio, act like a pouty baby over the prospect of an upcoming shoot.
“I don’t get it” Hoseok exclaims, both amused and mildly exasperated “Its just one shoot, with one model. You used to do this sort of stuff all the time.”
“I know, I know” Yoongi replies, bringing his hands up to his face and resting his chin in his hands which ends up with him looking remarkably sulky “But I left that world behind for a reason. And you know how much I struggled with the lack of control, my vision being picked apart by pencil pushers, and don’t get me started on the models! Just… the disrespect!” he says, sighing, a bitter tinge to his words.
“So how did Jinnie end up getting you to agree to it then?” Hoseok asked, his gaze still on Yoongi, but his eyes softening a little in sympathy. He knows what Yoongi is alluding to, and how Yoongi had struggled before finding the joy in his art.
“Oh you know, he played the hyung card” Yoongi responded, fiddling with beer mat in front of him, turning it over and over in his hands and picking at the corner that was lifting away. “He asked for a favour, basically, practically begged if I'm honest. He told me that he needed me. That this campaign was a massive one for him, the biggest one his company has handled to date, and that he needed someone on it that he can trust. He's convinced that my style perfectly fits with their vision for the shoot because they want something a bit different and striking and, well, you know, dark. You know he's still working his ass off to make a name for himself and put the company on the map. Plus…… the pay is kind of eye watering. I couldn't really say no”
“Well, that’s got to be something, right hyung? I know it’s not going to be the best job you’ve ever had but it sounds like it could be pretty good for you!” Hoseok responds, cheerily trying to lift Yoongi’s spirits.
With that, Yoongi turns his head to look around the bar they are in. With it’s dark wood, industrial styling features and low, stripped back, lighting, the place has a warm and cosy feel. The pair are sat in a row of booths along the back wall, with the bar in the middle of the room in front of them, and on the other side a more open plan seating area with mismatched tables and chairs and large bulb string lights, hung across the floor to ceiling windows that make up the front wall of the bar.
Most of the other patrons are sat in groups at the front of the bar, taking advantage of the larger tables and the view out across the street. It’s raining outside and Yoongi can see all of the people on the street, huddling under massive umbrellas or rushing along to get back inside all that quicker. Taking a deep breath and feeling confident that they won’t be overheard, Yoongi turns back to Hoseok and mutters “yeah but that’s not the worst of it Hoba.”
“What do you mean?” Hosoek asks, tilting his head to the side and frowning at Yoongi in confusion.
“Well, I haven’t told you who the model is yet” sighs Yoongi. Hoseok waits for him to expand on it, and, after a slight pause, Yoongi once again groans and leans forward to hide his face in his arms, huffing out the words “It’s Kim Namjoon.”
Instantly Hoseok claps his hand to his mouth and his eyes you wide with excitement, and he lets out a short squeal. “Oh my god hyung! You cannot be serious? Kim Namjoon? THE Kim Namjoon?” He exclaims, and watching Yoongi nod in agreement has him clapping again like an over excited sea lion. “This is just… I mean, this isn’t bad news. How can you call it the worst? You will finally get to meet him. You get to meet the man responsible for your gay awakening all those years ago. How are you not excited?” his body bouncing and buzzing with exhilaration at the news.
“Because…..” said Yoongi, picking himself up again and sitting back against the back of the booth, facing Hoseok once again, “He’s a model. And not only that, he’s going to be a model on MY shoot. We’ve just established how much I have disliked almost every professional model I have ever worked with…. to the point that it was one of the reasons I left that part of the profession behind to focus on my art! And now, not only do I have to work with a model again, but I also have to work with the first man I ever had a crush on.” He sighed once again.
“I just know I’m going to be disappointed Hoba. He’s going to be just like all the other models I’ve worked with. Too wrapped up in themselves to even want to try to understand my concept and really work with the plan for the shoot, too bothered by how they might look to commit to taking risks for the best shots, too focussed on getting their best angle and thinking they need to direct me, and just generally being rude, unhelpful and spoilt on set.” He goes back to fiddling with his beer mat and looking down at his fingers. “What is it they say Hoba? Never meet your heroes because you’ll only leave disappointed? Because I feel like that’s how it’s going to go.”
“Well!” Hoseok declares, looking rather pointedly at Yoongi but still smiling, unable to shake his glee at this somewhat fortunate turn of events “I think you’re rather jumping the gun and not seeing the potential here Yoongi! You don’t know he’s going to be like that! Even you would admit that not all the models you’ve worked with have been like that.”
“Yeah enough of them though” Yoongi huffs, talking over Hoseok.
“And you get to meet the love of your life” Hoseok exclaims, ignoring the interruption. “You’re going to get to meet the man of your dreams, the man who’s Hugo Boss aftershave ad from 5 years ago literally turned you gay!”
Yoongi’s eyes widen and he almost chokes on his mouthful of beer. He swallows hard and comes up coughing and spluttering “woah, woah, woah Hoba!” he chokes out, narrowing his eyes at Hoseok, “lets not get too carried away. I don’t think anyone gets turned gay, they just are. I just didn’t realise it till a bit later in life! Anyway, he might be the first man I had a crush on, but Namjoon IS NOT the love of my life!”
“Ok, ok hyung, no need for the cranky kitten look” Hoseok relents, chuckling again but also holding his hands up in submission “I just don’t think this is as bad as you’re making out.”
“Yeah well, I do. And you’re not the one who’s going to have to live this for three whole days” Yoongi grits.
“Three whole days?” Hoseok loudly exclaims as he claps his hands “This just gets better! All that time alone with the man of your dreams! This is going to be perfect. You’ll have all that time to get to know him and dazzle him with your oh so bubbly, sweet and gregarious personality!” Hoseok slaps the table as he cackles at his own joke, while Yoongi looks on unimpressed.
“Yes, wonderful Hoba” the sarcasm evident in Yoongi’s tone, “three whole days with two quite difficult shoots to get through. I’m sure he’s going to love me by the time it’s all over. But who knows, miracles can happen, right?”
“That’s the spirit hyung. Glad to see you’re coming round to my way of thinking!”
Yoongi snorts in response but ends up smiling back at Hosoek. He knows the younger is right, knows he’s being a little melodramatic about this photo shoot, and knows his reaction to finding out his model would be Namjoon is farcical at best, but sue him! He can’t help it. He reaches for his beer and takes a gulp, smiling up at Hoseok. He doesn't feel like explaining to his friend that he never would have agreed to do this favour for Seokjin if he had known the details when he agreed. Especially knowing that he's about to put the man who accidentally changed his life in a very difficult situation and is completely sure this isn't going to end well. It’s not like he can change anything now anyway.
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Yoongi was woken the next morning by a loud sound, so unfamiliar that it cut through his dream, pulling him from the deepest of sleeps. He was so disoriented, it took him a moment to realise that he hadn’t dreamt the sound, and instead it was coming from his phone. His hand shot out from under the covers, aimlessly searching the nightstand, and it wasn’t until a few moments later, phone in hand as he slowly opened one eye to peer at the screen, that he remembered that this was that godforsaken viral song that Tae had selected as his personal ring tone last time they had been together.
“Fuck, it’s too fucking early for Daisy “ Yoongi cursed as his finger moved across the screen to connect the call, shutting the song off, “What do you want, Tae” he grunted, his voice all raspy and sleep tinged.
“Well, good morning to you too Yoongi Hyung. Nice to see you’ve woken up in a charming mood this morning” Tae greeted him, in a mischievous, singsong tone, indicating that he was far from annoyed and had probably expected the welcome he’d received.
“Yes, yes Tae, but you do realise it’s” Yoongi squinted at the screen “7.30am. It might as well be the middle of the fucking night! Wait…”
Yoongi sat up all of a sudden, his brain kicking into gear “what’s wrong, what’s the problem?”
“Don’t panic Hyung, there’s nothing wrong. I just wanted to check in with you and go over everything before we got started this afternoon.”
“Oookaaay” Yoongi responded, a little puzzled “I mean, the venue are expecting us this afternoon for the walk through, right? You’ve rang and double checked with them?”
“Yup” Tae confirmed.
“And you’ve got the props on the list? The company have sent over all the Merchandise”
“Yup”
“And you’ve double checked with the hair and makeup that they’ll be coming this evening and staying with us at the House Jin booked?”
“Yup”
“And you’ve made sure all the cameras and lighting and equipment we packed up yesterday have been couriered over to the venue?”
“Yup”
“And the animal handler is all prepped and knows when to arrive?”
“Yup”
“And you’ve checked in with the model? Made sure he has all the paperwork? Had him sign the wavers and confirmed he will be turning up tonight too”
“Yup”
“I don’t get it Tae. You’re the best assistant I could ever ask for and an amazing shoot coordinator. You’ve got it all under control. So why are you calling me at ass o’clock in the morning to go over shit that’s already sorted?” Yoongi asked, his confusion making him impatient.
“Ah, well” Tae started, an obvious nervousness now slipping into his voice. “Jin just called me. He wanted to check on everything, and, well, to let me know he was going to be dropping into the shoot to check on everything.”
“Well, isn’t that just wonderful” Yoongi groaned in response, rubbing his face with his hand and screwing up his eyes while he contemplated what this meant.
“I don’t think he means it like that Hyung!” Tae retorted “He knows how important creative control is to you, and he wanted you on board because he loves what you do! I just know how important this is to him. He says it’s the campaign that could put his agency on the map. He’s just worried.”
“Hmmmmmm” was all Yoongi could sum up in response.
“Oh and also I need to tell you that the Model, you know Namjoon? When I spoke to him to confirm yesterday he said he wasn’t busy today and could come down early, so I’ve arranged for him to come in the car with us.”
“What the?” Yoongi spluttered. “No.”
“What do you mean, no?” It was Tae’s turn to be confused now.
“No. He can’t come in the car with us.”
“Hahaha. Don’t be silly Hyung. I know you you’re an antisocial goblin at the best of times, but you’re just gonna have to suck it up, buttercup!” giggled Tae.
“Fine. I’ll see you later.” Yoongi sighed, hanging up the phone and throwing it across his bed. This shoot was going from bad to worse. Grumbling and muttering under his breath at what he deemed his eternal bad luck, he rolled out of bed and stormed towards the shower.