Work Text:
Mira is the first to come out.
It goes a little like this:
[Mira, Rumi and Zoey sit on the plush brown couch left to right in that order, smiling politely as the interviewer, a kind older man with crow’s feet by his eyes, reads off a series of questions sent in by fans.
INTERVIEWER: Ah, here’s a good question. Min-seo from Incheon asks: I know you guys are idols now, but have any of you had a crazy ex from before?
MIRA: Crazy ex, huh?
The girls are smiling almost conspiratorily. Rumi and Zoey look at Mira expectantly, as if they’ve heard this story many times before.
INTERVIEWER: I assume you’ve had your fair share?
MIRA: Just one, although it was kind of insane. You know all those cliches where they key your car and trash your house and everything?
INTERVIEWER: Did that really happen?
MIRA: Oh yeah, the whole shebang. My car? Absolutely wrecked. I mean, not like I couldn’t get the whole thing fixed without even a dent in my bank account, but it’s the principle, you know? God, she was just the worst.
The interviewer laughs awkwardly, scratching his head before tugging on his collar once, twice.
INTERVIEWER: Sorry, don’t you mean ‘he’?
Mira’s lips quirk, but she schools her expression quickly. Even so, she looks quite amused.
MIRA: No, I don’t think I do. Well, unless my ex girlfriend is a man now. In that case, then, yes.
Zoey wipes at her nose, clearly trying – and failing – to hide the wide grin on her face. Her shoulders are silently shaking, and even the ever-composed Rumi seems to be actively trying to hold back her laughter. Rumi’s lips twitch as she fights what looks to be a losing battle against her own body, trying to keep her appearance impassive.
INTERVIEWER: I- I see. Well? Rumi? Zoey? Any stories?
Zoey’s eyes are filled with mirth as she responds.
ZOEY: Nope! No crazy ex girlfriends here. Sorry to disappoint.
RUMI: None here either, I’m afraid.
The rest of the interview wraps up quickly after that, and Rumi thanks the interviewer with a smile on her face while Zoey playfully nudges Mira in the background and whispers something that isn’t caught on her microphone.]
#SheSaidShe trends globally for the next two weeks.
[The shot opens as the camera slowly starts to unblur, zooming in on the lone figure sitting on the stool in the middle of the shot with a sky blue background, clutching her black handbag in her lap.
ZOEY: Hi youtube! Today we’re doing the What’s In My Bag? interview! If you’re wondering where my girls are, they’re off screen. We’re doing this separately for once, since we already know everything in each other’s bags, so they’re next! Hi girls!
Zoey waves to a spot off camera, grinning like she’s found the secret to the universe. The camera unfocuses again as it turns to show Mira and Rumi standing by the rest of the camera crew. Mira looks somewhat stoic as usual, but she perks up along with Rumi as Zoey waves. The two wave back instantly, smiles on their faces.
The camera pans back to Zoey, who claps her hands.
ZOEY: Alright! Game time. First up, my most trusted companion, Mr Shell. I literally don’t go anywhere without this guy. Ask Rumi and Mira.
In her hand is a small green-blue tinted glass sea turtle, dangling from a keychain.
ZOEY: I love this guy more than life itself, I swear to god. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him. I’d commit crimes for him. No? No crimes? Well, that’s a shame. Moving on, then! Next up– ooh, nice. Now, before you ask why I keep a small knife in my bag, let me explain myself. It’s super useful for whenever my girls are in a pinch: it’s good for picking locks – don’t ask – and it’s good for cutting things whenever we need, and it’s good to have on hand for self defence. I know if I was a bad guy I’d think twice about messing with someone with a knife.
Zoey goes through a few more items in her bag: a pen, two pencils, a small notebook, her phone, her wallet and keys. As she reaches her last item, her smile goes almost shockingly soft.
ZOEY: Best for last, I guess.
Zoey pulls out a polaroid picture with such care one would think she’s handling the world’s greatest treasure. It’s a slightly shaky freeze frame with Zoey caught in the middle of Rumi and Mira, who are each placing a kiss on a grinning Zoey’s cheek. The city is illuminated behind them as the moon bathes the three in a soft glow.
ZOEY: Oh gosh, where do I even begin with this one? This… I think this is the night I realized fully how much my girls mean to me, you know? We were out on our balcony after just having played some video games and watching this documentary about turtles. We weren’t even celebrating something, we just were. They made me feel so happy and safe, like I truly belonged somewhere for the first time: right between the two of them. So, yeah. I keep it close to me. I look at it sometimes when I need a mood boost. Works wonders.
Zoey’s voice is light, but there’s an unmistakable and underlying thickness to it, heavy with emotion and love unsaid but certainly felt. A faint “we love you, too” can be heard from off camera, and Zoey looks up with a blinding smile before clearing her throat.
ZOEY: So, that’s what’s in my bag! Hope this was enlightening for all my fans at home. And maybe some haters too. Who knows.
–
The frame cuts back in with the same setup, except this time it’s Mira, Huntr/x’s visual, in the chair instead. She looks bored, her posture slouched yet still carrying the aura of a goddess. There’s no doubt she commands the room she’s in, and any others she walks into.
MIRA: Well, you guys already got Zoey’s introduction, so let’s get started, I guess. First up, my eyeliner. Another use for Zoey’s knife, by the way. I use it all the time to apply my eyeliner, it’s a really good stencil. It’s how I make it look so sharp.
Mira then pulls out two lipstick tubes and one lipgloss in quick succession, a rare smile on her face.
MIRA: And these are what I keep for my girls. This red one is mine, the lighter one is Rumi’s, and the lipgloss is Zoey. I like to keep this stuff on hand for my girls whenever.
At that, Mira then produces concealer and makeup wipes to further emphasize her point. The wipes are followed by small packets of shrimp crackers.
MIRA: These are for Zoey. We all know how snackish she can get, and seeing her face when I give these to her whenever she complains about not having them is well worth the extra space they take up.
Mira pulls out the next few items without much fanfare: an extra pen for Zoey, her phone, her sunglasses, extra sunglasses for Rumi’s sensitive eyes, a small vial of her own perfume, and hand cream for Rumi.
MIRA: And, last but definitely not least, my own photo. Which is also my lockscreen, but I like to have a physical copy for when my phone’s not on me.
The picture is simple. It’s Zoey and Rumi on their couch, huddled together and laughing at something on Zoey’s phone. It’s candid, and they look so incredibly happy. Mira’s face softens in real time as she looks over the photo.
MIRA: There you have it. Now you know every single one of my dirty secrets.
–
The frame changes one more time to reveal Rumi, the last of the three girls to go. She’s smiling at something happening off camera for a handful of seconds before turning to the camera.
RUMI: Hi, all! Rumi here. You all know why we’re here. I guess to spice things up I’ll close my eyes and pick randomly so there’s no set order. Someone’s got to be an individual in this group.
Small chuckles can be heard from staff off-screen, as well as a synchronised “hey!” from Zoey and Mira.
RUMI: Here we have my watch– the only reason it’s not on my right now is because my girls and I are going to the bathhouse after this and I know I’ll forget to take it off before I get in the water. Believe me, It’s happened before and I’m not looking to repeat the incident.
Rumi laughs as she reaches for her next item, but it’s clear that she does not want it happening again.
RUMI: Since Mira carries our lipsticks, I’ve taken to carrying just regular chapstick. You won’t believe how chapped Mira and I’s lips get in the winter.
Next comes the everyday things like her wallet, her house and car keys (“Oh, these are actually the keys to Mira’s car,” she says with a laugh), and miscellaneous American pennies, likely originating from the maknae. After that comes two cords and a small white box with two ports.
RUMI: Surprise surprise, I’m the only one of the group to actually carry a charger. Honestly, what would they do without me?
Rumi looks down at the last thing in her bag and smiles.
RUMI: Well, maybe it might just be fate if this is what’s last. Again, to the surprise of no one, I also have a picture in here. Well, two pictures, but I count them as the same item anyway.
The two photos are printed pieces of paper. Zoey is throwing peace signs against the backdrop of what looks to be an aquarium tank in one, and Mira is pouting with her arms crossed in the second one, leaning back in her seat at the table of the restaurant the picture was taken in.
RUMI: As you can probably tell, these are pictures I took of them when I took them each out for our own trips. Zoey loves the aquarium, so Mira and I took her there on a whim, back when we were first starting out. She was so happy, I just had to capture it on film. The second picture is more recent, when Zoey and I took Mira out for her birthday.
Rumi’s voice goes low as she leans closer to the camera, cupping a hand around her mouth like she’s telling a secret.
RUMI: Keep this between us, but even though she’s pouting in the picture and if you ask her she’ll say she hates it, I know Mira secretly loves the fact that I keep this picture with me. Don’t let her fool you, she’s a softie at heart, really.
An “I heard that!” comes from off-screen, and Rumi just smiles as she leans back into her seat.
RUMI: And that’s about all I have. An enlightening experience, no?
–
One last scene change shows the girls all together with Rumi still seated on the stool and Zoey and Mira leaning on each of her shoulders.
RUMI, MIRA, ZOEY: Thank you for having us on. We are HUNTR/X, and this was our What’s In My Bag? interview.
MIRA: Bye.
ZOEY: Toodles!
Rumi just waves, still smiling as she looks back at her girls right before the camera cuts out.]
Comments (5,320):
@undrdog:
Oh my gods these girls are literally goals they all have pictures of each other im crying
View 2 replies
@ethelcanine:
Is anyone else getting a little bit of a gay vibe?
View 10 replies
@amelieseven:
the way literally half of the stuff mira carries is for her girls im gonna explode. if my boyfriend doesn’t treat me like mira treats zoey and rumi then i don’t want him
View 6 replies
[HOST: And we’re live, everybody! Now, we have very special guests tonight, so make sure you all behave yourselves.
The audience chuckles but reluctantly settles after a few moments and a look from the interviewer.
HOST: Tonight, here to talk about their upcoming album– give it up for HUNTR/X!
The crowd cheers as the three idols walk on stage, smiling and waving at their fans before they settle on the couch in their typical order: Mira on the left, Rumi in the middle, and Zoey on the right.
HOST: Welcome, welcome. We’re so happy you’re here.
RUMI: And we’re happy to be here.
HOST: If we’re happy, I can’t imagine how the fans feel right now.
MIRA: Thrilled.
It’s said in the deadpan way only Mira can manage, and it’s charming in the way only Mira can manage. The host laughs heartily, nodding in agreement and the crowd cheers for the second time (of many) that night.
HOST: I’m sure we all know why you’re here tonight, but let’s go ahead and hear you guys say it. I know the fans are just dying of anticipation.
ZOEY: We’re releasing a new album!
The audience erupts, as expected, cheering and feeding off each other’s excitement. Rumi laughs as she tries to settle them, motioning to them to calm down with her hands.
RUMI: This album, Comeback, is one we’re very proud of.
HOST: Tell us about it.
ZOEY: Well, as you know, you guys will finally be getting the studio release of What It Sounds Like–
Zoey is cut off by the screaming of fans, segueing into loud applause. Zoey giggles at the more than warm reception of news that was already public.
ZOEY: Wow, we’re excited tonight, aren’t we?
MIRA: Glad to see at least some of you like that song.
Her voice is deadpan and sarcastic yet again, but there’s no mistaking the smile on her face.
RUMI: Seriously, it means so much to us that this song means so much to so many of you.
HOST: Truly, such an emotional song that has such an impact.
RUMI: But, as crazy as it sounds, that’s not the only song on the album.
The audience laughs. They lean forward in their seats, hanging on to Rumi’s every word. Even the host shuffles forward in his own seat.
RUMI: This album… it’s softer than anything we’ve done before. But it’s steady, I think. Firm but gentle, if I had to describe it physically. It’s pride, too– in ourselves, in each other. And it’s love. In the quiet moments and the loud ones; in myself, and in my girls. We hope our fans can take this album and run with it, can take it and know that despite what they might feel, or what they might think, that they are loved.
The studio is quiet for a long moment, before the host very audibly starts sniffling. He wipes his eyes, a shaky smile on his face.
HOST: Wow, Rumi. You’ve brought me to tears and I haven’t even heard a single note of music. I think it’s safe to say that this album is going to be absolutely phenomenal. Everyone and their grandma will be crying by the time the last track ends.
ZOEY: Don’t worry, it’ll also feel like a hug. Or like warm blankets.
MIRA: Easy for you to say, you blanket hog.
ZOEY: Hey! I do not hog the blankets!
RUMI: You kind of do, babe.
ZOEY: Wh- that’s not– hmph!
Zoey sinks back into her seat, crossing her arms and pouting at Rumi and Mira. The crowd roars with laughter as the maknae pretends to wipe a tear from her face.
HOST: So is Zoey banned from sleepovers now, or what?
MIRA: Sleepovers? I wish. Try sleeping every night with this woman.
HOST: Every night?
Rumi ignores the question and instead holds up her fingers, ticking them off as she counts on them.
RUMI: She snores. She sleep talks. She hogs the blankets. When she’s in the middle she likes to starfish. She kicks in her sleep sometimes. I could go on and on.
ZOEY: Slander! This is slander, I tell you! Hearsay, hearsay!
MIRA: We still love you, though.
RUMI: Yeah. Even if you brought your knives to bed, I would still sleep with you.
Zoey coughs and turns red at Rumi’s words. A moment later, Rumi seems to fully hear herself and how her words could be misinterpreted.
RUMI: Wait, not like that! Not like that!
The crowd loses it, and even the host cracks up at Rumi’s choice words.
RUMI: Not to change the topic, but I’m gonna.
The crowd laughs again.
The interview more or less stays on track after that. Well, as on track as it can get with women like Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. They talk about their album, and finish off the interview strong with a live performance of Golden. The fans eat it up.
The trio walks out to deafening cheers and a promise to be back after their album drops.]
Zoey comes out next.
Like Mira, It’s brief and in passing, but no less authentically Zoey.
[HUNTR/X stands on the rolled out red carpet, posing against the backdrop with the movie company logo plastered all over it. They’re holding on to each other in what is undeniably a possessive way, and they all look good doing it.
A man comes up to them with a microphone, cameras rolling behind him.
INTERVIEWER: HUNTR/X! Can I get a moment of your time?
ZOEY: Oh, hi!
INTERVIEWER: So how are you girls liking the movie premiere so far?
MIRA: The drinks are decent, but I’m excited to head home already.
RUMI: She’s lying. The moment she heard Zoey and I were interested in this movie she pulled some strings to get us invited.
MIRA: Still doesn’t mean I’m happy to be here.
ZOEY: Lying again! She’s happy because we’re happy. She told us so.
RUMI: “I’m happiest whenever my girls are happy.”
MIRA: Wh– I said that like two years ago!
ZOEY: It’s still true though.
Mira turns back to the interviewer, a sickeningly fake smile plastered on her face.
MIRA: Sorry about them. They’re a bunch of liars and they’re being super annoying right now.
RUMI: You love us.
MIRA: Unfortunately.
The interviewer clears his throat.
INTERVIEWER: Well, before you two start bickering again, let me ask this: what is the thing you’re excited for the most when you watch the movie?
ZOEY: Oh! Me, me! The trailer had this really sick shot of the coolest skateboarding rink, and I know the characters use it as a home base or something like that. I love skateboarding!
RUMI: It’s true.
MIRA: An absolute fiend, that one.
ZOEY: Fun fact about me, actually! My first girlfriend taught me everything I know about skateboarding back in Burbank.
The interviewer seems surprised at Zoey’s words.
INTERVIEWER: Sorry, I must have misheard. Did you say first girlfriend?
ZOEY: Yep! First girlfriend.
INTERVIEWER: I thought you had boyfriends in the past, though?
ZOEY: Yeah, very brief flings– oh! Oops, I think I might have forgotten to tell people and then just assumed that everyone knew. Yeah, I’m pansexual, hope this helps!
Zoey shoots the camera a thumbs up and a wide smile, and Mira facepalms.
MIRA: There’s no way you just officially came out like that.
ZOEY: Like you were any better?
MIRA: At least I’m cool.
Mira and Zoey bicker in the background while Rumi turns to the man interviewing them.
RUMI: Sorry about those two. And, to answer your question, I guess I’m the most excited to find out what happens after the huge cliffhanger the trailer dropped on us.
INTERVIEWER: Yeah, me too. Also, are those two usually like that?
Rumi laughs.
RUMI: Much, much worse in private. And it’s not like I don’t participate sometimes, too. But I love them, I really do. They’re my whole world.
Rumi looks back at Mira and Zoey arguing with a fond smile and something else behind her eyes.
INTERVIEWER: Yeah, it really does seem so. Well, thank you for entertaining my questions.
RUMI: No, thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think my girls need an intervention before this whole place collapses.]
[As promised, HUNTR/X comes back to the studio where they had interviewed before their album, Comeback, dropped. Now, they enter the stage once again for the awaited follow-up interview. The crowd goes wild as they step on stage, cheering and screaming and waving.
HOST: And welcome back, girls! By god do we have a lot to talk about. Truly, I cannot think of a better album, and I cannot think of anything else to say other than wow.
RUMI: Thank you. We’re incredibly happy to see such a deeply personal album be so well received. We poured our hearts into those songs.
HOST: And it shows, clearly. I mean, we could sit here for hours and hours and pick apart each song, but one stood out to me, and I have a feeling your fans would agree.
MIRA: Ask away.
HOST: This question is more directed at Zoey, who is the lyricist and writer of the song. Your song, Sea Foam– I mean, it’s undoubtedly a love song. But I’m sure nobody was expecting just how raw and real it is. I could feel the adoration just radiating from the lyrics, and I have to ask, what was your writing process like and just who inspired you?
ZOEY: This might disappoint some people who were hoping for a big story, but the honest truth is that while we were working on this album I just sat down one day and started writing. It took me one sitting to get the entire thing out. In the moments before I just felt so truly loved and I could do nothing but simply translate that onto paper.
RUMI: It’s true. We were having dinner one night, and out of nowhere Zoey just gets up and leaves, much to Mira and I’s dismay. And Zoey was right in the middle of telling us about leatherback sea turtles. That’s how you know it’s serious, when Zoey stops the turtle facts. It was a little worrying at the moment, to be honest.
MIRA: Imagine our confusion when we get up to follow Zoey to her room a few minutes later and see her furiously writing in her notebook like a woman possessed. We could tell she was in the zone, so we left her alone. Two hours later and boom, a fully written love song.
ZOEY: And to answer the question of who it’s about, I’m sorry to say there are no secret boyfriends or girlfriends, I know that’s been a popular theory. It’s–
Zoey’s breath hitches, and emotion fills her eyes as she takes a breath and continues, her voice softer this time.
ZOEY: It’s about Rumi and Mira. My girls. My soulmates, if I’m being real with myself. Every lyric in that song, it’s about them.
The crowd awwws and more than a few of them sniff as they dab at their eyes. Rumi leans further into Zoey’s side, and Mira reaches over Rumi to grasp at Zoey’s hand. She doesn’t let go.
HOST: Can I ask where the title came from?
ZOEY: Oh, that’s easy. Fun little tidbit about me: I used to be suuuuuper obsessed with Greek mythology, still am to be honest. Since it’s a love song, I wanted to pay homage to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. She famously was born from the sea when– well, we don’t have to get into the specifics. But her name comes from the word Aphros, which means sea foam in Greek, since she originated from it. So, Sea Foam became the title.
MIRA: All that to say, Zoey’s a nerd who got very sappy.
The host laughs.
At the end, they’re asked once again to perform a song live. They chose Sea Foam, but instead of getting up to stand in the middle of the stage, the three of them take their microphones and sit back down on the couch together, huddled up with Zoey in the middle this time. It’s not a big or showy performance, but it’s spectacular nonetheless. They hit their notes perfectly, each harmony beautiful enough to bring the crowd and the host to tears.
A ten minute standing ovation. That’s what they get. That’s what they deserve.]
Although fans widely suspected something was up when Zoey admitted that the love song was about Rumi and Mira, full confirmation came two weeks later.
The full confirmation goes something like this:
[RUMI: Hi, I’m Rumi.
MIRA: Hi, I’m Mira.
ZOEY: And I’m Zoey!
RUMI: And today we are here to play with puppies.
Five puppies are unleashed, and one of them immediately tackles Zoey, who falls back, laughing.
RUMI: This is the Buzzfeed Puppy Interview!
The dogs swarm the three of them for a couple minutes before either settling in their laps or playing with each other nearby.
MIRA: Alright, first question: “how do you handle being an idol and maintaining relationships?”
RUMI: Easy. My girls are already my most important relationship, and we already spend a lot of time together working.
ZOEY: Doesn’t mean we still don’t make time for each other, though. Whether it be movie nights or days out, we always make time for each other.
MIRA: She’s right. If we don’t have the time, we make time. Simple as that.
Zoey answers the next question.
ZOEY: “What are some of your embarrassing memories?” Wow, getting personal here. As it just so happens to be, I have the perfect one involving a dog.
Mira smirks.
MIRA: Is this–
ZOEY: Yes, now shut up and let me tell my own embarrassing story in front of probably millions of viewers.
MIRA: Oh yeah, this one’s a good one.
Zoey takes a deep breath, muttering to herself before she claps her hands and makes a ‘locked in’ motion with her hands.
ZOEY: Ok so back a few years ago we were invited to one of our staff member’s get togethers. It was nothing fancy, just a low-key house part, right? So this staff member had a dog, and everyone was feeding it treats. Since I had a prior engagement, I arrived a little later, and when Rumi handed me a treat for the dog I thought it was beef jerky, so I full-on bit into it and started chewing. Everyone was like ‘oh my god, Zoey!’ and I was like ‘what?’ and they were like ‘that’s a treat for the dog!’
Rumi and Mira laugh at the memory while Zoey rubs the back of her neck.
ZOEY: Yeah, so, that’s my embarrassing dog story. Anyway! Moving on, next question!
RUMI: “What’s Rumi and Mira’s favorite American saying or slang?”
MIRA: Oh, this is a good one. Mine is: are you [BEEP] my [BEEP] right now?
[uncensored version: are you shitting my dick right now?]
Zoey burst out laughing at the vulgarity.
RUMI: Mine’s ‘chat, is this rizz?’
Zoey starts laughing harder while somewhat-coherently pointing to herself.
ZOEY: I taught her that one!
Rumi smiles proudly as she nods in agreement.
MIRA: Well, I– oh [BEEP]–
Mira is knocked backwards as suddenly all five puppies decide to gang up on her, running up and climbing her like a tree. Zoey and Rumi watch in blatant amusement.
MIRA: A little help would be nice!
ZOEY: Sorry, Jagiya, you’re on your own for this one.
MIRA: Rumi? Please?
Mira is still flailing under the weight of all the puppies, turning her head to the ground to avoid getting her face licked. Rumi Laughs again.
RUMI: I don’t know… you do look super cute right now.
MIRA: I’m being mauled! Mauled, Rumi, mauled!
RUMI: Cutely.
MIRA: Ugh. See if you guys like it when I kiss you all covered in dog slobber.
The threat seems to land. Begrudgingly, and still laughing, Zoey and Rumi lift the puppies off Mira, who turns her back to them and sulks as soon as she’s back up in the sitting position.
MIRA: Monsters, both of you.
Zoey and Rumi are still laughing well into the later half of the interview, poking fun at Mira every now and then as they answer questions.
RUMI: Don’t worry, Mira, I’ll kiss you even if you’re covered in dog slobber.
ZOEY: Not if I kiss her first!
Zoey lunges at Mira, only a second before Rumi herself does, and they all go down in a heap of laughter.
The footage cuts out.]
Comments (10,256):
@wisegirl:
Where were you the day Huntrix basically kissed in an interview? This is the kpop equivalent to the moon landing
View 20 replies
@alldaladiesluvleo:
WINNERS LOVE WINNING
View 13 replies
@warriorofthemind:
SOMEBODY SEDATE ME THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
View 2 replies
@BobbyTheBestManager:
“Oh look, a HUNTR/X interview! I hope my girls don’t reveal anything without consulting PR first!” I saids with joys.
I was then shot 57 times
View 500 replies