EXO Fandom - Part 1 - FanFics
I was talking to a coworker a few days ago about K-Pop. They asked me who my favorite band was and it was simple to say, “EXO. I love their songs. I’ve watched them over several years...” and I realized I was giving such a generalized easy answer to something that is so incredibly complicated. No, I didn’t dive in further in that conversation but my mind continued to churn over why I love EXO and why I’ve loved them for so long.
The answer is multifaceted but my mind dove so far into it that I felt compelled to talk about it to whoever would listen. So, let me start at the basics.
If we look at Exo at the time of their MAMA, History, and Wolf release time frames then the answer is adorably cute guys singing romantically driven songs. They debuted with fictional powers and a sense of mystery. Who doesn’t love a good fantasy and wrapped up in a music group? The fan fiction that has poured out of this fanbase is the factual evidence as to why this was such a good concept to debut with.
At the time of Exo’s first year or two, I was personally dealing with a separation. It was my first relationship, first intimate relationship, and I was so completely depressed. I was introduced to EXO at the time History came out. It was an easy sell to me, but what really took me down the rabbit hole of the fandom was being recommended to read some fan fics. The fandom had already blown up with incredible stories. If you have been an EXOL back when we called ourselves Exotics then you probably have heard of or read a handful of some very famous fanfics. Were you a ChanBaek fan and read 10080? Not Intended? The Letter? Did you deep dive into Interrobang? Revolution? Did you ever run across Inner Child (god do I have withdrawals from being unable to find that fic anymore)? These are titles that I can remember off the top of my head but I have accounts with endless bookmarked stories. The truly amazing part of this was if you read a fan fic and then watched Exo in a reality show or on an interview, authors had been able to truly capture the member’s on-screen personalities. You could read a fic and then watch how members teased each other and there would be exact parallels. I truly believe that the fandom is not only creative but so very keenly observant.
If you wrote fanfics in those early days that dealt with powers, wolf pack dynamics, 6 rotating variations of shipped pairs then you were probably instrumental in helping this fan not only distract herself from an ugly separation but ignite a personal and sexual awakening. There were topics in fanfics that I’d never even heard of, prompting endless research and conversations with others to truly understand relationship dynamics. This was such a motivating time of awakening for me that I also began to write fictions and quickly came up with the “MyHappyExoBubble” name to capture this secret world where I was motivated and happy when I wasn’t sinking in my day-to-day life. In fact, most people knew me from fan fiction stories before I ever moved on to doing fanart (which I will conquer in a different post).
My motivation to write was centered around having found so many good story ideas but that were written poorly and were difficult to read. No, I never took an idea and wrote it myself, but I did start to come up with ideas that I would never publish if the writing wasn’t decent. I’m not an English major, nor do I pretend to have flawless grammar. I just wanted more stories that could be read without bad translations or under-developed writing skills. Unfortunately, at this time, I do have a few unfinished fics that have gathered dust online and I do apologize for that.
The result of finding such a rich community of fan fiction has been instrumental (as weird as that may sound) in my growth as an adult. When I finally moved on to a new relationship, the intimacies that were destroyed by my ex had been re-worked, explored, defined, and I knew what kind of intimacy I wanted and was accepting of. My writing skills had improved with practice. I can storyboard, brainstorm, character develop and truly express in written word what is going on in my head. I cannot look back in time and say that something else wouldn’t have taken me down this road, but the fandom did, thanks to EXO. This is one of the many reasons why I will forever have EXO listed as my favorite K-pop group.
*If you would like to talk to me about any of this, feel free to message me. I’ve been on a therapy journey recently and while I have not talked about my alter-ego within the fandom with my therapist at this time, I can’t stop thinking about it. :)
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Below the cut is a collection of my EXO fics that fit the season due to vibe or content. If you know of a story of mine not listed here that you think should be, let me know, and I'll add it! I just had a lot to sift through... (All links here are DreamWidth, where this was originally posted, but the individual posts include links to AO3, AFF, and LJ.)
Horror and mystery are two of my favorite genres to read and write. I welcome suggestions and prompts, if any reader is inspired. (。•̀ᴗ-)✧
Supernatural creatures and/or horror:
Doom Advances to Zero (Chen-centric, Chingu-line) Jongdae and his friends plan a viewing party for a rare green comet, staying up late just to witness the end of their world.
Striving for the End of the Medical Middle Ages, Mistakes are Made (Chanyeol+Baekhyun) Chanyeol's a medical student, proudly class of '61. He hasn't questioned where the cadavers come from until a classmate asks him to ride along on a pick-up, in the middle of the night, at the cemetery.
Deep Waters Don't Run Still (ChanKai) Jongin keeps busy for his own good, so he's told. Meeting Chanyeol, a traveling musician, makes him long for freedom.
It's Hard to Find Inner Peace with the Worst Parts of You Running Free (Chanyeol+Kai) Chanyeol finds a weird book in the library. He tries to read the weird book. At the time, he didn't know it was a spellbook that would divide his soul and give the bad half a physical manifestation and allow it to roam free. Live and learn.
The End of Summer (Chanyeol-centric) The end of summer break means the end of summer camp, yet camp counselor Chanyeol wishes he never had to leave. This summer, he may get his wish.
A Will to Live (Baekhyun-centric) To free his mother from her marriage, Baekhyun plans a double murder.
The Rotten Roommate (ChanBaek) Chanyeol's innocent Halloween prank reveals two things: Baekhyun can still kick his butt, and they haven't ever been alone.
Who We Are Inside (Sehun-centric) A body and its reflection always match. They have to.
Now the Ghosts are Due (ChanKai) Chanyeol thinks Jongin's so cute when he's scared, so he gets the bright idea to take Jongin to a graveyard for their Halloween date.
Sentimental Spirits (Chen+Xiumin) Aided by Xiu hyung, his self-proclaimed bodyguard, Jongdae returns the names of the spirits his grandfather had collected.
Sacrament of Sin (Chansoo) Father Do Kyungsoo makes a deal with the devil so the damned thing will behave in church.
Halloween Treats (SeKai) To a vampire, Jongin covered in blood—albeit fake—is the sweetest treat.
Lonely Island (Kai-centric) Jongin's days are like the horizon: Empty.
Daemon of a Demon (Chen+Xiumin) Minseok's mortified to realize that the cat he pet and fawned over wasn't just a figment of his drunken imagination but rather the very friendly daemon of his very friendly—and mysterious—new neighbor.
Prisoners of Paradise (Kai+D.O.) Jongin travels to the bottom of the ocean to learn about marine life from the safety and security of an underwater city only to find it's neither as safe nor as secure as advertised.
A Future Together (KaiBaek) He’s stupid resilient, persistent, and completely in love with his wife and their babies. He’d never miss a future together.
The Man Behind the Masks (Luhan-centric) Lu Han takes a job as caretaker to an invalid living in the country. If the isolation doesn’t kill him, his new boss might.
Soul Nice to Meat You (Chanyeol+Xiumin) Chanyeol finds a man sleeping on his balcony and has questions. One: How did he get there? Two: Could he have anything to do with the death of his neighbor?
a most undesirable sentiment (Chensoo) On the 5th anniversary of their friend's death, Chanyeol, Kyungsoo, and Jongdae return to the scene of a tragic accident.
a will is a dead giveaway (Chanyeol+Suho) Kim Joonmyun is a forensic pathologist and firm believer that the possibility of zombies existing is really stupid. It just so happens that on a perfectly normal day at work, Joonmyun cuts into a body, and the body says, "Ow."
i'm friends with the monster (Chen+Lay) "Monsters out here are just wildcats," he said...
birthday moon (LuKai) Everyone who lives anywhere near the Wild Forest is told since birth to not go into the Wild Forest because of the three capital Ds: It's Dark, Dangerous, and the probability for Death is heightened.
Into the Woods (Chanyeol+Kai) A dare sends Chanyeol into The Woods.
Something They Become (Tao-centric) Zitao understood and embraced his duty as a protector. All he believed he needed to know was that Elder Bairns must be destroyed.
Bad Feeling (Chanyeol-centric) Chanmi has a bad feeling.
Gaoxing (Lay+Suho) The world goes to hell, and Yixing holds happiness in his arms.
Sell Your Soul for Just a Piece (D.O.-centric) Kyungsoo makes himself dinner.
Dream of a funeral, and you hear of a wedding. (BaekSoo) Baekhyun imagined his wedding would be happy...
Good Deeds (Chanyeol+Baekhyun) Chanyeol just wanted to be a Good Samaritan. Not all good deeds pay off.
Witches and magically-focused stories:
A Good Day to Have Stayed Home (BaekSoo) Baekhyun's prank on his demon boyfriend ruins his weekend.
Hocus Porcus (Baekhyun-centric) Baekhyun always expected his Patronus to be some type of dog. He's surprised when it's not.
Means to Change (Baekhyun-centric) Baekhyun is known for his pranks and jokes and general fun-lovingness. This works against him the one time he's involved in an actual accident: effectively changing his best friend's little brother into a little sister.
Good Mousekeeping (Baekhyun+Chen) Minseok leaves Jongdae and Baekhyun alone for a week (not even), praying his house will still be standing and that there will be no corpses once he returns. (It is, and there aren't)
Charmed, I'm sure. (Chanyeol+Suho) Jooyeon just got dumped, and Chanmi hates seeing pretty girls upset.
Accio Veneficus (Baekhyun+Chen) Chen the cat has "too much personality." Store patrons love meeting him and petting him, but no one seems willing to adopt him. Baekhyun didn’t realize that cats adopt wizards, too.
To the Depths of Love (Chanyeol+Suho) Once upon a time, a merman fought his way to the surface and found it unforgiving and cruel. He plunged to the bottom of the ocean, where he felt safe, until drawn out by fate or circumstance.
This World is White (Baekhyun+Chanyeol+Chen+D.O.) Baekhyun and Jongdae discover another world at the back of an old closet. The world is trapped in an unending winter with no holidays or warmth. When they discover one of their friends is missing, they have to choose to search the unfamiliar new world or go home and hope their friend makes it back on their own.
Summoning Demons isn't Cute (But You Are) (Kai+Sehun) Jongin's just a dumb witch, but he's doing his best, and Sehun supports him.
For the Greater Good (Baekhyun-centric) Baekhyun's job as an Auror gets more difficult when he hears rumors of Gellert Grindelwald's army in Asia.
Lucky (Tao+Kai) Jongin lives beneath a cloud of bad luck that's chased away by a black cat.
It's magic, you know. (TaeKai) Jongin needs another tattoo, and his magic really likes Taemin.
The Dogs are Howling All over the Neighborhood (That Ain't No Good) (Chen+Lay+Baekhyun+D.O.) Jongdae's a fourteen-year-old student wizard suffering from acne and hormones and the frustration of not having a familiar of his own. He would be totally happy with one, but he ends up with two, and all is not idyllic. He's totally got this, though. Totally.
I Put a Spell on You (It Didn't Work) (Chen-centric) It's difficult to do many things as a cat, mostly due to lack of thumbs. Born-cats don't know the struggle. Made-cats, like Jongdae, do, but he supposes it's punishment for being a dumbass and mixing up ingredients.
Cattus Redit (Chanyeol+Chen) Chanyeol finds a cat and a magic stick and wants nothing to do with either.
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OTP PROMPTS #24
One liner ideas! In college setting :)
“Hi I heard you crying while singing a...baby shark mnemonic of our lesson...Anyways, do you need some help there buddy?”
“iM NOT JOINING A FRATERNITY/SORORITY JUST BECAUSE MY CRUSH IS THERE. Also, where is the sign up form-”
“I saw you crying and you suddenly stopped when your alarm went off...I hope you’re still doing okay-”
“How did you cram your research 3 hours before, while you get a higher score than me, when I worked for my research for 2 weeks!”
You’re getting a sugar daddy to pay off your student loans? sign me up too.”
“There’s this senior from the opposite department who I like and I don’t know how I’ll talk to him without sounding like a stalker of their facebook account.”
“Help me ohmygod my project partner is my crush but they don’t do anything! I don’t know if I’m annoyed they didn’t finish their part yet OR annoyed they haven’t kissed me yet!”
“How the fuck did I accidentally send that 30 minute crying audio to my professor instead of my final thesis?”
“I just skipped class today and I saw the professor for that lecture on the same hidden cafe at that time?? wtf??”
“This person in my class just presented a powerpoint presentation on reasons why his crush should date him for oral speech?? honestly I’m impressed man, I think I wanna date them.”
“So, you realized you really like them when you saw them passionately talking about niki minaj is a godess conspiracy theory in their presentation?”
“Let me get this straight, you bought 250 grand worth of limited edition anime figurines, and yet your 3 months behind your dorm rent?”
“What do you mean fancy instant cup noodles and cheese crackers aren’t fine dining for taking a person out?”
“I really want to study so bad but this person streams their faves so loud like i get that they need 100 views for their kpop boys bUT I ALSO NEED THAT 100 ON MY STANDARD TEST, KAREN.”
“I skipped our classes to your fanmeet and ohgod this is so worth it im crying-”
“My thesis paper is about shrek and the bet movie on the franchise.”
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