;;nightcrawler

thirty-three ✖ political advisor aspirant ✖ magician reversed

hi hi, this is thi back again with another menace to society character who is less hyperactive than myunghwa! he grew up on the island and has been back for the last 3-4 years after a stint in the seoul political scene, advising for various campaigns. more information about him is under the cut as well as links to his profile, longer bio, and wanted connections! give this a like if you want to plot and i’ll come bother you with my rambles or feel free to message me if anything strikes your fancy!!  

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“I believe we are an emergency service?” Hyun asked because if it wasn’t the hospital the top priority then what was it? It made no sense in his mind but he also didn’t understand politics, it was a weird game of power that had never been understood by the young doctor, also, a game that never interested him. But now he was somehow representing the hospital and they needed more than just a back up power source. They needed full capacity. Surgeries were being reschedule but they couldn’t do that forever, just like the mayor’s office couldn’t expect them to work like this for a longer time.

“Last time we met I was a little rascal” Still fighting against his own family and his own wishes, still deciding if medicine was his call or not. It wasn’t, but he followed his family’s footsteps, he had to. In his world, there was not another chance, his family being too important, their saying having more value than a young man’s dream. It was a shame, a real sad outcome, but Hyun was dealing with it much better now.

“You gave me the idea of coming to Gwasuwon, as soon as I finished my residency I applied and they needed doctors. Doctors that are not happy with you and your office if I must say” He told him, attempting to smile. It was nice to see him, to recognize a face in the island, but their circumstances could have been better. 

"indeed,” amusement was unavoidable at the man’s misinterpretation of juhwan’s answer. it would only be courteous to avoid embarrassment and assume the mistake himself. after all, the doctor was likely exhausted. the hours were daunting enough without the additional complication of a power outage. with uncharacteristic sympathy for the other, he quickly clarified. “i should have been more explicit. we are currently prioritizing the firehouse, the police department, and the hospital. the plan is to ensure that those services are up and running as soon as possible before turning to the second stage.”

truth me told, he remembered less of the man and more of his family. their stature and success naturally drew many to their doorstep. he was among those who had the good fortune of meeting the mins, seeing their vision first hand. their aspirations for the future and ensuring they were fulfilled would have been his priority. their son currently stood before him, requesting his place of work be given utmost importance. they too wished for a similar thing from his past avatar. had life played out differently, rather than their son, the political advisor would have been attending to their needs. “suggesting that you aren’t anymore?”

“we did need doctors. especially those who are so well credentialed.” praise lacking any basis. he did not know of this man’s accomplishments. it was possible he was a complete quack with little skill or talent. however, of one thing, juhwan could be certain. doctor min’s pedigree was likely stellar. why? those who hailed from money never failed to acquire prestige. the man indicated his colleague’s unhappiness with the office. a solemn nod of understanding was appropriate in the moment. yet tainted with annoyance, it was hidden by a turn of his head when a woman began shouting. “trust me doctor min when i say that even in less trying times,” 

perhaps there was a sense of relief when this newcomer had chase the three hooligans off. jisu had been partly kidding about accepting to this whole ‘desire’ and religious concept, of course he wasn’t that weak of a man when it comes to this kind of things - and well, admittedly the ideas of accepting the cult has been a quick passing thought in jisu’s head at the time of being asked to make a decision. but in reality, jisu knows he would never join a cult-

turning his attention back to the man whom had saved him, he grins hearing him out. “thank you my knight in shining armor- or well… in the lack of actual shining armor” he laughs, before continuing,” In my defense- i held a strong wall but yes, you’re right. it crumbled- but like, i did have a plan in my head” jisu didn’t. “like, well…” he thinks for a bit. “i was gonna uh, lure them…?” he lies. obviously jisu didn’t have such capability in him to give the treatment he reserved from the three cult members; jisu isn’t the most persuading person and he knows it. 

“well- anyways, the deed is done! you still kinda save my life back there, and if it wasn’t for you, i think i might be chopped liver or a snack treat for some supernatural being-” he admits, and now that he has time to process it, it would have been a waste for jisu to be a sacrificial lamb. he still has so much to achieve. 

“my name is jisu! if it isn’t obvious, i’m quite new here!” the raven-haired introduces himself with a wide grin. “and may i get the honor to exchange pleasantries with my knight with the lack of shining armor?”

knight in shining armor. that required virtue. the title bestowed not only honor but commanded it in return as well. anyone privy to the innerworkings of juhwan would quickly understand why the moniker did not suit him. his behavior was not always charitable or righteous. a colorful history would quickly implicate his motivations for all to see. yet on this island, many would likely claim the same about him as this new resident. they too would gush about what a good man he was, how he helped the community in various ways. initially he had done so reluctantly ( though people remained unaware of this truth ). now, he did so with hopes of consolidating votes should he decide to throw his hat into the ring for mayor.  

he returned an amused albeit confused curve of his lips at the other’s rambling and supposedly plan. luckily he had not gone ahead with them. “ah yes, the conmen being out-conned. maybe i shouldn’t have stepped in. i just missed a wonderful display of karmic justice.” playing along with the other’s excuses, juhwan was glad that the man hadn’t encountered anyone who had truly committed their loyalty to the cult ( and the god that they worshipped ). while the worst that these men would do was steal his wallet, there was a good chance that those rumored about would do far worse. forget about someone new, juhwan wouldn’t wish even longtime residents run into anyone from noraedol. 

“My mood? Darling you’ve seen nothing” She assured him, drinking from her cup of wine, finishing the content because it was late, she was officially off work and she deserved a nice glass now and then. “If you want the stranger treatment just say the words” Because otherwise she would ramble about everything and anything and he knew it, Sunhee could talk and talk nonstop if she wanted to.

“My punching bag sounds too violent, maybe a shoulder to cry on? Not like I expect for you to be one, though” She knew Juhwan, more than he’d like to admit, and the shoulder to cry on didn’t fit him. But still, since he was so gentle to ask, she gave him a response. “Why did he? Hmmm, he fell out of love, fear of commitment, not ready to move on, take your pick, he gave me at least 10 reasons and I don’t know if I should feel proud of it or not” She shared, trying not to sound as bitter as she felt, although she thought she was failing at it. 

“Most of them at me living outside the island, a woman with a career, you know? Because when you don’t have a family you at least have a career” And yes, she was complaining, even when she was the manager of the Pink Room she wanted more than just taking care of people tending tables. “So you wanted to come and visit despite having the same drink at home? What made you come out of your cave? What’s so special about tonight, Mr. Ha?”

"your words are not reassuring me that i’m about to have a positive experience in the pink room tonight, manager oh.” tone wry, the way she emptied the glass of wine convinced him that yes, her mood was dangerous. it was quite possible he would witness all seven stages of grief and though capable of weathering such an emotional storm, he hadn’t come prepared for such a lift. habit brought him to the bar at the end of town. perhaps a few woes of his own ( none he intended to share ). “so the choice is between paying as a patron or lending a shoulder to cry on?” perhaps another, upon hearing of her breakup would demonstrate more sympathy. “ sadly, i didn’t bring my wallet.”

she viewed him as a friend, hence her disappointment when he hadn’t shown up earlier. whether he could say the same, juhwan wasn’t sure. a decade ago, he’d seen her as his protégé. world viewed through an inflated ego ( and rose-tinted optimism ) juhwan had enough arrogance to call himself her mentor. now, he had no advice to offer, no guidance to give. rather now, sunhee reminded him that, try as they may, neither succeeded in their ten-year plans. she sat, manager of the pink room, and he sat, a meager town hall employee. if they were friends, what a pathetic pair they were.  “those all sound like the same reason to me. boils down to he doesn’t know what he wants and decided to take the easy way out and leave.”

never before had there been such darkness. candles dotted windows, mirroring the color of the moon in the skin. the two cast an eerie light along the path home. the day hectic, hardly 24 hours prior, he’d been lamenting his calm nine to five. burning the midnight oil the night before as well, his work related not to his present home but his past one. like offshore accounts, he was an offshore lackey for his few remaining contacts in seoul. yet for the sake of a return ( a potential future there ) not all bridges could be burned. frustration drew him away from the computer and to the window ( though he may claim it preordained ). whether sleep deprivation or pure hallucination, what he witnessed could not have been possible. for gods would not present themselves in such a crude way to mere mortals.

morning brought chaos. too much so to dwell on the frightsome scene from the prior night. many chose not to venture out late into the night. he was no different. for any claims of bravery, he would not feign fearlessness to such an extent as to endanger himself in the process. no, a timely return home was imperative. lest the next morning, the people of the island wake up to human carcasses rather than birds. shuffling footsteps, the crunching of the snow beneath shoes. a rhythmic impact followed by short pauses. the unexpected presence of another interrupted his beeline home. caution overpowered by curiosity, he peered into the distance making out the form of a man barely illuminated under the slight glow of the moon. hand drawn back at an angle, a flick of the wrist lodged a thin metal blade into the trunk of a tree. 

rounds to check on neighbors completed, juhwan had finally headed to see his old ( and current ) boss. one could view the visit as pretense. reinforcement of his concern would keep him in good favor with the man whose endorsement would be greatly beneficial. but for once, it would be a lie to say juhwan was driven by only selfish motives. while on the one hand he planned a coup, their relationship predated his political ambition. his aspirations could not diminish his affection for the longstanding mayor. the man ( now aged, much like his own grandfather ) was the first to take a chance on juhwan. and to date, the only boss who viewed him as more than a glorified henchman. and though not sentimental enough to pledge eternal loyalty ( even to his detriment ), he was not so heartless as to visit a sickly man only for personal gain.  

"what do you mean i can’t see him?” the guard’s insistence rehearsed excuses were ridiculous. never had he imagined himself on the receiving end of such platitudes ( having been responsible for shooing people away once ). these were manufactured lies fed to those who didn’t know better. but he did. he understood the innerworkings of the mayor and his extended family. so to be treated as though he were just another resident seeking audience with the king? it was laughable. the least he could be afforded was a more elaborate ruse. but to craft justifications based on the company was far above the guard’s pay grade. that was juhwan’s role. so to be told even he was not permitted to see the mayor. . . suspicious. no crisis ( or ailment ) in the past warranted complete isolation. 

It was his day off and he shouldn’t be here, they had people already reaching out to figure out what was happening, but the hospital was not a simple place, they needed the power and someone needed answers, hence why he had volunteered himself to come and ask to put the hospital in a priority list. After all, they needed the electricity more than a random house, a club, or whatever place someone could think of. Yes, he thought they were more important hence why he wouldn’t leave without a proper answer, one that satisfied him.

When the man in charge asked how could he be of help he started the speech he had been preparing while he waited “I’m Doctor Min Hyun, I work at the hospital and we won’t be able to keep working at 40% for too long, we need assistance from the mayor’s office or somewhere, whatever office it is that is in charge of this emergency” He took a deep breath before continuing, finally taking a good look at the man. “Juhwan?” Recognition on his tone. There was no way he was wrong, he was sure the man in front of him had been the one having dinner with his parents some time ago.

“Of course I’d find you here! You were the one who let me know about the island in the first place, do you remember me? You were having dinner with my parents, they were interested in your boss’ campaign or something, I did not pay attention until you mention this island” He explained, unsure if the other would remember him. He might now know it but he had changed his life during that dinner.

a doctor. wonderful. with him would come unfortunate news, a new round of crises that could not be swept under the rug with pleasantries. with him also came potential outrage. sooner or later, decisions would have to be made if the power was not repaired. people would not stand to see community members suffering at best ( dying at worst ) due to the incompetence of the mayor’s office. a darker part of him saw the benefits of such public outcry at mismanagement. a story to be told of how the mayor was failing to protect his constituents. but for all his ambitions, cruel he was not. many of those in the hospital were akin to family. and even if motivated by pure self-interest, his grandfather’s health constantly teetered on a dangerous cliff. his cousin’s near-miss with death could not have been averted without the hospital. 

relief came when the news that the generator was not yet out of power was delivered. it was a temporary respite however and the issue was well received. “we are prioritizing emergency services at the moment. unfortunately i’ve received no information from the mayor’s office on when we expect the power to return. but i assure you i’m working diligently to discover the source of the outage and remedy it.” a slight change of pronoun, underscoring that it was juhwan handling things ( exaggerating that he was working singlehandedly ). the moon family made but a statement and the mayor was nowhere to be found. perhaps they too were working to allay the situation. but until they countered his narrative, it’d persist. 

absinthe // @gswjuhwan

I can’t die? No, no that’s not it… Did I die already?

Hangyeol stumbled along the main pathway that cut through Turtle Park, his usual route as the sky grew darker and less people decided to stick around. A chill still ran through his body. Or perhaps it was simply the now cold air, the specks of white dotting the ground and crunching beneath each step. He brought his hands to rub at his eyes, knuckles digging into the corners until the stinging dissipated. He clenched them closed and opened again. Indescript colors dotted his vision.

( The image still rang clear in his mind: a thick layer of slimy substance spread across his skin, fibrous and gooey like the guts of a persimmon. The feeling of sharp nails across his flesh, a sharp pain in his arm, then nothing. No scars or marks left behind. Wiping away blood revealed nothing. )

Dimmed overhead lamps enveloped the lighthouse keeper’s erratic behavior in a thin layer of darkness. He wandered to and fro the main island road before ending up here for what seemed like hours, desperate to find someone and test the limits of his transformed body. Desperate to conclude that this was truly real and not the manifestation of too many days in isolation.

A faint smirk echoed across Hangyeol’s lips as he approached Eunjong Shrine, pleased to see the candles and fire fueled lamps still illuminating the inside — even more so to find exactly who he was searching for. There were notably far better “targets” of experimentation; ones more prone to violence. However, Juhwan did not seem anything of the type unless provocation led him to it, and it is precisely why Hangyeol chooses him in his fit of compulsion.

“Hey,” He spits out the greeting with a vitriolic tone, louder than he typically would. “You fucker.” Forced. Hangyeol is not the sort to actively seek out conflict or violence. This is well-known, even for all the suspicion his occupation brought with it. The wind shifts around him all the same.

“I want you to hit me… hard as you can.”

an omnipotent being ( such as the dedicatee of this shrine ) must have laughed at juhwan’s regular attendance. with a history so colorful, penance was a precondition to any salvation ( yet seemingly unachievable ). far from reforming his ways, even remorse was hard to come by. week after week he came to the shrine, surrounded by teachings he constantly flouted. he sought peace ( his mind at war ), wishing for everything that should be renounced. power, prestige, material possessions, no prayer strong enough to overcome his avarice. much like all else in life, he went through the motions of adherence. dutiful bows before the saint who had wealth and gave it up, he requested that he too be blessed with such a choice. he would also relinquish all riches. let the almighty bestow them upon him first.

the shrine was empty, unusual given that he often found himself in the company a man whose life seemed far more on the path towards enlightenment than his own. the difference between piety and lip-service clear in their behavior, juhwan had gotten accustomed to the other’s presence. his absence was felt on nights like this when the island seemed restless. difficult to pinpoint precisely why, even the air felt different. juhwan may have been paranoid, finding trouble where it did not exist. or maybe, he sought problems to claim credit for fixing them. but for now he wondered if, in that moment, he should have instead wished for prosperity, not company. for the very next second, footsteps and an unpleasant welcome alerted him of the lighthouse keeper’s arrival.  

knight in shiny armor (of sorts) / with @gswjuhwan tw: religious and cult mentions

it should not be surprising to jisu that he would be stopped by a group of unsurprising cult members. they are dressed in casual clothing like the religious groups in myeongdong or cult members who offers you the korean praying traditions and seeking your ancestors, only to scam you by making you pay after you’ve put on the hanbok. this situation is no different from those, except it had been the first time jisu finds himself in this hiccup.

“if you pray for the almighty sibipaldaewang, you will be blessed with the fortunes of the sea and reap treasures that will surface from underwater,” says one of the cult member.

now. perhaps, jisu is intrigued. fortunes of the sea and treasures from underwater..? he debates for a bit while the three cult members before him waits for his answer.

“hm, well what is this sibido—” “sibipaldaewang,” one of the man cuts his mispronunciation. “say the almighty sibipaldaewang’s name wrong and you’ll be cursed for generations.

"ah… sibipal… daewang.” jisu speaks slowly while the trio before him looks cautiously as if saying this unknown being name wrongly would have all four of them, jisu included, cursed for eternity. “well,” he continues, “what is this…..” god? being? whatever it may be, the raven haired dared not mischaracterise him.

“sibipaldaewang is the almighty twelve-armed colossal squid. he’s been rumoured to live in the water around this island,” one of them explains, arms stretched as he sways it around as an indication of the island. “he’s also responsible of holding this island afloat and that is why, we lay our life and serve the almighty sibipaldaewang”

jisu isn’t convinced the slightest. a big squid holding this island..? if you ask him, it sounded like a hoax but who is he to judge others and what their beliefs are. “so like, hypothetically if i do support and follow the ways of this…… sibi— squid. what do i get in return..?”

the three cult members exchanged looks, possibly because they probably never expect someone to ask what benefits following a ‘god’ would be. jisu isn’t a believer of any faith — he strictly believes that every thing is in his hands and fate is destined only if he works hard for it.

“well—” one of them stutters. “you get to be… uh, well you get to be rich!” he laughs though jisu sense coming more from nervousness than anything.

“hm, well i don’t really need any money. i got plenty of jobs that pay, and some settlement money,” he confesses absentmindedly.

one of the cult member that stands shorter than the other two nudges them both upon hearing 'settlement money’ but gets a rough nudge back from the one to his left. while the two nudging cult members had a nudging battle, the one on the right speaks.

“if you offer the sibipaldaewang money and your prayers every end of the month, he will grant you what you most desire.”

what jisu most… desired? he longed to be on the stage again of course; desired to feel the heat from his body after performances. how he missed the blinding light from the stage spotlight when he used to complained how it burned his eyes and how it made him teary. he also desires to find his sister and answers to why she disappeared. of course, im jisu has desires.

before the ex idol gets a chance to say 'yes’ out of curiosity and why the hell not, he’s interrupted by an authorative figure. if jisu had look any closer before he’s being 'protected’ by the other man, he would have catch the glares that shot towards the cult members.

much like the seamen of the island, these charlatans were also a staple of the island’s economy it appeared. while the former captured live fish, the latter baited unsuspected visitors with elaborate tales and ridiculous promises. ridiculous not because they lacked basis. he’d never be so arrogant to assume all folklore was based in fiction, no shred of reality to be found. but the stories this trio recounted were a hodgepodge of various myths of the island, spun together into the most compelling scheme. outfits would never suggest trickery and authentic acting convinced even the cleverest of individuals. these hoodlums were harmless, mere copycats of those rumored to be far more dangerous. or at least he’d like to believe they were wannabes and nothing more. for whether the cult existed and whether its members took a similar form as these men, he couldn’t say.

stories whispered about people disappearing warped into accusations. how much merit the conspiracies had, who was to know. yet the concept certainly concerned him ( scared him even, if he were being completely honest ). among them roamed monsters. among them were those whose desires may eventually push them to become monsters. but he deliberately chose to regard these men as mere conmen parading as cultists. the narrative was more palatable to his more superstitious side. latest target acquired, juhwan’s attention returned to the amusing back and forth. laughter suppressed at the confused glances exchanged between the three, he waited to see if he’d need to interject. from the mispronunciation to the question regarding benefits, the young man held his own. the trio attempting to lure him into their fold scrambled for answers, forced to go off script. an entertaining spectacle indeed.

Tsk tsk.

“What’s wrong with just having a single rose? Don’t be greedy.” Yongsoo scolded. “Why are you just sitting here?” He asked, looking around the bench. “Waiting for someone?” Unlikely. If anything, he’d predict his dear cousin was simply deep in thought…again.

See, back when this one was a kid, he was a real cutie. Yongsoo recalled how the other had followed him into the forests, listening with bright eyes on all the tips he offered on climbing trees and finding delicious berries. He was a teenager back then, and having a kid cousin acting as his little tail was a lot of fun.

Now, as a grown adult, his cousin had lost his adorableness.

“Come, walk with me. I am going for lunch at the Jeon residence and you should come along. My sister is cooking.” That was something she only did as a special treat for him. Otherwise, meals were taken care of by the cooks and served by the maids. It was strange how rich his sister married…thankfully Jeon treated her well.

taking the rose, he shrugged. “nothing’s wrong with one, but the bouquet looks much nicer.” greed was exactly what he needed more of. juhwan was not content with life on the island forever. once, decades back, he had been. that version of himself would likely still have the same desk job at town hall. the only difference? that juhwan would have been satisfied with his simple nine to five. maybe he’d have already settled down like his mother so desperately wanted. like everyone ( including his own family ), he’d have made peace with the little he had. 

the slight greed for more motivated him to leave. since returning, he felt himself slipping into that version of himself. don’t be too greedy. he’d coached himself similarly. flying too close to the sun burned him. choosing to adopt the opposite, he stayed close to the ground the past few years. living out a parallel life of a man who’d never left brought nothing but monotony and boredom. truth be told, the moment he entertained the notion of running for mayor, he felt a thrill in his life once more. maybe greed was the only thing that kept juhwan alive. otherwise, he was nothing more than a walking corpse.  “running away from responsibilities actually. so you found me at a perfect time.”

Sunhee rolled her eyes at his words “When have I ever charged you for drinking with me?” Not like they were drinking together, but they would end up sharing a few drinks, Sunhee already knew that. After all, she hadn’t seen him in weeks, and no matter how cold her welcome could be she knew she would end up asking about his life, wanting to absorb everything as a sponge because she had wanted his life once, and now that her life was a mess she needed some of his news. “It didn’t have enough time for friends, apparently” She accused him, showing him that yes, she was annoyed at him for not coming sooner

“How do you think it’s doing? It’s closing time and I’m drinking wine instead of having anything else to do at home. The jerk dumped me, in case you didn’t know that” And the bitter tone could not be avoided. After all, the love of her life had broken up with her, leaving her all alone with her plans and dreams. No marriage, no babies, no home for her to love. No love, as simple as that, for Sunhee, there was no such thing as love, not anymore.

“You know what? I’m annoyed at you and your perfect life, you made me want it once and now that I have nothing I can’t stop thinking about the what ifs” Juhwan had no fault in anything that was going on in her life, but the wine was making Sunhee talk more than she should. “Are you just here to drink? Or did you actually remember you had a friend over here?”

xx

a mere shrug in response, his expression remained neutral. “given your mood, i was expecting a cold shoulder and stranger treatment today.” he anticipated her train of thought well before she verbalized it. over a decade ago, he’d left the island with the intention of never returning. she claimed she wanted the same. so, despite losing contact, he expected her to follow upon the path he’d paved. even with humble means, escape was possible. yet he neither heard from her nor learned of her departure. she’d given up, he’d thought for years. chosen the comfort of the familiar over the difficulties of the unknown. and with that assessment, she’d slipped his mind like many others from the island, contained only to his past with no place in his future.  

perhaps punishment for quick judgments ( and many other sins ), he too found himself back on the island years later. escape was fleeting. one way or another, everyone was bound to return. yet the reason for his return and the fact that it was involuntary remained hidden. so as she hurled her grievances at him, juhwan did not miss the irony. she was jealous of his “perfect life” while he was lamenting the what ifs just like her. these thoughts stayed locked in the confines of his own thoughts, attention instead turning to her. “ah,” news of her break-up? unexpected. but the inevitable spiral of regret? unsurprising. “so that’s why i’m your punching bag instead. why did he end things?” 

&&. the voices in my head

His memories as assistant surgeon were mostly good, as most of his teachers were righteous, honest and good-hearted people. The type of human he admired and strived to follow into their footsteps as they dedicate their lives to humanity. But of course there were other times, when doctors had lost themselves in greed and prestige or were blinded by all kinds of temptations. Jun was someone who tried to be kind and loving to all kind of people, but he despised insincere evildoers.

He remembered a time, when a young patient was brought into the emergency room back in the Seoul University Hospital and a charismatic, but shady looking guy was looming around him. Back then his instincts had told him to stay aware of this stranger, but aside from him talking with Jun’s supervisor, some old, pervy head doctor intensely, he couldn’t find a clue of any wrongdoings even after hours of proper investigations. In the end it didn’t seemed like he wanted to harm Jun’s patient. Something was still off though.

So, when he randomly met this memorable stranger in the local hospital of Gwasuwon Island once again, he immediately had his guard up. Why was he casually walking around the hospital? It was strange, but this time, Jun was in a whole different position. “Hello, dear sir. May I help you with something?”

Starter for @gswjuhwan!

few choices in life warranted regret. questionable actions and unscrupulous decisions were part and parcel of social mobility. the choices made in pursuit of success constantly tested morality, requiring man to choose between ethics and money. some were noble, settling for their principals while others traded those in immediately for a quick buck. leaving the island, charm and slight manipulation was justifiable. juhwan had never thought he would engage in criminal behavior ( yet nothing in his character precluded such moral descent ). rather, he never believed he would need to. naive and idealistic, intellect alone would carry him through, he’d thought. an ability to understand the minds of islanders was far from sufficient to carry him into the big ranks. when intellect could not be commoditized, morals were the first to go. 

nor did such decisions give him reason for pause now. nothing in his past was considered an error, merely a necessary evil. there were lines even he refused to cross. but he’d never been asked, the limits of his principles tested but never surpassed. the reappearance of the doctor ( with a name and face that were hard to forget ) reminded him of one such instance. those of powerful backgrounds got away with a lot and lackeys such as himself ensured it. the son of a newly elected representative could not afford a DUI. his and his father’s future hanging in the balance, a few words and many bills convinced this particular doctor’s senior to cease any investigations. condolences and compensation offered to others ensured they stayed quiet as well. 

something was happening. 

any person with eyes could tell as much. telephone lines were barely receiving signal and those that were did not last too long. electricity was down. if he didn’t know better ( and he wasn’t certain he did ), he’d say the island was trying to cut them off from the rest of the world. isolate them so there was no way to reach out for help. yet that would be absurd. as much as he believed in the deities and the stories shared by the elders on the island, to imagine it attacking its residents was preposterous. yet people getting attacked, dead birds lining the streets, were far from blessings. no, something was off and juhwan could not even begin to understand what.  

attention remained divided, for once his workplace overrun with residents asking when their electricity would be back, when would the roads be cleaned, when could they speak with their relatives. though adaptable, people did not welcome living without the amenities they’d grown accustomed to. phone calls were brief ( they had to be ) and he was grateful on such days he’d learned to control his emotions so early. after all, constituent services required it but during times of uncertainty, patience was key. holding a finger up when he observed someone approaching his desk from the corner of his eye, he completed the phone call he was on. updates were slow to come because the reasons for the current state of their island were still, to be determined.

this was a double-edged sword, if he’d ever seen one. darkness quickly claimed the sky. his options split when the choice between rationality and intuition diverged. a man of his nature would seemingly err on the side of rationality. yet he preferenced the latter. assumptions that people acted after reasoned deliberation failed to capture the essence of human nature. whims and illogical faith drove the majority of human decision-making. thus, his tendency to do the same was an asset in most cases. tonight however, his intuition ( his own irrationality ) urged him to go back home. the island was seeming less and less safe once night fell and juhwan valued his life as much as ( if not even more than ) most. 

yet this hour was when secrets revealed themselves. to uncover illicit or paranormal activities, he could not seek shelter as soon as dusk turned to night. as though to underscore the decision to stick to rationality rather than intuition for the night, a familiar petite form caught his attention. he could make out a moon from a mile away, but this one in particular he made a point to keep an especially close eye on. he’d left the island when she was a mere twelve years, running into her only later in life when her seniors were his colleagues. news that she returned did not take long to reach his ears, piquing his curiosity as to what a SNU student would do back in gwasuwon. if there was anyone that seemed more intent to leave the island behind than juhwan, he’d say it was sieun.

On his way to his sister’s place, he stopped by a flower shop. Each time he went to mooch a meal off the Jeons, he would purchase the lady of the household a bouquet. The flowers he would bring varied, depending on his mood and the season. Today, he settled on pink roses because the owner had just brought them out.

He paid for twelve, but the store owner gave him an extra with an exaggerated wink. Yongsoo returned it - make no mistake, he knew the store owner was happily married. This was simply the routine between two old friends who had known each other since high school. This guy inherited the flower shop from his grandmother and Yongsoo supported his business by buying every bouquet he ever needed here, and advertising it to all the people he knew. This person witnessed Yongsoo’s first loss, first heart break and countless injuries.

Maybe one day I will be able to make a bouquet for your bride.

Yongsoo rolled his eyes. This guy said the same thing every time - clearly more worried about Yongsoo’s nonexistent love life than his own mother!

He fled the flower shop and scanned the streets. Thirteen was supposedly an unlucky number, so he would not add this flower to the bouquet. Instead, he shall find someone to give it to.

How about the person over there on the bench? Their head was down and they seemed unhappy.

“Cheer up!” He said, offering the rose with a smile of genuine concern and encouragement. “Tomorrow will be a better day.”

life was fine. a quick glance at his bank account would reveal that it was more than fine. he had yet to disclose the full amount of funds distributed across his various accounts. if asked where he got so much money, he’d be hard-pressed to answer. there were lies he told the world ( and omissions from his family ). yet for the most part, he attempted to stay truthful around a select few. his mother fell into that category. so he continued this humble life, carrying the burden of knowing he could improve their conditions yet being unable to do so. the dirty money he received as a price for his future was nothing more than ornamental. 

his initial return years ago was welcome, met with no questions. the hope had always been for him to come home, yet it remained unexpressed. taking advantage of their desire to keep him grounded in gwasuwon, juhwan used his family as the cover for his eventual decision to stay. his grandfather was growing weaker, his mother growing older. what man would leave them in this situation? truthfully, a man like juhwan. he’d have gone back to seoul if he could. climbed to the top once more with the goal of eventually bringing them there with him. away from rumors, away from a past that they could never shake. the irony was, rather than climbing, he was quickly settling at the bottom.  

days were monotonous and routine. the most excitement he’d seen in recent history was when workers threatened to strike if they didn’t get more frequent water delivery. these issues were important to the people gwasuwon. juhwan respected that fact. but it didn’t mean they weren’t mindless tasks to execute, requiring no finesse to achieve. bleak thoughts were interrupted by the familiar voice and the flower that preceded him. casting his gaze up, the corner of his lip curved up in amusement, passbook placed to the side.