Lotus Mirage

disclaimer that the k.lee interactions (29, 30) would also affect Choi’s judgement of Soleum and expectations of how Soleum would react. This wouldn’t show outwardly for obvious reasons: imo it’s important because he probably doesn’t think it’ll be easy to get Soleum to open up, so he would A. Put in more effort and/or B. Have more questionable intentions than just getting a hoobae to open up. B becomes relevant on how he interact with Soleum, and I’ll point it out as needed. Um, for fun. It’s not all that relevant to the focus of this post.

Chapter 143

Choi asks a question showing concern, offers food, removes the room of silence (it’s harder to speak up if it requires breaking silence) and gives a cheerful greeting, gives a compliment + includes Soleum into a group (“that’s exactly the kind of thinking we need”). Soleum doesn’t respond to any of this, so

Choi voluntarily gives up info first (his name). He then goes silent for a quite a while, lol, gauging Soleum’s reaction and letting Soleum respond instead of continuing to fill the silence. This is an example of B; he’s creating pressure instead of continuing to maintain an easy atmosphere. When someone gives you info (name, location, whatever), it makes it easier for you to give that same info, and names are in particular are an expected social nicety especially when someone else just gave theirs. Soleum does not give his name.

Choi switches back to being approachable. He closes the emotional distance (offers to let Soleum call him ‘sunbae’) and shows concern for Soleum’s arm. He then reassures Soleum, and creates a sense of reliability by saying it’ll be taken care of. Soleum doesn’t respond.

so, (maybe thinking that Choi is the issue, Choi) brings in another person. He could’ve brought Bronze in at any point, and there’s no way he forgot Bronze was waiting outside. This does, in fact, work. So Choi continues this route and uses Bronze’s presence to once again compliment Soleum before, um, technically strong-arming Soleum into a decision in the most casual way ever. He holds his hand out. Soleum doesn’t take it. He doesn’t respond to the compliment. Choi prompts Soleum and does the familiarity thing again (‘sunbae’). Soleum avoids eye contact and rejects the offer. [not really related but it’s fun reading Choi’s ‘you have to join!’ desperation with the knowledge of what Choi knows]

Choi has a sense that Soleum is acting. He could call Soleum out or say he’s lying, but both of those things could create distance and make Soleum defensive (defensiveness is the worst enemy to getting someone to open up). So he pretends to accept it. He does his ‘I’m saying this out of concern’ manipulation thing; it’s ruined by Jaekwan. Soleum responds to Jaekwan.

continues creating familiarity. This will be a running theme. Changes tactics by bringing up the people Soleum saved; probably sees a reaction, but Soleum doesn’t respond.

empathizes with Soleum (“Feels good, doesn’t it?”). Soleum doesn’t respond. Soleum does respond to Jaekwan, and Choi lets Jaekwan lead them out interrupting. After all, by this point, it’s quite obvious that Soleum responds more to Jaekwan than to Choi. It’s better to not force it, as that could make Soleum uncomfortable. This is probably why Choi doesn’t say a direct farewell; it could ruin the atmosphere and he probs wouldn’t get a response. Instead, he directs his words to Jaekwan to show how much he wants Soleum on the team.

146+. Choi leans towards intimidation in these chapters due to the circumstances, so part of this focuses more on ‘getting Soleum to talk’ than ‘getting Soleum to open up’

Cheerful voice + smiling eyes, which is more approachable and easier to talk to than something intimidating. Physical contact (also intimidation + prevents running away). Gives information. Asks Soleum an easy, unimportant question (that’s kinda probing) to prompt a response. Soleum doesn’t respond. He switches tactics.

Since first approach doesn’t work, he goes more intimidating. Even in this intimidation he’s pretty friendly; he offers up information when he doesn’t need to, and explains how he figured out who Soleum is. Wouldn’t it be more intimidating if he didn’t explain? Of course, this also ensures that Soleum won’t pretend to be someone else, so it’s multipurpose. To make this clear, giving up info about yourself usually makes the other person more comfortable (and willing to talk). This is pretty case dependent (names, age, pronouns, etc are safe bets), and if you go too far then it goes back to making the person uncomfortable, btw. Still, he goes really heavy on the intimidation. Instead of responding meaningfully, Soleum pretends to not know him

Subtly goes against Soleum’s manipulation, which Soleum realizes and responds to. Intimidation via probing and silence, which Soleum responds to. Haha, Soleum responds pretty well to traps. At a certain point they’d just go in circles, so Choi moves the convo on. Lessens the intimidation. Makes physical contact. Reasonably points out his reasoning without being patronizing or judgmental. Soleum goes quiet. He doesn’t address anything Choi said in his own response, and brushes everything Choi said off very neatly with a “Even so,”.

stuff happens. Soleum does meaningfully affect Choi by handing over the note. Choi spends time showing Soleum around and giving meaningful advice. It’s implied that Soleum is silent during most of this. The next response we’re shown is in relation to the note that Soleum gave. So, Soleum doesn’t respond to any of Choi’s efforts of being helpful and creating familiarity, but does respond when it comes to his own manipulation

152 - Choi talks a bunch and Soleum doesn’t respond to any of it. It’s more Choi being Choi than anything manipulative, but there are like 5 lines of dialogue from Choi and 3 lines of “……” from Soleum. I think this is why fandom perceives Choi as overtly talkative but imo anyone else would have reasonably resounded to at least 4 of those lines. Even Jaekwan probs would have at least said “Shut up.” So, this is more indicative of Soleum and how little he verbally responds to Choi

154 - on one of the rare times that Soleum responds directly to Choi without Choi’s prompting, Choi gives him positive reinforcement, lol

Throughout ocean palace arc, Soleum is more likely to give a direct verbal response, like since it’s a mission. This does show (to us and Choi) that Soleum can be more responsive when needed, and that he… just doesn’t want to normally, when it comes to Choi. 153/early 154 also shows how he’s far more likely to give verbal responses to Jaekwan than to Choi

164- physical contact. Gives praise. Acknowledges a suspicious thing in a light hearted manner without pressing or overtly questioning the issue. In combination with the praise, he creates an opportunity for Soleum to elaborate on how he knew or to be proud of himself. Soleum gives a noncommittal response

165 - introduces Soleum to an important person and heals him quickly, when he didn’t have to. This shows Choi’s care for Soleum. More importantly, introducing Soleum to the Elder is a show of preemptive trust, and would help make Soleum ‘part of the team’. Showing trust is a good way of forming closer bonds, which then leads to comfort and opening up. This is, in particular, is also Choi being vulnerable, since the Elder is important to him and is in a vulnerable position. Well, there a multiple of ways this could be manipulative (forcing Soleum into the team, having the Elder check if Soleum is a good person), but Soleum seems to be under the impression that it isn’t. So it could entirely be a show of genuine faith. Not intentional manipulation so it doesn’t really fit on this list, but it is an example of Choi showing faith that doesn’t respond to

166 - Choi once again lets Soleum know of his accomplishments and the people he’s saved, probably because he can tell how much it means to Soleum. He checks on Soleum is feeling,,, Soleum doesn’t respond LOL. He probs kept talking after Soleum was quiet for long enough, with the assumption that Soleum wouldn’t reply. Accurate assumption, btw. Including a screen shot because it’s funny to remember than Soleum is just awkwardly being silent during this whole monologue, despite being asked a direct question. Isn’t this basically that Death Note meme?

im about halfway thru my Choi appearances list and this post is already long, so ill cut it here and do a second part,,, three parts depending on how much analysis 193-195 ends up being.

to be honest, it might be more effective to make a compilation of screenshots of Soleum responding to Choi with “…” like

come on kiddo. If I somehow calculated the amount of words said to each other, i feel like it’d be a 100:1 ratio, with Choi saying 100 words for 1 of Soleum’s. Not counting their arguments, but you know….

I miss Braun SO much when he's not around. I NEED to know if he would've called that thing a harlot