asylum harbour.

you’d think he would eventually tire of it: the shifty waters, salty air, and slightly creaky deck that squeaks whenever he shifts his weight a little too much to one side. you’d think that the novelty would die a little after the third, fourth, maybe even fifth time. eventually the wonder of it all should fizzle out, fading into the background of familiarity and routine.

but it doesn’t get old, not one bit. or at least, not for him.

“ hyung, how much do you wanna bet that i’ll catch one first ? ” he’s joking of course, but only half heartedly as he checks on the rods yet again. ( they’ve been still for the past twenty minutes. ) a part of him just really, really wants the bragging rights and glory ( bonus points if its an edible one. ) that comes with reeling in the first catch of the night.

perhaps it’s the excitement of it all, or maybe it’s just the magic of the ocean breeze that has his eyes gleaming, shining even, as he returns to the table set for two.

“ this is really good, by the way. i mean, they’re always good but—i don’t know they taste especially good today, ” he mumbles between a mouthful of sweet, half eaten prawn.

“if you catch one first, you’ll get to choose how we eat it. that’s reward enough.” it goes unsaid that yubin gets bragging rights that sangryeol would never claim for himself. this, he doesn’t get competitive about; it’s in his blood. board games, however, or competitions with steady ground under his feet - those he throws himself into. yubin, he’s certain, knows this.

It may look as if he’s simply walking aimlessly, out of boredom perhaps — but the haetae is actually working; (but nobody needs to know that!) watching his surroundings very carefully, (Jidora told him to keep his eyes open for anything that might be unusual & to inform her as soon as possible, should anything out of the ordinary really occur — Jae does things like this quite frequently; as he is the one lady Jidora usually sends to make sure all is well around the island).

there’s a rip in one of sangryeol’s nets, where it must’ve come into contact with the edges of a rock or something similarly sharp. back when he was learning the trade - once he was old enough to walk - the first thing he’d been taught was how to mend nets, so while he doesn’t need to think about the repetitive motion it’s only relaxing when he’s got something to occupy his mind. right now, he feels like he’s boring himself into an early grave - so jaewoo’s arrival is a welcome distraction.