“I mean…it really wasn’t. But! Ghosts are real! If they weren’t real, then how do you explain all of the evidence I found in just my house alone? Or all of the television shows? Or all of the eye witness accounts? Or all of the movies? Or books? Or–” Byeol cut off with a small gasp, taking a second to actually breathe, before continuing with another onslaught of questions. “And my phobia isn’t ridiculous! It is very valid, and justified!” The younger male argued back petulantly, before sticking his tongue out at David and giving a snide look as the older man, also continued to go back and forth. “Awwee, is someone mad? Because I called them a brat? Poor Davey.” Chan-bye teased relentlessly, enjoying messing with the man. “And…that’s true I guess…but, you could have just asked to borrow some of my stuff. I have a lot of things to keep me entertained, and would let you use them. Because you’re my favorite old guy.” He finished with a sweet tone, and smile; but being sure to put emphasis on the ‘old’ part. Just to further annoy the man.
Chan-bye merely stared at David, small and slightly smug smile gracing his features, as he listened. As soon as his friend finished, he made a small humming noise, as if going over the comments in his head. “I mean….I am the one funding you for your vacation….and going to be your main source for just about…everything. Since you know…you don’t know the city…or the language…so, you sort of are my business.” The boy taunted, elbowing the man lightly. “I guess if you really, really, really wanted; I could just leave you to fend for yourself, once we get off the plane. We can see how you do without me. But I don’t think you’ll last very long…if at all.” He snickered behind a hand, enjoying being able to pester David so much. Especially after the whole haunted house fiasco.
Another four hours in the air. Approximately seven out of the twelve hours, they would be on the aircraft. Somewhere in between pestering David, watching a few programs on his laptop together, snacking, and interacting with his siblings; Byeol had fallen asleep again. Though ever the active sleeper, he’d managed to move from curled on his side against the window to, sloughing in the comfortable seat, and at least once or twice; his head had found its self on David’s arm or shoulder. Once fully awake, he stretched out his limbs, enjoying the pops from his joints for a moment. Only to have the eldest of his sisters, fuss at him about how the pins were coming undone. Just to end the ranting, Chan-bye moved to allow her to re-pin his hair.
Upon his return, he pulled out his laptop again and scooted closer to David. “Do you wanna watch another movie? I have all of the Lilo and Stitch ones, and the show. We should watch it.” He said, as he set it up. Not really giving his friend the option of not watching, and instead scooting even closer; pulling out a box of animal crackers and offering some to the man. “You can share it with me, since I’m such a nice person.” Chan-bye joked, as he played the first of movie of their marathon.
David regarded him with a mixture of distaste and amusement, a brow cocked and his expression otherwise flat. “Any evidence,” he made sure to emphasize the word for effect, “is either falsified or you brain playing tricks on you. If there were real ghosts, there’d be more proof than a few badly made television shows and some idiots claiming the impossible.” How he’d managed to get a word in edgewise was something that puzzled even him, but the short break between Chan-bye’s rapid-fire ranting had given him a moment of opportunity. One that’d likely be wasted on deaf ears, of course, but one he took all the same. “Your phobia is definitely ridiculous and you know it. All phobias are, that’s sort of the point of them. Irrational fears, and all that.” David rolled his eyes as Byeol continued, shaking his head. “Firstly, don’t call me that. Secondly, I’m not mad, you’re just exceptionally annoying,” he shot back childishly, sending a quick glare in his direction.
“I’m not old,” he retorted, shooting another dirty look toward Chan-bye, “you’re just young.” It wasn’t exactly a defense, but he’d rather die than admit that he could be considered old to some people. He was in his thirties, for god’s sake! Since when did that become ancient? “But either way, I’ll manage just fine, thanks. I have enough to keep myself busy for... however long we’re on this plane.” It was a lie, of course, but he wasn’t about to mention that he was already beginning to die of boredom. It’d barely been a few hours! He snorted as Byeol continued to argue with him, rolling his eyes for about the millionth time that day. “Look, kid. I’ve got enough tricks up my sleeve to make it anywhere -- yes, even Korea.” He was confident with his particular set of mutations that there weren’t any challenges he couldn’t overcome, and language barriers had never been a problem for him, before. “I’m not exactly helpless.” To further his point, his eyes flashed silver.
As soon as his companion had fallen asleep, he attempted to get more rest of his own, leaning his head back against his seat and trying to get comfortable. By the time he’d managed to get back into a position that didn’t bother him in some way, Byeol was snoring softly beside him -- or rather, on him. Grumbling under his breath, he shoved him away, and for the next several hours that was how he spent his time: dozing off and shoving away his friend every time he found him leaning against his shoulder. He’d finally managed to pass out around the time he felt Chan-bye shifting beside him, only to be forced back into consciousness by him slipping through the row to allow his sister to fix his hair. Resigning himself to spending the rest of the flight awake, he sighed as Byeol settled back into the seat beside him. “Oh, alright,” he said, shifting to crack his back, “I’ll watch your stupid cartoon with you. But only because you’re basically forcing me to,” he said, more teasingly than anything else. “You can eat your damn kid crackers by yourself.”
