&; mayday } seoah, jeongguk {
when the bombs go off jeongguk isn’t quote surprised. it’s the basic surprise: the loud noises, the crumbling, but the event doesn’t surprise him at all. it’s myeongcho; there’s always some act of what is essentially terrorism at events full of many people. myeongcho’s gangs always want to make a statement. they have a flare for dramatics, especially hydrus (and lynx, sometimes.)
he was there because he expected it. as soon as he arrived, however, he regretted it, hair on the back of his neck always on end, surrounded by so many people. he knew half of them were likely gang members, sneaking in or openly invited in under the guise of individuals of high status. many gang members were. some were like him, however: kids in over their heads, average families, no preceding gang fortune, no right to be in a place like this. he didn’t see many of them here, but he didn’t doubt that some grew out from that place. jeongguk still feels like he doesn’t belong here, all done up, glitz and glamour. it’s like the masquerade ball he went to years ago with iseul, but better now.
even the bombs are better, in a way, at least for jeongguk, but maybe he’s just more prepared now. he isn’t such a child-- isn’t so full of fear, but there’s still apprehension. there were phoenix members here, and protocol is dead, but jeongguk isn’t. all he can hope is that most of them know him through a computer and communicator than in person, or that he’s grown up significantly since his time in the gang or-- something. still, he can’t help but think he could’ve done all of the security work he’s supposed to be here for remotely.
yet the building caves in, everything is dark, and maybe he can do more work here than he could back at the police station.
he, friendlier and more empathetic than he once was, finds someone injured, twisted ankle of a sort, and helps him find some place safe. he ends up bringing him to people that appear to be treating wounds. of course there are medical personnel here. doctors have to be rich from an island like this. he wonders if they actually want to clean up the violence on this island or if they actually bask in it and the money it makes them. then again, they may not be legitimate doctors and just work for gangs.
it’s only after looking at the woman helping for a long time that he recognizes her. seoah. he wouldn’t ever forget her name. it’s her that helped kill protocol-- that treated the gunshot wound jeongguk was content to die from, and helped him play it off like he had. he owed her much, and...he was back, essentially erasing all of the work she did for him. she catches his gaze, and he can’t help but bow to her, both in greeting to a woman older than him and apologetically.
*[ @miseoah ]