WHO: yuwon kim & everyone! WHAT: adding another catch-all into the mix & quests! WHERE: all over neo-tokyo, will update accordingly. WHEN: will include in the headers if relevant! WARNINGS: none for now, maybe just general violence?
[ who knows how they've inevitably became partners here...
the fact of the matter is it took little for yuwon to approach others where it seemed necessary. while going alone wasn't any real skin off his back, he figured since his skill could be rather unreliable in the tunnels of the subway, it helped to at least have another body. maybe all it took was for their eyes to meet in the cafeteria, before he's all but told astarion a simple "follow me" without any other real explanation.
yuwon seems to remain equally tight-lipped even as they make it to the entrance way of where the map's directions end, and the unknown maze of tunnels begin. now that they're here and it's likely clear why he's brought the other man here, he finally opens his mouth. ]
How good are you at directions? [ all things considered, it may be a belated inquiry, but it doesn't come from his own lack of confidence, at least. it doesn't seem like yuwon is worried, either. he just stands there, shrugging into his coat which he takes out of his inventory. he figures the more equipment, the better. ]
((And I'M sorry for how long it took to reply, rough couple of weeks >:[))
[Astarion typically isn't one to be ordered around, but the way Yuwon had approached him and said "follow me" held enough intriguing mystery that he was compelled to do as told. He did wonder if it would be something sexual in nature--his past 200 years of being such an object of people's intrigues naturally made him leap to that thought first--but as it became more clear that wasn't the case he felt a mixed sense of disappointment but also relief.
Finally getting Yuwon to tell him what they would be doing, he remarks on how he wouldn't have followed if he had known, but even as it would have been easy for him to just turn and leave he still continued on with him. His whingingbark is worse than his bite, as it were. It was something to do, at least, and with company.
He blinks and turns his bemused attention to him, away from the entrance he was curiously looking into.]
Is that why you brought me? Do I exude the air of a man who is good at that?
no worries!!! welcome back and i hope things are better!
[ the fact the astarion could have taken his invitation in that way.... well, it simply didn't cross yuwon's mind at all. but, it wouldn't be the first that he's somehow evaded such considerations, and even now it's clear he's entirely all business about this. ]
Why else? You looked like you had the time to spare.
[ there's a small touch of something on his lips. not quite a full smile, but it's maybe the very start of one that never ends up finishing. his words were also meant to act as a reminder, just in case he wanted to back out now.
he also draws in closer, making sure to stand close to astarion, enough to confirm he's following him right in. ] And you look like someone who could do well in the dark. [ is this because he asked him about vampires all those months back.
[He sees that micro-smile, and he loathes it was obvious he was up to nothing at all that would prompt someone to make him do work.]
Nothing to be done about it, I'm already here, I might as well help.
[Entirely convincing, Astarion.
He eyes him as he steps closer, unsure if this was some form of flirting or Yuwon thinks himself a herding dog. With a vague roll of his eyes, he follows him without argument, heading down some stairs that have seen better days, but apparently the city was trying to fix such things up.]
I do have superior darkvision.
[Brag. As an elf he was able to see in the dark, but his curse did improve that even further--however, he doesn't quite remember if he revealed himself as a vampire to this man or not. Astarion had had a vague notion of keeping it secret when he first arrived, but soon realized it was a worthless secret to keep so he has been more forthcoming in the meantime...]
And, yes, an unfortunate familiarity for traversing foul undergrounds. [Mumbles:] At least this isn't sewer.
[ even if he had turned and left, yuwon might not have bothered giving chase. ... maybe. still, he seems pleased enough at the prospect that astarion is agreeing to help, even if the man... doesn't seem particularly enthused.
when he confirmed that he does have excellent sight in the dark, yuwon gives a nod. ] My eyes are pretty good, too. But two eyes are probably better. [ a shrug. ] What do you see so far? [ if it was a secret, at least yuwon wasn't the sort to bring it up readily, but even if astarion had divulged it, it might have just been something he keeps in the back of his mind. buried deep enough that he may as well have forgotten it. when it comes to abilities, however...
he'd remember this. ]
You travel through sewers? [ for fun and recreation? it didn't sound like it, but as they walk through, yuwon is also attempting to use his sensory field to get a better feel of where everything is, and if there was anyone close by. ]
[He steps easily through the darkness, paying attention to the littered ground and slinking between the obstacles like a fussy cat.]
Are they now? I have only known humans to have shite darkvision, unless they know how to cast a spell to help them, of course. Are you a magic user? And so far, all I see is debris and trash. This city produces a tremendous amount of rubbish.
[Baldur's Gate wasn't by any means the most pristine place, especially in the poorer areas where drunkard piss stain walls and dead vermin could be laying about without any regard by the people around it, but this so-called "modern" world was by the most cluttered with refuse and dead things hidden within all the plastic.
His sense of smell wasn't going to be much help here, but he keeps his ears out for any sounds of movement or even heartbeats.]
Not for pleasure, I assure you. [He grumbles.] But it was a quick and easy way in and out of the city.
Yeah, you could say it's something like that. [ he supposed his eyes themselves could constitute as a type of skill, and he did possess arcane power, so it wasn't exactly a lie. ] Which is why I have you.
[ he says, as if it's any kind of taxing at all. but, it's true that it was easier to rely on someone else than utilize his skills which were often hit or miss in this place. but, a tremendous amount of rubbish... ] Think most cities are like this. Your home wasn't like this then, I'm assuming?
[ maybe his world was more similar to that of the tower. ]
Then trash is better, right? So you should be happy to come along with me.
[ that's not how it works at all, but yuwon is mostly just making a (not funny) joke. ]
Hm. Either it is magic or it is not. I have noticed some folks from other worlds dislike calling it as such. Wonder why.
[He muses, somewhat rhetorically. He wasn't a big magic user after all, and not an utter magic nerd like Gale, so it isn't on his list of dire things to figure out.]
Oh, yes, that's why I sound so enthused to be leading you through here! Oh, take a big step here, hells if I can tell what that muck is.
[He does as he instructs, grimacing. It may not be a sewer proper, but that doesn't mean there wasn't sewage here or there. Or, what he knows of this world so far, it could be something worse than shitty water.]
But not quite like this, no, but in many ways, yes. Baldur's Gate is an impressive and grand city where I'm from, but its size and population holds no candle to here. There is no material like plastic, no vehicles like cars or airplanes, water may be polluted by dead fish or an errant deceased cow, maybe some aberrant poison slick, but not whatever is in the puddles that make them look like sickly rainbows...
[He rambles a bit as he picks his way through the tunnel, trusting Yuwon to copy him safely. He sounds as if he may even miss his home.]
It's not that I dislike it. You could say it's more like an item. But, it's true I use what you think of as magic, too. [ he supposed it wasn't a secret. still, calling his eyes an "item" did feel a bit ingenuous, but it also wasn't necessarily a lie, either.
his thoughts have a natural break as he leaps over the muck, as indicated by his present companion. he follows his lead diligently. occasionally, he offers a small nod of thanks, mostly at how easy the venture has been thus far. still, he doesn't let his guard down. ]
Baldur's Gate... [ he repeats. ] Then it might be similar to where I came from. [ not every floor was the same, but "baldur's gate" sounded like it could be a place anywhere below the 50th floor. ] But, maybe less sickly things. [ astarion is not selling this place...
but, he does detect a certain sort of fondness in it, maybe. he presumes most don't describe their home like this in such detail without thinking of it as an actual "home." ] So instead of technology, did you guys mostly use magic?
[ the subway system had always been an intricate design of manmade tunnels. he comprehends not many put a lot of thought into it beyond what it is provides in terms of transportation and its convenience. the subways of neo tokyo aren't too dissimilar from what he recalls of that in south korea, and specifically of the hongdae area. it reminds him a lot of the trial in which they spent an exhaustive time below the ground, fighting monsters.
however, unlike that time, he isn't entirely alone.
not that he spent all of it in solitude, but he may as well have. unlike those days where he utilized others out of convenience, he is here with hunter, maybe partially out of convenience, but also because he didn't mind his presence here. before they progress, yuwon closes his eyes momentarily, before pointing down a fork in the road. ]
I think I sense someone down this way.
[ but, before they move on he asks: ] Are you okay? [ he knows they've all been through a lot since they've met up again, and he figures all they had is time down in this place. for once, he isn't in a rush, nor is he caught up objective after objective. instead, he feels the most stagnant he has in a while.
[ hunter is always biting off more than he can chew and filling his downtime with work and missions because he doesn't know how to exist any other way, but some part of him is happy just to be spending this time with yuwon. yuwon's cool. hunter likes him. not only that, but he's an extremely powerful and capable tracker, fighter, and apparently... wolf tamer ]
I can go ahead and check it out.
[ and give yuwon and any passengers a ride on flapjack.... ]
[ but then he pauses as yuwon asks if he's okay, looking up at him with slightly widened yes. the answer is always no, for the record, but hunter's lost several people important to him. that being said-- ]
Shouldn't I be asking you that? I mean... Rodya...
[ yuwon isn't sure what response he expected back.
but, it's definitely not this.
he pauses, half-wondering what hunter's actual response would have been, and the other half genuinely contemplative about his own thoughts. maybe there are none, or that's the façade he's desperately trying to keep up. this wouldn't be the first time he's experienced a sense of loss, and the only real comfort here is the fact that it isn't like she died off all of a sudden. but, is returning back to the city any better of a fate?
his thoughts muddle together and for a moment, he forgets he wasn't moving his feet anymore. he stands a bit behind hunter, before turning back towards him. ] I'm the same as always. [ he has to be. there was no direction for him to move, but forward. it's not like him being stuck in the same place would solidify her standing back in her world, or bring her back. a truth he knows all to well, even when he knows he shouldn't just being digesting these facts like he's reading the morning paper.
instead, he moves a hand to pat hunter on the head. maybe his own sign of vulnerability amongst the mask of forced neutrality that never really slips off his face. ] Let's just focus on this for now. I'll hear what you have to say after.
[ about how he feels and if he's the one okay. while yuwon never really had the room to worry about another person, it's not like he's totally disinterested in what hunter has to say. no, maybe it was quite the opposite. besides, hunter is here. ]
[ yuwon: are you okay ] [ hunter: are YOU okay ] [ yuwon: anyway let's focus on something else ]
[ hunter never really had anyone to lose, before arriving here. he was almost completely alone, aside from flapjack. who he couldn't ever contemplate losing, anyway. if they were ever separated for more than a day.... he probably couldn't handle it. it's not something he ever thinks about. or can afford to think about ]
[ since getting here, though, it's been different. he had friends. people he cared about. one by one, they'd started disappearing. leaving a kind of emptiness and pain behind that hunter doesn't know how to deal with it. ]
[ but rodya is yuwon's partner, isn't he? that must mean the pain and emptiness is one hundred fold ]
Sad?
[ hunter asks, because he doesn't know how yuwon wouldn't be sad, even as strong as he is. ]
[ he makes a face at the headpat and scrunches his eyes closed, not really sure how to deal with it. he's gotten a couple of these now ]
... Okay, fine. It's probably dangerous to stay here for too long.
[ what if there are kaiju in the deep dark tunnels... ]
in a strange way, them exchanging these questions with no real answers is almost a comfort to yuwon. as if it were expressing the idea or concept of his feelings without him having to parse through or divulge what they actually are. it's still a type of companionship he hasn't had for a long stretch of time. after all, a lot of his burdens in the tower were locked behind the secret of his regression and by extension... he had no choice but to wade through the pool of these conflicting emotions alone.
now, at least he has the option not to.
even if it's debatable if he'll take it. but, the way his expression seems to soften in the dim lights of the subway tunnels... probably tells more than he lets on. ] Not just that. [ maybe like with wriothesley, it's a sense of guilt, too.
yeah, there should be one. maybe one attacking this poor lost person in the distance. at least they're traveling in that general direction now, and almost on cue to hunter's statement they hear a scream at the end of this tunnel where it forks into another subway line. ] Let's go before there aren't any people to bring back.
[ at least yuwon admitted he was sad. that's something ]
[ hunter tries to keep an eye on yuwon while still being aware of their surroundings -- he's expecting things to cave in, or for a giant worm monster to leap out or something. things that would happen in the boiling isles. but he's not unobservant. he's noticed with yuwon that he's not as stoic as he comes across, and his face can be expressive. even if it's hard to read expressions in dim lightning ]
We can talk after.
[ it's more of a request than a statement, but hunter snaps back to business easily when the scream resounds. he picks up the pace, gripping his flapjack, disappearing in a flash of golden light and reappearing several feet away. this process repeats until he's closer and closer to the fork. gotta go fast.... ]
unfortunately this progress does not move at the leap speed of flapjack and sonic. however, all the matters now is that they're picking up their pace and chasing the source of the voice. in the tunnel it seems to resound and echo back with ever pressing urgency. what awaits them there is a kaiju that may have been loose from somewhere in nature, it looks similar to the boars in kyoto, actually. or at least it mimics it in size.
in front of the kaiju is a person who seems to have got their foot trapped between a corner of the subway which seems to have been under some type of construction. considering that it looks like hunter is ahead of him, he looks up to him, gesturing which one he wants to take care of first. ]
[ they can talk more about feelings (or not talk) after the mission. but right now, they're coming up on the civilian and the kaiju. flapjack transforms into staff form, and hunter grips it ]
I've got it.
[ the flash of golden light and movement gets the boar's attention, and it squeals loudly, pawing at the ground, a tell-tale sign it's going to attack ]
[ hunter sticks its tongue out at it ]
Come and get me, you oversized pig demon!
[ well.... he did get its attention. do your think, yuwon!! ]
yuwon is genuinely surprised that works. he half-wonders if they understood hunter, or if they simply reacted to sound alone. it wouldn't exactly be surprising considering the acoustics in this tunnel...
regardless, he takes this time to slip past their defenses. once he gets there, he lefts the debris in order to help the subway employee slip right out. with that said, his eyes look back to hunter who has one angry boar charging towards him at high speed. it kind of reminds yuwon of the cows from that one trial... but hopefully it's just a weak.
the boar squeals out with a ... surprisingly cute noise. good luck killing it, hunter... ]
[ from the way it fixates on the sound of hunter's (allegedly annoying) voice, it seems like it's more the latter than the former. either way, hunter keeps taunting it, making sure to make as much of a display as possible. he sees it charging and grins to himself -- confident in the knowledge that yuwon is successfully helping the civilians while he's here being a ding dong ]
[ the squeal is cute, but the creature is still deadly, so when it tries to gore hunter with its tusks, he disappears in a flash of golden light -- and then appears above it, flapjack (in staff form) gripped tightly in one hand, aaaand--- shoots ice at its head! ouch ]
[ stop... hunter's voice is perfect. the boar was drawn to the voice of an angel, an angel who happened to be provoking him. regardless, he supposes hunter does deserve to be proud of his efforts, if just because results were the most important thing. (probably)
he watches, even as he helps the civilian settle on his feet, as hunter moves right into action. the ice he shoots is enough to make the boar roll over in pain, before attempting to run in the other direction. while not helping in the actual battle, yuwon does use his flames to create an barrier between this opening in the subway and the way out; mostly to ensure even if the boar runs, it doesn't escape off into somewhere in the expanse of the tunnels.
also, yuwon is curious to see how hunter fights. not that he hasn't seen it before, but that he was still largely unfamiliar with the powers of other worlds. ]
[ it's one of the rare moments where hunter actually gets to feel cocky about something -- their plan is succeeding. he is hesitant to actually kill the thing, even if it is a dangerous beast, but he can't let it rampage around the tunnels and risk hurting innocent civilians ]
Get back here!
[ just to get its attention back on him -- as hunter disappears in a flash of golden light, then reappears over it. he reaches into his glove, to retrieve a lightning sword from hammerspace ]
[ yuwon please come and look cool, hunter looks too competent ]
that also seems to be the philosophy yuwon employs, as he just watches as hunter catches up to the creature, with his sword ready to go. if there is one thing he offers, it's a: ] If you aim for the legs, I can kill it.
[ if there is one person...
who doesn't mind killing it, it's definitely yuwon. ]
[ i'm glad yuwon wants hunter to look cool. what a good and cool niichan ]
Got it. Ready?
[ that's as much warning as yuwon gets as hunter, with a cocky grin, whips out the thunder sword again and starts hacking at the creature's legs, aiming to disable it ]
[ considering the tumultuous journey, including but not limited to hunter getting run over by godzilla (jk, he probably didn't witness that), he uses whatever time they spend taking a short pit stop from the journey to slip out of the camper van. he figures he could probably find a decent place amidst the other stopped vans to get some actual rest.
even now he feels the vibrations of the music that was playing in the van the entire journey there and his brows furrow together momentarily. this is where he finds a van with its windows ajar, and uses this opportunity to slip right in.
without even seeing if there's anyone there, his aim to jump in and land right on the plush bed that's directly below... that's the plan, at least. but he probably shouldn't have made it seem like he's sneaking in. oops. ]
Jinwoo is somewhat grateful he wasn't assigned to that one. It's not that he needs a lot of sleep to function, especially when there's a mission to accomplish, but he doesn't think he would be able to handle the constant noise. That said, he's crawled out of bed at the very moment someone decides to slip right in the window.
The shadows in the area flicker. All it takes is a split-second. Depending on how fast Yuwon reacts, the guy just might find himself staring down Beru's sharp claws pointed at his neck while Jinwoo stands right behind him with a dagger in hand. His eyes glow an intense shade of violet.
except, they were missing the best bachelor of all, jinwoo-hyung. that said, he doesn't exactly expect the man from the network to be greeting him here like this with his eyes glowing, and with a ... strange companion in tow. fortunately, while yuwon isn't wearing his full equipment, he does have his glove on and he uses it to stop the claws that are pointed at his neck, a black-purple flame emitting from them, and a certain heat can be felt.
while his eyes do widen for a brief moment, they soon seem to settle into the dim lighting of the camper van, and the first thing he says is: ] No. I came here to rest. [ he says this matter of factly, as if it shouldn't have posed any issues. even if he literally came in from the window. ]
Do you do this to everyone who stops by?
you're not a webtoon protag without glowing eyes tbh
[ why bother with jinwoo-hyung when they have yuwon-oppa??
The flame makes Beru hiss, claws retrieved soon after as recognition hits. At least Beru has been diligently keeping up with who's who because Jinwoo certainly isn't. My liege— he withdraws completely, manifesting by Jinwoo's shoulder as a much smaller version of himself. This man is Kim Yuwon! An ally!
That dissipates every hint of tension in Jinwoo's body, his posture shifting into something sheepish. ]
... Only the ones who sneak in through the window.
[ The dagger is gone too, so his hand comes up to rest at the back of his neck. ]
there's a brief pause as he watches over their movements. his eyes clearly assessing the two of them as he awaits their final verdict. as soon as jinwoo's stance relaxes, so does yuwon's. except, maybe there isn't much a notable difference, except the fact that his flames have also dispersed as quickly as they burned.
he's a bit relieved, if just because he doesn't actually know what the man's skills are like, but maybe his abilities would be comparable to high rankers in the tower? or that's the impression his title gave. shadow monarch something something... as far as he knew, titles tended to be difficult to achieve, after all.
either way, yuwon decides not to speculate, and instead he is already settling onto the bed as if jinwo didn't pull a dagger out of nowhere at him. his legs hanging off the bed as he lays back at a full recline. he speaks, while idly stretching. ] I did. [ ??? ] Or, well... it's not like I was purposely using a stealth skill.
[ okay, that's not the same thing at all, but... ]
Beru flickers in and out of existence, watching Yuwon carefully before Jinwoo finally dismisses him. He vanishes within a blink of an eye, and so Jinwoo is left settling down on the edge of his own bed. The camper vans aren't the most comfortable place to sleep, but feeling his body sink onto the mattress is enough to remind him of how tired he is. ]
You weren't, but it's still safer to knock.
[ After all, Yuwon saw firsthand that Jinwoo has overprotective guard dogs. Beru was the first one to move before he realized someone entered the vehicle. ]
At least I'd get to ask questions first. [ Before he attacks, that is. Not that he would, but y'know. ] What happened to your camper van?
naturally, he has a lot of questions, but none of them actually end up making their way out of his mouth. he supposed when it was time to fight, they'd all find out, anyway. there wasn't any real reason to focus in on it now, especially now that they're both just on their beds.
their beds, like it always belonged to him. ]
Am I supposed to guess that it's unsafe? Who else is here, but us and your buddy?
[ saying it like he's blaming jinwoo.... ]
It was too noisy. They played music the whole way here. [ gave him strange nicknames like "grumpy," and... can a hedgehog drive a van? yuwon isn't sure, but he doesn't want to think of that now. ]
Luckily for Yuwon, that bed wasn't taken by anyone. It's his for as long as he wants it, and Jinwoo doesn't have the energy to make a fuss over it after a long day of driving and testing out his limits. It's a relief to finally sit still for a moment, but he doesn't quite relax completely. Even now, his body hums with lingering energy, always prepared for something unexpected.
He eyes Yuwon sprawled out on the bed, looking far too comfortable despite the fact that just minutes ago, Jinwoo had nearly attacked him. ]
You never know. Someone could be trying to pull a fast one on us.
[ Spoken like someone who's used to getting hunted down... Anyway. ]
Noisy, huh? I didn't think you were part of that van. [ rip ] You should've just told them to shut up.
[ he can't be the only one to enjoy the jinwoo thirst traps... he needs to become worldwide
even if it was taken, he'd probably still feel pretty comfortable taking it up. it wouldn't be the first time he's stolen someone's choice napping spot. but maybe it is a relief that jinwoo isn't trying to fight him for it at least. the thought does get a small exhale of humor out of him, even if it comes with zero context.
still, he does think about jinwoo's reaction and he concludes that maybe the enemies his profile spoke of were viciously persistent. they must be. ]
On us, or you? [ lol. ]
Do you think all the people here are good at listening?
When Yuwon is trying to point out the semantics, Jinwoo can only shake his head. ]
Does it matter? You know what I meant.
[ Maybe he's warning the wrong guy. After all, that flame looked intriguing enough to make him wary. It's probably a good thing a fight didn't break out between the two of them, because he's not sure the camper van would've been able to withstand it. Same goes for the surrounding area. ]
That bad, huh? Then, you can stay here if you want. Nanami-ssi and I aren't that into parties.
he also shakes his head, even if he may be angled in a way that's not easy for jinwoo to see it. ] Doesn't it? If they're after you, what do I have to worry about? [ he says like this van isn't small enough where he'd be involved, whether he liked it or not. ]
I wasn't exactly asking for permission. But, thanks. [ there's no actual ill will to his words, however. just a touch of ironic humor, before he seems to move on easily enough. ] Really? Are amusement parks different?
[ HELLO??? i'm crying, the anime truly made that scene so much thirstier
Anyway, Jinwoo can only exhale a soft sigh. ]
You shouldn't have to worry about anything. I'll handle it myself, if they manage to find me here.
[ Honestly, he wouldn't put it past Antares to figure out where he's been whisked away, but until that happens, it'll probably be fine. Not that he'll stop ever being just a tiny bit paranoid.
Also, wow?? This guy?? ]
Funny you should say that, but the rides barely did anything to me. Guess they kinda lose their thrill when you're an S-Rank hunter.
[ now the ppl of syn just need their fix π₯Ί ( jinwoo voice ) just a little poke
the statement does get a curious sort of hum. he isn't sure if he finds jinwoo's confidence more entertaining, or the idea that he has enemies that must just be that persistent. he'd feel sorry for him if he were the type to, or so he thinks. ]
From what you said, they seem like a lot of trouble. So is that possible? [ for him not to involve anyone? either way, it's clear from yuwon's tone, he's not going to push the point. ]
Then what's thrilling for an S-rank hunter? [ he wonders if that was on par to being a high ranker in the tower, or if it's a power that exceeded that. looks like people really enjoyed their rankings... ]
That question gives him pause, making Jinwoo consider what to say. ]
... Who knows. But too many people have died already, so I won't let that happen again.
[ If that means he has to shoulder that burden on his own, then that's fine. He was already heading down that path regardless. ]
As for what's thrilling— a good fight? I haven't really thought about it. I didn't have a lot of free time once I was reassessed as one to figure that out.
Edited (it was just that one date...) 2025-02-10 02:47 (UTC)
he seems like a decent perso, maybe. not that yuwon passes such judgment easily, but he gets the feeling the words are sincere. perhaps, because they're too much the result of a sudden spur of conversation that he can't see it as anything else. ] I didn't realize people dying is your responsibility.
[ he says with a shrug, but he means more of himself.
still— he does smile when he hears the s-rank hunter's answer.
a good fight. ] Are you the kind of guy where that's all you think about? I'm surprised. [ but, it's not unfamiliar in some ways, and maybe that's why he likes it. jinwoo's answer, that is. ] Well, you'll have plenty of time to see if that's still what you find fun.
That earns a small huff, and then Jinwoo is settling into an even more comfortable position in bed. He remains facing the other man since sleep hasn't quite shaken off the lingering excess of tension in his body. It feels like he's revealed a lot of himself in so few words, but it's fine. At least what he's been saying is the truth. ]
If you want me to look away if something happens to you, I can do that.
[ It's a joke, but also? That'll be one less person to worry about if Yuwon says so!! ]
And what's the point of having all this strength if I can't put it to good use, right? [ Fighting someone stronger is always more interesting than the alternative, after all. ] But that's what people keep telling me. I'm curious how strong this imugi really is.
he can see jinwoo getting settled into bed from the corner of his eye, and he thinks he can relate somehow. that feeling of never truly allowing your mind to rest. even if the source of their worries were likely known only to themselves. it's also true that he trusts more in what he sees, and from that, maybe he feels like it's not like he has absolutely zero trust in jinwoo. ]
Do it. But, I'll do the same right back.
[ not that yuwon typically worries about other people to begin with, and it probably shows in the almost disinterest tone in which he says it. ]
Good, because I also don't leaving my hands idle. [ meaning, he'd ideally like to see him in action. but, more importantly: ] You mentioned leveling up. [ or his profile did. ] Have you done that here at all? [ ... and was the imugi a means to that? yuwon isn't sure if his own stats have really changed at all. ]
[ At least the two of them are the same page when it comes to that. Jinwoo also has an inkling that Yuwon can stand his ground on his own, but then again— the last time he thought very similarly, things unraveled faster than he realized. Well. Maybe it'll just be something he'll keep at the back of his mind.
He glances at the other man once he asks about the whole deal with leveling up. It takes him a moment to think of how he should answer this. ]
... It's hard to say. The system that allowed me to level up is already gone, so I might not be able to anymore. But who knows? The imugi just might give me enough points.
[ He sounds like a nerd, but leveling up has always been fun to him. Anyway. ]
You asked about titles before. Did you experience something similar?
[ from the beginning until this point. of course, it's based purely off speculation. the system also didn't apply here for him, either, and so he couldn't ascertain if that was the truth. if he had only one single thing to go by, it was the simple fact that he simply didn't feel any stronger. ]
But, don't you know it's rude to ask someone about their titles, levels, or stats? [ says yuwon who literally started it with his question on leveling up. but, it was also a fact that it was typically considered overly invasive in the tower. ]
Though, if I had to say, I might have come from somewhere where we had similar conventions. [ ... and while he's acting relatively composed about it, it is surprising to hear more about jinwoo's experiences, if just because... oddly enough, he could relate. as opposed to most people who compared such things to video games.
but, listen if jinwoo wants to maplestory, he'll meet him in kerning city. ]
[ calling out both your characters like this i'm so sorry
But either way, Jinwoo doesn't know how to feel about what he just heard. That this guy's stats haven't changed. He'd suspected that will be the case, but it doesn't mean he has to be happy hearing it practically confirmed. Maybe it'll be a different story once he fights against the imugi, but who knows? He might be better off expecting nothing will change at this point. ]
Does that mean there were others who also had stats that can change in your world? Because in mine, I was the only one who can level up.
[ They might as well compare notes since neither of them are attempting to get any sleep. Plus, this is a first for him. To meet someone who can understand what he'd been through. ]
[ in theory, is this his fault? probably, but he is refusing to take responsibility for it, even if he was the one who sparked this line of conversation. though, maybe it was worth it, if just because he feels like they did stumble upon some parallels. minus— ]
Yeah, anyone could do it. Some were more successful at it than others. I would also say a lot of people die... from the start, or simply give up and remain whatever level they were when they enter the tower. [ which is why floor 1 was so... occupied. ]
How does it feel being the only one who can level? [ he can't envision it would be very good. but, also: ] Does that mean some people just start off with higher stats? [ did that make them like like the purebreds of the tower? ]
[ Jinwoo wonders what that must have been like. To have many others be capable of becoming stronger just like him, because he knows a few who would've loved to have that chance. Maybe it would have tipped the scales, but he doubts things would change that much for him. He's only ever had one goal in mind. ]
... Some people don't want to fight, so I can't blame them for keeping the same level.
[ It makes him think of people like Lee Joohee or Min Byung-gu. Not everyone thinks like him. ]
But how it works in my world is that your mana levels are assessed when you awaken, and whatever rank you're given is what you get. It's probably a good thing that I was the only one who can level because I know a few people who would've taken advantage of it, and not in a good way.
[ ... ]
Where do you fall? Are you the strongest where you're from?
Yeah, I figure. There are guys who amass power for all kinds of reason.
[ some did it just to increase their rank, or show off their stength. others did it to poison the tower and extend their influence all throughout. some even had connections with the outer gods themselves and acted as no more than their vessels, but yuwon doesn't want to think about that now.
he can't say one way is better than another. though, as someone who regressed and felt entirely alone in his venture, he could probably say with some level of conviction that he wouldn't envy jinwoo being the only one could level up. regardless, he shakes his head. ]
Being the only one... [ well, jinwoo should be powerful. yuwon can't help but have the same question on the tip of his tongue, but jinwoo beats him to the punch.
yuwon pauses, before he says matter-of-factly: ] I don't even rank. I'm just a player. [ as opposed to a "ranker." it's not a lie, but it probably didn't encompass the full truth, either. which is why he follows it up with: ] But, I can hold my own when I need to.
[ The look on Jinwoo's face says it all. He doesn't entirely believe it when Yuwon says that he's merely a player, because Jinwoo himself is one too, and look at what that meant in his world. Not that he'll pry any further, because he doesn't care all that much in the end.
He's sure the fight against the imugi will bring out the truth one way or another. ]
That's funny. I'm a player too, or I used to be. [ Well. He's sure his profile from before made that clear, but since they're playing let's give the least amount of information possible... It's only fair, isn't it? ]
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january.
astarion.
the fact of the matter is it took little for yuwon to approach others where it seemed necessary. while going alone wasn't any real skin off his back, he figured since his skill could be rather unreliable in the tunnels of the subway, it helped to at least have another body. maybe all it took was for their eyes to meet in the cafeteria, before he's all but told astarion a simple "follow me" without any other real explanation.
yuwon seems to remain equally tight-lipped even as they make it to the entrance way of where the map's directions end, and the unknown maze of tunnels begin. now that they're here and it's likely clear why he's brought the other man here, he finally opens his mouth. ]
How good are you at directions? [ all things considered, it may be a belated inquiry, but it doesn't come from his own lack of confidence, at least. it doesn't seem like yuwon is worried, either. he just stands there, shrugging into his coat which he takes out of his inventory. he figures the more equipment, the better. ]
((And I'M sorry for how long it took to reply, rough couple of weeks >:[))
Finally getting Yuwon to tell him what they would be doing, he remarks on how he wouldn't have followed if he had known, but even as it would have been easy for him to just turn and leave he still continued on with him. His
whingingbark is worse than his bite, as it were. It was something to do, at least, and with company.He blinks and turns his bemused attention to him, away from the entrance he was curiously looking into.]
Is that why you brought me? Do I exude the air of a man who is good at that?
no worries!!! welcome back and i hope things are better!
Why else? You looked like you had the time to spare.
[ there's a small touch of something on his lips. not quite a full smile, but it's maybe the very start of one that never ends up finishing. his words were also meant to act as a reminder, just in case he wanted to back out now.
he also draws in closer, making sure to stand close to astarion, enough to confirm he's following him right in. ] And you look like someone who could do well in the dark. [ is this because he asked him about vampires all those months back.
maybe. ]
((thank you!))
Nothing to be done about it, I'm already here, I might as well help.
[Entirely convincing, Astarion.
He eyes him as he steps closer, unsure if this was some form of flirting or Yuwon thinks himself a herding dog. With a vague roll of his eyes, he follows him without argument, heading down some stairs that have seen better days, but apparently the city was trying to fix such things up.]
I do have superior darkvision.
[Brag. As an elf he was able to see in the dark, but his curse did improve that even further--however, he doesn't quite remember if he revealed himself as a vampire to this man or not. Astarion had had a vague notion of keeping it secret when he first arrived, but soon realized it was a worthless secret to keep so he has been more forthcoming in the meantime...]
And, yes, an unfortunate familiarity for traversing foul undergrounds. [Mumbles:] At least this isn't sewer.
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when he confirmed that he does have excellent sight in the dark, yuwon gives a nod. ] My eyes are pretty good, too. But two eyes are probably better. [ a shrug. ] What do you see so far? [ if it was a secret, at least yuwon wasn't the sort to bring it up readily, but even if astarion had divulged it, it might have just been something he keeps in the back of his mind. buried deep enough that he may as well have forgotten it. when it comes to abilities, however...
he'd remember this. ]
You travel through sewers? [ for fun and recreation? it didn't sound like it, but as they walk through, yuwon is also attempting to use his sensory field to get a better feel of where everything is, and if there was anyone close by. ]
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Are they now? I have only known humans to have shite darkvision, unless they know how to cast a spell to help them, of course. Are you a magic user? And so far, all I see is debris and trash. This city produces a tremendous amount of rubbish.
[Baldur's Gate wasn't by any means the most pristine place, especially in the poorer areas where drunkard piss stain walls and dead vermin could be laying about without any regard by the people around it, but this so-called "modern" world was by the most cluttered with refuse and dead things hidden within all the plastic.
His sense of smell wasn't going to be much help here, but he keeps his ears out for any sounds of movement or even heartbeats.]
Not for pleasure, I assure you. [He grumbles.] But it was a quick and easy way in and out of the city.
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[ he says, as if it's any kind of taxing at all. but, it's true that it was easier to rely on someone else than utilize his skills which were often hit or miss in this place. but, a tremendous amount of rubbish... ] Think most cities are like this. Your home wasn't like this then, I'm assuming?
[ maybe his world was more similar to that of the tower. ]
Then trash is better, right? So you should be happy to come along with me.
[ that's not how it works at all, but yuwon is mostly just making a (not funny) joke. ]
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[He muses, somewhat rhetorically. He wasn't a big magic user after all, and not an utter magic nerd like Gale, so it isn't on his list of dire things to figure out.]
Oh, yes, that's why I sound so enthused to be leading you through here! Oh, take a big step here, hells if I can tell what that muck is.
[He does as he instructs, grimacing. It may not be a sewer proper, but that doesn't mean there wasn't sewage here or there. Or, what he knows of this world so far, it could be something worse than shitty water.]
But not quite like this, no, but in many ways, yes. Baldur's Gate is an impressive and grand city where I'm from, but its size and population holds no candle to here. There is no material like plastic, no vehicles like cars or airplanes, water may be polluted by dead fish or an errant deceased cow, maybe some aberrant poison slick, but not whatever is in the puddles that make them look like sickly rainbows...
[He rambles a bit as he picks his way through the tunnel, trusting Yuwon to copy him safely. He sounds as if he may even miss his home.]
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his thoughts have a natural break as he leaps over the muck, as indicated by his present companion. he follows his lead diligently. occasionally, he offers a small nod of thanks, mostly at how easy the venture has been thus far. still, he doesn't let his guard down. ]
Baldur's Gate... [ he repeats. ] Then it might be similar to where I came from. [ not every floor was the same, but "baldur's gate" sounded like it could be a place anywhere below the 50th floor. ] But, maybe less sickly things. [ astarion is not selling this place...
but, he does detect a certain sort of fondness in it, maybe. he presumes most don't describe their home like this in such detail without thinking of it as an actual "home." ] So instead of technology, did you guys mostly use magic?
hunter.
however, unlike that time, he isn't entirely alone.
not that he spent all of it in solitude, but he may as well have. unlike those days where he utilized others out of convenience, he is here with hunter, maybe partially out of convenience, but also because he didn't mind his presence here. before they progress, yuwon closes his eyes momentarily, before pointing down a fork in the road. ]
I think I sense someone down this way.
[ but, before they move on he asks: ] Are you okay? [ he knows they've all been through a lot since they've met up again, and he figures all they had is time down in this place. for once, he isn't in a rush, nor is he caught up objective after objective. instead, he feels the most stagnant he has in a while.
is that better? ]
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I can go ahead and check it out.
[ and give yuwon and any passengers a ride on flapjack.... ]
[ but then he pauses as yuwon asks if he's okay, looking up at him with slightly widened yes. the answer is always no, for the record, but hunter's lost several people important to him. that being said-- ]
Shouldn't I be asking you that? I mean... Rodya...
[ your girlfriend, bro :( ]
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but, it's definitely not this.
he pauses, half-wondering what hunter's actual response would have been, and the other half genuinely contemplative about his own thoughts. maybe there are none, or that's the façade he's desperately trying to keep up. this wouldn't be the first time he's experienced a sense of loss, and the only real comfort here is the fact that it isn't like she died off all of a sudden. but, is returning back to the city any better of a fate?
his thoughts muddle together and for a moment, he forgets he wasn't moving his feet anymore. he stands a bit behind hunter, before turning back towards him. ] I'm the same as always. [ he has to be. there was no direction for him to move, but forward. it's not like him being stuck in the same place would solidify her standing back in her world, or bring her back. a truth he knows all to well, even when he knows he shouldn't just being digesting these facts like he's reading the morning paper.
instead, he moves a hand to pat hunter on the head. maybe his own sign of vulnerability amongst the mask of forced neutrality that never really slips off his face. ] Let's just focus on this for now. I'll hear what you have to say after.
[ about how he feels and if he's the one okay. while yuwon never really had the room to worry about another person, it's not like he's totally disinterested in what hunter has to say. no, maybe it was quite the opposite. besides, hunter is here. ]
THE WAY I DIDN'T GET THIS NOTIF
[ hunter: are YOU okay ]
[ yuwon: anyway let's focus on something else ]
[ hunter never really had anyone to lose, before arriving here. he was almost completely alone, aside from flapjack. who he couldn't ever contemplate losing, anyway. if they were ever separated for more than a day.... he probably couldn't handle it. it's not something he ever thinks about. or can afford to think about ]
[ since getting here, though, it's been different. he had friends. people he cared about. one by one, they'd started disappearing. leaving a kind of emptiness and pain behind that hunter doesn't know how to deal with it. ]
[ but rodya is yuwon's partner, isn't he? that must mean the pain and emptiness is one hundred fold ]
Sad?
[ hunter asks, because he doesn't know how yuwon wouldn't be sad, even as strong as he is. ]
[ he makes a face at the headpat and scrunches his eyes closed, not really sure how to deal with it. he's gotten a couple of these now ]
... Okay, fine. It's probably dangerous to stay here for too long.
[ what if there are kaiju in the deep dark tunnels... ]
dw is trying to protect u
in a strange way, them exchanging these questions with no real answers is almost a comfort to yuwon. as if it were expressing the idea or concept of his feelings without him having to parse through or divulge what they actually are. it's still a type of companionship he hasn't had for a long stretch of time. after all, a lot of his burdens in the tower were locked behind the secret of his regression and by extension... he had no choice but to wade through the pool of these conflicting emotions alone.
now, at least he has the option not to.
even if it's debatable if he'll take it. but, the way his expression seems to soften in the dim lights of the subway tunnels... probably tells more than he lets on. ] Not just that. [ maybe like with wriothesley, it's a sense of guilt, too.
yeah, there should be one. maybe one attacking this poor lost person in the distance. at least they're traveling in that general direction now, and almost on cue to hunter's statement they hear a scream at the end of this tunnel where it forks into another subway line. ] Let's go before there aren't any people to bring back.
no dw is DEPRIVING ME!!!! OF BIJOU!! :(
[ hunter tries to keep an eye on yuwon while still being aware of their surroundings -- he's expecting things to cave in, or for a giant worm monster to leap out or something. things that would happen in the boiling isles. but he's not unobservant. he's noticed with yuwon that he's not as stoic as he comes across, and his face can be expressive. even if it's hard to read expressions in dim lightning ]
We can talk after.
[ it's more of a request than a statement, but hunter snaps back to business easily when the scream resounds. he picks up the pace, gripping his flapjack, disappearing in a flash of golden light and reappearing several feet away. this process repeats until he's closer and closer to the fork. gotta go fast.... ]
sipp π₯Ί
unfortunately this progress does not move at the leap speed of flapjack and sonic. however, all the matters now is that they're picking up their pace and chasing the source of the voice. in the tunnel it seems to resound and echo back with ever pressing urgency. what awaits them there is a kaiju that may have been loose from somewhere in nature, it looks similar to the boars in kyoto, actually. or at least it mimics it in size.
in front of the kaiju is a person who seems to have got their foot trapped between a corner of the subway which seems to have been under some type of construction. considering that it looks like hunter is ahead of him, he looks up to him, gesturing which one he wants to take care of first. ]
If you engage the kaiju, I can free them.
β€οΈ
I've got it.
[ the flash of golden light and movement gets the boar's attention, and it squeals loudly, pawing at the ground, a tell-tale sign it's going to attack ]
[ hunter sticks its tongue out at it ]
Come and get me, you oversized pig demon!
[ well.... he did get its attention. do your think, yuwon!! ]
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yuwon is genuinely surprised that works. he half-wonders if they understood hunter, or if they simply reacted to sound alone. it wouldn't exactly be surprising considering the acoustics in this tunnel...
regardless, he takes this time to slip past their defenses. once he gets there, he lefts the debris in order to help the subway employee slip right out. with that said, his eyes look back to hunter who has one angry boar charging towards him at high speed. it kind of reminds yuwon of the cows from that one trial... but hopefully it's just a weak.
the boar squeals out with a ... surprisingly cute noise. good luck killing it, hunter... ]
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[ the squeal is cute, but the creature is still deadly, so when it tries to gore hunter with its tusks, he disappears in a flash of golden light -- and then appears above it, flapjack (in staff form) gripped tightly in one hand, aaaand--- shoots ice at its head! ouch ]
why did i make so many typos
he watches, even as he helps the civilian settle on his feet, as hunter moves right into action. the ice he shoots is enough to make the boar roll over in pain, before attempting to run in the other direction. while not helping in the actual battle, yuwon does use his flames to create an barrier between this opening in the subway and the way out; mostly to ensure even if the boar runs, it doesn't escape off into somewhere in the expanse of the tunnels.
also, yuwon is curious to see how hunter fights. not that he hasn't seen it before, but that he was still largely unfamiliar with the powers of other worlds. ]
i didn't even notice
Get back here!
[ just to get its attention back on him -- as hunter disappears in a flash of golden light, then reappears over it. he reaches into his glove, to retrieve a lightning sword from hammerspace ]
[ yuwon please come and look cool, hunter looks too competent ]
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that also seems to be the philosophy yuwon employs, as he just watches as hunter catches up to the creature, with his sword ready to go. if there is one thing he offers, it's a: ] If you aim for the legs, I can kill it.
[ if there is one person...
who doesn't mind killing it, it's definitely yuwon. ]
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Got it. Ready?
[ that's as much warning as yuwon gets as hunter, with a cocky grin, whips out the thunder sword again and starts hacking at the creature's legs, aiming to disable it ]
february.
jinwoo-hyung(?)
even now he feels the vibrations of the music that was playing in the van the entire journey there and his brows furrow together momentarily. this is where he finds a van with its windows ajar, and uses this opportunity to slip right in.
without even seeing if there's anyone there, his aim to jump in and land right on the plush bed that's directly below... that's the plan, at least. but he probably shouldn't have made it seem like he's sneaking in. oops. ]
yuwon-oppa...
Jinwoo is somewhat grateful he wasn't assigned to that one. It's not that he needs a lot of sleep to function, especially when there's a mission to accomplish, but he doesn't think he would be able to handle the constant noise. That said, he's crawled out of bed at the very moment someone decides to slip right in the window.
The shadows in the area flicker. All it takes is a split-second. Depending on how fast Yuwon reacts, the guy just might find himself staring down Beru's sharp claws pointed at his neck while Jinwoo stands right behind him with a dagger in hand. His eyes glow an intense shade of violet.
He doesn't recognize who this is just yet. ]
Did you get lost?
the glowing webtoon eyes is sending me
except, they were missing the best bachelor of all, jinwoo-hyung. that said, he doesn't exactly expect the man from the network to be greeting him here like this with his eyes glowing, and with a ... strange companion in tow. fortunately, while yuwon isn't wearing his full equipment, he does have his glove on and he uses it to stop the claws that are pointed at his neck, a black-purple flame emitting from them, and a certain heat can be felt.
while his eyes do widen for a brief moment, they soon seem to settle into the dim lighting of the camper van, and the first thing he says is: ] No. I came here to rest. [ he says this matter of factly, as if it shouldn't have posed any issues. even if he literally came in from the window. ]
Do you do this to everyone who stops by?
you're not a webtoon protag without glowing eyes tbh
The flame makes Beru hiss, claws retrieved soon after as recognition hits. At least Beru has been diligently keeping up with who's who because Jinwoo certainly isn't. My liege— he withdraws completely, manifesting by Jinwoo's shoulder as a much smaller version of himself. This man is Kim Yuwon! An ally!
That dissipates every hint of tension in Jinwoo's body, his posture shifting into something sheepish. ]
... Only the ones who sneak in through the window.
[ The dagger is gone too, so his hand comes up to rest at the back of his neck. ]
Couldn't you have knocked like a normal person?
why is this facts
there's a brief pause as he watches over their movements. his eyes clearly assessing the two of them as he awaits their final verdict. as soon as jinwoo's stance relaxes, so does yuwon's. except, maybe there isn't much a notable difference, except the fact that his flames have also dispersed as quickly as they burned.
he's a bit relieved, if just because he doesn't actually know what the man's skills are like, but maybe his abilities would be comparable to high rankers in the tower? or that's the impression his title gave. shadow monarch something something... as far as he knew, titles tended to be difficult to achieve, after all.
either way, yuwon decides not to speculate, and instead he is already settling onto the bed as if jinwo didn't pull a dagger out of nowhere at him. his legs hanging off the bed as he lays back at a full recline. he speaks, while idly stretching. ] I did. [ ??? ] Or, well... it's not like I was purposely using a stealth skill.
[ okay, that's not the same thing at all, but... ]
If I knocked, would you have just let me in?
it's a sign of true power
Beru flickers in and out of existence, watching Yuwon carefully before Jinwoo finally dismisses him. He vanishes within a blink of an eye, and so Jinwoo is left settling down on the edge of his own bed. The camper vans aren't the most comfortable place to sleep, but feeling his body sink onto the mattress is enough to remind him of how tired he is. ]
You weren't, but it's still safer to knock.
[ After all, Yuwon saw firsthand that Jinwoo has overprotective guard dogs. Beru was the first one to move before he realized someone entered the vehicle. ]
At least I'd get to ask questions first. [ Before he attacks, that is. Not that he would, but y'know. ] What happened to your camper van?
[ Why come here to rest? ]
stop....
naturally, he has a lot of questions, but none of them actually end up making their way out of his mouth. he supposed when it was time to fight, they'd all find out, anyway. there wasn't any real reason to focus in on it now, especially now that they're both just on their beds.
their beds, like it always belonged to him. ]
Am I supposed to guess that it's unsafe? Who else is here, but us and your buddy?
[ saying it like he's blaming jinwoo.... ]
It was too noisy. They played music the whole way here. [ gave him strange nicknames like "grumpy," and... can a hedgehog drive a van? yuwon isn't sure, but he doesn't want to think of that now. ]
but it's true...
Luckily for Yuwon, that bed wasn't taken by anyone. It's his for as long as he wants it, and Jinwoo doesn't have the energy to make a fuss over it after a long day of driving and testing out his limits. It's a relief to finally sit still for a moment, but he doesn't quite relax completely. Even now, his body hums with lingering energy, always prepared for something unexpected.
He eyes Yuwon sprawled out on the bed, looking far too comfortable despite the fact that just minutes ago, Jinwoo had nearly attacked him. ]
You never know. Someone could be trying to pull a fast one on us.
[ Spoken like someone who's used to getting hunted down... Anyway. ]
Noisy, huh? I didn't think you were part of that van. [ rip ] You should've just told them to shut up.
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even if it was taken, he'd probably still feel pretty comfortable taking it up. it wouldn't be the first time he's stolen someone's choice napping spot. but maybe it is a relief that jinwoo isn't trying to fight him for it at least. the thought does get a small exhale of humor out of him, even if it comes with zero context.
still, he does think about jinwoo's reaction and he concludes that maybe the enemies his profile spoke of were viciously persistent. they must be. ]
On us, or you? [ lol. ]
Do you think all the people here are good at listening?
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When Yuwon is trying to point out the semantics, Jinwoo can only shake his head. ]
Does it matter? You know what I meant.
[ Maybe he's warning the wrong guy. After all, that flame looked intriguing enough to make him wary. It's probably a good thing a fight didn't break out between the two of them, because he's not sure the camper van would've been able to withstand it. Same goes for the surrounding area. ]
That bad, huh? Then, you can stay here if you want. Nanami-ssi and I aren't that into parties.
[ So it'll be quieter. ]
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he also shakes his head, even if he may be angled in a way that's not easy for jinwoo to see it. ] Doesn't it? If they're after you, what do I have to worry about? [ he says like this van isn't small enough where he'd be involved, whether he liked it or not. ]
I wasn't exactly asking for permission. But, thanks. [ there's no actual ill will to his words, however. just a touch of ironic humor, before he seems to move on easily enough. ] Really? Are amusement parks different?
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Anyway, Jinwoo can only exhale a soft sigh. ]
You shouldn't have to worry about anything. I'll handle it myself, if they manage to find me here.
[ Honestly, he wouldn't put it past Antares to figure out where he's been whisked away, but until that happens, it'll probably be fine. Not that he'll stop ever being just a tiny bit paranoid.
Also, wow?? This guy?? ]
Funny you should say that, but the rides barely did anything to me. Guess they kinda lose their thrill when you're an S-Rank hunter.
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the statement does get a curious sort of hum. he isn't sure if he finds jinwoo's confidence more entertaining, or the idea that he has enemies that must just be that persistent. he'd feel sorry for him if he were the type to, or so he thinks. ]
From what you said, they seem like a lot of trouble. So is that possible? [ for him not to involve anyone? either way, it's clear from yuwon's tone, he's not going to push the point. ]
Then what's thrilling for an S-rank hunter? [ he wonders if that was on par to being a high ranker in the tower, or if it's a power that exceeded that. looks like people really enjoyed their rankings... ]
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That question gives him pause, making Jinwoo consider what to say. ]
... Who knows. But too many people have died already, so I won't let that happen again.
[ If that means he has to shoulder that burden on his own, then that's fine. He was already heading down that path regardless. ]
As for what's thrilling— a good fight? I haven't really thought about it. I didn't have a lot of free time once I was reassessed as one to figure that out.
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he seems like a decent perso, maybe. not that yuwon passes such judgment easily, but he gets the feeling the words are sincere. perhaps, because they're too much the result of a sudden spur of conversation that he can't see it as anything else. ] I didn't realize people dying is your responsibility.
[ he says with a shrug, but he means more of himself.
still— he does smile when he hears the s-rank hunter's answer.
a good fight. ] Are you the kind of guy where that's all you think about? I'm surprised. [ but, it's not unfamiliar in some ways, and maybe that's why he likes it. jinwoo's answer, that is. ] Well, you'll have plenty of time to see if that's still what you find fun.
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That earns a small huff, and then Jinwoo is settling into an even more comfortable position in bed. He remains facing the other man since sleep hasn't quite shaken off the lingering excess of tension in his body. It feels like he's revealed a lot of himself in so few words, but it's fine. At least what he's been saying is the truth. ]
If you want me to look away if something happens to you, I can do that.
[ It's a joke, but also? That'll be one less person to worry about if Yuwon says so!! ]
And what's the point of having all this strength if I can't put it to good use, right? [ Fighting someone stronger is always more interesting than the alternative, after all. ] But that's what people keep telling me. I'm curious how strong this imugi really is.
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he can see jinwoo getting settled into bed from the corner of his eye, and he thinks he can relate somehow. that feeling of never truly allowing your mind to rest. even if the source of their worries were likely known only to themselves. it's also true that he trusts more in what he sees, and from that, maybe he feels like it's not like he has absolutely zero trust in jinwoo. ]
Do it. But, I'll do the same right back.
[ not that yuwon typically worries about other people to begin with, and it probably shows in the almost disinterest tone in which he says it. ]
Good, because I also don't leaving my hands idle. [ meaning, he'd ideally like to see him in action. but, more importantly: ] You mentioned leveling up. [ or his profile did. ] Have you done that here at all? [ ... and was the imugi a means to that? yuwon isn't sure if his own stats have really changed at all. ]
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He glances at the other man once he asks about the whole deal with leveling up. It takes him a moment to think of how he should answer this. ]
... It's hard to say. The system that allowed me to level up is already gone, so I might not be able to anymore. But who knows? The imugi just might give me enough points.
[ He sounds like a nerd, but leveling up has always been fun to him. Anyway. ]
You asked about titles before. Did you experience something similar?
[ Or was Yuwon a True Gamer? ]
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[ from the beginning until this point. of course, it's based purely off speculation. the system also didn't apply here for him, either, and so he couldn't ascertain if that was the truth. if he had only one single thing to go by, it was the simple fact that he simply didn't feel any stronger. ]
But, don't you know it's rude to ask someone about their titles, levels, or stats? [ says yuwon who literally started it with his question on leveling up. but, it was also a fact that it was typically considered overly invasive in the tower. ]
Though, if I had to say, I might have come from somewhere where we had similar conventions. [ ... and while he's acting relatively composed about it, it is surprising to hear more about jinwoo's experiences, if just because... oddly enough, he could relate. as opposed to most people who compared such things to video games.
but, listen if jinwoo wants to maplestory, he'll meet him in kerning city. ]
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[ calling out both your characters like this i'm so sorry
But either way, Jinwoo doesn't know how to feel about what he just heard. That this guy's stats haven't changed. He'd suspected that will be the case, but it doesn't mean he has to be happy hearing it practically confirmed. Maybe it'll be a different story once he fights against the imugi, but who knows? He might be better off expecting nothing will change at this point. ]
Does that mean there were others who also had stats that can change in your world? Because in mine, I was the only one who can level up.
[ They might as well compare notes since neither of them are attempting to get any sleep. Plus, this is a first for him. To meet someone who can understand what he'd been through. ]
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[ in theory, is this his fault? probably, but he is refusing to take responsibility for it, even if he was the one who sparked this line of conversation. though, maybe it was worth it, if just because he feels like they did stumble upon some parallels. minus— ]
Yeah, anyone could do it. Some were more successful at it than others. I would also say a lot of people die... from the start, or simply give up and remain whatever level they were when they enter the tower. [ which is why floor 1 was so... occupied. ]
How does it feel being the only one who can level? [ he can't envision it would be very good. but, also: ] Does that mean some people just start off with higher stats? [ did that make them like like the purebreds of the tower? ]
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... Some people don't want to fight, so I can't blame them for keeping the same level.
[ It makes him think of people like Lee Joohee or Min Byung-gu. Not everyone thinks like him. ]
But how it works in my world is that your mana levels are assessed when you awaken, and whatever rank you're given is what you get. It's probably a good thing that I was the only one who can level because I know a few people who would've taken advantage of it, and not in a good way.
[ ... ]
Where do you fall? Are you the strongest where you're from?
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[ some did it just to increase their rank, or show off their stength. others did it to poison the tower and extend their influence all throughout. some even had connections with the outer gods themselves and acted as no more than their vessels, but yuwon doesn't want to think about that now.
he can't say one way is better than another. though, as someone who regressed and felt entirely alone in his venture, he could probably say with some level of conviction that he wouldn't envy jinwoo being the only one could level up. regardless, he shakes his head. ]
Being the only one... [ well, jinwoo should be powerful. yuwon can't help but have the same question on the tip of his tongue, but jinwoo beats him to the punch.
yuwon pauses, before he says matter-of-factly: ] I don't even rank. I'm just a player. [ as opposed to a "ranker." it's not a lie, but it probably didn't encompass the full truth, either. which is why he follows it up with: ] But, I can hold my own when I need to.
What about you?
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He's sure the fight against the imugi will bring out the truth one way or another. ]
That's funny. I'm a player too, or I used to be. [ Well. He's sure his profile from before made that clear, but since they're playing let's give the least amount of information possible... It's only fair, isn't it? ]
Are you giving up on sleep?