Fandom HAND JUMPER: LEAP YEAR

[thebigfella]

❖ ACT I. LEAP I – GOD'S CHILDREN | SCENE #001 ❖

GOD'S CHILDREN

「GM POST」

The night streets were illuminated by the bright neon signs. High saturation of the glow and the vibrant of the colors caused distortion to the eyes, the blur was paired with streaks of color that washed out the hues.

The ground was still wet from the recent downpour. The puddles polluted with sheens of oils and debris, through hazy vision they reflected the lights, the moon was high in the sky, glowing with vibrance in its fullness.

Droplets hung to the outside of plastic garbage bags, dew dragged across them, the contents stewed in the alley, ripening and fermenting, uneven bulges decorated them as they peeked outside of the dumpster. They were joined in this vacant alley by rusting apparatuses, electronic boxes kept sealed behind bolts, gas meters tied together to labyrinthian mazes of wires that rose up the side of infrastructure like mechanical vines.

Shoes tore down the alley, through the shadows bodies moved, cascading down upon the cement. Heavy breath condensed in the air as they rushed along. A trio of individuals whose black clothing hid them within the darkness. A hood draped over a man’s black hair with dyed blonde tips, a mask that covered the half of a woman’s face, and the final one who had their entire face hidden underneath a long-brimmed cap.

A hand rose through the air, across its surface rippled orange energy, undulating and changing as a finger curled backward. In that same moment, that orange hue draped across a nearby dumpster, it slammed into the opposite wall as it shifted sideways, blocking the pathway forward.

“Jae-Hwa!” The man with the blonde tips shouted, and in wordless understanding the woman tensed her arm backward to cock it, her eye birthed a vibrant blue as swirls of matching tendrils twisted around her arm to shift into that of a spiked brass knuckle, her muscles tensed as her arm shot forward, denting through the metal and sending the dumpster flying out of the alley, soaring through the sky until it slammed down onto the ground, casting sparks upon the wet ground as it scraped across the ground, its momentum sending it slamming through the glass windows of a storefront.

Light reflected off the shards as they exploded everywhere, alarms blared and casted down the strobing red lights, the dimly lit hues of arcade machines made a rainbow of colors that hung to the backs of the trio as they twirled around to look towards the yawning cavern of the alley, the side of their moist clothing soaked into the red light to reflect a sheen off their visible eyes.

The man who led the group looked back to the one in the cap, “Time?” he asked, widening his stance as the sound of footsteps came from their front. Black suits flooded out of the alley in a swarm, their red ties kept held in place by a series of silver clips that glistened.

In the background, one of the arcade cabinets played one of its standard idle screens, showcasing its gameplay. The last moments of it played in the form of a countdown, the bright bold words “CONTINUE” sat upon the black screen, with a countdown underneath it.

“5.”

A man walked out from the darkness of the alley, his tie brandishing his rank 8 proudly, he stepped to the front of the group, the other officers stepping aside, “End of the line, you three,” he spoke with authority, his wrinkles twisting into a frown.

4.

“You’re under arrest. No point in resisting. We are authorized to use lethal force on you,” he spoke, his threat clear in his eyes, they still glowed brightly as he stared at the three criminals. The trio stepped back slightly, keeping their distance. The level eight officer reached his hand outward expectantly, “But before…please hand over *that thing* you’ve been kindly keeping safe for us.”


3.

“As if,” The man with the blonde tips responded, his head raising and the shadows disappeared from his hood, his pierced lips curled into a sharp toothed smile, a red intensity took over the whites of his eyes as his body pulsed red. Immediately in response, the numerous other hues of his group and the officers flared up, the air around the surroundings kicking up as loose debris flew through the air.

2.

The eldest officer shook his head in disappointment, “That so? A shame,” he breathed with a sigh, tired of it always having to be the hard way, yet he didn’t hesitate to give the order, a hand came up to adjust his glasses, a green glow in his eye.

“Kill them.”

1.

The officers charged forward, in that instant, what faced them was an onslaught, surges of orange energy joined with weapons of green and blue, they stood posed to be drowned in the overwhelming force as the suits closed in on them, the group all grouped around each other, the askew vision of a fish eye lens closing on on them swiftly as the space between them and death closed, yet, despite that, the leader of the trio only grinned wider, his lips opening to let a word dripped with ire leave his lips.

“Zero.”

Upon the arcade cabinet, the words in bold red sat across the black screen.

GAME OVER.

And in that next instant, they faded, leaving everything black.

…

…

Within the void, stars were born, they came into the world with not even a ceremony, not even a flash. Galaxies faded into existence, and amongst it all, it was not a Big Bang, it was not the effects of a supernova.

The universe had opened its eyes.

In the next moment everything was basked in white.

And like nothing, the game had started again, the screen showcasing the character select. A squint of an eye revealed it was nothing more than a reflection in the officer’s glasses. “Where did--?” his words began to leave his lips, before he paused, a dark shadow coming over his face, sweat coming across his brow.

Where his officers once stood, instead there were corpses. Some had been turned into hollow husks, their eyes sunken in and left vacant of any light or color, veins gone purple from lack of oxygen, visible through their paper thin skin, their ligaments curled and their bodies contracted as everything grew taut. The others were much more visceral, chunks of their body had been left missing, coating the ground with piles of entrails and bits of bone, their faces hadn’t even changed emotion, the instant death didn’t even give them chance to comprehend what had happened as their black suits soaked into the crimson red.

The man covered his mouth, the smell of blood hitting his nose, his eyes looked down at his feet, the smallest splatter of red across the sheen of his feet. They had kept him alive as a warning, he knew all too well.

Yet, his hand still reached for the phone in his pocket. Pressing a button to dial, as the alarm for the arcade still slowly beeped in the distance, the time was clear on the home screen. 12 AM.

He pressed a few buttons and brought the phone to his ear, it rang loudly in the silence of the graveyard he stood in, until finally someone picked up on the other end.

“...I’ve discovered more of ‘God’s Children’...”

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

 

[thebigfella]

❖ ACT I. LEAP I – GOD'S CHILDREN | SCENE #001 ❖

GOD'S CHILDREN

「GM POST」

The walls were sterile, vacant white was only broken up by strips of colors that denoted specific areas by hued code. Doorways held metal doors, stenciled lettering spoke of sectors and sections, throughout the coverage was a the foundations of some sense of a system, through the mixture of various mediums of imagery there seemed to be a way to traverse the labyrinth, but to the layman it almost seemed like gibberish.

A yggdrasil that decorated the main hall stretched up towards the unnatural light, its branches kept neat and tidy, never stretching too far. Its roots unseen, it breathed something into the air, the faint feeling of normalcy away from the clinical walls, it converted the polluted sins of men who lied and swore to clean oxygen that funneled through the halls.

Suits joined lab coated scientists as they dispersed through the area, bureaucratic and scientific amalgam, the fusion between the artist and the crafters, the abstract and the abstracted acted as the mitochondria that made up this building's foundations. Discussions of hushed whispers joined jovial small talk, one would forget the purpose of this facility if it wasn’t for the lanyards and name tags that one always kept upon their visage. This first room of the facility, it was wide open, it was welcoming, through the first step and through the offices that decorated the higher levels, one would never expect what existed below the surface.

This area had no name, it didn’t need one, after all anyone who knew what it was knew the others who knew. The message would never be lost over any form of communication so long as you carried your tone right. While within the corps, a cell was something that denoted a small section of trainees that would be funneled through the system, within this space, the cell took a much broader term. The space between the input and the output blurred, everything tied together in tandem to make this one space as entrenched in the process together, the whole space left and breathed as one, it was all one cell, everyone with their own part to say.

“The Cell with no name.”

“Cell Zero.”

“Cell █”

“The Black Box”

All such minsomers told of its existence, but spoke of not what was in it, not of its purpose.

The only way to discover it was to be one of the unfortunate souls who found its way to its lower levels. Slowly things panned downward, the vision swallowed in darkness, and within it…was the ding of an elevator.

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

 

[thebigfella]

❖ ACT I. LEAP I – PROLOGUE | SCENE #001 ❖

SIN DUCK-YOUNG

「CELL ZERO」

“Mr. Sin?”

A response was given in the form of a yawn. A scratch of the back of the neck, a stretch. He was being called, his head shifted towards the source of the voice. There stood a lady, a clipboard in hand, held tightly to her chest as she looked upon the younger man.

“We’ve arrived.”

Sin Duck-Young returned her grin in kind. He stood there with nothing to mark him as “himself”, his clothes had been confiscated, replaced by plain white garbs, a band around his wrist denoted a number, #22-0. It softly glowed with a small led embedded within him. His shoes had been replaced with a soft pair of loafers, the only thing he was able to keep was his beanie. If one didn’t know any better, you’d think they’d be appearing for surgery.

“You’re not foolin’? I ain’t neva’ rode an elevator this long.” Duck-Young spoke in his thick accent, something that juxtaposed the modernized, industrial surroundings, he placed his hands onto his hips, “Ya sure know how to keep a fella waitin’. This things a real chilla, I can feel my butt hairs standin’ up! Haaaha!”

“I apologize, Mr. Sin,” the woman in the lab coat replied, she moved her clipboard away to reveal a white tie, “Most of the time we usually have a lot more people in this lift so it doesn’t feel so vacant…, but since you’ve been incredibly compliant with us, so we felt it was impudent to get you ‘enrolled’.”

Duck-Young waved his hand dismissively, “Don’t’cha worry about it! Pa always told me, when someone needs your help, ya help ‘em. And if tha’ government needs me, then it’s gotta be a pretty big deal!” He spoke with enthusiasm, a proud thrum of his fist against his chest.

“That’s a good attitude to have, Mr. Sin,” the woman spoke with a gentle rasp of the back of her nails against the clipboard, her eyes half-lidded as she looked upon the young man, letting the smallest of grins, “So long as you have that attitude…”

The elevator’s doors opened, the sounds of the releasing seals came with light flooding into the darker room. Duck-Young turned his head to look, a hand cupping to gently rub his thumb across his chin.

“This world will be open to you.”

The pair stepped into the heart of the deepest part of the facility, from the looks of an office upstairs, things had transformed into that of a lab. Metal doors sectioned off different parts of the building, with only small windows to peek into the other sides, keycard security was paired with numerous cameras that decorated every corner. The colors had been drained away to only leave a stark white, broken up only by the gray steel that acted as accents and supports. Their footsteps echoed off the tiles, as they walked down the pathway.

Scientists walked past them, some leisure, some in a hurry. Carts of equipment were wheeled around, from vials and syringes to mysterious apparatuses and contraptions. Duck-Young looked at them with curiosity as they passed, curiosity clear on his face.

Every so often he could peer into open slots within the doors, and he could see others. One looked like him, but they were denominated differently, the bands across their wrist a different color. They sat upon the edge of a bed, their body bony underneath that thin layer of garb.

Duck-Young didn’t have time to ask questions before something else grabbed his attention, the sign of the cafeteria grabbed his interest. He watched, looking upon the small space within, tables lined together that seemed to serve suits in red ties and those in coats, vending machines and a line of hot meals, the smell tickled his nose.

All in all, these were distractions, for eventually they reached their destination. A quick tap of a blue colored keycard opened up the door ahead. It was a small room, a metal table sat in the middle, the lighting was dark, only a small strip above illuminated the center.

Within this room was another person, a man in the familiar lab coat and white tie combo, he sat in the stool, waiting patiently, only getting up when the duo entered. “Ah, Mr. Sin, welcome.” He greeted the hick with a courteous acknowledgement.

Duck-Young offered his hand for a handshake, “How’sit?” he asked, but the man simply looked down at it awkwardly, as if he had never seen such a reaction, before cautiously reaching forward and shaking it. He gave a look towards his associate, the other scientist simply giving a tilted smile.

“Well, Mr. Sin, if you’d take a seat,” he gestured to the opposing chair, Duck-Young not hesitating to plop himself into it, squeezing himself in nice and comfortable as he leaned back into the headrest. The scientist took the opposite seat, taking the clipboard from his associate.

“Now, before we begin with our procedures to involve you in this program, you’re a special case. So, we’d like to begin with an assessment of your history. You don’t have many physical records.” The man spoke, flipping to the next page on the clipboard, “Medical history is nothing, family history is barely anything…” he mumbled, before looking back at Duck-Young, “Knowing this stuff is very important for our research. So, I’d like to begin by asking you some questions.”

He placed the clipboard down, before formally clasping his hands together, looking at Duck-Young with a stern glare. A shadow casting over his vision.

“First of all, I want you to be aware of one thing, Mr. Sin. You are special, and for that reason we need to make sure you answer as accurately as possible.”

“I gettit, I gettit!” Shin quickly responded, straightening up in his seat, he placed his hands loudly onto his legs, the light around his face darkened, a grin across his lips. “I was told on the way here, mister.”

“I’m one of God’s chosen, right?”

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

 

[BriiAngelic]

❖ ACT I. LEAP I – PROLOGUE | SCENE #001 ❖

Rhee Byeong-Ho

「Cell Zero」

“Get in dog.”

The venom in the voice really reminded him of how much he hated this place, the government, and this fucker specifically. His head still was spinning from the last blow they gave him before getting him in these essense cuffs. If not for the disgusting tool put upon him he’d be wailing on them once more, but he couldn’t risk doing that with his power and life force essentially handicapped so instead he started gathering spit in his mouth and shot a loogie at the poor asswipe that had been tasked at being his guard.

He got another backhand for the effort and was knocked to the floor.

“You DISGUSTING piece of shit. You’re damn lucky your heads are already on the chopping block.”

He didn’t know what that meant but he’d been picking up that they expected something from him. Why they thought he’d do shit for them well he supposed that common sense didn’t come with their curriculum. When the room stopped spinning for him he pushed himself back up and glared at the fucker.

“Where Is My Sister.”

He’d gotten them both into this mess and there was no way in hell he was gonna rest until he knew where they took her. Or him, the details on what happened after he first got body slammed were hazy.

“Your ‘sister’ is a hellava lot more cooperative than you. She already agreed to work with us so maybe you should too”

He slammed his bound wrists into the elevator in anger with hope it might intimidate the officer left to him.

“YOU’RE A LIAR SHE WOULDN’T WORK FOR YOU PIGS.”

She may not have agreed with his pleas to join the gangs but he didn’t think she’d want to be used by the government either considering all they’d experienced.

“Aww are you sad your sister chose the winning side over whatever little bond you thought you had.”

He could tell that both he and the officer were getting riled up beyond measure. Both of them being in the tiny elevator didn’t help, the officer hit a code in and the elevator began its descent. With little more thought than the fear of a cornered animal he lunged to bite the officer. The attack landed but the officer had no lack of essence to be wary of. With a swing of the arm he was forced off as he watched the wound he created be nothing more than a small annoyance as the flesh mended back together.

The elevator went through a small ding noting they’d reached their destination. The back of his shirt was grabbed as he was dragged along the floor without any grace. He could barely focus as the red tied officer began ranting.

“One of ‘god’s chosen’ shouldn’t be this much of a pain in the ass. They should have just killed you off when they first saw you. Loose cannons have a way of being liabilities. The fuckass team thinking that damn bitch you came in with could control you is obviously wrong. You’re nothing more than a waste of everyone’s time. Should have been someone useful who was God’s chosen. Why should you get some special protections when we all fought our way into our ranks. If they wouldn’t kill me for it I’d make sure you met a little ‘accident’ on the way over. Quite frankly I’m still not above it if you piss me off enough. So don’t fuck up your interview.”

With that he was thrown into a side room in the hall, the pain making him unable to really recall how they got here. Unlike what the officer stated though it seemed there was no interview to be had. The room was empty besides a single chair and a desk. On the back wall was a mirror which he could only assume hid some surveillance measures. The essence cuffs fell off after a loud click.

Were they stupid? He called forth his essence to heal his more pressing bruises. He didn’t know what they’d do if he shattered the mirror and didn’t know how many were out there. His little gilded cage got bigger but he was no less free from it.

“Cut the bullshit. Where Is My Sister.”

A noise went off before a very mechanical sounding voice came through the intercom.

“That’s enough Byeong-Ho. Being obstinate will win you nothing. We have your file. We are well aware you do not possess the power to be a threat. Give in and you and your ‘sister’ may live in relative peace under the corps’ new experimental cell.”

He brought a fist to the mirror doing little more than hurting his own hand doing so. The room was solid, probably good at dampening essence. They wanted to see how long it’d take to break him like a wild stallion. He didn’t owe them shit. He didn’t need to say or do shit, he just needed an out. Fuck it if they wanted to play games he’d raise their bluff. He lunged for the door aiming to force it open when the contact electrocuted him. He bit down on his lip not wanting to give them the satisfaction of hearing his screams.

“Pity, we figured you’d put up some resistance. But maybe you’ll be more amiable once you’ve gone hungry. Sleep will do you well.”

A gas filled the room causing him to hack and wheeze before he eventually became familiar with the floor once more.

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

Spoiler: mobile

“Get in dog.”

The venom in the voice really reminded him of how much he hated this place, the government, and this fucker specifically. His head still was spinning from the last blow they gave him before getting him in these essense cuffs. If not for the disgusting tool put upon him he’d be wailing on them once more, but he couldn’t risk doing that with his power and life force essentially handicapped so instead he started gathering spit in his mouth and shot a loogie at the poor asswipe that had been tasked at being his guard.

He got another backhand for the effort and was knocked to the floor.

“You DISGUSTING piece of shit. You’re damn lucky your heads are already on the chopping block.”

He didn’t know what that meant but he’d been picking up that they expected something from him. Why they thought he’d do shit for them well he supposed that common sense didn’t come with their curriculum. When the room stopped spinning for him he pushed himself back up and glared at the fucker.

“Where Is My Sister.”

He’d gotten them both into this mess and there was no way in hell he was gonna rest until he knew where they took her. Or him, the details on what happened after he first got body slammed were hazy.

“Your ‘sister’ is a hellava lot more cooperative than you. She already agreed to work with us so maybe you should too”

He slammed his bound wrists into the elevator in anger with hope it might intimidate the officer left to him.

“YOU’RE A LIAR SHE WOULDN’T WORK FOR YOU PIGS.”

She may not have agreed with his pleas to join the gangs but he didn’t think she’d want to be used by the government either considering all they’d experienced.

“Aww are you sad your sister chose the winning side over whatever little bond you thought you had.”

He could tell that both he and the officer were getting riled up beyond measure. Both of them being in the tiny elevator didn’t help, the officer hit a code in and the elevator began its descent. With little more thought than the fear of a cornered animal he lunged to bite the officer. The attack landed but the officer had no lack of essence to be wary of. With a swing of the arm he was forced off as he watched the wound he created be nothing more than a small annoyance as the flesh mended back together.

The elevator went through a small ding noting they’d reached their destination. The back of his shirt was grabbed as he was dragged along the floor without any grace. He could barely focus as the red tied officer began ranting.

“One of ‘god’s chosen’ shouldn’t be this much of a pain in the ass. They should have just killed you off when they first saw you. Loose cannons have a way of being liabilities. The fuckass team thinking that damn bitch you came in with could control you is obviously wrong. You’re nothing more than a waste of everyone’s time. Should have been someone useful who was God’s chosen. Why should you get some special protections when we all fought our way into our ranks. If they wouldn’t kill me for it I’d make sure you met a little ‘accident’ on the way over. Quite frankly I’m still not above it if you piss me off enough. So don’t fuck up your interview.”

With that he was thrown into a side room in the hall, the pain making him unable to really recall how they got here. Unlike what the officer stated though it seemed there was no interview to be had. The room was empty besides a single chair and a desk. On the back wall was a mirror which he could only assume hid some surveillance measures. The essence cuffs fell off after a loud click.

Were they stupid? He called forth his essence to heal his more pressing bruises. He didn’t know what they’d do if he shattered the mirror and didn’t know how many were out there. His little gilded cage got bigger but he was no less free from it.

“Cut the bullshit. Where Is My Sister.”

A noise went off before a very mechanical sounding voice came through the intercom.

“That’s enough Byeong-Ho. Being obstinate will win you nothing. We have your file. We are well aware you do not possess the power to be a threat. Give in and you and your ‘sister’ may live in relative peace under the corps’ new experimental cell.”

He brought a fist to the mirror doing little more than hurting his own hand doing so. The room was solid, probably good at dampening essence. They wanted to see how long it’d take to break him like a wild stallion. He didn’t owe them shit. He didn’t need to say or do shit, he just needed an out. Fuck it if they wanted to play games he’d raise their bluff. He lunged for the door aiming to force it open when the contact electrocuted him. He bit down on his lip not wanting to give them the satisfaction of hearing his screams.

“Pity, we figured you’d put up some resistance. But maybe you’ll be more amiable once you’ve gone hungry. Sleep will do you well.”

A gas filled the room causing him to hack and wheeze before he eventually became familiar with the floor once more.

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

❖ ACT I. CHAPTER I – PROLOGUE | SCENE #001 ❖

HYEON KWON

「CELL ZERO」

It was six floors down, so far. Hyeon watched quietly as the elevator blipped down from one basement level to the next. If she'd been in better humors, her hands unbound and Byeong-Ho's whereabouts known to her, she might have seen some humor in it.

For the past few years, Hyeon had wanted nothing more than to seclude herself within the four walls of her bedroom. The damp, shabby concrete walls of the former maintenance alcove that the Concordant had given her to stay in had quite quickly became her sanctuary. Insulated from the world by what was probably only four or five floors of concrete, she'd felt her presence sequestered from the world, hidden to all but her replacement sibling and her fellow Aberrants that called the those abandoned subway tunnels home.

By the time that the elevator slid to a halt, the gleaming indicator above its doors had counted them eight floors deep. Further down, she realized, than she'd even been before, even during her and Byeong-ho's exploration of the abandoned subway.

She bit her lip, heart pounding in her chest as she was ushered out of the elevator and down what felt like an infinite procession of corridors. With each slow, reluctant plod of her feet, she felt her heart sink. First it went into the pit of her gut, and then into her legs and feet. By the time that her escort had led her to the plain, white door which led to their destination, she was sure that it was no longer with her at all. In her mind, she saw it clearly, abandoned within that elevator and sinking further into the depths of the earth yet.

"Miss Kwon." Her escort, a grim-faced man who looked to age well into his forties, spoke for the first time since he'd come to transfer her from her cell to... Whatever this was. His voice was hardly a booming thing, but it had come suddenly enough that it caused her to flinch, though he seemed not to notice. To her left, there was an electronic beep as he flashed an access card against its reader, and then the door slid open with a low hiss.

"This is it." Through the doorway Hyeong glimpsed a room which was almost entirely white. A few pieces of furniture- a table and a pair of chairs- were all that stood against the almost painfully clean landscape. "Please step inside."

"But-..." Hyeon started to speak, to question, but her voice caught in her throat. Even now, she had no idea why she'd been bought here. Everyone involved had been too tight lipped to answer her questions back in the prison, and on her way here she'd been passed from one silent vigil to the next. The less she realized she knew, the blacker the spiral of dread in her stomach grew. She had so many questions to ask, but...

What were they going to do if she didn't listen? Her essence restrained, there was little she could to defend herself if they decided to punish her, and worse yet, they had Byeong-ho, too. What if in her acting out, even for so small a moment of hesitation as this, he would be punished in her stead? The thought sat heavy in her gut, and before she allowed it to push its ugly head into reality, Hyeon hurried herself through the door.

"Thank you. Someone will be with you shortly." The agent said plainly, and then the door slid shut behind her. Alone now, the only mercy Hyeon was spared from the unrelenting whiteness of the room was a small sliver of a window, which looked out into the hall she'd just arrived from. She watched the agent go on his way, and only once he was out of definite earshot did she breathe a sigh of muted relief.

Before this, she'd had a brief stint in prison. It had been awful, there was no mistake about that, but she almost felt more worried here, in this mysterious underground facility than she ever had in her cell. Back there, at least, her captors had been regular human beings, armed with pepper spray and batons and in case of a proper emergency, firearms too. But here it was her fellow Aberrant that held her in chains, and ones unbound by the loose sense of camaraderie that permeated those of them who lived underground too.

She felt her body tense, and started to pace about the room.

Worse yet, she hadn't a clue if Byeong-ho had been subjected to the same treatment. She hadn't seen him since the day they'd been captured. Was he down here too, sequestered away in another room, where she couldn't hear him struggle? Or had he been left behind in the prison system, unplucked by whatever unseen hand had brought her here? Or what of the worst? She knew how he was better than anybody. What if as soon as he'd come back to consciousness, he'd kept fighting? And then...

"Hello there~ Apologies about the wait~" Hyeon felt a chill run through her blood as the door slid open. She'd known to expect someone, but she'd become so swallowed by her thoughts that the second agent's arrival had come as an intrusion nonetheless. Smiling- Or more like smirking- in the room's entrance now stood a black haired woman, her eyes shadowed with a bemusement that ran entirely counter to the sense of tension Hyeon felt strung tight in the air.

"H-hello..." Hyeon's words came hesitantly, her eyes tracking the black-haired agent as she stepped around her and then slipped the seat at the further edge of the room. She spent a few luxurious moments making herself comfortable, unpacking a laptop onto one corner of the table and resting her elbows alongside it, before gesturing for Hyeon to join her. She complied, sliding herself into the table, and matching the agent's sly gaze with her own.

"Now then... You'll be wanting to know why you're here, won't you? Tell me- How much have you heard of 'God's Children?'"

Hyeon's brow furrowed. God? She'd been under the impression that she'd been kidnapped by the Crows, not some cult.

"Well, that understandable. Both the Corps and those little gangs which you illegals are so fond of have been keeping the subject under pretty tight wraps. Doing away with all of the gaucheness of that name that the higher ups have given them... There's something special about the Aberrants in this city. Some of them, at least. There's an additional layer of potential that lays beneath the skin of certain Aberrants in this town, and... Well, there's always a use for potential in the Corps. You're smart enough to understand why I'd be telling you this, no?"

"...That's ridiculous." The more Hyeon heard, the more her patience was worn away. This was why she was here? She didn't care about any of this. "I'm just... I-I'm not- I don't think I'd be very useful, so..."

"Hah! That's not for you to decide, dear." The woman scoffed. She was enjoying this, Hyeon could tell. "We in the Corps have our ways of detecting this sort of thing... And you fit the ticket. Whether you know it or not, you have potential to be explored! I understand you stood up for yourself rather nicely before your capture, no? The Corps- I would hate to see that sort of talent go to waste. It's not every illegal that gets themselves an offer like this, don't you know? In most cases, you would have been rotting in that cell for the rest of your life."

"Look, M-Miss. I'm not interested in exploring my potential or... Whatever..." Hyeon sunk into her seat. She didn't like where this was going, but it wasn't like she could have run anywhere. "A cell is fine with me... I just... Don't want to cause any trouble. If I could just-"

"Haah..." Hyeon was interrupted by the sound of a low, exasperated sigh. "I don't think you're listening, missy. I'm asking for your co-operation here, not your permission." The woman's expression darkened, and she booted up the laptop that she'd bought with her. The screen blinked on, its desktop bare save for the insignia of the Aberrant Corps and the presence of a few technically named applications.

"You came in with a boy, didn't you?" It was the first time that anyone had mentioned Byeong-ho since their capture. Hyeon's eyes lit up a little, but only for a moment. Whatever slight warmth may have been in the agent's voice was gone now, and her eyes did not move to meet her own. She was focused on the computer, the tiny reflection of the screen in her eyes changing periodically as she navigated from one window to another.

"Yes! Um- I wanted to ask about that... Is he-?"

"Sssshhh." The woman spoke without looking at her. "You two are close, aren't you? He was screeching so much about it. My sister, my sister~" Her fingers tapped away at the keyboard a final few times, and then her smirk returned. "It was quite promising! Willpower like that does you well in the field. Though, it didn't do him so much good today, it seems... And during your capture? A body slam? He must have been embarrassed."

"L-look. I just want to know if he's okay. If you let me see him, then..."

"Oh, yes yes, he's doing fine." With a twist of her wrist, the agent spun the laptop to face Hyeon. Her expression dropped immediately. Staring at her was a camera feed from somewhere else in the facility, where Byeong-ho lay limp on the ground. Hyeon sprung forward out of her seat, gripping the screen of the laptop as she inspected it for what she hoped would be any sign that what she was looking at wasn't real, but she found nothing.

"So! Let's try this again. Miss Hyeon Kwon, the Aberrant Corps has had their eyes on you... And we've decided that we and the people of this good nation have need of your talents!" Her hand- gloved black to match her hair- extended past the edge of the laptop's screen, the woman's cast deep by the monitor's glow "So... Would you spare us your employ? Lives are on the line, you know~"

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

 

[miki]

❖ ACT I. CHAPTER I – PROLOGUE | SCENE #001 ❖

NAHM VEENA

「CELL ZERO」

The ice in her veins pumped back and forth, around her uneasy heart. The cuffs around her wrists sapped energy that she wasn’t aware could be taken away.

Was this how it felt to be human? She thought she knew before, but things were different now. Was it normal to feel so weak, vulnerable, and fatigued? No wonder her classmates struggled to run the mile—something that she jogged with ease. Now, she was exhausted from being conscious.

Well, to be fair, her classmates also weren’t kept in a concrete box for days in a row. Or lost sleep while silently crying into a pillow, jumping at every noise to make sure no one saw the tears running down her cheeks. And she had greatly underestimated the energy that having a tangible future gave her. Every day, when she woke up, she could remind herself that she was an heiress to a grand company and fortune. When math got difficult, she’d think about the expansive amounts of money she’d have the honor of overseeing. When details about the Joseon dynasty got overcomplicated, she’d remember that there is no better teacher than the past. When she felt pangs of something, watching girls bawl their eyes out over crushed calves and stolen boyfriends, she'd shove it down with a healthy dose of advice her mother gave her: ‘show no mercy to those who show no loyalty.’

And now there was nothing. That future was taken away from her, and given to her kid brother. Veena had died that night.

She didn’t want to go. She liked the life she had. How could her own bloodline cast such a curse on her? But she had believed her family wouldn’t let her go. That she was too precious a gem for her parents to give up, and that combined with her little brother’s cuteness and her charm, they couldn’t take her away. Even if they had to send her to go live across the world, she imagined good things for herself while lounging on white sands and partying in skyscrapers.

So she couldn’t get that image out of her mind. The suit whispered in her father’s ear, and suddenly, the glint of love he had in his eyes was snuffed out like a candle flame. What, in so few words, could they have possibly said to get a father to hand over his daughter?

The tears burned her sinuses, but she refused to let them go.

“No commentary today?” The suit who was escorting her mused as they rode up the elevator. Veena didn’t respond with a thing. No snark, no glare, just a cold stare into space. “Heh.”

And who wouldn’t rejoice in seeing her in this position? Weak people found joy in putting powerful people down. It made her blood boil. She wanted to curse him out, kick him in, get him fired, anything. But for all her rage, she couldn’t bark back.

Veena bit down on her cracked lip. In any other situation, she could pull her ultimate trump card: her parents would hear about this, and then they would pay. A pathetic solution that made her look powerless, but a solution nonetheless. But her parents denounced her. Never wanted to see her again.

So that left her in an uncomfortable position: she was the smallest fish in the pond.

It only really hit her after days and days of slinging insults at the suits that visited her prison, who would look down at her with nothing in their eyes. Not hate, not anger, not even curiosity. Like she couldn’t even graze their ego.

She straightened her posture. Her father taught her young: appeal to authority, and crush inferiority. It is how to climb a ladder, and Veena made it especially high. Her teachers adored her, and her peers clawed for her attention, and those beneath her feared her. Until the corps snatched it from beneath her, and sent her crashing below depths deeper than unmentionables.

So there were new ladders. New hierarchies. And soon, everything would make sense.

Veena was ushered into a warm-looking office. Plants sprung up out of pots littered in every corner. Actual sunlight poured in through the windows. Against the wall sat a woman, in a desk chair, sitting across from a couch.

Veena sat, refusing to look the woman in the eyes. But from glances, she could tell she was meek. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her black-framed glasses ate up most of her face.

“Nahm Veena, correct?” She asked. “My name is Dr. Hwa Soon-Bok. I’m happy to be working with you today.” She promptly bowed to Veena before clicking her pen and scribbling something at the top.

Veena bowed as well. As quick of a nod as she could muster.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss Nahm! Daughter of Nahm Man-seok himself. I would have never guessed you had such a colorful vocabulary…” Within seconds, she hit a nerve. She hit a tender nerve and Veena couldn’t let her know, and yet she flinched. The doctor didn’t seem to notice. “Yet so quiet these past few days… I’ve been told you’ve been refusing food, refusing to talk...” She tapped her clipboard with her pencil before looking up at Veena with a gentle smile. “Is there anything in particular that has been bothering you these past few days?”

“...Bothering me?” Her voice croaked from its dry misuse. “Bothering me? Are you fucking serious?” Veena rolled her eyes and started sarcastically counting off her fingers as she locked eyes with the therapist. “Well, let’s see. I’m an aberrant, my parents sold me to you fuckers, I’ve been kept in a concrete room for days in a row, everything I’ve ever known has been ripped away from me…” Her voice started to raise. “I’m alone all the time, and I’m about to slave away for this stupid company for the rest of my life! If it’s even that long! You’re basically asking me to choose SUICIDE!” Veena jumped to her feet as she shouted.

“Please, Miss Nahm!” The doctor held her hands out in defense. She stared into Veena’s troubled eyes before she folded her hands and hung her head with a sigh. “I’m not so naive to think that this transition has been easy. And I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you especially. But to make this work, I need you to cooperate with me. I am not your enemy.” She put a hand to her heart. “I’d like for you to think of me as a friend.”

Veena stared into Dr. Hwa. She sat back down.

“And about that loneliness: good news for you! Your cell will come with three new friends your age.” She attempted another smile. “All you have to do is listen to the rest of what I have to tell you.”

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly

The ice in her veins pumped back and forth, around her uneasy heart. The cuffs around her wrists sapped energy that she wasn’t aware could be taken away.

Was this how it felt to be human? She thought she knew before, but things were different now. Was it normal to feel so weak, vulnerable, and fatigued? No wonder her classmates struggled to run the mile—something that she jogged with ease. Now, she was exhausted from being conscious.

Well, to be fair, her classmates also weren’t kept in a concrete box for days in a row. Or lost sleep while silently crying into a pillow, jumping at every noise to make sure no one saw the tears running down her cheeks. And she had greatly underestimated the energy that having a tangible future gave her. Every day, when she woke up, she could remind herself that she was an heiress to a grand company and fortune. When math got difficult, she’d think about the expansive amounts of money she’d have the honor of overseeing. When details about the Joseon dynasty got overcomplicated, she’d remember that there is no better teacher than the past. When she felt pangs of something, watching girls bawl their eyes out over crushed calves and stolen boyfriends, she'd shove it down with a healthy dose of advice her mother gave her: ‘show no mercy to those who show no loyalty.’

And now there was nothing. That future was taken away from her, and given to her kid brother. Veena had died that night.

She didn’t want to go. She liked the life she had. How could her own bloodline cast such a curse on her? But she had believed her family wouldn’t let her go. That she was too precious a gem for her parents to give up, and that combined with her little brother’s cuteness and her charm, they couldn’t take her away. Even if they had to send her to go live across the world, she imagined good things for herself while lounging on white sands and partying in skyscrapers.

So she couldn’t get that image out of her mind. The suit whispered in her father’s ear, and suddenly, the glint of love he had in his eyes was snuffed out like a candle flame. What, in so few words, could they have possibly said to get a father to hand over his daughter?

The tears burned her sinuses, but she refused to let them go.

“No commentary today?” The suit who was escorting her mused as they rode up the elevator. Veena didn’t respond with a thing. No snark, no glare, just a cold stare into space. “Heh.”

And who wouldn’t rejoice in seeing her in this position? Weak people found joy in putting powerful people down. It made her blood boil. She wanted to curse him out, kick him in, get him fired, anything. But for all her rage, she couldn’t bark back.

Veena bit down on her cracked lip. In any other situation, she could pull her ultimate trump card: her parents would hear about this, and then they would pay. A pathetic solution that made her look powerless, but a solution nonetheless. But her parents denounced her. Never wanted to see her again.

So that left her in an uncomfortable position: she was the smallest fish in the pond.

It only really hit her after days and days of slinging insults at the suits that visited her prison, who would look down at her with nothing in their eyes. Not hate, not anger, not even curiosity. Like she couldn’t even graze their ego.

She straightened her posture. Her father taught her young: appeal to authority, and crush inferiority. It is how to climb a ladder, and Veena made it especially high. Her teachers adored her, and her peers clawed for her attention, and those beneath her feared her. Until the corps snatched it from beneath her, and sent her crashing below depths deeper than unmentionables.

So there were new ladders. New hierarchies. And soon, everything would make sense.

Veena was ushered into a warm-looking office. Plants sprung up out of pots littered in every corner. Actual sunlight poured in through the windows. Against the wall sat a woman, in a desk chair, sitting across from a couch.

Veena sat, refusing to look the woman in the eyes. But from glances, she could tell she was meek. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her black-framed glasses ate up most of her face.

“Nahm Veena, correct?” She asked. “My name is Dr. Hwa Soon-Bok. I’m happy to be working with you today.” She promptly bowed to Veena before clicking her pen and scribbling something at the top.

Veena bowed as well. As quick of a nod as she could muster.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss Nahm! Daughter of Nahm Man-seok himself. I would have never guessed you had such a colorful vocabulary…” Within seconds, she hit a nerve. She hit a tender nerve and Veena couldn’t let her know, and yet she flinched. The doctor didn’t seem to notice. “Yet so quiet these past few days… I’ve been told you’ve been refusing food, refusing to talk...” She tapped her clipboard with her pencil before looking up at Veena with a gentle smile. “Is there anything in particular that has been bothering you these past few days?”

“...Bothering me?” Her voice croaked from its dry misuse. “Bothering me? Are you fucking serious?” Veena rolled her eyes and started sarcastically counting off her fingers as she locked eyes with the therapist. “Well, let’s see. I’m an aberrant, my parents sold me to you fuckers, I’ve been kept in a concrete room for days in a row, everything I’ve ever known has been ripped away from me…” Her voice started to raise. “I’m alone all the time, and I’m about to slave away for this stupid company for the rest of my life! If it’s even that long! You’re basically asking me to choose SUICIDE!” Veena jumped to her feet as she shouted.

“Please, Miss Nahm!” The doctor held her hands out in defense. She stared into Veena’s troubled eyes before she folded her hands and hung her head with a sigh. “I’m not so naive to think that this transition has been easy. And I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you especially. But to make this work, I need you to cooperate with me. I am not your enemy.” She put a hand to her heart. “I’d like for you to think of me as a friend.”

Veena stared into Dr. Hwa. She sat back down.

“And about that loneliness: good news for you! Your cell will come with three new friends your age.” She attempted another smile. “All you have to do is listen to the rest of what I have to tell you.”

 

[thebigfella]

❖ ACT I. LEAP I – GOD'S CHILDREN | SCENE #001 ❖

GOD'S CHILDREN

「GM POST」

A sleeve pulled back to reveal a leather strapped watch. The golden banding reflecting fractaled light, the clock hands ticked, the minutes coming to the crux of the changing hour. The hand moved away, letting gravity naturally pull itself back over the watch, the hand combing to adjust a black tie and its thin stripes.

Through the trajectory of a camera the view swapped, the changing timestamp hung at the corner as the figure moved through the hall, moving to the side as a man in a lab coat came by, wheeling a cart of syringes and vials.

Adjusting the collar of his suit, the man stepped back into the center of the hallway, the doors lined the sides, joined by thick glass windows that peered into offices, desks and computers, diagrams and maps. Research upon cork boards and whiteboards were only a few steps away from drawers of files and stacks of papers.

His eyes shifted to the side, a left and right, crossed both ways before straightened as a shadow appeared beside him, silent steps at his side. He didn’t bother to look over towards them, instead putting a hand into his pocket.

“Speak to me, Doctor,” the investigator ordered, ensuring he didn’t lose his pace as he continued to walk.

The scientist beside him slowly came peripheral, a clean black combover with graying edges and blocky glasses, another one of the many specialists that made up the facility's finest, he held a clipboard in his hand, “The director has told me to give you the current conditions of the subjects so you are aware, Inspector,” he began, flipping up the first page, “For #26-2, her elevated levels of anxiety has been an ongoing issue, as such we’ve been supplying her with 1.5 mg of clonazepam, along with 5 mg of zolpidem at night to ensure she’s been rested,” he stated, looking up towards the inspector, “We plan stopping for the time being, seeing how she acclimates without them in the Sect.”

“Noted,” was all the inspector gave in response, before keeping the conversation noted, “Tell me about #12-09, how is he faring compared to #05-07?” He asked, eyes peeing to the side to look at the lab coat from the corner of his eye.

“He’s next. #12-09 is the most at risk, the director has been against some of the suggested methods. We’ve considered tapering off his aggression with some injections or keeping him in isolation for longer, but we’ve been ordered to put him into an unconscious state and remove him, you are to watch her interactions with #26-2 closely, per the director's orders.”

There was a barely audible hum from the inspector’s throat as he slowed down, bringing the pace to a halt as he stopped in front of a door, sticking a hand into his suit and digging around, “The facility is quite fortunate they were able to catch a pair so close to each other. By themselves they’d be a hassle, but so long as you can control one, you can string along both. How convenient.” he spoke dryly, before producing a yellow keycard, tapping it against the sensor beside the door, “And #05-07?”

With a sigh the doctor continued, “Continued behavior, subject has refused most meals. Per the director’s orders she was to be put into intense deprivation. Beyond just meal time and meal removal she has been given no outside stimuli for the past week and two days. At this point, we estimate she has the last track of time, and possibly might be in some state of disassociation.”

“Troublesome,” the inspector calmly replied, “Reintegrating her could be overstimulating, and might be an adverse reaction. What is the director’s plan?” He asked, finally turning to look towards the scientist in full, the door’s locks finally clicking open.

“Well, this was the director’s *suggestion*, “ there was a knowing adjusting of his glasses, “#12-09 and #26-2 are to be introduced together in conjunction with #05-07. The director believes that #05-07 seeing the reunion between the other two may be effective in stimulating the feelings of “loneliness” as exhibited by her “self-focused mindset” and make her more susceptible to finding some belonging. That’s the simplified jargon.”

“Hm,” the inspector placed a hand on his chin, still looking plain despite the things being told to him, another day at the office, “And then, we shall be staggering the introduction of #22-0?”

“Correct, as the most outgoing and cooperative of the four, #22-0 would be ideal to make his appearance after the others have been acclimated, as to avoid overexposure in the subjects. The showing of this preferential treatment should highlight the divide between #22-0 and them, how its handled will depend on the performance of #22-0.”

“The director has a lot of faith in #22-0, I suppose. Wanting to put him as the odd one out of the other four could very easily end up tearing the sect apart…but if that’s how she wants to approach it,” he let his hand fall to the side, he looked backward to the nameplate that was above the door he stood behind, quite clearly in silver was “Room #22-0.”

“I’ll escort him personally, but one final question, doctor.” The inspector leaned forward, placing his hand on the shoulder of the scientist, the lab coat letting the clipboard drop to his side as a purple glow shone across his glasses.

“What role shall I play in this act?”

---

A mechanical door slid open, sleek shoes stepped onto the ground. They echoed across the quiet room. Gas masks breathed through filters, eyes hidden behind the dark circles that made them up. The pair encircled around their target looking around, and giving a hand signal to the camera before they crouched over an unconscious figure.

“Look at him, sleeping so soundly. Shame he’s gonna have to wake up to reality,” a coarse voice came from behind the series of filters, grabbing the boy and ruffling his hair in a belittling fashion, “You were a lot of trouble, but that’s about to change.”

“Don’t forget we’re on camera,” his partner commented, taking off her gloves ass he reached to grab Byeong-Ho’s legs, “C’mon, you get his upper body.”

With a silent agreement, the other suit grasped on the boy’s back, hosting him up, and all his unconscious body weight as they carried him out of the door. It was unceremonious as they slid out, the door closing behind them, leaving behind that quiet room and its single askew chair, the desk left lopsided and broken.

---

There was a knock on the door, before it was slid open, “Ms. Hyeon,” a voice greeted as a slumped silhouette stood at the door. A small room was on the other side, it offered a tiny bed with a smaller mattress, decor at least offered something to look at, and the presence of simple things upon a small table such as a deck of cards or simple brain teasers offered distractions, a small panel on the side of the room that had access to a system that could be used in case of emergency. It was a cell but compared to bars there was only solid, sterile white with no windows and heavy plates of metal separating from the outside, and miles of sediment that kept away from society.

Shuffling his way in was the familiar, crooked, yellow-toothed smile of a frail looking old man, wrinkles traveled down his face to his flappy cheek skin, similar to the jowls of a hound, the varicose veins in his neck traveled underneath his shirt, dry hands covered in blemishes, scars and bumps rubbed together audibly as he made his way in.

“Do not worry, I’m not here to take you away for testing, not today,” the old man calmed any worries that she may have, a glint in his glasses as he turned his head to the side, the shadows of the room hugging to his face, “I have good news, the director has decided that your gift can be used for more prestigious activities--”

“We can take it from here, Dr. Seomun,” a voice cut him off, as a pair of suits made their way into the room, the larger of the pair gently moved the doctor out of the way, they folded their arms behind the back as they stood in front of the doorway.

“Subject #26-2, we have good news. Not only will you be able to have your cuffs removed but you also will be able to reunite with an old friend, per the director’s request,” one of the agents spoke, gesturing towards the door behind them, as a signal of freedom. But, their stern expression didn’t leave as they looked the girl in the eye.

“...Only on one condition though.”

---

Within the four walls there only existed two things, a metal frame that kept a thin mattress that barely offered comfort, a departure from the room of a princess, now nothing but a sordid container for an animal. The corners hug onto dust, the lack of anything but a dimly lit lightbulb that hung from above, one that didn’t even offer a flicker to signify something was changing. The room stayed the same, all except for a single slot in the door that allowed a tray to be slipped through and placed to hang. The usual, a dish consisting of white or brown rice cooked together with grains, peas, and beans, dishes such as bread with tomato sauce, cheese, soup, salad, and soy milk at breakfast and bone marrow and vegetable soup, kimchi, and beansprouts at lunch, a constant rotation, the same thing every day, nothing changed. And when time ran out, the food was taken back, whatever she didn’t grab disappeared into the ether and she was once again left with silence. Nothing but a bed, and her.

A large beep echoed through the chamber, a disturbance in all the monotony, the first sign that there was something more in the outside world than the automated delivery of nutrient-dense mishmash.

“Subject #05-07,” A crackle preempted a voice over the intercom, its robotic tone made it hard to imagine it was a human. “Step away from the door and stand towards the back wall.”

Through all her lack of compliance, they didn’t expect her relent to be quick, but however long it took, they would wait until she listened, either willingly or not. And when it happened, it was the time the door rumbled, and finally slid open.

Walking into the room was a single suit, but compared to the one’s she had seen on the way here, the energy was vastly different. A woman with black eyes, an annoyed look in them, something bubbled under the surface, she didn’t hide the glare she gave the former noblewoman, indignant as if she was wasting her time.

There were no safety precautions, or any act of securing her, even though with her essence nullified with her cuffs there was little threat, there almost was the hope that she would try something reckless, maybe just for a bit of excitement.

One thing was distinct about her compared to the rest of the suits, was along with her tie was a long strip of black across the clear white. Plain white ties seemed to be relegated to scientists, but the appearance of the black streak denoted it as something different, unknown.

For a long moment, neither of them moved, until the crackle of the intercom came forth again.

“Inspector Mi-Sun, take the subject to the appropriate Sect chamber,” the voice ordered, a click of teeth coming from the inspector as she stormed over towards the girl. Without a care, she grasped the woman by the back of her head, roughly shoving her towards the door, “Get fuckin’ movin’!” She barked, ready to kick the girl in the ass if she didn’t listen, “Take the turns I tell ya’. I’m not gonna lead your ass around like a puppy,” she brashly swore, shoving Veena the rest of the way out of her chamber without a care for her, even if she fell she would just watch her stumble back to her feet.

The door closed behind them, and that chapter, the freedom from the future and isolation of it all was sealed away.

---

There was a room, it was spacious, at least more than a cell. It made sense, considering the four beds, a pair of bunks that denoted the amount of people the chamber was meant to hold. A pair of dressers adorned each side of the beds for personal effects, the sides of the room mirrored each other perfectly, a single door in the back that had thick transparent polymer that showed the shower within. It was simplistic, but it offered some semblance of comfort, it was meant to be lived in, covers and sheets that were meant for a home rather than the thin ones of a hospital, the chemical smells dissipated and left a neutral zone. A plain black carpet in the center of the room.

This unassuming place would make up their lives for the unforeseen future, and they were about to be introduced to this space for the first time.

And be assimilated into what could be the last faces they would see for the rest of their lives.

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

❖ ACT I. CHAPTER I – PROLOGUE | SCENE #001 ❖

HYEON KWON

「CELL ZERO」

It hadn't mattered what the condition was. Even if she'd been asked to snap one of her own fingers on the spot, she would have done it. Days had passed since her arrival at the facility, and since her first meeting with that black-haired agent, she hadn't heard a peep about how Byeong-ho was doing, no matter how many times she'd asked. The medicines which the staff had prescribed her had been meant to soothe her worries, but she'd only been taking them when the time came to rest. Even though she'd been largely co-operative with the facility's staff and had received far gentler handling by them as a result, she still appeared worn, her hair an even more tangled mess than usual and her eyes dark.

Before long, Hyeon was on her way. It wasn't like she had any things to pack, after all. All she had was the clothes on her back and a deck of cards which she had managed to pocket on her way out. By now she'd already become somewhat familiar with the facility's halls, and with the shepherding of her escort of the day, she made short work of the walk between her first home in this place to the next.

It was a different route from those which she'd been led along for the sake of her tests, but only on a superficial level. There were different twists and turns, yes, but the look of it all was the same. Windowless rooms and security doors lined each side of the halls, interrupted only by the somewhat more hospitable sight of a room meant for employee access only. When she arrived, all that was there to greet her was an assemblage of bedroom furniture.

It was closer to something that she could see somebody actually living in than her last room, but the number of beds gave her pause. There were four, not only one or two. Was there going to be people joining her other than just Byeong-ho? She frowned slightly. Nobody had made any mention of that to her. It wasn't she'd been expecting to be kept in the loop, anyway, but she wasn't exactly eager about the idea of having to share a room with two Aberrant strangers.

"Do you just want me to wait here?" Hyeon asked over her shoulder as she shuffled into the room. She'd done a lot of that lately, asking for directions and permissions, and she doubted that there was going to be any end to it in the near future.

"Mmm. So the boss says." Her escort was the same agent that had greeted her on her first day here. During the entire run of her stay, she hadn't given her name once, and Hyeon was hardly brazen enough to pry about it. She was one of the few agents she'd met during her time here who wore a yellow tie, which blazed uncharacteristically bright in the shadow of her otherwise sharp and jeering candor.

If she had to guess, Byeong-ho and the theoretical other kids who shared their situation had probably been assigned a handler like this. She just hoped that whoever had been assigned to him had a little more tact than her own. If not, she didn't even want to think about how many fights he'd probably started during their time apart.

"Looks like we're early, though. I hear the other Mister and Missy they've got in with you are proper handfuls. Not everyone has my sense of delicacy, you know? Takes 'em a bit more to get 'em to play along with this sorta thing, so just stay here and sit tight." While Hyeon started to nose around the room, the agent wandered out of it. "Either way, this is the end of my role for now. Do make good work your little reunion, yeah? From what I hear, if that little pal of yours doesn't start co-operating soon, then..."

She didn't need words to get across her point. Her thumb a black-gloved knife, she slashed across the skin of her throat as the door to the bunk room slammed closed. The pang of metal clashing against metal matched the one in Hyeon's chest. Just how much trouble had Byeong-ho been giving them? Was it even worse than she'd thought? Her head felt like it was starting to spin, and she was suddenly wishing that she'd pocketed some of that anxiety medication instead of the deck of cards.

She needed to sit down. Hyeon stumbled her way to the nearest of the bunks, and fell atop it with all of her weight, jostling the bed-springs below into a metallic racket. There was nothing she could do right now. She just needed to wait.

She squeezed her eyes shut, and started to breathe. One in, one out. One in, one out. One in, one out... But the seconds dragged by like feet through mud regardless. She just had to hope they wouldn't be long.

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

 

[miki]

❖ ACT I. LEAP I – GOD'S CHILDREN | SCENE #001 ❖

NAHM VEENA

「CELL ZERO」

Nothing the handler could say would rile Veena up. At least, that is what she desperately hoped it looked like.

“You bitch.” Her raspy tone slipped under her breath. Anger floated around her body and fizzled out at the end of her limp limbs. She twitched and then her mind wandered into blankness. As she was shoved by the shoulder, she could only hope that this was the last time her and her handler ever interacted.

She had always known torture as a foreign concept. A fascinating concept as far from her as the stars were from Earth. And while she hadn’t once been struck, she had a suspicion that whatever this was must be akin to it. There was no worse feeling in recent memory than this: feeling lost in her own body.

When she started refusing food, she first convinced herself that the type of food was the problem. When the half-warm vegetables and carbs were shoved into her room, she practically gagged. A few days in, as hunger pangs woke her up and rocked her to sleep, she steeled into the belief that this was somehow rebellion. She was strong, and she was sticking it to her principles. Like hell she’d do what they want! Dr. Hwa was nice and all, but she was attached to her single-minded goal: get the HELL out of there, with as minimal damage to herself as possible. The last thing she wanted was to cooperate.

At some point, Veena suspected she lost her appetite. If she really tried to eat something, could she? Or was her body too betrayed and haggard to accept it?

What purpose did all that serve now? The lights assaulted her senses, despite being so few. Her hair was tangled into oily, thin strands. She could barely breathe or step forward. Too dizzy. Weak.

The only thing that kept her going was the refusal to faint. That was too low for her: collapsing like an overworked slave.

Left… Up… Right… Straight…

She traced the directions into her palm, desperately trying not to forget them. That handler bitch was probably counting on her messing up! Maybe she’d get to beat her up under the guise of her ‘wandering off’ or ‘running away’. Veena huffed out of her nose: like hell she was gonna let that happen! She’d march right into her cell and greet her cell mates with a smile, and on time too!

When the topic of other people crossed her mind, her posture straightened a little. Little social idiosyncrasies were far better to get lost in than the awful state of herself. What kind of people was she meeting with? Other aberrants, duh. Her stomach churned at the thought. What kind of weirdos awaited her? All she knew of aberrants were the cold-hearted and antisocial officers and the hooligans in gangs with unwashed hair.

Veena stopped dead in her tracks.

My hair is a mess! These people really won’t let me shower before I meet my cellmates?

A glint of life returned to her eyes as she shook around the strands on her scalp. Her nails tugged through the deep violet clumps of hair as she bit her cheek. She gathered it in one section, messily trying to tie it up in a bun before it miserably fell back to its horrid state.

This was the first time she genuinely considered not doing what she was asked. Sure, she dreamt of it plenty. But darting in the opposite direction and demanding a shower seemed like the only right thing to do.

And what was stopping her? There was no one around her. She could just go. Run. Leave.

…Why the hell had they left her alone? Were they so careless? Or was this a test? Of her loyalty? That would be what Veena would do, if she were a handler. And if her subject didn’t follow suit, she’d take the first chance she got to beat some sense into them. Teach them not to disobey.

So what of her handler? What if she was promptly handed back to her?

Whatever. I’ve probably got the best looking hair out of these guys, even if I haven’t washed it in… in…

The time that passed was a touchy subject. She tore away from it.

It was hard to tell where she had ended up at. The directions had slipped from her mind, just beyond her feeble grasp. There were no windows to gauge space, and all the security doors were the same.

All she had were the plates next to the doors, indicating the rooms. If she was truly close, then reading and discerning what room she was supposed to go in was a piece of cake. She scanned the names in quick succession: storage, bathroom, Dr. Hwa…

Cell 0.

Well, it was a cell, and that was good enough for Veena. She tugged the metallic door open and shuffled in.

Her eyes darted around the room. It was more akin to a living space than a cell, with a table and chairs along with four beds. It was an improvement from what she had before, but still nowhere close to what she had been hoping for.

But she got what Dr. Hwa promised. She wasn’t alone in there. A limp body laid across one of the sad beds.

She walked up to the body. It was tiny and pale. It was a girl, probably, whose hair was a mess—at which Veena internally cheered. Sure, she was kind of pathetic looking, but it was the first person Veena had seen in…

She grabbed her shoulder and shook her back and forth rapidly.

“H… H…” She found herself stuttering. Her mouth wasn’t used to words anymore. She bit down on her tongue hard, trying to wrangle it into place.

“Who are you?”

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly

Nothing the handler could say would rile Veena up. At least, that is what she desperately hoped it looked like.

“You bitch.” Her raspy tone slipped under her breath. Anger floated around her body and fizzled out at the end of her limp limbs. She twitched and then her mind wandered into blankness. As she was shoved by the shoulder, she could only hope that this was the last time her and her handler ever interacted.

She had always known torture as a foreign concept. A fascinating concept as far from her as the stars were from Earth. And while she hadn’t once been struck, she had a suspicion that whatever this was must be akin to it. There was no worse feeling in recent memory than this: feeling lost in her own body.

When she started refusing food, she first convinced herself that the type of food was the problem. When the half-warm vegetables and carbs were shoved into her room, she practically gagged. A few days in, as hunger pangs woke her up and rocked her to sleep, she steeled into the belief that this was somehow rebellion. She was strong, and she was sticking it to her principles. Like hell she’d do what they want! Dr. Hwa was nice and all, but she was attached to her single-minded goal: get the HELL out of there, with as minimal damage to herself as possible. The last thing she wanted was to cooperate.

At some point, Veena suspected she lost her appetite. If she really tried to eat something, could she? Or was her body too betrayed and haggard to accept it?

What purpose did all that serve now? The lights assaulted her senses, despite being so few. Her hair was tangled into oily, thin strands. She could barely breathe or step forward. Too dizzy. Weak.

The only thing that kept her going was the refusal to faint. That was too low for her: collapsing like an overworked slave.

Left… Up… Right… Straight…

She traced the directions into her palm, desperately trying not to forget them. That handler bitch was probably counting on her messing up! Maybe she’d get to beat her up under the guise of her ‘wandering off’ or ‘running away’. Veena huffed out of her nose: like hell she was gonna let that happen! She’d march right into her cell and greet her cell mates with a smile, and on time too!

When the topic of other people crossed her mind, her posture straightened a little. Little social idiosyncrasies were far better to get lost in than the awful state of herself. What kind of people was she meeting with? Other aberrants, duh. Her stomach churned at the thought. What kind of weirdos awaited her? All she knew of aberrants were the cold-hearted and antisocial officers and the hooligans in gangs with unwashed hair.

Veena stopped dead in her tracks.

My hair is a mess! These people really won’t let me shower before I meet my cellmates?

A glint of life returned to her eyes as she shook around the strands on her scalp. Her nails tugged through the deep violet clumps of hair as she bit her cheek. She gathered it in one section, messily trying to tie it up in a bun before it miserably fell back to its horrid state.

This was the first time she genuinely considered not doing what she was asked. Sure, she dreamt of it plenty. But darting in the opposite direction and demanding a shower seemed like the only right thing to do.

And what was stopping her? There was no one around her. She could just go. Run. Leave.

…Why the hell had they left her alone? Were they so careless? Or was this a test? Of her loyalty? That would be what Veena would do, if she were a handler. And if her subject didn’t follow suit, she’d take the first chance she got to beat some sense into them. Teach them not to disobey.

So what of her handler? What if she was promptly handed back to her?

Whatever. I’ve probably got the best looking hair out of these guys, even if I haven’t washed it in… in…

The time that passed was a touchy subject. She tore away from it.

It was hard to tell where she had ended up at. The directions had slipped from her mind, just beyond her feeble grasp. There were no windows to gauge space, and all the security doors were the same.

All she had were the plates next to the doors, indicating the rooms. If she was truly close, then reading and discerning what room she was supposed to go in was a piece of cake. She scanned the names in quick succession: storage, bathroom, Dr. Hwa…

Cell 0.

Well, it was a cell, and that was good enough for Veena. She tugged the metallic door open and shuffled in.

Her eyes darted around the room. It was more akin to a living space than a cell, with a table and chairs along with four beds. It was an improvement from what she had before, but still nowhere close to what she had been hoping for.

But she got what Dr. Hwa promised. She wasn’t alone in there. A limp body laid across one of the sad beds.

She walked up to the body. It was tiny and pale. It was a girl, probably, whose hair was a mess—at which Veena internally cheered. Sure, she was kind of pathetic looking, but it was the first person Veena had seen in…

She grabbed her shoulder and shook her back and forth rapidly.

“H… H…” She found herself stuttering. Her mouth wasn’t used to words anymore. She bit down on her tongue hard, trying to wrangle it into place.

“Who are you?”

 

[BriiAngelic]

❖ ACT I. LOOP I – PROLOGUE | GOD’S CHILDREN #001 ❖

Rhee Byeong-Ho

「Cell Zero」

Verge of a Setback

It was becoming frustratingly common to awaken from unconsciousness. It might have been smarter to hold his tongue but any time these pigs spoke of his sister he flipped. He just wanted to know she was safe, to see her himself. They’d had no issue roughing him up and he could deal with that but Hyeon was different. She wouldn’t harm a fly and more than likely wanted nothing more than to go home and all this was his fault.

He’d never forgive himself if his sister suffered due to him.

As his sight got less blurry he pushed back off the floor and stood to his knees.

“Try that shit again and you really won’t get anywhere. I’ll let you in on a little secret pup, you’re gonna see your sister today. Let’s make sure that’s not in the medical ward.”

He processed the words slowly as the room stopped spinning. They had increased his security personnel to two officers at any time after he’d tried to break out and find Hyeon himself. While some of the officers took pity on their separation most found it funny to hold over him. Unfortunately he was stuck with two of the more volatile ones today.

“It would be better if we could just throw him with #22-0. Perhaps he’d learn the value of cooperation.”

“Yeah but you know they said to keep them sep-shit! Knocking the fucker out made our timetable moved. Get him in a room now they can’t meet yet or-”

Byeong-Ho was grabbed and shoved back against the wall as officers passed. From his position he could only barely see the sight of another person around his age wearing a beanie. Huh, there were more people his age?

His back was starting to hurt from being shoved into the wall. Well if it was their fuck up then he should have no issue with just getting a bit of a leg up. His smirk was the only sign of his attitude problem stirring up. With a shout he shoulder checked one of his officers knocking them to the floor.

“Get off of me you asswipes! Ain’t my fault you can’t do your job right!”

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

Spoiler: mobile friendly

It was becoming frustratingly common to awaken from unconsciousness. It might have been smarter to hold his tongue but any time these pigs spoke of his sister he flipped. He just wanted to know she was safe, to see her himself. They’d had no issue roughing him up and he could deal with that but Hyeon was different. She wouldn’t harm a fly and more than likely wanted nothing more than to go home and all this was his fault.

He’d never forgive himself if his sister suffered due to him.

As his sight got less blurry he pushed back off the floor and stood to his knees.

“Try that shit again and you really won’t get anywhere. I’ll let you in on a little secret pup, you’re gonna see your sister today. Let’s make sure that’s not in the medical ward.”

He processed the words slowly as the room stopped spinning. They had increased his security personnel to two officers at any time after he’d tried to break out and find Hyeon himself. While some of the officers took pity on their separation most found it funny to hold over him. Unfortunately he was stuck with two of the more volatile ones today.

“It would be better if we could just throw him with #22-0. Perhaps he’d learn the value of cooperation.”

“Yeah but you know they said to keep them sep-shit! Knocking the fucker out made our timetable moved. Get him in a room now they can’t meet yet or-”

Byeong-Ho was grabbed and shoved back against the wall as officers passed. From his position he could only barely see the sight of another person around his age wearing a beanie. Huh, there were more people his age?

His back was starting to hurt from being shoved into the wall. Well if it was their fuck up then he should have no issue with just getting a bit of a leg up. His smirk was the only sign of his attitude problem stirring up. With a shout he shoulder checked one of his officers knocking them to the floor.

“Get off of me you asswipes! Ain’t my fault you can’t do your job right!”

 

[thebigfella]

❖ ACT I. LOOP I – GOD'S CHILDREN | SCENE #001 ❖

SIN DUCK-YOUNG

「CELL ZERO」

Hands were free, unmarked wrists that spun around upon their limber axis. Carelessly a hand came up to brush across the face, feeling skin across skin. It was smooth, the coarseness of his palms had begun to disappear. It marked the fading time, in conjunction with him forgetting the smell of the fields and the loosening grasp on the routine that was drilled in him.

He moved down the hall, casually he wrapped his arms behind his neck as he strolled along leisurely. He wasn’t being ushered anywhere, instead just going upon his own desire, he had agency. The only influence he had was the blonde-haired agent that stood beside him, yet they walked on par with each other, side by side, step by step.

A smile was clear on his face, brightness illuminated underneath the lights of the facility, the blank halls only broken up by repeating doors and replicated nameplates. He didn’t hesitate to wave towards the scientists, doctors, and agents who all came across his path, he was even able to greet most of them by name.

He had only been here for a few weeks, but as far as he was concerned, this was a new home. As if he had been moved into some mysterious mansion from one of the few books he got his hands on as a kid, there were a bunch of unknown doors that kept secret chambers and new things to learn. All he had to do was keep opening doors!

His hand dug into his mouth, scraping at a tooth, “Mister Kyubok, are ya’ gonna eat lunch today?” He casually spoke to the taller man beside him, the unphased expression didn’t even bother to so much as turn his way, that simple pinstripe he wore was the most visual representation he had, without missing a beat the agent responded, “That isn’t exactly any of your business.”

“Ya ain’t lyin’! I was just curious is’all,” Duck-Young spoke with his thick accent of the farmland, rubbing his plaque onto his shirt without much thought, “Ya don’t speak much, mister! My ma told me men who stay quiet all the time usually got somethin’ wrong with their willy. Pretty sure she was talkin’ about pa….”

There was a simple hum from the agent in response, all too good at tuning out the boy’s talks. They were still moving, and there were no complaints, no acts of defiance or outrageous demands. Compared to the others, dealing with a kid who just talked too much was a breath of fresh air. A fine mist that would soon be interrupted by a stench, the sound of commotion around the corner caused the agent’s brows to furrow, as he stepped ahead of Duck-Young as they rounded the corner.

Inspector Kyubok’s eyes narrowed as he watched the two officers. They were off schedule, and to make things worse, the most troublesome of the four was with them, and he wasn’t being properly restrained. With a silent tightening of a fist, the inspector looked to the side. He had hoped that somehow, this could still work out according to the director’s wishes, but it was too late to turn away now. With a silent stare of authority he looked at the officers as he tried to keep the pace moving.

Duck-Young’s head was elsewhere, he wasn’t paying attention, head tilted upward as he hummed some ditty, there was maybe a glimpse of hope that the first introductions could be orchestrated as desired.

Yet, Byeong-Ho had different ideas, his shove sent an officer sprawling onto the ground, and the shout dragged all attention to him.

“You son-of-a…” a curse came from one of the officers who had been given the job to secure Byeong-Ho and transport him, his position on the ground didn’t give his words much weight as he pushed himself back up to his knee. He looked over his shoulder to give a sharp glare towards the teen, meanwhile his partner had already loudly clicked his teeth, a flash of orange essence came from the officer’s eyes, the swirls of energy already circling around a closed fist, this was going to hurt.

Yet, before something else could happen, a hand came to pat the officer on the shoulder, hesitation and a cold sweat caused both officers to freeze what they were doing, turning their eyes towards the stone-faced inspector, essence immediately fizzled out and faded away.

“I’ll take it from here,” was all he said. Before the agent on the ground quickly crawled up to his feet and the both of them gave a nod, before turning away. Not without giving one final look towards Byeong-Ho, this clearly wasn’t over.

The inspector turned his eyes towards Byeong-Ho, there was a small moment to give him a once over. “You’ll be coming with us,” he stated. Wait, who was us?

Quickly taking over all of Byeong-Ho’s vision was a boy who seemed to have no sense of personal space. His hands, free of any cuffs or restriction were free to express and move all they want as he gave a bright smile towards his fellow aberrant, "Where have they bin' hidin' ya? I had seen some other people mah age here, but ya're a new one!" Duck-Young was immediately piqued by the new face, placing his hands onto his knees as he backed up, “Ya look pale. When's the last time ya ate? Shoot, if aah took ya home mah ma would make your belt burst. Ya'd be drowin’ in naengmyeon and japgokbap. Ya gotta visit someday!”
Immediately upon meeting the boy, he was already trying to make friends.

“We have places to be,” a dry interruption made Duck-Young stop his tirade, turning to look over his shoulder as he saw the inspector waiting patiently for them to come along with him. “Oh yea! We gotta get movin’, right. Today’s a big day!” Duck-Young exclaimed, before turning back to Byeong-Ho, and reaching up to place a finger to hook into the rim of the beanie, Duck-Young grinned, “Oh yeah, by the way! My name’s Duck-Young! Les’ get along, alrighty?” And without any hesitation he walked backward to follow behind Inspector Kyubok while expectantly watching his new peer, both of them just seeming to expect Byeong-Ho to follow behind.

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

 

[BriiAngelic]

❖ ACT I. LOOP I – PROLOGUE | GOD’S CHILDREN #001 ❖

Rhee Byeong-Ho

「Cell Zero」

Rie y llora

Perhaps he had been looking for a fight, just a little bit. When the fight didn’t break out like he expected he found himself more confused than anything else. His wrists were unbound for the moment, they probably didn’t expect him to act out within the hour of waking up from his last beatdown. Or maybe they just wanted the excuse. Either way his idiots wouldn’t be getting what they wanted.

His reaction time had to be fucked, the kid was practically in his face before he realized it. Weirder still he didn’t seem to be being told off for doing what he wanted. Every impulse he had to tell off the new officer left as he heard the other speak. Had he really been that starved for interaction with someone who didn’t spit in his direction?

“Uhh, I don’t know. I haven’t been able to keep track of the days here. I think the last thing I had was… maybe a burrito. I don’t know when that was.”

Confusion colored his reactions. Was the other comfortable here? Why? Moreover visiting? Was he wrong? Maybe this kid wasn’t an aberrant. But that was shot down by the officers' tone and rushing. Okay so now he really wanted to know what was going on.

“I’m Byeong-Ho. Rhee Byeong-Ho. Where are they…moving you?”

He realized the other two were moving and followed instinctively. It was the better option to staying with his losers who were most certainly waiting for a change to slug him.

“So you live with your grand? Or do they keep you here? Is your grand one of the corps or…”

He trailed off but the inflection on the corps was just as clearly one that could be used with any exchanged derogatory remark. If he satisfied his curiosity he might even get some more information on his sister, possibly real information too.

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

Spoiler: mobile friendly

Perhaps he had been looking for a fight, just a little bit. When the fight didn’t break out like he expected he found himself more confused than anything else. His wrists were unbound for the moment, they probably didn’t expect him to act out within the hour of waking up from his last beatdown. Or maybe they just wanted the excuse. Either way his idiots wouldn’t be getting what they wanted.

His reaction time had to be fucked, the kid was practically in his face before he realized it. Weirder still he didn’t seem to be being told off for doing what he wanted. Every impulse he had to tell off the new officer left as he heard the other speak. Had he really been that starved for interaction with someone who didn’t spit in his direction?

“Uhh, I don’t know. I haven’t been able to keep track of the days here. I think the last thing I had was… maybe a burrito. I don’t know when that was.”

Confusion colored his reactions. Was the other comfortable here? Why? Moreover visiting? Was he wrong? Maybe this kid wasn’t an aberrant. But that was shot down by the officers' tone and rushing. Okay so now he really wanted to know what was going on.

“I’m Byeong-Ho. Rhee Byeong-Ho. Where are they…moving you?”

He realized the other two were moving and followed instinctively. It was the better option to staying with his losers who were most certainly waiting for a change to slug him.

“So you live with your grand? Or do they keep you here? Is your grand one of the corps or…”

He trailed off but the inflection on the corps was just as clearly one that could be used with any exchanged derogatory remark. If he satisfied his curiosity he might even get some more information on his sister, possibly real information too.

 

[thebigfella]

❖ ACT I. LOOP I – GOD'S CHILDREN | SCENE #001 ❖

SIN DUCK-YOUNG

「CELL ZERO」

Duck-Young walked with a gait that breathed of a free spirit. Underneath fluorescent lights that showed every blemish, within these featureless walls that subdued any expression, the teen didn’t seem to let it conform him, or maybe he just adapted. Those free hands continued to move naturally, unbridled by any faint remnants of solitude or confinement, casually wrapping themselves behind the boy’s neck as he strolled backwards to face his new friend.

“Grand? Ooooh. This one of those mis-co-muni-cations,” his words drawled out, confusion replaced with a grin, “Ma is ma! My grand is Meemaw! Guess you wouldn’t know that!” He chuckled with his clarification, “I live with my Ma, Pa, Meemaw and Peepaw on a farm! We’re farmers, fifth generation up to me!” He spoke proudly of his heritage, but didn’t do so much as puff out his chest, a moment later his pride had faded away and was replaced by something else, even though those closed eyes didn’t give much chance to read what was going on in his mind, the air around him definitely changed as his hands came to fall by his side.

“But, I’m onto much bigger things now. I betcha my fam was shocked to hear I was movin’ up in the world. I mean, workin’ for the government, who woulda thought?!” Duck-Young spoke with elation, a completely different view on the situation they had found themselves in. He was kidnapped from his previous life, tossed into a room and kept away from society to be tested on, and yet he took it with stride and a smile on his face. Was it weakness, or maybe it was some form of resilience? An act of playing along or a scripted part in the play?

Duck-Young slowed down slightly, to spin around and match his new friend’s pace, taking his side “You’ve been locked away forra bit, and thos’ guards of yours looked like they had their knickers in a twist, so I doubt ya know,” he began, raising his finger and pointing it towards the investigators back, “He’s takin’ us to a new place, things are about to change. We ain’t just being kept her to be put on tubes n’stuff. We got purpose!” He spoke vaguely of the concept, a grin on his face didn’t explain his definition of the term.

“Well, we’re gonna be workin’ together, right?” Duck-Young gave Byeong-Ho a comforting pat on the shoulder, “So we should look out for each other, far as I’m concerned you’re already family to me!”

With an assuring grip, Duck-Young looked towards their escorts back, leaning forward with a simper, “Hey mister, since we’re goin’ to be formin’ this new sect, do you think we can get a nice meal to celebrate? I’m sure everyone would ‘preciate some of the cafeteria’s delicacies,” Duck-Young asked, before dropping down to a whisper and turning to Byeong-Ho, “You should see tha food the people who work here eat, it's delicious! Not as good as back home, but I can’t pitch a fit about it. Plus we gotta eat our own meals, we need tha nutrition!”

There was a silent contemplation from the investigator, Kyubok spent a moment, maybe weighing his response as he hadn’t said anything to interrupt or comment, simply doing his job. There was the smallest thought of what the director would say to the fact he couldn’t follow her suggestions, that was the troublesome thought that prevaded. But, he pulled himself out of it, adjusting his sleeves as he gave a curt reply.

“I’ll ask my superiors if that can be arranged. Between you, Mr. Rhee,” the agent paused, just long enough to pull a piece of lint off his suit, and for the fact he had actually humanized the aberrant enough to call him by name to sit in the air, “and your fellow cellmate Ms. Nahm, who both have been in confinement until now, ensuring you get something in your stomach is important. I’ll argue that there should be a conforment to your pallets, at least this once.”

His head turned around for the first time since they had begun walking, glancing towards Byeong-Ho with a lack of emotion, robotic and plainfaced, dry as his words, “All I ask is that you act in a way that doesn’t make that argument a losing battle.”

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

 

[BriiAngelic]

❖ ACT I. LOOP I – GOD’S CHILDREN SCENE #001 ❖

Rhee Byeong-Ho

「Cell Zero」

Young G.O.A.T

How was this dude so at ease? Was it an act? No, an act would have brought up some kinda sign. The genuineness of the other was enough to keep his interest. He’d play nice for now if only to see what made this one so docile. Maybe others weren’t experiencing the shit he had, but if that was the case why were they letting him act out? He’d assumed when he was left alive it was because they didn’t have enough bodies for whatever fucked up thing they were working on and he still wasn’t sold that it wasn’t what was happening now.

Honestly, he didn’t see how working for these dogs was a step up from farmer to the other. He’d hate the solitude himself and was definitely more a city boy himself but anything beat here. When the other span around on him he near lost his footing with the instinctual step back he took expecting a swing on him.

“Oh- Purpose huh? That what they tell ya?”

He didn’t flinch from the hand thrown on his shoulder but gave the other an odd look at the quick turn to family. He wasn’t against the idea, he’d grown up knowing you looked out for your own in this world if you were worth a damn. Yet he felt the other wouldn’t look at the world and see the same threats he did when he saw the suits looming behind the boy.

“Yeah, yeah bud we can look out for each other.”

It's fine. If the other couldn’t recognize the danger surrounding them then he’d just keep his own eyes on it. No matter what his main concern was seeing Hyeon safe and sound. Until he had proof of that he’d do the hoops and hurdles to get them out alive. So if this kid had more freedoms he could play their games.

“Wouldn’t dream of making your job harder.”

He managed to keep the sneer in his voice to a minimum before he turned his attention back to Ducky. He needed to keep up the questions. If not for the sake of knowing where Ducky stood on everything here then at least to hear a thread of information he could actually use.

“Be nice if my sister, Hyeon got to try it too. They’ve been keeping us separate for some reason.”

coded by yukitera & khocolatte

Spoiler: mobile friendly

Young G.O.A.T

How was this dude so at ease? Was it an act? No, an act would have brought up some kinda sign. The genuineness of the other was enough to keep his interest. He’d play nice for now if only to see what made this one so docile. Maybe others weren’t experiencing the shit he had, but if that was the case why were they letting him act out? He’d assumed when he was left alive it was because they didn’t have enough bodies for whatever fucked up thing they were working on and he still wasn’t sold that it wasn’t what was happening now.

Honestly, he didn’t see how working for these dogs was a step up from farmer to the other. He’d hate the solitude himself and was definitely more a city boy himself but anything beat here. When the other span around on him he near lost his footing with the instinctual step back he took expecting a swing on him.

“Oh- Purpose huh? That what they tell ya?”

He didn’t flinch from the hand thrown on his shoulder but gave the other an odd look at the quick turn to family. He wasn’t against the idea, he’d grown up knowing you looked out for your own in this world if you were worth a damn. Yet he felt the other wouldn’t look at the world and see the same threats he did when he saw the suits looming behind the boy.

“Yeah, yeah bud we can look out for each other.”

It's fine. If the other couldn’t recognize the danger surrounding them then he’d just keep his own eyes on it. No matter what his main concern was seeing Hyeon safe and sound. Until he had proof of that he’d do the hoops and hurdles to get them out alive. So if this kid had more freedoms he could play their games.

“Wouldn’t dream of making your job harder.”

He managed to keep the sneer in his voice to a minimum before he turned his attention back to Ducky. He needed to keep up the questions. If not for the sake of knowing where Ducky stood on everything here then at least to hear a thread of information he could actually use.

“Be nice if my sister, Hyeon got to try it too. They’ve been keeping us separate for some reason.”

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

❖ ACT I. CHAPTER I – PROLOGUE | SCENE #001 ❖

HYEON KWON

「CELL ZERO」

"Byeong-Ho!"

Hyeon shot out of her bed at the sound of another person's voice. She moved so quickly, in fact, that the actual content of what was being said to her was entirely lost. As she swung herself upright, her eyes were bright and hopeful, but the moment that she laid eyes upon the other girl, the gloomy deluge which had shadowed her expression for the last few days quickly returned.

"O-oh... Um- Sorry..." Realizing her mistake, Hyeon's voice was immediately reduced to a stammer. Her eyes flicked between the black-haired girl and the space behind her, silently hoping that Byeong-Ho would be, somehow, hidden within her shadow. "I um- Was expecting someone else..."

Hyeon was trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice, but she couldn't. As excited as she should have been to meet someone... anyone else down here who wasn't wearing one of those black and white ties, that footage of Byeong-Ho splayed across the floor of a cell still lingered in the back of her mind. How many days had she even been stuck down here now? How long had he kept trying to fight back in vain? What if he still was? Just the thought of it was enough to make her feel sick.

"Um. My name's Hyeon." For now, she pushed those thoughts down into her stomach. Worrying would do her no good, and she really was glad to see that she and Byeong-Ho weren't the only two who were in this situation.

"...Nice to meet you?" She eyed the girl with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. She was a bit disheveled, but upon closer observation she didn't exactly mesh with the image that most Aberrant living outside the law held. She looked a bit too... Nice.

"Did the Corps, um, arrest you too...?" There was some strain in her voice as she said that word. Kidnap was the first word that had come to mind, but she'd thought better of it. "Or... Something... Else...?"

For all Hyeon knew, the girl could have volunteered for this, though she wouldn't speculate on that aloud. There were Aberrants she'd known who would have punched her in the face for even suggesting that they might join the Crows willingly. One of whom she was waiting for at this very moment.

coded by yukitera & khocolatte