[ After having his trust betrayed once already, now he's leaving his situation to the kindness of his junior. What a guy.
A stack of paper forms sag over his arm, and briefly, Soleum glances down at his wrist. Could he… Well, perhaps, but it wouldn't be a pleasant experience fitting it in and pulling it out. All while keeping out of the public eye. It'd be simpler to continue heading toward the administrative office, where he could grovel for the senior agent's fourth-issued bicycle this month. ]
ohh look at you, such a good memory! yup I'm right there! I'll treat you to tteokbokki for the trouble haha
[Is he treating him or just craving it... Well, what's the difference.]
oh and bring some containment bags mine are stuffed to burst lol don't want to spill them on the street... hm but can you manage that? always ride safely!
[ After a few minutes of back-and-forth with the bureau's inventory specialist… ]
It's no trouble at all. I'll be fine.
[ So don't treat me to anything unnecessary like that goes unsaid. If Agent Choi really wanted to do him a favor, he'd avoid losing this bike. ]
Anything else besides the bags you need while I'm still in the office? Do you want a drink? You stuck your leftover coffee in the fridge from this morning.
[ There's also a case of beer in there, but that can't be in abidance with work policy. ]
Braun? He… doesn't want to wear anything like that.
[ There aren't any helmets small enough to fit the plushie's head, not without bending his fuzzy little ears. And even if there were any available, Braun would throw a fit the second he saw how gauche it looked on himself. ]
I'm sorry to break it to you, sir, but there's no real way to ride carefully if a grown man is sitting in the bicycle basket. So the kind agent at the check-out desk procured us a tandem bicycle. It's not speedy or as easy to maneuver, but we should be able to make do.
[ "With a sunbae like that, who needs enemies, huh? Don't worry, some of us are good here." That was what the agent said to Soleum before patting his shoulder and sliding the master lock to his newfound equipment. ]
…Unless you think he was? It seemed more like he wanted to get back at you, though.
[ Which could easily have become a case of being teased by association… but for two people, this really is the safest mode of cycling. Even if it began as a joke, there were still good intentions behind it. ]
Now, can you send me your exact location?
[ Unlike the agent, he doesn't have much experience with a bike this shape. Since it'll take some practice riding it alone, he should get a head start now, while the sun's still out. ]
[ A few messages up, he said it was lost. Soleum didn't just imagine that. He said it right there? Seriously, who is he trying to play. Regardless of his the grief he wants to give Agent Choi, with a swipe, he lands right back at the bottom of the conversation, scanning his latest messages.
A pretty easy question.
If you hop on a train and then cross the boundary of a disaster, the odds are high it'll stop functioning completely, whether your close to your destination or not. If it doesn't, it's probable the machine's already become part of the incident. Either you're a sitting duck who can't help anyone, or you've locked yourself in a moving death trap. ]
I think on my first day Agent Bronze said something about it being safer during missions.
Do you think someone has it out for you…? If they stole your bicycle, knowing it's property belonging to the government.
[He didn't lose it, he simply cannot find it. Because it was stolen! Therefore, not his fault.]
he did? ahh what a good sunbae he's become...
[So Jaekwan already spoiled it. That or their rookie already understood it from the get-go.]
hmm well the bikes do say it's government property on them don't they? do you think someone would be malicious enough to take something like that on purpose? shall we investigate! maybe we will find the thief lol
[ As if he doesn't put in enough overtime with his real job.
The animated route splayed across his phone screen tells him he's about 27 minutes out from where the agent is. He should seriously get going. But before that. ]
You're at the scene of the crime, sir. Help me help you.
When do you last remember seeing your bike? Do you recall anyone suspicious nearby? What does the site look like where you left it?
I'll need as much detail as you can describe. I'm heading out, but I'll check back soon.
[ …And so, ten minutes of huffing and puffing and suffering later, Soleum makes it to his first intersection stop. He needs a full second to slump unevenly over his handlebars and wheeze, after which he slides his device out from his pocket to catch up. ]
[Such a thoughtful junior... Knowing the distance from the bureau, it'll probably take Soleum half an hour to get here. He's got some time to explore this crime scene.]
it was at this tree
[He takes a photo of it to send. It's a somewhat thin tree, trunk just wide enough that you couldn't fully wrap your arms around, but because of that the bike lock didn't fit.]
it's already far from the entry point I got some good walking in today thanks to that lol my feet are sore! you'll have to do most of the pedaling haha
[Now, as for the timeline.]
my notes say I went into the disaster around 1215 hours... and it's just after 1530 now! ah thats right everyone was going to lunch around then right? so there were a lot of people, so I felt fine leaving the bike because of the pedestrian effect?
[It's the bystander effect, but whatever.]
there was no one suspicious though, but a lot of those pedestrians maybe someone took it for a joyride... what do you think, grapes?
[ He's just having fun, isn't he and he's testing me exist simultaneously inside his head. In the countless logs featuring his adventures, the Agent Choi of the Dark Exploration Records always seemed to be many kinds of people. Shrewd, good-natured, a little mischievous…
The pedestrian lighting flashes green at Soleum, giving him an excuse not to reply immediately. Sweat spills down the back of his neck as he pedals past the teems of people seeking to outpace the summer heat to little fruit.
Another stop. ]
Ah… Thank you. You took a lot of good notes, Agent-nim.
I'll give it some more thought. If you'll have a little more patience with me, I should be there soon.
[ Soleum decided already: The accuracy of his answer probably doesn't matter so much as the reasoning, the thought process. Rather than comment on the mystery of it all — ]
Still, it's interesting that you don't sound much bothered at all. In your situation, I'm not sure how I'd react…
[He doesn't mind waiting. An unfortunate requirement of examining ghost stories is patience - And while some people might say Choi is lacking in it, in these moments he doesn't mind standing by.]
of course of course~ you're doing me a favor after all riding on a tandem bike in the summer heat hahaha... you're a great hubae aren't you?
[There's no tone over text but he's being honest. Jaekwan would probably do this for him, too - albeit with a lot of complaint - but Soleum hasn't known him as long. He's still going out of his way to do this for him.]
but what to do about getting upset anyway? if I complain and start asking questions to civilians they might be wary and bike theft isn't very common in itaewon... people may think I'm an annoying public servant causing a stir lol
Well, if I still had administrative work to complete, you would have been out of luck.
Also, it's not good to stay out in the sun too long…
[ In other words, it's an ordinary thing to do. The sort of run-of-the-mill goodwill Soleum is displaying should be the bare minimum requirement for any Disaster Management Bureau agent.
…One would think someone like Agent Choi, an overachiever in this regard, would have higher standards. Taking into consideration public perception, going as far as to avoid disrupting anyone's day when he's just spent the past several hours defusing a disaster situation. There should be a limit to how saint-like a person is allowed to be. ]
I don't think you would be causing any more of a stir than the average visitor.
I mean, you're popular with civilians. If you took off your jacket, you wouldn't even look like a public servant… They'd relax around you.
oof grapes you would have picked paperwork over me?? my heart ;;
[He's snickering at the thought. Yeah, Grapes probably would choose desk work over biking across town in the high heat of the day to deliver a bike. But he can still give him a hard time about it.]
hmm you know in police procedurals they always talk about the criminal returning to the scene of the crime leaving this spot might mean i could miss an important clue...
[ Squeezing the brake bar, Soleum's foot slips off the pedal, skidding into the dirt of the sidewalk to halt the bicycle's motion. Agent Choi, aren't your priorities a little skewed?! Seriously, who needs the clue when the culprit could be right within reach? ]
Respectfully, wouldn't it be a better idea to let the "criminal" come back while you hide somewhere cooler?
And then you could confront them…
The only way I wouldn't be able to find on my own is if you were purposely giving me the run-around.
[ Meaning, ignoring his text messages or not answering his calls. And so on. ]
hmm well if I stopped messaging you that would be due to trouble I wouldn't leave you hanging on purpose lol! besides I'm not a cop hahaha thankfully
[So even if he found his bike and the person who took it, there isn't much he can do but try to her it back. And so...]
but you're the clever newbie I'm sure you're already thinking of solutions what would you say if you confronted them? show your badge and ask politely, or something more forceful? you have to think of the bureau's image~
Confronting them would be too much for me. I mean, it feels harsh. No one reacts well to having baseless accusations thrown at them.
I'd rather treat them like a witness or someone who might be interested in helping.
[ Soleum pauses. At least that's what he initially means for it to be as he pedals furiously uphill. However, the silence somehow stretches and stretches, until at last: 30 minutes of nothing. Well over his expected ETA.
[Hmm, the passive approach. That sounds like him. Actually - ]
that sounds like you!
[But he should be here soon, so Choi moves closer to the main road, keeping an eye out from the direction he expects him to be coming from. It should be any minute now...]
[But as time passes and there's no word from Soleum, Choi crosses his arms, thinking.]
you didn't get lost?
[Is the first text, sent around the time he's supposed to arrive. He knows the traffic around this time - It shouldn't be too hard on a bike. Next is a few minutes later.]
Agent Grapes ?
[Nothing... He's not nervous, per se, but his junior is riding a weird bike on city streets... Could he have -- ]
[An accident?!]
where? do you need me to come? send your location? did you get hurt? oh or is it only traffic? (ﾟοﾟ人))
[...because it's only on that last text that he realizes he could have just been delayed by something that didn't directly threaten his life or something.]
Why are there so many messages filling his phone. It's a challenge to scan each line of text and keep his eyes on the road at the same time, so he first focuses on powering his wobbly wheels to what should be his last stop before reaching the senior agent. The plush doll in his breast pocket has been complaining the whole trip, lamenting the brutish labor this bureau puts him up to. Soleum ignores his prattling. ]
Ah, no, no… Calm down, Agent Choi, please. It's nothing like that.
I picked up a passenger is all.
Oh I see you
[ The hand holding his phone waves out at Agent Choi, and once it's safe to cross, Soleum glides past the other pedestrians. There's listless young boy in his backseat. ]
A-Again, I apologize for the delay…!
[ Soleum unsaddles from the bicycle, deciding to walk the rest of the way to meet him. Flushed face, the front of his hair is wetly plastered to his forehead. He clearly appears to want to crouch to his knees and take a breather. ]
There was just a lot going on back there. Um, this — [ He glances at the child, swinging legs that were much too short to reach the pedals he's seated over. ] He kept grabbing my bike, saying it was his. He wouldn't let go. He seemed to want to get to the other side of the street, but wasn't sure how…
So I thought you might have better luck talking to him.
[He picked up a passenger? What the hell? What is he, a taxi service? Choi is getting ready to call him directly and clarify this once and for all when he suddenly sees the message that alerts him he's near enough to see and raises his head - and, aha, there he is! And the passenger is... It's... a child.]
Wow... What an adventure you've been on, Grapes-ya.
[Said quietly, as Choi gives him a gentle pat on the shoulder. He looks exhausted, poor guy. He'll definitely need to treat him to something spicy after this.]
Let's have a look here... Hey, there! [He approaches the kid, still seated on the bike and looking at Choi out of the corner of his eye.] My junior said you're trying to cross the street. Where are you going? Want me to walk home with you? Oh, you like sitting on the bike?
[He's not a natural with kids or anything like that, but the boy at least doesn't seem to think he's a dull sort as he swings his legs and responds shyly that this bike's the same color as his and basically looks like his, so he thought it must be his.]
Oh, did my hubae steal your bike? I'll need to scold him properly... [And he shoots Soleum a grin over his shoulder.] But, wait, look up here. Do you see this?
[He pats the front of the bike where a metal plate has been affixed. The kid is old enough to read, at least, even if he might not understand all the words: "Property of Disaster Management Bureau"]
That means it's a government bike. We've got to bring it back to the city, or the two of us will be in trouble. Let's walk back home together, okay?
[ To the side, Soleum continues to hold the bicycle upright; when the agent looks back at him, his lips only thin. In his opinion, the exchange looks natural. Were there any mention of his family roots on his page, he would have remembered it. The same could be said for if the topic had ever come up in conversation in his time working with the team, but it never had. Regardless, by the look of this scene, it isn't hard to imagine Agent Choi as the easygoing older brother to someone, the favorite uncle to a gaggle of nieces and nephews.
It's a shame that his colleague, after spending his day inside one ghost story, just had to walk into another.
[What's Yours is Mine] : A ghost story featured in <Dark Exploration Records> : Daydream, Inc. identification code – Qterw-D-1364
In this frightful tale, reunite your companion ghost with its beloved possession before dusk—or else risk being spirited away from the living, never to be seen again. Note, these ghosts tend to attach themselves to similar-looking items, hiding them away in a special spot when no one is looking. It is unknown where these items are stored.
…
It is what it is. ]
I know you must be tired, sir, [ he interjects before Agent Choi runs all the way back to headquarters with the ghost kid. ] But could we spend some time looking around the area? You wanted to investigate your own missing bike, too, if I recall.
[Choi looks at Soleum with a surprised smile as if he isn't sure why he's asking him that. At the very least, he's managed to convince the kid to get off the bike. He snatches Choi's hand and doesn't seem too concerned with Soleum, at least, lingering close to the older man instead.]
Of course. Let's get everything together first. Oh, I need that, okay? Come with me.
[He tugs his hand free and heads over to the shoulderbag he's shoved most of his supernatural-nullifying containers into, the kid following along as he brings them to the bike and fits them awkwardly into the basket. It's nearly full to burst but it, somehow, always manages to just sit properly in any bike they use. Some kind of goblin trick, maybe.]
Agent Grapes, you remember what we talked about earlier, right? About why we don't use public transit very often when dealing with this work.
[He's taking care not to use words like disaster or supernatural right now, but when he smiles at Soleum, it's with a little twinkle in his eye. A knowing look, or a warning one. Reminding him that work is never truly over for them.]
[Choi turns to look down at the kid, setting his hands on his hips.] O-kay~ So, we want to find your bike, right? They say most lost items are found within a kilometer of home... So let's go to your home first, okay?
[And he starts walking, allowing the ghost to set their path by the way he holds onto Choi's hand. His other settles into his pocket and he doesn't bother checking back for Soleum - trusts he'll come right along.]
[ Right as Soleum's dokkaebi hand independently flips its thumb out at the older agent, he reluctantly nods and shoves the appendage back down to his side.
The agent's intentions are something Soleum understands loud and clear without him putting such a fine point on it. Before he tails after them, he putters about with the lay of the containment carriers, making sure everything is fully zipped and stashed away and not at risk of terrifying him by surprise. Because that's important. It doesn't take long until him and the bicycle are chiming up from behind, his gaze still as hooked on the backs of the two as when they first set off.
Commonly, where spirits call home is the grounds in which they're tethered to and forced to haunt for the rest of their days. The thing is, the ghosts affiliated with this story are the wandering type; they're never the same ghost looking for the same object. What compels them is the search, their yearning for an item they can wholly attach themselves to. Call their own. The boy probably has nowhere in mind as he steers them forth.
He wasn't much a chatterbox riding with Soleum, but he certainly seems more at ease around Agent Choi, having brightened substantially by his side. He refrains from physically intruding on their little duo act or getting too close. But he can't ignore him if he at least speaks up, right? The key to this story was deductive reasoning. ]
Excuse me, young man. [ He watches him turn a curious look his way. ] Could you describe your bike to us in more detail, please? We know it's blue like ours, but is it small? Does it have anything unique on it?
[ The young boy's head bobs up and down twice. He tells them that when it's dark out, it shines really, really brightly. ]
It has a flashlight? [ His head whirls left-right. ] No? I see. [ Soleum idles in his questioning for a moment, feeling a funny sense of deja vu from his earlier investigating of Agent Choi's own lost bike. ] That's very helpful. Um, thank you very much for the information.
[ Soleum's eyes rise back up again to trade a glance with the blue of his senior's. Verdict? ]
[A bike that shines when it's dark. Soleum immediately suggests there's a flashlight, but Choi interprets the description differently.]
Reflectors, maybe? Kids like to wrap reflecting tape around their bikes nowadays. Does your bike sparkle? [The kid nods eagerly, but given how quickly he agrees Choi doubts him. Seems more like he's trying to build a connection with the first person he can really latch onto. Soleum must have struck him as too timid. Understandable.]
Let's see, we're going this way, now. [At a crossroad Choi begins heading down the perpendicular street, one that winds its way up a hill. If the child was the one leading the way, then this comment would make no sense, but before the boy can correct him or try and go in another direction, he keeps talking.] Losing something is hard - Today, it seems like someone took my bike, did you know? This area doesn't have a lot of people who would do that, so it's pretty unusual. But lately a lot more people have been losing their things. Just like you, huh?
[The boy says he doesn't know. Says he lost his bike a couple weeks ago and has been looking for it ever since.] That's a long time to lose a bike! You've been walking everywhere? Hyung had to walk pretty far today, too... And then my kind junior had to come all the way out here to...
[And the discussion continues. Keeping the kid distracted from the path Choi leads him down - or up, rather, as they continue to mount the steep hill. Nearly halfway up, beside a concrete structure with dead flowers rotting in front of it, Choi lets out a long sigh and leans over as if he's winded.]
Let's hold on a second... Let's take a break.
[He squats down and sits on his heels, now closer to the boy's level. When he pulls his hand from his pocket, a red cord comes with it, braided and knotted on either hand.]
Look, I got this from work today - You want it? [And the boy nods eagerly, sticking his hand out so Choi can tie it around his wrist. He glances up at Soleum and passes him a brief grin.] Sorry - I'll get you one someday.
[Why Soleum would need a protection amulet is anyone's guess considering what they all willingly put themselves in the path of, but maybe it's just a nice fashion statement.]
[ Normally, he wouldn't feed into Agent Choi's teasing. He doesn't need something like that — protection, a fashion accessory, the promise glinting in the pearly edges of his teeth. If it weren't for the ghost, or the excitement lifting up his whole demeanor, the way he leans in and plays with the braid ornamenting his arm in wonder, he'd let the remark slide off his back like the sweat dripping against his uniform collar.
But the shade coming off the structure misses them by a few centimeters, and suddenly the sunlight hits him a dash too bright. Soleum averts his gaze to the browning petals from the small bouquet left behind. ]
…Yes, you'll have to.
[ It's a nice feeling, to have something someone else wants. He can give the boy that.
As the senior agent keeps the boy entertained, Soleum toes out the bike's kickstand, leaving it propped up on its own, not intending to join the two, really, but just wanting to stretch his joints a bit. He tilts over, glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose as wipes his palms on his knees, and then stops.
What's this?
Soleum reaches out toward the flowers, retrieving something small enough that it's hard to discern what it is to onlookers. He moves it from side to side in study, then without so much as a word, he pockets it. Looks over at Agent Choi. ]
[Soleum plays along and Choi is privately grateful. He continues chatting with the kid, talking vaguely about work. How he's excited to go home, have a cold drink with dinner tonight. Maybe he can pick one up for him, too - does he like iced coffee? "Nooo!" he cries out in faux-disgust, waving his hand with the amulet. Despite being crafted for something thicker, it doesn't fall off his arm, clings tight and marks him clearly. Good.]
Hm? [He looks up when Soleum approaches, not having paid much attention to him in the past couple minutes. He stands up with a stretch of his arms.] Right, right. We need to get back, now I've got two reports to write up before I can get home... Oh, but you'll get to work with Baekho a bit after this, if you want to give your observations. Isn't that newbie the one you worked with before? When you were...
[He trails off, glancing over. The kid has his hands on the bike, dragging his fingers over the handlebars. The bike is so long and he's on the wrong side, so he can't disengage the kickstand, can't get the wheels to spin. Still, he tries, still attempting to spirit it away. Choi rubs his chin.]
[ Yes, yes, the time for writing reports can wait until aren't racing against a time limit to resolve this ghost story. ]
If you're okay with it, I would like to — uh, excuse me!! [ Soleum breaks off, anxiously, to warn the kid against probing at their containment bags. ] Please don't touch that! It's dangerous.
[ It seems to ward him off, his hands sloping back down the base frame of the bike, ignoring the old grime coating his fingers. Soleum's quiet for a wary moment, keeping a close eye on the kid's activities, in case he loops back around to reach for the basket again, before turning back to Agent Choi. ]
…Sorry about that. I'd like to keep walking. I think up here leads into a residential area. There's a place I think I can find for us.
[ With that, Soleum takes the helm this time, giving both bike and boy over to his teammate to manage for now. For the whole duration of this next leg of their walk, he's staring down at his phone, thumbing and pinching at the screen. When he wasn't scrolling, he was taking their little pack up a narrow stairway, or around an unexpected corner. The glare is too harsh to really see what he's looking at, but Soleum advances with a sense of purpose, and hopefully that's enough to maintain Agent Choi's faith in his navigational abilities.
The sun spills low now. "Tired," the boy mumbles, hanging on tight to Agent Choi's hand. "Want my bike… Can't go home without my bike…" ]
You won't have to worry about that. We're almost there. Just keep holding the nice agent's hand. You're doing well.
[ Soleum hears him ask behind him, "You won't leave me, right, mister? Even if I can't find it…"
But he doesn't turn around. Doesn't answer. The place he's looking for should be… Right here.
A cramped, little house with a red-tiled roof. Some potted plants outside, ripe with peppers and scallions.
And a bike: a bit bent and crumpled, but blue with glow in the dark stars pinned to the wheel spokes. Reflective tape all along the inner skeleton of the bike. ]
[Choi follows with no complaint, still conversing with the ghost and keeping his questions vague - seeing how it handles something simple as, "Are you in school? What grade? Oh, you're up there in age, huh?" even when the answers are quiet or a shy mumble. The topic of the bike always gets him going - where he likes to ride the bike, when he got it, if he rides with friends. They're child-like answers, things that assume you know information that they know. Names of people, locations in the area. But they're important to understanding how the ghost thinks, how it behaves. They're all recorded in Choi's mind.]
[When Soleum begins to lead them up a narrow stairwell and expects Choi to follow with the bike, he nearly calls out to him with a, "Hey, is this revenge, Grapes?" before noticing the flat surface on the side meant for bikes. Well... Even if it is revenge, at least it's one he can manage.]
[Despite the heat, the kid's hand never sweats. It's cool to the touch, inviting. Friendly. When he asks Choi to stay with him he has the automatic desire to say Of course. He's been at this long enough to manage a simple, "Hmm," instead, though.]
[He had been planning to leave the kid at the makeshift shrine. One managed by the bureau, left in case of lost spirits as an easy way to track them and collect data. But when Soleum pulled out his phone and began on a set path, Choi remembered how his junior operates and set that aside. As they finally come to a stop in front of the small home with the damaged bike, he smiles.]
Aha, look at that! A shiny, sparkling bike. What do you think, is that...?
[But the boy doesn't answer. He releases Choi's hand and passes right through the low stone fence along the sidewalk and moves straight to the bike. When he reaches it, he grasps the handlebars and runs his fingers along the lone streamer left on one side. Choi sets his hands on his hips, smiling wider.]
I wonder if you spend a lot of time in Itaewon with this sense of direction, hubae-nim.
[He pats him gently on the back, watching the ghost climb onto the seat and almost meld with the aluminum body, like the two are one and the same.]
[ His shoulders hitch, and Soleum looks at him in surprise, but he, otherwise, doesn't move out of the way of the unprovoked contact.
Not yet, we still have to stop by the bureau nearly escapes his mouth, but he sits the roof of his palate heavily upon his tongue when he remembers that, to the agent, there likely isn't a distinction between home and work. It's the place he comes back to after the sun sets, where the shadows can't recklessly plunge their hands into. ]
Yes.
[ The grass underfoot crunches as he shifts his weight, starts to turn, and pauses. He casts a last look at bike, then fishes out a thin rectangle from his pocket. A photo. In it, a boy half-sits on his bike with an older woman hugging him from behind, both of them grinning into the camera flash. On the back, reads: Inho-ah, you rode too far ahead of us. Mama misses you. Lucky for him, it'd been a wide shot, making it easier to get a look at their surrounding location and notice the details of the gate, the color of a nearby roof. With a quick snap of his phone camera, he'd been able to search for similar photos, as well as use the street view function of his GPS to direct them to his approximation of where they needed to go. This will all go into his report later, if Agent Choi wants to take a peek.
But for the moment, Soleum just waves the photo at him, wearing a small smile. ]
"Most lost items are found within a kilometer of home." You were right, after all.
[ He steps away to rest the photograph inside the bicycle's little wire basket, return to Agent Choi right after. Huuu… ]
I'm sure you're exhausted, sir. If you manage the first half of your incident report for this, I can finish it off. Also, ah, are you okay to pedal with me…?
[ Frankly, he was sure it was going to be the end for him earlier, riding up that hill just to meet up with his senior. ]
[Choi watches as Soleum sets the photo at the now empty bike. He reaches into his pocket to retrieve his cigarettes, lighting one up in the time it takes for him to return to his side.]
Hmm, you didn't know that? It's a common statistic.
[Same with accidents - most occur close to home, since you spend most of your time close to home. For most people, this is the case, anyway. Choi looks over at the tandem bike, cigarette pursed between his lips.]
We can always leave them for tomorrow. This detour took longer than I expected. [Seriously, he was just going to ditch the ghost. Leave it to the Destruction King to send it off proper.] Baekho asked me to leave something in that area, back there. They've found a lot of reports of things being lost lately. Shoes, clothing, bags... I thought a bike would be too heavy for a ghost.
[He's half joking. They were trying to establish timing - if items were more likely to be stolen overnight versus in the morning versus the afternoon. Apparently time of day isn't much of a problem for this one.]
[This may or may not reveal that he lost his bike on purpose and dragged Soleum out here not due to an accident, but - also, all disasters, big and small, are accidents. So it's okay. Plus, he hadn't been expecting to return with this much data on the situation. A lost bike was all he planned to report.]
But I was serious about the tteokbokki. Should we stop and pick some up on the way back? There's a good place in Namdaemun... [Again, is he offering or just craving it, who knows.] And Jaekwan will be jealous you got to ride with me on a tandem bike, he'll need something to soothe his heart. What do you say?
That's right, whether it's a protection amulet or a bicycle, it doesn't matter too much as long as the attachment is strong… ah, huh?
[ Really, that's what it was?
Hopefully, Agent Choi doesn't notice the hiccup in Soleum's strides as he narrowly avoids tripping over his loafers. A glimpse of exasperation cuts across his expression, but the stumble's a quick thing, and he'll blame it on his rubber soles wringing out from all their activity if he really chooses to bring attention to it. He could have planned better before rushing out, but would a rookie have? That sort of thing.
At any rate, it doesn't happen again. ]
Okay. If it's on the way. I could use a drink of water, [ Soleum slowly says, more phased by his own misreaction than the smoke plume he passes through, carried backward from the senior agent walking ahead of him. Cold tteokbokki probably isn't the recompense Agent Bronze should accept for being saddled with managing their team's office housekeeping, but he can easily see it happening. Bronze largely doesn't intend to, but sometime the man has a habit of offering forgiveness first, asking questions second; that type of bleeding heart is what makes him such a good fit for the Disaster Management Bureau.
Suddenly, his pocket companion speaks up.
— Mm, friend, that scent. It's incomparable drivel next to the Bering Admiral or a good, old-fashioned Cubano, but surprisingly, it doesn't disagree with me! Might this humble host implore you to investigate the source?
The source? Agent Choi's cigarettes?
Well, it hasn't been long since he resummoned the TV-headed ghost. It was only a matter time for his usual brand of requests to make a return. Their relationship isn't quite the same as before, so it's better to start working on rebuilding their trust… ]
Um, Agent-nim. Could I see what brand of cigarettes you're smoking?
[Soleum startles but so does Choi - albeit for very different reasons.]
Ahh... That charm!
[He takes a heavy drag before puffing it out to the side. Regret colors his features.]
I was going to use that to track it... You know you can follow the energy from those, right? In case you go missing, we can use that kind of charm to locate you. But I gave it to a ghost that you settled!
[And it would have offered much more benefit to follow this kid. So annoying, this junior. Always solving problems! Choi shakes his head with a kind of low laugh, only looking up with he mentions the cigarettes.]
Ah, you're not thinking about starting, are you? I just smoke Esse. [They're in every convenience store and Choi isn't picky.] Soleum-ah, I gotta say, I don't peg you the smoker type. This is the one time I might say it, but don't copy me or anything.
[He says this with said cigarette dangling from his lips as he climbs over the front of the bike, gripping the handles and trying to figure out the balance. He said it's been awhile since he rode one of these and he isn't kidding... It's probably been since he was a kid, if ever.]
[ That wasn't even a thought in his head. But it could be better that Agent Choi believe that to be the case, rather than explain his plush doll wanting to breathe in secondhand smoke for whatever reason. He has enough misunderstandings plaguing him right now. ]
…I guess it's impossible for me to be like you. I knew that, I just… thought I could try.
[ Come on, Agent Choi. Just give him one cigarette to take home so that Soleum won't have to spend money on buying a whole pack to please a demanding ghost.
Feigning resignation, he hoists himself over the second seat of the bicycle in glaring silence, positioning his feet against the pedals. A long moment passes, then, acting as if he just realized something, Soleum jolts, as if recovering himself. ]
A-Ah! I'm sorry, let's see… The way the senior explained it to me was that leading involves steering and controlling the brakes. The only thing I can do from the back is help with the pedaling, so if you're prepared to do that, we can go.
[As Soleum explains the method to maneuvering the bike, Choi barely takes any of it in. He's turned around in the seat, smiling widely with a sense of worry in his brow.]
...Now, that's just overkill, don't you think?
[With a sigh, he reaches into his pocket and retrieves the cigarettes and a lighter. Both are tossed toward him as Choi shakes his head.]
Do you know how often Jaekwan-ah begs me to quit? Now you'll get the same attention from him. Aren't you happy?
[Turning back around, he grips the handle bars and takes in a breath. Okay. Steering and braking. He can do that.]
[ The carton and lighter smack against Soleum's open palms. Is he thinking that they're going to smoke and bike at the same time? That wasn't precisely what he had in mind, and he was only wanting to just slip a single stick away for a later time, but…
It's been a while since he quit.
Leaving the rest of the carton pocketed, he holds a cigarette in his mouth, a little flame sparking from the lighter — ] Urk?! [ — right as Agent Choi starts to pedal ahead. Soleum just barely manages to keep a hold on the thing as they speed off. Hands slamming down on the bars with lighter wedged beneath, his lips crush down on the cigarette, mouth filling with tobacco, and obviously too much of it. His other hand hastily fetches the cigarette from his mouth as he dryly hacks up several coughs to the side, his eyes and nose stinging from expelling the smoke. ]
[Choi laughs when he hears Soleum start to struggle, politely slowing down as they approach an intersection. He looks behind himself with a grin, coasting slow for a moment before the light changes and they can go again - at which point he turns back around and continues on at his usual pace.]
Don't worry, don't worry! Just do your best, you said I was the one navigating! Now, which way is north...
[And so, with the front basket full of contaminated items and a more-or-less reliable sense of direction, Agent Choi bikes them through the city. He looks back every now and then, mostly to make sure Soleum hasn't fallen off or something, but generally keeps his usual pace. Soleum said it himself, after all - he's mainly there for extra power, not the braking or directing. So Choi is more than happy to manage all three parts by himself. He's moe than used to taking on every single part of a mission without expecting the others to do anything. Much less risk involved.]
[Along the way, he points things out. Places he's been, some restaurants he likes. Mentions an area he used to live in being nearby, before he joined the bureau. But as always, most of his past is obscured, unshared. It's never occurred to him to go into any of it. He's just trying to share information that his junior might find useful, is all.]
[As they get closer to the market, he slows his pace - since, honestly, he's getting kind of tired. Two disasters, both of which required him to take a good long walk to get to, and now riding tandem with his junior... It's kind of a lot on him. His old bones or whatever. He should have taken off his jacket, but whatever. Where would he have put it, anyway? The basket's full.]
Soleum-ah! Think you can make it? We're almost there!
[ Appearance, background, personality, relationships, trivia. None of these categories on Agent Choi's wiki page encompassed any of what the agent shares with him on their bike ride through the streets of Seoul; either that, or it was so vaguely alluded to that users were constantly battling interpretations in the forums.
— In agent chois newb days, he said something like "I just got a haircut how does it look?" do you guys think he was trying to make a good impression on his sunbae when he first joined??
— Are you stupid? lol Agent Choi doesn't care about first impressions, he's always carefree and himself no matter who he's with.
— ^ that
— go kill yourself
Like that.
So it's surreal to hear him reveal these small facts about himself as candidly as he does. But more so, it's — exciting. He wants to know how he felt taking his aptitude test or what his initial first impressions were of his teammates. Did you always plan to become a government employee? When you entered the Cold Storage story, were you scared? However, except for a few polite questions here and there about how his current neighborhood compares, if the restaurant staff is nice, Soleum does a lot of listening throughout — even if his whole body weren't aching, this is what he'd choose to do. ]
I'm trying… my best.
[ At some point in the conversation, his legs were so exhausted he stopped pedaling altogether, but he can't do that now! They're so close to an unmoving seat — he forces himself to cycle, half-standing, leaned forward, and panting his ass off the entire time.
Eventually, the one of the entrance ways into Namdaemun Market shows itself, peeking free from behind a painfully sharp turn and brightly lit with glowing signs and storefronts. Soleum keeps his yelling contained to his own mind as they pull in. The area is teeming with people just getting out of work, tourists stopping in the middle of the street to take photos, harried shopkeepers running from place to place. They would have to slow down regardless of the fatigue pinching at their muscles and joints. On the bright side, the smell of good food is abundant, instantly making the ride out there worth it.
Soon enough, they stop in front of a crowded bike rack and what he presumes is the amazing tteokbokki stall Agent Choi was speaking of. Briefly, Soleum sits there disoriented, then realizes he still has that cigarette hanging from his mouth. It isn't even burning anymore. Whatever, he keeps it rolled to the side for now, unsaddling from the bicycle. ]
Is this it?
[ Are they free from bike purgatory, Agent Choi? ]
[Oh... He might have pushed him a little too hard, huh.]
[Choi grins at him as they disembark. He strips off his jacket and sets it over the basket to conceal the contained items, then stretches his arms with an overdone groan.]
Hoo, that was a workout!
[He's sweaty, sure, but he feels good. Exercise feels good, doesn't it? His heart is pumping and it reminds him he didn't work out this morning, he was in such a rush. Nice and stretched, he leans forward and plucks the unlit cigarette from his mouth, waving it in between his fingers. It's pretty much ruined. Can't have his first smoke be this terrible.]
You wait here with the bike. Can't lose two in one day, right? Aha - Ajumma!
[And he's waving to one of the stalls, greeting the older woman working there like she's an old friend. She greets him similarly and they engage loudly in the transaction, Choi pointing out what he wants and her adding extra garnishes for him, making suggestions, asking if he's eating properly - it's a conversation he's had hundreds of times and will have hundreds more. He left Looky Mart alive, after all.]
[When he returns with the bag of food, Choi holds up an ice-cold bottle of water, fresh from a cooler, and presses it to Soleum's cheek, bypassing any attempts to accept it via hands like how normal people give things.]
You did great work today, hubae. [Now he finally lets him take it, a sort of prideful look in his eye. He's got another full bottle in the bag for him if he downs this one.] I put you through a lot, but you never complain. Thanks for putting up with me.
[Kind of joking, kind of not. He's aware of his overbearing manner but he also believes it's a means to an important end. Soleum is doing well despite all of this, and that means he's something special.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
You should take better care of your belongings, sir.
no subject
omg don't make it sound like a habit
its not my fault this time the lock didn't fit around the tree so I just trusted in the kindness of civilians
[Brief pause.]
so lol umm
can you bring me one lol haha
no subject
A stack of paper forms sag over his arm, and briefly, Soleum glances down at his wrist. Could he… Well, perhaps, but it wouldn't be a pleasant experience fitting it in and pulling it out. All while keeping out of the public eye. It'd be simpler to continue heading toward the administrative office, where he could grovel for the senior agent's fourth-issued bicycle this month. ]
You're still in the Itaewon area, aren't you?
no subject
yup I'm right there!
I'll treat you to tteokbokki for the trouble haha
[Is he treating him or just craving it... Well, what's the difference.]
oh and bring some containment bags
mine are stuffed to burst lol
don't want to spill them on the street...
hm but can you manage that? always ride safely!
[Because, right, safety first.]
no subject
It's no trouble at all. I'll be fine.
[ So don't treat me to anything unnecessary like that goes unsaid. If Agent Choi really wanted to do him a favor, he'd avoid losing this bike. ]
Anything else besides the bags you need while I'm still in the office? Do you want a drink? You stuck your leftover coffee in the fridge from this morning.
[ There's also a case of beer in there, but that can't be in abidance with work policy. ]
no subject
no no you'd best be careful riding
on the way back you'll have to carry me in the basket lol
so there's got to be room for us both!
[As for how that'll work, well, he'll leave that up to the shining rookie of the team to figure out.]
make sure grapes little pink friend has a helmet too lol
[Whatever that thing's name was.]
no subject
[ There aren't any helmets small enough to fit the plushie's head, not without bending his fuzzy little ears. And even if there were any available, Braun would throw a fit the second he saw how gauche it looked on himself. ]
I'm sorry to break it to you, sir, but there's no real way to ride carefully if a grown man is sitting in the bicycle basket. So the kind agent at the check-out desk procured us a tandem bicycle. It's not speedy or as easy to maneuver, but we should be able to make do.
[ "With a sunbae like that, who needs enemies, huh? Don't worry, some of us are good here." That was what the agent said to Soleum before patting his shoulder and sliding the master lock to his newfound equipment. ]
no subject
ohhh... I see!
a tandem bike
I haven't ridden one in years
[He's sweating a little. He's not for real, is he...?]
Grapes-ya
do you think that agent could have been teasing you? lol
[Says the guy who teases him every single minute of his life.]
no subject
Of course not.
…Unless you think he was? It seemed more like he wanted to get back at you, though.
[ Which could easily have become a case of being teased by association… but for two people, this really is the safest mode of cycling. Even if it began as a joke, there were still good intentions behind it. ]
Now, can you send me your exact location?
[ Unlike the agent, he doesn't have much experience with a bike this shape. Since it'll take some practice riding it alone, he should get a head start now, while the sun's still out. ]
no subject
at me??
is the budget for bicycles so tight? LOL you would think I'm losing dokkaebi lanterns!
not that I lost the bike it was stolen.
[That's important information that will go in the report. Stolen bike - not lost... He sends his location to Soleum.]
by the way, agent grapes
do you know why agents don't often use public transit?
aside from saving time
[A little quiz!]
no subject
[ A few messages up, he said it was lost. Soleum didn't just imagine that. He said it right there? Seriously, who is he trying to play. Regardless of his the grief he wants to give Agent Choi, with a swipe, he lands right back at the bottom of the conversation, scanning his latest messages.
A pretty easy question.
If you hop on a train and then cross the boundary of a disaster, the odds are high it'll stop functioning completely, whether your close to your destination or not. If it doesn't, it's probable the machine's already become part of the incident. Either you're a sitting duck who can't help anyone, or you've locked yourself in a moving death trap. ]
I think on my first day Agent Bronze said something about it being safer during missions.
Do you think someone has it out for you…? If they stole your bicycle, knowing it's property belonging to the government.
no subject
he did? ahh what a good sunbae he's become...
[So Jaekwan already spoiled it. That or their rookie already understood it from the get-go.]
hmm well the bikes do say it's government property on them don't they?
do you think someone would be malicious enough to take something like that on purpose?
shall we investigate! maybe we will find the thief lol
[Get ready for some overtime, Soleum.]
no subject
The animated route splayed across his phone screen tells him he's about 27 minutes out from where the agent is. He should seriously get going. But before that. ]
You're at the scene of the crime, sir. Help me help you.
When do you last remember seeing your bike? Do you recall anyone suspicious nearby? What does the site look like where you left it?
I'll need as much detail as you can describe. I'm heading out, but I'll check back soon.
[ …And so, ten minutes of huffing and puffing and suffering later, Soleum makes it to his first intersection stop. He needs a full second to slump unevenly over his handlebars and wheeze, after which he slides his device out from his pocket to catch up. ]
no subject
it was at this tree
[He takes a photo of it to send. It's a somewhat thin tree, trunk just wide enough that you couldn't fully wrap your arms around, but because of that the bike lock didn't fit.]
it's already far from the entry point
I got some good walking in today thanks to that lol
my feet are sore! you'll have to do most of the pedaling haha
[Now, as for the timeline.]
my notes say I went into the disaster around 1215 hours...
and it's just after 1530 now!
ah thats right
everyone was going to lunch around then right?
so there were a lot of people, so I felt fine leaving the bike
because of the pedestrian effect?
[It's the bystander effect, but whatever.]
there was no one suspicious though, but a lot of those pedestrians
maybe someone took it for a joyride...
what do you think, grapes?
no subject
The pedestrian lighting flashes green at Soleum, giving him an excuse not to reply immediately. Sweat spills down the back of his neck as he pedals past the teems of people seeking to outpace the summer heat to little fruit.
Another stop. ]
Ah… Thank you. You took a lot of good notes, Agent-nim.
I'll give it some more thought. If you'll have a little more patience with me, I should be there soon.
[ Soleum decided already: The accuracy of his answer probably doesn't matter so much as the reasoning, the thought process. Rather than comment on the mystery of it all — ]
Still, it's interesting that you don't sound much bothered at all. In your situation, I'm not sure how I'd react…
no subject
of course of course~
you're doing me a favor after all
riding on a tandem bike in the summer heat hahaha...
you're a great hubae aren't you?
[There's no tone over text but he's being honest. Jaekwan would probably do this for him, too - albeit with a lot of complaint - but Soleum hasn't known him as long. He's still going out of his way to do this for him.]
but what to do about getting upset anyway?
if I complain and start asking questions to civilians they might be wary
and bike theft isn't very common in itaewon...
people may think I'm an annoying public servant causing a stir lol
no subject
Also, it's not good to stay out in the sun too long…
[ In other words, it's an ordinary thing to do. The sort of run-of-the-mill goodwill Soleum is displaying should be the bare minimum requirement for any Disaster Management Bureau agent.
…One would think someone like Agent Choi, an overachiever in this regard, would have higher standards. Taking into consideration public perception, going as far as to avoid disrupting anyone's day when he's just spent the past several hours defusing a disaster situation. There should be a limit to how saint-like a person is allowed to be. ]
I don't think you would be causing any more of a stir than the average visitor.
I mean, you're popular with civilians. If you took off your jacket, you wouldn't even look like a public servant… They'd relax around you.
no subject
you would have picked paperwork over me??
my heart ;;
[He's snickering at the thought. Yeah, Grapes probably would choose desk work over biking across town in the high heat of the day to deliver a bike. But he can still give him a hard time about it.]
hmm you know
in police procedurals they always talk about the criminal returning to the scene of the crime
leaving this spot might mean i could miss an important clue...
[Pause.]
and you might not be able to find me lol
no subject
Respectfully, wouldn't it be a better idea to let the "criminal" come back while you hide somewhere cooler?
And then you could confront them…
The only way I wouldn't be able to find on my own is if you were purposely giving me the run-around.
[ Meaning, ignoring his text messages or not answering his calls. And so on. ]
no subject
I wouldn't leave you hanging on purpose lol!
besides I'm not a cop hahaha thankfully
[So even if he found his bike and the person who took it, there isn't much he can do but try to her it back. And so...]
but you're the clever newbie
I'm sure you're already thinking of solutions
what would you say if you confronted them? show your badge and ask politely, or something more forceful?
you have to think of the bureau's image~
no subject
Confronting them would be too much for me. I mean, it feels harsh. No one reacts well to having baseless accusations thrown at them.
I'd rather treat them like a witness or someone who might be interested in helping.
[ Soleum pauses. At least that's what he initially means for it to be as he pedals furiously uphill. However, the silence somehow stretches and stretches, until at last: 30 minutes of nothing. Well over his expected ETA.
Then… ] Sorry. Bad accident. Got rerouted.
10 more minutes.
no subject
that sounds like you!
[But he should be here soon, so Choi moves closer to the main road, keeping an eye out from the direction he expects him to be coming from. It should be any minute now...]
[But as time passes and there's no word from Soleum, Choi crosses his arms, thinking.]
you didn't get lost?
[Is the first text, sent around the time he's supposed to arrive. He knows the traffic around this time - It shouldn't be too hard on a bike. Next is a few minutes later.]
Agent Grapes ?
[Nothing... He's not nervous, per se, but his junior is riding a weird bike on city streets... Could he have -- ]
[An accident?!]
where? do you need me to come?
send your location?
did you get hurt? oh or is it only traffic? (ﾟοﾟ人))
[...because it's only on that last text that he realizes he could have just been delayed by something that didn't directly threaten his life or something.]
no subject
Why are there so many messages filling his phone. It's a challenge to scan each line of text and keep his eyes on the road at the same time, so he first focuses on powering his wobbly wheels to what should be his last stop before reaching the senior agent. The plush doll in his breast pocket has been complaining the whole trip, lamenting the brutish labor this bureau puts him up to. Soleum ignores his prattling. ]
Ah, no, no… Calm down, Agent Choi, please. It's nothing like that.
I picked up a passenger is all.
Oh I see you
[ The hand holding his phone waves out at Agent Choi, and once it's safe to cross, Soleum glides past the other pedestrians. There's listless young boy in his backseat. ]
A-Again, I apologize for the delay…!
[ Soleum unsaddles from the bicycle, deciding to walk the rest of the way to meet him. Flushed face, the front of his hair is wetly plastered to his forehead. He clearly appears to want to crouch to his knees and take a breather. ]
There was just a lot going on back there. Um, this — [ He glances at the child, swinging legs that were much too short to reach the pedals he's seated over. ] He kept grabbing my bike, saying it was his. He wouldn't let go. He seemed to want to get to the other side of the street, but wasn't sure how…
So I thought you might have better luck talking to him.
no subject
Wow... What an adventure you've been on, Grapes-ya.
[Said quietly, as Choi gives him a gentle pat on the shoulder. He looks exhausted, poor guy. He'll definitely need to treat him to something spicy after this.]
Let's have a look here... Hey, there! [He approaches the kid, still seated on the bike and looking at Choi out of the corner of his eye.] My junior said you're trying to cross the street. Where are you going? Want me to walk home with you? Oh, you like sitting on the bike?
[He's not a natural with kids or anything like that, but the boy at least doesn't seem to think he's a dull sort as he swings his legs and responds shyly that this bike's the same color as his and basically looks like his, so he thought it must be his.]
Oh, did my hubae steal your bike? I'll need to scold him properly... [And he shoots Soleum a grin over his shoulder.] But, wait, look up here. Do you see this?
[He pats the front of the bike where a metal plate has been affixed. The kid is old enough to read, at least, even if he might not understand all the words: "Property of Disaster Management Bureau"]
That means it's a government bike. We've got to bring it back to the city, or the two of us will be in trouble. Let's walk back home together, okay?
no subject
It's a shame that his colleague, after spending his day inside one ghost story, just had to walk into another.
[What's Yours is Mine]
: A ghost story featured in <Dark Exploration Records>
: Daydream, Inc. identification code – Qterw-D-1364
In this frightful tale, reunite your companion ghost with its beloved possession before dusk—or else risk being spirited away from the living, never to be seen again. Note, these ghosts tend to attach themselves to similar-looking items, hiding them away in a special spot when no one is looking. It is unknown where these items are stored.
…
It is what it is. ]
I know you must be tired, sir, [ he interjects before Agent Choi runs all the way back to headquarters with the ghost kid. ] But could we spend some time looking around the area? You wanted to investigate your own missing bike, too, if I recall.
no subject
[Choi looks at Soleum with a surprised smile as if he isn't sure why he's asking him that. At the very least, he's managed to convince the kid to get off the bike. He snatches Choi's hand and doesn't seem too concerned with Soleum, at least, lingering close to the older man instead.]
Of course. Let's get everything together first. Oh, I need that, okay? Come with me.
[He tugs his hand free and heads over to the shoulderbag he's shoved most of his supernatural-nullifying containers into, the kid following along as he brings them to the bike and fits them awkwardly into the basket. It's nearly full to burst but it, somehow, always manages to just sit properly in any bike they use. Some kind of goblin trick, maybe.]
Agent Grapes, you remember what we talked about earlier, right? About why we don't use public transit very often when dealing with this work.
[He's taking care not to use words like disaster or supernatural right now, but when he smiles at Soleum, it's with a little twinkle in his eye. A knowing look, or a warning one. Reminding him that work is never truly over for them.]
[Choi turns to look down at the kid, setting his hands on his hips.] O-kay~ So, we want to find your bike, right? They say most lost items are found within a kilometer of home... So let's go to your home first, okay?
[And he starts walking, allowing the ghost to set their path by the way he holds onto Choi's hand. His other settles into his pocket and he doesn't bother checking back for Soleum - trusts he'll come right along.]
no subject
The agent's intentions are something Soleum understands loud and clear without him putting such a fine point on it. Before he tails after them, he putters about with the lay of the containment carriers, making sure everything is fully zipped and stashed away and not at risk of terrifying him by surprise. Because that's important. It doesn't take long until him and the bicycle are chiming up from behind, his gaze still as hooked on the backs of the two as when they first set off.
Commonly, where spirits call home is the grounds in which they're tethered to and forced to haunt for the rest of their days. The thing is, the ghosts affiliated with this story are the wandering type; they're never the same ghost looking for the same object. What compels them is the search, their yearning for an item they can wholly attach themselves to. Call their own. The boy probably has nowhere in mind as he steers them forth.
He wasn't much a chatterbox riding with Soleum, but he certainly seems more at ease around Agent Choi, having brightened substantially by his side. He refrains from physically intruding on their little duo act or getting too close. But he can't ignore him if he at least speaks up, right? The key to this story was deductive reasoning. ]
Excuse me, young man. [ He watches him turn a curious look his way. ] Could you describe your bike to us in more detail, please? We know it's blue like ours, but is it small? Does it have anything unique on it?
[ The young boy's head bobs up and down twice. He tells them that when it's dark out, it shines really, really brightly. ]
It has a flashlight? [ His head whirls left-right. ] No? I see. [ Soleum idles in his questioning for a moment, feeling a funny sense of deja vu from his earlier investigating of Agent Choi's own lost bike. ] That's very helpful. Um, thank you very much for the information.
[ Soleum's eyes rise back up again to trade a glance with the blue of his senior's. Verdict? ]
no subject
Reflectors, maybe? Kids like to wrap reflecting tape around their bikes nowadays. Does your bike sparkle? [The kid nods eagerly, but given how quickly he agrees Choi doubts him. Seems more like he's trying to build a connection with the first person he can really latch onto. Soleum must have struck him as too timid. Understandable.]
Let's see, we're going this way, now. [At a crossroad Choi begins heading down the perpendicular street, one that winds its way up a hill. If the child was the one leading the way, then this comment would make no sense, but before the boy can correct him or try and go in another direction, he keeps talking.] Losing something is hard - Today, it seems like someone took my bike, did you know? This area doesn't have a lot of people who would do that, so it's pretty unusual. But lately a lot more people have been losing their things. Just like you, huh?
[The boy says he doesn't know. Says he lost his bike a couple weeks ago and has been looking for it ever since.] That's a long time to lose a bike! You've been walking everywhere? Hyung had to walk pretty far today, too... And then my kind junior had to come all the way out here to...
[And the discussion continues. Keeping the kid distracted from the path Choi leads him down - or up, rather, as they continue to mount the steep hill. Nearly halfway up, beside a concrete structure with dead flowers rotting in front of it, Choi lets out a long sigh and leans over as if he's winded.]
Let's hold on a second... Let's take a break.
[He squats down and sits on his heels, now closer to the boy's level. When he pulls his hand from his pocket, a red cord comes with it, braided and knotted on either hand.]
Look, I got this from work today - You want it? [And the boy nods eagerly, sticking his hand out so Choi can tie it around his wrist. He glances up at Soleum and passes him a brief grin.] Sorry - I'll get you one someday.
[Why Soleum would need a protection amulet is anyone's guess considering what they all willingly put themselves in the path of, but maybe it's just a nice fashion statement.]
no subject
But the shade coming off the structure misses them by a few centimeters, and suddenly the sunlight hits him a dash too bright. Soleum averts his gaze to the browning petals from the small bouquet left behind. ]
…Yes, you'll have to.
[ It's a nice feeling, to have something someone else wants. He can give the boy that.
As the senior agent keeps the boy entertained, Soleum toes out the bike's kickstand, leaving it propped up on its own, not intending to join the two, really, but just wanting to stretch his joints a bit. He tilts over, glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose as wipes his palms on his knees, and then stops.
What's this?
Soleum reaches out toward the flowers, retrieving something small enough that it's hard to discern what it is to onlookers. He moves it from side to side in study, then without so much as a word, he pockets it. Looks over at Agent Choi. ]
Done with your break?
no subject
Hm? [He looks up when Soleum approaches, not having paid much attention to him in the past couple minutes. He stands up with a stretch of his arms.] Right, right. We need to get back, now I've got two reports to write up before I can get home... Oh, but you'll get to work with Baekho a bit after this, if you want to give your observations. Isn't that newbie the one you worked with before? When you were...
[He trails off, glancing over. The kid has his hands on the bike, dragging his fingers over the handlebars. The bike is so long and he's on the wrong side, so he can't disengage the kickstand, can't get the wheels to spin. Still, he tries, still attempting to spirit it away. Choi rubs his chin.]
What would you do, Agent? [he asks quietly.]
no subject
If you're okay with it, I would like to — uh, excuse me!! [ Soleum breaks off, anxiously, to warn the kid against probing at their containment bags. ] Please don't touch that! It's dangerous.
[ It seems to ward him off, his hands sloping back down the base frame of the bike, ignoring the old grime coating his fingers. Soleum's quiet for a wary moment, keeping a close eye on the kid's activities, in case he loops back around to reach for the basket again, before turning back to Agent Choi. ]
…Sorry about that. I'd like to keep walking. I think up here leads into a residential area. There's a place I think I can find for us.
[ With that, Soleum takes the helm this time, giving both bike and boy over to his teammate to manage for now. For the whole duration of this next leg of their walk, he's staring down at his phone, thumbing and pinching at the screen. When he wasn't scrolling, he was taking their little pack up a narrow stairway, or around an unexpected corner. The glare is too harsh to really see what he's looking at, but Soleum advances with a sense of purpose, and hopefully that's enough to maintain Agent Choi's faith in his navigational abilities.
The sun spills low now. "Tired," the boy mumbles, hanging on tight to Agent Choi's hand. "Want my bike… Can't go home without my bike…" ]
You won't have to worry about that. We're almost there. Just keep holding the nice agent's hand. You're doing well.
[ Soleum hears him ask behind him, "You won't leave me, right, mister? Even if I can't find it…"
But he doesn't turn around. Doesn't answer. The place he's looking for should be… Right here.
A cramped, little house with a red-tiled roof. Some potted plants outside, ripe with peppers and scallions.
And a bike: a bit bent and crumpled, but blue with glow in the dark stars pinned to the wheel spokes. Reflective tape all along the inner skeleton of the bike. ]
So it was here.
no subject
[Choi follows with no complaint, still conversing with the ghost and keeping his questions vague - seeing how it handles something simple as, "Are you in school? What grade? Oh, you're up there in age, huh?" even when the answers are quiet or a shy mumble. The topic of the bike always gets him going - where he likes to ride the bike, when he got it, if he rides with friends. They're child-like answers, things that assume you know information that they know. Names of people, locations in the area. But they're important to understanding how the ghost thinks, how it behaves. They're all recorded in Choi's mind.]
[When Soleum begins to lead them up a narrow stairwell and expects Choi to follow with the bike, he nearly calls out to him with a, "Hey, is this revenge, Grapes?" before noticing the flat surface on the side meant for bikes. Well... Even if it is revenge, at least it's one he can manage.]
[Despite the heat, the kid's hand never sweats. It's cool to the touch, inviting. Friendly. When he asks Choi to stay with him he has the automatic desire to say Of course. He's been at this long enough to manage a simple, "Hmm," instead, though.]
[He had been planning to leave the kid at the makeshift shrine. One managed by the bureau, left in case of lost spirits as an easy way to track them and collect data. But when Soleum pulled out his phone and began on a set path, Choi remembered how his junior operates and set that aside. As they finally come to a stop in front of the small home with the damaged bike, he smiles.]
Aha, look at that! A shiny, sparkling bike. What do you think, is that...?
[But the boy doesn't answer. He releases Choi's hand and passes right through the low stone fence along the sidewalk and moves straight to the bike. When he reaches it, he grasps the handlebars and runs his fingers along the lone streamer left on one side. Choi sets his hands on his hips, smiling wider.]
I wonder if you spend a lot of time in Itaewon with this sense of direction, hubae-nim.
[He pats him gently on the back, watching the ghost climb onto the seat and almost meld with the aluminum body, like the two are one and the same.]
Shall we head home?
no subject
Not yet, we still have to stop by the bureau nearly escapes his mouth, but he sits the roof of his palate heavily upon his tongue when he remembers that, to the agent, there likely isn't a distinction between home and work. It's the place he comes back to after the sun sets, where the shadows can't recklessly plunge their hands into. ]
Yes.
[ The grass underfoot crunches as he shifts his weight, starts to turn, and pauses. He casts a last look at bike, then fishes out a thin rectangle from his pocket. A photo. In it, a boy half-sits on his bike with an older woman hugging him from behind, both of them grinning into the camera flash. On the back, reads: Inho-ah, you rode too far ahead of us. Mama misses you. Lucky for him, it'd been a wide shot, making it easier to get a look at their surrounding location and notice the details of the gate, the color of a nearby roof. With a quick snap of his phone camera, he'd been able to search for similar photos, as well as use the street view function of his GPS to direct them to his approximation of where they needed to go. This will all go into his report later, if Agent Choi wants to take a peek.
But for the moment, Soleum just waves the photo at him, wearing a small smile. ]
"Most lost items are found within a kilometer of home." You were right, after all.
[ He steps away to rest the photograph inside the bicycle's little wire basket, return to Agent Choi right after. Huuu… ]
I'm sure you're exhausted, sir. If you manage the first half of your incident report for this, I can finish it off. Also, ah, are you okay to pedal with me…?
[ Frankly, he was sure it was going to be the end for him earlier, riding up that hill just to meet up with his senior. ]
no subject
Hmm, you didn't know that? It's a common statistic.
[Same with accidents - most occur close to home, since you spend most of your time close to home. For most people, this is the case, anyway. Choi looks over at the tandem bike, cigarette pursed between his lips.]
We can always leave them for tomorrow. This detour took longer than I expected. [Seriously, he was just going to ditch the ghost. Leave it to the Destruction King to send it off proper.] Baekho asked me to leave something in that area, back there. They've found a lot of reports of things being lost lately. Shoes, clothing, bags... I thought a bike would be too heavy for a ghost.
[He's half joking. They were trying to establish timing - if items were more likely to be stolen overnight versus in the morning versus the afternoon. Apparently time of day isn't much of a problem for this one.]
[This may or may not reveal that he lost his bike on purpose and dragged Soleum out here not due to an accident, but - also, all disasters, big and small, are accidents. So it's okay. Plus, he hadn't been expecting to return with this much data on the situation. A lost bike was all he planned to report.]
But I was serious about the tteokbokki. Should we stop and pick some up on the way back? There's a good place in Namdaemun... [Again, is he offering or just craving it, who knows.] And Jaekwan will be jealous you got to ride with me on a tandem bike, he'll need something to soothe his heart. What do you say?
no subject
[ Really, that's what it was?
Hopefully, Agent Choi doesn't notice the hiccup in Soleum's strides as he narrowly avoids tripping over his loafers. A glimpse of exasperation cuts across his expression, but the stumble's a quick thing, and he'll blame it on his rubber soles wringing out from all their activity if he really chooses to bring attention to it. He could have planned better before rushing out, but would a rookie have? That sort of thing.
At any rate, it doesn't happen again. ]
Okay. If it's on the way. I could use a drink of water, [ Soleum slowly says, more phased by his own misreaction than the smoke plume he passes through, carried backward from the senior agent walking ahead of him. Cold tteokbokki probably isn't the recompense Agent Bronze should accept for being saddled with managing their team's office housekeeping, but he can easily see it happening. Bronze largely doesn't intend to, but sometime the man has a habit of offering forgiveness first, asking questions second; that type of bleeding heart is what makes him such a good fit for the Disaster Management Bureau.
Suddenly, his pocket companion speaks up.
— Mm, friend, that scent. It's incomparable drivel next to the Bering Admiral or a good, old-fashioned Cubano, but surprisingly, it doesn't disagree with me! Might this humble host implore you to investigate the source?
The source? Agent Choi's cigarettes?
Well, it hasn't been long since he resummoned the TV-headed ghost. It was only a matter time for his usual brand of requests to make a return. Their relationship isn't quite the same as before, so it's better to start working on rebuilding their trust… ]
Um, Agent-nim. Could I see what brand of cigarettes you're smoking?
no subject
Ahh... That charm!
[He takes a heavy drag before puffing it out to the side. Regret colors his features.]
I was going to use that to track it... You know you can follow the energy from those, right? In case you go missing, we can use that kind of charm to locate you. But I gave it to a ghost that you settled!
[And it would have offered much more benefit to follow this kid. So annoying, this junior. Always solving problems! Choi shakes his head with a kind of low laugh, only looking up with he mentions the cigarettes.]
Ah, you're not thinking about starting, are you? I just smoke Esse. [They're in every convenience store and Choi isn't picky.] Soleum-ah, I gotta say, I don't peg you the smoker type. This is the one time I might say it, but don't copy me or anything.
[He says this with said cigarette dangling from his lips as he climbs over the front of the bike, gripping the handles and trying to figure out the balance. He said it's been awhile since he rode one of these and he isn't kidding... It's probably been since he was a kid, if ever.]
So... I'll lead? [He has no idea how this works.]
no subject
[ That wasn't even a thought in his head. But it could be better that Agent Choi believe that to be the case, rather than explain his plush doll wanting to breathe in secondhand smoke for whatever reason. He has enough misunderstandings plaguing him right now. ]
…I guess it's impossible for me to be like you. I knew that, I just… thought I could try.
[ Come on, Agent Choi. Just give him one cigarette to take home so that Soleum won't have to spend money on buying a whole pack to please a demanding ghost.
Feigning resignation, he hoists himself over the second seat of the bicycle in glaring silence, positioning his feet against the pedals. A long moment passes, then, acting as if he just realized something, Soleum jolts, as if recovering himself. ]
A-Ah! I'm sorry, let's see… The way the senior explained it to me was that leading involves steering and controlling the brakes. The only thing I can do from the back is help with the pedaling, so if you're prepared to do that, we can go.
no subject
...Now, that's just overkill, don't you think?
[With a sigh, he reaches into his pocket and retrieves the cigarettes and a lighter. Both are tossed toward him as Choi shakes his head.]
Do you know how often Jaekwan-ah begs me to quit? Now you'll get the same attention from him. Aren't you happy?
[Turning back around, he grips the handle bars and takes in a breath. Okay. Steering and braking. He can do that.]
Now, off we go!
no subject
It's been a while since he quit.
Leaving the rest of the carton pocketed, he holds a cigarette in his mouth, a little flame sparking from the lighter — ] Urk?! [ — right as Agent Choi starts to pedal ahead. Soleum just barely manages to keep a hold on the thing as they speed off. Hands slamming down on the bars with lighter wedged beneath, his lips crush down on the cigarette, mouth filling with tobacco, and obviously too much of it. His other hand hastily fetches the cigarette from his mouth as he dryly hacks up several coughs to the side, his eyes and nose stinging from expelling the smoke. ]
Slow — slow down, sir —
no subject
Don't worry, don't worry! Just do your best, you said I was the one navigating! Now, which way is north...
[And so, with the front basket full of contaminated items and a more-or-less reliable sense of direction, Agent Choi bikes them through the city. He looks back every now and then, mostly to make sure Soleum hasn't fallen off or something, but generally keeps his usual pace. Soleum said it himself, after all - he's mainly there for extra power, not the braking or directing. So Choi is more than happy to manage all three parts by himself. He's moe than used to taking on every single part of a mission without expecting the others to do anything. Much less risk involved.]
[Along the way, he points things out. Places he's been, some restaurants he likes. Mentions an area he used to live in being nearby, before he joined the bureau. But as always, most of his past is obscured, unshared. It's never occurred to him to go into any of it. He's just trying to share information that his junior might find useful, is all.]
[As they get closer to the market, he slows his pace - since, honestly, he's getting kind of tired. Two disasters, both of which required him to take a good long walk to get to, and now riding tandem with his junior... It's kind of a lot on him. His old bones or whatever. He should have taken off his jacket, but whatever. Where would he have put it, anyway? The basket's full.]
Soleum-ah! Think you can make it? We're almost there!
no subject
So it's surreal to hear him reveal these small facts about himself as candidly as he does. But more so, it's — exciting. He wants to know how he felt taking his aptitude test or what his initial first impressions were of his teammates. Did you always plan to become a government employee? When you entered the Cold Storage story, were you scared? However, except for a few polite questions here and there about how his current neighborhood compares, if the restaurant staff is nice, Soleum does a lot of listening throughout — even if his whole body weren't aching, this is what he'd choose to do. ]
I'm trying… my best.
[ At some point in the conversation, his legs were so exhausted he stopped pedaling altogether, but he can't do that now! They're so close to an unmoving seat — he forces himself to cycle, half-standing, leaned forward, and panting his ass off the entire time.
Eventually, the one of the entrance ways into Namdaemun Market shows itself, peeking free from behind a painfully sharp turn and brightly lit with glowing signs and storefronts. Soleum keeps his yelling contained to his own mind as they pull in. The area is teeming with people just getting out of work, tourists stopping in the middle of the street to take photos, harried shopkeepers running from place to place. They would have to slow down regardless of the fatigue pinching at their muscles and joints. On the bright side, the smell of good food is abundant, instantly making the ride out there worth it.
Soon enough, they stop in front of a crowded bike rack and what he presumes is the amazing tteokbokki stall Agent Choi was speaking of. Briefly, Soleum sits there disoriented, then realizes he still has that cigarette hanging from his mouth. It isn't even burning anymore. Whatever, he keeps it rolled to the side for now, unsaddling from the bicycle. ]
Is this it?
[ Are they free from bike purgatory, Agent Choi? ]
no subject
[Choi grins at him as they disembark. He strips off his jacket and sets it over the basket to conceal the contained items, then stretches his arms with an overdone groan.]
Hoo, that was a workout!
[He's sweaty, sure, but he feels good. Exercise feels good, doesn't it? His heart is pumping and it reminds him he didn't work out this morning, he was in such a rush. Nice and stretched, he leans forward and plucks the unlit cigarette from his mouth, waving it in between his fingers. It's pretty much ruined. Can't have his first smoke be this terrible.]
You wait here with the bike. Can't lose two in one day, right? Aha - Ajumma!
[And he's waving to one of the stalls, greeting the older woman working there like she's an old friend. She greets him similarly and they engage loudly in the transaction, Choi pointing out what he wants and her adding extra garnishes for him, making suggestions, asking if he's eating properly - it's a conversation he's had hundreds of times and will have hundreds more. He left Looky Mart alive, after all.]
[When he returns with the bag of food, Choi holds up an ice-cold bottle of water, fresh from a cooler, and presses it to Soleum's cheek, bypassing any attempts to accept it via hands like how normal people give things.]
You did great work today, hubae. [Now he finally lets him take it, a sort of prideful look in his eye. He's got another full bottle in the bag for him if he downs this one.] I put you through a lot, but you never complain. Thanks for putting up with me.
[Kind of joking, kind of not. He's aware of his overbearing manner but he also believes it's a means to an important end. Soleum is doing well despite all of this, and that means he's something special.]