[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.]
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?