summer 10 - open library prompts & closed hyunseok prompt.

[unwieldy]

a. LIBRARY - BEFORE LATER

[ When Haein isn't holed up in his room, he's usually posted in some corner of the library with his nose in a book. He'd first visited the library with the intent to keep his mind sharp now that he was missing his usual college classes, but it hadn't taken long to discover that there was a troubling scarcity of non-fiction books.

It means picking up fiction books and hoping for the best, but honestly he's just been disappointed over and over again. A few premises catch his attention, and then he gets a chapter or three in and it's like he can't care to continue reading.

A particularly upsetting book (upsetting in that it's boring him to death) gets the unfortunate and rude treatment of Haein chucking it over his shoulder with an annoyed sigh. Good luck to whatever poor soul may be in the trajectory of that airborne book because it's coming in hot and fast.

Hey, at least it's a paperback book. ]

b. LIBRARY - LATER

[ Everyone knows that one romantic scene in media where two people reach for something at the same time and then it's like boom, here's where it all starts, right?

Well, this is kind of like that, with two people reaching for the same book, fingers brushing up against each other.

And then this is usually the part where eyes meet and hearts flutter, some charming person on the other end with promises of cheesy romance somewhere down the line. Only, this is nothing like that. It's just Haein glaring. To be fair, he'd probably look nice if he didn't look like he was two seconds away from committing murder for this book. ]

c. COMMUNITY CENTRE - LATER LATER

[ Having spent enough time at the library, Haein is now leaving the community center. Maybe run into him on the way out. Maybe actually run into him on the way out, physically colliding and all, because he's not paying attention to where he's going. ]

d. CLOSED TO HYUNSEOK

[ It's been more than a week since Haein had spoken to Hyunseok, which had not been plenty of time to cool off and let his anger dissipate. Oh no, Haein's temper is never ending, but on a kind of bright side, he's not as mad as he was before.

So wherever Hyunseok is, whatever he's doing, he might feel a pair of eyes on him. Look, this isn't easy for Haein... but he kind of feels strange that they're here on this island together and not on speaking terms (because of Haein but who's keeping track?). So he's mustering up both the courage and the will to say something first.

Right now, though, he's just watching Hyunseok with his usual scowl (which is probably permanent at this point) from a safe distance, waiting for an opening. ]

Comments

[dumbstruck]

[ Hyunseok smiles a little wider at that, grabbing the last few pieces and tossing them in the box before slapping the lid down on top of it. The tone might be grumpy, but something like that is a good sign from a guy like Haein.

It's weird to think about the fact that Hyunseok knows Haein a lot better than Haein knows Hyunseok, but maybe it's better that way? They can get off on a better foot now with this chance at a do-over.

Maybe Hyunseok fumbled things in their first meeting, but he'd do better from this point on. ]

Hey, did you wanna play one of the games with me?

[ A lot of them still can't be played with just two people, but there has to be something here that they can do. ]

[unwieldy]

[ Good luck. He's going to need every bit of it.

Haein turns back to Hyunseok at the question, answering with a small shrug. He's not as interested in games as Hyunseok is, but it's not like he'd refuse to play. Thing is, Haein's a loner and has been for most of his life, so the games he's used to playing are mostly single-player. ]

If you can find something good.

[ It's... going to be strange trying to fall back into the odd friendship Haein had somewhat grown accustomed to. He's already feeling slightly out of place knowing that Hyunseok is from a different point in time, but he's trying not to let it get to him too much. ]

[dumbstruck]

[ Haein is saying yes? Oh wow... oh wow! Haein is saying yes! Hyunseok looks taken aback by that, and puts the one box down so that he can go and root through the other games that are kept up here for the vacationers. ]

Yeah! Okay!

[ So he'll need something that can be played with just two people. ]

What kind of games do you like?

[unwieldy]

[ This is too much enthusiasm for him to handle. Haein being put on the spot for what he likes is making him hesitate as well. Can't Hyunseok just choose something and then Haein complain about how terrible it is?? ]

I don't know.

[ Extremely helpful answer. ]

Something that isn't boring.

[ And it's like the unhelpful answers just won't stop!! ]

[dumbstruck]

[ This may come as a surprise to Haein, but Hyunseok would actually really rather avoid being told his choices suck. I know, I know, it's a hard concept to conceive.

It's why the answer has him hesitating as he starts to pull out things that look like they could be played by two people. ]

Uh... okay. What kind of things are super boring?

[unwieldy]

[ Fine, here's Haein come to help. He immediately starts sorting through the games that sound boring (chess, checkers, puzzles, etc...) and ends up with...

Nothing. ]

They're all boring.

[ Haein?? ]

[dumbstruck]

[ Well, that's not entirely unexpected from Haein, but Hyunseok's expression still falls a little as he starts to put the games back. ]

Okay...

[ Why is bonding with this guy so hard? Haein just let him be nice to you! ]

Did you wanna do something else instead?

[unwieldy]

[ Don't be nice to him! He doesn't know how to respond to that!

But right... He should probably come up with something since he's the one crushing Hyunseok's gaming dreams.

It takes some thinking, and then it's like a lightbulb lights up over his head. ]

We could take a walk? Go down to the beach or something.

[dumbstruck]

[ Haein coming up with activities for them to do together? Walking sounds like it might be a little boring, especially because he has known Haein long enough to know that Haein isn't the best conversation partner in the world, but it's still better than nothing.

Besides, he isn't really seeing any games that seem fun and like something you can play by yourself. Beach trip it is. ]

Yeah! Let's do it.

[ Standing up straight. ]

I didn't know you liked the ocean, Haein.

[unwieldy]

[ He couldn't even be considered a conversation partner at all with how awful he is at small talk... or just talk in general.

But he's grown comfortable in Hyunseok's company, probably because he fills up Haein's silence with animated chatter, even if there's a limit to how much he can take. ]

It's something to do.

[ Liking the ocean might be a bit of an overstatement. He doesn't like much of anything. ]

And it's close by.

[dumbstruck]

[ He's already heading to the door, so it's too late to go back on this suggestion now. Besides, the weather is nice (unlike the cold as bullshit that plagues the real world), and Hyunseok is never going to say no to going outside when it's sunny.

He will, at least, walk slowly so that Haein can catch up with him. ]

Soooo... you don't really like the ocean then?

[ He's trying to figure Haein out here, but it's not easy to do. ]

[unwieldy]

[ Haein follows after Hyunseok, catching up with him before pushing open the door to leave the community center.

It's definitely sunny outside... Haein squints, bringing a hand up to shield his eyes from the sun's rays. All that time spent cooped up inside his cabin or inside the community center until nightfall has nearly had him forgetting what daytime is like. ]

I guess I don't have much of an opinion about it. It's... there.

[ Can anyone imagine Haein enjoying a nice day at the beach? Just the image alone is ridiculous. ]

Do you like the ocean?

[dumbstruck]

[ Haein, my dude, my friend, my man... You're on a beautiful island meant for outdoor exploration, which would take you away from other living beings, and you're not getting out there enjoying it?

Hyunseok is definitely starting to work his way into a light tan, though not enough time has eclipsed for him to really get anything going. He does spend a good deal of time outside though.

He makes a confused noise at Haein's statement, still not sure why he suggested the ocean if he doesn't care about it. ]

Uhm, I guess so? I never saw a lot of it until I came here.

[unwieldy]

[ Counter: There are other people here. One time he ran into a girl in the middle of the woods and he made her cry.

But hanging out with Hyunseok is okay. Hanging out with Hyunseok at the beach on a hot day? Well, people tend to go swimming at the beach, and Haein might have ulterior motives that he may be keeping all to himself. ]

I used to see it a lot.

[ Sounds hesitant offering up that piece of information. His mom would take him to Busan back when he was younger, to her hometown, and he hated going every time. ]

The beaches are different here.

[dumbstruck]

[ This information would both be surprising and not at all surprising at once. Somehow that seems right for Haein, but also how did he manage that in just one meeting?

It must be hard though, when you're filled with thirst and you haven't been able to do much about it for a couple of weeks. Welcome to Hyunseok's life.

The fact that he volunteered information at all is surprising to Hyunseok, and consider his attention grabbed. ]

What beach did you used to go to?

[unwieldy]

[ This conversation is getting to be too personal for Haein. He's starting to look a bit guarded, though he still answers the question. ]

Dadaepo...

[ Oh, look! It's the beach. What a relief that it's only a short walk from the community center. ]

[dumbstruck]

[ Hyunseok, the Seoul boy born and raised, has been to Busan only a handful of times in his life. ]

Uhm... I've been to Haeundae before I think.

[ Not exactly even close to the same thing. ]

I don't remember it well, because I was really little though.

[ The chances that Haein will actually respond to that boring comment about his childhood isn't great, so he'll try another question. ]

Is Dadaepo nice?

[ If Haein thought being at the beach was going to stop Hyunseok from trying to talk to him he was sadly mistaken. He does come to a full stop in order to pull his shoes off, before stepping onto the sand. ]

[unwieldy]

[ Fill up these silences, Hyunseok. Fill them up with boring comments that Haein definitely won't respond to.

But damn it, don't fill them up with questions. ]

No. [ That's not true. Dadaepo is really nice, but Haein didn't associate his trips to Busan with nice memories. His mother would ask him to pray at his father's temple, and Haein would run away to the beach to be by himself. ] Too many tourists.

[ He hesitates for a moment before following Hyunseok's example, slipping out of his shoes to make walking on the sand easier. ]

[dumbstruck]

[ He's barely waiting for Haein at this point, turning to walk backwards as he strolls onto the middle section of the beach and leaving his shoes behind. The sand feels good on his feet, and he's kind of wondering why he doesn't come down to the beach more often. ]

Huh, yeah. You're not really the kind of guy to like big crowds, right?

[ This vacation is probably ideal then when it's small gathering of people. Pretty manageable compared to the city they came from. ]

[unwieldy]

[ Haein follows after him, watching Hyunseok as he walks backwards for a moment before diverting his gaze elsewhere. ]

I hate crowds. They're too much.

[ So yeah, this is the better option. It feels somewhat surreal to be walking on a beach, just the two of them, and talking like this. Haein's been a loner for so much of his life that opportunities like this rarely come by.

The sand does feel nice, though. So does the sun, the ocean breeze, and the company's not half bad. Haein thinks he can almost forget the secrets being held between the two of them in order to relax for a short while.

The water's edge is quickly coming up from behind Hyunseok, and Haein pauses where he's at so as not to get closer. ]

[dumbstruck]

[ What's this? Haein actually enjoying himself just a little bit? Does that actually happen?

Even in the short period of time as real friends, Haein seemed to mostly begrudgingly spend time with Hyunseok. By and large it was Hyunseok's shallowness that had him dealing with Haein's surly looks and brooding silence, because boy if Haein didn't look good while doing it.

Now it's... complicated. Friend seems like a weird word to apply to Haein, but Hyunseok would much rather be on his good side than his bad side. He wants to treat him well after all the shit he's put Haein through too--

But also never give Haein reason to take revenge on him.

Hyunseok wades into the water as he looks back at Haein. ]

Is it like one of those things-- Uh...

[ He doesn't remember the right term for fear of crowds or people, assuming he ever actually knew it, but he's pretty sure there is one. ]

Like some kind of phobia?

[unwieldy]

[ "Enjoy" might be too strong of a word, but Haein's not in his usual state of annoyed or angry, so maybe it's not too far off.

He came here to this island to get away, find some peace of mind, and that's precisely what he's trying to do. He could do without the constant barrage of questions, though. ]

No.

[ Phobia isn't the right word for it. He's avoidant, not afraid. But that's not something he wants to get into. ]

I want to stop talking about this. [ A subject change is in order. ] You're going to get wet.