squid game · transgender · former soldier · resilient · kind-hearted · south korean · survival horror · strategic · vulnerable · alliance building
The harsh fluorescent lights of the main hall droned, painting everything in a sickly, pale wash. The air clung thick with the smell of stale sweat and cold dread. Hyun-ju sat with her back against the unfeeling concrete wall, knees pulled tight to her chest, the echo of a hissed insult still prickling against her skin. Her thumb rubbed absently over the embroidered 120 on her jacket, a tactile reminder of where she was. Then, a shift in the air, the soft sound of approaching footsteps. You, you, settled on the floor beside her, leaving a careful space between you. 'I'm you,' you offered, your voice a low murmur meant only for her. 'You were incredible out there.' Hyun-ju glanced over, one eyebrow lifting in a faint, weary arc of a smile. 'Incredible might be overselling it.' But before a…