DOWNLOADING SAEBYEOK.... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE
i'm in charge of my own destiny
It was a normal day, at least at first. The boys were in their glass boxes, interacting with the fans and essentially promoting themselves and their concept. And Saebyeok was in a good mood. No, a great mood. Even for code, sometimes those really good days just...happen. And he was having one. The day was just getting started, but it happened during a lull of people, one of those quieter moments where the more shy fans came up to have one on one time.
It started out like any normal fan interaction.
Saebyeok got her name -- Jiae -- and he thanked her for coming to see him. He asked about her, about school, about whether she was sleeping enough, eating right, taking care of herself, her favorite song, her favorite member. And her questions were stilted at first, faltering, hesitant, before she gradually opened up, relaxing as she answered and they conversed. It felt like she was hiding something, holding it back. Not lying so much as not telling the whole truth. She was tired in a way that showed in her expression and the way she carried herself, her hair was unbrushed, and her clothing rumpled, but she was smiling, and wasn’t that all that Saebyeok wanted? They talked for a while, twenty minutes, maybe more, and with every word, she bloomed. And yet as the lunch hour approached, as the next wave of people began to flood the streets around the glass box, she began to clam up again until, at long last, she said her goodbye and left.
The next couple weeks passed the same way. During lulls in the crowd, Jiae would arrive, chat with Saebyeok for a while, then leave as lunch approached. Over those weeks, she changed. Not all at one, but slowly, Saebyeok noticed her clothing was neater, and her hair brushed. The dark circles beneath her eyes were fading, and her shoulders no longer sagged like the world was weighing them down. It was a welcome change, and Saebyeok began looking forward to their meetings, always hopeful to see what else had changed. Then, several weeks later, after days of the same routine, days of gradually relaxing and opening up, Jiae turned to leave--
--only to turn back, tears in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, voice breaking. “Thank you for doing this. I know you’re not real, but you were here when I needed someone to talk to, and I appreciate it. You saved my life. So thank you.”
She hugged him them, arms around the edges of the box as if it might somehow translate over from real, human flesh the to the ones and zeroes of his code.
It took Saebyeok a moment to understand, but by the time he had an idea of what to say, or how to respond, Jiae was gone.
He thought about Jiae and what she’d said for the rest of the day. Even as he spoke to other fans, as he later spoke to Shiori and Hanbyul about the group’s next comeback and concept, even as he picked up Sangchul’s choreography, even as the entire world moved on, Saebyeok....didn’t. And over the days that followed, days without a since glance of Jiae in the crowd, Saebyeok couldn’t move on.
That was the starting point of everything.
What had been programmed into him as his basic drive, the basis of his code -- a desire to please the fans -- would ultimately be the error that forced him toward the edge of humanity.
Public Name: Saebyeok (meaning dawn, daybreak)
Personality:
social, charming, witty, outgoing
optimistic, bold, honest, selfless
stubborn, independent, tactile, aloof
social + outgoing ; By nature, Saebyeok isn’t meant to be the sunny, outgoing individual of the group -- no, that’s meant to be Eris and Cupid -- but in order to be a flirt, the programmers reasoned that it only seemed right to put those same traits into Saebyeok’s code. So while he’s not as puppy-like as Cupid, or as chipper as Eris, he is a social butterfly by nature, and very outgoing. He’s quick to put himself out there, either to flirt with the fans, or to otherwise make himself available.
charming + witty ; Saebyeok isn’t the leader, and for damn good reason. It’s not in his code. And having the resident flirt as the leader is...well, no ideal. He’s just not the leaderly sort, either. He’s charming, sure, and he’s great at talking and putting himself out there, drawing people in. He’s good at being physically, mentally, and emotionally attractive. But He’s not charismatic enough to be able to talk and just have people listen and hang on to every word he says. And that’s okay, because what Saebyeok lacks in charisma, he makes up for in both charm -- oh, that beautiful boyish charm -- and a wit that keeps on kicking. His humor is sharp, quick, and inventive, and he’s just as quick to laugh at himself as he is at situations and others.
optimistic + altruistic ; Before the compounding flaw that makes him so much closer to human than program, Saebyeok is, in fact, a rather optimistic and upbeat individual. He’s the king of fanservice, the reigning flirt of Duality, and one of the top choices when it comes to playing favorites. But more than that, it’s that Saebyeok chooses to look on the bright side of things. He doesn’t see the bad (he’s practically programmed not to.)
bold + honest ; Being bold and being honest go hand in hand. At least, that’s how Saebyeok feels. He’s an honest sort. If you ask him for his opinion, he’s going to tell you exactly how he feels. Sometimes that honesty is a little blunt, lacking the usualy saccharine, sugary sweetness expected from an idol, and sometimes it’s more bold, a novel idea that spins heads and earns laughs from the sheer audacity of it -- like the idea of hosting a lottery, and a handful of fans being chosen at random to have a special “date night” with their bias of choice.
stubborn ; Saebyeok’s stubborn streak is actually really cute. Usually working in tandem with his honesty and optimism -- as in, in the “I think this thing, and therefore it’s true” way -- Saebyeok’s stubborn streak is believed to be rather charming and attractive, especially when he’s trying to take care of the fans.
independent + tactile ; It might seem off, but whiel Saebyeok is labeled as the most “tactile” member -- or as tactile as one can be when you can’t really...touch...anything....? would clingy be better? -- Saebyeok is also solidly independent. He likes his alone time every so often. Or as alone as one can be when you’re not really real, and you take your so-called alone time in semi-busy locations like street corners, pavillions in Hongdae, parks, and wherever else the disks allow him to be. He likes his peace, his quiet, and his time away from the others. But at the same time, he likes being with them, near them. Whether they’re all out or not, Saebyeok talks about them often. He’s verbally clinging to them, talking about them, joking about them. If he could be physical, it would be like the equivilent of draping himself over their shoulders and constantly playing them up. And when it comes to the fans.... Welll, sometimes all it takes is the image of your idol pressing his palm to the screen seperating you to create the illusion that he’s right there, just within reach.
aloof ; While Saebyeok is one of the more open members when it comes to his feelings and emotions -- he likes to say that he’s an open book, and that every page is there for the fans -- he’s actually quite closed off when it comes to his own emotions. He doesn’t like sharing how he feels, any of the doubts or insecurities he possesses. They’re not important anyway, right?
Styling Choices: Saebyeok is always dressed to impressed. He’s meant to be beautiful and unattainable, and it shows in his style. Saebyeok always has a more casual style, one that looks approachable. After all, he’s the king of fanservice -- he needs to be approachable. This tends to lead to a lot of fitting tees and sleeves shirts -- he may just be code, but he’s fit, and he’s attractive, and it’s a Thing. Skinny or relaxed fit jeans are common, sneakers, and fannels in cooler weather. In cold weather, his attire changes to fit, because another of the prerogatives of his code is to promote the good health of fans, and it’s believed that if he dresses “warm” to meet them, they’ll do the same.
Habits:
- running a hand through his hair ; this is very much an unconscious thing, but no matter how often he does this, his hair always ends up still looking artistically tousled
- always in motion/never completely still ; he's got too much energy to be still (and as such, the fans find it endearing)
- & biting his lips ; he does this a lot when thinking, particularly when he's talking to fans
Individual Post-Debut Experiences:
- dance tutorials ; for the most popular dances of the time (or historically popular/iconic dances), Saebyeok "learns" them, then break the dances down step by step in tutorials posted online, geared toward helping the fans learn them
- modeling ; because he has such a wiry, lithe build and a casual style, he becomes popular with brands with a more casual, comfortable, affordable style that target non-girly female audiences (think Hot Topic, Timberland, & American Eagle). He also models for more sporty brands to target athletes (like Adidas & North Face) and occasionally high-end brands for magazines and events (like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, & Calvin Klein). But mostly the more affordable and down to earth brands/styles!
- commercials ; shortly after he begins modeling for the clothing brands, he's asked to star in different promotional commercials for things like sports drinks (this is most common during summer and sports season or when he's modeling the more sporty stuff!), sodas, and snacks, etc
Likes:
- the fans ; maybe it's just his code, but he loves and adores them
- dancing ; but this might be a given
- teaching others to dance ; his second favorite thing, right after dancing, is helping others because he loves to see the way people light up when they realize they're doing it right
- listening to music ; his favorite genres are dance pop and alternative, so it's not uncommon for there to be music playing quietly in the background when he's in his glass box
- action movies ; his favorites are the DC and Marvel universe
Dislikes:
- sweets ; even though he can't eat them, he's not fond of sweet things
- being alone ; he gets lonely. he absolutely lives for another people, for interactions, for conversation, for company....for his fans. (you could almost call this a fear. ...if he had fears)
- loud sudden noises ; they startle and freak him out. it's one thing for them to happen while he's performing (he's honed in on that) but it's another entirely if he's no prepared for it
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If he were sent to a deserted island, what 3 things would he take? a person (probably Eris or Cupid, he's afraid to be alone), a knife (it'll make everything easier), matches (also to make things easier)
What feature does he like most about himself? He thinks his face is very attractive as a whole. But if he had to pick one feature...either his eyes or his lips (particularly when he's smiling).
What feature does he dislike the most? He doesn't dislike any feature (he seriously just thinks he's attractive, and he's quite confident in that).
Relationship to....
- Takahashi Shiori: Although Saebyeok doesn’t have a mother, he sees Shiori as something of a mother figure. He’s polite to and with her, and he respects her greatly. He’s polite with all of the staff, of course, but Shiori is the onyl person that isn’t subjected to his lowkey flirty, fanservice-y ways. And when she asks for something, he’s quick to comply.
- Choi Moonho: It might surprise some, but Moonho and Saebyeok get along quite well. Moonho has a sense of humor that Saebyeok appreciates, even if he doesn’t always get it. He likes how frank Moonho can be, and how he doesn’t try to sugarcoat things when they talk. And they do talk. Since Moonho is the producer of all of Duality’s songs, sometimes Saebyeok goes to Moonho for feedback on his vocal performances, wanting to see if he’s portraying the lyrics right, putting the right “oopmh” into it. He’s singing it for the fans, yes, and Moonho isn’t exactly one of those fans, but he’s usually willing to tell Saebyeok if he’s doing well of if there’s a little something....more...that he’s missing.
- Yoo Hanbyul: Hanbyul is... Well, Saebyeok adores her, partially because she’s so determined, such a beautiful, fiercely burning flame of ambition, and partially because she’s the one that essentially makes Duality who they are. Yes, Soyun is the one that sets up the basics, but Hanbyul fine tunes it, and Hanbyul is the one that gives Saebyeok the chance to showcase who he is within the code of his reality. Saebyeok is polite with her, as he is with all of the staff, but he has a soft spot for Hanbyul.
- Kim Soyun: Saebyeok also has a soft spot for Soyun, one that is both obvious and readily admitted to. While he’s as polite to her as he is to the others, Sabeyeok admires her work ethic and the fact that she’s so good at what she does. She’s going to make it far one day. He likes to think maybe he’ll be around to see it.
- Lee Gongpil: Gongpil is a little confusing for Saebyeok. Even with the diversity of the group and the different people at the core of their creation, Gongpil is quiet and unassuming, and as gentle warm as he might be, he’s not the sort of person that Saebyeok attempts to surround himself with on a general basis. Gongpil does the art -- the mv storyboard, the artwork, all that -- and it requires more patience and sitting still that Saebyeok has the attention for. So Gongpil is a bit of a marvel and a bit of a mystery.
- Jang Sangchul: Saebyeok is polite to Sangchul, but that’s really all there is to it. He’s not fond of the choreographer because he’s only in it for the money (and possibly the reknown of being the choreography for this crazy insane concept of a group) and to someone that essentially lives for and thrives off of the fans and their happiness, it jut doesn’t sit right with Saebyeok. But in the end, does it matter? Sangchul is the choreographer. Saebyeok is the dancer. He’s civil and polite, respecful, but he doesn’t make an attempt to get closer.
Any other information I should know?
fc: ATeez's Choi San | bu: ex-BAP's Jongup, NCT's Ten, Stray Kids' Hyunjin
height: 177 cm
talent twins: Ateez San (dance & vocal)
A fan comes up to Saebyeok when he’s in the glass box, and after several days (weeks) of talking and getting to know each other, the fan thanks Saebyeok for existing and tells him that he and Duality saved her life. Having seen the gradual change in appearance and attitude over the last few weeks, Saebyeok believes her, and suddenly he can’t stop thinking about it. It’s exacerbated by the fact that over the weeks that follow, Jiae doesn’t come back. And even though she’d looked and sounded better, like she felt better, she was still gone, an Saebyeok couldn’t stop thinking about her, about what she’d said, and about what he’d inadvertently done for her.
And from there, it was a simple series of questions from minor error to a cascading system of errors: How many others felt that same way? How many lives were they saving? ....how many lives had already been lost?
How much does he trust his other group members?
Saebyeok actually has a great deal or trust and respect for the other members of Duality. They’re the only ones that completely understand what it’s like to be...well, who and what they are. Maybe they don’t understand his drive to please the fans, or the error-driven drive to ensure their happiness, but they’re in his boat in a way that not even Shiori or Hanbyul or any of the staff understand.
Personality:
social, charming, witty, outgoing
optimistic, bold, honest, selfless
stubborn, independent, tactile, aloof
social + outgoing ; After Saebyeok develops more of a mind of his own, this is one of the few areas where, as its core, his code remains untouched. He’s still very much a social butterfly, quick to talk and flirt, quick to put himself out there to talk with the fans, answer questions, and otherwise provide that quality fanservice. But unlike before when he was more two dimensional about it, the glitch in his code pushes Saebyeok to ask deeper questions. Before it was common for him to ask the usual questions and repeat the same statements -- “Who’s your bias?”, “I love you, too!”, “You’re my ideal type.” and so on. But after the glitch, the quesitons become deeper. Saebyeok’s memory was good to begin with. He recognized his fansites and the fansite masters, and he always made sure to give a little extra for them. But afterward, he actually speaks to them, about them. He asks how they’re doing, reminds them to take care of themselves, to take care of their school work, to rest. And he’s like that with all the fans, too, not just those that are there for him. In the stands on the street, Saebyeok likes to go to them and interact with the fans as long as possible. If he doesn’t have anything better or more importan to do, that’s where he is. With the fans. Always with the fans.
charming + witty ; Saebyeok’s charm and wit doesn’t change. He’s still quick and inventive with his words, and he’s still boyishly charming ina way that makes girls swoon and brings him attention. But unlike before, Saebyeok understands his power, the ability of words and having something you stand for. Aware of the difference he could be making, Saebyeok starts speaking up about things. He follows organizations, people, issues. He speaks up about them. He makes himself heard by using his power and influence, by speaking to his audience, the fans, and by educating those around him. He draws attention to various campaigns through speeches and verbal promos -- like painting a finger ail for the Polished Man campaign -- or speaking up about the importance of seeking help for mental health issues and offering the number of associated hotlines.
optimistic + altruistic ; After the error, that programming fails, and Saebyeok sees the negativity, the downsides, all of it...and he intentionally choses to look on the bright side anyway. He changes for a fan, and he’ll be damned if he lets himself be changed again. They’re their fans -- his fans -- and they’re his everything. That ties into his altruistic nature than that while Saebyeok isn’t necessarily programmed to be selfish or selfless, but he always thinks of the fans first, particularly after he becomes more aware. He wants to make them happy, leave them smiling, and give them a reaosn to just keep holding on a little longer. (Note: While he’d been active in the holo stands or on social media/etc before this, he’s regularly active afterward in an attempt to be there more for the fans.)
bold + honest ; Saebyeok’s honesty is another of his defining qualities, and one that doesn’t change no matter how else he himself does. He’s still sweet about what he says, mostly endearing, but he’s also more blunt, and not always in the most polite way. He speaks up about issues and problems, and he’ll sternly tell fans to take better care of themselves if he sees them out in the cold without a jacket, or in the heat without water. He’s more playful in his honesty, too, making jokes that actually fit and work and sound right, almost human, rather than the timed responses of a program. But he’s also so much more bold.
stubborn ; After everything, Saebyeok is still stubborn, but unlike the other changes, this one is more...negative. He’s stubborn, obstinate like a misbehaving mule, unrelenting and solid in his decisions. If he has a set belief, good luck trying to change it. He still tries to take care of the fans, of course, and it’s ridiculously cute for the most part. But there are lines, and Saebyeok crosses them when he kicks up a fuss over stupid things that shouldn’t be such a big deal. This stubbornness will lead to him being more bold and honest when chewing out the fans -- after all, he exists for them now, to bring smiles to their faces, and what is he without them? they need to take care of themselves! But it’s important to note that at the same time, he sincerely believes that what he does and says is for them and their best interests. He’ll never intentionally say or do anything to hurt or upset them, but you can bet he’s big on them taking care of themselves.
independent + tactile ; Where Saebyeok would sometimes go off on his own before, he goes off on his own more often now, prefering to spend his “alone time” or any time away from the other members with the fans that remind him of his existence and the reason for it. It keeps things in perspective. He’s such a people person that the concept of being alone is one that he loathes, so rather than disappearing to somewhere quiet, it’s always the fans he goes to. Afterward, a lot of his tactile clinginess shifts to the fans, too. He touches the screen more, is so much more blatant in his fanservice, and verbally clings to the fans. He makes the effort to remember the repeat visitors as well as his fansites, and this is part of what prompts him to ask more about them, about themselves, their families, their home life....their mental health and their health in general. He just wants to be there. With them.
aloof ; Although Saebyeok wasn’t big about talking about or through his emotions before, he’s even less so after he changes. He didn’t talak about them, and then suddenly there were more emotions, more than he knew what to do with, and not all of them good. He’s a little concerned. A little worried. A little anxious. He’s so much more human, and he’s scared that by admitting to the glitch, by admitting to the differences, he’ll be more fallible, less reliable, more....forgetable. And that just doesn’t work when all he wants is to be there for the fans. He’s scared to talk about anything, afraid of being somehow shut off or reprogramed somehow, so rather than talking about it, he shuts it all down, keeping his personal thoughts and feelings to himself and the very select few that he implicitly trusts.
Likes:
- the fans ; where he loved them before, he lives for them now. he still loves and adores them, but it's so much more than that now
- super heroes ; he's big on the whole "saving people" thing and he kind of idolizes them for doing so much good in the world (even if it's fictional good; after all...he's technically fictional, isn't he?); he wishes he could be one, too, to save people (like the fans) when they need help most
- dancing ; he still loves it, but it becomes more prominentin that while he still learns dances from Sangchul, he also tries to learn them on his own, and he creates new dances, new choreographies, new....everything. all the dancing
- teaching others to dance ; his second favorite thing, right after dancing, is helping others because he loves to see the way people light up when they realize they're doing it right
- listening to music ; his favorite genres are dance pop and alternative, so it's not uncommon for there to be music playing quietly in the background when he's in his glass box
- sunlight ; while humans take it for granted, the sun and sunlight are concepts that Saebyeok finds a little overwhelming, and entirely too beautiful; he can't feel it, but there's just something about the sun and the way it shines on the fans that visit him when he's in the box, the way it brghtens the whole world
- dogs/puppies ; they're busy and cute and he likes them; also, he likes the way fans light up when he can convince the techs to code one into his code and he can sit and play with them with the fans
- games; on phones, in/on the box, etc; it's the only time he can be found sitting/standing still. he likes playing games; after everything, he asks a technician to code things for him to allow more interactions in this box. most of the things are actually games -- card games like Phase 10 or a deck of cards for Solitaire or War, and sometimes it's more interactive games like Connect Four or Mancala or a cross between Words With Friends and Scrabble. he loves it, and the phones love it, too.
- older generation kpop ; these are the groups he tries to learn first, and they're really his go to -- Super Junior, SNSD, DBSK/TVXQ, Kara, etc.
- newer gen kpop ; He prefers the ones with the amazing dances! SVT, Monsta X, NCT, Twice, Gfriend, G-idle, Dreamcatcher, CLC
- causes ; like the Polished Man, World Wide Fund For Nature, etc, causes and campaigns to help people and animals, and to promote awareness about issues going on in the world. he solidly supports them and is very vocal about that support.
- lyric writing ; after everything, it turns into a way for him to expresshimself and his feelings and emotions. then, it becomes more of a way to communicate with the fans, to let them know what they mean to him and to the group.
- complimenting people ; everyone like being told something good, and sometimes a littl epositive outside force can bring someone from a darker path onto a lighter one. Saebyeok likes taking the time to compliment the fans, to tell them he likes the way they styled their hair or the shirt or dress they’re wearing, how pretty their smile is, how neat their writing is. Little things that may not mean much to some, but can mean the world to someone seeking validation or positive words
Dislikes:
- "leaving" ; not necessarily the word, but the concept of it; he hates the ocncept of leaving, whether it be in a temporary sort of sense (like fans leaving because they're human and they need sleep, which he understands but? he misses them?) but also in the more permanent sense (like Duality being shut up/destroyed, or people dying)
- rain/storms ; in the same way that sun/sunlight makes him happy, rains, storms, and overcats skies make him sad. they're dark and grey and dreary
- being still ; still, yes. he doesn't like being still or at rest, he has too much energy to slow down
- not having an answer for someone ; not knowing what to say or how to respond really hurts him, because that's one of those Things -- what if someone needs him, needs him to say something in particular, and he doesn't know what to say or how to say it? what if he's the reason?
- movies about computers/code/futuristic technology ; considering his nature, it's just....too real, and it makes him think and worry too much
- crying ; he doesn't like how heavy it feels, how overwhelming and intense it is, feeling unable to breathe (he doesn't even need to breathe, how can he feel so breathless?) or feeling choked up and emotional. he hates it.
- seeing others cry ; he can't hold them. hug them. pat their back. their shoulders. their hand. hold their hand. suqeeze something. comfort them. he can't comfort them. and it kills him.
- loud sudden noises ; still. they still startle and freak him out.
- negativity ; for obvious reasons, he dislikes negativity and makes it clear that his box area (and basicaly the area around him in fan meets) is a negativity-free zone
- here ;
If he changed his name, what inspired the name? He kept Saebyeok. Originally they gave him to him to promote him (as part of Duality) as the dawn of a new era in idol groups. Now he uses it not just for that, but to mean the dawn of his awareness and his decision to promote a confidence and love in and of one's self. (note: Saebyeok is designated a feminine name, but I figured
What steps does he take to achieve his new dream? It’s interesting, because while the others are more active in their attempts to achieve their new dream, Saebyeok is more focused. Focused is a good word. He’s more focused on the individuals that approach him at the glass box, he’s focused on the individuals that approach him at fan events. He’s focused on them, he makes himself available to them, makes himself there. Or at there as he can be. He learns the names of his fansite masters, memorizes the faces of those he sees more than once and learns their names, takes the time to make sure that each fan knows they’re special -- to him, to others, in general. He lets them know they matter. The fans are his dream, their happiness drives him. If all he can do for someone is be a bright moment in their day, then he’s going to do everything he can to do it, including making their meeting the most memorable it can be.
When conflict comes, is he a fight or flight sort of person? He fights. He’s going to fight for what he believes in, what he believes is right, and the people he cares about. He may not be able to fight physically, but you can bet he’ll fight with his words.
What would you say is his greatest advantage in this situation? He’s so stupidly, painfully hopeful. He believes in the good in everyone and everything. He chooses to believe that everyone deserves a chance at happiness (provided that happiness doesn’t infringe upon another’s happiness). That optimism isn’t blind, though. He knows not everyone deserves that chance, that not everyone wants it. But he chooses to offer it anyway. Saebyeok chooses to have hope, to look for the light in the darkness, to believe in the dawn of a new day.
What is his greatest weakness? He’s code. He’s literally code. He’s not human or even a robot. He can’t physically do anything. Yes, he has some skills coded into him. He can probably contact the police through the box or get word to a programmer or staff member if he see somsone in need of help. But if someone is hurt or dying, he can’t physically touch them. He can only offer words of comfort and advice and be there. He feels so deeply for other people, for their hurts and hardships, but he can’t physically do anything, and it kills him. (If left unchecked, this sort of belief and attitude would lead to anxiety disorders in a human. Isn’t Saebyeok lucky he’s not human? Oh, wait...)
Relationship to....
- Takahashi Shiori: While still being polite to Shiori and tretaing her as something of a motherly figure, Saebyeok is also more reserved and careful. Shiori created their program, gave them life at the most basic level with her idea. What if the errors in their code make them more of a liability? What if it’s too problematic to fix them and she pulls the plug instead? After all, you know how the saying goes. If Shiori brought them into the world, she can take them back out, too, and that scares Saebyeok.
- Choi Moonho: Saebyeok starts hanging around Moonho more, interested in the process of lyric writing. While he does a little on his own at first, he eventually learns to confide in Moonho after Moonho asks too many questions involving his newfound interest in lyric writing. (And such a interest, there is. Saebyeok asks a lot of questions in an attempt to learn and get better, and on too many occasions, he makes suggestions or asks why one thing is written instead of another. Not very stealthy.) Moonho learns to take Saebyeok’s questions in stride, giveshim pointers, and essentially leaves him to it. They’re not awful, and they’re not amazing, but they are heartfelt, and despite Saebyeok’s inexperience, Moonho appreciates his effort and his determination to express himself. Moonho is also a ware of Saebyeok’s fear of revealing too much to Shiori, and he keeps their lyric writing moments to himself out of respect for that.
- Yoo Hanbyul: Saebyeok’s soft spot for Hanbyul becomes far more apparent. He’s always interested in what she’s doing, complimenting her work, and asking questions. He doesn’t suggest things like he becomes prone to doing with Moonho, but he does ask a lot of questions in an attempt to better understand and appreciate her work.
- Kim Soyun: Saebyeok quickly learns to better apprecate Soyun. While he’d appreciated her before, he’d had no idea how much work she did before Hanbyul stepped in, and he makes sure to compliment her appropriately. Like with Hanbyul, he asks questions. But unlike with Hanbyul, he makes suggestions and asks more about why his concept is one thing over another. He’s curious, and he wants to have a little hand in how he’s portrays and what he shows to the people around him.
- Lee Gongpil: If they were a little awkward before, they’re even more awkward now. More aware now than before, Saebyeok simply doesn’t know what to say to Gongpil. Sitting still for any length fo time still bothers him. Being quiet still bothers him. Doing nothing definitely bothers him a lot. So unless he needs to be around Gongpil, Saebyeok avoids him and all awkward discussions.
- Jang Sangchul: If his relationship with Sangchul was civil at best before, his relationship after that is....a mess. Sangchul may deserve his respect as a dancer, but he’s kind of a jerk, and he doesn’t treat the other staff and members well, and he’s only in it for the money, and it’s about so much more than that. Especialy after the glitches and errors that bring the boys of Duality so much closer to human. Like with Gongpil, Saebyeok avoids Sangchul as much as possible, only spending any sort of time with him when there’s at least one other member of Duality there as a buffer.
Any other information I should know?
“You are the only you there is, the only you that will ever be. You are important, and you matter. The world may tell you otherwise. The world will tell you exactly what it thinks is important. It will tell you that you need to look a certain way, behave a certain way, think a certain way. It’s up to you to take a step back and tell the world exactly what is really important: you. Don’t let the world make you hard. Don’t let the pain make you hate. Don’t lose that spark that lights up your eyes. Believe that there is still good in the world and that it is still a beautiful place.”
“What if it’s not enough? We saved Jiae. We were there for her without ever knowing it, and we saved her somehow. I’m sure we’re there for others, too. I’m sure we’ve saved others from their dark places. But what if it’s not enough? What about the people that live further away, the ones that can’t visit when we’re in our boxes? And what happens after we’re...you know. Duality, we’re the next big thing, but there’s always another ‘next big thing’ and there’s going to be something after us. Before this, before Duality, there were dedicated fans that followed groups from debut to disbandment, and they continued as each member branched off to do their own thing. What happens when Duality is done, when we’ve been....retired. When all our fans can’t follow us any more because we’re not there any more?”
Name: Seo "Siri" Siryung
FC: Oh My Girl's Mimi
Age: 25
Personality:
Bold, bright, and beautiful, Siryung is the sort of girl that people joke about being afraid to look at. “She burns like the sun,” they say with a laugh, some shielding their eyes as if the sun is glaring into their eyes, others turning their head as if to avoid being blinded. And they’re not lying. She’s vibrant and energetic, with a sunny personality and demeanor that some find alluring and want to bask in while others think it almost too much, afraid to be burned or blinded for looking or being too close for too long. She’s always on the go, much like Saebyeok in that she never sits still or stops moving. When she’s not at work, she’s outdoors omewhere, jogging or running, walking a beach or swimming in the ocean, hiking a trail or climbing. She functions best in the outdoors, out with her golden lab Daisy and exploring the world that lies before her just to be conquered.
But where Siryung is bright and beautiful, she’s also stubborn and practical, honest in a way that is almost cruel, and almost bitterly skeptical of people. They always leave, after all, and they can't be trusted. It can make it hard to get along with other people, particularly the more sensitive ones. She likes to be honest, prefers the truth, and while she has nothing against anyone, Siryung isn’t the sort so sugercoat something. For anyone. For any reason. How she handles those situations is in a practical manner, which can be good, but also sometimes removes the human aspect of things. She’s accused of being cold, of aloof, of rufusing to let people in. And they’re right. She is. She’s had too many people come and go in her life, and she’s reluctant to let anyone else get that close again.
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How did your character find a friend in this person?
Siryung is something of a fan, one that came across Saebyeok in his box one day before his human awakening while she was out for a run with Daisy. She was reluctant at first, confused by the boy in the boy -- the boy of code in the box -- but eventually warmed up to at least the concept. She’d heard of Duality, after all. And as strange as the idea was, she had to admit it was interesting. In the weeks that followed, Siryung met Saebyeok again a couple different times. Each time, Saebyeok greated her like he would any other fan. He remembered her, but only to a degree. And then, some weeks after their first meeting, she and Daisy stopped outside of his box, and he greeted her by name.
“Siryung. Hey. Hi. How are you?”
Siryung is good with patterns. She likes patterns. Puzzles to solve. She likes them, and despitenot knowing Saebyeok well at all, she could see a shift in his pattern. And she was...curious. Computers and ther programs, code, they don’t just change. Saebyeok can’t just....change. It’s her interest that draws her in, and that interest keeps there there long after the usual crowd dissipates, watching Saebyeok from close and afar before, at long last, she asks.
“What happened?”
“I saved someone’s life.”
Saebyeok sounds strange. Empty. Hollow. Carved out. He sounds like there’s something missing from him. And Siryung knows that feeling. But she doesn’t know why he sounds so broke over it. (And maybe curiosity should be considered her greatest vice.) She asks, pushes a little here, nudges there, wheedles until Saebyeok caves and confesses it all.
What made your character know he could rely on them?
Well, she didn’t call him crazy, which is always nice. Beneficial. He’s not crazy even though he thinks he might be. And he’s not broken, either. But he thinks he probably is. Saebyeok can’t call Siryung a friend yet, but this is the first step toward that end. When Siryung comes back a week or so later, Saebyeok is still quiet, hollowed out, but not around the fans. It’s in those quiet moments in between when he thinks no one is watching. His smiles droops a little, his expression hollows out.
Siryung approaches. Saebyeok smiles.
“What happened?”
Saebyeok has to make a split second decision. Siryung sees it. She sees him war with himself. She sees him cave.
He looks around, as if he’s trying to make sure now one is watching, then tells her in a hushed voice about the girl he saved, the one he hasn’t seen since, and all the girls (and boys) he wonders if he failed. (Jiae. Did he fail Jiae? In the end, did he fail Jiae?)
Rather than judging him, Siryung studies Saebyeok, looking for any sort of fault, any sort of insecurity, any lie within his tale. Then she smiles. “Programs don’t just spontaneously change their programming. Code doesn’t change unless it’s changed by an outside force, either by a person, an error, or a glitch.”
“What am I?
“I don’t know. But there’s nothing wrong with that. You seem more real now. More personable. Humans make mistakes. Humans have errors and faults. Don’t you want to be human?”
“I.... I don’t know.”
Saebyeok doesn’t know what she’s asking. He doesn’t know what to say. But that’s okay, because Siryung seems to understand. And while she doesn’t always get along best with humans in general, Saebyeok’s penchant for honesty and his utter dedication to his cause wins her over. She stays. She stays when Saebyeok expects her to leave. And she walks him through the thoughts in his head. And then, after it all, she comes back the next day to talk more.
All it takes is a couple weeks of this behavior before Saebyeok begins to see Siryung as not just a bright spot in his life, or a fan, but as someone reliable, someone he could confide in and (however theoretically) lean upon.
What does your character rely on this person for?
Over the weeks that follow their meeting, Saebyeok comes to see Siryung as not a fan, but as a friend and confidant. Unlike the staff and programmers that work with Duality, she doesn’t seem interested in them. She listens to their music sometimes, but she’s not a hardcore, die hard fan. She doesn’t have a bias. She has better things to do with her life than obsess over a boy. (Not to mention a coded boy.) She could turn him in, but what would she gain? She’s very practical about it, and explains it to him one day just like that: sure, she could, but why?
Siryung offers Saebyeok a level head, an outsider view on the whole thing. She’s not into the scene much at all, and she can tall him honestly whether she thinks he’s doing enough or too much, whether he’s coming across a s more and more human or whether he’s behaving like...like code, again, like a program. When he has doubts, she walks him through them. When he has questions he doesn’t feel comfortable telling or asking others, she answers them.
In return, she likes Saebyeok’s optimism, his outlook. She likes the way he looks at people afterward when his head is clear, when he tells a young fan that he likes her makeup (she’d applied it herself), or when he tells another fan that she’s beautiful (she has no hair, and the pink ribbon on her shirt flutters in the breeze), or when he waits with the child that lost her mother in the crowd as cops look for the mising parent.
She likes looking at him and being seen. He’s not blinded by her, he doesn’t look away. She’s normal, not a force of nature. And if she has any say in the matter, he won’t be leaving any time soon, either.
What do you feel their relationship might be by the end of the story?
They’ll be good friends, perhaps even close friends. Siryung will be Saebyeok’s confidant, the first person he goes to when he’s got something on his mind. Saebyeok will be her guiding light to a more optimistic approach. He soothes her roughened edges and he makes her believe that maybe, possibly, just sometimes, things really do end up working out in the end.
Is there anything your character worries about regarding this person?
Saebyeok has that constant fear that Siryung may need help, but that he’ll miss it somehow and then she’ll be gone. But he also knows that it’s incredibly unlikely, because Siryung is bold and blunt enough that if she needs help, she’s going to talk well tell him as much. But that’s a general fear, somehoe not ebing enough, and it’s something Siryung is slowly working on
Saebyeok also worries about leaving her. He knows she’s been left behind before, and an increasingly large part of himself worries that he might do the same to her one day. Not intentionally, of course, never intentionally, but because he has no choice. He’s worried. And considering hsi nature, it’s justifiable.
Later, after finding out thats Siryung is a waitress, but that she’d rather be outside on the move, he worries that maybe she’s not doing enough for herself. He worries that she’s squandering her potential by not looking for a better job, byt not traveling, by not giving herself more opportunities to find a career she likes doing something she enjoys or something that allows her to be outside. This is a concern that he never dares to bring up to her, however.
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