☉ BONG CHUL IS AT PEARL CENTER (open to collabs)
his last day.
not that anyone knew, of course. besides the tailor and her family, the townsfolk were none the wiser. to them it was just an ordinary tuesday. unsurprisngly, chul's big mouth had steered him close to trouble more than once but euida was always there to cover for him. she kept his secret with a sharp elbow and tongue. the bruises on his side served to remind him that his secret lay in the hands of a tiny girl with a scary amount of strength. it hurt his pride.
he was lucky to have her though. both her and her family. but that was just it: they were her family. it didn't matter that he felt more at home with them than jisub and munhee; didn't matter that they made him feel whole opposed to a shard of something that wasn't him. they weren't his family and no amount of superficial praying could change that.
his family was suffocating him. that's why it was his last day and why they weren't there to share it with him.
"what're you going to do without me?" he questioned. his voice cut through the uncomfortable silence that had settled between them. though the wind was harsh and made it difficult to fully understand the words coming from his mouth, somehow they heard anyway. they always did.
"get some peace and quiet, probably," euida chirped. mrs oh hummed in agreement.
"please. you love me," he rolled his eyes, "whose trousers are you going to alter every day now?"
the idle chatter stopped while the gale was relentless still. the silence had always been comfortable between them, but there was something new and unforgiving in this particular quiet. he coughed as the taxi pulled up by the shop. the old man beckoned him from inside.
he turned to look at the oh's, prepared to avoid any physical affection - he knew it would only make him stay. there were things to be said, but no words at his aid. it was now, or he would spend all of eternity trying to sum up his feelings.
"be good, kid," mister oh spoke, voice gruff with a hint of something else.
euida pressed his neon pink suitcase into his hand as he opened the door of the taxi. the smile on her face was rigid, forced. it made chul frown.
"always am, sir."
not that anyone knew, of course. besides the tailor and her family, the townsfolk were none the wiser. to them it was just an ordinary tuesday. unsurprisngly, chul's big mouth had steered him close to trouble more than once but euida was always there to cover for him. she kept his secret with a sharp elbow and tongue. the bruises on his side served to remind him that his secret lay in the hands of a tiny girl with a scary amount of strength. it hurt his pride.
he was lucky to have her though. both her and her family. but that was just it: they were her family. it didn't matter that he felt more at home with them than jisub and munhee; didn't matter that they made him feel whole opposed to a shard of something that wasn't him. they weren't his family and no amount of superficial praying could change that.
his family was suffocating him. that's why it was his last day and why they weren't there to share it with him.
"what're you going to do without me?" he questioned. his voice cut through the uncomfortable silence that had settled between them. though the wind was harsh and made it difficult to fully understand the words coming from his mouth, somehow they heard anyway. they always did.
"get some peace and quiet, probably," euida chirped. mrs oh hummed in agreement.
"please. you love me," he rolled his eyes, "whose trousers are you going to alter every day now?"
the idle chatter stopped while the gale was relentless still. the silence had always been comfortable between them, but there was something new and unforgiving in this particular quiet. he coughed as the taxi pulled up by the shop. the old man beckoned him from inside.
he turned to look at the oh's, prepared to avoid any physical affection - he knew it would only make him stay. there were things to be said, but no words at his aid. it was now, or he would spend all of eternity trying to sum up his feelings.
"be good, kid," mister oh spoke, voice gruff with a hint of something else.
euida pressed his neon pink suitcase into his hand as he opened the door of the taxi. the smile on her face was rigid, forced. it made chul frown.
"always am, sir."
the convienence store's
봉출
FULL NAME bong chul.
OTHER NAMES
big foot a teasing nickname used by his family. they rarely ever use his actual name unless they're discussing the tragic story of how it came to be. overall, he dislikes the nickname but hasn't got the energy to complain about it. the nickname is used so publicly and frequently, that some of the younger people of simdong genuinely believe it's his name.
chulhee an embarrassing reminder of what his real name is, used by his sister. the family had planned on keeping the mistake away from other ears, but nari had other plans and loves to retell the story to anyone who will listen. which is mostly everybody.
big foot a teasing nickname used by his family. they rarely ever use his actual name unless they're discussing the tragic story of how it came to be. overall, he dislikes the nickname but hasn't got the energy to complain about it. the nickname is used so publicly and frequently, that some of the younger people of simdong genuinely believe it's his name.
chulhee an embarrassing reminder of what his real name is, used by his sister. the family had planned on keeping the mistake away from other ears, but nari had other plans and loves to retell the story to anyone who will listen. which is mostly everybody.
froggy what the main group call him as when he returns to simdong, he has bright green hair. though they call him froggy due to the colour, they also comment on how the colour and cut of his hair resembles a tennis ball.
BIRTHDATE 0315, 23.
ETHNICITY korean.
GENDER cis male.
UALITY unsure.
FACECLAIM jung wooseok.
STATURE 191cm, 70kg.
APPEARANCE chul has very bold features. with wide set eyes, ample lips and a strong nose - initially, many would be cautious of him. at first glance, his sharp gaze paired with his tall stature, one might assume he had bad intentions. right up until he cracks a smile. then his features become quite soft, and suddenly all of his sharp edges seem blunt in comparison.
he stands out amongst the other simdong residents, especially when he returns. despite the mellow temperatures, chul is always spotted beneath heaps of clothing. this leads to his complexion being strangely paler than the others. however, tan is scattered across his hands and arms. this is because of the time he spends outside the store, setting up decorations and other welcoming things. his strange skin is comforted by rotating colours in his hair. he rarely keeps a colour longer than a month, which means his hair is fried to gods. if you touch his hair, it probably cracks. when he returns, it is lime green and shaven down. but he does eventually dye it a natural colour because nobody can solve the mystery of simdong with him looking like a tennis ball.
he stands out amongst the other simdong residents, especially when he returns. despite the mellow temperatures, chul is always spotted beneath heaps of clothing. this leads to his complexion being strangely paler than the others. however, tan is scattered across his hands and arms. this is because of the time he spends outside the store, setting up decorations and other welcoming things. his strange skin is comforted by rotating colours in his hair. he rarely keeps a colour longer than a month, which means his hair is fried to gods. if you touch his hair, it probably cracks. when he returns, it is lime green and shaven down. but he does eventually dye it a natural colour because nobody can solve the mystery of simdong with him looking like a tennis ball.
STYLE click here to open.
PERSONALITY
ESFP-A. gryffindor, 7w8.
"man i don't know-- i just work here."
witty, pessimistic-optimist, dramatic, enthusiastic, blunt, individual, loyal, realistic, persuasive, clumsy, cowardly, paranoid, loud, dumb, impulsive.
a lot of simdong residents changed after they left the small town. which makes sense, what with the change in both scenery and way of life. it was pretty impossible to not rotate with the crashing seas. some people changed for the better, others not so much, while some changed and then changed again. otherwise, they float in the small space between one extreme and the other - changing some for good, some for bad. that's the space chul occupies. when he returns to his hometown, he is both the same and the opposite person he was when he left. to his childhood friends, that was a miracle in itself that impressionable chul had somehow managed to come back to them sane. to others, such as his family, it was a disappointing outcome. that their son did not come back a changed man, someone who was ready to be what they wished him to be. how selfish of chul to not warp himself to fit his parents unreasonable desires. no matter. the bong chul that returned had an air of maturity to him. something had happened in busan. so why was he back? is there unfinished business? is there things left unsaid that bother him at night?
ideally, chul just wants to show people how much he's changed. for years, he's been the same old boy that everyone had always known. sometimes he had blue hair, sometimes pink - but his personality was an unwavering constant. the mere concept of returning to simdong as, dare he says, a better person was almost foreign. most of his core values and traits remained, but by just looking at him, you could tell there was more there than before. where previously he lacked drive and belief - there now seemed to be handfuls. chul used to be someone whose only form of defending himself, was doing something bizarre that would make his mother frown. something that was stupid and embarrassing, not only to his family but to him too. it seemed that now, he had learned a thing or two about himself and about how he would allow himself to be treated. he was not here to become a mockery again, he was here because simdong was home despite it all. and home doesn't change even when the occupants do.
chul would still consider himself one of the funniest residents. of course, he matured and grew into his own skin - but he'd be damned if he let his hilarity slip through the cracks in the process. he'd refer to simdong's collective humour as 'a sad, sad widow who shares minion memes and glasses of wine,' and in his attempt to liven up the dead humour, he just so happens to get on a few nerves. well, more than a few. but mostly he cheers people up with his jokes, usually the people open to change. he doesn't blame the stricter residents because change didn't come easy to him either. despite his less than satisfactory timing, chul is an expert at dropping jokes that take peoples mind off of things. when his peers were stressed about upcoming exams, he knew what to say to give them peace even for a few moments. when euida was in a creative stump, he knew what to say to bring the laughter back around. sometimes however, chul's jokes causes people to think. his comments can stir something uncomfortable in people, something foreign and ignored.
a lot of chul's personality centers on his complete lack of courage. though in the right moment, for the right people - he may perform an act of true fearlessness. loyal to the people he loves even in the face of terror, he would definetely cry afterwards though. in a horror movie situation, he's the worst person to have by your side. though his stature may give reason to be intimidated, as soon as you see him making stupid faces behind his friends backs - you'd no longer feel threatened. he's pretty much a puppy in a human body. a puppy who used to have no hope, no filter and no courage - but now has a little bit of hope, no filter and a smidge of courage. oh how they grow up so fast. still, he is more a ghosts dream than its nightmare. his paranoia and impulse to freak out leaves him a less than ideal companion for the events occuring in simdong. but there is more development to take place. though you'd still be shocked at the volumes his low voice can reach when yugyeong appears out of nowhere.
coming back to simdong, chul is free of the external influences that once hung over his head like a shadow. the rebellion he resorted to, not only to defy his parents but to just get them to see him, was a thing of the past. somewhere along the line, he had lost faith in them coming around and so he stopped putting effort into forcing something. the traits that stayed with him through it all, had taken on a different shape. his pessimism for life in general became a little more optimistic. not totally, of course. that was expecting miracles. but his outlook on life was a little more positive, even if he was convinced he was dying every time he so much as did too much cardio. being on his own had given him the opportunity to become someone honest and true: someone with genuine passion. in the past, chul had been a hard person to befriend because he lacked passion for anything except gossiping in attempt to ignore his situation. he was outwardly insensitive because he was inwardly sensitive. in the city, he spent time and effort on himself. free from the shackles of his family and therefore free to grow on his own terms.
chul only hopes now, coming back, that people can see the progress he's made and where disconection was prior, is now connection. bong chul is returning to sought right where he made wrong and to, above all, be himself. his true self.
ESFP-A. gryffindor, 7w8.
"man i don't know-- i just work here."
witty, pessimistic-optimist, dramatic, enthusiastic, blunt, individual, loyal, realistic, persuasive, clumsy, cowardly, paranoid, loud, dumb, impulsive.
a lot of simdong residents changed after they left the small town. which makes sense, what with the change in both scenery and way of life. it was pretty impossible to not rotate with the crashing seas. some people changed for the better, others not so much, while some changed and then changed again. otherwise, they float in the small space between one extreme and the other - changing some for good, some for bad. that's the space chul occupies. when he returns to his hometown, he is both the same and the opposite person he was when he left. to his childhood friends, that was a miracle in itself that impressionable chul had somehow managed to come back to them sane. to others, such as his family, it was a disappointing outcome. that their son did not come back a changed man, someone who was ready to be what they wished him to be. how selfish of chul to not warp himself to fit his parents unreasonable desires. no matter. the bong chul that returned had an air of maturity to him. something had happened in busan. so why was he back? is there unfinished business? is there things left unsaid that bother him at night?
ideally, chul just wants to show people how much he's changed. for years, he's been the same old boy that everyone had always known. sometimes he had blue hair, sometimes pink - but his personality was an unwavering constant. the mere concept of returning to simdong as, dare he says, a better person was almost foreign. most of his core values and traits remained, but by just looking at him, you could tell there was more there than before. where previously he lacked drive and belief - there now seemed to be handfuls. chul used to be someone whose only form of defending himself, was doing something bizarre that would make his mother frown. something that was stupid and embarrassing, not only to his family but to him too. it seemed that now, he had learned a thing or two about himself and about how he would allow himself to be treated. he was not here to become a mockery again, he was here because simdong was home despite it all. and home doesn't change even when the occupants do.
chul would still consider himself one of the funniest residents. of course, he matured and grew into his own skin - but he'd be damned if he let his hilarity slip through the cracks in the process. he'd refer to simdong's collective humour as 'a sad, sad widow who shares minion memes and glasses of wine,' and in his attempt to liven up the dead humour, he just so happens to get on a few nerves. well, more than a few. but mostly he cheers people up with his jokes, usually the people open to change. he doesn't blame the stricter residents because change didn't come easy to him either. despite his less than satisfactory timing, chul is an expert at dropping jokes that take peoples mind off of things. when his peers were stressed about upcoming exams, he knew what to say to give them peace even for a few moments. when euida was in a creative stump, he knew what to say to bring the laughter back around. sometimes however, chul's jokes causes people to think. his comments can stir something uncomfortable in people, something foreign and ignored.
a lot of chul's personality centers on his complete lack of courage. though in the right moment, for the right people - he may perform an act of true fearlessness. loyal to the people he loves even in the face of terror, he would definetely cry afterwards though. in a horror movie situation, he's the worst person to have by your side. though his stature may give reason to be intimidated, as soon as you see him making stupid faces behind his friends backs - you'd no longer feel threatened. he's pretty much a puppy in a human body. a puppy who used to have no hope, no filter and no courage - but now has a little bit of hope, no filter and a smidge of courage. oh how they grow up so fast. still, he is more a ghosts dream than its nightmare. his paranoia and impulse to freak out leaves him a less than ideal companion for the events occuring in simdong. but there is more development to take place. though you'd still be shocked at the volumes his low voice can reach when yugyeong appears out of nowhere.
coming back to simdong, chul is free of the external influences that once hung over his head like a shadow. the rebellion he resorted to, not only to defy his parents but to just get them to see him, was a thing of the past. somewhere along the line, he had lost faith in them coming around and so he stopped putting effort into forcing something. the traits that stayed with him through it all, had taken on a different shape. his pessimism for life in general became a little more optimistic. not totally, of course. that was expecting miracles. but his outlook on life was a little more positive, even if he was convinced he was dying every time he so much as did too much cardio. being on his own had given him the opportunity to become someone honest and true: someone with genuine passion. in the past, chul had been a hard person to befriend because he lacked passion for anything except gossiping in attempt to ignore his situation. he was outwardly insensitive because he was inwardly sensitive. in the city, he spent time and effort on himself. free from the shackles of his family and therefore free to grow on his own terms.
chul only hopes now, coming back, that people can see the progress he's made and where disconection was prior, is now connection. bong chul is returning to sought right where he made wrong and to, above all, be himself. his true self.
BACKGROUND
the bong family.
" bong jisub, bong munhee, bong chul, bong nari "
tw: neglect.
chul is the first born of the family and with that title came the responsibility of running the convienence store. the first born son was expected to inherit the family business when the parents were well into old age. the children that came after were free to do as they like, tradition pretty much stopped at the first child. so while chul had a heavy weight on his shoulders from a young age, his sister who came along four years later had no such thing. as he grew, he watched from the sidelines as his parents flocked around his sister. he heard passing conversations between his parents and neighbours about nari's potential. little chul would wait by the half-wall, straining to hear the topic shift to him. but it never did. his name was only ever brought up when his parents talked about retiring - not that he knew what the word meant at the time. and for a while, the convienence store fascinated him. he trusted his parents wholeheartedly as a child, so he believed that the grand scheme of things were to benefit him and not to benefit the business.
as he aged, chul realised otherwise and understood a lot more. firstly, he hated math. that was the important thing he understood. the second thing, was that the dynamic of the family was a little unfair. nari was destined for great thing and chul? chul was destined to stock shelves that he owned. he couldn't help but feel resentful as his sister basked in the attention. like chul might have done if he were her, she never attempted to steer the conversation towards him. never tried to convince her parents to see the potential in chul too. so in his frustration, he signed up for every instrumental class he could find and joined every after-school club he'd heard of. he spent hours upon hours learning new skills and new information, then spent more hours practicing those skills and revising the information. when he got gold stars on his tests, he ran home to proudly shove the paper under his parents' nose. they barely looked. when he got the lead in the school performance, he made sure his parents had front row seats. they never came.
as a child, he didn't understand what he was doing wrong. why after all the effort he had put in to be excellent, that his parents didn't seem to care? why did nari finishing her times tables mean more than chul successfuly playing a violin? chul grew more jealous as the days went by. he wanted to be more like nari who was without blemish, without ruin. his sister who always got the affection and attention that chul craved, would have done anything for. he felt so small in comparison, which was pathetically ironic considering he towered over her even at a young age. chul felt cornered, attacked and mistreated. so his response to this was to rebel. he became defiant, irresponsible and resentful. he brought shame to his family, and embarrassment. many a time did his parents have to apologise for his behaviour. though it got him attention, he never got affection. where nari could only do right, chul could only do wrong. the residents of simdong had no clue of the favouritism being shown behind closed doors.
the lack of passion and motivation began with his realisation that nothing he could do would ever measure to nari. bong nari, who could balance a fork on her nose and win a nobel prize. he hated her. and then he hated himself for hating her because despite her snark and arrogance, she was still his sister. but how much was family worth? he shouldn't have pondered such thoughts at his age, but he couldn't help it. when he had nothing to look forward to, it was hard to look at all.
when the tailor's family came along, they were like water droplets to a dehydrated man. he had known them since he was little, just like he had known everyone in simdong. never had he spoken to them much, it was always his parents doing the talking and the business of fixing holes in his shirts only to save face. he liked the tailor's little girl, euida. he had seen her around school, and he liked her playful nature. she felt familiar to him even before he had wormed his way into her life. and that he did. desperate for friendship, he put himself on the girls radar until eventually she stopped him as he was leaving school. with an insistent hand in his own, she tugged him all the way to her family's shop and forced him onto the seat. her mother came out and immediately went to work on the holes in his sweater as the little girl sat smugly. and that's how it started. the story of a little (well not really) boy with holes in his clothes and a little girl with the tools to fix it.
after finding comfort in the oh family, chul spent more and more time in their shop than anywhere else. when he was asked to work, he would oblige and begrudgingly leave his designated spot curled up near euida's mother working away. but as soon as his shifts finished, he was right back at the shop. he spent so much time there that eventually euida sat him down and forced him to let her teach him about sewing his own clothes. at first, his attempts were dreadful. discoloured patches over blown holes that made the entire family wince. really dreadful work on the teenagers part. he for the better part of his teenage years, until eventually the practice worked. he closed the hole in his shorts and when he showed it to mrs oh, she asked if euida had done it for him. it was with great pride that he informed her otherwise.
introducing chul to different areas of tailoring, the boy was enamoured by it all. even when he would fumble the fabrics and prick himself with the sewing needle, he still found excitement in it. euida sometimes wondered when he started coming to the shop to sew, instead of to see her. it was a mix of both, sometimes a little more to do with the tailoring. as he learned more and more about the trade, he found himself imagining his future. and for the first time, he saw his future as bright and full of promise. in his dreams, he was doing something with clothes. sometimes fixing them, sometimes making them from scratch. occasionally he would be working with jewellery. it gave him hope that he could make something of himself. but with every wishful thought, his parents crushed beneath their feet. shifts with long hours covered by only him, harsh business responsibilites being left to his overlooking: all while his parents took nari out to sea. chul wouldn't have wanted to go out there anyways, but he still took offence when he was left behind.
it didn't take long for chul to come to a conclusion: so long as he stayed in simdong, he would never grow. he could run away to the tailor shop all he liked, but it wouldn't get rid of his family problem. plus, euida's parents had admitted that if he wanted to make a career out of clothes - then he would need to look and go beyond their small town. and that's what he did. with his lackluster grades, he managed to get together enough money for his first year at a university in seoul. sungkyunkwan university. when that fell into place, he didn't waste anymore time in simdong. only letting the tailors know of his plan, he left shortly in the autumn of 2017.
LIFESTYLE
chul made a life of his own in seoul. after enrolling in the fashion design course in university, he had the leftover funds to rent himself a small apartment nearby. it was less than ideal, truthfully. with peeling wallaper, moulding corners and a fridge that's light was broken. he couldn't afford to be picky though, as before he had even started university - he was worrying about how he would afford the rest of the years. instead of settling down and getting comfortable before he was thrown into studying, he managed to secure himself a job delivering food. the shifts were all late into the evening, so he could still attend his lectures. the only drawback was that since he didn't have a car, he cycled his way between deliveries. he didn't complain since he was getting paid, but the dull ache in his thighs certainly did complain.
his first two semesters were fine. he had to work a little harder than his peers since his ability to understand and perform was slightly behind - but his effort and dedication helped him along the way. though his days were filled with lectures, studying and then work - chul felt more free than he had in a long time. he was tiring himself out, but it was doing things he had chose to do. that made the situation a little better. a little less bittersweet when he came to the second year and was lacking the money for both semesters. paying for the first semester, chul couldn't focus properly since he was so worried about where his next paycheck would get him. his diet consisted of microwavable meals. he showered in freezing water. the money in his pocket had to go towards keeping himself alive, which meant less money going to paying for his schooling.
it was a difficult situation for chul. he was enjoying university, and he loved what he was learning about. when his professors talked about the future, he saw himself with his own little shop - fixing and bettering clothes for people at an affordable cost. he saw himself helping people with the kindness and love that he received from the oh's. but how far could he get towards that dream with only three semesters out of eight? on the other hand, if he continued to attend university then his meals would get smaller, his rent debt would grow. the delivery job paid but it didn't pay him enough to get him through university healthily. eventually he picked up two more jobs on top of his current workload. one at a 24/7 convienence store (laugh. you know you want to) and another as a cleaner at a high school. he had next to no time for himself. the hours he didn't work, he was studying. the hours he wasn't studying, he was working. his meals got smaller, not because of money, but because he never had time to finish a larger one.
he managed to get that second semester. but by the time he'd done that, he was running on fumes. he was stuck in a difficult situation in which he couldn't see a way out of. he so badly wanted to graduate, but everything was a stretch. in the months of his break before the year started up again, he got the call from his mother. if things hadn't been so tough, he might've declined. but things were tough, so he accepted and returned to simdong for a break that would hopefully inspire the same motivation into him again.
the bong family.
" bong jisub, bong munhee, bong chul, bong nari "
tw: neglect.
chul is the first born of the family and with that title came the responsibility of running the convienence store. the first born son was expected to inherit the family business when the parents were well into old age. the children that came after were free to do as they like, tradition pretty much stopped at the first child. so while chul had a heavy weight on his shoulders from a young age, his sister who came along four years later had no such thing. as he grew, he watched from the sidelines as his parents flocked around his sister. he heard passing conversations between his parents and neighbours about nari's potential. little chul would wait by the half-wall, straining to hear the topic shift to him. but it never did. his name was only ever brought up when his parents talked about retiring - not that he knew what the word meant at the time. and for a while, the convienence store fascinated him. he trusted his parents wholeheartedly as a child, so he believed that the grand scheme of things were to benefit him and not to benefit the business.
as he aged, chul realised otherwise and understood a lot more. firstly, he hated math. that was the important thing he understood. the second thing, was that the dynamic of the family was a little unfair. nari was destined for great thing and chul? chul was destined to stock shelves that he owned. he couldn't help but feel resentful as his sister basked in the attention. like chul might have done if he were her, she never attempted to steer the conversation towards him. never tried to convince her parents to see the potential in chul too. so in his frustration, he signed up for every instrumental class he could find and joined every after-school club he'd heard of. he spent hours upon hours learning new skills and new information, then spent more hours practicing those skills and revising the information. when he got gold stars on his tests, he ran home to proudly shove the paper under his parents' nose. they barely looked. when he got the lead in the school performance, he made sure his parents had front row seats. they never came.
as a child, he didn't understand what he was doing wrong. why after all the effort he had put in to be excellent, that his parents didn't seem to care? why did nari finishing her times tables mean more than chul successfuly playing a violin? chul grew more jealous as the days went by. he wanted to be more like nari who was without blemish, without ruin. his sister who always got the affection and attention that chul craved, would have done anything for. he felt so small in comparison, which was pathetically ironic considering he towered over her even at a young age. chul felt cornered, attacked and mistreated. so his response to this was to rebel. he became defiant, irresponsible and resentful. he brought shame to his family, and embarrassment. many a time did his parents have to apologise for his behaviour. though it got him attention, he never got affection. where nari could only do right, chul could only do wrong. the residents of simdong had no clue of the favouritism being shown behind closed doors.
the lack of passion and motivation began with his realisation that nothing he could do would ever measure to nari. bong nari, who could balance a fork on her nose and win a nobel prize. he hated her. and then he hated himself for hating her because despite her snark and arrogance, she was still his sister. but how much was family worth? he shouldn't have pondered such thoughts at his age, but he couldn't help it. when he had nothing to look forward to, it was hard to look at all.
when the tailor's family came along, they were like water droplets to a dehydrated man. he had known them since he was little, just like he had known everyone in simdong. never had he spoken to them much, it was always his parents doing the talking and the business of fixing holes in his shirts only to save face. he liked the tailor's little girl, euida. he had seen her around school, and he liked her playful nature. she felt familiar to him even before he had wormed his way into her life. and that he did. desperate for friendship, he put himself on the girls radar until eventually she stopped him as he was leaving school. with an insistent hand in his own, she tugged him all the way to her family's shop and forced him onto the seat. her mother came out and immediately went to work on the holes in his sweater as the little girl sat smugly. and that's how it started. the story of a little (well not really) boy with holes in his clothes and a little girl with the tools to fix it.
after finding comfort in the oh family, chul spent more and more time in their shop than anywhere else. when he was asked to work, he would oblige and begrudgingly leave his designated spot curled up near euida's mother working away. but as soon as his shifts finished, he was right back at the shop. he spent so much time there that eventually euida sat him down and forced him to let her teach him about sewing his own clothes. at first, his attempts were dreadful. discoloured patches over blown holes that made the entire family wince. really dreadful work on the teenagers part. he for the better part of his teenage years, until eventually the practice worked. he closed the hole in his shorts and when he showed it to mrs oh, she asked if euida had done it for him. it was with great pride that he informed her otherwise.
introducing chul to different areas of tailoring, the boy was enamoured by it all. even when he would fumble the fabrics and prick himself with the sewing needle, he still found excitement in it. euida sometimes wondered when he started coming to the shop to sew, instead of to see her. it was a mix of both, sometimes a little more to do with the tailoring. as he learned more and more about the trade, he found himself imagining his future. and for the first time, he saw his future as bright and full of promise. in his dreams, he was doing something with clothes. sometimes fixing them, sometimes making them from scratch. occasionally he would be working with jewellery. it gave him hope that he could make something of himself. but with every wishful thought, his parents crushed beneath their feet. shifts with long hours covered by only him, harsh business responsibilites being left to his overlooking: all while his parents took nari out to sea. chul wouldn't have wanted to go out there anyways, but he still took offence when he was left behind.
it didn't take long for chul to come to a conclusion: so long as he stayed in simdong, he would never grow. he could run away to the tailor shop all he liked, but it wouldn't get rid of his family problem. plus, euida's parents had admitted that if he wanted to make a career out of clothes - then he would need to look and go beyond their small town. and that's what he did. with his lackluster grades, he managed to get together enough money for his first year at a university in seoul. sungkyunkwan university. when that fell into place, he didn't waste anymore time in simdong. only letting the tailors know of his plan, he left shortly in the autumn of 2017.
LIFESTYLE
chul made a life of his own in seoul. after enrolling in the fashion design course in university, he had the leftover funds to rent himself a small apartment nearby. it was less than ideal, truthfully. with peeling wallaper, moulding corners and a fridge that's light was broken. he couldn't afford to be picky though, as before he had even started university - he was worrying about how he would afford the rest of the years. instead of settling down and getting comfortable before he was thrown into studying, he managed to secure himself a job delivering food. the shifts were all late into the evening, so he could still attend his lectures. the only drawback was that since he didn't have a car, he cycled his way between deliveries. he didn't complain since he was getting paid, but the dull ache in his thighs certainly did complain.
his first two semesters were fine. he had to work a little harder than his peers since his ability to understand and perform was slightly behind - but his effort and dedication helped him along the way. though his days were filled with lectures, studying and then work - chul felt more free than he had in a long time. he was tiring himself out, but it was doing things he had chose to do. that made the situation a little better. a little less bittersweet when he came to the second year and was lacking the money for both semesters. paying for the first semester, chul couldn't focus properly since he was so worried about where his next paycheck would get him. his diet consisted of microwavable meals. he showered in freezing water. the money in his pocket had to go towards keeping himself alive, which meant less money going to paying for his schooling.
it was a difficult situation for chul. he was enjoying university, and he loved what he was learning about. when his professors talked about the future, he saw himself with his own little shop - fixing and bettering clothes for people at an affordable cost. he saw himself helping people with the kindness and love that he received from the oh's. but how far could he get towards that dream with only three semesters out of eight? on the other hand, if he continued to attend university then his meals would get smaller, his rent debt would grow. the delivery job paid but it didn't pay him enough to get him through university healthily. eventually he picked up two more jobs on top of his current workload. one at a 24/7 convienence store (laugh. you know you want to) and another as a cleaner at a high school. he had next to no time for himself. the hours he didn't work, he was studying. the hours he wasn't studying, he was working. his meals got smaller, not because of money, but because he never had time to finish a larger one.
he managed to get that second semester. but by the time he'd done that, he was running on fumes. he was stuck in a difficult situation in which he couldn't see a way out of. he so badly wanted to graduate, but everything was a stretch. in the months of his break before the year started up again, he got the call from his mother. if things hadn't been so tough, he might've declined. but things were tough, so he accepted and returned to simdong for a break that would hopefully inspire the same motivation into him again.
TRIVIA fayre says: references for chul are pete davidson, stiles stilinski, olaf and klaus hargreeves. especially jesper fahey! <3
- his limbs are so unusually long, that he always has to get the clothes he buys fixed to fit him. sometimes though, he just doesn't want to bother the tailor so he walks around in unflattering clothes.
- he has never cared much for simdong's traditions, even when he was a child. personally, it just never appealed to him and he always found a way to escape going to the shrine with his family. he has no beliefs, and doesn't really like to listen to people who do.
- no concept of weather. or maybe he does have a concept of it, he just doesn't care and makes bad decisions. can and will be spotted in heatwaves wearing layers of clothing or wearing next to nothing in the snow.
- a real when it comes to the sea. it's his worst fear. that and rubber ducks. but that's a different story. he also gets seasick very easily.
- when nari turned eighteen, she got a car. chul still has to mooch off of everyone else to get places.
- has never gotten rid of his collection of shells from when he was young.
- avid bug lover. the guy who carries spiders outside instead of squishing. will straight up Punch a wasp though.
- scrawny handwriting that would make an angel weep.
link to chul's playlist. (not all songs describe him *eyes pumped up kicks*)
- his limbs are so unusually long, that he always has to get the clothes he buys fixed to fit him. sometimes though, he just doesn't want to bother the tailor so he walks around in unflattering clothes.
- he has never cared much for simdong's traditions, even when he was a child. personally, it just never appealed to him and he always found a way to escape going to the shrine with his family. he has no beliefs, and doesn't really like to listen to people who do.
- no concept of weather. or maybe he does have a concept of it, he just doesn't care and makes bad decisions. can and will be spotted in heatwaves wearing layers of clothing or wearing next to nothing in the snow.
- a real when it comes to the sea. it's his worst fear. that and rubber ducks. but that's a different story. he also gets seasick very easily.
- when nari turned eighteen, she got a car. chul still has to mooch off of everyone else to get places.
- has never gotten rid of his collection of shells from when he was young.
- avid bug lover. the guy who carries spiders outside instead of squishing. will straight up Punch a wasp though.
- scrawny handwriting that would make an angel weep.
link to chul's playlist. (not all songs describe him *eyes pumped up kicks*)
RELATIONSHIPS
IM YUGYEONG.
"you remind me of the colour red."
"sick, how come?"
"you remind me of the colour red."
"sick, how come?"
"i hate the colour red."
"that's fair."
ref: jack sparrow and will turner.
yugyeong and chul are an odd pair. while she is one side of the clock, chul is on the other side. their general outlook and reaction to life is completely different. for the most part, they could not be more different. the two met from appearing in each others shops but never really struck up conversation until they were teenagers. calling it conversation was a stretch, however. chul had heard the rumours about her father and being nosy at even the best of times, could not help but query about it. his relentless questions was the main reason that the female's distaste for him developed. after witnessing him try and worm his way into her business, of which was still very raw and upsetting, she wanted nothing to do with him. to this day, she still remembers chul as the intrusive, insistent teenager that she once could've called a friend (until he opened his mouth). this has their relationship strained on yugyeong's part, while chul actually really likes her. if he had the brains to realise that she was uncomfortable with how he used to act, he would apologise and their relationship might become better. who knows? maybe busan had given him that brain and he can use it to salvage the relationship.
"that's fair."
ref: jack sparrow and will turner.
yugyeong and chul are an odd pair. while she is one side of the clock, chul is on the other side. their general outlook and reaction to life is completely different. for the most part, they could not be more different. the two met from appearing in each others shops but never really struck up conversation until they were teenagers. calling it conversation was a stretch, however. chul had heard the rumours about her father and being nosy at even the best of times, could not help but query about it. his relentless questions was the main reason that the female's distaste for him developed. after witnessing him try and worm his way into her business, of which was still very raw and upsetting, she wanted nothing to do with him. to this day, she still remembers chul as the intrusive, insistent teenager that she once could've called a friend (until he opened his mouth). this has their relationship strained on yugyeong's part, while chul actually really likes her. if he had the brains to realise that she was uncomfortable with how he used to act, he would apologise and their relationship might become better. who knows? maybe busan had given him that brain and he can use it to salvage the relationship.
BONG JISUB AND BONG MUNHEE.
"why can't you be more like your sister?"
"probably cause you neglected me-"
ref: the gilmores.
until nari was born, chul's relationship with his parents was pretty standard. they cared for him and loved him, like they should love their child. even after nari was born, chul was still too young to notice and understand the change - so his parents were his heroes and he viewed himself as lucky to be allowed to take over the store. as he got older, he began to understand how unjust his situation was. the moment he did, he began to behave on his own terms which lead to the decay of their relationship. they considered him ungrateful and treated him like it was his fault, so chul no longer considered them his parents. though he worked at the store and lived underneath their roof, he was itching to get out of there. when he eventually did, he got radio silence for most of his time in seoul: save a few birthday wishes but he never got anything more than that. after being called by his mother, he wondered if she would attempt to patch up their relationship. he wasn't convinced, but the thought of having their affection again made him agree to come back for a little bit. even despite his lack of faith in them, the little boy in him still longed for what he missed out on.
BONG NARI.
"you're really selfish for leaving, bigfoot."
"said the most self-absorbed person ever."
ref: bart and lisa simpson.
nari and chul had never really had a normal relationship. despite chul adoring his little sister the minute she was born, she just never took to him the same way. she would cry and fuss whenever he held her or was near her, so their parents eventually banned him from holding her and kept him far away from her. as she grew, their relationship only ever got worse. she was a brat, and a spoiled one so she treated chul like he was her maid, making him do things for her and of course, their parents told him to listen to her. she always had to be the centre of attention, even when the day belonged to chul. from spoiling birthdays, breaking gifts - nari hated her brother. often, she would hold her achievements above chul's head and insult him for not having any that grabbed the attention of their parents. any of his failures, she would pick up on and drill into his mind. even despite that, there is a small part of him that just wants the little sister he dreamed of: but it doesn't seem plausible anymore. not now that she's nineteen and still acting the same.
OH EUIDA.
"let me guess - you ripped your shorts again."
"you think so little of me....but yes i did."
"how did you do it this time?"
"i got chased by a seagull."
ref: jesper and kaz.
euida and chul have been friends for most of their life. there is only a years difference so they often crossed paths, both at their respective stores. their friendship came along pretty easy, as their energies just bounce off of each other. after chul's relentless attempt to get her to notice him, she eventually did. after he wormed his way into her heart - in school, they were often partners so he spent a lot of time in her store doing schoolwork. their relationship continued to bloom as they grew and eventually, euida and her family were the most important people in his life. though euida had taken to teasing him a lot, he found that that it was a different feeling than what he felt with nari. he started to see euida as a little sister, when she would protect his reputation to anyone badmouthing him and when she would pick on him before fixing up the holes in his clothes. she became his found family, and the sister that he deserved to have. the two are inseparable and show that family can sometimes be chosen.
SON JISUNG.
"it's not the same thing."
"why can't you be more like your sister?"
"probably cause you neglected me-"
ref: the gilmores.
until nari was born, chul's relationship with his parents was pretty standard. they cared for him and loved him, like they should love their child. even after nari was born, chul was still too young to notice and understand the change - so his parents were his heroes and he viewed himself as lucky to be allowed to take over the store. as he got older, he began to understand how unjust his situation was. the moment he did, he began to behave on his own terms which lead to the decay of their relationship. they considered him ungrateful and treated him like it was his fault, so chul no longer considered them his parents. though he worked at the store and lived underneath their roof, he was itching to get out of there. when he eventually did, he got radio silence for most of his time in seoul: save a few birthday wishes but he never got anything more than that. after being called by his mother, he wondered if she would attempt to patch up their relationship. he wasn't convinced, but the thought of having their affection again made him agree to come back for a little bit. even despite his lack of faith in them, the little boy in him still longed for what he missed out on.
BONG NARI.
"you're really selfish for leaving, bigfoot."
"said the most self-absorbed person ever."
ref: bart and lisa simpson.
nari and chul had never really had a normal relationship. despite chul adoring his little sister the minute she was born, she just never took to him the same way. she would cry and fuss whenever he held her or was near her, so their parents eventually banned him from holding her and kept him far away from her. as she grew, their relationship only ever got worse. she was a brat, and a spoiled one so she treated chul like he was her maid, making him do things for her and of course, their parents told him to listen to her. she always had to be the centre of attention, even when the day belonged to chul. from spoiling birthdays, breaking gifts - nari hated her brother. often, she would hold her achievements above chul's head and insult him for not having any that grabbed the attention of their parents. any of his failures, she would pick up on and drill into his mind. even despite that, there is a small part of him that just wants the little sister he dreamed of: but it doesn't seem plausible anymore. not now that she's nineteen and still acting the same.
OH EUIDA.
"let me guess - you ripped your shorts again."
"you think so little of me....but yes i did."
"how did you do it this time?"
"i got chased by a seagull."
ref: jesper and kaz.
euida and chul have been friends for most of their life. there is only a years difference so they often crossed paths, both at their respective stores. their friendship came along pretty easy, as their energies just bounce off of each other. after chul's relentless attempt to get her to notice him, she eventually did. after he wormed his way into her heart - in school, they were often partners so he spent a lot of time in her store doing schoolwork. their relationship continued to bloom as they grew and eventually, euida and her family were the most important people in his life. though euida had taken to teasing him a lot, he found that that it was a different feeling than what he felt with nari. he started to see euida as a little sister, when she would protect his reputation to anyone badmouthing him and when she would pick on him before fixing up the holes in his clothes. she became his found family, and the sister that he deserved to have. the two are inseparable and show that family can sometimes be chosen.
SON JISUNG.
"it's not the same thing."
"it's kind of the same thing."
"you hurt her, chul"
"so did you, dude. and i'm guessing it
meant a lot more to her."
ref: insert.
jisung and chul don't really have a relationship. his loyalty to yugyeong made sure of that. since the two were joined at the hip in a way chul couldn't understand, it meant that jisung didn't want much to do with the older boy. not that it was ever forced upon him by his friend, jisung just preferred to stay away from anyone that yugyeong wasn't comfortable with. so they never interacted much, if only for jisung to "politely" shoo chul away. when they both return, it's clear that something changed between the pair. no longer attached by each others side, and an air of awkwardness between them? the old chul might've sunk his claws into that and dug till he found his answers. the new, improved chul held his tongue. over the course of the return, chul attempts to strike a friendship with the boy. though he refuses due to chul's past actions, he realises that it would be hypocritical of him to seek forgiveness from his childhood friend, and yet deny chul of it. the build of a friendship remains to be seen. mostly, jisung is waiting for yugyeong to forgive him before he thinks about chul.
"you hurt her, chul"
"so did you, dude. and i'm guessing it
meant a lot more to her."
ref: insert.
jisung and chul don't really have a relationship. his loyalty to yugyeong made sure of that. since the two were joined at the hip in a way chul couldn't understand, it meant that jisung didn't want much to do with the older boy. not that it was ever forced upon him by his friend, jisung just preferred to stay away from anyone that yugyeong wasn't comfortable with. so they never interacted much, if only for jisung to "politely" shoo chul away. when they both return, it's clear that something changed between the pair. no longer attached by each others side, and an air of awkwardness between them? the old chul might've sunk his claws into that and dug till he found his answers. the new, improved chul held his tongue. over the course of the return, chul attempts to strike a friendship with the boy. though he refuses due to chul's past actions, he realises that it would be hypocritical of him to seek forgiveness from his childhood friend, and yet deny chul of it. the build of a friendship remains to be seen. mostly, jisung is waiting for yugyeong to forgive him before he thinks about chul.
THIS or THAT?
candle light or
ghosts exist or
friends or family
in a fairytale...
would your character be the hero, the damsel in distress, or the villain ?
lia says: the damsel in distress.
would your character say they are the hero, the damsel in distress, or the villain ?
chul says: the hero.
in a fairytale...
would your character be the hero, the damsel in distress, or the villain ?
lia says: the damsel in distress.
would your character say they are the hero, the damsel in distress, or the villain ?
chul says: the hero.
COMMENTS lia says: hi there! i'm lia, and this is my big dumb idiot chul! after lots and lots of questions, he's finished and i hope you like him! someone needs to.....nobody else does lmao rip.
i just wanted to write a little reminder if you hadn't, but by clicking the text beside style - it'll take you to a collection board i made for his style and gives a small descriptor to go along with it!
i also hope you dont mind that i combined chul's lifestyle and background - since after i wrote his story, i figured it explained his lifestyle too!
i had no plans for his summary until now (ref: 2906) and i brought up a collab with the lovely ki (tteonki). i think it's very easy, in my opinion, to write childish and dumb characters. for chul, that's his surface level. so i wanted to make his summary delve deeper, to his sincerity and his worries. along the way, euida came into it! i wanted to show his found family, and how the day he left went. i could have just left this relationship to the section dedicated to it (lmao) but i think in chul's story, it's the most important thing: this little family he's found.
family isn't always blood. chul is meant to be comedic, he's meant to make you smile but he's a little more than that. i hope you like him!
i just wanted to write a little reminder if you hadn't, but by clicking the text beside style - it'll take you to a collection board i made for his style and gives a small descriptor to go along with it!
i also hope you dont mind that i combined chul's lifestyle and background - since after i wrote his story, i figured it explained his lifestyle too!
i had no plans for his summary until now (ref: 2906) and i brought up a collab with the lovely ki (tteonki). i think it's very easy, in my opinion, to write childish and dumb characters. for chul, that's his surface level. so i wanted to make his summary delve deeper, to his sincerity and his worries. along the way, euida came into it! i wanted to show his found family, and how the day he left went. i could have just left this relationship to the section dedicated to it (lmao) but i think in chul's story, it's the most important thing: this little family he's found.
family isn't always blood. chul is meant to be comedic, he's meant to make you smile but he's a little more than that. i hope you like him!
fayre
eight
c. shibutani
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