[06] Dancer in the dark

Santa Quaranta
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MMXXV / XXVIII

Visits to Santa Quaranta become more frequent for Jongin. He doesn’t know why, but ever since a night he vaguely remembers like it happened in a dream, he finds himself visiting town more often than before, hence recognizing more faces and being recognized by people. He introduces himself as Kai, choosing to never give out his real name. Every weekend he hops to a new club or a new bar, socializing, drinking and dancing. Those who don’t know his name have conjured up a nickname for him. Dancer in the dark. Jongin gains quite the reputation as a dancer in the various nightclubs he’s visited, always attracting groups of people wherever he goes. He is aware of what they call him and he makes sure he lives up to it.

Word about him reaches Shin Haneul, probably the most uninterested person in what goes on in Santa Quaranta. If she knows all the talk of the town, it’s thanks to her friend Kim Kibum, who loves himself a good conversation with practically anyone who comes to talk to him.

His curiosity as to who “the dancer in the dark” is, gets the best of him and subsequently Haneul. It’s a Friday night when she finds herself in a club, after having avoided it for so long. There’s a party happening that night and one doesn’t need an invitation to attend. The club is crowded and it’s all it takes for Haneul to want to disappear. But knowing Kibum, she knows that topic is not up for discussion.

The DJ plays hit songs that have everybody dancing and singing. Haneul wonders if the “shadow man” will really make an appearance, even though they say he is notorious for never missing a good party in town. And there are a lot of good parties happening around Santa Quaranta. Almost as if he could detect her thoughts, Kibum answers them.

“Oh, he will be here. Anna has never once failed to give me correct information whenever I’ve asked her.”

If there’s a person who probably knows more than Kibum, it’s Anna Lang, one of the receptionists at the Mile High Tower. Maybe it’s her job, maybe it’s her as a person, but she knows almost everything about everyone.

A good hour passes but there is still no sign of the man. Haneul tries to enjoy herself in the meantime but her mind flows elsewhere. She thinks of a fateful night when she was in another part of town. The beach. It was entirely empty, save for herself and a boy, whose heart she broke. She doesn’t know why she suddenly thinks of him. She remembers what happened as if it were a dream. She has no recollection of his face anymore, she only remembers how she felt. There are a series of other moments that she doesn’t know if they’ve truly happened or not, but they giv

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sb1202 #1
Chapter 18: When I first started reading this fic, I was simply excited to read about your interpretation of virtual reality. In no way was I prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that you took me on. The pure mystery in the first half was enchanting, and the revelation of their true relationship heartwrenching. I was initially wary about character development because I usually read fics with rather long chapters, but the pacing and development felt very natural. I'm actually glad I waited until you completed this fic, because I would have gone crazy with anticipation between updates. Although I wish we could have seen more of Haneul's and Jongin's interpretations of happiness in Santa Quaranta in the epilogue, the ending serves as a more fitting closure.
I don't remember how your story found its way in my attention, but I'm so glad that it did. Thank you for Santa Quaranta, and I look forward to reading more from you!
JaeKnight
#2
Chapter 7: Okok let me collect my thoughts. Firstly, the way my heart fluttered when jongin hugged shen tian from behind. Then they kissed!!

And now this, aww they forgot about each other. And tables have turned, Jongin is now the hot stuff here. Now i wonder if they’re in a continuous loop in forgetting and not forgetting bc it seems like what Jongin felt in the first few chapters, where he felt a deeper attraction with Shen Tian the moment he saw her, is similiar to what Haneul is feeling rn.

Btw ive watched the San Junipero episode of BM and im keeping my guards up 👀
JaeKnight
#3
Chapter 5: Finally they met. Jongin sure is whipped for Shen Tian lol. Now my silly mind thinks do they know each other from the past?
I'm not sure if it has been said before but what happens after midnight?!?! It's all so mysterious
JaeKnight
#4
Chapter 4: Nooo I thought im gonna read their interactions in this chapter. you're good keeping us in our toes asjkdhas
but lol key telling jongin that he wont be able to find her. Yet jongin only has an evil grin inside
DeeDee101
#5
Chapter 1: Very nicely written prologue, you lured us into mystery to question who is that boy. I love description of setting, I actually visualized where she is. It's like I am dreaming instead of Haneul. Amazing! Good job!
JaeKnight
#6
Chapter 3: Finally a background of the title. I'm really digging the title, Santa Quaranta, makes you question what kind of place this is. And no kidding, Mile High Tower with 400+ floors? I admire your imagination! I loooooove lovee the setting, the city girl in me is so satisfied with the setup.

And OH GOD I’m loving it! I cannot wait for their interactions! Jongin is still a mystery at this point, we know more about the Shen Tian from Jongin’s perspective. And I’m reminded about the prologue, it’s in a woman’s POV, not Jongin’s. Jongin definitely remembers a blue-haired girl from his dreams. But how about Shen Tian? DO THEY RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER FROM EACH OTHER’S DREAMS?!?! OR the other came from a different dimension? :OOO very very intriguing

I also reanalyzed the films/series of which you were inspired from. I’ve watched Eternal Sunshine, but only heard things about Black Mirror, and TIO well—

SHOULD I PREPARE MY MIND? and maybe perhaps MY NON-EXISTENT HEART? I’m honestly—

sorry I talk too much but I hope people get to read this!
JaeKnight
#7
Chapter 2: WAIT could coffee be a key plot since you mentioned it a couple of times??? Now that I notice it, the chapter of the title is "The awakening". Doesn't coffee wake you up?
I skimmed back at the chapter, he didn't drink all coffees!! This is all too mysterious, or am i thinking too much?
JaeKnight
#8
Chapter 2: Oh no! I also have no time to react, so much is happening in his dreams! Did he almost drown? D: Was he hit by the car? Was the open door a dream or was it real? What's gonna happen next! Anyway I'm loving the eccentricity of the dreams <33 And loving the blue hair honestly <3

PS: as a coffee lover, i cannot emphasize how I melt every time you mention the smell of the coffee. It's as if I'm smelling it ughh
JaeKnight
#9
Chapter 1: + And I'd be lying if i say I'm not hoping for a chemistry that's similar to our main couple in TIO bc I AM (I need more of them), especially with the seemingly forbidden romance-esque in the description and now THIS prologue. but thats just me ><
JaeKnight
#10
Hello uhm,,, I was browsing under the tags and thought i saw a familiar name, clicked it, and I was SO SURprised seeing TIO as one of your inspirations for this story AAA Thank you ;; idk what to say (i'm still surprised D:). I'm keeping this in my subs list and read it in my leisure time. It looks interesting already as it gives you that cyberpunk vibes despite the the utopia tag, but it gives off that similar vibe at first glance with the tags and poster and description. And YOU HAVE NO IDEA I've been craving to create something cyberpunk aaa anyway quite looking forward to check this out hehe