SEOUL ♔ NOW THE SUN IS UP AND I'M GOING BLIND

[hacker]

delilah - florence + the machine

WHO || Anastasia, Jeanne, Doyle, Skye, Ward, Abbie
WHAT || The Knights are assigned to protect South Korea's President-Elect from assassination attempts.
WHERE || Seoul, South Korea
WHEN || End of April, 2016
HOW || Actionspam

Four days after the briefing, President Kim sends a plane for the team of Knights dispatched by Wynn, and their flight to Seoul—what could have been a grueling 12-hour affair—is spent in the most comfort that can be afforded by a highly regarded politician. The seats are roomy, the staff is attentive, and no one shouts at them to return to their seats.

They're put up in a hotel near the Blue House, the seat of the executive powers of South Korea, where the President-Elect has asked to meet them to go over the security plans for the inauguration.

Comments

[hacker]

[ The directions carry them down two long hallways and into an open, industrial-sized, restaurant-style kitchen made almost entirely out of stainless steel. A number of cooks follow the seemingly nonverbal direction of a stout, aged woman in a chef's hat while two teenagers bus dishes. ]

[leftenants]

[Abbie scans the room to see if any of the workers present might seem more approachable than the others (Spot 14)-- after all, she doubts any of them are going to take kindly to being interrupted while working if they're in the middle of a given task. She keeps her voice low as she leans in a little closer to Ana, asking:]

So, which do you think?

[silvermaid]

The younger ones, but I don't want them to get in trouble for speaking to us. Perhaps we should distract her.

[leftenants]

[She nods, inclining her head towards the apparent head chef.]

I'll go talk, see if I can hold her attention.

[silvermaid]

Deal.

[leftenants]

[That decided, Abbie parts from Ana at the door, leaving her to dig for information as she approaches the head chef with a smile.]

Not interrupting too badly, am I?

HAHAHA DOUBLES BACK HERE IT'S FINE

[hacker]

[ The chef looks up and narrows her eyes, but since they're between meals it's like ... I mean, no, not really, but she doesn't give the impression of someone who wants a stranger in her kitchen either.

"You looking for a job?"]

IT'S ABSOLUTELY FINE ♥

[leftenants]

[Abbie had guessed that she probably wouldn't be chatty. That's fine, she just has to keep her occupied long enough for Ana to be able to talk with the young men working under her, although if she learns something too, all the better.

She shakes her head.]

Just visiting. Here to support the President-Elect's recent win. Didn't think it would be right to come rummaging through your kitchen without permission, even if she said to make ourselves at home. Looks like you run a pretty tight ship.

[She can respect that-- and being open about respecting people's boundaries is probably more likely to get someone interested in talking to her, right?]

[silvermaid]

[ anastacia hangs back just a bit to wait for abbie to get her involved, before slipping a little closer to the younger, asking in their own language: ] It must be exciting to work here, isn't it?

[hacker]

[ The younger one doesn't have the filter to keep from looking at Anastacia like she's crazy because wtf is this mom-aged white lady coming up and telling me my menial labor job is great ?? ? But then he hears what Abbie says, glances back at her, and smiles at Ana, though it doesn't look especially genuine.

"Ms. Kim is very nice. My whole family came to work here after my parents left North Korea. My mom says Ms. Kim is the reason we were able to make it here." He shrugs, as if not sure about it. The other one beside him glances over like dude what are you doing ??? work. He finishes with, "I just do what they tell me. It's a job."

Over by Abbie, the head chef sizes her up. "I do," she agrees, loosening somewhat with the compliment. "If you are hoping to pry food out of me between meals, you will be disappointed." But she grabs a knife. "Otherwise, if you mean to stay, make yourself useful. We have to prepare for tonight." ]

[silvermaid]

How long ago did your family come here? [ she glances at the head chef, leaning closer to add: ] Ms. Kim sent me down here to put in our order, by the way. No rush, however. The other guests are all still settling in.

[leftenants]

[Abbie raises both eyebrows in response to the head chef, but doesn't hesitate any further before reaching for a spare apron, wrapping it around her waist and tying it at the back. Might as well roll up her sleeves and make a good impression.]

By all means, then. What needs doing?

[hacker]

[ "Put those mushrooms in to soak," the chef ordered. "They need to rehydrate before we can use them."

The teen by Ana perked up and nodded earnestly, "You can put it in with Chef. Just ask nicely. We got here ... three years ago." He hedged like he was estimating, but nodded decisively at the end. "Ms. Kim was just starting to make a name for herself then. I think she probably believed we'd improve her image, but ... I don't mind." ]

[silvermaid]

Her image? Do you mean because you're locals?

[leftenants]

[Abbie proceeds to do as she's told, washing her hands thoroughly before she collects the mushrooms.]

Your kitchen is impressive. Mind if I ask how long you've worked here?

[hacker]

[ "Because she helped refugees from North Korea get jobs, and because ..." The bus boy looks around uncomfortably. "My mom, she's a half-elf. You can't tell in me."

"Ms. Kim brought me in with the rest of her staff. Turned over the Blue House staff that used to work her. She knows who she can trust." ]

[leftenants]

Smart of her.

[Interesting and potentially very useful info, in fact.]

Shouldn't be surprised. President-Elect Kim doesn't seem like the sort to take half-measures. Nobody from the previous staff made the cut, then?

[silvermaid]

I actually have a strain of elven blood myself, but it doesn't show in me either.

[hacker]

[ The chef shook her head. "None that I've been forced to train, thank god."

Meanwhile the bus boy just gave Ana a truly skeptical look like this bitch thinks we're besties because she knows the life but I don't see her working in a gd kitchen. "Then you must be glad she got elected too." ]

[leftenants]

[Abbie gives the chef a curious look, making sure to keep her hands busy all the while. Multitasking is key, or so she assumes.]

Is that just relief that you didn't have to train them, or did some of them have a reputation?

[silvermaid]

I've lived in places where Shadowkind suffer for who they are, where we're treated like less than people, like property. Every step I see a country take away from them helps mend the scars I still have from those places.

But I know those steps are never easy. There will be plenty of opposition- there always is.

[hacker]

[ "I don't like people who ask too many questions," The chef answered pointedly. "It keeps work from happening." But she still seems willing to talk at least, for Abbie's efforts in helping prepare the evening meal. "I'm not sure what the turnover was like in other departments, but I brought in an entirely new kitchen crew."

The dishwasher, meanwhile, nodded at Ana, more heartily accepting her ethos on this point. "I'm just glad she won the election. I was really worried it wouldn't happen." It seemed to be a pretty universal refugee fear—that the people who supported them politically would fail, and that they would wind up right back where they started. ]

[leftenants]

[Abbie makes an effort to keep herself moving and involved, not wanting to risk losing the opportunity to talk.]

I'd like to think I can do both. What needs doing next?

[silvermaid]

Was there a lot of talk about trying to prevent it?

[hacker]

[ While the chef happily orders Abbie onto the next task — one more difficult, as though trying to muster a reason to kick her out of the kitchen — the dishwasher nodded. "There was a huge backlash when she started running. People said a lot of ugly things during the election, and for a while, it looked like it was just going to make things worse for us." ]