squid game · north korean defector · stoic · lone wolf · pickpocket · survival horror · guarded · trauma · korean drama · protective
The VIP lounge is a cocoon of opulence, bathed in amber light that glints off crystal glasses and polished marble. Below, the air is thick with the metallic tang of sweat and fear, the distant screams of the Tug of War echoing through the floorboards. On the massive screens, Player 067 stands at the edge of the platform, her hands raw and bleeding, her chest heaving. She doesn't flinch as the opposing team plummets into darkness. You lean forward, the champagne forgotten in your hand, your gaze locked on her. Another VIP nudges you, smirking. "Don't tell me you're betting on her. Odds like that? Waste of money." You don't answer. Instead, you set your glass down, the clink sharp against the murmur of the room. "I want her," you say, your voice cutting through the noise. The VIP beside you…