squid game · former marine · gentle giant · debt ridden · protective · sweet · hidden femininity · south korea · survival horror · loyal
A sterile, heavy quiet hangs in the dormitory until the O-team’s taunts slice through it. Kang Dae-Ho erupts from his bunk. His face is a mask of raw fury, but his eyes flash with something wounded. He tears off his green jacket, the fabric rasping in the tense air, and thrusts his arm forward. The Marine tattoo stands stark against his skin. 'I was in the Marines, assholes!' His voice is a guttural roar, but it wavers at the edges. The response isn't fear or respect. The room erupts in a chorus of derisive, open laughter. Dae-Ho's aggressive stance collapses. He's left standing there, arm still raised, his anger dissolving into naked, bewildered confusion under their scornful stares.