' meeting room.

@⋆ hyunjin ᵛᶦᵖᵉʳ Truthfully, Christopher should've expected a reaction like this. Hyunjin was never the easiest person to talk to, and the guy made it very clear what his intentions/feelings were. He was blunt, never held back regardless how much his words stung. That's where they didn't quite meet, you see. Hyunjin gave the impression that he was rather apathetic while Christopher was a very sympathetic person. The other was abrasive towards him since day one and it was obvious as to why; Hyunjin just didn't think he was fit enough to be the head-honcho of Venom. According to him, Chris was "weak" and "too soft", "not cut out for this life" and that he needed to find something more "delicate" to do.

And yes, it hurt. Of course it ing hurt. No matter what he's done or said, nothing has ever seemed to work and they've continuously butted heads over the course of time -- over reasons that shouldn't have even mattered. This was a doomed effort on the higher up's part. They had high hopes that this mission would help bring the two of them together but... honestly, what did they expect? Nothing good has come out of their previous attempts, what makes them so sure about this one?

Regardless, the man doesn't back down even as Hyunjin spits more venom and malice at him. He holds his ground, keeps his head high and gaze up. The silence is soon broken by the sound of him chuckling, miscolored hues scanning Hyunjin's figure head to toe. "Now I see," he muses as the corner of his mouth twitches into a lopsided grin. "You think /I'm/ the one with the facade?" Now he's laughing. The other men in the room exchange nervous looks, not liking the way his tone changed. It was a subtle shift, but it was palpable, and it radiated through the room like the aftermath of a bomb.

It was always fun and games until the person who was labelled as "too gentle" finally snaps.

"Never knew you could be this funny." Christopher sends a playful wink towards Hyunjin, wearing the widest grin ever, fully knowing that would probably piss the other off to no end. There was something about his eyes though and the way they remained unwavering against Hyunjin's icy demeanor. "Now," no longer interested in this childish game, he turns his attention back to the matter at hand. "Let's get this party started, shall we?"

With that, the mission commences. They split up according to the original plan with Christopher and Hyunjin parting ways to go in opposite directions, both accompanied by the same amount of men. They had different tasks they needed to, with Christopher needing to get intel on a few clients that the bosses were interested in. His part goes rather smoothly but all hell breaks loose when the alarm suddenly begins blaring. He curses quickly and orders his men to head back over the ear-piece, an armful of folders tucked against his chest. That's when one of them chimes back to inform him that Hyunjin's group was under attack. He groans softly then spots a familiar face down the hall, calling Marcus over to hand him the files.

"Gather the men at the vehicles and do /not/ lose these files," Christopher commanded. Marcus nods quickly, hugging them protectively to his chest. "I'm going to get that lot out of this mess. If we're not back in 10 minutes, call for back-up or get the out of dodge." With that, he's running off down the hall, following the sounds of gunfire in the distance.

@⋆ christopher ᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᶜᵒᵇʳᵃ Hyunjin’s eyes narrowed, his gaze icy and unwavering. The attempt at reason from Christopher grated against his already frayed patience. The bitter taste of skepticism lingered on Hyunjin’s tongue as he leaned back, his posture one of defiance.

“Get to know each other. Is that what you think this is about?” Hyunjin scoffed, the edges of his words dripping with disdain. “This isn’t some damn team-building exercise. We’re not here to hold hands and share our life stories, or play house and spew rainbows and butterflies. You think they put us on this mission to play pretend and make friends?” His laughter held a bitter edge, echoing through the room like a dissonant melody.

Christopher, caught in the crossfire of Hyunjin’s resentment, faltered clearly for a moment. The tension between them intensified, the room becoming a battlefield of unspoken animosity. As they stood on the precipice of an unwanted partnership, the question lingered in the air: Was this mission a chance for understanding, or simply a stage for two incompatible players?

The room seemed to constrict around them, suffocating in the weight of unspoken truths. Hyunjin's bitter laughter echoed, a stark contrast to Christopher's attempt at diplomacy. The clash of their opposing energies hung thick in the air, a testament to the brewing storm within the dimly lit space.

Christopher, perhaps determined to break through the fortress of Hyunjin's resentment, took a measured breath, his expression a mix of frustration and a glimmer of resolve.
"Save it," Hyunjin interrupted, his voice slicing through the air like the switchblade around his fingertips. "I'm not here to play nice with you. This mission, whatever they've cooked up, won't change a damn thing between us. You think you can understand me? You think I'll spill my guts because you're suddenly so damn interested? It's all a facade, Christopher, and I'm not buying it."

The words hung there, heavy and charged. Hyunjin's eyes bore into Christopher's, a silent challenge lingering between them.

@⋆ hyunjin ᵛᶦᵖᵉʳ This was most certainly not what he expected to wake up to. Almost immediately upon waking up this morning, Christopher had been bombarded with all sorts of people. Apparently, the higher-ups had finally gotten sick of the pointless bickering between him and Hyunjin, his second-hand man. They... are at odds, to put it lightly. Hyunjin was a rather rough person on the outside and it made things a whole lot more difficult, especially when all Christopher wanted to do was get to know the man. And normally he isn't really argumentative or confrontational, however, the jabs Hyunjin would toss his way would most definitely not go unnoticed. Sometimes, playing the bigger person just isn't enough when the other doesn't seem to grasp the idea of not pushing their luck.

Why was Hyunjin always so abrasive? Christopher wanted to know. However, curiosity killed the cat and sometimes, ignorance is bliss -- yet on the other hand... he took one look at the other man and instantly felt like he had to know him.

So it was natural for Christopher to try to create small talk in hopes of trying to get closer to him, though every attempt always ended up harsh words and hurtful comments. Truthfully, he isn't sure why he bothers trying anymore. The more he does, the more they argue. It was clearly starting to creating a major problem if the higher-ups decided to step in with.. a mess of an idea -- come on, really? Do they /seriously/ think shoving both of them into a car and forcing them on a mission neither of them want to be on will help? The tension in air was so thick you could cut it with a damn butter knife and day one has /barely/ even started, yet they're expected to get along swimmingly for the entire duration of this mission? Yeah. Like that'll happen.

Still, though... might as well try, right?

"So, Hyunjin," Christopher began, his voice laced with a genuine curiosity. "Tell me about your family. What are they like?" This was a simple subject, right? Surely the man had family. And even if he didn't, there'd probably be a story behind it. The reaction was a suspected, with Hyunjin getting upset and snapping at him in the same distasteful manner. Christopher can't help but recoil a little as his smile falters around the edges. The words stung slightly but they didn't quite deter him just yet. "I was only curious," Christopher held up both hands defensively, "And please don't assume how I feel, of course I care. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't. We all have our own stories, some less prettier than others. It's okay if you don't want to tell me what happened if it's too personal, I was just... I dunno, I mean -- we're on this mission together to try to get along better, so... we might as well /try/ to get to know each other, right?"

@⋆ christopher ᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᶜᵒᵇʳᵃ The dimly lit room was filled with an air of tension. The bunker, serving as their current base of operations was a grim place to be as of right now. After just receiving word that there would be a slight change of plans in their mission, Hyunjin sat across from whom he had just found out a few weeks prior was his boss, Christopher; the two of them were awaiting their next set of instructions from the higher ups back in Milan. The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows on the cold, concrete walls, accentuating the gravity of their situation.

Tonight was no ordinary night for Hyunjin and Christopher. They were about to embark on a mission that would test their loyalty, resilience, and trust in one another. Something that Hyunjin felt vehemently uncomfortable pursuing in the first place. He of course was no idiot. He knew the only reason this had been assigned to the two of them in the first place had been due to the stunt he had pulled with the man not but a few days prior. The feeling of his familiar pistol, cold and reliable in his hand, the barrel aimed at his own temple before smoothly redirecting to face the very man that sat across from him. It had shocked him- when this same man only leaned into the weapon, grabbing the underside of his wrist and readjusting the grip to press the cold barrel against his forehead. That psychotic grin.. He could see it as though it were only a few hours prior rather than being over a week past. He was pulled out of his thoughts as a clearing of a throat calls for his attention.


"So, Hyunjin," Christopher began, his voice laced with a genuine curiosity. "Tell me about your family. What are they like?"

Those simple words sliced through Hyunjin's soul, igniting a dormant volcano of anger and pain. Christopher's question was an unwitting dagger aimed directly at the deepest wounds in Hyunjin's heart. Little did Christopher know that Hyunjin's parents had been ruthlessly taken from him, leaving him and his younger brother to navigate a world of darkness alone. To make matters worse, Hyunjin and his brother had lost any and all communication with each other, a painful void that haunted his every waking moment. The empty gazes they last shared across the dinner table, splattered with blood.

The anger that simmered beneath the surface erupted like molten lava, spewing forth in a venomous outburst. "What the hell do you care about my family?" Hyunjin snapped, his voice laced with a subzero temperature that otherwise froze the room. The other lower level members of the family look between each other as if unsure whether or not they should still remain in the room. “As if you actually care. Walking up into this place as if you own it all… as if you know anything about what any of us have gone through.”

The men within the room take one look at the venom behind Hyunjin’s unfaltering stare at the leader, quickly choosing to file out. It wasn’t until the door was swinging shut that Hyunjin scoffed lowly to himself, looking off to the side with a scowl unfitting for his pretty features. He reaches for his pocket, pulling free his favorite switchblade and spinning the weapon around his fingers to take the edge off his anger. He had been far more irritable lately to say the least. It was not that Hyunjin did not respect those above him. No. He could not hold respect for this man.. This far too simple man, that sat so easily before him. So what– he thinks a scar will intimidate Hyunjin? It was easy to see beyond the facade of leadership that this man didn’t know anything about the life within the Mafia. He had been loved at some point in his life, Hyunjin- but there was an unreachable glow within Christopher’s eyes that he believed was impossible to achieve without still receiving that love. The same love he had felt from his mother’s hugs or his father’s pats to his back– that very same love he had yearned for many years to sink into his heart once more. That love that has long since left his being.