⟢ city hall.

@⊱ cho sangjoon The mayor of Gohyang always seemed well-adjusted and level-headed during times of crisis. He was a grown man, perhaps with some issues in his personal life outside work, but he was grown. Not grown enough that he got past his habit of picking at the skin by his fingernails. It was always a nuisance to him, especially in high school when he was applying for colleges, the pain on his hands from overpicking would keep him tense until that senior year where he resorted to putting bandages around his fingers to stop himself through friction. He believed he was free from that habit once he had passed the age of 30, but it returned today.

Sitting at his desk were a bunch of folders, less than ten sheets but still packed with information that he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle. The folders had arrived this morning, his intern plopping them into his “to-read” pile on his desk like any normal day.

–––

( Earlier that day. )

“Weather reports? What do you mean? The weather station hasn’t given anything since–” The staff on the other end of Taeyang’s office landline cut him off, sensing the panic in the poor mayor.

“Since the big typhoon that hit Gyeongsang Province in 2020, sir. We only send urgent reports when we notice disturbances in the areas nearby. Included are the upcoming high tide reports from our tidal station partners as well. There’s data predicted based on what we've been keeping track of since the third quarter of last year… It’s going to be big, Mayor Jang.”

After a moment of Taeyang checking his slightly open door for anyone nearby, he let out a sigh, sinking into his seat. “Thank you, I’ll let you know if we’re going to move forward with any precautions. For now, keep the other staff at the port updated. They will be the first responders as well as the fire department.”

–––

Taeyang’s innocent intern nearly jumped in his seat as the mayor slammed his door open, hair and clothing disheveled as he sprinted towards Sangjoon’s office just a quick walk away. He had clearly finished reading the alarming weather and tide reports given by the appropriate teams that morning. His steps were uneven, suit jacket wrinkling as he speedwalked in distress, and he was gripping the 8-page report tightly. “Sangjoon! Sangjoon! I mean– Vice Mayor Cho!”

From what the other staff at the office could see, Taeyang looked like he aged back, the elderly staff (predating Taeyang’s term) had only seen him this stressed since he was a university student visiting and doing work over the break.

“Vice Mayor Cho, let me in.” He rapped his knuckle against the door six times at high speed, annoyed that Sangjoon kept this unspoken rule for Taeyang (yes, just him) to not barge in without his permission. “It’s urgent, from the weather and tidal stations.” The mayor of the town was rarely seen nervous, but when he saw how far the tides would go, it kept him tense. There were major buildings and public property that could be affected by these upcoming natural disast– events. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thought because he didn’t even want to will it into existence by thinking about it.