[ Claude has never heard music like that, so it takes him by surprise when it suddenly plays, head whipping around as he tries to figure out what exactly he's hearing.
And then... Silence.
Getting the sense that their escape from this car might not be as simple as a few awkwardly mumbled lyrics, he glances over at Jinwoo, and, seeing him not doing much of anything, gives up the pretense of privacy and wanders over to him. ]
Hey, you all right?
[ He has no idea what Jinwoo is processing right now, so he just, ] A difficult number to get through?
[ It's strange that Jinwoo knows the emotions that should be rolling through him at the reminder of an unbroken family, but can't feel them. There's just... nothing. Only a memory with no emotional response to follow up. And it should bother him.
But it can barely do even that.
He's snapped out of his thoughts thanks to Claude, eyes blinking as he comes back to himself. That... that had been a surprise. ]
... Ah, yeah.
[ He doesn't think he could've come up with an excuse on his own, so he clings to the one Claude offers him as his gaze drops down to the hand that had activated the crystal. Jinwoo huffs out a small, incredulous laugh. ]
I didn't think it was going to be something like this.
I've certainly never heard music like this, but it must be familiar to you?
[ And hold some emotional value? He assumes. Jinwoo is kind of difficult to read, so Claude can't really claim to know how he's feeling with any real degree of certainty.
But if he's struggling perhaps... talking about it will help...? ]
[ No thanks, he doesn't know where that shoulder's been. ]
Yeah, it's from back home. From the country of South Korea.
[ Odd for the crystal to pick it, but Jinwoo supposes it was done for a reason. Maybe to get this exact sort of reaction from him. ]
It's an old song... More than ten years old.
[ Since that had been right before his dad had disappeared. Then his mom had fallen into a coma not long after, forcing Jinwoo to take on a job that nearly killed him every time he clocked in. Time sure does fly. ]
My mom and sister would probably kill to be where you are right now.
Claude has never heard of South Korea, but he nods along, completely oblivious to the very tragic series of events that followed Jinwoo's memories of this song. ]
Trapped in a crystal car?
[ He tilts his head, braid swaying with the motion. ]
Or were they never able to convince you to sing your heart out?
[ Is he really that bad at singing? (Well, Claude's no diva either, so he can't judge.) Still, he offers a silent apology to Jinwoo's mother and sister for taking this precious moment from them. ]
Does it really make you feel that much better for me not to look?
[ He does obligingly turn around though, mostly because he doesn't want to spook Jinwoo out of his commitment to sing.
[ I'm going to make Jinwoo bad at something, okay. He can't keep getting away with this.
Also yes, it'll make him feel a lot better. Maybe his emotions are on their way out, but he can absolutely still look stupid and know that he looks stupid. And Claude's not exactly the ideal audience member Jinwoo wants for the occasion for reasons already covered outside of this thread.
Deep breaths. ]
I won't say anything if you want to plug your ears while you're at it.
[ And then... Jinwoo places his hand on the crystal, the song starts back up, and he tries (in a very frazzled manner) to sing along. His pitch is not matching up, he fumbles some words, and his energy? Not at all vibing with the song. ]
[ Well, apparently Claude doesn't need to cover his ears because he can barely hear Jinwoo's singing. There's some mumbling? The language is obviously foreign to him, so if Jinwoo is nailing the lyrics then Claude has no idea.
He glances over to where the exit door is hovering, and there's some... movement. A single crystal step emerging from the ground toward the door. Or maybe half a step?
Hm. ]
Jinwoo, you can do this.
[ Quickly, Claude switches tactics. This train is about improving, right? He can do that. ]
It doesn't matter what you sound like, this song is important to you and all I care about is how happy it makes you.
[ Why does that sound so disingenuous? Maybe because in all the conversations he's had with Claude, he doesn't know what genuine sounds like coming from him!
Well, whatever Claude has up his sleeve, Jinwoo will just scrunch up his face, close his eyes, and try to sing even harder. It's tough when the song is as old as it is and Jinwoo's memory as flimsy as it is.
Sure, he trips over more words than would land him a passing score with a karaoke machine, but shouldn't it be the effort that counts?
He's at least really trying over here. Even if his throat sounds like it's on the verge of giving out.
[ This isn't a magical shoujo thread, so the sound of Jinwoo's beautiful voice doesn't immediately cure all the corruption in Claude's soul, clear his pores, or make him fall in love.
Instead, he just bobs his head along in what he hopes is an encouraging manner. He has no idea what this song is supposed to sound like, so for all he knows, Jinwoo is nailing it!
Good job!
The stairs continue to build, and there's hope on the horizon. Claude gives Jinwoo a little pat on the shoulder, expression bright as he watches the steps build and build until they stop about halfway to the door. ]
[ Please, for the love of all that is good, put Jinwoo out of his misery. He is struggling in ways that he didn't even know he could struggle. There are actual beads of sweat pooling at his temples because of how stressful this entire ordeal is...
What he wouldn't give to be fighting a giant monster and getting the shit kicked out of him instead.
Claude's encouragement that there's an end in sight is at least relieving. Jinwoo's never been one to half-ass things, and so he belts out the final half of the song like his life depends on it.
[ Claude would love to say that Jinwoo's singing really peaks as the stairs grow higher and higher, but honestly he doesn't sound any better than when he first started. Which is, again, fine, because Claude definitely doesn't want to be the one to step up to the plate.
He taps his foot against the ground out of some desperation to find a rhythm to this "music" (electronic nonsense), patting Jinwoo's shoulder encouragingly.
And then, by some miracle, the last step manifests. ]
You did it!! [ HE'S KIND OF REALLY EXCITED because he was slightly afraid they'd be trapped here forever.
Instead, he jumps up and gives Jinwoo a congratulatory slap before making a run for the stairs. ]
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no subject
And then... Silence.
Getting the sense that their escape from this car might not be as simple as a few awkwardly mumbled lyrics, he glances over at Jinwoo, and, seeing him not doing much of anything, gives up the pretense of privacy and wanders over to him. ]
Hey, you all right?
[ He has no idea what Jinwoo is processing right now, so he just, ] A difficult number to get through?
no subject
But it can barely do even that.
He's snapped out of his thoughts thanks to Claude, eyes blinking as he comes back to himself. That... that had been a surprise. ]
... Ah, yeah.
[ He doesn't think he could've come up with an excuse on his own, so he clings to the one Claude offers him as his gaze drops down to the hand that had activated the crystal. Jinwoo huffs out a small, incredulous laugh. ]
I didn't think it was going to be something like this.
no subject
[ And hold some emotional value? He assumes. Jinwoo is kind of difficult to read, so Claude can't really claim to know how he's feeling with any real degree of certainty.
But if he's struggling perhaps... talking about it will help...? ]
Where's the song from?
[ You can use his shoulder, Jinwoo. ]
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Yeah, it's from back home. From the country of South Korea.
[ Odd for the crystal to pick it, but Jinwoo supposes it was done for a reason. Maybe to get this exact sort of reaction from him. ]
It's an old song... More than ten years old.
[ Since that had been right before his dad had disappeared. Then his mom had fallen into a coma not long after, forcing Jinwoo to take on a job that nearly killed him every time he clocked in. Time sure does fly. ]
My mom and sister would probably kill to be where you are right now.
no subject
Claude has never heard of South Korea, but he nods along, completely oblivious to the very tragic series of events that followed Jinwoo's memories of this song. ]
Trapped in a crystal car?
[ He tilts his head, braid swaying with the motion. ]
Or were they never able to convince you to sing your heart out?
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Also, kind of weird to think that Claude is going to be the first person ever to hear Jinwoo sing (badly), but that's how it be sometimes. ]
It was for their own good.
[ His hand goes back to hovering over the crystal, while his other one makes a turn around motion to Claude. ]
Alright, I'll actually start this time.
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Does it really make you feel that much better for me not to look?
[ He does obligingly turn around though, mostly because he doesn't want to spook Jinwoo out of his commitment to sing.
He sighs, crossing his arms behind his head. ]
I'm still going to hear, regardless.
no subject
Also yes, it'll make him feel a lot better. Maybe his emotions are on their way out, but he can absolutely still look stupid and know that he looks stupid. And Claude's not exactly the ideal audience member Jinwoo wants for the occasion for reasons already covered outside of this thread.
Deep breaths. ]
I won't say anything if you want to plug your ears while you're at it.
[ And then... Jinwoo places his hand on the crystal, the song starts back up, and he tries (in a very frazzled manner) to sing along. His pitch is not matching up, he fumbles some words, and his energy? Not at all vibing with the song. ]
no subject
He glances over to where the exit door is hovering, and there's some... movement. A single crystal step emerging from the ground toward the door. Or maybe half a step?
Hm. ]
Jinwoo, you can do this.
[ Quickly, Claude switches tactics. This train is about improving, right? He can do that. ]
It doesn't matter what you sound like, this song is important to you and all I care about is how happy it makes you.
no subject
Well, whatever Claude has up his sleeve, Jinwoo will just scrunch up his face, close his eyes, and try to sing even harder. It's tough when the song is as old as it is and Jinwoo's memory as flimsy as it is.
Sure, he trips over more words than would land him a passing score with a karaoke machine, but shouldn't it be the effort that counts?
He's at least really trying over here. Even if his throat sounds like it's on the verge of giving out.
I am suffering right there along with Jinwoo. ]
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Instead, he just bobs his head along in what he hopes is an encouraging manner. He has no idea what this song is supposed to sound like, so for all he knows, Jinwoo is nailing it!
Good job!
The stairs continue to build, and there's hope on the horizon. Claude gives Jinwoo a little pat on the shoulder, expression bright as he watches the steps build and build until they stop about halfway to the door. ]
We're almost there!
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What he wouldn't give to be fighting a giant monster and getting the shit kicked out of him instead.
Claude's encouragement that there's an end in sight is at least relieving. Jinwoo's never been one to half-ass things, and so he belts out the final half of the song like his life depends on it.
Because it really feels like it does. ]
no subject
He taps his foot against the ground out of some desperation to find a rhythm to this "music" (electronic nonsense), patting Jinwoo's shoulder encouragingly.
And then, by some miracle, the last step manifests. ]
You did it!! [ HE'S KIND OF REALLY EXCITED because he was slightly afraid they'd be trapped here forever.
Instead, he jumps up and gives Jinwoo a congratulatory slap before making a run for the stairs. ]
Now lets get outta here!