Need: On Kang Jin-ho

Seattle, WA

November 2013

8:23 PM

“You really need to control yourself.” 

“I control myself just fine.” Jin-ho twists open the bottle with a pop and pours a small amount into his glass. “And it’s an after-work treat, Tony.” 

“I know.” The other man keeps a watchful eye on Jin-ho as he takes a small sip, “But I’m just reminding you that you need to control how much you drink.” Tony frowns upon seeing Jin-ho pour more into his glass, “Jin-ho.” 

“I’m telling you that it’s okay.” And it is. Jin-ho knows that it’s okay. He’s not a daily drinker, no; the last drink he had was only a few days ago and it was the same amount as he was drinking in the present. A glass or two of whiskey couldn’t hurt anybody, and it wasn’t as if he was going to leave he condo unit anyway. “I’m not leaving, not driving, not really doing anything except staying here and watching something until I fall asleep. It’s fine.” 

Tony presses his lips together. He believes in Jin-ho. “…if you say so.” 

Discussion: Kenichi vs. Jin-ho

Hi, guys! Apologies for posting this late—I’ve been doing readings and short assignments all day, and I sort of wanted to get most of them done so that I could spend my Sunday chilling out and doing some light reading. Anyway, welcome to our fourth discussion! 

This time, I’m going to be talking about Jin-ho (from Coalesce) and his counterpart, Kenichi (from DNAU-verse). Looking at the two of them, they’re pretty similar; I sort of want to say that not much has changed, but as we’ve seen from the prior discussions, there’s always gotta be some degree of change here and there, right? 

Click the ‘read more’ if you’re interested in finding out more about these two businessmen! 

"HELLO."

Coalesce Spread: Jin-ho

071385: Birthday

"what is your legacy, jin-ho?"

Pride: A Coalesce Graphic

"I sing Vanessa's symphony; Eliza tells her story.

Now fill the world with music, love, and pride."

(Lin-Manuel Miranda)

Traditions: A Coalesce Short (2/2)

Headquarters

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

December 25, 2016

9:54 AM

“We better make this quick,” Peters groused. “I have a flight at 2PM and I definitely don’t want to be late like what happened last year.” 

“You weren’t late last year,” Aether told him, waving it off. Peters, in turn, gave her a look. “Calm down, Peters, you’ll make it—we’ll just have our usual brunch and then you can get to the airport. Who’s bringing you, anyway, and where are your things?” the male gestured outside the office, wherein his luggage was comfortably resting right by her office door. “And how long are you staying?” 

“Just until Friday. I’ll make it back for Mack’s birthday,” he promised. “I had to save my vacation days for this one. Surprisingly, a lot of HQ went back to see their family this year,” he pointed out. Aether nodded slowly. 

Both of them were in her office, waiting for Tadashi and Mack to arrive. It was one of their traditions; the squad met up in her office to exchange gifts, and would then celebrate nearby by having a brunch out. Peters would leave the earliest, as he had a flight to catch, while Aether would leave to spend the remainder of the day with Mathieu. Tadashi’s plans for Christmas depended on the availability of his sisters, while Mack was perfectly content staying in and gifting himself as much sleep as possible. 

Despite it being a holiday, they still caught some of the others catching up on work. Aether had passed by Ross, who wished her a Merry Christmas and explained that he had to pass something along to Forensics; Sol, on another hand, was busy finishing up a report that she had due on the very day. “It’s grueling,” she said with a weary smile. “But I’ll finish it.” 

And it was a pretty okay Christmas so far, Aether reflected. She and Mathieu woke up together, had a light breakfast, and agreed to meet after lunch so that they could go out and have a small date of their own. He was busy visiting Jin-ho and Tony in the former’s residences; most likely giving his gifts and picking up the ones from the Korean. 

“Merry Christmas! Or happy holidays, depending on your beliefs,” a voice came. Aether looked up to see Tadashi standing there with Mack behind him, the latter shaking his head as he ducked into the office. 

Team Roles: Kang Ent.

Damage Control: A Blogsary Short

Kang Enterprises

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

May 2017

Tony was sure that Jin-ho’s choice to let go of the darker and sketchier path was the best damn choice he’d made in ages. “It’s about fucking time,” he muttered. “Maybe I can regain my peace of mind this time around and stop thinking of whether your father will rise to murder me or not.”

“He won’t do that, he’s cremated.” Jin-ho waved off the other’s worry, though Tony could very much see the traces of relief crawling back into the other’s expression. Tony liked that more, if he had to be honest—there were times wherein Jin-ho could be a little shit, but he’d much rather have that side of Jin-ho that the side who was jumpy, wrecked, and had his hands stained far more than any other person in the company.

He was about to comment on that small slice of dark humor, but a knock came on the door with Mathieu stepping in quickly. He stopped, looking at the two others with an apprehensive look. “…bad time?”

“Not at all. We’re more relaxed than ever, to be honest,” Tony admitted. That wasn’t much to fully ease down Mathieu’s nervous pangs, but he saw the redhead’s shoulders relax slightly. “Any updates on what happened to Lee?”

“Nothing. It’s like he just disappeared.” Mathieu came forward and sunk into one of the two chairs in front of Jin-ho’s desk, groaning. “I’ve been talking to everyone I could—police connections, employees at the bar—Jian hasn’t shown up anywhere ever since that incident.”

Team Profile: Kang Ent.

Wreck/Ruin: A Blogsary Short

Kang Residences

Atalnta, GA

United States of America

  

Mathieu knew that he owed Kang Enterprises so, so much.

Stumbling across Jin-ho back in San Francisco, if anything, a fortunate accident. After trying to pick up the pieces and live for his own in the United States after the clusterfuck that was his (shitty) father, he didn’t really expect much for himself. Most of it died away after his ma died and his father was (forced) to pick him up because of custody or some shit. He wasn’t sure—he always thought that he and his ma were going to make it in France somehow.

But she died and his father picked him up and basically raised him as a son, except: there was hardly any love, any effort put into it. Sure, there was the cash—the Silvestres were privileged enough to have a financially stable life—but that was it. His father was out all the time, there was business to deal with, he probably had another family at that point.

He hated it.

Moving away, finally leaving didn’t feel so much better. He bounced around the States, picking up whatever he could do and living to sustain himself until that one night wherein he was walking back from wherever the hell he came from and turned a corner to his apartment when—

Long story short, Mathieu managed to beat away these assholes who managed to shove this Asian-looking fellow onto the ground. Jin-ho was groaning when Mathieu managed to support him into his apartment, and when he turned the lights on, the redhead swore fuck because the other fellow looked bad.

Aesthetics: Kang Ent.

Bonds: A Blogsary Short

i.

When Jin-ho first met Tony, he never really thought that he’d have to work with him from an early age. Anthony Howard was merely someone who worked for his father; he would always see him around his father’s office or around the actual office building, dressed smartly in a navy suit and a tie that looked close to grey. Tony would greet Jin-ho would a polite smile, though Jin-ho was never really sure if the eyes hiding behind Tony’s dark sunglasses were smiling too or not.

Then again, he didn’t really expect his father to die so soon, either.

The two already knew each other before the death of Tae-min, so things weren’t too awkward. Despite that, bonding over death was never really the best thing.

(But for them, it worked. Somehow.)

After the death of his father, Jin-ho worked at much later times, woke up earlier than he tended to. Sleep was suddenly less of a necessity to him than it already was; he found himself grieving through work and work alone.

His mother noticed but never spoke up, not wanting to intrude. She respected that if that was how he would grieve, then that would be how he’d grieve.

Tony noticed.

Teaser #02: Blogsary '16

truth | change | meaning | sacrifice

To the Nines: A Russie Features Short

Kang Manor

Atlanta, Georgia

United States of America

August 2016

Whenever being interviewed, the question concerning being like his father would always rise. And the answers he gave would always be the same; Jin-ho would give a small laugh, fold his hands on his lap neatly, put on that quiet smile, tone down the confidence and instead increase humility. Open his mouth and speak about never being able to reach his father’s heights. Speak about recognizing that he would never be as good, but that he would do his best to live up to the Kang standard.

All of it would come to the point of it sounding rehearsed. He was surprised that the media hadn’t made any comment about it; that no newspaper or magazine had published how many times he just recycled his words endlessly when it came to living under the shadow of his father. But they kept quiet and he kept doing it anyway until the words tasted like nothing in his mouth.

Mathieu caught him after yet another interview. He merely remained backstage, waiting for Jin-ho to finish up. When they were both in the car, Mathieu cleared up his throat and spoke up. “You know, you’re starting to look and sound like a machine when you talk to those people.”

“I know. Don’t tell me,” Jin-ho replied shortly. Mathieu merely shrugged.

“I’m just saying. Seems like you’ve got a mask on.”

OCs x Social Media: Kang Jin-ho

Succession: A Russie Features Short

Kang Residence

Atlanta, Georgia

United States of America

May 2011

“Mother.” Jin-ho’s throat felt dry, tight as he took in the image of his grieving mother. Da-hyeon tucked her handkerchief into her pocket and turned to him, reacting to the touch of her son. “You need to rest. I’ll keep watch.”

“You have to settle things for the business,” she told him. Park Da-hyeon, despite having been crying silently since the whole affair started, still maintained her calm, firm voice. “Fulfill your duties as father would have wanted for you.”

“His duties as your husband and my father come first than his duty as a businessman.” He squeezed his mother’s shoulder, “Please, mother. Let me do this. I need it. And you need the rest. Tony’s willing to stay.” A couple of feet away, Tony stood there solemnly with his trademark shades over his eyes. Da-hyeon sighed quietly before nodding and rising. Immediately did two of the guards approach them, Jin-ho asking them in a hushed voice for them to accompany her back to her room and keep watch. “Please rest, mother. I’ll meet you in the morning.”

“Of course.” She looked at her son from head to toe with an unrecognizable look and turned to move out of the room, nodding to acknowledge Tony on her way out. The male sent a small smile her way before making his way to Jin-ho, who this time adopted his mother’s position. The sound of the door closing reached their ears and Jin-ho let out a slow exhale of his own.

He too felt a hand on his shoulder but didn’t look back. “I can manage,” he told him. Tony rolled his eyes.

“I know that you’re tired too, Jin-ho. Your mother could see that.”

Tremble: A Russie Features Short

Kang Residence

Atlanta, Georgia

United States of America

May 2013

“Jin-ho, I’ve got a couple of things for you to sign,” Tony said plainly, stepping into the man’s office with a bored expression. The man’s brows furrowed at the center upon realizing that Jin-ho was not sitting at his desk as he usually would, and stepped further into the room with a hint of caution. “Jin-ho?” he asked carefully, dropping the stapled papers onto the nearby chair. His hand went to the gun holster and he wrapped it around the grip, senses heightened upon hearing short, heavy breathing coming from the back corner. “The fuck…”

Upon reaching the area, his brown eyes widened upon seeing Jin-ho on the floor, a hand clamped over his mouth and his own eyes looking panicked. The Korean, upon seeing Tony, attempted to speak but was unable to, merely choking on his breath. Cursing, Tony hastily approached the man, setting his hands carefully on the other’s shoulders. “Hey, hey. You’ll be fine. Okay? Come on. We know how to do this.” 

Jin-ho shut his eyes and both of them did exactly what they had grown accustomed to doing. Tony counted. With every multiple of three, Jin-ho attempted to breathe in. At 30, the Korean’s breath started to grow lengthier, less tense. At 66, Jin-ho’s shaking had subsided. At 84, he had opened his eyes. Catching sight of Tony there made his apprehensions fade out slightly, and Tony slowly slackened his grip. “How you doing?”

“I feel like death,” Jin-ho croaked. At that, Tony gave the smallest of smiles. 

“Yeah.” A laugh, “That’s what usually happens. Need anything?”

Jin-ho took a shaky breath. He had been able to remove his hand from his mouth at 36. “Water. I…I need water.” 

“Got it.” Tony pressed something and spoke — probably speaking to the mic clipped onto his collar — asking for a pitcher of water and a single glass. “Anything else?”

Mood Boards: Kang Jin-ho

The Conqueror: A Russie Features Graphic

Flickers: A Russie Features Short

Adagio Apparthotel

Saint Etienne, France

October 2015

“Hi love, how are you doing?” 

Mathieu smiled at the semi-grainy image of Aether, the figure on the screen barely able to contain a yawn. It was one in the morning back in the United States compared to France’s seven; it explained why his girlfriend was feigning off sleepiness. “I’m alright. We’re flying back tomorrow.” 

“I’m glad…things are getting pretty lonely around here,” she admitted. Mathieu frowned slightly. Aether must have noticed because she quickly added, “but I’m doing okay, aside from that. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself,” she reassured him with a faint smile. He gave a hesitant nod. “How’s Jin-ho? You told me that he’s been swamped with all these business meetings lately,” she told with a wry smile. Mathieu gave his own smile back, yet felt a guilty tug in his chest. 

“Jin-ho’s alright. Sleeping though.” Mathieu angled his laptop to show Jin-ho’s hotel bed, where the other was sleeping soundly. Aether managed to hold in a laugh and Mathieu readjusted the laptop back to himself. “He’s tired. Don’t know how, but he suddenly got way more than he expected.” 

“Are you going to extend…?”

“I don’t think so.” she perked up a little at that, “He wants to come back as soon as possible. And so do I,” he added quietly. “I miss you.” 

“I miss you too.” Mathieu reached out towards the screen and rested a thumb on the image of her cheek. Aether caught the action and she smiled sadly, watching from her own phone screen thousands of miles away. “Bring me something?”