Chapter Text
Yoongi closed his suitcase slowly, ensuring to be absolutely silent. It was early in the morning, the sun still under the horizon outside. Everyone was asleep in the fire station, it was his only chance to escape. He mentally checked everything was ready while grabbing his suitcase and going out of his room, always making sure to not emit a sound. It was just out of the question for him to stay one more minute in here, where piles of paperwork at least as high as himself were waiting for him. So Captain Min Yoongi of the 309th division of the Seoul Firefighters had decided to take early vacations in a little city called Jjeoreo.
He had already booked his room at the Optatum, the only hotel of the little city. He had never gone there, yet he was trusting the establishment's reputation of being very calm, secluded, and most of all, discreet about his patrons. Because he didn't want his men showing up to bring him back while he would be bathing in warm, scented water.
Yoongi finally reached the station's entrance, he looked back one last time to make sure no one was there and left.
Hoseok changed down gears to negotiate the bend making his black Porsche 911 Carrera roar. The racer ran a few more laps before getting back to the garage he was attributed. Inje Speedium was a great circuit and the fact it was seahorse shaped was just the cutest. It was his first time on that circuit and it had been quite enjoyable. He took off his helmet and his old Firefox jacket, keeping both in his hands once he was done. He had been criticised a lot for wearing a motorbike outfit while doing car racing, but he considered it his lucky item as he had always finished in the top five while wearing it, since he had started driving - motorbikes at the time - back when he was 16.
He was rudely interrupted in his post racing bliss by a handful of reporters showing their mics in his face and yelling questions at him. Lately, all the drivers were under fire because of some new drug supposed to improve reflexes and lower the feeling of fear. Journalists were harassing all the people working directly or indirectly in car racing to expose the cheaters. It had already been three weeks and Hoseok's patience was wearing thin as he was accosted daily by cameras.
The young man went through to grab a cup of coffee at the distributor, ignoring the verbal attacks. A few minutes later he was announced his car was ready. He went back to the garage and drove out of the circuit. His sponsor had booked him a room admittedly a bit far from the circuit but that was at least guaranteed without any journalist, the company making sure to keep his location confidential. He didn't know the place at all, being currently guided to Jjeoreo by his GPS. However he had been assured the place was really comfortable, with good food and a unique style. In fact, as long as the hotel was safe, Hoseok could go with anything - okay, maybe not anything, more like no cockroach, no rat, no spider, no termite or any kind of little parasitic living being, clean sheets, towels and no dust, easy right ?
Kim Taehyung the greatest detective of the century - according to his mother, so it was obviously true - was on a new adventure !
He was going to resolve the mystery of the Jjeoreo missing children !
It was an old story about seven little boys going missing on December 24th and reappearing in a flower field, exactly four month later on April 24th, unconscious and talking nonsense. As soon as he had discovered the article in an old newspaper lying around in a deserted house - he was searching for a missing dog at the time - he had wanted to shed light on that story. So he had asked his mother for his magnifier and she had let him go, after puffing up a bit his baby perm and making sure he had correctly buttoned up his shirt.
And here he was now, in the train for Jjeoreo, with a hand-drawn map to lead him to his hotel and the newspaper. He had read the article again and again, despite its lack of information. There were only two photos: one of the children on the evening of their disappearance, posing in front of snow-covered trees and one in the flower field, where the seven of them laid in a circle. Concerning the text, it only explained the boys were friends, that none of them had ever been problematic and that after their recovery they had started talking on and on about "reaching their most beautiful moment in life" without ever explaining what they meant by that.
The police had absolutely no clue, not even a rumour... yet Taehyung was sure he would solve the mystery ! Because he was the greatest detective of the century !!
Jimin yawned while adjusting the pile of papers on his laps. The train was boring and he had barely slept the night before, because of the cries of his neighbours' newborn. His building was more and more noisy, he was seriously thinking about moving. Yet the rent was cheap and he worked so much he was barely there anyway so he still hadn't searched for something better. But now was not the time. He should rather concentrate on his stay at the Optatum. It had become his habit to spend a weekend every month at the red hotel, despite the distance. It was a perfect working environnement for him and his manuscript Jumping with love, a story about three girls living next to each other and meeting thanks to the trampoline in their backyards. No one knew about it for now, the young author too shy to share his work with anyone.
He had to plan the next two days carefully as this time he was also bringing work with him, his tyrannical boss always asking for reports at the last minute. He trusted his destination to be calm and mostly silent but the slow internet connection was going to be a problem, hence him bringing so much papers. If he started working on it as soon as he arrived in the hotel, he should be able to finish in the early afternoon. Then he would go to the little grocery shop nearby, buy a whole stock of Tagada Strawberry and fried chicken takeout to last the night and go back to his room to write until dinner. Because no matter how much he loved his story, the hotel food was delicious and there was always a nice atmosphere in the dining hall.
He hugged his manuscript closer and closed his eyes for a moment, lightly lulled by the moving train.
The devilish alarm clock rang loudly before being gently punched in the wall behind. A Pikachu onesie slowly crawled from under the covers while groaning. The bright yellow creature shuffled towards his kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing food without raising his head. He poured milk carelessly in a mug and added a handful of cereal, before eating the result distractedly while checking the notifications on his phone. Once he was done, the Pokemon outfit went in his bathroom and from his hoodie emerged the head of a sleepy Jeon Jungkook. The young police officer finished getting ready without enthusiasm, grabbed his duffel bag and went out to his patrol car.
It was his turn to patrol in the region as there was only one headquarter left here. But more than a real patrol, those rounds were mostly dedicated to helping the locals with missing pets, broken cars and harvesting. Even though his kind nature wasn't especially bothered by that, it wasn't really what he expected when he enrolled in the police so he had some difficulties getting motivated. At least, there was always large servings for him at the Optatum and Mr Bang, the owner of the hotel, was kind and joyful. Which was almost even more frustrating as he would only spend one night in the town, and do likewise for the next twelve days at each stop of his watch.
Sometimes he wished a kid would pull a big prank just to break the routine and have some actual police work to do...
Namjoon took his bag before getting out of the weekly bus that connected his military station to the closest city, JJeoreo. The town was as empty as usual. Despite craving for his leave, he didn't want to go too far away from his men. The North was just too close. And Namjoon had to admit he had fallen in love with the bright red brick building, standing out in the countryside with its twelve floors, as soon as he had set foot inside for the first time. The extravagant 20s style of the Optatum was incredible: the red everywhere, the scissor gate elevator, the padded armchairs and sofas with sculpted legs and all the little details like the period phones and gramophones - that were actually modified to read CDs, connect a USB and broadcast quality sound. The vintage appearance with modern comfort was just the best for the Colonel Kim.
He would stay for a week, already planning to alternate between walks in the nearby forest and reading. He was also anticipating new discussions about music with the hotel's owner who was a retired producer. Opposite to that, the rest of the staff was rather discreet, to fit the calm reputation of the establishment, but they also had a kind nature that put you at ease - especially after you had broken your fifth cup in three days...
The doctor Kim sipped a little bit of coffee before beginning the next chapter of the book he was reading, MRI: Central Nervous System by Derek C. Kucharczyk and Walter Kucharczyk. The book was interesting, even though a bit outdated nowadays, it provided other point of views on the techniques and that was what the doctor was searching for.
He was currently on an unique case, an elderly man who suffered of hallucinations and whose memories were altering. It seemed like his hallucinations were slowly replacing his past, making him unable to recognize his family and asking for people no one knew. No similar case had ever been seen. It had started after the patient had fell in the stairs in his house, causing a trauma that explained the illusions but not the memory replacement.
Seokjin, as a rising neurologist, couldn't ignore such a case. It was now three days since he had arrived and found a nice room at the red hotel near his patient's house. He was currently in his room, enjoying a late breakfast of coffee, toasts and pieces of fruit all served in delicate porcelaine dishes. He was one of the only two guests of the hotel. The other was a rude man living on the eighth floor, always looking grouchy and who had yelled at Seokjin for taking the lift at the same time as him and taking too much space with his books. Truly a despicable character.