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Kim Dokja doesn't know how long he's been here. The days passed without his knowing. The sky look ever the same. He does not have the means to go back to his companions. He is trapped here with no one to turn to.
"Kim Dokja," a voice he longs to hear from another, calls out to him. He turns to where it comes from, closing shut the book he holds in his hands. His guard, his warden for the day, 999 was standing near the door. "Come, it is time to eat."
Kim Dokja sighs, complying. There is no use being stubborn. He needs the strength to break free if–no when–an opportunity for escape presents itself. He gave 999 a small smile, crouching to offer his hand for the kkoma to step on. 999 looks at him with a blank face before sighing and stepping on the proffered hand, letting Kim Dokja carry him close to his chest like a prized stuff toy. The halls of the Plotter's place are without decoration, plain white and is identical as the next turn, a maze, a labyrinth.
Kim Dokja opens the door to the dining hall (that only he uses). Some other kkomas are there, amongst them are 777, 888, 666, 81, and 520. 41 rarely ever leaves the Plotter's side, except when night comes (or whatever is the equivalent of night in this never changing place). He stays with Kim Dokja then (without fail).
"Thank you Nines. For guiding me here," he says quietly. 999 looks up at him, seeming to want to say something but didn't in the end. He nods and then jump down to land on the table.
81 laid out his meals. It's different from the day before (it's never the same). It's a typical Korean meal with rice, a main dish, and side dishes. Kim Dokja always thought that he can never eat these much but he was proven wrong (or maybe it was just that delicious). He starts to eat slowly, savoring the taste (and frankly because he doesn't have much of an appetite to eat now).
"My companions?" He asks, "How are they? Tsunhyuk, did you watch them today as well?" He asks, smiling teasingly at 666.
"Shut up Kim Dokja!" 666 said as he pouts, "and don't call me that," he harrumphs, "and yes they're fine, so don't worry about them anymore."
Kim Dokja smiles, "That's good," he continues to eat. The kkomas look at each other, uneasiness churning at their being.
666 looks for something to say, uncomfortable with KDJ's silence. "Your kids are fine. Uh your boy got a new insect and your incarnation is taking care of a new beast too! Your dokkaebi daughter is uhm cute and very busy these days," 666 rumbles on.
A warm hand pats his head, Kim Dokja is caressing him. "Thank you, Yu Junghyeok," 666's eyes widen and his face progressively grows hotter that Kim Dokja thinks that steam is rising from how red he is. 'It feels nice,' 666 thinks, 'to be called that again, my name,'
Whatever gloom Kim Dokja was feeling is temporarily gone. He finished the whole meal and thanked 81.
"Do you have any request for a snack?" 81 asks as KDJ blinks down at him.
"Do you know how to make a Dorayaki?"
"No, but I'm sure I can make it."
"Then, I want that. Thank you,"
"Can you guide me back to the library?" He asked to no one in particular. This time Kim Dokja didn't offer to carry any of the kkomas who leads the way. He didn't even try to memorize the way because it's just going to change again (it's pointless, futile. He'll never get away).
Kim Dokja grabbed the book he was reading before. He opened it to where he left off and soon he was dead to the world, fully immersed on the story. A considerable amount of time passed and his Dorayaki request was delivered to him. A pot of hot chocolate accompanied it. Kim Dokja tears off the Dorayaki, eating it like that. He offers some to the kkoma nearest him, it was refused. Kim Dokja droops a little his smile trembles, becoming strained. The kkoma panics, snatching the food and stuffing it in his mouth.
Kim Dokja's genial smile was back in place. The kkomas grow wary (he is a ticking time bomb). He finished the book and engaged the kkomas to idle conversations. The kkomas tread carefully, walking on eggshells. Afraid of the inevitable breakdown.
41 swung open the library doors and the kkomas with Kim Dokja collectively sighs in relief.
"Dokja, it's time to sleep," he says with no room for protest.
"Okay," he replies. He stood up and followed 41, an entourage of kkomas following behind.
They arrived at his room, the only room in N'gai that has some color that isn't white. Kim Dokja moves on autopilot. He strips, no longer shy from the gaze of the kkomas (they already saw everything anyway). A bath has been prepared for him (like always).
He moves methodically, slowly, carefully, as if if he moves suddenly something will break. While he baths, the kkomas prepare his bed and chose his clothes for him, lit some therapeutic candles for him, and whatever else they think of to do.
He rinsed and dried himself, eyes looking at something far away. He pats his head dry as he walks back to his bed. He let the towel drop to the floor (they'll clean it up, they always do. Cleaning his messes). Kim Dokja puts on the clothes they picked for him. It is soft and warm.
He plops down on his bed, it is so soft and fluffy he sinks. He curls on himself, hands close to his chest. Some of the kkomas hesitantly pets him and some burrows close to his body, trying to comfort him. Kim Dokja closed his eyes tightly shut, his lips trembles, his brow furrows.
An irritated exclaim made Kim Dokja flinch, jostling the kkomas. "Out!" 41 barks at the others. Some of the other kkomas looked at 41 with disdain, protesting. A stifled whimper from KDJ and the kkomas shut their mouths and clung to him.
"Get out now," 41 said quietly but still aggressive. The others were reluctant but one more look from 41 & they jumped off the bed and out the door. 41 turns to Kim Dokja getting close to his face. He placed his hand on Kim Dokja's cheek, touching him with an uncharacteristic gentleness.
"They're gone now. It's okay. It's just you and me now," 41 said quietly. Knowing that the others are gone now, Kim Dokja lets his tears fall. He turns his face to the mattress, muffling his sobs and cries. 41 sat there, letting him cry his frustration, sadness, and loneliness out.
The kkomas outside the door hears Kim Dokja's breakdown. Some of them press their foreheads to the door and some pace back and forth. Such feelings of helplessness fester in their hearts. They stayed there until Kim Dokja's cries has subsided and tapered out.
Kim Dokja has cried himself to sleep. His eyes are rimmed red and puffy. His face messy with tear stains. 41 finally moved from his perch, cleaning up Kim Dokja's face for him. He burrowed himself in Kim Dokja's arms, laying down beside him. He closes his eyes, waiting.
The kkomas outside Kim Dokja's room stayed and stationed themselves there. A subtle change in the air made the kkomas stiffen, looking over at the overbearing aura. Some brave ones (foolish) glare at the approaching figure. Tendrils of shadows lap and surrounds the man.
"Plotter," it wasn't known who it was that said it. The Plotter's gaze flit over them indifferently.
"Move," no one moved.
"Then I shall make you move," the Plotter's aura bears down on them but even though they know they can't win, the kkomas still let out their own status'.
The Plotter took the unruly kkomas and integrated them back to himself. The kkomas who didn't participate, stands at the sides.
"Now go and do your other duties," they glare at him but still went on their way. 666 was one of the others who didn't antagonize the Plotter, he looks back at the Plotter and saw him standing in front of Kim Dokja's room but didn't enter. 666 watched him until he can no longer see him (the halls have changed again).
The Plotter slowly opens the door. The room is plunged into darkness except for the place near the bed (the candles are still burning). He sat on the bed and held Kim Dokja's wrist probing the status of his incarnation body. 41 opened his eyes and wordlessly stares at the Plotter.
"How long are you going to cling to him?" 41 judgingly says, "You're going to break him. You have to let him go," SP pursed his lips.
"I need him. He is necessary to learn the truth of this world,"
"Is that really the reason why," 41 looks at him knowingly.
"Yes,"
He says but they both know that it's a lie.
Kim Dokja stirs in his sleep, clutching 41 closer to him. A stab of jealousy pierced the Plotter's heart. 'Even here, I was never your chose. There is always someone else. Everyone else but me,' his hand clenches the sheets so tightly it ripped, the sound of tearing loud in the quiet room.
41 looks at him mockingly and the Plotter wants to do nothing else but slap that look on his infuriating face. He decided to ignore 41, instead focusing on Kim Dokja's slumbering form.
The Plotter grabbed 41 who growls at him. He carefully yanked him away from Kim Dokja and flung him somewhere in the room, 41's cursing fell on deaf ears. 'Just once. Just this once, embrace me too,' SP lifts Kim Dokja's arms and draped it over him, he hugged Kim Dokja tightly, afraid to let go.
41 gnashed his teeth in annoyance but sighed at the sight of the pitiful Outer God. He positioned himself over the head of the two, resolving to himself to keep an eye.
That was the only time that the Plotter succumbed to his yearning.
Come morning, the Plotter and Wenny King gave Kim Dokja a scenario. 41 wanted to go with him but the Plotter is still being petty and assigned 999 to accompany Kim Dokja instead. The Plotter let Kim Dokja go in the hopes that he will fail and become an Outer God so that he'll be his at last.
And so Kim Dokja's Journey to the West arc begins.