Suok feels herself sliding out of sleep, and it’s very annoying. She reaches for that comfortable, drowsy state, and chases it. Eyes closed and senses fuzzy, she nestles into the corner pressed against her head. But- she’s being shaken, and it’s very annoying. “…What?” She mumbles, tucking her head further into that corner. Her neck hurts and the corner isn’t very comfortable, but opening her eyes and moving to find somewhere else is definitely not worth it. “Kkoma, wake up.” The gentle whisper stirs her consciousness. It’s Jungok. Of course it is. Suok is shaken again. “Kkoma, everyone’s leaving. We need to get off the train.” Louder, this time. Grunting, Suok lets her sister pull her up, and lead her onto the aisle and to the door. She totters down the ramp, gripping her sister as they walk onto the platform. Her siblings whisper something, seem to come to a decision as they merge with the crowd. Eyes half-lidded, Suok struggles to track Haeok’s figure against the darkness of the night sky, Jungok pulling her along. Suok shivers as the wind nips at her skin, chilled by the autumn night. Kyongsong doesn’t feel very different from home. Stumbling over the pavement, the noise around her rises as a gush of warm air hits her face- blearily, her eyes squint against the light to see they’ve entered the station, domed room even wider than Daegu’s and the conversation of a hundred voices humming around her. Haeok’s sharp gaze surveys the room, before landing upon a section of the wall close to a side door- between the seating and a wide pillar, Suok doubts they’ll be bothered as he leads them over to sit. She makes for the wall, leaning against it as she sits on the floor. She sighs, missing their warm gudeul floor as the cold tile chills her skin. Leaning her head against the wall, she looks up. Across from her, Jungok rifles through a wicker bag, producing two small onggi pots and setting them on the tile. To Suok’s side, Haeok remains standing, leaning against the pillar and scanning the crowds of people who mill about the atrium. Opening the onggi to reveal cracked barley and kimchi, Jungok hands them chopsticks and a persimmon each. “I cooked it before we left,” she explains. “It’s not the best, but it will at least give some energy now; we can have something fresh once we get to Pyongyang.” Haeok nods, sending a small smile to Jungok before biting into his persimmon. Suok bites into the fruit appreciatively, and the meal continues in silence as they quickly eat. She watches the way that Jungok covers the Kimchi when they finish it, careful not to draw any attention- the way that Haeok stands up to lean against the pillar as he finishes, eyes never leaving the crowd around them; Suok finishes as fast as she can. Her tongue is dry with thirst, but she stays quiet. Finishing, Jungok returns the onggi to the bag, tucking it away carefully before standing and dusting off her skirt. “I think the tickets are over there,” Haeok says, pointing a good distance away to a booth fixed in the middle of the hall. A small line of people lead to one of the booth’s windows, with a timetable propped next to it. Nodding, Jungok follows him as he gestures for them to walk towards it, Suok trailing after them both. Standing at the end of the line, she moves to the front of the three. The line moves fairly quickly- unlike at Daegu station, the transaction is efficient and straight to the point when Suok finds their turn next. A nudge from behind her pushes her forward, and she goes to stand before the counter. “Hello, where are you going?” The man behind the counter intones. “Pyongyang, please.” “How many of you are there?” “Three.” “Which carriage?” “Third.” Practiced hands find the roll of tickets, snapping off three with quick efficiency. “Here you are.” The tickets are slid under the window. “Three tickets to Pyongyang, third class, Kyongui line. The train leaves in around half an hour, at nine.” Suok gives a rushed thank you as she’s jostled out of the line, the man behind the counter already helping the next group of travelers. Frowning, she looks down at the tickets in her hands as they stand by the timetable. “Kyongui line, he said, in half an hour. Where’s that?” She wonders, looking up to her siblings. Jungok stares back at her, expression doubtful as she shrugs. “Dunno,” her sister voices, turning to where their brother faces the crowd. “Haeok?” He sighs into his response, eyes scanning the hall for signage. “I’m looking.” A small frown crosses Jungok’s expression, almond eyes meeting Suok’s. “Maybe we should ask someone?” She suggests, brow furrowed. Passively, Suok nods. A quick look back at the ticket line tells her waiting there again in the hopes of getting clearer directions isn’t worth it. Instead, she leans onto the tips of her toes, trying to peer over Haeok’s shoulder to look over the crowd. Predictably, she can’t find anything- as her siblings can’t at their height, she’s completely unable to. But- eyes squinting, she shifts her vision down to the movement of the crowd- and quick movements, someone floating skillfully between the clustered groups of people, catch her eye. He looks around her own age, Suok thinks. With plain clothes, a broad face and ears that stick out just enough to be obvious, the boy goes largely unnoticed as he slips alone through the crowd. Compared to the single-minded rush of people carried through the station as though pushed by a current, the boy weaves through the waters with ease. Someone like that, who moves with such confidence- surely he knows where to go. So, Suok waves. “Sumimasen!” She calls, frowning a little as it goes unnoticed and he continues to walk. She moves to follow him, making her way into the center of the hall to follow his retreating form. “Hey- Suok-ah!” Jungok’s calls fade as Suok hurries ahead. “What are you doing?!” “Asking for directions!” She returns, turning over her shoulder before continuing to follow the boy. She runs slightly to catch up, hastening as he moves to round a corner. Now just a few footsteps behind, she tries again. “Sumimasen!” Startling, the boy turns, eyes wide and mouth slightly parted. His cheeks are brushed with dirt, Suok notices. “Sorry,” she starts again. “But, do you know where the Keigisen line is?” He closes his mouth, before opening it again. “Uh,” he stutters, before shaking his head. “Sorry,” he responds in mumbled Korean, before moving to turn around. “Sorry!” Suok apologizes before he can walk away, in clear Korean. “Sorry, I just meant to ask if you knew how to get to platform for the Kyongui line.” "Oh- oh?" He blinks, open-mouthed, before closing it again as if on realization. His thoughts are so apparent on his face, Suok thinks, bemused. "Yeah, I- I know where it is. I could…" his tone is hesitant, trailing off as his gaze meets the floor. "I could, take you there? If you'd like?" "Really?” Suok confirms, a relieved smile crossing her face when he nods. “Yes, please!" It’s then that her siblings finally catch up to her, the bulky ba jige on Haeok’s back prominent as they break through the crowd. "Suok-ah!" Jungok admonishes, walking to meet her. "Where did you run off to?!" Her brow is pinched in worry as Suok turns to face her. "He says he can take us to the platform, ah-" She looks back to the boy, questioning. "What's your name? I'm Suok, born in twenty-nine." Startled, looks up "Oh, I'm Injae- born in thirty.” "Ah, you can call me noona if you want.” She smiles, and gestures to the two who just arrived, “these are my siblings, Haeok and Jungok." “Oh, uh- nice to meet you,” he stutters, leaning into a bow. “I can, uhm. I’ll take you to Kyongui line, if you’d like.” “Sure. That’s really kind of you,” Jungok says, to which Injae shakes his head. “Ah, it’s okay,” he mumbles in response, averting eye contact. “Here, it’s this way,” he says, gesturing for the siblings to follow as he turns into another corridor. Following his lead, they walk through the station with ease, avoiding the commonly walked paths. Suok wonders if some of the hallways they pass are meant to be used by travelers at all, but she keeps this thought unvoiced as she follows Injae’s sure steps. It’s been just a few minutes of walking when, after pushing open a side door, She finds herself standing on a largely empty platform, a great steel train motionless before her. A moment later, and her siblings are pushing through the door to stand beside her. In front of her, Injae turns to face them, gaze skirting between the three. “Well- this one’s the Kyongui,” he says, hesitating slightly. “Thank you so much,” Suok smiles, nodding to Injae. “We probably would have missed the train otherwise.” His head shakes quickly as she finishes. “No, ah- I think you would have found it.” “Let’s get on it before we do miss it, then,” Haeok interjects, nodding to where the train stands, and stepping forward towards it. “Thank you, Injae-yah!” Jungok affirms, tone bright as she follows Haeok to the train. The pinkness of his ears are visible even as he exits back through the door. Suok waves to him as it closes- through the door’s darkened glass, she thinks he waves back. The train is half-empty as they board it, despite having only a few minutes until its departure. The seats are again in rows of three, with two rows facing another and sharing a window. Suok walks past a man reading the newspaper in his seat as she slides into a row by the door, sitting next to the window. Jungok comes to sit beside her, Haeok sitting at the window seat across from them. Waiting for the train to move, Suok sits nestled against the familiar warmth of her sister, gazing out of the onto the platform. However- her head tilts in curiosity as she spies a familiar figure with big ears slipping onto the platform. Pressing her hands on the cold window-pane, she peers out to confirm- Injae? Not a moment later, soft steps sound behind her as someone walks onto the train. Across from her, Haeok’s eyes are widened, incredulous- Suok turns to look over the back of her seat towards the door. It is Injae who stands behind her seat, posture hunched inwards with the expression of someone anticipating a scolding- a dog with his tail between his legs. “Hi,” he mumbles, eyes darting across the ground between him and where the siblings sit. “Hey,” Jungok says, smiling. “You’re going to Pyongyang too?” “Uh- yes,” he stutters, nodding vigorously. His eyes flit up to meet Suok’s, before darting back to the floor. “Well, you should ride with us,” Suok adds, Jungok nodding in agreement beside her. Across them, Haeok’s eyes are narrowed as they watch the boy suspiciously- though even he doesn’t question Injae’s sudden reappearance. Jungok’s eyes are teasing when she continues. “You can sit next to Oppa if you’d like,” She suggests, nodding to where he sits. If possible, Haeok’s eyes narrow further as Jungok muffles a giggle into her hand. Timidly, Injae moves forward. The tips of his ears are tinged a light pink as he sits next to Haeok, who grunts as he moves to leave the middle seat empty between them. “Hi,” the boy mumbles, glancing over to Haeok before quickly looking away. The older’s only response is a noncommittal grunt, arms crossed over his chest as he leans back against the seat, eyes closed. Across from them, Jungok scoffs. “Don’t worry,” She assures Injae’s bewildered expression. “He’s always like this when he’s tired.” At that, his posture relaxes slightly. Legs held against her chest, Suok sits comfortably curled between her sister and the window as the train shudders beneath them, beginning to clack against the rails as it slowly moves forward.