Hedge

“Should I hedge?” Was the question he asked his Halmeoni.

“I'm not totally sure. Honestly, I feel bad. It's my fault you went there unprepared. Ideally you would've spent more time training. But...”

“Well, I guess this is the reason you go in with a team, right?”

“It's fine.” Yeong decided.

“You did the best you could given the time you had. I appreciate it.”

“I could send out feelers into Murim and try to see if there's anyone that would be interested. It'd be easier if you could just decide one way or another.” She sighed and added.

“What do you think you could learn from a core beast, anyway?”

“I feel like her Soma is advanced to an unreasonable degree. She wins without skill. Do you remember what you said about that?”

“Yes yes...”

“There was no outplaying.”

“Just power. You mentioned that. If you were a certain other individual I knew, I would think you could maybe replicate that... However, I'm not sure what you could expect to do. If she can offer anything at all.”

“That's why I'm asking if I can hedge a little. Split the difference.”

“That depends. If the two people you're splitting the difference with don't find common ground then it's just going to end poorly for you. Are you willing to take that risk?”

“I'm already taking risks.” He thought back to the month he spent as a Tekked maid.

“Are you alright? You sound a bit off.”

“I'm fine. I just need to get back into my own rhythm.” Yeong claimed.

“Got it. I'll do what I can from here. Let me know if anything comes up.”

* *

Lad pulled his electric kettle off it's stand and poured a mug of warm water for Yeong and himself. “Surprised you contacted me.” He handed over one. The apartment looked roomy for two. It was built like a hangout but felt empty. The couches built for gatherings had the cushions indented slightly, as though in common use. But no one else was in sight, or even in range.

“I thought I was contacting 'Dri'.” Yeong broached the subject that was on his mind.

“Does anyone else live here?”

“Not anymore.” Lad said sadly.

“Big place for you and...” Yeong looked around illustrative.

“Does she live here?”

“For the most part. She doesn't pay rent, though.” Lad's eyes were sunken. His hair was already a pale gray. He looked dejected.

“Having rent troubles?”

“No.” He answered easily.

“Just a problem of going from multiple payers down to a single. I know the landlord. I'll ask for an extension and it'll be fine for a while.”

“Sorry for punching you.” Yeong offered conversationally.

Lad took a sip from his cup and glanced up at Yeong pointedly. “Why are you here?”

“I wanted to talk to Dri.”

“Are you sure? She IS a literal monster, you know.” Lad stated.

“Is it fine if she hears you say that?”

“She can argue, but she wont do anything to me. Same can't be said for you. I don't know how long whatever good will she has towards you will last.” Lad argued in a frank tone.

“Maybe she likes me and that's the reason her number's in my phone?” Yeong joked. He also took a sip of hot water. There was no flavoring aside from the natural taste and texture of Orr tap water.

Lad sighed lightly. He stared off wistfully. “You should pray that she doesn't, I think.”

“What's that supposed to mean, Lad?” Came a voice from across the room. Yeong's eyes panned towards the entrance to the apartment. Dri walked in casually. In contrast to what she had on in the club she was wearing a sports bra and shorts. Her feet were bare and she still showed a significant amount of her pale skin. Her neck was bare, of course. For better or for worse she was free.

Lad called out without looking back. “It means your affection is poisonous.”

Yeong blinked. It was a venomous statement. He expected her to lash our or become upset. Instead she grinned widely, sidled up behind him where he was seated on the couch and gently massaged his shoulders.

“Are you STILL upset about what happened with your sister? My intentions were good. I just wanted to be closer to you than anyone else.” She explained it as though it made perfect sense.

“Hmm.” She pouted in response to his silence.

“That means yes.” Dri looked to Yeong with a huff.

“Anyway, what do YOU want?” She asked bitterly.

“Are you willing to help me become stronger?”

“No. Why would I do that?” Dri scoffed.

“Having any luck tracking down the ones that trapped you and used you?” Yeong asked facetiously.

She lifted a brow. “Yeah! I killed the imp and his wife. Kids got away but I'll find them, too. Almost done.”

“Except that's cope.” Yeong claimed. Dri stared him down curiously.

“They were hosting your captors. They were the front.” She continued to feign confusion.

“The goblin in the white coat with glasses. The men in jump-suits.”

Her eyes widened. “Who told you about them?”

“I don't know if you're fooling yourself into thinking you're done, or if your pride wont allow you to admit that you're stuck.” Yeong shuddered as he conjured thoughts from his time as a maid.

“For... Reasons, I am privy a lot of info. I also have resources that can get you closer to the Corp that made you into a test subject. Fennek Arms.”

Dri shook her head. “You just told me so I'll take that info and go wipe them out right now.”

Yeong offered blank stair. “If they had the tek to contain you once, what makes you think they can't just do it again? Are you going to go in on your own without help from the ones that freed you initially?” He had planned out his rationale. The only question was;

'Is she rational enough to accept it?'

Dri appeared to be mulling it over. It took her a lot of time to finally come to terms with what Yeong was saying. She eventually relented and said.

“Fine. What was it you needed me to do?”

“We're going to try and make sense of your insane Soma abilities, then see if they can be transferred to me through training, or other methods.”

“Sounds like it partially helps me, too.” She remarked.

“Was hoping you would pick up on that. Yeah. It does.”

* *

Yeong exhaled deeply. 'That went better than I thought.'

“Did it?” A woman asked beside him. He did not notice her approach so he jumped and was immediately put on guard. She was short and looked younger than him. Her hair was shoulder-length, mussed and pink. The dye-job looked very natural. Her clothing was eccentric, to say the least. Tight leggings with one side cut into a short. She wore a tight blue stocking on that side. Around her neck she wore a pair of blue earphones. Over a long blue tank-top she had on a very thick pink and white jacket.

“Because I bet you feel like you got what you wanted but at the end of the day you're a cheater.” She stared at Yeong with wide, unblinking eyes. They were light blue. The woman looked like she was from Southern Trysk.

“W-what?”

“Do you think you're the type of guy that can set up a date with two girls at once and get away with it?” She scolded.

“To be fair... I did not know you'd be a woman.”

The girl leaned back. “Oh. That's true.” She smiled.

“Still. Isn't that an interesting dance partner you found? Do you think she'd like to meet me?”

Yeong shook his head. “P-probably not?”

“Great!” She hooked her arm under his. The two awkwardly stood together in the elevator as it went up.

“I actually do like your idea. It's a neat thing to stumble upon. Dunno why no one's tried it yet. Learning from Core Beasts.” She marveled. He could not tell at all if she was being serious. The elevator pinged open. She dragged Yeong towards the apartment and unceremoniously kicked the door down.

“Knock knock!” No sooner did she say that did Dri come pouncing out from the dwelling screaming.

“Not nice!”

Yeong could perceive with some difficulty what was happening, because the two players were incredibly advanced in their own way. The woman shifted on her heel and moved her hips while reaching out to grab Dri's hand. The monster looked quite surprised as the Martial-Artist pulled Dri into what looked for a moment like a waltz move that had their places change as she spun Dri and herself around.

“Get out!” Dri screeched.

“Let's gooo!” She woman said excitedly, tapping her sneakers to some unheard beat. She pulled the headphones over her ear and started stepping side to side rhythmically while moving her body. She pumped her fist in the air twice as Dri lunged back into the residence. The woman side stepped each of the Spyder's attacks, but it was incredibly close. To Yeong the fight was looking more like the woman was dancing while accidentally avoiding each of Dri's blows. She smiled widely and held her headphones tight as she had to jump up and do a split over one of Dri's low tackles. She landed nimbly and kept stepping.

“Girl!” She shouted.

“Your body's language is crazy! It's like jazz! People'll think there's not much there, but it's actually pretty complex!” She spoke jarringly loud in the quiet space, like she was trying to speak over the intense noise of a club.

“But you should stop now, alright!?”

“Get out!” Dri repeated angrily before picking up speed and momentum from across the room.

The woman lifted a finger. “Hold on, this is my favorite part!” As Dri got close the woman clapped both of her hands together once. It wasn't a particularly loud sound or a harsh movement. Just a light clap. But the moment it happened Dri lost her balance and tumbled onto her back, struggling to get up. For Yeong as well the world suddenly went sideways, then vertical as he realized he was staring up at the ceiling while it spun. She pulled her headphones off.

“Alright. I like this plan, but we're gonna have to try and work together and not kill each other, alright? Can we do that?” She leaned over Dri.

“Spider lady?” Dri's eyes were rolled back. She was foaming slightly at the mouth.

“We're gonna give you all a few minutes?” She looked around the room at all the **** people.

“Yeah, a few minutes sounds good.”

* *

“Why did you bring this one here?” Dri asked Yeong through gritted teeth. The Great Master was rubbing up against Dri, pinching parts of her.

“Mmm! Yep. This is an impressive body.” The GM announced as Dri just stood by and took it. Any attempt to push the girl off just resulted in another strange dance maneuver that brought them back to the same position. It was like striking water.

“Firm in all the right places.” She ran her hand up Dri's toned belly.

“And soft where it needs to be.” She reached up and squeezed her breast.

“Is this necessary?” Yeong finally asked.

“I dunno? Do you want my help?”

“Y... es.” He admitted.

“Sorry for the mess, by the way.” She called back to Lad.

“It's fine.” Lad waved a hand dismissively from the couch.

“Do whatever you want. To anyone here.”

The GM blinked and glanced between Yeong and Dri. “Has anyone addressed how upset that boy is?”

* * *

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