Nodding along, it seems that Jihye has been comforted at least slightly. Since he isn't talking to the teenager, he leans back to be comfortable in the recliner once more. When he gets a view of the protagonists face, it's very particular. He can't say in what way, but Dokja feels like he's seen that face before.
He doesn't get long to think about it when Joonghyuk starts to lean his weight on the reader, effectively squishing him. Dokja manages to get out a strangled garble but it doesn't change anything.
Fucking bastard.
Bihyung holds his head in one of his hands, remarking that Dokja really does have a sense of humor. How dare a mere human mention the contract, regardless of where he heard about it? It's not something for mortals to know about or desire. Especially when they don't even have a constellation of their own.
However, Dokja has gotten this far and it wasn't by backing down. "That's exactly why you should accept my offer."
[What?]
Hook, line, and sinker.
"Why do you think constellations join Star Stream channels in the first place?"
'The subscribers of the Star Stream can be divided into two groups. The first are the thrill seekers who hop through the channels looking for entertainment. The second are the incarnation seekers who are in search of an incarnations to sponsor.'
"If you want your channel to flourish, you have to satisfy at least one of the two groups," Dokja points out, strategically throwing out the net to catch this dokkaebi in his plan. "Either you make your stream as entertaining as possible, or try to find an incarnation that interests your subscribers."
Bihyung thinks for a moment, but he can't understand why anything like that concerns Dokja in the first place. Dokja, however, is not amused. No wonder Bihyung's channel only has subscribers in the three digits.
The feral grin replaces his unamused deadpan, the glint returning to his eyes as this plan plays out just as he needs it to. "What if there was a channel that could both entertain its subscribers and showcase interesting incarnations?"
Bihyung looks at him blankly, crossing his arms. [There's no way that's possible.]
"Constellations who are looking for incarnations to sponsor eventually leave the channel as soon as the
Bihyung's mouth drops open as thoughts fly through his head. This mere human couldn't be insinuating...
"And what if that incarnation outperforms all other incarnations despite not having a constellation sponsor?"
Dokja's grin widens, watching the dokkaebi fall into his trap in real time. That fuzzy little face doesn't hide a thing of it's emotions. He's got a bite, now all he needs to do is reel in the creature.
[I-is that why you didn't choose a constellation sponsor?!]
Sangah hums from her seat, evaluating that actions of past Dokja that are being played out on the screen. Her critical eyes observe ever twitch, every smile, every word. "It seems Dokja-ssi has always been like this."
"Pardon?" A baffled Dokja snaps his head over her way, his face slack in confusion. That's... Has Sangah always been like this?
She doesn't look like she meant to say that, her eyebrows raised and eyes wide. She purses her lips and continues anyway. "You're... calculative. You have always been excellent at planning. Especially when you have to work around other people."
When he goes to protest her continuing, a deep hum of curiosity from the protagonist makes him pause. The rumble from that guys chest shakes him with it. Dokja can feel it in his bones. He completely forgot what he was doing to just enjoy the moment.
"-t's actually amazing to see it happen right in front of you." Ah, she has been talking this entire time. Trying to tune into the conversation again is hard. He doesn't even bother.
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' encourages you to push incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk' out of the chair.]
There goes that moment.
Dokja confirms that the dokkaebi has the right idea, and he offhandedly mentions that the constellations are probably in an uproar right now since the channel is closed. Bihyung flinches violently.
Dokja just sits there and grins, as nonchalant as ever. "They're all probably dying to know who it was that dared to stand up against the regressor. Can he see the future? Why did he get eaten by the ichthyosaur? Is he really a prophet?"
Bihyung frantically checks the channel, screen popping up rapidly in front of him.
[Stop, what are you- You're full of yourself! Mere humans don't stand a chance against incarnations with constellation sponsors!] He shouts. It's a fact, for as much as the dokkaebi knows, but Dokja is firm in his stance that he'll prove it to Bihyung from now on.
"All you have to do is shut your mouth and do what I say," Dokja tells him, once agin reminding Bihyung of his promise to make him into the Dokkaebi Kind. As they stare at each other, Bihyung seems to falter, and Dokja is too smug for his own good even with the edge to that smile.
In an effort to get back on course -and more familiar territory- Bihyung demands 5,100 coins from Dokja as payment for falling the sub scenario, but Dokja only stares at him blankly.
"What are you on about? I didn't fail."
[Huh?]
Dokja slowly gets to his feet. "I must have fulfilled the condition... right about now."
The concrete beneath his feet wobbles as he stands, and he carefully holds out his arms to try and keep his balance. Glancing up at Bihyung, he demands that the dokkaebi opens the channel again. After all, It's going to start soon.
He stands and stretches, cracking a couple of his joints. To Bihyung's shock, there's a loud ding that rings through the air.
[A hidden scenario has arrived.]
Gilyoung cheers when the scenario window pops up on the screen, jumping up from his shared chair to throw his hands up in excitement. He jumps in place.
The weight leaning on Dokja increases, Joonghyuk leaning further into him. Coughing, the reader brings up one of his arms to push at the buff asshole trying to suffocate him. Grumbling at the asshole, Dokja misses the looks being shot at the two of them.
[Many Constellations are surprised by the hidden scenario]
Yeah, be surprised you fucks.
The hidden scenario,
[Oh, dear constellations, please calm yourselves,] bihyung says, playing innocent. [The stream was shut down because of a server error! I didn't turn it off on purpose.]
He explains that he couldn't give preferential treatment to this incarnation -he's only a dokkaebi, after all. You know, like a liar. Dokja would know, he plays the role perfectly.
However, he manages to get Bihyung to open the dokkaebi bag for him (through threats, of course), an extensive online star stream cash shop. He looks over the options with a careful eyes, wondering if there's a search function. It's very easy to see, even on the homepage, that the prices are exorbitant.
'It can only be used while the channel is open. That's why he has his hands full explaining what happened. The hidden scenario arrived while the channel was closed, too...'
Bihyung is practically in tears as he endures the berating of the constellations. Dokja ignores his struggle, and asks for a bit of help, to which Bihyung tells him where to find the search button. He looks exhausted.
"Search item,
Unfortunately, the SS-grade item
'According to TWSA, the owner of this heart is in Italy. He's one lucky guy. His sponsor is filthy rich and bought this for him. At times like this, I regret not choosing a constellation sponsor.'
Dokja sighs and crosses his arms. Onto the next items, then. "Search
Bihyung screeches again, questioning the mysterious incarnation arrogantly standing in front of him unfazed.
A few moments later, he seems completely unimpressed by Dokja's purchased items -four bags of hammer seahorse mucus and four stone hog thorns. When Bihyung asks what Dokja plans to do with those, he just replies to wait and see. Altogether, they cost him 800 coins, and Bihyung reminds Dokja that there are no refunds.
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is curious about your plan.]
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is displeased with your every move.]
Dokja just holds the same grin as earlier, excited to get this started. He presses the 'x' on that last message. There is no one here forcing the dragon to watch him, there are other places he could be. Other places he could watch.
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' complains about incarnation 'Kim Dokja' and says it is a privilege to have him watching.]
There is no privilege to have there, no reason for that to be a good thing either. Other than the constellation being another bargaining chip, he has barely started to grow on him. He's still a nuisance.
"Pretty ahjussi, why did you buy those things?" Shin Yoosung asks, her big curious eyes are shiny. She's borderline giving him puppy eyes at this point. "Won't you explain it to me? I don't understand?"
It's a trap. It's a trap. It's a-
More puppy dog are being turned on him by the kids, the teenager even joined in on it. They all stare at him expectantly, and the rest of his companions are suspiciously quiet.
He sighs, running one of his hands through his hair. The skin on his arms are still tender, but the blood has completely flaked off at this point. He really contemplates it, genuinely considering it. It's not like this is too far into the future...
They'll definitely be watching what he does, so there is no real reason not to tell them. And then, a reason pops up right in front of his face.
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' declares his dislike for spoilers once more.]
The kids around him pout, even Mia stuck her bottom lip out toward the sky. It looks like they are trying to get the constellation to change his mind. There's no way that would work.
They all start to genuinely look upset about it, heads hung low and the kids eyes are starting to tear up. Mia even scrunches in on herself in a show of displeasure. He can see a smirk on her face once she's out of view of mostly everyone. Those cheeky little shits. They're doing this on purpose. For a reason he can't quite place, too.
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' concedes and agrees that incarnation 'Kim Dokja' should explain his plan.]
And it worked. What?
Notes: