The air in the deeper districts did not recognize Yujin's authority. It was thick with the smell of ozone and industrial solder, a far cry from the sterilized, climate-controlled halls of the Gold Sector. Yujin pulled his coat tighter,and straightened out his suit pants. It felt necessary. Here the gold didn't feel like armor — it felt like a target on his back. He stopped before the heavy, unmarked door. There was a worn-down statement on the door. It was spray-painted in angry red lines. ''DIE FOR SUCESS'' it said. It sent an unexpected shiver down Yujin's spine. No retinal scanner greeted him. He had to knock – a manual, primitive act that made his skin crawl with revulsion. The door swung open to reveal a workspace that was a direct insult to ''order and construction.'' Wires hang down from the ceiling, sketches scattered all over.And in front of him, a wide desk, with a person sitting on a chair, with a even wider grin. Jin fucking Tahyeok. Jin didn't bow. He didn't even stand. He simply leaned back in the battered chair, his long black fur coat draped over his shoulders like a dark cloud. ''Director Lee.'' Jin said, like he had been practicing it in front of his mirror.
Yujin stepped into the dim light, lowering his head so as to not hit the wires. His gold eyes were clashing with the oppressive shadows. ''You were flagged for construction that ignores every regulation, Tahyeok.'' Yujin said, coldly. Jins gaze lifted. Without lenses, his red eyes were unfiltered. Vivid, glowing embers in the dark that seemed to pulse with reckless defiance. ''And yet,'' Jin stood up, his hands resting on the wide, unsturdy desk. ''You're here because it works. You didn't come to arrest me, you came because you're bored of immaculate layouts'' he said, his grin shining bright. Yujin felt his chest clench with unease and a lingering disgust that he couldn't hide. Jin stood fully up, his height only making the studio feel even smaller.
He walked slowly closer, like a predator circling its unsuspecting prey. ''The gold is heavy today, isn't it, Director? Be careful. It's a long way to fall to reach the red'' he growled against Yujin's ear. Yujin felt a course of disgust rise up in him, Jin's brazen disrespect was utterly revulsing. ''Step back.'' Yujin commanded, his voice a low cold snarl. He turned his head up just enough to meet Jin's gaze. Close up, the red wasn't just a color – it was a vibration, a frequency of pure impulse that threatened to shatter Yujin's carefully practiced ease. Jin didn't obey immediately. He let the silence stretch, a slow, taunting grin spreading across his face as he finally retreated a single, mocking step, holding his hands up im a even more mocking surrender. He leaned back against his desk, the wood groaning under his weight. ''You're shivering, Director. Is it the cold of the district, or the realization that your so-called immaculate layouts can't explain why my silhouettes are outperforming your Gold-approved designs?''
Yujin straightened his coat, reclaiming his space. ''Performance is irrelevant if the foundation is illegal. You use materials that are flagged as volatile. You ignore the safety buffers that protect the hierarchy.'' He said coldly. ''This isn't a studio, it's a riot waiting to happen''
''It's a revolution.'' Jin corrected, his voice more strained than before. ''And when you speak of protecting the hierarchy,'' his fists clenched, pushing off the table, standing close to Yujin. ''You mean protecting yourself. Because the only people that the hierarchy protects are crowborn.'' Jin snapped.
Crowborn is a word used against gold-eyes to mock that they are born into wealth.
''You gold-eyes spend so much time looking down that you've forgotten how to look forward. You see messy, where i see movement.'' Jin said, that smug grin reappearing on his face. Yujin was taken aback, and for a moment his mouth was dry. ''Personal review,right?'' Jin challenged, his red eyes glowing with renewed intensity. He threw a piece of fabric from his cluttered desk towards Yujin. It was a deep,shifting charcoal – illegal material, textured like smoke. ''Then review it. Tell me why the system says that fabric shouldn't exist, while your hands are telling you that's the best thing you've touched all year.''
Yujin catched the fabric from Jin. For the first time, the lingering disgust was fighting with a confusing spark of curiosity. He was a man who preferred to observe, but Jin wasn't giving him the luxury of distance. ''Because,'' Yujin began, his voice finally regaining its usual calm coldness. ''Beauty doesn't excuse a breach in the social order. If I approve this, I'm not just approving a garment. I'm approving who's behind its creation. You.''
Jin's laugh was dark and sudden,filling the small oppressive studio. ''Then maybe it's time you stopped being a Director and started being human, Yujin. Or is that too 'reckless' for a gilded?'' he snarls. Then he steps close, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper ''i think i know why you like bossing people around.''
Yujin's eyebrows furrowed slightly, ''enlighten me,then.'' he grumbled. Jin's smirk widened, dangerously. ''Because it turns you on, you sick bastard.'' he whispered, then stepped back like nothing had occurred. Yujin froze for a moment. Then he lunged forward, and grabbed Jin by the throat,slamming him against the wall. ''Watch your fucking mouth, you bloodeye.'' he growled dangerously.
Blood-eye is a slur used against red-eyed.
Then, Jin began laughing. Yujins body tensed ''what the hell is wrong with you, you sick fuck..'' he said in a snarled whisper. He let Jin go, with a harsh push. ''Your design has been flagged, permanently.'' he yelled as he walked out of the dimly lit studio. Jin's laugh echoed in the small studio, as Yujin stormed out.