FicPal
House Estrela, Seoul Branch
Chapter 10
1/24
Panel 2

Incheon Airport arrivals hall. Ha-rin walks through the crowd, clutching her worn suitcase. She has dark circles under her eyes, her hair is in a messy bun, and she's wearing an oversized grey hoodie. Behind her, through the glass, Seoul's

Panel 3

Airport lounge. Ha-rin sits alone in a plastic chair, scrolling through her phone. Her suitcase sits beside her. The screen glow illuminates her tired face.

Panel 4

Ha-rin presses play on the leaked footage. We see it play on her phone screen - a grainy, secretly recorded video of two DRAG THRONE producers in what looks like a production office.

Panel 5

Close-up reaction shots. The footage continues playing as Ha-rin's expression shifts from confusion to disbelief to cold realization.

Panel 6

Ha-rin sits alone in the airport lounge. Around her, other travelers are starting to notice something is happening - their phones are buzzing, people are looking at her.

Panel 7

Montage of social media feeds. The leaked footage is everywhere. #JusticeForHarim is trending. We see different phones, different people reacting.

Panel 8

A young queer person in their bedroom gets a tattoo of the Estrela star on their wrist. The tattoo artist is finishing the outline. The room is filled with fairy lights.

Panel 9

The five Houses issue a joint statement. We see it appear on official House social media accounts simultaneously - a coordinated corporate response.

Panel 10

Ha-rin reads the Houses' statement on her phone. She's still in the airport lounge, but now a few people have recognized her and are whispering.

Panel 11

Ha-rin finally leaves the airport. She walks through the arrivals gate into Seoul's night. The city glows with neon. She pulls her hoodie tighter.

Panel 12

Min-ji's karaoke box in Hongdae. The pink neon is on. Min-ji is waiting at the door when Ha-rin arrives, dragging her suitcase. Dae-jung is visible inside.

Panel 13

Close-up conversation. Min-ji and Dae-jung are sitting across from Ha-rin. They're looking at her with concern. Ha-rin is holding a cup of ramyeon but not eating.

Panel 14

Dae-jung speaks. He's being gentle but firm. Min-ji nods in agreement. Ha-rin looks at them both.

Panel 15

Ha-rin looks at them both. For the first time since landing, she feels something crack inside her - not breaking, but opening.

Panel 16

Later. Ha-rin is alone in a jjimjilbang - the public bathhouse where she first stayed when she arrived in Seoul. She's sitting in the communal area, still in her hoodie, holding the star pin.

Panel 17

Ha-rin's memories flash through her mind. She thinks about all the people who were hurt by the system. We see brief, impressionistic flashes.

Panel 18

Ha-rin opens her eyes. She looks at the star pin again. Something shifts in her expression - not victory, but quiet understanding.

Panel 19

Ha-rin closes her hand around the star pin. She holds it tight. Her expression is calm - not happy, not sad, but resolved.

Panel 20

The next morning. Ha-rin's phone buzzes on the floor beside her sleeping mat. She wakes up, groggy, reaching for it.

Panel 21

Ha-rin sits up, fully awake now, reading the House Lotus post. It's the challenge schedule - and her name is on it.

Panel 22

Ha-rin puts the phone down. She looks at the star pin, still clutched in her other hand. She's been holding it all night.

Panel 23

Ha-rin stands up. She's in the jjimjilbang, but now she looks different - more alert, more present. She pockets the star pin.

Panel 24

Ha-rin walks out of the jjimjilbang into the Seoul morning. The city is waking up. She walks toward Hongdae, toward her found family.

Panel 25

Final page. Ha-rin's silhouette against Seoul's skyline. She's walking toward the rising sun. The star pin glints in her pocket.

Chapter Comments

Comments

to leave a comment.