The scowl hadn’t left Jin’s face the whole time he stared unhappily at his talisman. Moon-ssi was busily pulling his own supplies out which was really background noise to the doom and gloom hanging over Jin’s head. He was never going to be able to regulate his writing fast enough to please Seonsaengnim. The movements just weren’t natural to Jin, or the brushes were too big. He didn’t have this problem with sketching at least, but then— he’d been doodling in the dirt since he was small. It wasn’t until Moon-ssi very delicately asked the most obvious question ever that Jin actually looked up. He couldn’t help the wry smile that stole across his face, half humor and half embarrassment. He let out a noisy little snort.

“Because I’m terrible at it,” was the blunt, no-nonsense response. And it was true. Jin prodded his sad talisman across the table at Moon-ssi for extra evidence. Looking at it from this angle, it almost seemed like his characters were trying to smush into the furthest part of the paper from where he’d begun, like something was chasing them. It he hadn’t been so destitute, Jin might almost find it amusing.

He eyed Moon-ssi’s immaculate work and sighed, wistfully. Was it too soon to ask for help? Was he too proud? Jin didn’t know the answer to either, but he did know no amount of pride would help him when Seonsaengnim failed him and Abeoji came for his head. He propped his head up moodily in his palm and pouted. Maybe if he was obvious enough, Moon-ssi would save him the embarrassment and offer.

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