Fish in Water
"What's up with that outfit? Why's he dressed like that?"
Unlike the sharply dressed Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae, Moo-young was in a tracksuit and sweatpants. His shoes were beat-up sneakers. He looked less like a celebrity and more like a total bum.
"Why? He nailed the character breakdown."
Kang Ok-kyeong shot back casually at the team leader's comment. A half-unemployed landlord cramming for the police exam—just like the novel described. From the unstyled hair to the natural makeup, everything was spot-on.
Funny. She's totally smitten.
Kang Ok-kyeong smirked faintly as she flipped through the files. Once you liked someone, even their quirks seemed meaningful.
The other staffers murmured as they scanned the trio.
"He dressed like that for the action role?"
"Comfortable clothes are best, right?"
"It's freezing out—how's he walking around like that?"
As the company folks chattered, the subcontracted production company's president and director took their seats. The first audition had prioritized the company's tastes, but now the actual production team's scores would decide everything.
The staff scores are evenly distributed anyway.
Naturally, Kang Ok-kyeong would funnel points to Moo-young, and Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae each had their backers too.
"Alright, let's get started."
Park Team Leader grabbed the mic with an air of superiority.
"Uh, first, self-introductions please. Face the camera. Yeah."
A staffer hit record at his cue—it was a camera test. The screen captured all three men at once.
"Hello, I'm Cha Seung-on."
"I'm Kim Min-jae. Nice to meet you."
Tense or just their personalities? Either way, their greetings were stiff. Then it was Moo-young's turn.
"Hello! Ha Moo-young here!"
His sunbeam smile and booming voice lit up the room. Everyone cracked a smile. He'd been the youngest, and yeah, he had that fresh vibe.
"What do you think?"
Kang Ok-kyeong couldn't peel her eyes from the screen, whispering to the staffer beside her.
"Weird. Moo-young's the only one whose pixels pop."
"What? Haha, fresh metaphor."
But it was true. Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae were handsome guys too. As working actors, good looks were a given. So why did Moo-young draw the eye first when they stood together?
"Why's he so vivid?"
"His vibe's just nice. Innocent, y'know?"
"Anyone'd think Ha Moo-young was your son, Team Leader."
"What? My boy'd be heartbroken to hear that."
Kang Ok-kyeong whispered back with a joke. The outfit was secondary. What mattered was the overwhelming aura only a real actor could pull off—the kind that hijacked attention. That was key.
"Okay, we'll hand out scripts now."
Park Team Leader shot a hush-your-mouths glance around and kicked off the real audition. The open warehouse studio let staff and other contestants lurk in the corners, watching.
"Three scenes here— we'll do them one by one."
Moo-young took the two sheets from the staffer. First: dialogue-heavy. Second: dialogue mixed with gestures. Third: pure intense action, no lines.
"Let's go in order. Lots of CG and action, so ADR's essential. Voice acting matters. First up, Cha Seung-on?"
"Yes."
Crisp enunciation like a voice actor, packed with max emotion—that was the goal. Cha Seung-on skimmed the script and dove in.
"You're the punk playing king here, huh? Come on in. Time to collect proper rent for all you've used."
Fury at the villain messing around in his building.
"Hangang, Hangang's open! Everyone, run!"
Urgency crossing to Gangbuk amid monsters swarming the Han River.
"I need a break. Too much work today."
Even the exhaustion from running the district. Actor experience wasn't for nothing—they nailed it.
Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae delivered solidly. Moo-young listened in awe, ears perked.
Everyone's voices are killer.
Competition, sure, but also a learning opportunity. He pored over the script alongside their performances.
Oh, Cha Seung-on's breathing points are unique. Not bad, though. Ah, you can punch it like that too.
Moo-young was lost in analysis as their turns passed. Suddenly, it was his.
He cleared his throat, lowered the script.
"You're... the punk playing king here, huh?"
Just one line. Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae, staring ahead, turned to him.
Well, now.
There were four ways to hook with words: sudden speed, sudden slowness, loud, soft. The key was variation—and he was flipping their interpretations entirely.
"Come on in. Time to collect proper rent for all you've used."
They'd gone fast and furious with rage. Moo-young drawled it slow, savoring each syllable like a mutter.
What a joke. Outrageous.
Kid's got spunk.
Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae schooled their faces, stifling chuckles. No directing in the script said otherwise, but still—it irked. They could've varied too if they'd gone later.
"I need a break. Too much work today."
Even the last line, uniquely his—pride mixed into the fatigue, unlike their emphasis on weariness.
"Good. Moving on."
The judges scribbled furiously on profiles—raw thoughts and scores in a jumble.
"Next, Ha Moo-young first this time."
"Got it."
Yes! Let's see this.
Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae inwardly cheered, faces blank. Order mattered in group auditions.
"Camera ready?"
"Yes."
Staffer nodded, hit record. Moo-young flipped the page—and paused.
[Scene 1: Protagonist upgrades building successfully, throws feast with villagers. Hero dances joyfully, carefree.]
The wide-open studio had dozens of eyes—mostly strangers. Tense, hushed vibe choking the air. Dance here? No music?
Right up my alley.
No problem! Moo-young pocketed the paper confidently and launched into some mystery jig. A drinking game penalty dance he'd learned at a company trip.
"...!"
"Pfft—hahaha!"
"Oh my gosh!"
Not just that—he hummed along, genuinely delighted, leaving the judges who'd prepped to challenge him flustered instead.
"Try some of this too!"
Solo but acting surrounded, lines and moves flowed naturally. Raising an imaginary glass, shaking with glee—laughter erupted.
"What's with him?"
"Youth is a bully, huh? Adorable."
"Hahaha! He dances well! Yeah, real good."
Any hesitation would've embarrassed everyone. But Moo-young was shameless. His immersion pulled them in too.
Problem: Kim Min-jae and Cha Seung-on next.
Shit, shit...
Face like steel plating.
How to follow that? Immersion needed a foundation.
Moo-young finished proudly, wiped his nose, grinned. Fun, but post-performance shame hit anyway.
"Alright, saw that. Next, Kim Min-jae."
"Yes? Oh, yeah."
Kim Min-jae hesitated, then did an awkward shuffle. Silence crushed him. Flailing aside, his own embarrassment killed the acting.
I'm screwed...
Stoic face, but neck flushed—painful to watch. Even Moo-young gaped, hand over mouth.
Empathy overload—what is this?
Oh my god. What now.
Moo-young just pitied him, clucking his tongue inside. Better if he'd bombed first.
"Okay, good work."
Cha Seung-on fared no better. Only Moo-young's brazenness made it possible—who else could?
The relations whispered, then the final round.
"Last one—pure action. Scene's straight from the script."
Staff bustled with wires.
"'Wobble' is just 1m diameter but drags water with massive energy, crossing land. Protagonist's building's right in its path. Shield holds, but not forever. Hero rides the water up to smash its core."
Moo-young pondered the directions.
"So, underwater action?"
"Yep. Protagonist hits the ocean from land, climbs the water path."
The priciest scene—huge CG and scale. They vowed killer visuals.
Underwater action... and not falling in, but surging up.
Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae stared at the wires, rattled. Punches and kicks? Sure. Underwater? Maybe not.
"Kim Min-jae first?"
Order round two. He warmed up, harnessed. Line pulled—he floated lightly, toes wiggling.
"Going up now."
"...Yeah!"
Lackluster reply. He swam arms and legs midair.
"Hup!"
Hammering the core. Everyone watched blankly.
"Down too!"
"Yeah!"
Descent: more swimming, no flair. He hit the mat sweating, unbelted.
"Next, Moo-young?"
Tough without direction—just wire handling test, really.
"Yep!"
Moo-young buckled in eagerly. Lift-off: heart raced, thrill kicked in.
Energy-dragging-water monster means fierce currents.
He arched slow, arms out.
"...?"
"Pull me up!"
Ready signal. Slow rise—he twisted fluidly. Dancer bro's tough moves flashed by.
With this—
I can do anything! Like a fish slicing rapids, he shot upward dynamically. Core smash:
Shwick—!
Spinning like a shuriken, rapid kicks. Crisp rips through air—everyone gawked upward.
"He do dance?"
"No mention."
Kang Ok-kyeong checked his profile.
Wire lowered—he flowed acrobatic, surfing waves.
"Ah, that's it. Acrobatics."
Action fused with flips—flashier, natural spectacle. Park Team Leader chewed his pen.
"Fish in water. Totally."
Oblivious, Moo-young buzzed from nailing advanced moves. Spun laughing wildly.
"This is too fun—!"
Splash—!
Front roll to perfect landing. With wires, nothing's impossible—this high! Epic.