TO TOUCH A LIE

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5:30PM ,TUESDAY


INSADONG, SEOUL


Seokjin wouldn't have had to crease his new suit if he didn't waste five extra minutes of his precious time trying to converse with that Yoongi kid but alas, here he was dashing through the crowded streets of Insadong like a lunatic, trying to make up for lost time. Those five minutes wasted would've provided him a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood, enough time to line-up a perfect collision with their prospective forger. Constantly double-checking the time on his wrist, he stumbles and shoulders his way through, flicking his eyes from watch to crowd; a new skill he somewhat perfected since he entered the sea of heads. Amongst the bustling crowd, he manages to spot a rather lean man with fingers as slender as his own. He was positioned in front of a tall glass door, rummaging through his bag looking for a key, Seokjin assumes as he slows his pace and approaches him quietly.

The mans slender fingers, adorned with silver rings, plucks out a shiny piece of metal attached to a leather card holder keychain. It was go time. As he prepares to take action, he pauses, hoping not to stir any more unwanted attention. Seokjin draws a deep breath and then marches straight into the artists shoulder. The collision causes the key to fall straight from his hands and hit the ground with a light clink. Seokjin hastily span around, trying to navigate the surrounding chaos and locate where the key had fallen. It would all be over if the artist got his hands on it first. "I am SO sorry," he expresses whilst swooping down to snatch the key now dangling from his index finger as he feigned a smile.

Still processing the situation the stunned man reaches out to receive it, "thank yo-"

Seokjin snatches the key away from his grasp, "Hold on," he squints, taking a minute to study the strangers features, "you're that artist, y'know, the one that paints really obscure faces...almost like a knock-off Picasso. What's his name again... v- venti? van? vi-"

"It's Vante. Once again, thank you but I really need to get going." the growing frustration now unraveling all over his face as one eye starts to twitch ever so slightly, but just enough for Seokjin to notice. That comment must've struck a nerve; which is precisely what he wanted. This would give him enough time to discreetly slip the card into his card holder.

"I've heard so much about you, were u always that good at faking things, or did you have to practice? i'm assuming its the latter" He lets out a short chuckle, "I mean you'd be pretty special if you were born with it, right?" he presses. The key was now resting in the open palm of his hand. This was as easy as feeding bread to a duck, that is if the duck was a complete idiot and didn't notice his sloppy hand placement and very obvious distraction techniques.

Vante bursts out laughing, "Nice approach, could use a bit of work though" he says as he snatches the key from the puzzled man's hand and strolls off into the crowd. "Oh," he flicks the card over his shoulder briefly turning his head to answer Seokjin's question, "if it's any help...I've always been this good."

"No. no, no, no" the forest green card cascades to the ground in front of him. His arm felt lighter as he reaches out to retrieve it, not weighed down by the titanium band that wrapped around it. He wore a watch today, He's sure of it, although his bare wrist now said otherwise.

"Son of a bitch."

Seokjin took off running down the street, dodging around people and shoving them out of the way. He couldn't help but laugh as he recalled the interaction, he should've known better than to out con the conman. frantically snapping his head from left to right looking for any trace of the man, but it was pointless. He skidded to a halt. If he wanted to catch him he'd have to think like him.

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After searching the side of the street littered with stalls selling trinkets and nick-knacks, he decides to call it quits. There was no way he was going to find him in this crowd. He dreaded the fact that Namjoon would be disappointed, he could already imagine the response, "I should've gone instead." but he would have every right to be upset, the man had been planning this for years and God forbid something go wrong within the first week of recruiting.

He hadn't expected it; the way he slammed into the con artist upon turning to leave. He was facing one of the stalls wearing a beige newsboy cap with his head down. "Do you always bump into people." Vante looks up at him a scowl plastered on his face.

"May I have my watch back?"

"Alright but its my turn to ask the questions now," this was the first time Taehyung had been caught, he was stunned to say the least, although admittedly impressed that the gentleman in front of him was this determined to chase after him.

"There's no need for questions right now. Here, take this," Seokjin hands him the piece of stock card with the name Hermes written in copper foil and a smaller card with the address attached, "we'll answer everything then."

"we? If this is some sort of crime syndicate, I want no part in it."

"well, that's rich coming from a conman." Seokjin retorts, swiftly turning on his heel and strolls off.

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