#ddakinhun

[midnight--sadness]

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Salesman trying to stop Gi-hun from trying to learn more about the squid games, not by hiding from him or hurting him, but by slowly corrupting him into believing that he shouldn’t worry about it, that he should just relax, enjoy life, and not do stupid stuff that’ll just get him killed.

He starts their arrangement by telling Gi-hun that each time they meet up, he will answer one question he has about the games. The meetings start in cheap cafes and bars, and he acts like a scared cat around the Salesman. Gi-hun slowly warms up to the Salesman.

The Salesman, meanwhile, starts convincing Gi-hun that there’s nothing wrong with the games. He frames it as a way to keep people safe. If Sangwoo was so comfortable killing Ali and Sae-byeok, then what would he have done if he wasn’t in the games? And player 101, what would he have done if unchecked? It’s not his responsibility, he shouldn’t feel guilty, it’s not his fault.

The salesman tempts him into spending more on his money. Their meeting places get more expensive, require nice clothes, and each time the Salesman compliments Gi-hun on his appearance it only makes him want to put more effort into it (especially once he starts falling for the Salesman). The Salesman tells him he should spend his money. It’s what his friends would’ve wanted, for him to live well— no, to live deliciously. To have luxury, comfort, good food, pretty clothes. Anything he could ever want, for those who can’t.

In-ho is very invested in Gi-hun’s slow moral decay, and hates that he can’t just step in and take Gi-hun, but the Salesman promises that he’s taking great care of their pet (and that he’ll share him when the time comes)

oh, this is so so good!!!

and when gihun asks the salesman what he had to do with the games, how he got involved, the salesman says that he was lost but the games helped put him on the right track.

and they helped gihun too. what would he do without the money? he indebted up to his eyeballs, a loanshark was going to remove his organs, his mother was near death, his daughter was moving to the states. the money only helped him in the first two situations but, the salesman says, if he did not have it he would be at mercy of the loansharks, of wicked men who would do whatever they wanted to gihun.

in fact, if anything, now he doesn't have to worry about any of that. now, gihun can give himself to any one he likes. perhaps even the salesman? and when he meets inho, he can take him in too, because gihun loves a sob story, and what better story than a man desperate to save his dying wife and child?