#i'm calling this sq happy verse

[whispered-harmony]

Squid Game AU, where everybody I liked lived in Season 1, and they decided to stick together (this was after the tug-of-war game). Then there's Gihun, who feels responsible for everyone (Sangwoo, Saebyeok, Ali, Ji-yeong, Mi-nyeo) because he was the one who convinced them to leave the game. At the same time, Oh Il-nam just straight-up disappeared, so he's worried sick and trying to find the old dude. Oh Il-nam ends up paying for their debts so their lives aren't in danger, but they're still piss-poor, so cue shenanigans of them trying to make money in various ways.

And by some miracle, they manage to stay freaking alive after almost three years. So then they hear about a new game about to start, and Gihun gets this dumb idea to stop people from getting recruited by the Salesman, and he straight-up just ends up taking them in some way (Dae-ho, Gyeong-seok and his daughter, Hyun-ju, Geum-ja, Yong-sik, Jun-hee, Young-mi, and Gihun’s freaking best friend, Jung Bae). Just imagine him bringing all those people into his already cramped and crowded home.

Sangwoo: Hyung...what’s that?

Gihun: *With a group of people behind him, holds up the snack in his hand* Gimbap?

Lol, and the Salesman and In-ho just being freaking fascinated by Gihun because this sopping wet cat not only convinced people to leave the game from three years ago, he also convinced people not to play in the current year's game. So, of course, they want to get closer to him. The Salesman is always popping up where Gihun is, In-ho takes up a civilian identity, Young-il, and decides to help Gihun and his friends by giving them legit jobs. This, in turn, catches Jun-ho’s attention because he obviously freaking recognizes his own brother and doesn’t know what In-ho is playing at. So he goes to see what this Gihun person is all about and finds himself getting drawn to Gihun too. So Gihun has these new men in his life trying to get his attention. Meanwhile, Sangwoo, who also has feelings for Gihun, is wondering where the hell these men came from and is fighting for his life not to push any of them off a high place or something.

And Gihun is completely oblivious. He is just freaking oblivious about the whole thing. He has no idea that four men are into him.

But the others know. The others are fully aware, and they are all invested. They keep scores, and if the person they are betting on scores higher than everyone else by the end of the week, they get to order the others around.

Jung Bae, for the life of him, cannot fathom how his friend could be so clueless.

In-ho/Young-il: I bought this ring for you because the diamond reminded me of the sparkle in your eyes.

Gihun: Ha ha. Thanks. What a nice boss.

Jung Bae: How!!? How can you not see that!?

Gihun: I do see the ring! It’s already on my finger!

Jung Bae: *flips a table*