❝ TWILIGHT EYES.

   Oh, how that name stung.

   –Yet, his suspicions became clear. They WERE like him, they were from Remnant, and found themselves somewhere different. Somewhere wrong. There was but the smallest touch of comfort to take from it, from the thought that another understood his plight, even if it meant recognition to the brand he adorned with shame. 

   His head jerks then, instinctively turning his left away once the blemish had been pointed out, and with a scoff on his tongue, the Bull snorts out a heated breath.

   “So you are from Remnant. It’s comforting to know there are others here.”

   A vague motion is given around, perhaps forgetting they were in nothing more than a corner-store in the moment. It certainly wasn’t glamorous, but at least it was relatively quiet. 

   “Yet, I do not know you. 

                     You were not of the Fang, were you?”

The Fang. She would be a fool to not understand his exact reference, and a chilled jolt runs down the length of her spine. Yet she stands her ground. Hand falls from her face back to her side. Idly, her one limb hangs while the other clutches loosely at a shelf.

an itch that can’t be scratched - it’s something rei is all too aware of, it seems she wasn’t that usually had a weapon glued to her hand but nothing to target it at in this ‘wasteland’

    “ you say that like it’s a bad thing, not one for peaceful times? “ she shrugs, offering a smirk “ to be honest … it can be a little bland. that sounds bad right? “ the thrill of a battle fuelled this slayer, it wasn’t a sport but moreso each enemy was a stepping stone closer to her goal, even the merciful ends. 

  “ so i was right when i said night owl huh? “ an air nudge to ebene’s side, she knows not to actually invade this one’s space, rei likes her hands unbroken. “ i feel you. the moon is kind of comforting right … like, i enjoy the vibes it gives off. “

a very whimsical statement to thrown, it even causes rei herself to laugh softly afterwards - “ but look at me being rude, i’m rei by the way. yourself? “ offering her gloved hand for ebene to shake.

“ I’ve never been in a ‘peaceful’ time before. I don’t know what to make of it. ” The respect for her bubble does not go unnoticed. Ebene turns toward the woman, looking at her directly for the first time in their conversation. “ It doesn’t feel... right. ” She struggles to put thoughts to words, but doesn’t linger.

    “ yeah? “ eyebrows raised, the other looked like she’d seen her fair share of battles - with who … or what had perked rei’s curiosity since laying sights on her. “ you sound like a veteran, do you find yourself still fighting here? “

a high hum follows, trying to find the best way to describe demons - what can you say about beings that were only here to ruin lives and survive themselves. “ demons can look like just you and me, depending on their power, but most low-level demons have a really feral look to them and will try to eat you on sight -  - “ rei stops herself short to seek out a reaction from ebene, she seems alright so the demon slayer continues.

    “ they can’t survive out in the sun so a night like this is perfect for them - hence why i’m up, but what about you? “

“ Interesting. ” That’s the extent of her reaction, her theory that perhaps ‘demon’ was being used as another term for ‘Grimm’ instantly dismissed. Call it a painful lust for something familiar, or an overly hopeful longing that this place wasn’t really so detached to Remnant.

“As charming as mindless creatures of primordial light who sought to reap one’s life force, then yes, quite charming indeed.” Carrying his words a similar tone of sarcasm, he gives a shrug of his shoulders.

“You could say we are of the same ilk when you put it like that. We’re stuck here until further notice.  If I had the choice I would have returned back already.” He looks down at his crystalized hand, curling it into a fist.      “Alas, my transportation magic is useless and we simply have to play house for the time being.”

rei throws a few pellets into her mouth and shrugs “ your loss! “ seriously, being in her line of career really limits your tastebud’s fussiness. the slayer only responds by leaning backwards on the rail they both find themselves on, keeping her eyes fixated on the other with a rather curious expression.

   “ ah, you don’t know what they are? you’re one of the lucky ones. - but i suppose i haven’t seen any here yet so far, perhaps we’re both lucky? “

   “ they can only come out at night - spooky right? they’re definitely something i wish were just a tale to scare kids into bed but - if you ever see one just run the opposite way, yeah? i’d hate to see them sink their teeth into you! “ a wink follows “ and you know, i might not be around to save the day. “

Yeah, there’s no doubt about it. This girl is strange. With that much determined, she eases up, if just a little. Her demon tales do little to deter this easiness, and despite her playfulness near the end, Ebene maintains her frown. “ I’ve seen my fair share of... ‘spooky’ things.” She says the word tentatively. Grimm are not spooky. They are, for lack of better words, grim reminders that Remnant will never truly be at peace. 

this certainly wasn’t the turn she was expecting.

    “ huh? “

eyes scan over the other and she raises a brow, nothing out of the ordinary is screeching out to her about the shorter woman - save her growing tone of aggravation.

    “ oh! don’t worry i don’t think you’re a demon or anything - you’d definitely try to take a chunk out of me by now. - - “ a sigh escapes “ this is gonna sound totally lame now that i’m explaining my own joke but … they gave me this bag of owl food and we’re both out this late? get it? night owls? ……. did you want some? “

There’s a lot in that response for Ebene to dissect. Quite visibly, she goes through the motions, brow quirking in confusion-- demon?-- then flattening again as she tries to determine whether or not this girl realizes what she’s saying. In the end, she reluctantly offers the benefit of the doubt. “ I don’t eat pellets. ” She replies. No, she eats mice and squirrels swallowed whole, thank you very much.

when you think someone is taking a pot shot at...

( *I immediatly empty my wallet and give her my lunch money* )

… 

“can understand that.”

anxiety is Here, settling in his veins; it courses thick and slow in his being, ever present, quickening his heartbeat with its extra weight. his voice is devoid of it, though, apparently not too ruffled by the sequence of events– the only hint of concern he has for the situation a hand to the neck, the tight undertone to his own words, a tension similarly unrelaxed.

“been a whirlwind of a day. ‘s a lot going on behind the scenes we got to have a glimpse of. makes you think about the future. have to think about what we want to do from here and now on.”

… stating these facts wouldnt’ be too helpful in this scenario. practical advice is what amami’s good at, but …

“‘s alright to be overwhelmed.”

Snap. Words slice through the wire that holds her emotions together, and without missing a beat, her lips contort into a bared tooth scowl. Misguided anger rages forth. A longing to be with her teammates again, to do the job she was born to do. The sense of helplessness of being brought here with no apparent form of return. Vanishing islands. The dead coming back to life. It all gushes forth on someone who is only doing their best to help.

“Hunt? Aah, so am I right to assume that you hunt monsters, then? Given the way you carry yourself and speak, you remind me of the people who actively search for Sin-Eaters. – But of course, that’s from my world. What things did you hunt?”

Strike him curious, the Miqo’te folded his arms across his chest as he studied Ebene.

It’s subtle, but her words spill forth a little easier. This is what she lives and breathes. “ Sin-eaters? Sounds charming. ” A dry, but palatable sarcasm. “ If you count criminals as monsters too, I suppose ‘monster huntress’ about sums it up. ”