#sajademon

rumi doesn't know where she is. by the team her feet stop pounding against the pavement as it gives way to sand and her heart finally, finally, quiets.....more unrecognizable scenery but it isn't the waves crashing against the shore that drowns out the noise and self-criticizing at acting so recklessly. night has set and the water glows unlike anything she has seen before. " Wow....." is whispered as she walks forward, slow and almost unsure, turning to follow the line where the water met the sound. in a way, it reminded her of her marks, colors swirling together, illuminating as far as the eye could see. for a moment, she forgets that she's in some strange new place. it's just her, this beach, and the water that laps at her feet. soaking an old but comfortable pair of sneakers.

there comes a buzz from the phone in her pocket and it draws her out of that trance. and as she turns to face forward, hand reaching to grab the device, she freezes. whether it's fear or disbelief or something unnamed that locks her in place, rumi can't quite tell. then again, it's not like that mattered, did it? not when barely six feet in front of her is someone who shouldn't be alive anymore.

"......How.....?" it could be a trick, some part of her brain tells her. this could all be the ploy of some demon just like last time, whispers another. but her heart– thumping with nothing but the truth– urges her forward another step. and another. and another until there was only a foot left of space between her and she can't stop herself from reaching out to grab the hem of his shirt, puzzled because it feels...........real.

" Jinu...?"

" The artist they got to perform– she has such a lovely voice. Bobby would've become a fan instantly." thinking of her manager's reaction is enough to cause rumi to laugh as she offers a hand to the other, fighting back the slight nervousness settling in her stomach. this was their first normal outing....and she wanted to get it right.

" What, uh, what do you wanna do first? Food? Dance? Maybe snoop around the other rooms–"

What a life it must be, to have multiple places to get food on just about every city block. The ability to choose such things was a luxury Powder rarely knew. In the Undercity, you ate what you could and that was that. This city, on the other hand? It seemed like you could spit in any direction and you’d hit somewhere you could buy food if you had the money. She did not.

Still she’d slipped into the small cornerside building- a convenience store, she might’ve called it if she were familiar with such things. The easy access to pre-prepared, portable food was definitely convenient. As far as she knew, if the person working the cash register didn’t see something that happened in the store, it didn’t happen. Even so, she was careful to make sure they weren’t watching as she slipped a sandwich from the refrigerated section, as well as some kind of green drink from the mountains. Nothing that would be missed, she’d rationalized by the time she got to the door, trying to seem casual enough that she wouldn’t be- 

 ⠀That warm and fuzzy feeling grinds to an abrupt halt when she stretches and moves around during a brief intermission— one moment Zoey had been wondering what the concessions situation was here, and the next she was face-to-face with someone who... definitely shouldn't be here. A long, drawn-out gasp leaves her as she reels back, eyeing him warily. ⠀❛ ⠀Jinu ?! ⠀❜ ⠀There's a lot to unpack here. He did a good thing once, a really good thing... but does that mean he's on good behavior ? What would Rumi want her to do ? She's very aware of his concession of choice— but all these questions are tangling and congealing in her mind, so what she winds up going with is—

  ⠀❛ ⠀Are you... you know... recruiting ????⠀❜ ⠀

"You seem almost eager to join them. What's stopping you?"

If the other man had noticed Watanuki's presence, he was none the wiser; approaching him from the back after sifting through a large crowd of people. He had definitely.. got caught up in this area by accident; the shopkeeper wasn't the type to partake in large parties like this usually, but it was nice to see a multitude of performers enjoying themselves.

Perhaps he would have walked right by the stranger, then; if not for the strong pull Watanuki felt by his general state of being. Something inhuman, but not necessarily dangerous; prompting a smile to appear on his face when their eyes finally met.

Welcome to scenic Isola Radiale, Jinu!

You will be housed in CONDO 419.

You'll retain your ability to shapeshift, but only between your demon form and your preferred human form.

Enjoy your stay!