#zoerumi

But I know Zoey & Rumi would be a Turtle & Tiger

But is there like — a somewhat general consensus on what Mira’s “spirit animal” could/would be?

I’ve taken a Vertebrate Biology class before & based on my own personal research on these animals—

Personally I feel like Rumi is more like a Sea Otter 🦦 than a Tiger 🐯…

Mira-wise, I feel like she would be an Octopus 🐙!

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First, related headcanons

(Maybe I’ll turn it into a fic one day if I ever sit down long enough to figure out how to write it 😭)

1) Rumi’s half-demon physiology greatly accelerates her metabolism—

——> Rumi’s “eating habits” help fuel her metabolism.

2) I LOVEEEE the idea of Zoey feeling homesick over her home in California. Except… Zoey can’t really call it a home anymore… so she hides her homesickness and doesn’t want to tell Mira or Rumi because she doesn’t want it to come off like she doesn’t want to be with them 😞.

——> The California Sea Otter population is listed as threatened under the ‘Endangered Species Act.’”

——> Not AS related but I feel like Zoey would know this bcus of the connection to California.

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Time for the actual snippet!!!

So, Zoey is such a huge animal and biology nerd to me (I might be projecting some). I have so many headcanons and cute ideas linked to this.

But I think the idea of Zoey teasing Mira over this would be cute!!!

I feel like Zoey would know all of these different facts about marine animals bcus of her heavy interest in turtles too — I love ZoeRumi but also Implied Polytrix 🥹

When Zoey teases her, Mira would probably be confused at first.

Because she’s thinking:

“Seriously?? An octopus 🐙 ?? Why out of all animals is she comparing me to an Octopus??

Then later that night Mira

would spend her time furiously researching a bunch of different marine animals to understand “Why?”.

First she’d research octopuses, then turtles, then sea otters, then somehow— it would lead to research into different breeds of sharks.

I feel like Mira would “obsess”— over the concept of sharks and how they live. Their senses, “aggression,” etc. But she would be devastated by the fact that sometimes new born baby Sharks eat each other 😞

So the next day, when Zoey ends up casually mentioning turtles,

Mira chirps in after listening to whatever Zoey was saying and says to Zoey:

(with a grin on her face)

“I would be a shark.”

(Mira agrees with Zoey’s ‘Octopus assessment’ after reading about their traits. But she’s not going to admit that she spent her entire night’s sleep researching marine animals because of what Zoey said)

And all Zoey can feel is amazed and like she’s special.

Because she’d be thinking:

“Wow… Mira took the time to look up the things I like.”

Zoey isn’t surprised — after all this time, she knows Mira. But it still makes her flustered & feel special to know, feel, and think about the fact that Mira dedicated time in her day to learning about her interests.

People from before wouldn’t have done that for her…

But Zoey doesn’t directly voice any of that — it’d feel too embarassing & she doesn’t want to talk about “things from back ‘home.’” Those memories hurt too much & she feels guilty for even thinking about her childhood ‘home.’

And she feels happy right now, so how can she even want to think of those memories?

Zoey just ends up acting visibly flustered & embarassed.

Then Mira follows up with an even bigger grin

“I feel like Rumi would be a Sea Otter.”

And Rumi, who’s been intently listening to their exchange the entire time on the side, just gawks at that statement.

She doesn’t really know much if anything about Sea Otters. It’s not that she “doesn’t care.” Rumi just always put her responsibilities first — even above herself. She doesn’t know too much about any of these animals.

Rumi doesn’t respond, she just hangs her head & hunches slightly over where she’s standing because she feels embarassed that she doesn’t understand what they’re talking about.

Zoey immediately notices Rumi’s expression and stance. (Mira’s back was turned to Rumi during the convo)

Zoey smiles at Rumi and just starts explaining why she agrees that “Yes Rumi *would* be a Sea Otter…”

Because:

- “They are very sensitive to habitat disturbances unless populations living near humans have been naturally & heavily habituated by human presence over time.”

—> Sea Otters are extremely protective of their ‘home’ & young (pups). They visibly present as “soft” but can act fiercely defensive if they feel threatened.

- “They are ‘keystone species’ and naturally help support the other organisms in their ecosystems”

—> Rumi is the first half-demon. She is arguably the most connected to the Honmoon. Zoey & Mira ‘need’ Rumi to stay aligned with them, but really they just deeply care about her.

- “They have an average body temp. of 100 F (~37.8 C) bcus of their accelerated metabolism & consumption of ‘about a quarter of their body weight each day.’”

The *California* Sea Otter population is listed as threatened under the ‘Endangered Species Act.’”

—> Not AS related but I feel like Zoey would know this bcus of the connection to California.

And that’s what clues them in on Zoey’s buried “homesickness.’”

But the realization doesn’t happen until later. When Rumi has retreated to her own room and starts thinking back on everything she did with Mira and Zoey that day.

And it’s almost tragic to Mira and Rumi.

They know and feel like Zoey cares about them.

But they don’t want Zoey to feel like she has to give up “the happy memories” of her ‘home’ for them.

During the actual conversation —

Rumi just becomes more & more flustered. It’s so much to process at once but she’s making the connections in her head as she listens to Zoey talk—

Zoey’s overload of word and explanation fills Rumi’s head and it flusters her because her brain isn’t working fast enough. Zoey can see that Rumi is overwhelmed.

So, knowing that Rumi is usually okay with it in these moments, Zoey softly smiles and walks up to her (in her down-cast line of sight) and gently eases Rumi into a hug.

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Octopi:

- https://scaquarium.org/blog/posts/facts-about-octopus

- https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Octopuses

Octopi traits and reasoning for Mira!:

- “8 arms”

—> Reaching for control

- “Suction cups”

—> Clinging to the things they need/want to survive

- “They use their arms to ‘walk’ on seafloor”

- “Blood blue in color”

—> “Unique” existence

- “Three functioning hearts”

—> “Unique” existence

——> Kind at heart

- “Solitary creatures & ‘experts’ at camouflage

—> Self isolation & concealing their ‘true self’

- “Believed to be quite intelligent—capable of learning, using tools, & remembering locations.”

—> Amazing intelligence & ‘pattern recognition’ towards Rumi & Zoey’s actions & behaviors in the movie. Even when they “can’t”/“don’t” directly say how they’re feeling.

- Which leads to arguments & incorrect assumptions. Like the confrontation on the train.

Sea Otters:

- https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-the-ocean/animals-a-to-z/sea-ottersea