1004rd

[1004rd]

OOC !

shameless   plug   but   i   can   also   be   found   now   @daheeful   —-   she's   my   spn   baby   so   if   you   have   any,   please   i   beg   you   please   send   them   my   way   !   though   she   also   has   her   lil   slice   of   life   side   and   she's   a   shy   babi   so   any   kind   of   plot   also   works,   really   !   i'll   be   doing   replies   on   here   today   for   my   jiababes   as   well   ♡ 

[1004rd]

           " ew is right, seriously. " jia scrunches her nose at the mere mention of her ex, the distaste evident. she had long reached her limit, and it wasn't just about her — she knew how much the constant back-and-forth had weighed on her friends too. especially kisun, someone she always thought was far too precious for a world this cruel. " and he better accept that i'm yours. " her tone softens into something warmer, a fond smile tugging at her lips as she gently turns her best friend by the shoulders, " alright, face me — i'll fix your hair. " grabbing the nearest comb and a can of hairspray, she gets to work on the familiar blue strands, " you're going to be the star of the show, as always. "

"ew." kisun always never liked jia's ex boyfriend that was a bit controlling over her and they were very happy when jia called it off, very happy. in fact they even threw a party for her. "he can't have you. you're mine." they huffed with a bright grin before settling itself in front of the mirror so jia can work her magic on the blue hair. "you know what, surprise me. i know you can do hair magic." kisun chuckled and waved at the mirror. "i don't want to see until you are finished!"

[1004rd]

           feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sea of clothing being brought out by the endless stream of sales associates, jia does her best not to let it show. sure, she didn't have money— but her taste ? that had never been in question. keeping the double date in mind, she pointed out the pieces she knew would flatter her frame best. " what can i do, you ask ? hmmm . . " after selecting a few options and requesting the room be cleared so she could try them on in peace, jia waits until they're alone before speaking again. " it doesn't matter. the people i know, they don't care about class or wealth . . it's kind of a lawless land, honestly. " she smirks, aware this is the first time she's ever really let haewon see this side of her. taking a deep breath, she steps forward, gently taking her wrist, " look, i just . . i know people, alright ? all we need to do is get him somewhere— a club, maybe— and from there, they'll take care of the rest. "

Haewon was too wound up to sit in the plush chairs as associates started parading around them with outfits and holding them up against Jia to see what style fit her best. Chewing her nail, which she never did since she hated how it looked, she paced around trying to anticipate what her ex would do, just knowing he'd try to provoke them at their date -- Jia's offer couldn't have come at a better time, snapping Haewon out of her mind palace. "What do you mean? What could you do?" she asked, curious, maybe a little cautious since she didn't actually want her ex's life to be in danger...just the impression? Oh, that would be perfect. "Like? Pretend to kidnap him or something? Gotta be careful. His parents protect him like he's royalty or something..."

[1004rd]

           being  friends  especially  with  someone  like  sora—  jia  often  found  herself  questioning  how  people  with  so  much  wealth  and  freedom  lived  the  way  they  did.  the  ability  to  buy  anything,  go  anywhere,  live  without  hesitation.  what  was  it  like  ?  it  was  foreign  to  someone  like  her,  someone  who'd  rather  skip  a  meal  than  spend  money  unnecessarily.  "  she's  truly  unstoppable,  ladies  and  gentlemen.  "  jia  declares  dramatically,  even  glancing  off  to  the  side  like  she  was  on  the  office.  "  a  curved  tv  ?!  ma'am  .  .  don't  you  think  that's,  like,  a  bit  too  extravagant  for  a  gift  ?  "  her  tone  is  half  disbelief,  half  awe.  because  clearly,  she  still  hadn't  adjusted  to  this  kind  of  world,  or  what  it  meant  to  be  in  such  close  proximity  to  it.

༊⋆｡˚                       one thing ? ha —- nah ! pulling out her black card , she blew a playful kiss friends way , the sweetest expression on doll like features . ❛ we shall both be having the best haul ever , m’lady ! ❜ already picking up the ( atrocious ) unicorn lamp and throwing it h a p h a z a r d l y inside the cart . about as much grace as shrek . ❛ i’m sensing judgement and it’s not a vibe ! ❜ cheeky grin to follow up . ❛ look at that curved tv over there —- that would look sick in your room ! ❜ hilarious . one would never think she’d been brought up in a palace all prim & proper .

[1004rd]

           "  you  guess  ?  "  jia  scoffs,  clearly  amused  by  his  response,  "  what  do  you  mean  ?  you  are  annoying.  "  she  quips,  a  teasing  grin  tugging  at  her  lips  as  she  stretches  on  her  toes  just  to  pat  the  taller  male  on  the  head.  "  you  did  good.  who  knows  what  those  guys  would've  tried  if  i  was  the  one  who  handed  over  the  package.  "  there's  a  flicker  of  genuine  gratitude  in  her  tone—  especially  for  the  way  he  reassured  her,  saying  he'd  take  the  fall  if  their  boss  ever  found  out.  but  the  playful  expression  she  wore  quickly  fades  at  his  follow-up,  "  you  are  something  else,  "  she  mutters  with  a  dramatic  eye  roll,  choosing  to  ignore  the  question  altogether,  even  if  it  irritated  her  just  how  good  he  still  looked  with  a  bruise  on  his  face.  tossing  the  bag  into  the  backseat,  she  motions  for  him  to  get  in  the  car  with  a  nod,  "  come  on,  we've  still  got  a  couple  stops  left  .  .  the  next  one's  with  one  of  our  regulars  and  that  guy  can  be  real  .  .  handsy.  "  her  sigh  is  loud  and  annoyed,  clearly  not  looking  forward  to  it,  "  but  don't  worry,  i'll  deal  with  him  myself  this  time—  and  i  mean  it.  don't  step  in,  or  else.  "

       questions  being  thrown  keon's  way  was  making  eyebrows  furrow  together  a  bit,  knowing  jia  was  meaning  it  out  of  pure  care  for  the  two  of  them,  to  not  get  handled  by  the  gang  they  were  forced  to  work  under  until  debt  was  paid  off.   "  i'm  fine.  "   looking  up  at  the  femme  as  she  brushed  over  the  bruise,  causing  a  natural  wince  of  pain  to  be  hissed  by  him,  blood  having  been  drawn  from  the  minor  wound  the  punch  had  left  behind.   "  i  guess  i  was  just  annoying  to  begin  with.  "   signature  snort,  even  aware  that  his  demeanor  needed  to  start  settling  down  with  these  deliveries,  apparently  gang  people  not  really  liking  the  attitude  he  so  casually  threw  out  during  speeches.   "  it's  all  there.  "   reaching  for  the  bag,  opening  it  for  her  eyes  to  see  the  money  in  there  and  with  a  quick  glance  and  math,  keon  was  certain  it  was  there  or  else,  he  could  put  in  ten  grand  if  they  counted  a  different  amount.   "  don't  worry,  yeah  ?  if  they  tricked  us,  then  i  will  take  the  blame  okay  ?  "   pushing  himself  to  a  standing  position,  handing  her  the  shuffle  bag  and  a  smile  offered  in  her  direction.   "  how  do  i  look  with  a  bruise  though  ?  "

[1004rd]

           "  i  really,  really  did.  it  was  such  a  good  night.  "  honestly,  probably  one  of  the  best  she's  had  in  years—  minho  just  knew  exactly  how  to  read  her,  how  to  make  the  entire  evening  feel  like  it  was  tailored  just  for  her.  setting  aside  the  lingering  image  of  the  tattoo  seared  into  her  mind,  she  kept  up  the  act,  forcing  herself  to  ignore  the  nervousness  in  her  system.  "  i  wouldn't  call  myself  a  gourmet  chef  .  .  hmm,  but  i've  been  cooking  for  me  and  my  mom  since  i  was  a  kid.  picked  it  up  early,  so  you're  in  safe  hands,  oppa.  "  jia  assures  him  with  a  soft  grin,  "  macchiato  is  perfect.  alright,  let's  get  up  now.  if  we  don't,  we'll  probably  end  up  staying  in  bed  all  day.  "  not  that  it  sounded  terrible,  but  she  knew  she  needed  a  moment  to  clear  her  thoughts  and  figure  out  her  next  move.  rolling  off  the  mattress  with  a  groan,  she  stretches  her  arms  above  her  head,  "  mind  if  i  borrow  this  ?  "  she  asks,  holding  up  a  shirt  hanging  behind  the  door.  

       catching  a  glimpse  of  what  seemed  to  be  worry  in  jia's  eyes,  which  did  raise  a  questioning  flag  inside  his  mind  and  yet,  the  second  she  spoke  and  her  voice  rang  in  his  ears  ;  it  was  like  that  pondering  moment  was  completely  gone  from  his  mind.   "  you  really  did  ?  "   smirk  taking  appearance  on  the  homme's  lips,  hand  reaching  between  then  to  have  slender  digits  grasp  around  her  chin,  angling  her  head  upward  as  his  leaned  down  to  press  a  drowsy  kiss  against  her  forehead.   "  breakfast  sounds  nice  ...  are  you  a  hidden  gourment  chef  ?  "   joking  words  as  he  partly  didn't  wish  to  leave  the  comforts  of  the  bed  and  sheets  covering  them  ;  knowing  that  his  phone  was  probably  blasted  with  notifications,  which  minho  couldn't  care  less  about  right  now  —-  wanting  to  only  pay  attention  to  jia.   "  i  make  a  banger  latte  macchiato  if  that's  something  you  could  have  to  drink  ?  "

[1004rd]

           jia understood exactly why they got along so well. she had never been one of those people who prided themselves on taking the high road. standing off to the side, a proud smile gracing her lips, she let haewon do the talking, content to let her handle things since this wasn't exactly her usual environment. before she could react, a sales associate suddenly whisked her away, leading her into a room in the back. it wasn't a cramped dressing room but an entirely separate, luxurious space, complete with its own fitting area and plush seating. " woah . . " she murmured, taking in the opulence— it was a first for her. as haewon joined her, jia finally spoke up, " you know, i could do something for you in return . . " much like haewon had her own connections, so did jia. tilting her head slightly, a devilish smile curled at her lips, " do you want to scare him, perhaps ? make him think . . his life is in danger ? "

"I want crocodile tears, I want him...sobbing in his stupid fancy drink!" Haewon was angrily rummaging through the outfits on the lines, determined, probably scaring some of the store workers who hesitantly approached the pair and asked if they needed assistance. Haewon pulled Jia forward and took a step back, trying to make sure it was her new girlfriend that got the spoiling treatment. "Yes. I want to make her perfect -- give me the best outfit you have! Everything from jewelry, purses, shoes, she needs to look expensive. Don't worry about the price." She patted Jia on her shoulder from behind, smiling with evil intentions behind it in hopes of ruining her ex fiance's life. "You go have fun. Let unnie spoil you some more, yeah?"

[1004rd]

           the  moment  her  eyes  met  minho's,  a  tangled  mess  of  guilt  and  that  damn  fluttering  sensation  took  hold  of  her.  the  rapid  thudding  of  her  heart,  was  it  nerves,  or  was  it  just  him  ?  probably  both.  "  thank  you,  too.  i  really  had  fun.  "  the  words  come  out  soft,  sincere,  even  as  his  fingers  graze  her  back,  leaving  a  trail  of  goosebumps  in  their  wake.  and  just  like  that,  jia  makes  a  decision.  pretend  she  didn't  see  anything.  maybe  if  she  convinced  herself  hard  enough,  she'd  forget  the  truth  altogether.  how  had  she  not  recognized  him  sooner  ?  maybe  because,  from  the  moment  they  met,  the  undeniable  chemistry  between  them  had  clouded  everything  else.  pushing  the  thoughts  away,  she  forces  herself  to  stay  present,  her  voice  casual  as  she  drapes  an  arm  over  his  stomach,  snuggling  in.  "  do  you  want  me  to  make  us  some  breakfast  ?  "

       drifting  awake  with  the  memories  from  last  night  still  so  vivid  in  his  mind  as  his  body  moved  over  to  lay  on  his  back,  arms  stretching  above  his  head  while  that  turned  to  capture  view  of  the  femme  ;  a  drowsy  smile  appearing  on  his  pair  of  lips  then.   "  good  morning,  you.  "   voice  slightly  low  and  hoarse  from  just  having  woken  up,  singular  arm  moving  so  that  it  could  wrap  her  smaller  frame  closer  to  his  side  ;  spare  hand  going  up  to  brush  some  hairs  out  of  her  face.   "  thanks  for  yesterday,  and  this  night.  "   additional  information  as  he  spoke  with  a  smirk,  slender  digits  having  dropped  to  draw  circles  along  the  upper  part  of  her  bare  back  ;  it  felt  so  surreal  to  have  met  something  where  the  connection  had  just  been  there  instantly,  almost  like  he  had  been  in  a  coma  and  living  in  a  dream  world,  rather  than  actually  being  here.

[1004rd]

           it was as if jia could read haewon's mind in that moment, as if she could see the exact moment the switch flipped in her head. that look— unwavering, determined, was one she recognized instantly and understood. " are you sure ? " she asks, hesitant. it wasn't like money was ever an issue for her bestie, but still, jia couldn't help but feel guilty about letting her pay for an entire outfit. " i'd offer to split or something, but let's be real, i don't think i could even afford a pair of sunglasses from these stores . . let alone a full fit. " allowing herself to be pulled along, she matches haewon's pace as they step into the first luxury boutique. " we'll make him pay, i swear. that dinner won't end without him leaving in tears. " she mutters, a quiet promise to herself— because if there was one thing jia was sure of, it was that revenge always felt good.

Wiping the tears from her face, Haewon sniffed and looked around the various stores she frequented. Shopping had been the only therapy she'd done in the last few months since her ex had dumped her and her closets were full of so many clothes she'd never worn, but with a newfound determination to look perfect, she set her sights on Chanel since it was more suited for women. "Come on," she urged, pulling Jia maybe a little too harshly to get her there quicker. "You're getting a full outfit set, purse and all. If you're going to be my girlfriend tomorrow I want to show you off and spoil you with all the expensive gifts! Just like he used to do, though he never loved me in the first place."

[1004rd]

ع˖⁺  ☁⋆  ୭ plotted starter for @trekcnt !

           waking  up  that  morning,  jia  was  a  whirlwind  of  emotions.  for  one,  she  could  hardly  believe  where  she  was.  the  night  before  felt  surreal,  and  she  couldn't  even  recall  the  last  time  she  had  this  much  fun.  was  this  really  happening  ?  it  felt  like  she  had  finally  hit  the  life  jackpot.  turning  onto  her  side,  she  takes  in  the  sight  of  her  companion  still  fast  asleep,  a  soft  hum  escaping  her  lips  as  her  hand  absentmindedly  trails  over  his  exposed  back.  but  the  warmth  in  her  expression  falters  the  moment  her  gaze  lands  on  a  familiar  mark  etched  into  his  skin.  her  breath  hitches,  eyes  widening  in  disbelief.  "  no  way  .  .  "  she  whispers,  shock  washing  over  her.  she  knew  that  tattoo  all  too  well.  frozen  in  place,  she  swallows  hard,  her  mind  racing.  what  was  she  supposed  to  do  now  ?  

[1004rd]

PSA !!

 hiiii  !  just  wanted  to  promote  my  new  baby  c:  @onrinni  !  i'll  be  posting  a  starter  call  there  soon  as  well.  but  please  like  this  if  you  want  me  to  follow  you  over  there  tooooo  °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

[1004rd]

           "  hehe,  i  knew  it.  but  hey,  i'm  not  against  it,  i  think  it  suits  you.  "  stepping  aside  to  let  sora  enter  the  home  goods  store  first,  jia  makes  a  beeline  for  the  shopping  carts,  yanking  out  the  biggest  one  she  can  find—  they  were  definitely  going  to  need  it.  "  here,  i  gotchu,  don't  worry,  "  she  assures,  pushing  the  cart  toward  sora  before  glancing  down  at  the  item  in  her  hand.  "  really,  sora  ?  a  unicorn  lamp  ?  "  she  teases,  her  grin  unwavering.  "  i  heard  there's  an  all-pink  section  here  too,  maybe  we  should  start  there.  i  just  need  to  grab  one  thing,  so  we  can  save  it  for  last  !  "  she  suggests  cheerfully,  already  anticipating  this  shopping  trip  turning  into  an  all-out  haul  for  her  friend.

༊⋆｡˚                       scooting right past that little slip up , sheepish expression trying not to be too obvious as she tilted her head to the side and fluttered her lashes . ❛ —- yah , don’t call me out like that ! ❜ she was 100% right on the point though . damnit . ❛ .. pink and sparkly things are so beauts though ! my sister always makes fun of me but then , her vibes pretty much the same ?! pretty hypocritical if you ask me ! ❜ as they headed to the home store , she was immediately drawn to a unicorn and with a lamp stuck on its head , ❛ oh my god . i’m gonna be broke .. where’s the cart ?! ❜ straight in her basket .

[1004rd]

           she had always carried the bad habit of downplaying her own traumas, brushing past painful experiences as if they held no weight. and while she deeply appreciated the comfort from someone who had been such a significant part of her life for so long, all she could offer in return was a solemn smile. grief was an ongoing process, but jia knew her mother would want her to live happily until they met again. " thank you, really. but hey, you just got out, you should focus on yourself first. and if there's anything i can do to help, you know i will. " her words are sincere, her free hand resting atop his, giving it a reassuring squeeze while the other remains steady on the wheel. " we're almost at my place, " she adds, turning down a narrow alleyway. her apartment wasn't grand or luxurious, but it was hers— a space where she only had to worry about herself. glancing desmond's way, she asks casually, " are you hungry ? i made some kimchi jjigae before i left. " she keeps the reason vague, but in truth, she had intentionally made extra . . more than she usually would. maybe, deep down, she had been hoping this exact moment would happen all along.

"hey, don't say that — i had every faith in you. even if you're still kind of small." his fingers lift and make a sort of pinching gesture in front of him, just far enough forward for her to see it without taking her eyes off the road. all the humor and laughter that surfaces tones down significantly at the mention of her mother, however, and quickly takes a nosedive when that mention turns into a memory. "jia... i'm.... i'm so sorry." his face falls and when he turns his head to look at her, he can see the amount of strength she's had to muster to keep it all together. "y-yes, of course i remember her. i just — w-well of course i never wanted things to take a turn like that." even after all these years, he remembers her face as well, though likely not as bad as when she struggled to take her final breaths. supposes he can find solace in that. an urge to reach out and hug her is overwhelming for for the sake of their safety, he'll just reach over and give her thigh a gentle pat for now. "that must be really rough on top of your living expenses too. i wish i could help somehow. are you doing okay? are you managing everything alright?"

[1004rd]

           after everything haewon endured because of that asshole, jia was more determined than ever to help her best friend through her revenge arc. that, and she couldn't deny the satisfaction she felt watching terrible people get what they deserved. with a firm nod, she pumps her fist in the air, " let's do this ! let's go shopping and turn into the hottest versions of ourselves. " lacing her fingers around haewon's, she eagerly leads them into the department store. " which store should we hit up first ? " she asks, coming to an abrupt stop as the sheer number of luxury brand storefronts overwhelms her. she knew nothing about these brands, was certain she didn't own a single thing from any of them. turning to haewon with an expectant grin, she surrenders, " this is your area of expertise, haewon ah. i'll let you take the lead ! "

Jia's motivation speech slightly snapped Haewon out of her little crying session, just enough to hear her, then back to her crying all over again. "I'll die if I see them together all happy! But...but I won't let him be happy. Let's...let's make him jealous and beg me to take him back! Then I can turn around and reject him!" Pettiness motivated her more. Haewong grabbed Jia's hand from her shoulder and gripped it tight. "We have to make ourselves look perfect! Come on, I'm going to buy you a really expensive dress. I want him to be jealous of my girlfriend! And if he falls in love with you, then you have to stomp on his heart like he did to me!"

[1004rd]

           mixing business with pleasure was never something jia intended to get caught up in, but the reality was that her ex still had access to her because they worked together and that he was regarded highly by the gang she worked for. sending off a quick and easy response, ' i'm busy, i'll be there next time '— she shifts her focus back to her friend. " it's alright, i can skip the job just this once . . i feel like he's just using it as an excuse to see me anyway. " standing behind him as he sat in front of the mirror, she offers kisun a reassuring smile. " what are you thinking of doing with your hair tonight ? " she asks, her voice carrying a bright, lighthearted tone as she meets her best friend's gaze through the reflection.

kisun narrowed their eyes at their best friend, unsure if the texts were from her ex-boyfriend but they also knew about her second job, despite their pleas to help them pay the hospital bills. they also know not to push her too much so they simply nodded with a smile, reaching out to pat jia's knee. "you know i don't mind you leaving if you need to make money for the bills." kisun mentioned and reached up to take the headband out of their hair, nodding softly. they may be really good with makeup but hair? hair was never a talent they were able to develop.

[1004rd]

           jia  could  only  roll  her  eyes  at  keon's  cockiness  and  hold  back  a  grin  finding  it  all  entertaining,  she  had  no  choice  but  to  concede.  normally,  she  could  handle  negotiations  like  this  with  ease,  but  they  had  been  warned—  this  particular  group  had  a  reputation  for  being  ruthless.  watching  keon  stride  forward  with  far  too  much  confidence,  even  cracking  jokes  at  them,  jia  winces,  pinching  the  bridge  of  her  nose  between  her  thumb  and  index  finger,  refusing  to  turn  around.  the  secondhand  embarrassment  was  unbearable.  "  this  is  not  going  to  end  well,  "  she  mutters  under  her  breath,  exhaling  sharply.  but  the  moment  she  hears  the  unmistakable  sound  of  a  fist  colliding  with  flesh,  her  eyes  snap  open.  finally  turning  to  look,  she  catches  sight  of  the  group  of  men  scrambling  back  to  their  cars  while  keon  spits  out  blood.  "  aish,  how  fucking  annoying  .  .  "  she  mutters  through  gritted  teeth,  the  urge  to  retaliate  burning  inside  her.  but  what  could  she  even  do  ?  they  were  all  built  like  tanks,  and  she  wasn't  exactly  a  physical  match.  stepping  closer  to  keon,  she  reaches  up,  fingers  brushing  over  the  fresh  bruise  on  his  cheek,  her  thumb  tracing  over  the  reddened  skin.  "  are  you  okay  ?  what  the  heck  just  happened  ?  what  was  that  punch  even  for  ?  "  she  clicks  her  tongue  in  frustration  before  her  gaze  drops  to  the  bag.  "  we  were  supposed  to  check  if  they  gave  us  the  right  amount  before  letting  them  leave  .  .  what  if  they  shorted  us  and  the  boss  is  expecting  full  payment  ?  "

       "  mmright,  i'll  give  it  half  a  minute.  "   keon  states  with  a  smug  expression  matching  jia's,  only  just  managing  to  lean  against  the  hood  of  the  car  when  the  front  of  femme's  body  was  walking  back  towards  him.   "  tsktsk,  what  would  you  do  without  me.  "   hand  accepts  the  package,  glad  she  allowed  him  to  do  these  things,  as  keon  had  the  view  of  jia  that  she  shouldn't  be  too  involved  if  he  could  prevent  it.   "  now  watch  how  it's  done.  "   walking  closer  to  the  group,  located  where  they  had  been  told,  trying  to  approach  with  a  goofy  comment  and  one  of  the  guys  stood  all  the  way  up  in  his  face,  asking  for  the  package;  keon  stone  faced  and  then  shrugged.   "  do  you  have  the  money.  "   cold  attitude,  knowing  he  needed  the  cash  to  secure  both  his  but,  primarily,  jia's  ass.  a  bag  was  tossed  and  he  looked  into  it,  holding  up  the  package  for  one  to  take  and  one  second  later,  knuckles  was  met  with  his  cheek,  causing  him  to  grunt  as  the  group  then  ran  to  their  cars  and  he  spit  the  blood  before  he  saw  jia's  angelic  face  by  his  side.   "  i'm  glad  you  turned  back  ...  "

[1004rd]

           as  the  dense,  suffocating  walls  closed  in  around  her,  jia's  view  of  everything  beyond  them  was  completely  obstructed.  at  this  point,  all  she  could  rely  on  were  audio  cues—  though  even  those  were  fragmented,  making  it  impossible  to  piece  together  what  was  truly  happening.  she  couldn't  tell  what  was  real  and  what  was  a  product  of  her  adrenaline-fueled  imagination.  for  a  brief  moment,  even  her  hearing  failed  her,  replaced  by  a  sharp  ringing  that  drowned  out  everything  else.  but  just  as  quickly  as  chaos  erupted,  it  faded  into  eerie  silence.  only  then  did  she  finally  open  her  eyes,  blinking  as  she  scanned  her  surroundings,  until  her  gaze  landed  on  the  small  figure  collapsed  on  the  ground.  "  aeri  .  .  "  her  voice  wavered  as  she  scrambled  forward  on  all  fours,  eyes  darting  over  the  other  girl  to  assess  the  damage.  "  fuck,  no,  but  you're  hurt.  "  her  attention  immediately  went  to  the  torn  fabric  of  aeri's  clothes.  without  hesitation,  she  peeled  off  her  oversized  leather  jacket  and  carefully  draped  it  over  her.  "  i  don't  know  what  just  happened,  but  .  .  thank  you.  "  the  words  left  her  in  a  whisper  as  she  carefully  wrapped  her  arms  around  aeri.  "  can  you  sit  up  ?  we  need  to  get  you  somewhere  safe  .  .  immediately.  "

༊⋆｡˚                       gunshots ricocheted , grazing skin of the demon but it healed almost i m m e d i a t e l y . a tightening barrier of tails surrounding jia , a fluffy haven in contrast to the violence among the outside . the man who tried to put on a brave face stared up at it but one swipe of paw had his body shredded into a multitude of parts , claw slicing through & blood splattering everywhere . that was when the men began to bolt ; deceptive of two young woman —- oh , how wrong could they have been . yet , one more catastrophic motion had them joining the same fate . deafening silence descended ‘pon wooded area —- a crime scene not for the faint hearted and a not one to be traced back to a human . bright blinding flash pulled over as once again , aeri was thrust back ; body limp on the ground . gasps of air dragging through shakiness , clothing ripped from the split second of transforming . an inundated exhaustion from the overexertion of such actions transpired to the shell of her being . ❛ —- jia ? ❜ vision hazy , memories blurred from what had happened mere moments before . sweat slick like a second skin . ❛ are you .. hurt ? ❜