─ rooftop

@✵ kuromiya rei⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *it's a mad dash down to Jooyeon's bedroom, not wanting the bird to suffer more (though he trusts Rei to be gentle with her without even really knowing her)*
*he's definitely not athletic enough for the feats he attempts, taking the stairs two at a time, and trying to jump the last four only to stumble the landing and crash into the wall*
Oops -
*his feet carry him further, to his dorm room where he digs under his bed for one of his largest puzzle boxes*
*it finds his fingers quickly. Jooyeon has to pause when he opens the top, grimacing when he's forced to dump the pieces out onto the floor* For the bird...
*and then, box secured, he rushes back to Rei, hoping to find her where he left her*
*he won't lie... the run up the stairs was a lot slower than the one down, and he was gasping for breath once he finally reached the top*
I got it! I got the box! The box. I have it!

@✵ lee jooyeon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *his little drop of knowledge is useless, not touching the bird clearly being the one thing she actually knows to do - hence him now being nearly topless. but, Rei likes to believe that she's a patient person; she's called Reitetsu for a reason, so she nods along, sparing the little thing a glance to make sure it hasn't had any drastic changes in the past two seconds*
I can wait
*she confirms, looking at the bird again to find it staring straight at her*
Go, go.
*she shoos him, tucking to bird into the crook of one arm like carrying a swaddled baby and not a wild animal*
Hurry so we don't find out

@✵ kuromiya rei⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *he's grateful for the buttons, though the increased panic of the situation makes him fumble as he buttons up the jean jacket, his hands finally available to do something*
*that something being... apparently to float above the situation and not actually do anything. No, wait. He was just... Prepared. Yes.*
*he understands, despite the fumble in translation, nodding slowly*
I read in an article once that if you find an injured bird, you should find a box, poke some air holes in it, put a little towel in, and then put the bird in.
But we don't want to touch the bird. You wouldn't want to get bird flu.
*a quick look around the rooftop confirms that there is no cardboard box in their immediate vicinity*
Do you think you can wait while I go get a box?
*glances at the bird* Will he die before I make it back?

@✵ lee jooyeon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *she doesn't dignify the childish - albeit valid - denial with a response, merely deadpanning behind her shades until he provides /some/ sort of helpfulness because out of the two of them, there's only one that'll look insane walking around without a shirt on*
Thank you
*she mumbles when she finally has something in her hands, gathering the shirt between both hands in a way that'll make it easier to carefully wrap around the bird. she murmurs assurances to the reluctant creature; especially when dealing with the bum wing, until it's wrapped securely in a way that shouldn't jostle it anymore. but then, she's at a loss. grab the bird, check. now what? she shifts her attention to him*
Do you know how to "rehab" a bird? No, sorry, "rehab" is..help care for?

@✵ kuromiya rei⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *there were three million thoughts in Jooyeon's head and all of them involved on how to escape this situation without appearing to be the world's most awkward human being*
*the more time dragged on, and they stared at each other, the harder it became to overcome the challenge*
*until a of fate - or maybe a curse - broke the tension with a hard thud, and a crash of flailing feathers, dark enough to be seen tumbling to the ground on the window backdrop*
*it's enough. he jolts forward in tandem with Rei, hovering on the opposite side of the bird while she crouches over it**now he's faced with three million more thoughts of what to do but this time for a bird. The poor thing's wing is clearly broken with the way it angles sharply off at the center, and Jooyeon wrings his fingers in sympathetic agony for the creature*
What are you doing - *his hands shoot to his eyes to shield himself from the stripping girl, only peeking out at her absurd request*
*his hands come up defensively, clinging to the denim jacket he'd been gifted for Secret Santa*
No - this is my jacket
*red cheeks alight, his brain conjures up a fair compromise, stripping the jacket and turning so his back is to Rei, before he strips the black t-shirt beneath, redresses with the jacket, and turns around to offer the shirt*
Here... Use this... *he mutters, fumbling to keep the jacket closed with his free hand*

[post deleted by owner]

@✵ lee jooyeon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *thank God for the shades because the moment their eyes lock, the same comically surprised expression reaches Rei's face, eyes widening behind the dark lenses as if *she's* the one caught being a menace to society. there's a brief moment where she considers just lying back down like nothing happened--to hide behind the weathered roof furniture until her fellow trainee goes away. but she finds herself stuck instead, rooted in place like a deer in the headlights but the car is just as surprised as she is*
Uh- I'm..
*the unintentional stare down lasts for much longer than she would like to admit, but she eventually builds up the gut to speak when a loud thunk has her gaze whipping to the mechanical penthouse just in time to see a dark, feathered figure drop from the top half-level's window. without a second thought, she's up and abandoning the non-conversation to run over and climb the utility ladder to hopefully find a living bird
and she does, but the thing is clearly worse for wear, flopping around in an attempt to get away despite one of its wings being crooked at an unfavorable angle. she has absolutely no idea what she's doing, but vaguely remembers that she's not supposed to touch birds with bare hands, so she starts to remove her shirt before remembering that she's very much in public burdened with the female form. so, she peeks out over the guard rails instead, eyes landing on Jooyeon as she promptly requests*
Give me your jacket

@✵ kuromiya rei⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *it carries on until the bag is near done, with two left only, and then Jooyeon's left with the big dilemma of "Will he eat the last marshmallows or will he throw them over?" After careful contemplating... He settles on the former*
*the bag is crumpled into a ball, tucked into his pocket where it bulges out the skinny denim, sweet fluffy treat hovered at his lips when he turns around*
*he's ready to head back down to the dorms, call it a day, maybe huddle with a puzzle in his cozies, but instead he comes eye to eye with Rei*
*the other trainee is just chilling, headphones covering her ears, and he stares at her with the marshmallow in his mouth, wide eyes shocked and cheeks rosy*
Um... Hello. What are you doing... on this... fine day?

@✵ lee jooyeon⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *asking Rei why she's spent her post-class free time laid flat on the rooftop floor, hidden away behind a gaudy-looking bit of privacy decor and wearing sunglasses to block out the early-spring sun would be like running a fool's errand because even she isn't fully sure.
but, after a long morning of training she wasn't interested in and a full promotion cycle watching her fellow musician trainees have to dance around on stage (confirming that nobody was safe), she simply needs that reprieve.
she's blank-faced and searching for the perfect laughing LINE sticker to responds to a shared video when the clashing guitars and screaming of one song goes quiet to transition to the next juuust in time to hear another voice.
she pauses before the next song can get underway and sits up as if it'll help her hear better, only to immediately see who'd joined her on the rooftop way across the space by the ledge*
"What.."
*she utters, much too quiet and much too far away to really be heard while assessing the situation. she ultimately doesn't care, though, as her gaze falls on the bag of pure-sugar confections and she realizes she would really like one right now. only, it's clear Jooyeon doesn't know she's there and she can't just appear like Candyman to ask for one*

@✵ kuromiya rei⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ *it was a day like any other, except he was more tired than usual. After wrapping up a sequence of promotions where he'd performed alongside his fellow trainees and house-name Jimin, it was only natural*
*now, no one ask him why he ended up on the rooftop with a jumbo sized bag of multicoloured, fruit-flavoured marshmallows. He stood over the waist-high railing, one marshmallow tucked in his cheek, the other launching off to join the pile*
*his goal was to get the pail that stood at the bottom, abandoned by a bench in front of the building*
*none had gotten in yet and he was halfway down the bag*
*another tips over the edge, narrowly missing a passing trainee, who shoots a glare up to the rooftop where Jooyeon dips down to hide*
Oops...

@✵ choi beomgyu⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ Pixie was the one startled this time, shoulders leaping up with a tiny squeak escaping her lips. She turns her head quickly to spot the owner of the voice, staying hovered over the kitten just in case. Her eyes scan him up and down, flinching slightly at the second sneeze that came. "Omo... You scared me," she announces with a light laugh, turning back to the kitten who's only now bristling down. "How long has this little guy been up here?" One finger delicately stretches out to let him sniff. "He must be so cold..."

@✵ choi beomgyu⁻ᵗʳᵃᶦⁿᵉᵉ After an emotionally heated meeting in the CEO's office, where her future had been discussed thoroughly (spoiler alert: it was bleak), Pixie needed air. This wouldn't be the first time that her short legs brought her up a series of winding stairs, up to the push-door with the glowing, neon EXIT sign marked above it. Her petite body throws itself into the metal contraption, grunting at the effort under its weight. And soon enough. She's free. With the streams of tears she's sniffling through, she doesn't even notice the blurred form darting behind a bush. Her intention had been to march right up to the rails and scream into the hustle of the city. But instead... Instead... There was a black kitten... Eating salmon... Where did he get the salmon? "Omo... Omo... Kitty, you must be cold..." she whispers, approaching slowly. Every step, she crouches more, hand extended to the small creature for him to sniff. "You are so itty bitty... Where's your umma?"

______________________________________________________________

@❄ kim miso *already slightly regretting the decision but almost equally intrigued, she sighs and allows her arm to be flung around until they get to the door*
I'm holding you to that, Miso ssi
*responds, a warning tone clear in her voice as she opens the door and gestures the idol in first*

@◈ hwang hyunji ᴘᴜʀғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ *she's back to 100% as soon as the first positive word leaves your lips, a happy little squee—much quieter than the first few—and takes your hand, swinging it as you both walk*
This is gonna be great, I promise you won't even know I'm there~
I'm suuuuper respectful of studio time hehe

@❄ kim miso *by the time the 3rd...4th? ramble of the morning was over, Hyunji had already gotten off the table and tucked her computer away in the ratty messenger bag covered in sharpie doodles, old and new. she released a quiet sigh, unbelieving that she was about to do this*
Yeah, sure. You can come with
*and, like the cherry on the insanity cake, she extended her hand*
C'mon, let's go before someone else claims the best studio

@◈ hwang hyunji ᴘᴜʀғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ Well, honestly, my class was cancelled. I got an email yesterday when, y'know haha. So, I might hang out! Until I figure out what to do, at least. Might bum one of the practice rooms...might take the bus and go to my old studio but..
*in the middle of her rambling, she realizes that the question may have been more of an invitation than anything. but maybe it isn't..but it could be. she tests the waters, a bit more meek than she previously was*
...can I come with?

@❄ kim miso *after finding herself just sort of staring, in awe at the fact that she'd essentially been absorbed into a friendship, Hyunji laughs and nods, balancing back on one hand to do the same with the other girl's number*
Yeah, let's do that. That'd be cool, Miso
*her metallic painted nails click against the screen with every key press until she ends up with "Pinkie Pie" and a unicorn emoji. she catches the time while locking up and clears to switch gears*
I should head in. You gonna stick around here?

@◈ hwang hyunji ᴘᴜʀғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ If things get too stressful for him then you guys can totally leave if you want! Or camp out in our bedroom! It's super cozy in there and there's a computer with sooo many games and movies on it
*hums happily*
I can't wait~ We have each other's numbers now, so I'm gonna save yours!
*unlocks her phone again to do just that, saving your contact as "Monshin* Ji"*
I'll send you the address when it's time aaaand, if you're cool with it, maybe we can trade fur baby pics sometimes?

-
* tattoo

@❄ kim miso *Hyunji keeps quiet in an attempt to catch everything being slung her way, barely registering one sentence before another follows in its immediate wake. by the end, the question posed her way doesn't even sound like a question until a few seconds later when it's allowed the time to register*
Ahh...maybe? He's pretty chill around my friends. He's only ever met a couple of other cats, though..
Maybe I can carry him around if it feels like too much

@◈ hwang hyunji ᴘᴜʀғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ You totally got me right!
*grins, turning to face you better as she engages in ramble-mode*
I have schedules all day beforehand but afterwards, I'm inviting all of my friends and their pets over. Pet friends only, obvi. It's gonna be super cute and totally fun. And Nan and I are decorating the apartment with this cute set we found on Etsy a while ago and-
*clasps her hands together with a smile*
You should come! Does Mayo like other people and pets yet?

@❄ kim miso *chuckles, her head shaking lightly in amusement as she reclaims the mobile. she finally drops the foot that's kept her propped up all this time, now opting to lean backwards against both palms*
It's super cute
*agrees, genuine - though with only about half of the zeal*
So it's coming up soon. You totally seem like the type to throw a dog party with all the guests wearing little hats and having little teeny dog cakes. Is that happening?

@◈ hwang hyunji ᴘᴜʀғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ Right?? the cutest little burnt potato in the world!
*coos, going to clasp her hands together for a Disney sigh before quickly realizing the reality of not one but two phones occupying her hands*
Ope- here
*chuckles, nearly returning her own phone before making the right switch at the last second*
Sorryy hehe..
Golbie's only around 1 now. We don't know his birthday, so my roommate, Nancy and I just made it on the 10th coming up. It's halfway between both of our birthdays. Isn't that cute?

@❄ kim miso *despite being a little preoccupied with the distinct lack of a phone in her hand, Hyunji can't help but melt into the gigantic, wet puppy dog eyes being presented to her*
Oh my goood. He is so cute! What the
*leans in closer to get the best possible look at the little creature before glancing up at its owner*
How old is he?

@◈ hwang hyunji ᴘᴜʀғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ Eeee!! Look at him!!
*beside herself with glee, she grabs the phone personally to zoom in on the little baby's features*
Ohmygosh. Uugh I want a kitten so bad. As soon as my life gets back together, I'm going to a shelter
Oh-
That's Golbaengigi~ my little boy~ he's just a little guy that doesn't know anything about anything~
*shows her phone in the same manner, still gripping yours in a completely oblivious hostage situation*

https://i.imgur.com/pzroKVk.jpg

@❄ kim miso *squeezes her shoulders up as if it'll muffle the loud noise, the bewildered vibe and expressions apparently now a permanent part of her as long as Miso's around. just as eager to trade pets, though, she's already flipping through her own gallery and has a photo ready within seconds*
This is Mayo
*holds the phone between them, angling it the other girl's way for better access*
Isn't he the cutest little bean baby?

https://i.imgur.com/K43VkVc.jpg

@◈ hwang hyunji ᴘᴜʀғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ *squeals, sneaker'd feet kicking up a metaphorical flurry in the way their idly swinging quickens*
Mayo, that's so cute!
Do you have pics? Can I see him?
Ah- Golbie is a Frenchie~ I'll share pics too, let's make it a trade hehe
*suggests without room for protest, already diving into her gallery for said photos*

@❄ kim miso *too caught up in the way the other literally pronounced the text abbreviation, she nearly misses the question but comes to just in time*
Ah, he's Mayo. He's just a baby now, only 4 months..ish
*shrugs*
The guys that were giving them away weren't quite sure. What kinda dog is Golbaengi?

@◈ hwang hyunji ᴘᴜʀғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ⁻ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵉʳ Yeah, the Janus dude!
*confirms with a grin, fully crossing her legs to follow suit*
You have a cat? Luckkyyy, I have a dog called Golbaengi. Like sea snails, y'know? But I would loooove to have both where it's like they're besties. A dream fr, but I'm busy enough with just the dog
*sighs deeply before tilting her head*
What's the kitty's name?

@❄ kim miso *double takes a little with the act surprising her a little. she laughs despite herself, lightly shaking her head and stubbing out the cig before dropping it in the ash-filled cup while Miso rambles on about being special*
"Hanbin oppa"? The Janus dude?
*questions, lifting a leg to prop up on the table and lean against*
Yeah, I prefer being alone, usually. Sometimes I bring my cat