hello everyone, i’m your humble admin ocha & i couldn’t be more excited to write this intro out and get things started with everyone !! i’ve genuinely been sitting on this group idea for over a year now and was finally able to cobble together a blog for it, so i hope everyone who joins can find a comforting type of home here ♡ as for zurie, she’s a bit of a troubled soul, but she loves having people around her and is fairly ride or die ! she’s badass as a makeup artist, and everyone tells her she could do makeup for movies and musical performances, but she struggles with her self worth at times. the sensuality she exudes is very much a mask for her insecurities and for much of her inner pain. some of her origin story is below the cut, in easy to digest bullet points ! if you would like to plot with her please do leave a like, and i’ll hit you up !
trigger warnings: brief mentions of suicide, implied mental illness
born in the gorgeous city of pattaya back in thailand, people in daegu always thought zurie was rather odd for leaving. she’d simply smile sadly, changing the subject as quickly as she could, not wanting to delve into her painful history.
her father was a suave train engineer who mostly saw women as conquests, something zurie’s mother unfortunately had her blinders on for. he was excellent at playing the part and saying all the right things; things people wanted to hear.
even zurie thought he loved them, until he moved onto his next conquest. it shattered her mother in ways she never recovered from. zurie found that out the hard way one day when she came home from school to find her inconsolable grandparents on the front steps.
no one ever directly told her what happened, but she was able to put two and two together. she felt angry, abandoned by both her parents. she held a deep seated hatred for her father given what he had done, and she’d sometimes act out because of it.
she lived with her grandparents for awhile, but it was a strangely tense experience. physically, zurie favored her father more, and he was all they could see when they looked at her. they put effort in sometimes, but for the most part, they were rather cold towards her. she felt trapped beneath their malignant gazes,
when she was 14, she simply disappeared from her grandparents home in the middle of the night. she had no direction, little money and the guarded heart of a rattlesnake, but she also had her freedom. she couch surfed with a friend from school for a little while, before crossing town and doing the same thing at a different location. the main goal was to get away from pattaya city and the memories it held.
her friends were her saving grace; as long as she had people around her laughing and joking around and pulling her out of her sad reality, she could be okay. all she needed was a thin blanket and a small stretch of furniture she could curl up on for the night.
it was through her gregarious, low maintenance nature that she fell in with a group of similarly aged youths who roamed the way she did. they’d go to parties, drink the night away and crash on whomever's floor they could that night. it became her routine as well, as chasing a party was her preferred way to waste time.
she learned about makeup and all the pain and sadness it could disguise. she found something of a creative outlet, as it became a habit for her to apply some sort of eye catching look before heading off to whatever shindig she was invited to that night. she found out she had a steady hand and a creative mind that lent well to outlandish, but beautiful designs.
soon enough, her friends began begging her to do their makeup instead of the other way around. they were complimenting her, building her up the way a family should. they gave her ideas of grandeur; movie makeup and red carpets.
zurie didn’t have those types of aspirations though. she was content just walking the streets with her friends, sleeping in abandoned warehouses, doing odd jobs for just enough money to survive. she didn’t need much; just people. sometimes they were faceless, sometimes they meant everything to her. as long as a voice was filling her ears and eyes were seeing her, she was real and everything was as fine as it could get.
eventually, zurie’s roving took her away from thailand altogether. she spent a few months in cambodia before traveling to laos. her ability to make social connections was her primary survival skill. the amount of people who hired her or let her crash on their couch after little more than a few hours of talking and drinking at a tavern was slightly surprising, but that’s just who zurie was.
by the time she found herself in south korea, she was in her mid twenties and had a wealth of street knowledge behind her. she’s slowly losing that need to run, especially after getting hired at sunset galleria.
she enjoys being a makeup artist professionally, and she’s beginning to find a new family with her fellow employees. having so much freedom to explore and sow her wild oats in the middle of the night when the mall ceases being busy keeps her placated most of all.
she now lives in a small flat in downtown daegu. it’s not considered the safest part of the city, but zurie can handle herself pretty well.
she still loves a large group around her, protecting her like a security blanket not from the world, but from her own mind. she’s still struggling with deep-rooted emotional issues stemming from her childhood, but she would much rather ignore them than hear the truth. for such a tough cookie, she’s quite the coward.
there was definitely something almost... healing to the soul when one smells the ocean salt in the air and the warm sand between their toes. mari was enjoying a drink or two at the bar, trying her hardest to not run back to her yurt and grab her work phone to check if any of her clients had messaged her. they wouldn't. she sent out a mass text to her entire contacts list that she would be unavailable during the weekend due to her being on vacation, however just overall muscle memory and general paranoia of letting down a client, mari was gripping onto her glass, trying to contain herself.
almost jumping in her seat, mari turned her head and gave zuri a warm smile. "trying not to kill myself for taking a break for once." she jokingly answered. "or... well, trying to take a break." she quickly added, knowing perfectly well that the raven not having her work phone anywhere on her body was definitely a miracle. "why you ask?" mari asked, tilting her head slightly as she tried to mentally prepare herself for whatever wild idea zuri had.
there was an expression of pride on zurie's face, seeing that mari was making a pretty big effort to maintain some vacation vibes. "hey, trying is just as important as doing, so i'm proud of you !" chirps zurie, always seeming to be intoxicated off of life itself. she smiles into the breeze that blows past them, casting eyes towards her eventual destination: the floating obstacle course. she takes a seat next to mari at the bar, ordering a frozen cocktail for herself before spinning back towards her companion.
"how have you been enjoying the beach so far ? gotten to do any activities yet ??" asks zurie, who sips off her drink which is layers of pink on top of an orange base. she smacks her lips theatrically afterwards, as the taste is a tantalizing mixture of sweet and tart. "'cause if not, i have a really good idea for your first one after a couple doses of liquid courage," she concludes, twirling the blue mixer garnishing her glass around.
maybe it was waking up to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, or maybe it was simply the fact that she was on vacation for once, but zurie's mind had been racing with all sorts of things she wanted to cram into the weekend they were there. she knew she'd likely not have time to get to every single one, but that certainly wouldn't stop her from trying. now that she was a good thirty minutes removed from breakfast, she desperately wanted to tackle something water based. the trampoline on the obstacle course was looking like a pretty fun jumping off point, she just needed someone to accompany her. she always felt mari worked far too hard and sometimes worked just as hard trying to inject some fun into mari's life. "hey mari !! what are you up to ?" zurie asks once locating her friend, wanting to build up to the request.
danyi can't wait to get rid of this conscience thing that's nagging at her, zurie's voice making it wince with guilt. the makeup artist still sounds rough, even though it's been a few days since that unfortunate trip with the tree. there's an awkward squeeze of her lips into a line; she's not too good at empathy or whatever this is called. "sucks for you," danyi says, and immediately feels yelled at by that stinky little conscience in her head. amends it with a quick, "hope you feel... better soon..."
and zurie's question forces her to say some extra words out loud. ugh, can't she just pretend it's a totally coincidental drink that just so happened to find its way to sephora? danyi's index finger taps the corner of the table, the cup of coffee sitting right next to where her finger lands. a coincidence, really. "uh... this one's black coffee. if you need it, 'cause of your, y'know," she gestures to zurie's throat with a circling motion, that little weed hangover.
and that's it, apologies and making it right or whatever is done! goodbye and good riddance, conscience! it's not her fault that zurie's a noob, but it's also not not her fault for whatever weakling symptoms the other girl's experiencing. hangover cure delivered, and maybe it's up to danyi to build her tolerance. "got any plans tonight? i mean... hair of the dog, right?"
there's something about the look on danyi's face that makes it seem like this exchange is difficult for her somehow. zurie felt like she was being completely agreeable, as usual. was something about her disposition bothering danyi ? the other almost seemed ... guilty about something ? surely it couldn't have been the moldy weed incident. zurie was squarely shouldering the blame for that in her own mind, but a voice inside was telling her that admitting so aloud would only make things worse. plus, she didn't want to make the other feel any more uncomfortable than she already did.
"thank you but really !! i feel totally fine," zurie says, forcing strength into her voice in order to sound healthier. she nods as if trying to convince them both, before letting her eyes fall to the coffee. "ah, i get it !! you read your cards and knew exactly what to bring, right ?? it's so cool how in tune with the supernatural you are," she continues, graciously accepting the warm cup without a hint of skepticism in her eyes. she takes a sip and allows the heat to coat her sore throat with a comforted closing of her eyes.
zurie is a bit surprised at danyi's question. surely she didn't want to hang out with zurie again ? zurie felt so lame about what had happened last time; it was like being the kid at the party who had to leave in an ambulance because they broke their arm falling off the roof or something. it was embarrassing, especially in front of danyi, who she thought was so effortlessly cool. the way she just didn't give a fuck — the way she didn't take shit from anyone. zurie took shit from everyone, so it was an enviable trait. "right, i see what you mean. yeah, i'd be up for that !" zurie agrees, not missing a beat.
no one had ever properly taught zurie how to swim, but the basics of it were easy enough for someone as built to survive as she was. besides, the water was only bicep deep, and she could still easily feel the silt and sand beneath her toes. she was free of wigs and extensions for once in her life, her natural wavy bob on full display, the bottom strings of which had gotten damp and now clung haplessly to the sides of her throat. she took a breath and ducked her head under the water before surfacing with a quick swipe at both of her eyes. a realization washes over her as she turns to you with black smudges marring her face, appearing as thought she were in her peak goth phase. "oh no !!! i forgot to take my makeup off and it's not waterproof !! be honest ... i look like a raccoon now, don't i ??" came her alarmed inquiry.
/ happy event day everyone !! so i have some thread ideas for all my muses, but to keep things tidy and Not clog up the dash, i'll j list them all right here ! under the cut for tidiness' sake~
💗 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐒 𝐖/ 𝐙𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐄
you & zurie pool some money together to have a boat take you into the sea caves for an adventure.
you get seated next to zurie on the bus over and she chats your ear off.
you & zurie watch the fireflies gather over the water and gush about where you are.
you & zurie smoke pot at dusk under the pier and shoot the breeze.
the beach is too relaxed, you & zurie go off to find a good cliff diving spot~
you & zurie are having fun at the beach bar until you both get up and realize you can barely walk straight. drunken one night stand to make things super weird all weekend perhaps ??
zurie wants to go on a whale watching expedition and begs you to accompany her. unbeknownst to her, though, you're terrible on boats and get horribly seasick :(
🌊 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐒 𝐖/ 𝐘𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐆
yunseong tries, to varying degrees of success, to teach you how to surf.
you've beaten yunseong twice already on the inflatable obstacle course and he cannot let it go.
you & yunseong chill in some hammocks and talk about life.
yunseong wants to roast some weird concoction at the bonfire and has roped you into helping.
yunseong rents a giant floaty from the surf shop and despite its size, neither of you can seem to stay on it.
you & yunseong go scuba diving by the sea caves, bonus points if it is absolutely disastrous !
yunseong is trying to build an epic sandcastle, but he keeps unknowingly throwing sand on your beach towel.
🌼 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐒 𝐖/ 𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐌
you get seated next to jinam on the bus ride over, and even though he isn't the best conversationalist, he does share his carrot sticks with you.
you try to light the bonfire and almost get engulfed yourself, until jinam steps in to help. #fireexpertjinam
you take jinam along to help you identify different flower species to take photos of, but he makes you promise he won't be in any of them. maybe you lied a little without him realizing it ?
after a few too many sojus from the bar, jinam starts to playfully flirt with you ?? you honestly didn't know he was capable of it. (female locked)
you & jinam room in the same yurt together.
you & jinam go horseback riding in the hills near the beach, or maybe even on the beach itself !
you fall ill and since he's not super outgoing like everyone else, jinam agrees to forgo most of the vacation & take care of you.
as a teacher, the guilt that stirs in beom's stomach is a familiar feeling. he never expected his students to be smart but rather, the expectation was that they tried and fine different ways to grasp the topic at hand. if anything, zurie did ask her round of questions and looked for beom when she needed anything. credit's always given for that.
however, as im beomsoo—she receives a: "no, you're not a tech-challenged idiot. you're only tech-challenged." his lips form a fine line while he contemplates what to do next. "accusing me is what makes you an idiot. you could've just asked." because they were friends.
the dilemma is that he knows exactly what she's doing—but beomsoo was so used to her smile and it did not feel good to be on the receiving end of such disappointment. "come here." he gestures to his screen.
"it's nothing bad." while beomsoo had no intentions of revealing all of his secrets, he presses a shortcut on his keyboard to reveal a dark screen of running script. lines of code, both frontend and backend—but likely absolute gibberish to the average person. "the security here is bad. i know a thing or two about getting us a few extra tokens for xpixel." and then an attempt at a comforting smile (despite the feigned sadness on her end). "and i can override your store's music too if you have a preferred playlist. just some... quality of life things because we all spend too much time here.
the counterfeit sadness dropped from zurie's visage the moment beomsoo beckoned her over to see what was on his screen. to be honest, she hadn't really known what to expect his work to look like. maybe some onscreen explosions as he clicked buttons ? it may have been a bit silly, but aside from video games, the digital world was somewhat foreign to her. but she was always interested in things if her friends were, and genuinely enjoyed hearing them gush about their passions in life.
"in my defense, i knew you'd never do anything bad. i was just ... curious about all this, i guess. i think it's really cool that you can do that sort of stuff," she flashes a look of admiration his way before reaffixing her eyes to the screen.
sure, the simple dark background with text dropping down it may not have been the most visually striking thing she'd ever seen, but she knew there were processes occurring beyond its minimalistic appearance that she'd never understand. beomsoo understood it, though, and it almost intimidated her a bit. "wow..." she stares ahead, mouth agape as she takes it all in.
as he mentions some of the other tricks he has up his sleeve, she grins again. "ooh, really ? you have the hookup, i see. it's awfully nice of you to offer that especially since i came in here like a private investigator trying to interrogate you ... aheh ... sorry about that," she peers down towards her shoes, slight embarrassment easily readable on her face. "we're still buds, right ??" she pleads, her face suddenly flushed with slight panic when she looks up — and this time, it's real.
if there was one thing that kang nara had always hated, it was the unbearable, claustrophobic stuffiness that came with large crowds. and it wasn’t so much the smell of sweat or lack of fresh air that made it all so unpleasant, because nara’s had to deal with one or the other many a time when she’s had to share a tent with her father up in the mountains. rather, it was the possibility of bumping into someone she knew. of being known. of recognising and being recognised. and what this means is that she loathes the small talk, the racking through her brain trying to think of questions to signal care and concern, when all she really wants to do is to enjoy the moments that she’s reserved for herself in peace.
in this way, nara is a creature of habit. where others tire of it, she instead takes comfort in the predictability of things. of knowing that the ketchup bottle will always stay on the second shelf of the door of her fridge. that her favourite dress is on the third hanger from the left of her closet. of slowing down and allowing herself to be ready for cut sequences, be it social interactions or otherwise. suppose in this way, zurie’s become a permanent fixture in her life. zurie moving in was one of survival, an invitation extended purely because the rising cost of living meant that nara could no longer afford the luxury of renting a space all to herself. and it worried her, initially, the way they were so different from each other. indeed, where zurie was technicolour, nara was monochrome. where zurie would chatter, nara would whisper. but zurie was infectious, her effervescence and love for life peeking through the gaps of nara’s pulled blinds on a lazy sunday morning. and it wasn’t long before nara started seeking her out, three taps on zurie’s door with a newfound respect for spontaneity.
they say all good things must come to an end. she’s reminded of this when nabi declares that she’s officially moving to daegu, and being her older sister, it was obvious that nara would have to move in with her. but nara is a creature of habit, and she’s not sure if she’s ready to say goodbye to the late night makeup sessions with nowhere to go, the early morning ‘get ready with me’s when they’re both scheduled to work, or that stupidly sentimental ladybug themed raincoat zurie hangs on its designated hook, every single time without fail. “hi…” nara starts, clumsy like she’s learning to ride a bike for the first time. and what this means is that there’s that spontaneity again, that sudden, impulsive thought to grab zurie by the hand and drag her along. she means to give in, but the vulnerability of expressing her feelings is new to her, a lack of practice because she’s spent so much time looking down in large crowds that she’s managed to escape having to show care and concern for those around her.
nara restarts, pats the cushioned seat next to her on the couch with a temporising, “uh, sit down,” as she tries to find a way not to choke on her words, “there’s something i need to tell you.” nara plays with her hands, forces herself to look at zurie as she confesses, “nabi’s moving to daegu next month, and she asked me to move in with her…”
the word 'friend' meant different things to different people. to zurie, it had various meanings. it could refer to the stranger seated next to her at the bar chatting away with her into the night, only to leave the bar as well as her life forever a few hours later. it could refer to all her co-workers; people she saw almost every day that were etched inside of her soul in some way or another. and then, of course, there were the real, lasting friendships she had fostered here in daegu.
people she couldn't help but invest her emotions in after countless nights up laughing together, exchanging authenticity no one else got to see. people like nara. when she asks zurie to sit down, it's like a weight in her chest does the work for her. she can tell whatever the other is about to say is dire and needs to be heard and understood well, she just doesn't know if she's capable of handling whatever it is. still the veiling smile remains firmly in place, her back resting awkwardly against the couch where they'd watched so many delightfully terrible movies together.
as nara's eyes and words finally land on zurie, she can feel her own airways tighten with emotion. she doesn't dare let a bit of it out, though, as it was simply not fair to the other. this should be a happy moment, and zurie refused to ruin it by being selfish. "really ?? oh, that's so nice, actually ! you guys genuinely deserve a chance to catch up," it's not that she's lying, but she's certainly withholding a lot of stormful emotions. anyone who knew her deeply may have assumed her true fear here was living alone again, and that may have been something that was weighing on her mind. but the bulk of these feelings, almost unexpectedly, came from the reality of having to part with nara herself. she wasn't just another faceless person filling the empty space in zurie's life; she had become a treasured friend and an indelible part of her every day. some could even argue their friendship was the very catalyst through which zurie started to find comfort in routine.
"um, i - i'm really gonna miss living with you though," was said with far more sadness than she'd intended, and once an inkling of it came through, her eyes took on a far glassier appearance. "i'm sorry, i don't mean to get a little - aaagh - sappy about things. i am really happy for you," she says, frustrated with herself for her failure to maintain her usual chipper disposition.
"danyi? yeah, i know her —- she saved me, the other day. i was followed by such nasty misfortune, like, my machine broke the second i picked it up. thankfully it was just practice on fake skin and color, but still. that was nasty. and then i ran to her, and she read something – i've no idea if that was even a humanly language, but it's like a dark cloud has been lifted off and away from me. nothing bad has happened since," he's explained, wide eyed and almost flailing his arms around, just to add onto the presentation of what she's done when he approached her in desperation. like some magic trick, or a spell. either way, he understood little except the last part: luck has followed him since, and now, he was convinced it were to continue, it were to leak into other aspects of life, aid him with this conquest for a title.
it's something he won't admit, though: his little belief in the meddling of supernatural, by mere chance, on his side alone. it's what he told himself, anyway: at the end of the day, ghosts are nothing more than a story, for the superstitious and wild imaginations. thus, he laughs it off, rather revelling in the onslaught of her compliments, a slightest tinge of ego manifesting itself underneath the influence of zurie's words, and the obliviousness of it becomes so blatant across his face.
with his hands now back inside his pockets, jaewon hums to himself, giving a notion of a deep though, though reality has him thinking little. that, however, zurie doesn't have to know.
"if i told you my counter strike then it wouldn't be fun, would it? element of surprise and all that comes with that," he teases, watching her eat: in another lifetime, or at least a few years in the past, moon jaewon would have his tongue stuck outside, as a light tease. now, he's more serious — for better, or worse. "don't even think of looking at me like that, i'm telling, i'm telling. i think you misjudged the gun. maybe they want you to think it's moved to side, sooo. i'm gonna shoot my shot from where they return it. wanna test it out right now?''
"wait, what ?" zurie absorbs his story with great fascination, eyes wide with more conspiracies than ever. if danyi was this helpful with jaewon's streak of bad luck, she'd never do something like letting nasty spirits into the mall, right ? "hmm, clearly i misread her, then. if she's that powerful, maybe she can protect us from whatever's going on !" she chirps hopefully, almost entirely swept up in the topic of the supernatural. it was hard not to with the riveting tale he'd told. still, she was left to wonder what had caused the terrible luck in the first place. it only emboldened her more to believe something was amiss at sunset galleria. still, being within the carnival crowd made her feel a little more at peace with it, at least for the moment.
she begins to pout at the prospect of not being let in on his strategy; after all, she'd given up her own secrets, something that was an incessant struggle through the recesses of her mind. when he folds under her pitiful gaze, she perks up, tearing the last bit of corndog away from the stick and popping it in her mouth. suddenly having the wherewithal to toss a splayed hand up in front of her chews, she can't help but smile as he casts doubts on her game plan. to be fair, the odds were indeed 50/50. this could easily have been an entirely different traveling carnival than the one she and her friends had frequented when they were young.
she would take the odds with a smile and a wink.
"you are on like a light switch, buddy !!" her words sound competitive but still taste of honey — her inability to even formulate malice in her tone coating every syllable in it. "ooh look ! it's right over there," zurie hums excitedly, extending a finger towards the game booth. by the time she races him over there, it's free of other players. presenting her employee id to the attendant gains them access to the water guns, and she gives jaewon a nod before it begins.
it's as if things happen in slow motion; zurie is honed in on her own strategy. she sizes up the target with her eyes, using every bit of coordination she had to tilt the gun roughly two inches over, just as she had said. as water begins erupting from the gun, zurie is pleased to find that she's right on target ! her stream is connecting head on with the bullseye, and she struggles to keep the gun steady throughout the entire race. as the winner bells sound, she risks a glance up at their glowing daisies to see which had reached the top first. she was overjoyed to see the winner's lights flashing around her own. "oh my gosh !! i've still got it," she squeals, authentic joy etched into her wide smile. she does have to note that jaewon's flower is only just behind hers. "you did almost have me though ! i used to win by a way bigger margin, so i don't think my strategy is as ironclad as i thought it was," she admits, not saying it out of consolation, it was simply how she felt.
"at least someone that recognizes my greatness." subin does his own dramatic act, pretending to feel touched like just the fact that there were people in his life that put up with his insufferable butt wasn't enough proof that they found something in him that was worth staying for. "great people need to stick together, you know." he adds because with zurie there's always this, not necessarily a need since the other was never open about it, but more like an importance to point out that she was great herself; how sometimes there's this underlining self depreciation in between her words and as her friend, of course it's subin's job to stomp that away even if in a more playful way than most people would.
"but yeah, it's been a slow day and there's no appointments today so there's no real point in keeping the shop open." he shrugs like it's no big deal and really it isn't. even when zurie points out that she'd hate for someone to miss their chance to have subin's work on them, first that of course he'd put his friend over a client and that's completely on him and no one else — that the owner never finds that out — so even if there were any appointments for him, he'd just reschedule them and second that barracuda wouldn't go bankrupt for simply closing early one day. he almost says those things out loud but then that might be admitting too much about things that— it's just that their friendship isn't about that so subin keeps quiet instead.
he hums when zurie gives him options. the glogolf is very much tempting since it's close by and if anything happens that he needs to come back to his shop then it's just what? five minutes back to barracuda? besides the fact that they'd get free and unlimited booze, but then subin also tries to put into consideration what would be better for zurie's mood and that's a little of a guessing game because he's sure that if he asked then she'd just say that she's fine with whatever. therefore the ex volleyball player tries to study the little signs that he can get out of zurie in that moment. does she need something more familiar? or should they go out because being at the mall only reminds her of the reasons why she's down in the first place?
"let's hit the city." subin decides after a moment, thinking that a new environment is the right choice this time since it'd give zurie a little more room to breath, to get away from whatever was upsetting her this time. "there's this new bar that i wanted to show you anyway, so my treat." he winks at her before opening the door so she could leave the shop first. "and if we're lucky, we can get some cheaper drinks too." or well, subin can always flirt with the server or bartender a little if it really comes to it.
it can't be helped; zurie's eyes light up like city of daegu was likely doing outside as twilight was falling upon them. "of course i do !! i've seen people leave here looking so happy that they got something done by you ! peeling the bandages off early because they're so excited to show their friends, mhm !" she informs him expressively, gently poking him in the bicep with her index finger. his follow up statement went entirely over her head; or maybe her mind just resisted going there. "right, that's why you, eileen and jaewon make such a great team !!" she beams, not catching onto the fact that he was actually referencing her. to say she was sometimes oblivious was putting it lightly.
"okay, if you're sure,'' she agrees, a 'thank you' resonating from within hues of mocha, even if the words themselves didn't roll off her tongue at that moment. the way he'd phrased things made her feel a lot less guilty about dropping in on him like this, as it didn't seem like she was uprooting his plans or his workday. then again, he'd never made her feel like her friendship was a burden on his life — that was a toxic seed that planted itself in her own brain, long before she'd met him and with many different people. the common denominator always seemed to be her, which typically just made her feel even worse.
today wasn't a day for dwelling on such nonsense, however. she and subin were gonna melt their worries away with some good, old fashioned alcohol. soon enough, they'd be laughing as though neither of them had a care in the world. zurie truly believed in the vision ! she watches eagerly as subin weighs their options, clasping her hands together excitedly when he lands on a city outing. "oh really ? that sounds awesome ! i love going out in the city at night," she drops her hands once again, drumming her fingernails anxiously on her knees.
the urge to pepper him with curious questions about the place became trapped in her throat with a soft gulp. "i'll let it be a surprise," she says, as much to herself as it was to subin. as she exits through the door, she notices the mischievous flash in his eyes. "are you thinking what i think you're thinking ?? if it's flirting with the bartender, i wanna watch !" she declares, as the pair begins making their way through the mall. any other time, she'd be right there alongside him seeing whose flirting impressed the bartender more, but she felt a bit off her game tonight. "if you happen to hit it off, i don't mind calling a ride share," she teases him, a wink accentuating the implication.
"so even the apparition that's being talked about 'round sunset isn't you either and might actually be that: a ghost. i wonder who it could be… the first owner of the mall? someone scorned, who didn't get their item on sale like, years ago so now they're haunting the hallways? what if the mall is… cursed?" it's all light teasing, woven with intent of keeping the laughter going; the ridiculousness of it was more than obvious, even without the grimace of fear jaewon has pulled across his face, at an attempt of pure shock. if only he wasn't grinning wide, ear to ear insofar his cheeks hurt, shimmer in his eyes being the betrayers to the story he's built. but it's a byproduct of being around zurie, the desire to laugh, allowed further by her presence alone. it's simple as — laugh is the best medicine for every worry of mind, large as a mountain and so hard to overcome, or minuscule.
jaewon's eyes narrowed with her explanation, listening in silence and nodding his head alongside her words, as if it was a gospel that she spoke of, and not a strategy for defeating a simple festival. "i think i deserve this one, actually. for the trauma i've gone through," he teased, raising his hand in the air and along it, the corn-dog he held tightly. "i mean, using my looks… if it were to charm you i wouldn't mind. but grandmas… yeah, this one's mine."
he brought it to his mouth ,then; or at least the proximity of it, faking a bite, though before he committed to it fully, he pushed shoulder against shoulder, leaning into her. "i'm joking, obviously. don't look so terrified. i'm not going to have you starving here." he sighs then, bites the inside of his cheek. "are you implying i've got noodle arms, zurie? wow. how about this… you do that, and i'll do the opposite strategy. whoever wins more… well. the winner gets the title of sunset's king — err, queen — and the loser has to buy the winner some icecream at icehaus." an offering was made then, in form of his pinky finger outstretching towards her. "but you have to tell me more of your strategy now. so i can make a counter-strategy, of course."
zurie could spin half joking conspiracy theories about the mall until she was blue in the face, and the risible gleam in jaewon's eyes felt like something of an invitation to do so. "you could be right, you know !! all kinds of weird things go on here sometimes. besides, you know that danyi girl ?? she literally talks to spirits !! i'll bet she let something through the portal and now there's ghosts haunting us all," lighthearted laughter a postscript to her statement. she didn't want to seem too serious about it, even though part of her did worry about silly things like that. she decided against bothering him further with her ironclad theory about the mall having definitely been visited by aliens. there'd be more carnivals, right ?
"oh reaaaally ?" she asks him, voice elevated in playful surprise as her corndog inched closer to his mouth. "hey, who said i wasn't charmed, hmm ?? i may not have witnessed it in person, but the fact that you did it at all was very charming, i think," she admits, lids crossing over genuine eyes a few times before she commits to the idea of losing her corndog forever. instead, jaewon leans against her and hands it back still completely intact, and she offers him a grateful grin in return. "hey, i would have shared ! you did do most of the work, after all," she says, dipping the corndog in sauce and taking a bite.
her eyes find his as he makes an offer that visibly piques her curiosity. zurie's eyebrows tilt further upward, and she nods in succession with his words. "okay, i like this ... yes, you have a deal," she acquiesces, linking her pinky with his and shaking it gently. as their fingers release one another, she taps a pointer to her chin. "let's see ... oh !! i know another one. you know the water gun race ?? well, in my experience, the guns at these carnivals all reset to the same position after each race. it's always exactly two inches to the left of the target. if you're good with spotting tiny distances, it's all you need to score the biggest prize they have. if i'm right, of course. what's your strategy going to be ?" she inquires cheekily, curtain bangs opening wider as her head tilts to the side.
with a wave of zurie's hand, the jungle gym appears in its full glory, safety netting still in one piece. "no way!" it's a huge structure of crisscrossing tubes and netting to keep kids safe, nabi peering into the closest tunnel. if she scrunched herself up real small, she'd probably fit... she thinks! "d'you think we'd get stuck in there now?" the older girl's giggling is contagious, nabi following along as she unveils a set of monkey bars that would've been the perfect height for her a decade and a half ago, as tall as the girl is now. a smug grin on nabi's face as she declares, "oh, but i could definitely take these on!"
there's a nostalgic delight with each new part of the playground they uncover, swing set that creaks when nabi tries to go higher than she ought to, a seesaw that wobbles a little too much even before they're able to try it. it'd be the perfect hideout—if sunset wasn't about to take it all down!
but nabi's attention is brought quickly to the tapping of zurie's nails, following her gaze to what has got to be a ball pit shaped tarp in front of them. "you found it! probably?" the unidentified square is wide enough that the width of the tarp spans more than either of them, nabi grabbing one edge of it and nodding her head towards the other for zurie, ready to reveal the piece de resistance of the sunset's playground extravaganza.
zurie sizes up the tubes interwoven throughout the jungle gym. "uhh, i think we'd be okay, but at the same time, it'd be kinda scary to get trapped in here with no one around," she shudders at the unnerving thought, thinking it may have been better to leave that particular section for a day where more people were joining them on their adventure. once the pair had pulled off the biggest tarp in a team effort, their goal was finally realized.
before them lay a deep pit of plastic balls of every possible color, surrounded by equally vibrant netting and thankfully untouched by time or dust due to the plastic that had been protecting it. "oh, wow !" zurie exclaims with a childlike smile, fingernails raking excitedly over her lips as she rushed toward the nearest net. maybe it was silly to be so elated over a children's jungle gym tucked away behind some construction, but neither zurie nor nabi seemed to care. they were too lost in nostalgic warmth.
"this may be my worst idea ever, buuuut," the older girl trails off, eyes fixating on the front netting of the ball pit, clearly formulating some type of bad idea. "if we remove this piece of net right here," her fingers drag down it gently, "and swing high enough, we could probably land in the pit ... " she concludes, eyes widening and mouth corners twitching upward as though she'd laid out a plan worthy of a famous daredevil.
it's never easy, moving to new surroundings and being within unfamiliar grounds. it's even more difficult when you're in a place that was once home, yet it felt so foreign now despite jinah having allegedly run through the same ol' streets at a young age. the friends she used to have at the childrens home were long gone and if she were to be honest, she hadn't exactly bothered to keep up with them either. so she's grateful for zurie, a new friend in a semi-new city, taking on the burdensome role of welcoming her with open arms and a smile brighter than the sun itself.
the tour itself is fascinating, learning the secrets of the mall alongside do's and don'ts– helpful hints she's more than grateful for. what had originally been one floor too many and a sea of people is slowly morphing into something more manageable. "i can only imagine the horror of losing your food!" the raven-haired girl chuckles, mental notes being taken to essentially never leave anything behind. ruthless, she thinks, before she's shaking her head. "non-smoker here but i promise i'm no party-pooper! i'll just be in the background with a beer in hand or something like that...as long as you guys let me in." she laughs again, gently nudging zurie with her elbow as a slight twinkle sparks from her eyes.
"everyone's been sweet so far, although i haven't had the chance to speak to that many people. customers are nice too which is what i was most afraid of...rude people are just so difficult to handle, you know?" there's a frown that dawns her lips, brows furrowing slightly at the thought. she brushes it off though and turns her attention once more to the girl in front of her. "anyway!" she emphasizes the swift change of topic, blush pink lips shaping into a bright an infectious smile. "i can see why you, and others, have stayed employed here for this long– this place has so much to offer! without you, i'd be so lost, seriously."
as the pair made their way up through the stairwell, still tinged with the smell of stale tobacco from years of overuse, zurie sent a playful wink jinah's way. "heeeey, when i'm around, nobody gets left out !!" she answers over the sound of their footsteps echoing through the narrow space. despite the jocular tone, there was a lot of honesty in her words. she'd absorb everyone into her bubble if she could, not ever wanting anyone to feel as lonely as she often did on the inside. "there's a place for everyone at the shindigs thrown around sunset," she murmurs happily, as her hand finally reaches for the door latch to the old art studio.
as the two walk in, there's certainly an air of mustiness to the place, though it's not nearly as dusty as it should be considering the employees used it as something of a makeshift party pad. it was one of many forgotten treasure troves inside the mall where authority figures would rarely taint their suits stepping into. the shapes of easels lingered in the dark of the room under clear plastic coverings, and the studio's floor bore proof of the most recent rager held there; soju bottles and cigarette packs were littered around haphazardly.
zurie shook her head, going to work to clean up the mess. what a terrible impression to be making ! she began disposing of the bottles into a trash bin that was nearby "i'm so glad to hear people are being nice so far !! and i definitely get you about rude customers. it can be so hard to stand up for yourself sometimes. i'll see other co-workers put people in their place and just wonder how they do it," she lets out an envious sigh, but smiles all the same. as she finishes up with the last bit of litter, she rises back up to meet jinah's eyes. "oh, it's no problem ! i love showing people this place through my eyes, it's really special to me," there's something unmistakably sentimental in zurie's expression, but she quickly transitions out of it. "but hey, the tour must continue !! onto the food court — i'll show you how to score some freebies ... " she promises, clasping her fingers together as though she were plotting the heist of a lifetime.
