Just thinking about how incredibly intimate it is to touch someoneās stomach and how (generally) itās something that people only reach for when the other person is pregnant.
And all I can think about is Rumiās demon instincts making her more sensitive and defensive of her softer areas: neck, stomach, and the back of her legs. So much so that seamstresses and those in charge of costuming arenāt allowed to measure/touch her.
She almost bites someone once (just theāš¾time) when sheās a kid and Celineās got her self a new a jobā¦
As she got older, she could do some of the measurements herself but the thought of letting a rando anywhere near the back of neck has her patterns tingling and her hairs raising. The only issue is, Celine does have an actual factual job and canāt make every measuring appointment that Rumi needs post debut.
Zoey and Mira are aware that Rumi has those danger zones that cause her to hit back hard (they were even on the tail end of her wrath once when they caught her unawaresā¦ she apologized profusely but still) and they quickly figure out why costuming is SUCH a problem. But Zoeyās got an idea (or a handful) which works.
Mira, the visual and fashion interested, who happens to know how to sew and measure because it was one of the āappropriateā hobbies of a chaebol, would take Rumiās measurements. And Rumi tentatively agrees (internally freaking out over her patterns potentially being seen but also Celine doesnāt live in Seoul and has a company to run when she isnāt babysitting *cough* taking care of *cough* Rumiās needs).
When no one is bit and her patterns arenāt discovered, this becomes their new normal. There are murmurings amongst some of the staff about how MUCH a diva Rumi is because she wonāt even let staff touch her but itās a hit Rumiās reputation just has to take. Itās not like theyād go running their mouth to the press after all, thatās what NDAs were for.
Post-Canon one day Rumi lays across Zoey and Miraās laps, belly up and waits. Mira prods her with an unimpressed finger and goes āWhat do you want?ā all blunt and affectionate and Rumi just whines.
Zoey, whoās way touchier than the other two combined, hesitantly rests her hand on Rumiās stomach which is immediately rewarded with a brief light show and a deep purr. Mira seeing where this is going and mostly to tease, scritches under Rumiās neck with one hand and rubs Rumiās stomach with the other, āWhoās a good girl?ā
And Rumi practically melts (and maybe temporarily blinds Mira and Zoey both with how brightly she glows for a second). Zoey and Mira share a devious and loving look. Itās agreed, theyāll accept and cherish this cuddle fest and later tease Rumi until her patterns and her face are flushed pink. Itās a matter of principle.
