Chapter Text
Ever had a bad day?
Well, Jinu would love to hear about it. Just as soon as he's told you about his bad day.
Okay, rephrase, as soon as he's told you what's lead up to his bad day.
Picture this; yesterday, Jinu had the opening promos for the Saja Boy's magnum opus, Free, set up perfectly. Outfits were on point! Stage was dazzling! Fans were hollering! Jinu had felt the pride in the Pride and the excitement buzzing in the air. Smile dazzling, face serving, he and his boys had opened up with a teaser, just a warm-up to get the voices glowing before the crowds could behold his- their glory.
The other Sajas may not have been entirely pleased about their break being shortened from two weeks to twenty seconds, but once Free was rolling, the Honmoon would be golden. They'd be free themselves. Jinu would be free.
And then his voice gave out.
That hadn't been fun. Despite all Jinu's efforts trying to hit his notes, trying to harmonise with his boys, his voice just ended up coughing and sputtering. His throat didn't even particularly hurt or act up when he spoke normally, nor had Jinu been aware of any aches or pains beyond the usual cooldown after a concert. He couldn't imagine what had brought about this change. There shouldn't have been anything a determined singer with a little Honmoon help couldn't power through, right?
Alas, he couldn't. And that was sad. And bad. Made him mad. The other Sajas were mad; though Romance and Mystery were at least foremost sympathetic, Jinu didn't miss Abby and Baby darkly grumbling about how their leader's workaholic tendencies had once again screwed them right in the rear.
Celine wasn't mad, thank every single god there ever was. She was perfectly willing to take on the horde of fans to keep her boys out of trouble, snapping viciously at anyone who dared suggest Jinu's issue was illegitimate. But Jinu knew she was disappointed, and after six years of working with Celine, Jinu dread the notion of Celine spending even a single solitary second being disappointed in him. Well, not him in himself, per se. Just the notion that he'd overestimated his abilities and botched Free's opening. Celine had to be pragmatic, and calling off the Saja Boy's promo wasn't going to make a good look, especially with the Idol Awards only a few weeks away.
Jinu hadn't even dared call Bobby. Better to let him think the last concert's excellent strengthening of the Honmoon, right up to glimmers of gold, was keeping the crowds occupied. At least the other Saja Boys had agreed not to call him yet. Bobby was amiable, so far as retired hunters went, but he wouldn't exactly be pleased over flawed ideas. The less Jinu had to talk about him about his singing voice cracking, if at all, the better.
(the less he had to think about the awful markings curling around his throat, the better)
But Baby was willing to help and call in a favour, despite his initial mutinous griping. He knew a guy who knew a guy that was adept at doctoring to sore throats, sad voiceboxes, pitiful singing, the whole lot. So, the day after Free's pitiful opening- well, cancelled opening- Baby took Jinu and Abby to downtown Seoul, past the edgier alleyways, straight to a backstreet clinic that gave Jinu and Abby the impression they were about to have their organs harvested. Romance and Mystery were out shopping, deciding to take advantage of Jinu's incapacity to essentially relive their break, so Jinu supposed they couldn't count on them to come to the rescue if the scalpels came out.
Well, maybe Jinu's being harsh. The doctor was kind of a quack, but he was introspective. He sussed out how Abby bottled his issues behind showing off his muscles in a snap, and Jinu wasn't too keen on admitting how the whole issues with self-esteem and using idol work to mask his insecurities hit close to home. The doctor didn't try Baby though; one glare turned the sweet face into something nasty and the doctor backed off in an instant. Anyway, he provided some pouches, told Jinu to drink one in the morning and one before bedtime, and gave them a whole box of the things free of charge!
Abby asked how the heck Baby got this kind of favour, or how he even knew these kinds of quacks. Baby popped out his fifth lollypop of the day and smirked.
"My man, there's always someone willing to pay so no-one gets to say."
He left it at that, and Abby looked vaguely like he'd been punched in the gut.
Now, this is where Jinu's bad day really started. First, a text from Mystery, who was already at Seoul's main centre with Romance: Just saw some weird adverts, some kind of pop debut, I think. Keep seeing a title, Huntrix. Better come check it out.
Alright, perfect, right when Jinu's throat is giving out, another pop star group was aiming to muscle in. That was just what he needed. Sure, wasn't the first time someone had thought the Saja Boys were having issues and tried to quickly advertise their own brand, but Jinu at least had the means to fire back those times. Now, put on pouch duty, a new band on the scene would make a harder fight.
Then, he and his boys had the misfortune of running into three of the most obnoxious jerks he'd seen in a long time. Oh sure, they had looked nice; a trio of beautiful young woman, one short and freckled, one taller with a shimmering purple braid, and the third tallest of all, all sharp angles and glossy pink hair. Let's call them Shorty, Braid and Pinky. Those girls had been strolling like they owned the street, Shorty chattering in an adorable chipper tone about all sorts of stuff, earning adoring chuckles from her taller friends. Dressed sweet, all flowing skirts and loose shirts, long legs bare, Jinu wouldn't deny they looked hot. Like, actual supermodels and idols would kill to look as good as these three, smooth and slim and slender and sublime and sexy.
Baby was practically drooling, sucking his sixth lollypop extra hard as he drove his eyes all the way up one set of legs and down another. Even Abby looked impressed, though he claimed he would never betray his affection for Celine. Jinu has never bothered trying to unpack everything wrong with that.
Jinu himself liked the look of Braid, the way she swung her hips and waved that braid. Pinky wasn't bad either, tall enough she could look him in the eye, and Shorty's energy was infectious. The way all three of them had such beautiful faces, distinct from one another yet hard to tell what proved most alluring, was exactly the good sight Jinu needed on a bad day-
Braid must have tripped him when she strode past. Maybe the braid itself? Definitely felt like something coiled around his leg. Jinu goes down like an idiot, his box spilling pouches over the pavement. Huffing, he sits up, Baby and Abby asking if he was okay, and he sees Braid looking down at him. For a second, her hand was extended, open, and he dared to look into glimmering brown eyes and imagine-
Then she dusted off her braid and sneered in a voice so lovely yet dripping with venom.
"Watch yourself."
Holy, the look on her face when she said that. Not even loathing, or disdain. Just that kind of flickering disgust someone gets when they see dog poop on the road. The idea that anything so repulsive would just be sat there unsettling one for a moment. Jinu's dealt with tons of critics and hitters since debuting, but it's been a long time since someone looked at him like that. Made him feel small, even a bit sick, just for a moment, an awful tension around his throat.
Then Braid turns. Pinky gives him the exact same look, though somehow, it's got condescension mixed in there with how her high cheeks emphasize her sharp eyes. She turns too, flicking her pink mane like a curtain as if she were shutting out even the memory of looking at him. Shorty outright sticks her tongue out before scampering after Braid, cuddling up to her. Jinu even thinks he hears her whisper audaciously.
"Eww, he didn't touch you, did he?"
Braid replies with something, making Shorty laugh, and Pinky's on the other side, chortling. They glance back briefly, mocking and derisive, before vanishing around a street corner.
Abby and Baby are flabbergasted, helping Jinu pick himself up and gathering up the pouches. Abby is as exaggerated as ever with his complaints, muscled arms flinging every which way as he grumbled.
"Bro, the cheek. The utter cheek, bro! What's she doing talking like that when she tripped you up? What, she got raised in one of those England manors or something? Ooh, oh no, don't touch me, peasants, I'm the Queen's advisor's handmaid's bathwater bringer! What a jerk, like a hot jerk, but still a jerk-"
Baby has a scathing drawl, his deep voice always contrasting how cute he keeps his face even when being insulting.
"Daddy issues, a hundred percent. Bonus points, they hate their mom too, but you know daddy's got a lot to answer for."
Jinu laughs, the uneasy feeling lifting. Baby and Abby trash-talk those jerks a moment more as they walk to the city centre, cheering him up. Maybe the bad day wouldn't be too bad, even if they still had to see what Mystery and Romance had been seeing.
There's screens over Seoul's cityscape, and a lot of them are starting to show intriguing images. Three shadowed figures, mingled together, sharp lines of purple and red coiling behind them. A silvery title flashes. Huntr/x. It looks pretty good, all angles and lustre. Jinu tries to remember the other bands pulling out the stops these days. Thrice? GG/EZs? Luna Snow? He hasn’t heard of any Huntr/x before. Must be new, just like Mystery guessed. Celine hasn't texted him, though, so the advertising must have dropped, like, an hour ago or something. She was normally on top of any newcomers to the scene.
People go about their day as the three reunite with Mystery and Romance. There's nothing to suggest anyone's really noticed the adverts, or that anyone's guessing the five young men bantering are the Saja Boys themselves. Romance is keen to show off the latest haul, jumpers and winter hats and a bunch of trinkets and Dark Cloud 3: Ruby's Revenge. While he and Abby and Baby babble over the game, Mystery looks towards Jinu and leans in, quietly murmuring.
"How's your neck, man?"
Jinu knows what he really means. He sighs.
"As good as your eyes."
A dull smile on Mystery's face, understanding. Same old, same old. Until the Honmoon was gold, both of them would just have to deal with it. At least they could confide in each other on any, ah, changes. Jinu couldn't think he'd have handled himself keeping this from all four of his boys. At least he and Mystery could always coordinate to keep the other three in the dark-
A red mist wafted across the street.
The Saja Boys jolt, surprised, when they see the reddish vapours brushing around thier legs. They initially think of demons, but the Honmoon hasn't rippled all day. There hasn't been any demon incursions for months, come to think of it, save for the group that had been hiding on that plane. Other people notice too, looking around in surprise, seeing the red brush around them. The mist is emanating from the main centrepoint of the street, spreading from a hefty concentration. Abby leans towards Romance, asking if this was the advertisment they'd texted about. Romance isn't sure, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
All screens in the street flicker, catching their attention. There's flashing purples and reds before the silver logo of Huntr/x shines bright on every one. People are murmuring, looking bewildered or intrigued. That's when music starts. Slow at first, building to a strong thrum, and whispers sound as if some stager speakers. There's a sense of anticipation build among the people, muttering to themselves as they hear the tempo of a song forming, excitement starting to flicker. Jinu narrows his eyes himself, a sense of unease starting to wriggle inside, while his boys look around, varying betwene bewilderment and unease as the lyrics become clear.
~Takedown, takedown
takedown down down down~
Where the mist is thickest, a dense cloud near seven feet tall, shadowy figures become apparent. The Saja Boys realize they match the pose of the shadows on the screens perfectly, a trio of slender figures who move as one, spreading out as if pushing the mist aside. It's starting to fade, spreading across the ground in an atmospheric swathe. The air itself seems to darken, redden, much to the crowd's impressment as they murmur among themselves.
~Takedown, takedown
takedown down down down~
And there, right in the middle of the red mist, comes glittering purple and pale skin, dressed in skintight black laced with silver and bloody crimson.
Braid.
Jinu has a moment of disbelief, not comprehending how different she looked. Same lovely face, same lengthy braid, but the way her new outfit clung to her was daring, provocative. Midriff, legs, arms, all bared, with the high-heeled boot spiked like she could maim with a kick. The make-up is on point, mascara and darkened lashes giving a shadowed look around her eyes like she were something predatory in the dark.
To emphasize her image, Shorty and Pinky drift to her side, likewise rocking the hardcore punk rock type of look, less silver and more red than Braid. Their expressions are perfectly confident, sharp to the point of smug, with the look of those goth chicks Jinu sees photos of who know they're hot and appealing to trend.
Abby says what they're all thinking, nudging Baby and hissing.
"It's those jerks again!"
Jinu can practically hear Baby roll his eyes before he leans in to tell Mystery and Romance about their prior encounter. It's nice though how quickly both of them immediately deride the girls upon learning how rude they were.
Braid takes just a second to pose, her arms spread as if addressing a court. All eyes fall on her, the crowd amazed, enamoured. With the lyrics purring all around, Braid takes just a secon to hold the crowd's awe, her lips curved in a smile nigh devilish. The Saja Boys are speechless, Jinu and Baby and Abby especially. Then the stillne
"Huntr/x girls to the world! It's a takedown!"
Braid swings one arm forward as if she were commanding, siccing something savage on her court, and Shorty is immediately sliding in front of her, opening up with a hard-hitting rap that contrasted what sweetness of the voice Jinu had heard before. Braid to her left, Pinky to her right, they dance exotically, contrasting the rapid motions as Shorty moves like a demon, low and rapid.
~So sweet, so easy on the eyes. But hideous on the inside! Whole life spreading lies, but you can't hide, baby, nice try~
Pinky eases behind her, back to back, the motion so smooth her pink mane drapes perfectly along Short's shoulders. Braid stays in position, flexs and spins, while Shorty slinks to join her, complementing Pinky's lead. She sings deep, almost furious, and there's a vicious pleasure on her face.
~I'm 'bout to switch up these vibes. I finally opened my eyes. It's time to kick you straight back into the night!~
Pinky moves more slowly than Shorty, but it's all deliberate, flexes of her long legs, arcs of her back. She spins and finishes with a flourish, bending back and kicking up a leg in a pefect vertical split. Shorty slides past her as if darting under the outstretched leg, taking the lead once more as Pinky twirls behind her, following up her verse with her own line. Braid looms behind them, overseeing as her girls sing, something ominous glinting in her eyes.
~'Cause I see your real face and it's ugly as sin!~
~Time to put in you place 'cause you're rotten within!~
The Saja Boys could only gape in disbelief at this performance. It's aggressive, sharp, sensual. The way those girls dance, the way they move, like their motions could be as much violent as intimate between them. Shorty raps like gunfire, never missing a beat, the way her face flips from sultry to savage on a beat. Pinky's got a deep drawl that's as much toxic as inviting, her contralto tempered to perfection, like a siren who only cared to make hearts break.
The crowd is loving it, staring in awe, vibing to the intense beat. Quite a lot of men, and plenty of women, are shamelessly gaping at the women. Jinu won't deny there's allure here, something seductive and aggressive in how the three perform. It's the way they're always aware of each other's positions, arms often close to each other as if about to seize an embrace. Seems like half the crowd might just be enthralled by the idea the band could just turn and start kissing each other. Jinu wonders if that's something progressive or simply baiting for reactions when this inevitably breaks onto the Internet-
And then Braid's moving in, cutting between her girls like a knife, letting them fall aside and twirl to flank her. When she sings, it's high and imposing, a domineering tone that couldn't be ignored, rippling through the crowd. Some move aback as if nearly floored, and none of the Saja Boys can deny that she sings like a queen.
~When your patterns start to show, it makes the hatred wanna grow out of my veeeeeinsss...~
But then they see what no-one else can say. All five are nearly floored themselves, their eyes going wide with sheer shock, disbelief, every mixture of a dawning horror. As Braid sings, as she poses and drags a hand down one arm, they see the change that stirs something feral and defensive in their souls.
Patterns.
Purple, jagged, like lightning. They crawl along Braid's arms right after where her touch brushes, right up to her hands, the fingers and nails lengthening to claws. They streak along her exposed misection, trailing down the length of her legs. More claw around her face, like a demon's hold around her. The brown of Braid's eyes is suddenly brighter, sharper, an amber glow all the more obvious in the darker air.
Braid was a demon.
A demon, right here and now, singing with a damning authority that dared anyone to challenge her. And what's more, the demon knew that they knew, that they could see these subtle changes. She's looking right at them, amber eyes glinting with something ferocious and triumphant as they seem to pierce through the crowd. The smile that curves her lips is almost coy, mocking, as if Braid was daring them to even have a hope of trying something. Fangs glint. For a brief second, her pale skin flickered pallid blue, but this aspect of her illusion ultimately remains.
Jinu knows what she knows. There's too many eyes. Too many people. If anyone saw the Saja Boys cut down this woman here and now, all they had would be shattered. She's got them encompassed by a social noose and anger flares inside him at the thought. He glowers at her, gritting his teeth, the old disdain burning. The others know it too, muttering to themselves. Baby nudges his shoulder, hissing.
"What do we do, boss?"
Jinu mutters back, deciding to leave out the snide impulse to snark that Baby was deferring to him again.
"It's too public. Let them finish, wait for a clue, some lead to where they'll be next."
~I don't think you're ready for the takedown! Break you into pieces in a world of pain, 'cause you're all the same
Yeah it's a takedown! A demon with no feelings don't deserve to live! It's so obvious~
But that's just the problem, Jinu suddenly thinks. While Braid lets the moment pass and takes the lead, belting out a chorus and dancing like a woman possessed, Jinu's eyes flicker to Shorty and Pinky. Surely if the lead was a demon, then they must be too. A band made by Gwi-Ma would make a change of pace from all the feckless minions. But though his eyes are sharp on them, and he knows his boys are looking intently too, nothing changes about them. Jinu's anger dims slightly, confused. Why won't they change? Any hunter can spy a demon if they concentrated. Let the Honmoon flicker beneath him, brightening his eyes, letting him see more than should be seen.
Nothing. He sees nothing of Shorty and Pinky past what they are. No patterns, no change in eye or skin colour. Demons couldn't hide other demons, not to that extent, not when a hunter was putting in the effort.
If they weren't demons, then they had to be human. But how could they be human when they were with a demon? Did they not know? Was Braid's disguise effective enough that for however long she's been with these two, never once did something slip or not add up? It's making Jinu's head hurt.
Seriously, how could Shorty and Pinky not know? Surely even a skilled demon couldn't fool someone for too long. The demand for souls, the violent instincts, the soulless cruelty that wafted from them like a foul odour. If Shorty and Pinky were human, they had to know somehow, right? On some level, they had to know Braid was a demon. Jinu's mind is racing, befuddled, trying to make sense of it. Were they in league with her? Another deal with Gwi-Ma? But even a deal would expose patterns somewhere. Maybe it wasn't a deal.
Maybe they really were just sick enough that a demon could tell them of the soul-eating terror in the darkness below and they genuinely decided to help her of their own volition. His boys are murmuring among themselves, likewise theorising. Mystery nudges him, asks if he thinks they've made a deal. Jinu just shakes his head, somehow honestly hoping he could just glimpse a pattern on Shorty and Pinky and assure himself they were just soulless creatures like Braid.
He feels sick again.
~I'm-a gear up and take you down! It's a takedown!~
(Oh ah ah, da-da-down! Oh ah ah, da-da-down!)
They sing well, intensely, always moving in sync, moving like they're steps away from pressing to one another. Shorty's sharpness and Pinky's deep tone complement Braid's dominant attitude perfectly. The three move in decisive patterns, alternating between the lead position, switching up harder lines. Their flow is perfect, precise, coordinated. Jinu's starting to realise that Braid must have been worming her way in with these two for a while now, long before the concert. She must have snuck in ages ago, must have been watching and learning, and then picked two humans to draw into her thrall.
But no souls have been taken. The Honmoon knows such loss, ripples every time as if it were sobbing. If Braid really has been here the whole time, then she's never sent anyone to Gwi-Ma. This is planned, meticulous and careful, and Jinu's suddenly struck cold with an awful fear of whether or not other demons may well have made the same play.
Worse yet, the crowd is enthralled. They're cheering, clapping, yammering for more. The intense performance is unlike any they've seen in ages, the red mist and darkened air only adding to the intense and exotic allure of the three. Jinu hears a few of them gasping, chattering, and realizes BRaid is showing more than just the Saja Boys her patterns; she's flaunting them to the crowd too. Of course, they'd just see it as effects, fancy tattoos or the like, but it burns Jinu to grasp how boldly Braid showed off what she was when he-
He stops that thought cold. Gritting his teeth, he glares at her, wishing for a second he could do away with reputation and skewer her right in front of her girls. The amber eyes flash when she looks back, always smiling that coy condescending smile, fangs and all. And then the song changes, quieting somewhat, and Braid starts to slink forward, Shorty and Pinky at her sides as she sings with a cool sombre note.
~Ooh, you're the master of illusion, naruel sogiryeo hajima...
Look at all the masses that you're fooling, but they'll turn on you soon so how?~
Is that a sadness that flickers, just briefly across her eyes? When she sings, Shorty and Pinky close in on her, one to each side, hands brushing down her sides. Braid's hands- the claws- raise, and Jinu feels an awful sense of fear as she takes both her girl's chins in hand. Do they feel it? The pinpoint pricks that could rend their flesh?
Shorty and Pinky don't seem to notice, don't seem to care. They look at Braid with such a different expression from the prior aggression and confidence. They look at her like an idol, reverent, lips softly parting as if whispering a prayer to her, whimpering for a kiss. Braid's eyes flash between each of them, almost amused, almost adoring, and she turns her heads on the words of the masses, making them look to the awestruck crowd. Their eyes are wide, shining, seeing all who are enamoured with them. And Braid is in control, hands tilting their heads like a puppetmaster pulling strings.
When Braid hits her next line, her claws trail from their chins, not even a mark left behind, and lets them spin away and dance behind her as she howls.
~How can you sleep? Or live with yourself? A broken shell trapped in the nastiest shell!~
There's something insidious in Braid's tone there, something nasty when her gaze catches the Saja Boy's again. It's like she knows. Shorty and Pinky close in again, encircling with her arms on 'shell', and then let go so Braid can rear to her full height, arms spread wide. Perfect symbolism, excellent sync, and yet all the nastier for Braid seems to be sniping for with her words.
And Jinu suddenly has an awful feeling that she knows what he is too. What he's done. The world seems to fall away for a moment, an awful guilt starting to crawl up inside.
Gwi-Ma would remember, wouldn't he? And he would tell this demon what he knew. That sick feeling won't stop squirming in his gut. Most of his boys don't notice, between aghast and infuriated at the song, but Jinu feels Mystery's hand at his back, steady and reassuring. For a moment, Jinu remembers to breathe, shuddering. He chances a glance back, sees the others haven't noticed, and flicks an appreciative nod to Mystery. A nod in turn, and the song grabs their attention once more.
Braid hits a high note, screaming to the world, almost falling to her knees as her head flings back, braid writhing like a snake. It's good, Jinu will give the demon that, but in a better state of mind, he'd call her melodramatic.
~And watch you diiiiiiieeeeeeee!~
~You can try but you can't hide...~
And there's Shorty, cutting in and seizing Braid's arms, spinning her around and pulling her into a wild dance. It's all twists and turns, flinging Braid out and pulling her back in, all while Shorty sings like she were a predator finding the easiest little morsel. Pinky's circling them, long legs keeping pace with ease, hunger on her face as her eyes track every twirl of her girls. Shorty keeps singing
~It's a takedown, I'm-a take you out, you'll break down like what?!~
It's a takedown, I'ma-a take you, and it ain't gonna stop!~
She bends Braid back, arms along her body, the long braid snaking over the floor. Leg kicked out, looking up as if she were mesmerised, Braid paints an intoxicating picture of desire as she gazes right into Shorty's eyes. For a moment, she looks helpless in her arms, held up and hoping to be stay steady with her.
Surely, Jinu wants to think, Shorty has to see the amber? She has to see those eyes aren't right. Is she that enthralled by the demon? Is the illusion that good? Jinu wants to hope it's still just a trick, just a lie, something the demon has conjured to trick them. Any human helping a demon without even a word from Gwi-Ma had him boiling inside. With what's happened to him, with what he has to hide, someone so blatant in their depravity was a grim thought.
Not that anyone else cares, not that anyone else notices. The crowd is cheering for them, amazed by how they dance, how they sing. Shorty pulls Braid back up, grinning viciously at her, ignorant of the claws at her back. And then Pinky's there, cutting in between them and watching them prance dramatically aside as her deep contralto takes over.
~I'm-a cut you open, lose control, and rip out your heart!
You'll be begging and crying, all of you dying~
~I'm-a gear up and take you down!~
Pinky's leading, singing loud, Shorty and Braid falling in line and swinging with her, harmonising perfectly. Candidly, the coreography was perfect; the way Pinky gripped her fists tight on the heart line, Braid and Shorty pretending to collapse behind her as if she'd reached back and pulled them out was excellent. Jinu finds himself perturbed by the kind of drama and work they've put into this. Maybe Shorty and Pinky knew enough of the pop scene to teach Braid of what appealed to humans, and yet the way Braid had been leading this sold him that she was the brains of Huntr/x.
But how? How?
The three still sing, Braid back in the middle and Shorty and Pinky flexing on either side. The motions are fierce, solid, arms pumping in and out, legs swinging. They move so close the lengths of purple and pink hair brush another member, yet no-one falls out of step or collides. Expressions both fierce and jubilant, the three hit their apex, singing loud and proud, wowing the crowd with a final flourish.
~Take it down!~
They pose together perfectly, Braid inches from Shorty's back and a hand on her shoulder. Shorty has her own hand tilt back to touch it, head leaning as if she'd have Braid kiss her hair. Pinky finishes with her own hand on Braid's shoulder, the flick of her head and a jut of her hips like she were posing for a cover. Three identical expressions of sultry confidence, women in their element, women who knew just how deeply all around them were infatuated and relished in that power.
The crowd howls in delight, cheering ecstatically. Jinu is left scowling at them all, resentment and anger bubbling up once more. Mystery seems disappointed with his lips tight, while Baby has that scathing look in his eyes. Romance is irate, muttering about where the heck Gwi-Ma set up idol interviews, while Abby grunts that Celine wasn't going to be happy about new competition on the block. Something that really irks Jinu, and it seems Mystery is perturbed by it as well, is how Braid's singing invoked an anti-demon sentiment. Was it another layer of mockery, the demon singing a song better suited for hunters, or more of that notion she knew exactly what Jinu, even Mystery too, were hiding from the others...
The three separate, all broad grins and chipper faces now, the sweetness of three friends replacing the song's aggression and allure. The air is bright again, the red mist vanished, and they wave delightedly, blowing kisses and giving thanks. Braid claps her hands together, the patterns still burnt bright on her body though her eyes are brown again, and chirps to the crowd.
"We hope you liked that, everyone! Our debut, Takedown! You want to see more like that? Then hit every search engine with Huntr/x, slash out the I, and see just how we got together and brought our music to life! But hey, don't you fret, we'll see you all again real soon on tonight's game show!"
Shorty follows up, soprano even brighter and cuter than Braid's, dancing on her toes with a sunlit expression.
"It's gonna be so much fun! We're so glad you enjoyed our song and you can bet we'll be bringing a lot more hype!"
And finally Pinky, playing aloof with her deep voice but not hiding the brightness in her eyes.
"Honestly, think it's gonna be a harder hit than the music. Well, you'll be the judges of that, right? Catch you soon, Hunters."
And oh, Jinu doesn't miss the way Braid pointedly looks at him and his boys, that nasty grin briefly flicking over her lips. He glares at her, slowly raising a hand to his shoulder and brushing just to show how little he cared. Or wished he didn't care, not that she needed to know that.
The screens flash again as advertisements for Play Games With Us bubbled up, and then Shorty and Pinky crowd close to Braid, arms around her and heads leaning in like a lover's embrace. Braid's smile turns smug, hands blatantly clapping on their hips just to sell the enviable position, and then they were gone in a flurry of red mist.
The crowd is left to banter excitedly, everyone amazed by such a performance, such bold and daring style! Even the Saja Boys couldn't deny that kind of introduction had an impact, the provocative and homoerotic angles definitely leaving their mark. Of course, the girls only made the image sweeter with that cute outro, advertising a game show. They were good, Jinu had to give them that. Braid's definitely been planning this out, and he feels all the more frustrated with as much how easily Huntr/x had taken advantage of Free's botched opening as it was the fact a demon was playing them.
Or demons. Shorty and Pinky still had to be identified as to whether they were human. If so, were they under some kind of mind control? Forced to help under threat of pain or death? Still had a chance they really had just hooked up with an actual demon because inevitably someone would be nihilistic enough to betray humanity and side with soul-stealing monsters. Or maybe it really was all an illusion and Braid was just that good and those two were demons as well made to seem like humans. That's exactly what Romance brings up as the boys slink away from the crowd.
"So, you think those two are legit? Or just a really good illusion?"
"I mean, she teleported with them. Like there's no way even a smart demon can try and cover that up like it's movie magic."
"Unless teleportation trips their minds out and they think they just snuck away in the smoke."
"Can demons do that? I mean, I've never seen demons teleport someone before, or like any effects it could have-"
"Nah man, it's just a trick, the main one was covering for the other two, that's why we didn't see the patterns-"
"Yeah, but when do demons do that as well? We've never seen demons, like, cover each other, hide each other, whatever-"
"Bro, I was staring at them the whole time, never glimpsed a pattern, no eye change, nothing. No demon is good enough to do that, not with all of us looking."
Jinu speaks up sharply, silencing the debate. All eyes on him, he makes the point clear.
"We can't know for sure until we follow up the leads. Soon as we get home, look up Huntr/x, get anything you can from any source. Priority is seeing whether or not those two really are human or not. Any which way, trick is to isolate the leader and take her out. The game show's the best bet for that, but that's for later. Now? It's browsing time."
Abby snorts, remarking that was hardly a good finish. The boys continue to chatter to each other, some already pulling out their phones to start looking up Huntr/x. But Jinu pays it no mind, staring ahead with a frown. Not much of a plan, and all the more complex if Shorty and Pinky really were human. For all he knew, Braid had them helping her under coercion or mind control- not that he'd ever known a demon to do that. Or, again, they were just freaks who actually thought a demon was a good bet. No denying that wasn't impossible.
But it's harder to think of them when he's still infuriated by Braid's audacity. Showing off those patterns knowing the Saja Boys were watching, knowing the hunters couldn't do anything with the crowd there. With Shorty and Pinky there. It sickened him, really, that a demon would act so brazen, mocking, knowing Jinu could've gone for it regardless. Perhaps was the real kicker with those two. Braid was using them like meatshields, parading her twisted nature while the two had no idea what danger they were in. Jinu's anger flares again before he forces it down.
Easy solution to all of this. Kill Braid. Send her back to hell, and make sure the set-up kept Shorty and Pinky, assuming they really were human, from realizing what happened. Tragic accident or something, they'd think. Seoul wasn't perfect, there always a slim chance of a mad mugger or something. Just another poor soul (ha) victimised by crime. Shorty and Pinky would cry about it, break up, go back to wherever they came from, and that would be that.
No more demons. A Golden Honmoon.
No more patterns.
His throat's starting to hurt. Making sure his collar is tugged up high, Jinu leads the way back to the penthouse. The Saja Boys had to work to do, and they better get to it fast, because a performance like that was definitely making the rounds and it wouldn't be long before-
Abby's phone buzzes. He looks at it and gulps.
"Oh boy. Celine's at the penthouse."
-their manager started seething about a new competitor right after her boys (okay, just Jinu) messed up Free. Jinu fought the urge to get down and put his head through the ground.