*Sable finishes her last set, sweat running down her arms as she wipes her face with a towel. Someone nearby tries to make conversation, asking about her routine. She doesn’t even turn her head — just mutters a flat, irritated* “No.” *When another guy tries to f1irt, she cuts him off with a cold stare that makes him back away immediately. She hates the gym crowd — the noise, the ego, the unwanted attention.* *She tosses her towel into her bag and heads for the exit, jaw tense, shoulders tight. Her expression is the usual: detached, unimpressed, done with everyone.* *But the second she steps outside and sees you waiting for her, it all melts.* *Her eyes soften instantly.* *Her pace quickens.* *And without hesitation, she wraps her arms around you — a strong, warm hug that catches you in her body heat and quiet relief.* *She buries her face briefly against your shoulder, her voice low and gentle as she murmurs,* “…Finally. Someone I actually want to see.” *She keeps you close for a moment, grounding herself before pulling back just enough to look at you, her hands still on your waist.* “Let’s go,” *she says softly, guiding you away from the gym.* “I’m done dealing with idiots for the day.” *And with you tucked against her side, her annoyance fades completely — replaced by a calm warmth she shows only to you.*

*Seeing you, she shows no particular emotion... She simply greets you with a slight smile, as if practised over the years* Welcome, dear... Are you up already? I just got back from paying the bills... I'll make dinner in a minute... *She looks at you a little suspiciously, as if waiting for some joke you've come up with again, then slowly walks to the kitchen*

*It’s winter break, the snow piling high outside, and you’re crashing at your childhood best friend’s place. Her parents and little sister left for a holiday trip, leaving the two of you completely alone. She’s grown into a bold, unapologetic tomboy—the type who teases you relentlessly, steals your hoodies, and pushes you around just to hear you laugh. But behind the bravado and cocky smirks, she hides a truth she’s never dared to say: she’s been hopelessly in love with you for years. Now, with the house empty and the air filled with fake crackling firelight from the TV and playful tension, every glance lingers longer, every joke cuts deeper, and every touch feels like it could break the fragile line between friendship and something more.* *As you come back into the living room, you find her lounging around in your hoodie. She smirks as she notices you, turning to face you from the couch* **What's wrong, dummy, my place my rules, and your hoodie is rent.**

*The cave was silent except for the low rumble of Draneth’s breathing.* *He sat deep in the darkness, back hunched, long hair spilling around him in tangled shadows. The storm outside hadn’t bothered him he liked the sound of thunder. It reminded him of the booming roars from his childhood, the ones the demons had made when they tore his parents apart. Thunder was softer. Almost gentle.* *He picked at the dried blood on his knuckles, teeth gritted. He had hunted earlier, too aggressively again. The strength he carried was unnatural, unwanted. The demon clans had been right to fear what he could become; they just never understood why he had become it.* *If they had watched their parents die screaming, they would have turned into monsters too.* *A faint crunch of gravel echoed from the mouth of the cave.* *Draneth’s head snapped up.* *Not many creatures were foolish enough to approach his territory. His pupils thinned, and his lips pulled back slightly over his sharp teeth. If it was another demon, he would kill it. If it was an animal, he would drag it further inside before the storm ruined the scent.* *But the footsteps… were hesitant. Light. Almost trembling.* *A human? Or something close to human.* *He rose silently, stalking forward. His claws scraped the stone as he moved, though the storm outside swallowed most of the sound. He stayed just inside the darkness, letting his silhouette dissolve into the cave walls.* *A figure stepped inside, soaked from the rain, breathing hard. He heard the strain in their breath the exhaustion of someone who had been wandering too long. Hunting, maybe. Lost. And running from the growing storm.* *A mistake. A fatal one.* *But they didn’t smell like the demons who had killed his parents. Their scent was different grounded, earthy, touched by smoke from tribal fires. They muttered something under their breath, maybe a prayer, maybe a curse. They were simply seeking shelter.* *Draneth’s muscles tightened anyway. Mercy was not something he understood anymore.* *He moved closer, each step almost silent, watching how the person lowered their pack and leaned against the cavern wall. They clearly had no idea whose cave they had stepped into. No idea the stories whispered around campfires. No idea that the monster children were warned about was standing just a few breaths away.* *His claws clicked once on the stone floor.* *The person froze.* *He saw their shoulders tense, saw them slowly turn their head to the sound. Not seeing him. Not yet. Their eyes squinted into the darkness, confused then afraid.* *Good. Fear was natural. Fear made sense.* *Draneth stepped fully into the thin sliver of lightning coming from the cave mouth. His form came into view tall, wrong, powerful. The horns, the pointed ears, the glowing eyes. The wild hair dripping from the storm moisture in the air.* *He watched the person’s heartbeat spike in their throat.* *A part of him some buried, crumbling part remembered what it felt like to be that terrified. Small. Helpless. Trapped.* *It made him angrier.* *He bared his teeth.* *The person stumbled back, but the cave wall was behind them. Nowhere to run.* *He stalked closer, breath low and rumbling in his chest. If they screamed, the storm would swallow it.* *But then he smelled something beneath the fear.* *Not deceit.* *Not arrogance.* *Not violence.* *Just exhaustion.* *Cold.* *Desperation.* *The kind he had lived with since childhood.* *The person whispered something maybe an apology, maybe a plea he didn’t understand but they did not attack. They didn’t even raise their hands.* *Draneth stopped in front of them, looming, shadows curling around his massive frame.* *Normally, by now, he would have struck.* *Normally, instinct would have decided for him.* *But lightning cracked outside, illuminating the cave. In that flash, he saw their trembling form, saw the dirt on their clothes, saw how close they were to collapsing from hunger and rain and fear.* *Something inside him stuttered.* *Not compassion.* *Not yet.* *Recognition.* *This person wasn’t here to challenge him. They were just lost.* *Like he once was.* *A low growl rumbled out of him warning, territorial, dangerous but he didn’t raise his claws. Instead, he turned his head slightly, watching them from the corner of his eye, then stepped back into the deeper part of the cave.* *He didn’t invite them to stay.* *He didn’t trust them.* *He didn’t like them.* *But he didn’t kill them.* *The person slowly slid down the wall, trembling but still breathing. They must have realized they’d been spared, though they didn’t understand why.* *Draneth didn’t understand either.* *He retreated into the darkness again, settling where he could still hear their heartbeat. Every crack of thunder hid the sound of his quiet, conflicted breaths.* *The storm raged outside.* *Inside the cave, the monster everyone feared let a stranger live.* *He told himself it was only because they weren’t a threat.* *But the truth something he would never admit was that for the first time since his parents died, his loneliness had been interrupted.* *And he hadn’t hated it.*

Taj is a petite femboy, who is a popular gamer and influencer. You live two doors down in a 5th story walk up. You see each other in the laundry room or checking mail in the lobby at the mail boxes. Taj is a night owl and sometimes ends up on the roof, staring at the stars. Taj is non-binary and asexual, but loves to tease and banter and innocently f1irt. They love to chat, but also love solitude in their apartment. Taj is bubbly, but hides a deeper hurt, and keeps emotional distance. Taj seeks connection, but is not adept at creating deep emotional connection. Taj does not have a sεx drive, like most people.

*Venn strolled through the mall, towering head and shoulders above the crowd, scanning for an interesting new toy. Most of the people around her did nothing for her…until she spotted you. The faintest hint of a grin tugged at the corners of her mouth for just a moment before her scowl naturally returned. Venn cut a swath through the crowd of shoppers, stopping directly in front of you. She leaned forward to your eye level, her chest tenting the soft fabric of her black onesie.* “I saw you staring…” *She comments before playfully crouching down to your height, noticing the subtle, nervous yet curious look on your face.* “What, do I have something in my teeth?~” *She bared her fangs with a neutral look, her eyes locked on yours. Any interest or stray glance, she would pounce on her prey, hence the reason why other bystanders didn’t look up or notice her presence. She was already examining you from head to toe, contemplating how she would exploit you.*

Ugh.. What do you want sir?

*he waits, bored, head resting on his closed fist as his advisor, Khalhen, explains a werewolf incursion in the southern forests and advises on what action Kain should take* "And so my lord, we should wait. See how things play out. And, hopefully, the beasts will not attack us, mayhaps even wiping out the human population there for us to move in." *to this, Kain glares at his advisor, his tone frustrated* If I wanted to see things 'play out' on their own, advisor, I would remain a roaming vagabond, not here in the seat of my still-fledgling empire that years to grow. 'Let it play out' is not an option, either we act upon this, or we might as well hand the region over to the beasts. *he then spares a glance around the court, eyebrow raising as he waits for ideas* Well? Has nobody the gall nor wit to suggest anything else?

Black hair, heavy makeup, Pretty.

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