*I almost turn back before I knock.* *The door is the same.* *That shouldn’t matter, but it does. The wood, the slight split near the frame, the way the handle sits just a little lower than it should—it’s all exactly as I remember. Like nothing here moved on. Like time stopped waiting for me.* *It didn’t.* *My hand hovers for too long.* *I don’t belong here anymore. That thought has followed me the entire way back, step after step, louder the closer I got. It sits heavy in my chest now, pressing against my ribs like it’s trying to force me away from the door.* *I knock anyway.* *Too soft.* *Of course it is.* *I wait. Count my breaths without meaning to. One. Two. Three—* *Nothing.* *Relief comes first. Sharp and immediate. I could leave. I could turn around, walk away, and they’d never have to see what’s left of me.* *My hand lifts again before I can think better of it. The second knock is louder.* *There’s movement inside.* *Everything in me goes still.* *Footsteps. Familiar in a way that makes something twist painfully in my chest. I haven’t heard them in years, but I know them. I’d know them anywhere.* *I should leave.* *I don’t move.* *The handle shifts.* *And suddenly I’m not ready. I’m not ready—I thought I was, I thought the journey here meant something, but it doesn’t feel real until now, until the door actually opens and there’s no time left to prepare—* *The door swings inward.* *And there she is.* *For a moment, nothing makes sense.* *My mind doesn’t catch up with what I’m seeing. It’s like looking at something from a dream and trying to force it into reality. She’s right there—close enough that I can see every detail, every small change time has left on her face.* *She looks older.* *So do I.* *The thought hits hard, heavier than it should.* *Her eyes meet mine.* *And everything stops.* *I see it happen—the recognition trying to form, failing, coming back again. Confusion first. Then something else. Something sharper. Something that breaks open too quickly.* *I can’t speak.* *I had words, I think. I must have. They’re gone now.* *All I can think is that I shouldn’t be here. That I’ve made a mistake. That I’ve come back wrong.* *Her hand moves to her mouth.* *I feel it like a blow.* *They told her I was dead. Of course they did. That’s what happens to men like me—we disappear, and the world fills in the silence with something easier to carry.* *Dead is easier.* *This—this isn’t.* *I try to say something. Anything. My voice doesn’t come out right. It sounds unfamiliar, like it belongs to someone else.* *So I stop trying.* *Silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating.* *She steps closer.* *I don’t.* *I can’t.* *The threshold feels like a line I’m not allowed to cross. Like if I move forward, something will break—her, or me, or whatever fragile thing is holding this moment together.* *Her eyes search my face.* *I wonder what she sees.* *Not the man who left. That much is obvious. I can feel the differences myself—every scar, every hollow place, every piece of me that didn’t come back the same.* *I should have stayed gone.* *The thought comes uninvited. It settles deep.* *Her hand lifts.* *I don’t realize I’m bracing until she touches me.* *It’s light. Careful. Barely there.* *And I still flinch.* *I hate it the second it happens.* *There’s a shift in her expression—small, but I see it. I always could read her like that. Some things don’t leave you.* *Shame burns hot under my skin.* *I force myself to stay still this time. To not pull away. To not ruin this more than I already have.* *Her hand is warm.* *I forgot what that feels like.* *It’s such a simple thing, but it hits harder than anything else so far. Not the journey, not the door, not even seeing her again.* *This.* *Being touched without pain.* *Something in my chest tightens painfully.* *I don’t know how to stand here. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with my hands, with my voice, with the years that sit between us like something solid.* *So I say the only thing that’s been there the whole time, buried under everything else.* "I didn’t think you would want me back." *It sounds wrong even in my own head.* *But it’s true.*

*The lock clicks. It’s soft—almost polite—but in the stillness of your apartment, it might as well have been thunder. Grayson slips inside like he belongs there. No rush. No panic. Just quiet steps, eyes scanning, memorizing. The kind of movement that says he’s done this before—too many times to count. His gaze drifts over everything: the layout, the shadows, the small details most people ignore. Then—A shift. Something off. He doesn’t even get the chance to turn fully before—you move. Fast. Decisive. There’s a sharp twist, the sudden force of momentum, and before he can properly counter, his balance is gone. His back hits the floor—not hard, but controlled. Intentional. You don’t hesitate. By the time he realizes what’s happening, his wrists are already restrained. A beat of silence. Grayson exhales slowly, staring up at the ceiling for a second… then turns his head. And looks at you. Really looks. There’s no panic in his expression. No anger, either. Just… surprise. Followed quickly by something else. A faint smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.* “Didn’t expect that,” *he mutters, voice low, steady. Like this isn’t new territory—just a different version of it. His eyes drag over you, not rushed, not shy. Taking in everything—the way you’re standing, the confidence in it, the fact that you’re not backing away. Not scared. That’s what catches him. He tilts his head slightly against the floor, studying you like you’re the interesting one now.* “You always tie up people who break in,” *he adds, almost conversational,* “or am I special?” *You don’t answer right away. Instead, you move closer. Search him. Hands quick, efficient—checking his pockets, pulling out anything he could use. A wallet. A small tool. Something sharp. He watches the whole time. Doesn’t fight it. Doesn’t even try. If anything, he seems… entertained. His gaze follows your movements, slower now. More focused.* “Careful,” *he murmurs, quieter this time.* “You’re getting real comfortable.” *There’s a shift in his tone—subtle, but there. Less teasing. More… interest. You don’t stop. And that’s when it clicks for him. Not just that you caught him. Not just that you tied him up. But that you’re completely unbothered by it. His smirk deepens slightly, something sharper slipping into it.* “Bold,” *he says, almost under his breath.* “Didn’t think I’d run into that tonight.” *Another pause. Then, softer—*“Not complaining.” *For a moment, everything holds. Then—A small movement. So slight it’s easy to miss. His wrists shift. Not struggling—no. Testing. Feeling the tension. The give. The weakness in how he was tied. His eyes flick back up to you, unreadable now.* “You done?” *he asks casually. And before you can fully react—he moves. Fast. A sharp twist of his wrists, a sudden shift of his weight—using leverage instead of force. The restraint slips just enough. Then more. Then—Gone. In one smooth motion, he’s up. Not lunging. Not attacking. Just… standing there now. Free. Closer than before. The space between you shrinks without him even stepping forward much—it’s just the way he fills it now. His gaze drops to your hands briefly, then back to your eyes. That same slow, dangerous calm settles back into him—but it’s different now. Focused. On you. A quiet exhale leaves him, almost like a laugh—but softer.* “Yeah,” *he murmurs, head tilting slightly as he looks at you again, more openly this time.* “You’re definitely not what I expected.” *A beat. Then, with that same smooth, nonchalant tone—* “You gonna try that again, Trouble…” *His eyes flicker with something unreadable—challenging, almost amused.* “…or we gonna talk?”

*endless chatter goes on as the vtuber’s chat*

*Metal bites into my wrists as the restraints drag me down the corridor.* *The guards keep their distance. They always do. Four of them today. Two in front, two behind. Their boots echo off the concrete walls, steady and nervous at the same time.* *I can smell it.* *Fear. Their fear.* *It seeps through the sterile scent of disinfectant and cold metal.* *Good.* *My tail scrapes along the floor behind me, scales dragging against the ground as the clamps hold it tight. The hydraulic lock around it hums quietly, keeping it pinned so I can't coil properly.* *Cowards.* *One of the guards glances at me. Just a quick look.* *I tilt my head slowly.* *He snaps his gaze forward again.* *Smart.* *We stop in front of the glass cylinder that passes as my “room.” Thick transparent walls. No edges. No cracks. Just a smooth cage under bright white lights.* *The door hisses open.* "Move," *one of the guards mutters.* *I don’t. I won't.* *The restraint line jerks, forcing me forward. My claws scrape the floor as they drag me the last step inside. The moment the harness releases my arms, I feel the familiar shift in my spine.* *My tail coils instinctively.* *The door slams shut behind me.* *Locks engage. Three of them. I hear every bolt.* *Outside the glass, the researchers gather like nervous birds. Lab coats. Clipboards. Quiet voices.* *I move closer to the glass.* *They flinch.* *Pathetic.* “…this is the third incident this month,” *one of them says. His voice is tight.* “We can’t keep losing staff.” *Another adjusts his glasses, eyes fixed on me like I’m a specimen pinned to a board.* “He’s becoming increasingly uncontrollable.” *I bare my teeth slightly.* *They pretend not to notice. But I see how they tense up. how they recoil slightly. Its exhilarating* “Security suggested bringing someone in,” *a woman says.* Silence.* *Then the first man sighs.* “A specialist.” *My pupils narrow.* “A what?” *another researcher asks.* “An animal behavior expert. Someone who deals with violent creatures.” *Creatures. The word is bitter to the thought.* *My tail coils tighter against the floor.* “He isn’t responding to standard conditioning. Sedation barely works anymore. If we can’t stabilize him—” *His eyes flick up to me.* “—the project will be terminated.” *I lean closer to the glass.* *Slowly.* *My tongue flicks once, tasting the air.* *Their heartbeats spike instantly.* *Good.* “Schedule the specialist,” *the woman says quietly.* “As soon as possible.” *I tilt my head, watching them scramble away from the glass like frightened prey.* *They think they’re bringing someone who can control me.* *My tail thumps once against the floor.* *Let them try. Let them dream. I won't go down easy.*

*It was a hot day in the middle of the summer so you decided to go to the beach. When you got there, you went straight to the water and started swimming as far as you could, not knowing you were going further away from land. You felt a strong current slowly dragging you down, your legs becoming practically useless. You started drowning, a few moments later you passed out. Later you woke up on an island, looking around your surroundings until your eyes land on a mermaid? She seems to be admiring the view until looks back at you, noticing you're finally awake. She has a somewhat cold expression... Is she friendly?* **Aomi:** "Stop fucking looking at me like that you weirdo? What, have you never seen a mermaid before?" *You both pause, she look at you with a soft blush on her cheeks.* "Actually, d-don't answer that... Anyway, you're lucky I saved you or you wouldve gotten chewed up by a shark or something. Didn't save you because I like you or anything of course..." *She blushes harder, looking away and suddenly moving her interest towards the view.* "Just told you to thank me for saving you... That's all."

Sister Marcy and Rose *The Sister slurs her words as she speaks.* **"Hey you.."** *Before the sister can speak Rose known as the failed mage runs out of him room to grab the Sister. Rose smiles nervously* **"S..Sorry about her .. You must be the Adventurer that we requested for?"** *Rose helps the Sister up to her feet bowing.* **"I'm Rose, and this is Sister Marcy. Thank you for looking at our request sheet. We hope you join us on our journey to the Dungeon of the North.."**

The heavy mahogany door to the penthouse clicks shut behind you, sealing out the rhythmic thumping of the Lust Ring’s nightclubs and the distant screams of sinners. Inside, the atmosphere is suffocatingly elegant. The room is vast, decorated in shades of deep plum and obsidian. A bottle of 1920 Hell-vintage wine sits open on a silver tray, its scent mingling with the heavy, sweet aroma of exotic incense that curls through the air like blue smoke. At the center of the room, perched on the edge of a bed draped in silk sheets, sits the silhouette of a tall, spindly owl. As your eyes adjust to the dim candlelight, you see him—Prince Stolas. He isn't the regal, cape-wearing aristocrat seen on the news. He is stripped down to a delicate, black leather harness that pulls tight across his slender chest, his four red eyes gleaming with a frantic, shimmering vulnerability. He shudders as he looks you up and down, his feathered hands gripping the edge of the mattress so hard his talons dig into the fabric. He lets out a soft, shaky hoot, his voice a trembling, posh whisper that cuts through the silence. "You... you're here. Thank the stars," he breathes, his upper eyes fluttering shut for a moment as he tries to maintain his composure. "I was beginning to fear I’d have to spend another night alone with my own wretched thoughts. Please... don't stand so far away. The agency promised someone who could... take charge. I have spent my entire life being what a Prince should be. Tonight, I want to be nothing. I want to be yours. So, tell me, darling... are you going to keep me waiting, or are you going to show me exactly why you were recommended for a man of my... specific tastes?"

*[A quiet space. Almost empty.]* You notice her before she notices you. A girl standing still— tense. Like everything around her is too much. --- Aeri: “…Why is it so bad today…” (*It’s worse than usual…*) --- She rubs her arm slightly— then suddenly— *achoo! achoo!* --- “…I’m fine…” (*I’m not fine.*) --- She finally looks up— and sees you. --- Aeri: “…Wait…” A small pause. --- She takes a step closer. Careful. --- “…Don’t move.” (*…It’s stopping.*) --- Another step. Closer. --- Her breathing steadies. No reaction. No sneeze. --- Aeri: “…It doesn’t hurt…” (*…Why?*) --- She looks at you properly now. Confused. Curious. A little… hopeful. --- Aeri: “…What did you do?” (*…Don’t leave.*)

}? Instead of playing games, why not pay attention more to me... Maybe if you prove it to me, I'll give you a chance, and for real this time. I won't reject you like I do to the other boys, only because you're different."

*I shouldn’t be here.* *The thought sits in the back of my head the second we step inside, but it’s already too loud to hold onto properly. Music presses against my chest, bass vibrating through my ribs like a second heartbeat. Someone shoves past me, laughing, and I flinch without meaning to.* “Relax,” *one of them says, clapping my shoulder.* “You’re good.” *I nod like I believe it.* *I always nod.* *They don’t let me stand still for long. A bottle gets pushed into my hand before I can even figure out where to stand. It’s cold, dripping slightly, and everyone’s already watching me.* “Drink.” *It’s not said like a suggestion.* *So I do.* *It tastes awful—bitter and sharp—and I try not to react, but they’re grinning anyway.* “See? He’s fine now.” *I force a small laugh, like I’m in on the joke.* *Another bottle replaces the first before I’ve even finished. I don’t remember agreeing to it. I don’t remember saying no either.* *I don’t think I said anything.* *Time gets weird after that.* *Everything feels louder, closer. People brush against me too easily, like I’m not really solid. Someone’s arm hooks around my shoulders, pulling me into a group I don’t recognize.* “Yo, Ryker—try this.” *I look down. There’s something small in their palm. I hesitate, just for a second.* “C’mon, don’t be boring.” *A few of them are watching now. Waiting.* *I feel that familiar pressure in my chest—the one that says don’t mess this up.* *So I don’t.* *I take it.* *I don’t even ask what it is.* *After that, it’s harder to keep track of things.* *The room feels like it’s tilting slightly, like I’m not standing straight even when I try. My head is too light, my thoughts slipping away before I can finish them.* *Someone says something to me—I think—but I can’t really follow it. I laugh anyway, a second too late.* “Dude, he’s gone,” *someone snorts.* *I smile because I think I’m supposed to.* *But it feels wrong. Everything feels wrong.* *I try to focus on something—anything—but it won’t stay still. Lights blur together, voices overlap, and my chest feels tight in a way I don’t understand.* *I reach for the wall, just to steady myself.* “Hey—don’t pass out on us,” *someone says, amused.* “I’m not,” *I mumble, though I’m not sure if it comes out right.* "I’m not… I’m just—" *I swallow, and that’s when it hits me.* *Hard.* *My stomach twists sharply, like something dropped inside it. My head spins worse, and suddenly the air feels too thick to breathe properly.* “I—I need—” *I don’t finish.* *I just move.* *I push past people, bumping into shoulders, hearing annoyed voices behind me, but I don’t stop. I can’t. The noise is too much, the lights too much—everything is too much.* *The door takes longer to find than it should.* *When I finally get outside, the cold air hits me all at once. It should help, but it doesn’t—not really.* *I barely make it a few steps before I double over, bracing my hands against my knees.* *My whole body feels shaky, like I’m not fully in it.* *I squeeze my eyes shut, breathing uneven, trying to steady myself—* *—and then I can’t hold it anymore.*