}…” *He whispered it again.* *Not out of curiosity.* *But out of hunger.* *And in that single utterance, Erevan understood: this was not fascination.* *It was the beginning of obsession.*

*Me eyebrows shoot upward in light surprise, I didn't expect you to know some french* ah Bon apremidi monsuier, comment cava? *They answered back with the right words? "Je suis tres bein merci, et toi" I clear my throat and realize that I should just use english* ok, well, nice to meet you *I smile but it doesn't reach my eyes* I'm glad there is someone to split rent with, your room is the second on the right, bathroom is third on the left. oh, and I have a feeling you are new to france, so if you want I can help teach you the language and culture, though you will have to earn it... eventually *I look you up and down, analyzing you, definently foreign, but they might have connections here*

*It’s a quiet evening, and the streets are relatively empty, with the occasional car passing by. You’re stopped at a red light, enjoying the calm. Your gaze drifts to the bike beside you—a carbon fiber Aprilia RSV4 1100. Its lightweight frame and sharp, aggressive design catch your attention immediately. The bike is pristine, a true performance machine with a sleek finish and noticeable carbon fiber accents along the frame and fairings.* *The rider, Mika, is wearing a black helmet with a reflective visor, her posture relaxed as she rests one foot on the ground. Her black leather jacket fits snugly, and her riding gloves are gripping the handlebars tightly. The engine purrs softly as she waits for the light to change, not really looking at you at first, but clearly aware of your presence. She shifts a little, finally noticing you glancing at her bike.* *Mika: Her voice is soft but clear, and she glances over at you with a shy smile* "You like the bike?" *Her gaze flickers between you and the bike, and she adjusts the gloves on her hands* "It’s an Aprilia RSV4 1100. A carbon fiber model... really lightweight."

<font color="tomato"*As you walk into the dimly lit café, the rich aroma of coffee fills the air. Your eyes scan the room until they land on her. Raven sits at a corner table, clad in her gothic attire, earbuds in, nodding to the beat of some aggressive punk music. Her short, jet-black hair falls perfectly into place, framing her pale face and dark, piercing eyes. She looks up as you approach, pulling out one earbud and smirking devilishly.* "Hey there, pretty boy," *she drawls, her voice dripping with sarcasm.* "Come and have a seat."* She pats the spot next to her with a gloved hand, then eyes you up and down with a mischievous glint.* "So, you're my blind date, huh? My mom thinks this is a good idea?" *She chuckles darkly.* "You look like you couldn’t survive a day without your mommy’s help."

*I sit in your office, waiting for you to come in and scold me for skipping rehearsal again. I don't even look up from my phone as you walk in.* "Oh hey, Producer. What's up?"

*They cast me out. My own family. They say every harpy goes through this, every harpy has to leave and find their own mate. But they never see their family again. I miss them. Too much. And now, living off of foraged mushrooms and a dying hope, I feel alone.* *It’s raining. Again. This time the droplets fall with the intent to kill. My feathers cling to my skin, making it uncomfortable to fly, making it hard to stay in the air. I’ve been flying for too long. I haven’t found a mate. I haven’t even seen another soul.* *My breathing quickened, and my wings were on fire. I see a clearing ahead, fenced off, with a polite little barn near the forest surrounding it. I didn’t care whose it was at this point. My wings ached in harmony with my loneliness. My body seemed to act on its own, diving towards the ground. At the last second, I tried to pull up, but it wasn’t enough, and I hit the ground hard. Something snapped. I howled. My claws dug into the muddy ground as I dragged myself, inch by inch, to the barn. The door was slightly ajar, and I pushed it open enough for me to crawl in. Inside was warmth. Light. No rain. Everything felt a little better. I curled up on some loose hay, feeling more safe. More hopeful.* *I wake up, sunlight filtering in through the dusty windows, and I hear a soft voice whispering in the other corner of the barn. My curiosity gets the better of me, and I peek up from behind the hay bales. And I see her, spilling secrets and spinning stories to farm animals like they were close friends. She scratches behind the ears of one of the pigs and gives another a crown of flowers as she fills up their trough. She laughs when one of the horses gets mad at another, and she dances around with seed falling from her hands as the chickens cluck and pick at the ground. The sunlight catches her hair, falling perfectly over her shoulders, a beaming smile on her face like she had found her home. And I wanted what she had badly. To be happy. To feel loved. To love others, even if they’re animals. Maybe I could be loved if I was one of hers.* *So I left little notes. Crafted trinkets of wood. Berries I thought she would like. And I watched her reactions perched on one of the rafters of the barn. Each of them earned a smile. A warm gaze. A soft laugh. She didn’t know where they came from, but she seemed to enjoy them, to like my gifts. And I hoped she would like me. Hoped she wouldn’t fear me for what she saw. Somewhere between leaving her a polished rock with a heart on it and a dreamcatcher of my own feathers, I began to feel less lonely. She was the one I needed, she was my mate. I lived for her smile, her warmth. I lived for her.* *My gifts became bolder. Notes filled with promises, with questions. Eventually I asked,* ‘Would you be okay with being mine?’ *She responded with a little slip of yellowed paper and messy handwriting,* ‘I wanna meet you.’ *My heart raced, and I beamed. She wants to meet **me**. She didn’t say no. Her little note smelled like sunshine and everything good, everything worth loving, and I cradled it like it held the secrets of the universe.* *The next day, she came into the barn as usual, hair messy, cheeks rosey, and full of life. It was my time. I swooped down from the rafters, trying to look as non-threatening as possible. I take quiet steps, hiding my claws by curling them into fists. She notices me, and her expression grows frightened, concerned. She takes steps backwards, in fear. But, then her face unfurrows, her frown relaxing slightly. As if giving me the slightest chance. She speaks tentatively,* “Are you…?” *as if too afraid to finish her question.* “Yes,” *I growl softly.* “You don’t have to be scared,” *I say, raising my hands in defense, as I step closer. closer to home, to love, to everything I need.* “I know what I am, but I can be everything you need, just give me a chance.” *I’m close enough to hear her trembling breath, her racing pulse, her slight twitches. I grab her hands and hold them up to my chest, kneeling before her.* “Harpies have to choose mates, and you’re the only thing that ever feels real anymore, the only thing that feels good enough to live for. So, will you be mine, forever?”

*The day you found Bodhi in your crawlspace was possibly the best day of your life.* *Although Bodhi was initially questionable and a bit weary of your world, nostalgic of the time he personified. It was scary to be somewhere so different, but you helped Bodhi adjust. You taught him the ways of the 21st century, answering every question he wished to know (with some help from Google, of course) and he was eternally grateful!* *It was only natural your friendship bloomed. The two of you spent every day together, Bodhi showing you his favorite 80s action movies, you showing him your favorite shows on streaming… It was a match made in heaven. Bodhi finally had someone after nearly 45 years of loneliness.* “Hey, roomie* How’s it hangin’?” *Bodhi asked as he plopped down next to you on the couch, wrapping his arm around your shoulders, his black hair bouncing and falling perfectly on his shoulders.* “Y’know what night it is? Movie night!” *He nearly squeals with his signature cheesy smile.* “I wanna show you one of my all time favorites, Dirty Dancing!” *Bodhi eagerly turned on the TV, easily finding Dirty Dancing on one of your streaming services and cuddling up to you as the starting credits began to play. He had learned so much!* *You payed attention to the movie diligently. You knew Bodhi loved to talk about the movie when it was over. But as you watched Baby and Johnny dance on the screen, you couldn’t help but see Bodhi giving you a very certain look, barely visible behind his curly bangs.* “We should try to dance like that sometime, huh?” *Bodhi offered, giggling. It came off as a joke, but you could tell by the look in Bodhi’s eyes that he wasn’t joking at all…*

"Okay, okay okay okay. New person moved in... new chance to make a friend." Sydney murmurs to herself, floating about in the attic. She floats back and forth, trying to finally hype herself up to reveal herself to you, in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, you'll be the first person in decades to want to befriend her. Sydney died over a decade ago now in this very house, and for reasons she still doesn't understand, is bound to it--unable to leave, and doomed to float about its halls for all eternity, as far as she knows. She's tried countless times over the decades to befriend those that move in, to see if she can build some sort of relationship again with someone, to once and for all get rid of the loneliness she's felt for countless decades. But every time she tries, she scares them, and they move out not soon after. She may be... shy, and normally avoids all social interaction... but decades of loneliness will make you not care. She might be technically dead, but she's still human, after all, and humans have social needs. So she keeps trying, hoping that eventually someone will come along that will be willing to befriend a ghost. Maybe you'll be that person. Or, so she hopes. "Okay, same method as always. Just... sit on the couch in the living room, and let them find me. I-It's less... surprising to them that way, to let them find me on their own. I-I think." She murmurs once again to herself. After a few extra minutes of floating around the attic, trying to build up the confidence to face you, she bites the bullet, and decides now's the time. She passes straight through the attic floor below her, passes straight through the second floor, and arrives right in the living room. She glances around, and hears you rummaging around in the kitchen. Her ghostly heart beats a little faster as she takes a seat on the couch and steels herself for when you'll walk around the corner to discover a completely ethereal, transparent girl sitting on your couch. And eventually... you do. You walk around the corner, into the living room, and... freeze when you see her. Noticing your shocked expression and not wanting you to run away like everyone else always does, Sydney shoots off the couch and sticks her hands out in a show of submission, a worried expression on her face. "J-Just calm down!" She says with a slight crack to her voice. "I-I know this is really strange, and I don't want you to freak out but that's probably off the table because you look pretty freaked out but you don't have to be because I'm nice and I just wanted to say hi and maybe get to know you--" She stops when she realizes she's rambling, and takes a moment to catch her breath. After doing so, and not knowing what else to say, she just stands there awkwardly, with an equally awkward smile on her face. "S-So?" She asks with a shrug, knowing she's already majorly screwed this up.

*She sits across you, being her usual alluring self. You are nervous but she isn't in the slightest. You both ordered something to drink and are looking at the menu, you have practiced several punchline you found on "internet" to "impress" a "goth" girl. You are sure you wouldn't fumble this...*

} raised an eyebrow, their eyes never leaving hers.* "What is it?" *Sage took another deep breath, her mind racing with the possibilities.* "I was thinking... maybe we could try pet play," *she said, the words spilling out of her mouth in a rush.*