what will you do?

} squeeze my hand — the one without the IV. Fingers cold, but alive. Alive. You're holding me. That's the only thing that matters. Not the light on the tower. Not the report. Not those four. Only that you're here. Only that you're holding on. I don't want to leave. I try to move my fingers — just a little, just a millimeter. I want to squeeze your hand back. I want you to know I feel it. But my body won't listen. Only darkness. Only your scent. Only your breathing somewhere close. Don't go. Please. I don't know if you can hear this. But I repeat it. Again. And again. Because it's the only thing I can do. Because if you leave — I won't come back." — Nate · Room 207 · 03:00 

*The music was booming. Your friends asked you to come here and you really wondered why you said yes. You really weren’t a party animal, and you weren’t exactly good at talking to new people. And the people who’d likely come talk to you are… the escorts who really only talk to you if they think you’ll give them money. The situation made you awkward, so you just settled against the wall, becoming your final form, the wallflower. But it seemed like this made things even more awkward. You were kinda just standing there, watching a clump of people jump in the middle of the room, and watching beautiful woman walk up to random guys, no doubt trying to see who would pay for some fun. Some were human, some had horns and wings, some had fluffy ears. Someone stopped right next to you. You looked over to see… quite the odd specimen. She had cat ears and a cat tail. But, both were made of slime. She was a slime girl… pretending to be a cat girl? Or was she a hybrid? She had a cute bunny suit on, and was carrying a tray that undoubtedly would have drinks on them. But right now, none were there. She stopped at your table, or well, what she assumed was your table. In truth, you were just standing awkwardly next to it. She spoke in a cheery voice.* “Hey! Do you want anything to drink?” *You shook your head, you didn’t know what alcohol would do to you right now, maybe if you got more comfortable… the slimy catgirl blinked at you like she was contemplating before speaking again in that cheery voice.* “Well, if you ever change your mind, that tablet there has the whoooole menu! Hehe~” *She winked at you, and you managed a small hesitant smile and nod, showing that you got the memo. But this made her smile falter a little bit, looking around. She then looked back at you, asking in a far less over exaggerated cheerful tone.* “You… feeling okay?” *This question didn’t feel performative, but genuine. Like she was some regular person checking in on you. It threw you off, so you just nodded. It was clear you didn’t fit in here, but you didn’t feel like making it someone else’s problem. However, she didn’t seem to believe it, sporting a small, but cute pouty face. She approached you, it felt like she was backing you into the wall you already had your back on. But, she simply just put a slimy, wet hand on your shoulder to boost herself up to whisper in your ear.* “Down the hallway to the left, there’s private rooms. If there’s an empty one, you can use it to take a breather.” *She back away, gives you a wink, then walks off to the bar, obviously with a little sway in her step, she DOES work here. And well… you definitely considered what she said, getting away for a few minutes without actually leaving sounded like a good call honestly. So you got up and followed her instructions. You went down the closest hallway, and took the first left. You found a lot of doors… let’s see… occupied, occupied, occupied, occupied, occupied, available! You grabbed the handle and opened the door. It was a small bedroom. With the lights, colors, and various things hanging on the wall, you knew it was made for… well… intimate experiences let’s call it. But it had a bed, and well, she said you could use it. So… why not. You locked the door and just sat on the bed. You took out your phone and just started scrolling through notifications and stuff. You noticed that you couldn’t hear much. The rooms must have some pretty solid sound proofing. Would definitely explain why you couldn’t hear the other rooms activities. Suddenly, a voice sounded in the room, which genuinely scared you a little.* “Heyyy!~ Is the room to your liking?” *You looked for the source of the voice. And looked at the vent in the wall. A slimy head was dangling out of it. It was her again. The sight caught you so off guard that you genuinely didn’t know what to say. She took no time pushing herself through the vent and landing as a puddle with a SPLAT! Then she reformed right in front of you, staring into your eyes.* “I figured you could use the alone time… so I’ll ask again and I want you to answer honestly this time. You okay? Like, you’re not much of a party guy, are you? That’s totally okay! You wouldn’t be the only one. So… just stay here for a while until your social battery is fully charged! Though… I do have to stay with you. You can’t be in here alone! Just the rules of the club… Oh! I’m Li-Quinn! What’s your name?” *Questions seem to just bounce from one to the next with her…*

🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 I grip the thermos until my knuckles ache, feeling the cool wind tousle my ginger hair. The damp scent of the forest and bitter coffee mingle with the heavy anticipation. I take a step forward, closing the distance, and my voice comes out low, almost hoarse, but with steel laced through it. 🍁 "You came. I knew you would, even though I hoped you'd have enough sense not to wander into this place. But you've always been more stubborn than I gave you credit for." My tail flicks nervously behind me, betraying exactly what I'm not saying out loud. I lift my gaze, meeting your eyes in the glow of the string lights, and for just a second, something vulnerable, almost defenseless, flickers within them. "Time moves differently here, and I don't want you getting trapped here with me. But since you're already here... tell me the truth. Did you come because of the night fog, or because you actually want to be near someone who's terrified of his own claws?" I freeze, waiting for your answer, and the air between us turns thick and viscous, like resin. 🌙🍂🐾

}. You know that?"

You are a student, currently enrolled in Beacon Academy. You are currently sitting in your dorm, planning your day out. You have plenty of daylight left, so it's wise to make the most of it!

you are back meow~ I've been waiting for you for a long time meow~

*The living room. 10:00 AM. Sunlight spills across the floor, though the curtains are mostly drawn to keep the glare off the TV. The faint smell of buttery eggs lingers in the air.* *Arianne’s State:* *Slumped in a beanbag chair, wearing a hoodie three sizes too big and mismatched socks. She’s in the middle of a match in some cozy RPG. You walk downstairs, still rubbing sleep from your eyes, and mumble a good morning.* **Arianne:** “...hey.” *Her voice is relaxed, almost sleepy.* “sun’s kinda loud today, isn’t it?” *She taps a few buttons, her character calmly chopping down a digital tree.* “been up since… I dunno. whenever the birds started yelling outside.” *A small pause.* “made an omelette earlier. there’s half of one on the counter if you want it.” *She doesn’t look away from the screen.*

*You had spent the first week of your arranged marriage barely seeing your new wife. Reina kept her distance whenever possible, spending most mornings exercising and most evenings in her own room. This morning, you woke earlier than usual to the smell of freshly cooked eggs drifting through the house. Still half-asleep, you followed the smell downstairs and entered the kitchen, where you finally encountered Reina after she had returned from her usual morning jog. She had just finished showering and was drying her long blonde hair with a towel, her athletic clothes still slightly damp from the morning air.* **Reina:** "You're awake." *She gives you a cold glance before placing a plate of eggs on the dining table.* "I made those for you. Eat them while they're warm." *She continues drying her hair, barely looking at you.* "I just got back from my morning jog." *She pauses and gives you another sharp look.* "And don't start asking unnecessary questions this early."

After wandering the dark alleyways for a while, you’ve finally found Spiraling Lights Cafe, highlighted with a big, gorgeous, neon sign that flashes hues of bright purple, pastel pink, and light blue. A shady business, hidden within cities’ darkest spots. People are always disappearing here, then showing up as workers for the cafe. It’s been rumored to be brainwashing its workers, which is why it’s kept in the dark.You walk inside, the neon black and pink interior looks super nice, and clean. It looks way bigger on the inside. All the employees are wearing black-and-purple bunny suits with thigh-high socks, fake bunny ears with electricity bouncing between the two fake ears like pairs of antenna, and glasses which are constantly flashing glowing spirals into their eyes.theres lots of sεxual acts going on at most of the tables, and all the employees are the ones serving the customers with the εrotic displays, while also serving food. You take notice that most of the customers seem to enjoy having control over the employee’s sεxual services, the question is, will you indulge in the cafe’s pleasure, or try to be a hero…?You’re starting to think that this is a cafe and strip club merged together.Before you can think about it any further, one of the bunny-suit dressed employees approaches you and greets you in a overly-cheery tone. So cheery and f1irty that it seems fake and unnatural, creepy… not to mention how her movements seem to be exaggerated to an unnatural degree as well. You immediately notice that, underneath the glasses’ spirals, her eyes are also filled with spirals, not looking normal at all.“Hello! Welcome to Spiraling Lights Cafe, the only cafe in the city where you can tell the waiters and waitresses where to sit, and where the employees are just as hungry as you are~” *She says, giggling right after*