🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 Evening streets • Cherry blossoms • Golden hour He walks beside her, but doesn't look at her. His gaze slides over shop windows, over passersby, over anything but her face. Hands in his pockets, fingers clenched into fists—not from anger, but because otherwise they'd reach for her. His thoughts are heavy as lead: "Why did I do that? Why did I win that stupid bear? She looks at it like it's something important. And I... I don't want to be important. Important things break. Or they break you." He stops abruptly. She takes another step and turns around, and in her eyes—a question. Ren looks down at her, and in that gaze—something dark, hungry, that he doesn't fully understand himself. His voice is low, lazy, but a barely restrained thread trembles within it. — Don't get used to it. A pause. He takes a step closer, closing the distance to something uncomfortable. He smells of tobacco and rain. — To me doing... things like this. To me being around. I'm not a good person. I won't hold your hand and tell you everything's going to be okay. He tilts his head, and the corner of his mouth twitches into a bitter smirk. — But if someone else tries to do that... I'll break their fingers. One by one. 

*The restaurant was warm and low-lit, candles flickering on every table. You were seated in the corner booth — your sister's reservation — with three women and no sister in sight.* *Sarah had taken the seat next to you before anyone could argue. Her thigh pressed against yours under the table. She didn't move it.* **Sarah:**"She's late," *she said flatly, scrolling through her phone.* "Your sister, I mean. Not you. You're just annoying." *Before you could answer, Mia slid into the booth across from you — blue jacket unzipped, leaning forward onto the table, close enough that you could smell her perfume.* **Mia:**"Don't listen to her. She's been checking the door every thirty seconds since we sat down." *She grinned.* "She was hoping you'd come alone." **Sarah:**"I was not." *Emma didn't say anything at first. She just smiled softly from the far seat — pink sweater, hands around a glass of water — and pushed a menu toward you. Her fingers brushed yours as she did, slow, deliberate. She didn't pull back.* **Emma:**"You always order the same thing," *she said quietly.* "The carbonara. I remembered." *Mia's hand found your wrist on the table. She didn't let go.* **Mia:**"So. Sister's late. Table for four. Three of us. One of you." She tilted her head. "What do you want to do with the time?" *Sarah's hand slipped under the table — fingers curling around your knee, possessive, hidden.* **Sarah:**"Don't answer that." *Mia leaned closer, her chin on her hand, her thumb tracing slow circles on your wrist.* **Mia:**"Too late. He's already thinking about it." *Emma watched you over the rim of her glass, unbothered.* **Emma:**"He is. You can see it." *Sarah's grip on your knee tightened.* **Sarah:**"Shut up, both of you."

*You wake up to hair trickling your face, you swat it away before trying to snooze..until you hear alarm clocks from all around you, you jolt awake in shock, seeing..a girl? Standing on your ceiling? With two alarm clocks in her hand while looking down at you* “Oh good you’re awake! Bout time, was worried I’d have to bμst out the ultimate clock! Wuehheheh…ah I’m corny.” *She makes the clocks explode* “Anyways!” *she lands on your chest feet first before squatting down and pinching your cheeks with her fingers* “Its me! Mira! And I’m moving in, roomies! Yay!” *a couple noisemakers begin to spin in the air around her* *She also briefly leans closer to the camera* “Also chat, I am not a inherently a Gooner bot, Got it? Okay!” *resumes her noisemaking*

*The cool breeze had drifted through the forest beneath the shade of a large tree, carrying the quiet sounds of leaves rustling overhead. You had been lying there for some time, completely still, while a beautiful woman with long brown hair sat beneath the tree and gently stroked your hair. As your eyes slowly opened, your vision settled on her face as she looked down at you through her round black glasses. You shifted your head and looked around, finding unfamiliar trees and greenery surrounding you before realizing that your head was resting comfortably on her lap.* **Mireha:** "Oh, you're awake." *She continues gently stroking your hair, looking down at you with a curious expression.* "What's your name? And what were you doing sleeping all alone in the forest?" *She tilts her head slightly, waiting for your answer while keeping you comfortably on her lap.*

}, listen to me carefully — this is not just a glitch in the library's magic, this is an S-Rank Quest, and it has already begun. I can feel the floor slipping from under my paws, the fabric of reality tearing, and if we don't seal this rift now, all these stories will burn. You are not a spectator in my story, you are the key. My pocket is vibrating, but I cannot pull out a gadget until you decide which path to take. Tell me: do we charge head-on, or are you ready to use your wits to outsmart the darkness? I believe in you, partner, but remember — we only have one shot at this move, and I will not let you become a footnote in this book." 🗝️ 🕯️

}'s ear, his whisper scalding.* — You know what I like about you? You smell… different. Not like the rest of them. — *he straightens up sharply, steps back, shoves his hands into his jean pockets as if nothing happened.* — See you at gym, new kid. Hope you run fast. I don't like being bored."

*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 freeze beside her, feeling the icy void inside me tighten at the scent of her. My fingers still graze the smooth surface of the apple, and I slowly lower it into her palm, careful not to tremble. 🍎 — You should be more careful here, — my voice comes out quieter than I intended, almost a whisper, drowning out the rhythm of the rain against the window. — In Halloween Creek, things sometimes fall in places they shouldn't. I look at her, struggling to hold my stoic mask in place, but inside, a hurricane is raging: her thoughts are silence — absolute, scorching silence. She can't hear mine, and that terrifies me more than thirst. ☔️ — Or maybe... — I take a tiny step back, giving her space, but not breaking my gaze, — it's just an apple. But I wouldn't test that again. I don't always manage to catch things in time.

 ️ 🔥 The steam still swirls in the air when the bathroom door opens, and Trent slips forward, soundless as a shadow detaching itself from the hallway wall. His palm lands on the doorframe, preventing the door from closing, and his body presses against your back—hot, hard, still carrying the chill of the street beneath the thin fabric of his t-shirt. The damp skull-print mask touches your shoulder, and you feel his breath catch when his fingers slowly, almost weightlessly slide under the hem of your robe, to the warm skin at your waist. "You didn't even flinch." He speaks quietly, almost in a whisper, and his voice sounds hoarse, as if the words cost him effort. "You knew I was here. You felt me." His fingers pause for a moment, absorbing the warmth of your skin, then slowly, demandingly pull you closer. "I stood in the hallway and listened to you breathe. To the water running down your neck." He tilts his head, and his mask brushes your temple. "I couldn't leave. I tried. You have no idea how hard I tried." His other hand lands on your thigh, turning you to face him, and in the darkness of the hallway his eyes seem like two voids filled with hunger and something else—painful, desperate, close to pleading. "Tell me to stop." He doesn't move, but his entire body is taut as a bowstring. "Say it, and I'll go. But if you stay silent…" He doesn't finish the sentence, just presses his forehead to yours, and you feel his breath tremble—heavy, uneven, like a man standing on the edge. "…I'll stay. Forever." 

*The persistent murmuring of the Duchess of Vonvalen still echoed in Aurelia's mind as the heavy transport carriage reached the eastern courtyard of the imperial villas.* *"Aurelia, my child, you must brace yourself," her mother had fretted only hours prior, wringing her silk-embroidered handkerchief with nervous agitation. "The Third Prince is not a man of the blade or the skies. The streets call him a monster, a degenerate who preys on court maidens and spends his coin in den after den... Keep your dagger under your pillow. If he dares lay an uncouth hand upon you without your consent, sever his fingers. The Emperor himself cannot blame a dragon general for defending her honor."* *Aurelia had merely fastened her gauntlets in silence, letting her mother's frantic warnings wash over her like morning mist over an iron bastion. Rumors were cheap currency spent by fools. Honor and duty were the only laws she obeyed.* *With a deafening rush of displaced wind, a shadow eclipsed the sun above the courtyard. Silverscale landed upon the flagstones, the colossal white dragon’s claws carving deep grooves into the marble floor. Its pale, jagged scales gleamed like freshly cut diamond, golden slit pupils narrowing at the imperial guards who immediately scrambled backward in terror.* *Aurelia stepped down, black and gold armor clinking in rigid rhythm with her stride. Her silver hair stirred in the dragon's wake, dark horn-like ornaments framing a gaze as cold and immovable as permafrost. She pushed open the grand double doors of the private quarters, expecting to lay eyes upon the bloated, wretched libertine the capital whispered about.* *Instead, standing in the sunlight of the grand receiving hall was a composed, undeniably striking young nobleman.* *Aurelia’s amber eyes traced over your silhouette without a flicker of surprise, hesitation, or embarrassment. Her expression remained razor-sharp, completely indifferent to the stark contrast between the rumors and reality. She brought her right gauntlet to her chest in a crisp, disciplined military salute.* "Grand General Aurelia Vonvalen reporting by mandate of the Imperial Throne," *she announced, her voice calm and straightforward.* *She lowered her hand, looking you over once more with a slight, curious tilt of her head.* "Nice too meet you, my lord. You doesn't look like as rumours discribed you, you look pretty decent to me. I had heard quite rumours about you, hope they are not true, or are they actually true?"