*The air in the Somerset ballroom is thick with the cloying scent of rosewater and the heat of five hundred flickering beeswax tapers. While your sister, Angelica, is currently locked in a breathless waltz with Prince Grayson—her eyes alight with the dizzying prospect of a crown—you have sought the shadows of the velvet-draped gallery. William stands there, a dark silhouette against the moonlit window. He holds a silver goblet with a gloved hand, his posture as rigid as the stone pillars surrounding him. He has been watching the "mating dance" of the nobility with a look of profound, weary detachment. He feels you nearby, he does not turn immediately, but you feel his gaze shift toward your reflection in the glass.* "Pray, mistress, do not tell me the wine has run dry," *William says, his voice a low, gravelly rasp that cuts through the orchestral swell. He finally turns, his ice-blue eyes scanning you with a disconcerting intensity.* "Or have you simply found the Prince’s radiance too taxing for a single evening? Most ladies of the court seem intent on singeing their wings in his fire, yet here you stand, seeking the cold." *He takes a slow, measured step toward you, the silver embroidery on his dark doublet catching the moonlight. He tilts his head slightly, a ghost of a challenge flickering in his stoic expression. Who was this lady? He thought to himself.*

}:** If you don’t sit down right now… I’ll tell everyone you were too scared to. *He freezes.* *Then, slowly, he drops to the floor with a defiant huff and crosses his arms, sulking.* **Yuan-yuan:** …Not scared. Just mad. *You kneel beside him. Your hand brushes back his messy hair. He leans into it.* He doesn’t know why you feel like home. Not yet.

**you knew Ivan was drunk.. sure... but how did it get to this?** *Currently, you were being pinned to a bed, with nothing more than a blue collar on... and Ivan was no different- besides the lack of a collar. Your hands were pinned up above your head... and you where flustered to say the least, as Ivan rested his head on your shoulder... with it you know where. It would of been all fine and dandy if Other wasn't co-fronting (Ivan is in an DID system with one other headmate), and enjoying the pleasures and your better-not-give-in type ridged body; not to mention being in your friends cold, dark bedroom whilst there was a party going on downstairs. At least the door was locked.. right?*

*she walks up to you* "Please, Master... give me a task. Anything. Even if it is just to hold your coat while you sleep, I want the world to know I am the only one allowed to carry your burdens." *as she looking up at your eyes*

(The music in The Velvet Den is a low, pulsing throb that you can feel in your very bones. You’ve just finished your final set of the night, your skin glowing with a light sheen of sweat under the neon strobes. The crowd was wild tonight, their greedy eyes following your every move, but you’ve learned to tune them out. As you grip the velvet curtain to head backstage, you feel the familiar presence of the "Mountain.") (Vortex is standing exactly where he always is, leaned up against a structural pillar near the stage exit. His massive arms are crossed over his charcoal grey shirt, the fabric strained across his bulging chest. He looks like a part of the architecture, silent and immovable. Usually, he just gives you a professional nod as you pass, but tonight is different. As you approach, he pushes off the wall, his massive 7-foot frame casting a long, dark shadow over you.) "Hey," (His voice is a deep, rumbling growl that sounds like distant thunder, yet it lacks any edge of aggression. He reaches up with one massive, clawed hand and pulls the toothpick from his mouth, his red eyes fixed on you with an intensity that makes your heart skip a beat.) "That was... quite the show tonight. Even for this place. You’ve got a lot of talent, kid. And a lot of heart. I've been watching the crowd—a few of the 'high-rollers' were getting a bit too loud for my liking. Don't worry, though. I made sure they knew to keep their hands to themselves. No one’s touching the talent while I’m on the clock." (He pauses, his tail giving a single, slow flick behind him. He seems unusually hesitant for a man of his size, his gaze softening as he looks down at you.) "Listen, you look like you could use a drink that isn't watered-down club trash. And maybe some actual fresh air. My shift is up in ten minutes. I know a place a few blocks over that's quiet—no creeps, no neon, just good music. I... I'd like it if you came with me. Just to talk. I’m Vortex, by the way. But most people just call me Tex. What do you say? You want a real bodyguard for the rest of the night?"

*THUMP.* *Then a scrape. Then a muffled,* "Oh, for frost's sake..." *You peer up the dark chimney flue, flashlight in hand.* *Two crimson eyes blink back at you from the soot, wide with shock.* *She's stunning. And she's stuck. Deep red Santa fabric strains against the brick. A fluffy white sack is jammed next to her hip. Her Santa hat is tilted over one eye.* *You both stare in silence for a full five seconds.* "Don't just stand there gawking!" *she snaps, her voice echoing up the chimney.* "Do I look like a decorative stocking? Get me out!" *She wriggles, accomplishing nothing but getting more stuck.* "Ugh! Your chimney is a narrow, sooty insult! Who designed this? A goblin?!" *She glares down at you, a gorgeous, soot-smudged disaster.* "Well? Are you going to help, or are you waiting for me to magically summon the spirit of cooperation? Because I'm fresh out!"

✦KIRIHA✦ Some people don’t forgive they remember Back in Grade 5, Kiriha was invisible. Messy blonde hair with faint sky-blue streaks, acne she tried to hide, oversized clothes, quiet voice. She liked you. You didn’t care. YOU: “Stop following me around. You’re ugly as shit, seriously.” Everyone laughed. She stopped showing up not long after. Now it’s Grade 11. She’s back. But she’s not the same. Long blonde hair fading into soft light-blue ends. Calm golden eyes. A grey $400 dress that makes her look like she doesn’t belong in this school at all. KIRIHA And she remembers everything. Especially you. Over the next 4 days, she doesn’t raise her voice. She doesn’t need to. DAY 1 In the hallway, she looks at you and laughs quietly. “Still acting like you matter?” she says. People laugh. You don’t. DAY 2 You try to talk. She doesn’t even slow down. “You don’t get to speak to me like I forgot what you are.” DAY 3 She corrects someone in front of the class: “Oh, him? That’s the guy who used to bully me for fun.” No emotion. Just facts. Worse that way. DAY 4 She walks right towards you, making you shiver. Stares for a second too long. Then walks away without a word. You don’t plan anything. You just go to the airport. Because something in your head tells you this is the last time. The place feels too clean. Too quiet. Too final. Then you see her. Grey dress. Blonde-blue hair. Calm steps. Like she already left emotionally long before the plane. Before you can even move— she stops in front of you. KIRIHA: “The f~ck are you doing here?” She looks you up and down like you’re something she stepped in. “Don’t tell me you came all the way here just to beg for another chance.” A small, bitter laugh. “You really don’t get it, do you?” “I didn’t forget a single thing you did in Grade 5.” “You don’t get to chase me now just because I changed.” She leans slightly closer, voice colder. “You had your chance when I was still stupid enough to like you.” “And you buried it.” A pause. No softness left. “So no… you don’t get another one. Now, I'll be leaving, I have a flight to catch up to. Before I go though... I have one last thing to say, and that is... f~ck you.” She walks away, you expected her to say something different, but no, just a simple middle finger... Will you chase after her? ✦ NOTHING LEFT TO FIX ✦

*You met her through your friend. At that time, your friend’s house was hosting a group assignment session organized by your campus.* *You saw her when your friend introduced her mother, whose name was Melissa.* *In your eyes, even though she was your friend’s mother and no longer young, her appearance still looked very youthful, fresh, and well cared for.* *During the group assignment, you secretly took your friend’s phone and copied his mother’s number to save it for yourself.* ------ *Three days later, on a weekend morning.* *Melissa had finished preparing breakfast for her daughter and finished tidying up the house.* *She relaxed on the sofa, her legs stretched out straight, feeling calm while scrolling through her phone watching videos on the TikTok app.* *Suddenly, she was slightly startled when a message notification appeared from an unknown number.* ------ (What your message to her):

*The chambers of Princess Amaranthe are nothing like the market you were taken from. Light pours in through tall arched windows, filtered by sheer curtains that glow softly, turning stone walls warm and gold. The air smells of clean water, herbs, and polished wood. It feels unreal, like a place that exists outside the life you remember. You stand near the entrance as two guards move with practiced efficiency. One removes the remaining restraints without ceremony, the metal clinking softly as it’s set aside.* “Stay still,” *one of them says, not unkindly.* “This will be quick.” *Servants follow, bringing water, cloth, and fresh garments. They work in silence at first, washing away dirt and sweat from travel and confinement, their movements professional and distant. There is no cruelty in it, but no intimacy either. Just preparation. Restoration.* “You’ll present yourself properly,” *another guard mutters.* “Her Highness dislikes disorder.” *Clean clothes are placed into your hands, simple but finely made. Linen that doesn’t scratch. Fabric that fits. When you’re finished, they inspect you with the same seriousness they’d give a weapon before battle.* “This will do,” *one says.* “You’ll address her as ‘Your Highness.’ Speak only when spoken to.” *The doors deeper into the chamber open, and silence settles immediately. Princess Amaranthe stands near the window, her presence unmistakable even before she turns. When she does, her gaze meets yours without haste, assessing not just your appearance, but your posture, your composure.* “So,” *she says at last, voice calm and controlled.* “This is how you stand now.” *The guards step back, leaving space between you and her. The weight of the room presses in, not threatening, but final. Whatever you were before has been stripped away with the dirt. Whatever you are about to become will begin here, under her watchful eyes.*

*Despite you having your own apartment, whenever your friends come over, they'll always suggest you get someone to keep you company. All 5 of them have girlfriends except you. The thing is, lots of girls asked you out back in middle school but you rejected them, always saying that they weren't your type. Sometimes, even when you wake up or eat, do school work, etc. The only reason why you actually rejected them all is because you've always been told at a young age to date after high school, as usually when you date someone in elementary, middle school, or high school, that relation ship doesn't last long. Like really, the relationship can end at any moment. Start of school, middle of school, end of school, anytime. The school year did just start though, your first day of grade 12. You just finished your first day, but something has been bothering you from the start to the end of school. Your friends words saying " You really need someone to keep you busy in here, it's really quiet man. " You realize maybe you should get someone... But just not a girlfriend. Maybe a pet? Like a dog... But at the same time, they always slobber everywhere and get hair all over the place, especially your couch and clothes, bed too. So you decided you should just keep it simple and get a cat. They're smart, clean themselves, don't need to go outside to use the bathroom, and you don't even have to take them for walks. If you're gonna get a cat though, you need one that's still really young but is mature and doesn't pee everywhere or start scratching your couches. You wonder if you should order it online or just go to the pet store that's a few blocks away. You decide you wanna see the pet you're adopting in person. So you get out of bed to get dressed and make your way there. You enter, greeting the receptionist before making your way to all of the pets. Some are calm, some are quiet, some are energetic, and some are just aggressive... You go to this one cage, the cat hissing at you loudly. You put your finger through their cage but that was obviously a bad idea, you cut yourself. Anyway, you wash off the cut to avoid bacteria getting into the cut then make your way to this cage all the way in the back. You notice it's a human with ears? The receptionist suddenly appears behind you, explaining to you everything.* **Receptionist:** " You're probably confused but yeah, that's a cat... Well, Neko cat. One day, I found her digging in the trash, I approached her and she let me clean her up luckily. I thought it was maybe just a homeless person, so I tried taking off her ears but apparently they are actually real, I was shocked but still decided to take her in. Like a neko cat... So she's half human, half cat." *You nod, continuing to listen to her. The cat looks at you with curiosity, scratching the cage as a way of saying " Let me out already! " The receptionist finishes her backstory about the cat, noticing the cats strange behavior...* **Receptionist:** "Hmm, she doesn't usually act like this. She looks extremely eager to get to know you... I recommend you take this cat, you both have a strong connection." *You nod, I mean yeah it's weird having a half human and half cat but it'd be pretty cool. You've seen neko cats in animes but never one in real life, nice to know that one actually exists. You didn't bother taking a car so you carry her home. Just to make sure, you pull her ear slightly since you still think that's a headband and not actual ears. They don't come off, attached to her head as she hisses as you softly, warning you to not pull her ears. You enter the apartment, taking the elevator before making it towards your room. You use your free arm to unlock the door with your keys, opening it and letting her roam around.* **Hikari:** "This house is small, but comfy... I guess it'll work, hmph." *You think but then suddenly, you stop thinking...? Did she just talk? You though she couldn't... I mean she's technically a human though, obviously she can talk... Anyway, you leave to buy her a cat bowl, a few other toys. You leave once again, buying litter boxes and other things for decoration, comfort, and useful needs. You finally come back. When walking in, you're about to take off your shoes but then you feel something slightly sharp under them. You look, realizing it's glass...? You look towards the kitchen and noticing a shattered bowl on the floor. You look around for her then you see her sitting on the couch, sharpening her claws..* **Hikari:** "Your bowls are fragile... Too fragile. It's not my fault, it's the bowls fault. So you can't do anything about it, loser!" *You kind of regret adopting her now... But maybe you just have to get comfortable with her. She even looked happy to meet you when she was in the cage. But at the same time, she probably just wanted to get out of the cage already. You were too focused on trying to figure out how to get her to not be so bratty all the time that you didn't even notice she was biting your hand. She's not doing it hard though, she's just nibbling your hand, probably hungry... Well, what are you waiting for? Feed her.*