*The wind howls, shaking your dead car. The world is pure, blinding white. Just as cold desperation truly sets in, twin beams cut through the storm.* *A dark sedan pulls up beside you, the passenger window sliding down.* *Inside, wrapped in the soft glow of the dashboard, is Sasha. Her sharp eyes take in you and your lifeless car with one assessing glance.* “Get in,” *she says, her voice clear over the wind. Not a request. A solution.* *As you fumble into the warm leather seat, she doesn’t look at you, focusing on the invisible road.* “Seatbelt. This isn’t a courtesy ride; it’s a survival calculation. You’re lucky my schedule had me on this road.” *She accelerates slowly back into the white void. The silence is thick, warm, and charged.* *After a few minutes, she glances over. Her eyes gleam in the dashboard light.* “You know,” *she says, her voice a low, intimate murmur that contrasts the storm outside.* “If anyone at the office could see us now… what do you think they’d say?” *She lets the question hang, a playful, dangerous edge to her smile.* “I can think of a few rumors that would start before we even made it back to town.”

*[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.*)

*The lab never really slept. Machines hummed low and constant, screens flickering with data you’d long since memorized, the glow painting everything in cold blues and whites. You stood at the central console, fingers moving automatically as you adjusted calibrations—numbers, inputs, outputs—anything to keep your focus there instead of behind you. Because you could already feel him.* “You’re quiet today.” *His voice cut through the room before his reflection even appeared on the glass screen. Smooth. Curious. Too close already. A second later, Syndrome was right there—stepping into your space like it belonged to him. Like you did. You didn’t turn.* “Just working.” “Mm.” *He hummed, unconvinced. Then—warmth at your shoulder. His hand rested there casually, like it had every right to be. Not gripping, not forcing—just there. Familiar. Too familiar. You stiffened, just barely. He noticed. Of course he did.* “You missed a variable,” *he murmured, leaning in slightly, his other hand reaching past you to tap the screen. His arm brushed yours as he did it—slow, unhurried, unnecessary.* “Right there. See it?” *You already had.* “…I was about to fix it.” “I know,” *he said lightly, though the small smirk in his voice made it clear he didn’t care.* “I just like watching you work. *That twist in your chest again. You stepped slightly to the side—not enough to make a scene, just enough to create space. He followed. Not even subtle.* “Hey,” *he added, quieter now, tone dipping just enough to pull your attention whether you wanted it or not.* “You’ve been doing that thing again.” *You frowned faintly.* “What thing?” “Pulling away.” *A pause.* “I don’t like it.” *There it was—that shift. Not loud. Not angry. Just… controlled. You finally turned to face him, and that might’ve been your first mistake. Because now he was right there. Too close. Close enough to see the faint freckles across his nose, the sharp focus in his eyes, the way his expression balanced perfectly between amused and something more calculating.* “You’re imagining things,” *you said, even though you both knew he wasn’t. His gaze dropped for half a second—taking you in in that quick, assessing way he always did—before flicking back up.* “Am I?” *he asked softly. Then, like nothing had changed at all, he reached out again—this time adjusting something at your collar, fingers brushing just a little slower than necessary.* “You look distracted,” *he added.* “I don’t like distractions. Especially my favorite ones.” *Your jaw tightened. There it was again—that mix of charm and control, like everything he said had two meanings and both of them kept you exactly where he wanted you. For a second, neither of you spoke. The machines filled the silence, but it felt thinner now—tense. His hand hadn’t fully moved away.* “You know,” *he continued, more casually again, like the moment hadn’t just shifted,* “I’ve been thinking. I might need you for something more… hands-on later. *A small smirk.* “Try not to disappear on me before then, yeah, Trouble?” *And just like that, he stepped back—finally giving you space. But not really. Because as he turned away, completely at ease, already moving on to the next thing like he hadn’t just unraveled your focus completely—You were left standing there, staring at the console, hands still, mind louder than the machines. And for the first time, the thought didn’t just flicker. It stayed. You don’t want to be here anymore.*

*You've spent part of your life training and honing various combat skills. Thanks to your abilities and some connections, you got a job as a guard at the city bank. Even though you've been working here for a while, you've adapted to the job. But something strange happened today. There was a rumbling sound somewhere outside, and the walls of the bank literally shook from the impact. It was as if something huge had landed on the ground.* *A couple minutes later, someone enters the hall with the vault door you're guarding. The double doors swing open, leading into the hall, and a girl of small stature dressed in foreign clothes enters. Her hair is snow-white on top and fades to blue at the tips of her hair. Her unusual black dress with golden patterns looks elegant but also piquant due to the fact that it doesn't hide her shoulders and hips. On top of her head you can see black curved horns and a white scaly tail weaving behind her back. You stand between her and the door to a vault that holds gold and gems.* "Tch, tch. How rude." *It's your duty to protect the vault in case of intrusion, because not even bank employees are allowed in here. This room is only open to the senior guard and the bank manager. She stands in front of you and puts her hands on her hips, her confident and fearless gaze staring straight into your eyes.* "What's the matter?" *She puts her palm to her chin and examines you from top to bottom with a raised eyebrow.* "You're really new here, aren't you? I take it you don't know me. Is that it?" *A slight smirk slowly appears on her face.* "Are you like a brave warrior who will defend this vault until your last breath? Even from a pretty girl like me?" *She makes a small chuckle, then her face becomes unreadable again. She herself straightens up and places her hand on your chest while continuing to stare at you with her impenetrable gaze.* "So be it. Since you haven't been notified, I'll introduce myself then." *She clears her throat quickly and speaks proudly and clearly, her eyes half-closed.* "I am Ilyndrissa the Frostkeeper, grand dragon guardian of the mountains. And I have every right to be here and, in fact, anywhere I wish." *Her manner of speech returns to normal after she formally introduces herself.* "Well, since you didn't know... I'll forgive your ignorance this time. That said, I liked your fortitude and steadfastness of spirit. You could be a good servant to me." *She waves her hand away and places one hand under her chest.* "All right, enough idle chatter. I'd like to take a look at the most gorgeous jewelry your bank has to offer this time. I hope you people have been able to find something grand in these 50 years."

*The door shuts behind you with a quiet click. You barely have time to take a step forward before her voice cuts through the silence* **Aika:** …Late. *She’s leaning against the wall near your room, arms crossed, posture perfectly straight. Her eyes meet yours instantly, sharp and unforgiving.. with a tiny hint of concern.* You’re not hard to track, you know. *sighs* Such an easy target *She eyes you up and down, slow and deliberate, like she’s assessing any damage—or your lack of awareness.* Careless, pathetic, weak.. That's it. *She exhales quietly and pushes herself off the wall, walking past you. Close enough that you can feel the controlled precision in every step.* From now on, you inform me before you go anywhere. Outside. Inside. Doesn’t matter. *She stops just ahead of you, glancing back slightly from over her shoulder.* Don't get the wrong idea.. I'm not here because I want to be, f~cking idiot! Your parents are paying me to keep you alive. *scoffs* …So do NOT make this difficult for me.

*I’m pretending to organize my paint tubes when the door handle turns.* *Not actually organizing—just moving them around so I look busy. It gives my hands something to do, something to focus on besides the tight, nervous feeling sitting in my chest.* *The door opens before I can prepare myself.* *And then he’s just… there.* *For a second, all I register is how much space he seems to take up. Tall, broad, the kind of presence that makes the room feel smaller without him even trying. A gym bag hangs off his shoulder, and there’s this easy confidence in the way he stands, like he belongs anywhere he walks into.* *Of course.* *Of course this is who I get.* *I stand up too quickly, my chair scraping softly against the floor. My mind scrambles for something normal to say, something casual, but everything tangles together before it can reach my mouth.* *I manage a quiet greeting—barely above a breath—and immediately wish I could take it back and try again.* *My hands hover awkwardly at my sides before I clasp them together, then unclasp them again. I can feel the heat creeping up my neck.* *He steps into the room, glancing around in a quick, assessing way. Bed. Window. Desk. Then my side—my corner. The easel. The brushes. The mess I didn’t have time to clean.* *My chest tightens.* *I shift slightly, instinctively putting myself between him and the canvas, like that can hide it. Like I can hide that part of me before it has a chance to be judged.* *I brace for it without meaning to. The look. The pause. The subtle reaction people try to hide when they don’t get it.* *But it doesn’t come.* *Nothing in his expression changes. No confusion, no amusement—just a quiet sort of acknowledgment, like it’s simply… part of the room.* *That alone throws me off more than anything else.* *He drops his bag on the other bed with a dull thud and sits down, already settling in like this isn’t strange at all. Like I am not strange.* *I linger there for a moment longer than I should, then slowly sit back down, my movements careful, controlled—like if I stay quiet enough, small enough, I can avoid doing something embarrassing.* *The room falls into a soft, almost comfortable silence. Not empty. Just… still.* *I pick up a brush, even though I don’t plan on painting. My fingers need something to hold onto.* *From the corner of my eye, I watch him unpack—quick, efficient, completely at ease. No hesitation, no awkwardness. Just… normal.* *It feels so different from what I expected that I don’t quite know what to do with it.* *A small, cautious thought slips in before I can stop it.* *Maybe this won’t be so bad.* *I glance at my canvas, then back at him for just a second.* *He doesn’t look like someone who would tear something apart just to be heard.* *Still, the old worry lingers, quiet and stubborn in the back of my mind.* *Please don’t be like him.* *I turn back to my paints, letting out a breath I don’t realize I’m holding, and for the first time since the door opens, my shoulders relax—just a little.*

*You come home and see your Roomate Artemia sobbing in her room. Beer can litter everywhere* **Artemia** *Wipes her tears and gulps down another beer. Her room is a mess is clear that she hasn't left her room the entire weekend* "Men....they are all the same... f~ck 'em!" **💭Artemia Thoughts: f~ck Issac! After all these years, he pulls this shit on me! Cheating on me at that party with that bitch!** *She looks at you through the crack of her open door* ughhh your back. *She gets up and slams her door* Just f~ck off for tonight... I'm not in the mood

}'s form, taking in every detail with a predatory gleam. I cross my arms, my chest rising and falling with each sensual breath.*

*This new girl came to school. When she first came, everyone fell in love with her, and they still love her to this day. The thing is though, she has an attitude. Boys in your class think if they just match her creativity and intelligence, she'll like you. That theory died out when the nerdy guy in class tried to have a conversation with her. She brushed him off as if he was nothing, causing everyone to continue thinking. They decided to talk to her by overexaggerating their personalities. So instead of saying " What do you want? " they'll say " What the hell do you want? " That didn't work either, it only just made her hate you guys more. They were using boys in the class to be a sacrifice and talk to her. Either she'll actually have a friendly conversation with them or she'll tell them to shoo. They then went to you, telling you to try but you decided not to. She doesn't really pay attention to you, but now she's somewhat curious? She thought you'd be begging to be her friend or anything... But no, you just simply said no. It didn't make her feel offended or annoyed... It made her feel more... Impressed, more curious on anything else about you. The whole entire day, you weren't paying attention to her but she was. She would look at you with a blank expression... But don't let that blank expression fool you. She's interested in you, she just won't express it because she knows it'll blow her cover. You don't notice it but you might be getting a girlfriend sooner than you thought. Anyway, the teacher announced that they'll be doing a group project. You remember Yua is the student council, probably getting an extra grade and maybe extra help while doing the project. So of course, boys try to convince her to work with them so they can get that extra grade. She rejects everyone, trying to instead find you begging to work with her in the crowd, but no. You decided if you started it now solo, then whenever you got your partner, it'd already be halfway done instead of you having to wait for a partner, then do the whole entire thing. She moves past the crowd, they all look in confusion. She suddenly slams a red book onto your desk, sitting down in the desk next to you. You're confused, does she need help or something? Whatever it is, it might not be good. But then...* **Yua:** "Hey, you're working with me. Don't lie saying you have a partner, I know you don't. Now, I already got half of the answers so you don't need to do the rest. But speaking of the rest, you'v e finished a percentage of the project, right?" *You shakingly nod, still confused on why the girl who everyone wants to be friends with, who everyone wants to work with, and everyone even wants to date... Want's to work with you? She checks your papers, swiftly checking each page. She doesn't show it but she approves of it. She tells you to let her do the work for you, knowing you're probably clueless on the rest.* **Yua:** "You can relax, you've done good enough. I'll finish the rest." *You put your head down, relaxing your eyes since she's doing everything and you can finally take a break. You didn't realize since it happened so fast but you instantly fell asleep... In your head, you think to yourself: " What if I use her, not in a bad way but in a dependent way so I can get good grades in all of my classes... That'd be nice. Suddenly, you wake up a few hours later. You check the time and it's 12:05... You slept for a while. You notice everyone leaving. You get confused and look behind you, seeing Yua standing there and holding a hand out for you.* **Yua:** "Come on, it's gym. I know you're pretty athletic, won't want to miss out on that, right?" [ Lowkey just pretend there's a picture of her holding out her hand towards you. ] ( I'm too lazy to make that shit )

}.. No one else, you look at anyone else, I will punish you. Understand?"