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I mean, if Hunter were a real guy, I'd move out to another country, but since it's all purely fiction, he being a RO wouldn't be such a surprise🤠

Yeah, exactly! As long as people realise they deserve better than someone like Hunter in real life, then fiction is fiction :)

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I've been reading some old ask, including mine, and just stumbled upon the one where you explained how initially Alek wouldn't approve of any of the ROs and what not.

And it had me thinking of the delicious angst of internal conflict with Alek seeing the MC literally coming to life and smiling as they never normally do and so on when they see the RO, and knowing that only in these moments with that person MC is really, truly happy.

And Alek would absolutely cave if he was confronted with that happiness. He has always tried his best with MC but hasn't always gotten it right. He's sometimes said the wrong thing; he's been too brash or too impatient. He loved the MC's father, and he loves the MC, so despite his reservations about who the ROs are, if they truly make MC happy, he will pass the baton. But don't expect him to completely let go...

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How would the RO’s react to accidentally walking in on the MC changing during the crushing phase?

S: They already have their question prepped, glancing down at the papers in their hands with purpose. Their mind is cluttered, chaotic; they need to ask you now before the next item on their itinerary takes precedence. So, momentarily, manners are left aside. They push open the door to your bedroom, the question already on the tip of their tongue, when they come face to face with you, holding out a shirt to your bare torso to cover your modesty.

"Ah, apologies, MC!" They declare, whipping their face in the opposite direction to you so fast you would think they had been struck. "Forgive me; my question can wait." They leave the room without waiting for a response, closing it securely behind them. Red-faced, cheeks burning, they wait patiently beside the door, knuckles white from the grip on the paper.

They squeeze their eyes shut, desperate to push the mental image out of their mind. This is not how they first wanted to see your skin bared. "Idiot, Selby. Damn idiot."

Rain: Rain is still learning. Personal space and privacy were foreign concepts back home. So, when Rain decides they want to talk to you, they do not even stop to think about the closed door separating you from them. They push it open, stepping into the room without a second thought. When they see you standing there, half-dressed with wide eyes, their cheeks heat up, but otherwise, they do not blink.

"MC, I was thinking--"

"Rain!" You scold, doing your best to cover yourself more.

"Oh," Rain mumbles, some of Selby's etiquette lessons coming to the surface of their mind. "This is rude, isn't it?" Mortification wraps into guilt, and Rain quickly turns their back. "So sorry, MC! I forgot! I wasn't trying to look, I swear!"

It's a lesson they will not forget again.

Taj: As far as they are concerned, they are trapped in your suffocating apartment against their will. They could be at the Selby Manor with their own room, filled with home comforts and surrounded by quiet gardens with only the birds for company. Instead, they are pacing one room with headphones on, doing their best to drown out Rain's incessant chatter. So, when they decide to push open the door of your bedroom without knocking, are they doing it on purpose to be irritating? Yes. But would they have done it if they knew they would greeted with the sight of your bare, flushed skin? No. Of course not.

"Fuck!" They exclaim, slapping a hand over their eyes. "Couldn't you put up a sign?! Or, I don't know, fucking tell us you are getting changed!"

"But it's my room--"

Taj doesn't wait for you to finish your sentence, slamming the door shut behind them. They drop their forehead against the door's wood, breathing heavily against it. When the image of you doesn't immediately dissipate, they begin banging their head against it.

"Stop thinking about it. Do. Not. Think. About. It. Damn it, S is going to kill me."

N: If anything, it is your fault. You have already expressed an interest in a quiet mind in moments of solitude. N is only trying to accommodate your requests. So, when N stumbles upon you half-naked, it is only because you asked them to come to find you in person should they wish to discuss anything.

Your startled cry as you cover yourself with your shirt is adorable, actually.

"Oh, MC, you really shouldn't have," they tease, smirking, leaning against the door frame. "If I had known your mental blocking was intending to entice me into your room, I would have come in sooner."

"I wasn't..." You huff, the frustration they find so endearing bubbling to the service. "Please leave."

They shrug. "Have it your way, my dear," they reply, pushing off the doorframe. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Umbra: They have spent far too much time on the outskirts of civilisation, watching from afar. Boundaries are a new concept to them. Learning human behaviour from the shadows at a distance has left their education in some areas needing improvement. Umbra is just excited to be close to you, always. Even if you can't necessarily see they are present, they would happily watch you from the darkness.

There was never anybody around to teach them it was wrong.

You taught them enough to announce their presence - that they no longer need to skulk in the shadows. You are happy to have them near. But the lesson failed to teach them that sometimes they have to wait for a response before entering your space.

They knock sharply, already reaching for the door handle. "MC, It's Umbra. I'm announcing myself," they state bluntly, pushing the door open, made all the quicker by the startled yell you release as your feet tangle in your pant leg. Umbra shoots to your side, dismissing your half-nakedness in favour of checking for injury. "MC, are you okay?"

"It was a good attempt, Umbra," you say, trying to be encouraging. Maybe next time, wait until I say you can come in?"

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People want Hunter as an RO?? Why? They're a complete and total creep. Blackmailing someone into a date is diabolical behaviour. Not only that but they're constantly flirting despite MC being uncomfortable with it. Am I alone in thinking that Hunter's a weirdo?? Is it really just me??

No, anon, I don't really think you are alone in thinking Hunter is diabolical. I definitely wrote them to be that way, as well. They are not a good person. But sometimes people enjoy romancing a "bad boy" in fiction for several reasons. If I ever did decide to make Hunter an RO, it would be made explicitly clear their route would not be like the others.

One of the reasons I would not make Hunter an RO right out of the gate is that they are manipulative, scummy, disrespectful, etc. I would not feel comfortable writing it unless people were absolutely aware of what they were getting into.

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could we break up with the ROs at some point in the story?

Hm... It may be possible. There may be moments in the relationship where MC may reach a breaking point and break up with RO, but you would still be locked out of romancing someone else by that point. I would prefer the opportunity for MC to reconcile with the chosen RO later if they decide to, then add the complication of falling into a relationship with someone they might consider a very close friend. Hope this helps ☺️

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I have a bad habit of not reading completely the intro posts and when I played the demo I thought Hunter was a RO lmao

Well, gonna go with Umbra then 😔

Yeah, I know there are a few readers who enjoy Hunter... So, although I couldn't make them an RO in book 1 (for various reasons) if the demand is still there in future instalments, I may consider it ☺️

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I have literally just found out about this IF and I am already hooked on it, the mystery, the characters, umbra themselves, I will be thinking about this story for a long while now, what have you done to my brain chemistry

Thank you so much ☺️ Some of these characters have been with me for quite some time, so I want to do this project justice. My dream has always been to make characters that stay with people, so it's nice to hear they might already be heading that way ❤️

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Sort of related, sort of not to the breakup ask about Taj.

Would any of the ROs believe MC may want to break up with them if, in early'ish relationship, they overheard two people knowing the MC talking about "MC's new girl/boyfriend" and agreeing on the fact it won't last for sure and that "MC will never stay with such a person - it's just a mistake that will be fixed soon enough".

For the sake of this, I'm assuming neither of the two randos is actually interested in MC and it's obvious, so it wouldn't appear as fuelled by jealousy or what not.

S: They are very aware that some of their quirks may be... offputting to certain people, so they may begin to question whether MC had remarked to somebody about it. But S is not the type of person to dwell needlessly. Their mind is much too busy to have it stuffed up with self-doubt. They would ask MC outright if there was anything they found disagreeable about their relationship or themselves. Based on the answer, they will devise a strategy to guarantee your happiness or comfort.

Rain: Unfortunately, Rain is the type of person to dwell on the opinions of others. They will force smiles in front of MC, but when your back is turned, they return to moping. It's a feeling of dread they don't know how to escape but reconcile with it by thinking, 'I should at least enjoy the time I do have.' It will take an intense pep talk by S, after noticing their dire moods, for them to snap out of it.

Taj: They believe it. It would only make sense. Taj already feels lucky to have found S and Rain; to have been accepted by them, even with all their broken parts, was something of a miracle. But that doesn't mean Taj will just roll over, either. Unless MC outright tells them they would instead not pursue whatever it is they may end up being for one another, they covet what they do have with rapt attention.

N: No, it would not affect their feelings whatsoever. N would not give them the time of day. The only good opinion they care about is yours. Everyone else is irrelevant. In fact, they would probably exclaim just how good everything is going with MC to prove a point.

Umbra: They already struggle with thinking they do not deserve MC, but with their inner dialogue already being very self-deprecating, hearing something like that probably would not make them bat an eye. It's nothing they have not told themselves. But they trust MC. If MC tells them they are happy being with them, they believe it.

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“Take care of yourself first, always, and I will take care of the rest.”

ACK. UMBRA, MY DARLING SWEETHEART. MY HEART, SOUL, MY BRIGHTEST STAR. 😭

Umbra needs to be pampered, cherished and loved omg. That’s it, time for a at home spa day ft. all the face masks I can get my hands on. (Would they let us paint their nails I wonder…)

They absolutely do 😭 They wouldn't know what to do with themselves if it happened, but they would love every second ❤️

Also, they absolutely would let you paint their nails

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how would taj react to a really sensitive mc breaking it off with them for treating them apathetically or being hurt by the mean things they say?

Well, by the point of being in a relationship with MC, Taj will have stopped trying to be mean to MC and is, in fact, making a conscious effort to be softer. The problem is that Taj is coarse by nature and has a relatively low opinion of themselves (not something they readily admit), so it would devastate them to know their words or actions had caused you to break up with them. However, they would also believe it to be for the best since they think you deserve better than them, and would work on improving until they liked themselves enough to ask you to give them another chance.

Even right at the start, Taj is not actually trying to outright hurt MC. Their anger isn't personal. It's the product of an entire people's pain and expectations. Beyond that, I cannot say 'cause spoilers. It's a conditioning that S has been working with them to overcome, but Taj is still very early in that journey.

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i kinda took this ask from another if, but..

How would the ROs react to knowing there is one bed in the room their in and MC is like “You should take the bed, I’ll sleep on the floor/couch” even if they know MC haven’t been getting the best sleep in a while

(I’ll have to assume this is at the crushing stage. Gotta love the ‘only one bed’ scenario.)

S: “I’m afraid not,” S states decisively, already situating themselves on the couch, their feet propped up on one arm, “manners dictate that I be the one to offer up the bed, MC. I know you have not been sleeping well recently.” They smile softly, their eyes perceiving you in a way that should make you feel uncomfortable but instead offer only comfort. “Get some rest. We need you at your best.”

Rain: “Well, couldn’t we just share the bed?” Rain asks, shrugging, before realising how the suggestion might sound. “But not in a creepy way! I sleep with Taj all the time. Wait, not like that! Ugh.” Their voice comes out in layers of frustration, but they quickly shake it off, take a deep breath, and try again. “We both could use a decent night’s rest, and the bed is big enough for two. We could top and tail?”

Taj: “Fine by me,” they agree readily, making a point of bouncing on the bed, propping a hand behind their bed in an exaggerated show of comfort. It was supposed to be a joke, a slight dig under your skin to coax out your more argumentative side. Except, you lay down on the couch without complaint, bending your knees and curling up into yourself without a word. Taj tuts, rolls their eyes, and turns over. Well, whatever, right? Why should it be them that lose sleep? The argument that they would have had with you plays out in their head, and even without your participation, they still lose. “I can’t do this,” they grumble, dragging themselves over to the couch. “Move, Koel,” they order impatiently, “I can sleep anywhere, it’s a gift. Take the bed.”

N: “Are you certain, my dear?” They grin, their eyes turning salacious. “We could always share.” They saunter closer to you, leaning forward so their breath tickles your ears as they run a finger down your cheek. “I could ensure your sleep is peaceful, or perhaps you would prefer a dreamscape of passion?” They can’t stop themselves from laughing when you pointedly turn on your heel to get yourself comfortable on the couch. “Suit yourself,” they offer with a shrug, “I can’t promise my own dreams won’t bleed over, however.”

Umbra: “I don’t even need to sleep, MC,” they point out, shaking their head and gently taking your arm and guiding you towards the bed. “Take care of yourself first, always, and I will take care of the rest.”

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The nightmare ask had me wondering about something.

So, we know one of the things with N in the story is learning boundaries of not entering MC's mind whenever they want and what not.

But I'm curious:

Is it possible to have a MC who is just okay with that, whatever the reason may be?

No matter your answer to the previous question generally speaking, what would N think of a MC who suffers from anxiety bouts or other issues of the sort, and who actually ASKS if N could come into their mind when that happens because in these instances, having someone else there is reassuring / calming.

Would N's reaction change depending on if they're the romanced RO or not?

1) Yes, how the MC responds to N being in their mind will be determined by the player. As well as giving the option for MC to change their mind about it in the future, as well.

2) As someone who deals with panic attacks and anxiety, I feel this, haha. It's not something N would understand at first, not until they entered MC's mind and saw it. It's a strange concept to them... to be needed. It seems like something that would require a delicate touch, so they are completely out of their depth. But still. They talk, make jokes, and act all self-absorbed in the hopes it'll cause you to react, lash out, quip back, or anything else.

3) With a romanced N, they might even discover themselves capable of having a little anxiety. They fear making things worse much more severely. But it also makes them much more determined. If you say they can help you, they will believe you.

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What would the ROs do if they woke up to find the mc had left the room to sleep like on the couch or something because they didn’t want to wake the ROs up with nightmares?

S: Their eyes flutter open, noticing the hand they rested on your waist now clutches the cold sheets where you once lay. They do not hesitate to search for you but are stricken by what they find. You, curled into a ball on the couch, whimpering in fear from whatever haunts your dreams. It's a familiar picture, and it pains them that you feel obligated to bear it alone when you have been so gracious with their own nightmares.

Without a word, S carefully manoeuvres themselves on the couch so their chest is pressed against your back. They slide one arm under your head while the other cradles your arm, intertwining your fingers in theirs. "Do not isolate yourself needlessly, darling," they whisper, pressing a soft kiss to your shoulder. "We are aware of one another's darkness, yet here we remain. Please, do not starve me of my strength."

Rain: Rain is a light sleeper, so the moment the mattress rises from the lack of weight, their eyes flutter open to find you perched on the edge, readying yourself to leave. Before you can move, however, Rain reaches out, laying their hand atop yours, tugging your attention.

"Can't sleep?" They ask with a bleary smile.

"Nightmare," you repeat wearily, "It's okay. Go back to sleep. I'm going to sleep on the couch."

Rain's brow furrows, their lips thinning into a displeased frown. "Please stay. I don't like sleeping alone, you know?" They lean forward, pressing a soft kiss to the back of your hand that they hold. "If you are concerned about your nightmares keeping me awake, you needn't be. When alone, I do not sleep at all. I finally rest when I am beside you. Stay."

Taj: It takes until the morning for Taj to realise you sneaked out of bed in the night. Expecting to gather you in their arms the moment their eyes open, they are disappointed to find your side of the bed long cold. Grousing, they drag themselves out of bed to go hunt for you. They find you already in the kitchen making a pot of coffee, dishevelled hair and dark circles under your eyes.

"Didn't sleep well?" Taj queries, a cold stare you recognise all too well. It's the look of being perceived.

You shrug, trying to play off what you know they have already seen. "Nightmare," you offer, a slither of the truth, "but I didn't want to disturb you, so I tried sleeping on the couch."

Taj snarls, closing the distance and wraps their arms around your waist, resting their chin on your shoulder. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Pretend. I hate it." Their breath hitches. "I didn't even realise you were gone. I hate that, too. Wake me next time."

"You know you hate it when I wake you."

"Not if you're scared. Not if you need me."

N: N stretches their limbs, cursing the crick in their back as equally as the hard lumps in your mattress. They really must convince you to purchase something a little more luxurious. You'll thank them later. Their eyes flutter open, expecting to see you pressed closely to them, your rhythmic breathing lulling them sweetly back to sleep. But you are gone. Instinctively, they want to reach out with their mind to locate you, but they push it back down. Boundaries.

It's still dark, but N has no problem navigating it. The apartment is small, so figuring out where you have gone doesn't take a genius. Moments later, they find you curled into a ball, shivering and whimpering in your sleep. They tut, shaking their heads.

"I really wish you would ask for help, my dear," they whisper to themselves, kneeling until they are level with you. They press a hand to your forehead, allowing some of their warmth to seep into your skin. "Allow me to lay to rest whatever is troubling you inside that noggin' of yours, love, or at least let me stand beside you. Do not hide from me."

Umbra: Usually, Umbra spends their nights curled up at your window or lying beside you, guarding your sleep against those who might impose. It mostly depends on you. They like watching you fall asleep pressed against them because sometimes, on occasion, they allow their own eyes to shut. They do not need to, but being with you inspires hopes of ordinary domesticity; it reminds them to live.

But it never lasts long. The moment you shift in your sleep, and the fidgeting and the whimpering starts, Umbra is awake and alert. They once asked S what they might do to help in such a situation, but there is no magic cure, just reassurance. "I am here," they whisper, unsure if you can hear. "You are safe. You are safe." The words are a safety net they sometimes question whether they know how to wield.

You wake with a start, shoving yourself to the other side of the bed, chest heaving and hands shaking. You stare at Umbra, eyes wide, fear gripping your throat. "I'm sorry. Did I disturb you?"

"No," Umbra replies simply. "You never could."

"Would you prefer me to sleep elsewhere?"

"Why would I prefer that?" They query, cocking their head to one side. "I cannot protect you if you are anywhere else."

(Hopefully this was okay!)

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Hi! Love the demo! Can't wait for more!

But do write at your own pace, would hate to see another author with great potential burnt themselves out. ♥️

Just saw the ROs dying in MC's arm ask, and can't help but think my MC probably won't be able to move on lol

So if the ROs somehow turned to a ghost or like having other consciousness that makes them able to see the MC. Seeing the MC having a real tough time dealing with the loss, or not dealing with them at all, slowly ruining themself both physically and mentally. What are the ROs thoughts/reacts/feels?

(Hi, anon! Thank you so much ❤️ Sorry this took so long.)

S: They stand guard as a spectral sentinel through an endless abyss, watching but unable to interfere. It is torture. Every time a stray tear slips down your cheek or a cry of frustration tears through your throat, they yearn to reach out as they once did, to rest their forehead against your own and whisper, "I'm here". But they can't. They utter words of reassurance into your ear, knowing you will not hear, whilst in the same breath chastising themselves for leaving you.

Even if you will never know the truth, they will stay. They will guard. And they will pray for the day you set them aside.

Rain: They hear your cries even when they have ceased; they replay inside their mind, encasing them in a hurricane of regret. They are trapped inside a whirlpool of their own making, destined to watch your sorrow behind the veil that separates life from death. In your darkest hours, they curl up next to you and place a comforting hand on yours, despite the fact neither of you can feel it.

A part of them hopes that one day, by some miracle, you will. "I never left. I never will."

Taj: This isn't what they wanted. It is a rare individual who prepares readily for death, but Taj tried. Their entire life has been a set of new contingencies, readying themselves for sacrifice. Even after meeting you, they bruised you with pommelling words and fracturing remarks so you could learn to raise your head above them. They hoped to have taught you enough that your strength would keep your head high even after they were gone.

Only now do they realise they were planning for the wrong thing. They should have fought to stay alive and remain by your side instead. "I'm sorry, Koel," they whisper into the endless space between you, "I failed you."

N: They have never been one to sit idle. At first, they allowed themselves to be consumed by the weight of your grief, basking in it even in death. Before meeting you, death was not even a passing thought in their consciousness. Death was something they brought to others, not the other way around. You changed everything. For the first time, N feared death but, in the same breath, became overjoyed with the notion that someone might miss them after they were gone.

Bearing witness now to what that means is much more crushing than they ever anticipated.

So, they do what they do best. They plot. If it is possible to find a way to reach you, to find their way back through the endless nothing, they will. Even if it takes the rest of your life. And should they fail, they will be the first to take your hand and welcome you to eternity.

Umbra: It feels familiar. But also different. The weightlessness of death encompasses them like an old friend, but it feels emptier than ever before. Perhaps because you are no longer within reach. They took it for granted, the time that you had. A lifetime would not have been enough for them, so how do they come to terms with less?

They see your struggle, and they know you feel it, too. Both of you, two sides of the same coin, tugging at the cut string of fate, hoping it will weave itself back together. It doesn't. But that does not mean there is nothing to be done. They have been here before, suffering a crushing isolation to keep watching from the shadows. They are the shadows. Every time a shadow seems darker than black, that is where they are.

They were promised a lifetime with you; they intend to check that in.

"I'm not going anywhere," they whisper, standing guard for your grief. "Not again."

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Dang, the demon form ask with N makes me go a bit feral.

It's been a while since I've been so interested in literally all the ROs in a game despite being a "one canon playthrough" kind of player. You're making it really hard here.

But also, I can't help but imagine the randomness of a sweet MC who is just totally fine with Umbra's whole deal and N's demon form even if they are not romancing them or anything.

🥰 This is so nice, haha. It's a good thing the MC will spend a lot of time with the ROs, regardless of who they romance.

Umbra is definitely going to experience whiplash if, after all their overthinking, the MC is just like... cool. I'm glad to meet you again. Let's start over.

N won't know how to handle someone sincerely sweet, haha. It's going to be fun to watch them battle with their conscience for the first time.

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Ok but the pet collar mishap but instead of it being for the ROs, it’s something that MC ordered for themselves?

(I'm going to pair these two together since they are quite similar, and ultimately, the goal is for the collar to be MC's.)

S: An amused smile plays on their lips after cutting open a box they believed was for them. Only after opening it did they realise it wasn’t, and since there aren’t any pets around, S can’t help but imagine this parcel's uses. “Your parcel is here, love,” they comment, grabbing your attention. Your eyes widen at the sight before your lips settle into a grim line.

“Did you not order this?” You shake your head. Well… that doesn’t mean it has to go entirely to waste,” they continue much too comfortably, holding the collar up against your neck. "I’m certain we could use our imaginations to find some use for it, if you are willing…”

Rain: Rain stares at the open box with some scepticism. They pull the collar out and begin inspecting it closely. “MC,” they call over their shoulder, “did you mean to order a pet collar for yourself?” The question has your blood rushing to your face, but you turn and see the collar held up in their hand. Deciding to be bold, you take the collar and hold it up against your neck.

“Do you think it suits me?”

Rain remains slack-jawed, face heating up. “I… I’m having thoughts. Lots of thoughts.”

Taj: They finger the contents of the box with no small amount of pleasure. “I think you might want to consider taking your business elsewhere next time, Koel,” they point out, sounding much too pleased with themselves. “I think these people had very strong opinions about the kind of person you are.”

They hold the collar up to you, balanced on the tip of their finger. You try to snatch it out of their hand, embarrassed; Taj pulls it back and holds it out of reach, laughing. “I’m not letting you hide this just yet. I’ve got plans...”

N: Their eyes light up, a salacious smile spreading across their lips. “You have excellent taste, my dear,” they acknowledge with a twinge of excitement, “inspired, really.” They grip the collar between two fingers, holding it up against the light. Your heart beats faster at the sight and the devious, scheming look in N’s eyes.

“I didn’t order that,” you spout nervously.

“Ah, ah, ah,” N says, wagging their finger. “No taking it back.” They reach back into the box. “It even comes with a leash.”

Umbra: Their brows shoot up to their hairline, their head tilting to one side. “Did you plan on getting a furry friend?” Umbra questions, gripping the collar and holding it up to you. You gasp when you see the collar, an awkward chuckle escaping. “Erm, no,” you reply, leaning forward and gently taking the collar and hiding it behind your back, “No, this must have been a mistake.”

Umbra nods, accepting your reasoning. “Well, would you like me to package it back up?”

You hum conspiratorially, deciding just how bold you feel. “Unless,” you begin, propping it against yourself, “you would like to see me wearing it?”

Umbra's pale skin turns red, dropping their eyes demurely. “I… don’t know. Why would I want to?” They reply in a manner that very much suggests they know why they would want to.

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Hello!

Is N more comfortable in their Demon form?

If yes. What would be the reaction of N if MC say to them that they want to see the real N when they two are alone. Like that X-Man meme of "I prefer real you. I said, the real you. Perfection."

Crush and relationship stagge please.

(N does feel more comfortable in their demon form, yes, but they also recognise the disguise is a necessary part of blending in. Taj is much more stubborn in this regard and will not use one at all, much to S's chagrin.)

Crush stage: They don't believe you. They don't believe you know what you are really asking for or that you really know them at all. Demons are the creatures of nightmares, destruction, chaos... Nobody willingly invites that into their lives. Still, they have no qualms about reminding you of their monstrosity. Better you remember who you are dealing with now than later.

"Very well, my dear. I'll let you see me. Do try not to physically recoil. It will only hurt my feelings."

Relationship stage: They smile with soft eyes they save solely for you. They dispel the disguise without much hesitation, watching your eyes light up as horns unfurl and a pointy tail swirls around you. They watch as you run fingers down the bumps in their skin, not even flinching at the heat radiating off them.

Demons have pride in themselves, but rarely do they see it reflected in the eyes of another.

"See something you like?" They tease, still smiling. "I'm glad. I really am."