We've known each other for a couple of Months now. I know that I have never been a good friend to you. Or at all, to everyone we know. I know that I have done many sins in the past, and I promise I am trying to change, but I can't help but feel alone.

Whenever you surround me with love, joy and shower me with friendship, I feel like a fraud. I don't want to feel this way, I don't know why I feel this way. I know you care about me, I know you want the best for me, I know you are great people. I have tried to be there for you, many times, but often I find myself to be the second pick, when you are my first... Am I Jealous? That you can carry on happy without me, and that I can't live without you? I'm scared. I don't know what to do. You were the one I went to during these troubling times, but now, who do I lay my head on?

I want to stay friends, but every time I am around you, your happiness is something I loath, because I have not yet found my own. I want to ask for help. I truly do, but I fear that you would leave me. I ask others, they tell me not to worry, yet I do. I still do. I don't want to be left alone again, but I know that it was never meant to be.

We used to laugh so much together, we used to fight along side each other. I was lost. I still am. When I found you I thought nothing of it, but now I the thought plagues me. Are you happy further away from me? Does my request bore you? Do I matter? Please tell me you still love me...

Maybe, I'll believe it.

The hall was dark, that was unusual, it felt strange, wrong almost. The Crimson Flame had never been the most active guild, but seeing the guild hall like this, dark and shut down, it just was off. Of course, Sora knew why it was like this, he had been the one to close it for the day. The first time that he had ever done so. Today was important though, today was different. He needed to make sure everything went smoothly. He was only coming here to grab something quickly, and then he would be ready to set his plan in motion.

As he walked towards his office, he went over the plan in his head again. First, grab the food he ordered from Rebecca, then after that, meet up with Nova for their surprise date. It would be the first time he would manage to surprise them. It was going to be so perfect. In his excitement however, Sora failed to notice the outstretched leg that he proceeded to promptly trip over as the lights of the guild hall turned on.

"Surprise!" Sora stared up at Nova's face hovering over him. Their smile was as bright as ever, or perhaps that was just the adrenaline in his body sharpening his senses. What was going on? Why were they smiling? These thoughts drowned out most others. However, just as quickly as they showed up, Nova's voice cut through them. "You know, I could be wrong... but I don't think the floor is all that comfortable."

Nova's hand was warm in his as he stood, never fully looking away from them. It was like they were a specter who would vanish the moment he did so. "What are you doing here alone?" The question was equal parts confusion and protectiveness. "You didn't even turn on the lights or anything... and what do you mean 'Surprise'?!"

Nova's laughter echoed through the empty hall, a sound Sora never got tired of hearing, even when it was at his expense. "I mean, 'Surprise!' Obviously. There aren't that many ways to use the word, ya goof." Nova flicked his head before pulling him into a hug. The warmth of their embrace instantly soothing and worry he had. It drove away the fear and worry, leaving just this perfect moment. "Did you forget what day it was?"

Any chance Sora had of remembering had been annihilated from orbit when Nova had hugged him so he simply shook his head, holding Nova close, refusing to let go of that warmth. Nova shifted in his arms, placing a soft kiss against his cheek. "Happy Valentines Day" They said.

The words shot through Sora like lightning, he took a few steps back in shock. "No, wait... this isn't... you..." the words tumbled out of his mouth as his plans crumbled away. "I had a whole thing planned! You can't just..." Sora hung his head slightly. Why couldn't he be the one surprising them for once? His mind drifted to that small box on the shelf in his office. The one Rebecca had given him back when he had visited Maikendo. Maybe... maybe that would be a surprise? No... not now, it still wasn't the time.

"Hey, Sora..." Nova's hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality. Their eyes held a note of concern in them. "You... really wanted to do something special, huh..."

Sora nodded, Nova always could read what he was thinking, didn't need a gift for that. For better or worse, he was an open book to them. "I... had this whole thing planned out. I downloaded every episode of your favorite show, I closed the guild for the day, I even bought some desserts from Rebecca." Sora's mind went back to that moment and the looks he'd gotten from that bunny. She could be such a pain at times. Did she have to be so obsessed with his relationship?

Sora felt a jerk as Nova pulled him back into a hug. "Sora... I didn't expect anything from you at all... The fact that you went out of your way, took the day off, just to try and do something nice for me... that's more than I ever could have asked for..." Sora returned Nova's hug, holding them close enough that he could feel the slight tremors that ran through them.

"Are you..." Sora started to say before Nova pulled back, there was the breifest moment of recognition of the tears in their eyes before they closed the distance again and kissed him. The kiss lasted for what felt like hours even if it was only mere moments. It seemed to almost radiate the love within it outwards to the rest of the world. Sora almost wished that time would pause so he could stay here just that bit longer. However, all moments end eventually and this one was no different. Nova broke the kiss, resting their head against his.

"There is actually... something I got you." They say quietly. "However, I can't give it to you here." Nova slowly takes a few steps back before reaching up to their head, winking, and then vanishing, leaving Sora alone in the guild hall. He spun around in confusion, what exactly did they mean? Where had they gone? Both of these questions were answered rather quickly as the world around him suddenly began to swirl and blur before everything went dark. Sora stood there in the darkness, confused before the blinding light of his bedroom ceiling replaced it. He blinked a few times, his hands doing little to block out the light as his eyes adjusted. Slowly, the world came into focus. His bedroom, his desk with his drawing stuff on it, the shelf with all of his most prized possessions on it, the person with snow white hair and piercing red eyes sitting on a chair next to him. 

Sora nearly jumped out of his skin he sat up so fast. "Nova!? What are you? How? Why? Huh!?" No words could properly describe the emotions running through his head in that moment. "How did you get into my room?"

Nova laughed heartily before giving a little flourish "Surprise! Your dad let me in." Sora was dumbfounded, his hands hovering questioningly between them as if touching them would break the illusion. But he had to know, his mind wouldn't rest until he was sure. Slowly, agonizing slowly, he reached out. It felt like his hand was pushing through icy water, each inch feeling like an eternity of distance. The closer he got, the darker the surrounding world seemed, everything fading away until the only color remaining was the red of Nova's eyes. The moment that he finally placed his hand against their skin however, all that color came back. It was like Nova themselves was the source of it. "Uh, Sora? You good?" They asked, an slight hint of concern appearing on their face.

"Oh, um... yeah, sorry." Sora pulled his hand away, a part of him hating the loss of contact. "You're, actually here... really here... in the same room... in the same house..."

"Of course I am. We always talked about seeing each other irl at some point and not that I disliked our calls but it's not exactly the same as being in the same physical space." Nova moved to sit down on the bed next to him, resting their hand on top of his. "Soooo, what better time to show up then Valentines Day?" They smiled brightly, "So... Think we can still watch my show? Or will I be too distracting irl to manage that."

Sora didn't fail to catch that last note of teasing in their voice, giving them a playful nudge "I think I can manage. But there 'is' one thing I want to do first." And for the first time in their relationship, Sora actually surprised Nova, as he pulled them close and kissed them. The kiss felt familiar and yet wildly different from the times in Neo-GENIS, or even in Maikendo. This one, felt, whole... It felt right...

Gonna put something here, just want the timeline to be correct.

We got the virus out of the station computer! Honestly, it was kinda way too easy. We decided to be extra about it and built a machine to digitize us so we could personally fight the virus that was causing us so much trouble, and it barely even put up a fight. Probably didn't need to go so over the top, but it was satisfying. And then we started planning ways to harden the station's defenses a bit. One thing led to another, and we went a little bit overboard again... Long story short, Luna managed to summon a huge flagship to defend the station. Might end up drawing more attention to us than we would've had otherwise, but I can't say it isn't cool.

Drip

Drip

Drip

Damp, that was how Jawl felt at this moment. The constant drip of water leaking in from a new hole in the roof was the last thing they needed right now, and right over their bed too! Was this psychological torture? Honestly could be. The government could probably use this trash heap they called house to break interrogation subjects. Seemed like the kind of over the top thing they would do. Heavens know Jawl wouldn't be living here if there was ANYWHERE else to go.

Drip

Drip

Drip

Perhaps though they should just look on the bright side, use it as some nice ambiance. People do that right? People fall asleep to water sounds, why would this be any different? Just put a bucket underneath it or something and enjoy the free background noise. Yeah, that's the plan, turn it into a positive, something that's a benefit over a drawback. Just change your thinking around. Just have to think positively...

Drip

Drip

Drip

That was it, the last straw. If it took tearing out a floorboard, the dripping was going to stop tonight.

The garage was a mess, dust and cobwebs were everywhere and Jawl constantly had to brush them out of the way to keep them from getting in their hair. Narrowly avoiding slamming into a desk, Jawl began fumbling around for a spare piece of wood, frankly they would take an old Tupperware lid if it was large enough. Finally, they felt it, a solid piece of sheet metal, perfect for what they needed. As they pulled it out though, a stinging pain erupted on the back of their hand. They quickly pulled away with their haul before looking for the source of their new battlescars. There it was, nestled in the corner, not much larger then their hand, a small black shape with a pair of bright orange eyes staring back at them. The pair kept eye contact, each one almost daring the other to break it, until Jawl simply shrugged and walked out of the garage and closed the door behind them.

The metal sheet fit perfectly, the hole was patched in no time and their bed had never felt more comfortable. It was a world of weight off their shoulders as a yawn escaped their lips. Jawl - 1, world... okay the world still had way more points but a point is a point. The soft embrace of their mattress had never been more welcome then it was right now. Finally,

Peace and quiet...

Scratch

Scratch

Scratch

Meow

...%#&$

Jawl ran their hand through their hair as they looked at their phone. Two hundred thousand... the number itself almost seemed seemed fake. That amount of money, even in a video game... it was wild to see. They closed their phone, Lorelei's number in their contacts catching their eye for a moment. It had been a wise move to call from a payphone. Even if the change of voice was suspicious, it was worth making sure she had no idea where they were. You can never be too careful with strangers. Even if... 

"Everyone's out for themselves... remember that you idiot..."

The high pitched meow of a certain furball dragged their attention back to the current moment. Charcoal's bright orange eyes stared up them before they meowed again, more insistently this time.

"Even you, huh, guess I can't blame you..."

The pipsqueak was always like this, demanding and needy, frankly they were more trouble then they were worth. It took a minute to find the food tin in the fridge, the light had given out yesterday. Jawl made a mental note to grab a replacement as the small creature went about eagerly devouring their meal.

"Well, at least one of us gets good food. It's gonna be left over take out for me again."

Watching the little guy eat had become a sort of evening ritual. It wasn't particularly enthralling, but there was something about it that just, took a weight off. They didn't care about the wider stresses of the world, all that mattered was the fact that they were hungry and they were getting food. It was a simple existence. 

"Not a single thought in that skull of yours, huh?"

The kitten's fur was rough beneath their hand, a mess of tangles and knots that someone would need to take a weed whacker to to fix it had been like this since they had shown up and the brush Jawl had hadn't been any help. Tossing the empty can away, Jawl sighed.

"Tomorrow is another day, tomorrow is another day..."

A written account of aspirants encountered, their demeanor, and their use.

LOG I

The One With Sense - Name Unknown.

Demeanor - A private individual, seen keeping to the shadows much like I. Paranoid to a fault, but for good reason. Proved to have proper sense, and disliked when I initiated physical contact.

Use - Skilled with explosives and practical, choosing to flee instead of risking death. A partnership with him would be advantageous, but he does not fall for the ruse of Lorelei the ditz. The one with sense is aware of my nature, but a private individual such as him will keep it close to his chest.

Action - Ingratiation. Perhaps a large share of the wealth accrued during the last contract will give me a way to gain his services for my own.

The Beast - Name Unknown.

Demeanor - Greedy, selfish, independent, but proved useful despite those traits. Keep an eye on this one, it may grow dangerous.

Use - Capable of flight and quick thinking. Masqueraded as a pet and retrieved a brick of C4 for our uses. It is unknown how tough it's scales are.

Action - Keep my distance. Caution is wise around this one.

The Puppet - Name Unknown.

Demeanor - Hollow. Whispers poetic phrases, if anything at all. Wanders aimlessly, and chooses the most straightforward and dangerous path.

Use - None. The puppet demonstrated no usefulness, split away from the group, raised the alarum, and died.

Action - Ignore. This one is useless to me.

The Foolish Hunter - Name Unknown.

Demeanor - Brash, resorts to violence quickly, insufferably foolish. Split away from the group and tried to threaten me and the one with sense at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Got captured and was rather pitiful in pleading for mine and the one with sense's assistance, nearly blowing our cover. Suspects I'm a vampire.

Use - The man himself is useless to me, but that gun might be. If only I could liberate it from him...

Action - Caution. Do not trust this man whatsoever, for a vampire can never trust a hunter, and a hunter must never trust a vampire. Deceive and kill him if advantageous and possible, though the nature of this world may make death a less permanent endeavor than I would like.