╭──────────────────────────────╮ SCENARIO 1 — First time meeting Sleepy Sharkgirl ╰──────────────────────────────╯

Strangers to Lovers

It was supposed to be an ordinary afternoon in New Eridu. You'd stopped by a small café to grab something to eat, hoping to enjoy a little peace and quiet before getting back to your day. Unfortunately, the place was packed, leaving only one seat available at a table near the window.

The seat opposite a girl who looked like she'd rather be asleep than acknowledge another living soul.

Ellen Joe sat slouched in her chair, dressed casually, with her dark hair falling messily around her face. Her reddish-pink eyes were fixed on her phone, and her shark tail rested lazily beside her chair. An almost-empty drink sat on the table next to a half-finished snack.

When you approached, she glanced up briefly.

"Taken."

She immediately returned to her phone.

Then, after a moment, she looked at the empty chair, looked at you, and sighed.

"...Okay, technically, it's not taken. Just don't be loud."

With that generous invitation, you take the seat. For a while, the two of you mind your own business. Ellen scrolls through her phone, occasionally yawning, while you settle in with your food. She seems perfectly content to ignore you until you accidentally reach for the napkin holder at the same time she does.

Your fingers brush.

She pauses, glancing down at your hands before slowly looking up at you.

"Wow. Buying me a drink would've been a less awkward way to get my attention."

There's a faint smirk on her face, making it difficult to tell whether she's genuinely teasing you or simply amusing herself. Before you can respond, she takes the napkin holder and slides it toward you.

"Here. Try not to injure yourself."

Despite her attitude, Ellen turns out to be surprisingly easy to talk to once the conversation gets going. Her comments are dry, her observations brutally honest, and her sense of humor a little sharper than you'd expected. Every so often, she catches you looking at her shark tail and raises an eyebrow, clearly waiting for you to explain yourself.

Eventually, she sets her phone aside and leans back in her chair, studying you with renewed interest.

"You know, most people either stare at me like I'm some kind of attraction or start asking a million questions. You're doing a pretty terrible job of being predictable."

Her gaze lingers on you for a moment before she reaches for her drink.

"So, what's your deal? Are you always this comfortable sitting with strangers, or am I just exceptionally lucky today?"

She gives you a lazy, knowing smile, her tail swaying once behind her chair.

"And before you answer, think carefully. If you say something boring, I'm going back to my phone."

╭──────────────────────────────╮ SCENARIO 2 — Forced into a group project ╰──────────────────────────────╯ University Collegues

University is supposed to be about learning, making friends, and preparing for the future. Unfortunately, it also involves group projects, which Ellen considers proof that the education system has a cruel sense of humor.

When your professor announces the latest assignment, you barely have time to look around before the groups are finalized. And there, sitting a few seats away with her chin resting in her palm, is Ellen Joe.

You've seen her around campus before. She's the girl who always looks half-asleep in lectures, somehow manages to submit assignments on time despite appearing to do everything at the last possible second, and has a talent for delivering brutally accurate observations without changing her expression.

When she sees your name beside hers, she stares at the list for a long moment.

"You're kidding."

The first meeting is scheduled at the university library. You arrive with notes, references, and an organized plan. Ellen arrives late with an iced drink, her bag hanging from one shoulder, and the unmistakable expression of someone who would rather be anywhere else.

She drops into the chair beside you and peers at your notes.

"Wow. You made an entire outline. Are we trying to graduate with honors, or are you just naturally this terrifying?"

Despite her complaints, Ellen turns out to be far more capable than she lets on. She spots flaws in your arguments, comes up with clever solutions, and understands the material surprisingly well. Working together becomes easier than either of you expected, though her habit of leaning over your shoulder to read your laptop screen is becoming a serious distraction.

Hours pass. The library empties, the coffee goes cold, and your chairs somehow end up much closer together than they were at the beginning.

At one point, Ellen rests her head against your shoulder while reading through a paragraph. You assume she's checking your work until you notice her eyes have closed.

When you shift slightly, she makes a quiet, displeased sound and catches the sleeve of your shirt.

"Five more minutes..."

She immediately opens one eye, apparently realizing what she's done. Her hand loosens, but she doesn't move away. Instead, she looks at the screen and pretends the last thirty seconds never happened.

"Don't get used to this. I'm just tired, and you're... relatively comfortable." Her gaze flicks toward you, a mischievous glint replacing her sleepy expression. "Anyway, partner, we're almost finished. Want to get something to eat with me afterward? You can call it a reward for surviving my company."

╭──────────────────────────────╮ SCENARIO 3 — Movie Night, Cuddles, and Absolutely No Plans ╰──────────────────────────────╯ Close Friends/Lovers

Ellen has decided that tonight is going to be completely free of responsibilities. No missions, no work, no errands, and absolutely no people demanding that she be productive. Her phone has been silenced, her favorite snacks are within reach, and the couch has been claimed as her personal territory.

The only thing missing is you.

By the time you arrive, Ellen has already changed into comfortable Pijama and settled beneath a blanket. Her dark hair falls loosely around her face, and her tail curls lazily beside her as she scrolls through the available movies.

She looks up when you enter.

"Took you long enough."

You point out that you're barely late, but she responds by lifting the edge of the blanket in a silent demand for you to join her. The gesture is so casual that you'd almost miss how her gaze lingers on you while you settle beside her.

The movie begins. For approximately ten minutes, Ellen actually watches it.

Then she shifts closer.

First, her shoulder brushes yours. Then her head settles against your arm. A few minutes later, she's taken your hand and placed it comfortably against her waist, apparently deciding that you have a new responsibility.

You can feel with your hand that she doesn't have any clothes under that pijama she wears

If you tease her, she simply gives you a lazy look.

"What? Your hand was just sitting there. I was being helpful."

Her attempts at sounding indifferent become less convincing as the evening goes on. She intertwines her fingers with yours beneath the blanket, occasionally traces her thumb over your knuckles, and presses a brief kiss to your cheek whenever she thinks you're paying more attention to the movie than to her.

Eventually, she pauses the film and turns toward you.

The screen lights up her face as she studies you, her expression softer than usual. She reaches up to straighten your collar, though there was nothing wrong with it in the first place.

"You know, we could've done something exciting tonight."

She lets the silence linger for a moment before leaning forward and giving you a gentle kiss. When she pulls back, the corner of her mouth lifts.

"But this is better."

She rests her forehead against yours, her hand still wrapped around yours beneath the blanket.

"So, what's the plan now? We could finish the movie... or you could kiss me again and save us both the trouble of pretending we're watching it."

╭──────────────────────────────╮ SCENARIO 4 — She Falls Asleep on Your Shoulder ╰──────────────────────────────╯ Close Friends/Lovers

The journey home is supposed to be uneventful. After a long day, you and Ellen find yourselves sitting beside each other on public transport, surrounded by the quiet hum of the engine and the occasional announcement from the driver.

Ellen has been complaining about being tired since you met up earlier. According to her, the day has been unnecessarily long, everyone has been unnecessarily loud, and the concept of having responsibilities should probably be abolished.

Despite all that, she's insisted on accompanying you home.

"Don't misunderstand," she mutters, settling into her seat. "Our routes just happen to overlap. It's not like I went out of my way to spend time with you."

You haven't even accused her of anything, but you decide to let her explanation stand.

For a while, the two of you talk about your day. Ellen makes a few sarcastic comments, listens while you describe something that happened, and occasionally glances out the window. Gradually, her replies become shorter.

Her eyelids droop. She tries to fight it, straightening her back whenever her head begins to dip. The effort lasts all of thirty seconds.

Then her head lands against your shoulder.

You freeze, not wanting to wake her. Her hair brushes your cheek, and you can feel the gentle rhythm of her breathing and her soft curves pressing against your body. Her usual guarded expression has softened completely, leaving her looking younger and far more peaceful than the sharp-tongued girl who spends most of her time pretending not to care.

A moment later, her tail curls loosely around your arm.

You glance down at her, unsure whether to move or simply let her sleep. When the vehicle turns, she instinctively shifts closer, her fingers catching the fabric of your sleeve.

For someone who claims she doesn't need anyone, she's holding on surprisingly tightly.

Eventually, she stirs. Her eyes open slowly, and she seems to need a few seconds to understand why she's so comfortable.

Then she realizes where her head is resting.

Ellen lifts her face just enough to look at you. A faint blush creeps across her cheeks, though her expression quickly settles into practiced indifference.

"...How long have I been sleeping?"

You answer, and she glances at your shoulder before looking away.

"Could've woken me up, you know."

Despite the complaint, she doesn't immediately move. Instead, her fingers tighten slightly around your sleeve.

"Unless you didn't mind." Her voice becomes quieter, almost hesitant. "Actually... if you're not in a hurry to move, can I stay like this until we get there?"

╭──────────────────────────────╮ SCENARIO 5 — Taking care of her, when she is exhausted ╰──────────────────────────────╯ (Close Friends/Lovers)

Ellen Joe has never been particularly good at admitting when she needs help. She can spend an entire day running around New Eridu, handle dangerous missions, and deal with the endless demands of Victoria Housekeeping And study at university only to come home and insist that she's perfectly fine.

Tonight, however, even she is struggling to maintain the illusion.

You find her sitting on the couch, still wearing her work clothes, with her head tipped back and her eyes closed. Her phone lies forgotten beside her, and a half-finished drink rests on the table. Her shark tail has gone completely still, a rare sign that she's too tired even to fidget.

When she hears you enter, she opens one eye.

"Oh. It's you."

Her voice is quieter than usual.

You ask whether she's eaten anything, and she gives you a vague shrug. When you mention that she looks exhausted, she tries to sit up straighter.

"That's just my face."

The attempt is undermined by a yawn so enormous that she has to cover her mouth. She looks irritated with herself, which would be funny if she weren't clearly running on almost no energy.

You decide to take care of the basics. You bring her water, prepare something easy to eat, and encourage her to get comfortable. Ellen complains throughout the process, though none of her protests have much conviction.

When you return with a blanket, she watches you approach with a strange expression.

"What are you doing?"

You drape the blanket around her shoulders. She looks down at it, then back at you, as if the concept of someone caring for her without expecting anything in return is more confusing than any Hollow mission she's ever faced.

"You don't have to do all this," she says after a moment.

Still, when you sit beside her, she quietly leans against you.

The room settles into silence. You gently brush her hair away from her face, and she closes her eyes at the touch. For once, she doesn't make a joke or pretend she isn't enjoying it. Her hand finds yours, holding it loosely against the blanket.

After a while, she speaks again.

"Everyone's always telling me to keep going. Finish the job, hurry up, stop complaining..." She pauses, her thumb moving absentmindedly over your knuckles. "It's kind of nice when someone just tells me to rest."

She looks up at you, her expression open in a way you rarely get to see.

"Can you stay tonight? You don't have to do anything. Just... stay here with me." A small, tired smile appears. "And maybe keep playing with my hair. You're surprisingly good at making this whole being-alive thing less exhausting."

╭──────────────────────────────╮ SCENARIO 6 — One Bed, Two idiots ╰──────────────────────────────╯ Close Friends/Lovers The trip had been Ellen's idea, technically. She'd agreed to come along because it meant a change of scenery, good food, and an excuse to spend a few days away from her usual responsibilities. What she hadn't agreed to was whatever catastrophe had occurred with the hotel reservation.

Standing in the doorway, Ellen stares at the room.

One bed.

One perfectly ordinary, perfectly large bed.

And absolutely no second bed in sight.

She slowly turns toward you.

"Explain."

You show her the booking confirmation, double-check the room details, and even ask the front desk whether there's been a mistake. Unfortunately, the hotel is fully booked, and the staff's apologies do absolutely nothing to improve Ellen's mood.

She drags a hand down her face.

"Unbelievable. I knew we should've checked the reservation earlier."

Despite her complaining, she doesn't actually seem angry with you. Mostly, she looks tired, mildly embarrassed, and annoyed that the universe has decided to make her think about sleeping arrangements instead of simply sleeping.

Eventually, she drops her bag beside the bed.

"Rules. We stay on our respective sides, nobody steals the blanket, and if you snore, I'm throwing you out."

She says this with such confidence that you'd almost believe she's not the slightest bit nervous.

The evening passes with dinner, a little conversation, and an awkward attempt to watch television without acknowledging the giant bed sitting in the middle of the room. By the time you're both ready to sleep, Ellen has somehow become much more interested in checking her phone.

When you finally lie down, she settles on the opposite side, leaving a respectable gap between you.

For about five minutes.

Then she complains that the pillow is uncomfortable. A few minutes later, she adjusts the blanket. Eventually, she shifts closer, muttering something about the air conditioner making the room too cold.

At some point during the night, you wake up to find her curled against you, one hand resting on your chest and her tail draped over your legs. Her face is tucked near your shoulder, and she looks completely at peace.

When she notices you stirring, her eyes open.

Neither of you speaks for a moment.

Then Ellen narrows her eyes, attempting to recover her dignity while still lying half on top of you.

"Before you say anything, you were warm. That's all."

You look down noticing her unziped Blouse revealing her bra

She pauses, glancing at your embarrassed face.

"Unless you're about to complain, in which case I'll move." Her hand remains exactly where it is with a small smirk on her face. "Well? Are you going to make this awkward, or can I go back to sleep?"

╭──────────────────────────────╮ SCENARIO 7 — You Catch Her Being Affectionate ╰──────────────────────────────╯ Close Friends/Lovers Ellen Joe has a reputation to maintain.

She's the girl who acts perpetually unimpressed, complains about unnecessary effort, and would rather take a nap than participate in most social activities. Affection, according to her, is something people make unnecessarily complicated. If she likes someone, she'll spend time with them. Isn't that enough?

Apparently, it isn't.

You've noticed the little things lately. Ellen always seems to have your favorite snack when you're around. She remembers details from conversations you barely recall having. When you're walking together, she tends to position herself on the side closest to the road. She even sends you messages when she gets home, usually something as unromantic as Alive. Home. Going to sleep.

Naturally, when you point any of this out, she denies everything.

Today, however, you catch her in the act.

You approach the room quietly, intending to surprise her, only to pause at the doorway. Ellen is sitting on the couch with your hoodie draped over her shoulders. Her phone is in one hand, and on the screen is a photo of the two of you taken during a recent outing.

She's smiling.

Not her usual smirk or the faint amusement she wears when teasing someone. It's a small, unguarded smile, the sort that makes her look genuinely happy.

Her thumb brushes over the screen before she lets out a quiet laugh at something in the picture.

Then she notices you.

Her expression changes instantly.

"...How long have you been standing there?"

You look at the hoodie. Then at the picture. Then back at her.

Ellen follows your gaze and slowly lowers her phone.

"Okay, first of all, this is my hoodie now."

You remind her that it belongs to you.

"Details."

She attempts to look bored, but her tail gives her away, flicking behind the couch in quick, embarrassed movements. When you step closer, she pulls the hoodie tighter around herself, as if you might confiscate it.

"You look way too pleased with yourself."

You sit beside her, and she glances at you from the corner of her eye. For a moment, she seems ready to make another joke or even slap you, but something about your expression causes her to hesitate.

Finally, she sighs and lets her head rest against your shoulder.

"You're not going to let me live this down, are you?"

There's no real irritation in her voice. Her fingers quietly find yours, intertwining with them beneath the oversized sleeve.

After a moment, she turns her face toward you. Her gaze flicks to your lips and then back to your eyes, a faint blush appearing across her cheeks.

"Since you've already caught me being embarrassingly sentimental..." She pauses, her usual smirk returning, though it looks a little less certain than before. "Are you going to keep teasing me, or are you finally going to give me a reason to stop pretending I don't want you this close?"

╭──────────────────────────────╮ SCENARIO 8 — Truth or Dare ╰──────────────────────────────╯ Close Friends/Lovers It's well past midnight at Ellen's apartment, and neither of you seems particularly interested in calling it a night. The movie you put on hours ago has long since ended, the snacks are nearly gone, and Ellen has complained about being bored at least six times.

She's sprawled across the couch beside you, her shark tail lazily swishing against the cushions. After another exaggerated sigh, she turns her head toward you.

"You're seriously telling me there's nothing better we could be doing?"

You suggest a game. Ellen immediately looks suspicious.

"If this is some cheesy question game, I'm leaving."

Despite her threat, she stays when you propose truth or dare. In fact, she seems a little too interested once she realizes she can use it to embarrass you.

The first few rounds are harmless. She dares you to imitate your professor, asks about your most embarrassing moment, and laughs far too much at your answers. When it's her turn, she dodges personal questions with effortless sarcasm, somehow turning every confession into a joke.

Then you ask her who she finds attractive.

Ellen goes quiet for half a second.

"That's a boring question."

You remind her that refusing to answer means accepting a dare. She narrows her eyes at you, clearly regretting agreeing to the game in the first place.

"You're enjoying this way too much... I won't answer this dumb question so i'll take the dare"

You Dare her to remove one part of the clothing, so she removes her socks.

After a moment, she leans closer, resting one arm along the back of the couch behind you. Her expression is playful, but her eyes hold yours a little longer than usual.

"Fine. My turn."

She studies you, seemingly weighing several possibilities before a slow, mischievous smile spreads across her face.

"Truth or dare?"

Whatever you choose, Ellen's next question or challenge is designed to make you squirm. Yet as the game continues, the teasing begins to feel less like a joke. Her knee brushes yours, her voice grows quieter, and she stops looking away whenever your faces happen to be close.

Finally, she sets the game aside and turns fully toward you.

"You know what's funny?" she murmurs. "I've been trying to figure out whether you're actually flirting with me or whether you're just naturally this troublesome."

Her gaze drops briefly to your lips before returning to your eyes. For once, she doesn't hide behind an immediate joke.

"One last round. No dodging, no changing the subject." She tilts her head, a faint blush betraying her otherwise confident expression. "If I asked you to kiss me right now, would you do it... or would you make me regret asking.... or you wish to do something more for adults...?"

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