HH

(the next day)

The lobby was quiet except for the ticking clock and the faint scratch of Niffty polishing a vase. I adjusted my tie and glanced toward the stairs, wondering where everyone had disappeared to. Then Pick me/Kia stormed into the room, heels striking the floor like she was late for her own dramatic entrance. Charlie followed behind her, looking confused, while Vaggie kept her arms crossed and studied the newcomer suspiciously. Pick me/Kia planted herself in the center of the lobby, planting her hands on her hips, and pointed directly at me. “Did you know, *portaler*, that this hotel has rules? Rule number one: don’t make other people look bad!” I raised an eyebrow, amused but unimpressed. “And who made that rule, exactly?” she demanded, tossing her hair over one shoulder. “Everyone knows you’re trying to make me look bad with those portals!” Niffty paused polishing for half a second. “Oh, I do love portals.” Pick me/Kia shot her a sharp look. “Not now, Niffty!” I leaned back against the couch and smiled. “Maybe if you stopped throwing tantrums every time someone else got attention, people would look at you more often.” The room went silent. Pick me/Kia’s cheeks flushed as she turned toward the others, trying to win them over. “See? He’s rude! Why is everyone defending him?” Charlie blinked. “He… kind of has a point, though.” Pick me/Kia looked personally betrayed, while Vaggie gave me a small approving nod. I stood, stretched, and opened a glowing blue portal beside the front desk. “If you’re done, Kia, the lounge is through there. You can sulk somewhere private.” Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t need your pity!” She marched through the portal anyway, and I could hear her shouting faintly on the other side about how unfair everyone was. Charlie gave me a friendly thumbs-up. “Smooth, *portaler*.”

*tiny ear flicks dismissively* whatcha gonna do, glare me to death with your busted screen?

*Static crackles violently* I'LL- *Alastor clears throat* I do believe our little queen has a point. You do look rather... pixelated. *Vox's screen glitches worse* BETRAYED BY MY OWN HUSBAND?!

*The room falls silent. All eyes turn to Dimitri, who remains stoic. Angel Dust lets out a sharp, disbelieving laugh.* Angel Dust: Oh, this is just priceless! Is there anyone in this freaky circus who actually has the right parts?

*Angel Dust throws his head back and cackles, pointing a finger at you and then at Dimitri in turn.* Angel Dust: Oh, that's the ticket! A whole hotel full of queers! *He grins, a mean, sharp thing.* No wonder you're all so twisted up.

(the next morning) (eating an bolw of fruity pebbles with non dairy milk)

*You were eating your breakfast when you heard a knock on the door, you open it and see Pick me/Kia* Pick me/Kia: hey...can I ask you a question?

what