The experience of being vacated from the sil Krum estate in the fashion it happened left Rou extremely disoriented. It was likely 100% an accident. Borgain was a fat bastard of awful proportions, but… he also seemed to appreciate earnesty in some fashion.

  But for Rou, mind and body injured as it was from his experience with the Black Slime, that sudden transition of states left him split for some time.

  Or at least that was what Rou realized when he came to, and instead of finding himself in the streets as he was, or perhaps nearby and safe as seemed to be the community census on assisting him if others found him…

  Rou's eyes focused and looked around and he found himself inside of someones estate. One he did not recognize.

  "Welcome back dear. You are well, your mind simply slipped."

  'Slipped'. It was Affection's attempt at being polite about what happened. "So who should I tha–" His normal query towards Affection to figure out who deserved his appreciation, as he sat on the bed that was a bit unfamiliar, suddenly left him startled as a strange visage appeared in front of him. It almost seemed like a fox fellow of some sorts, thin, modestly feminine but still male, but they had no fur on them at all. Well, not much. Unlike perhaps a sphynx cat of some variety, it wasn't so much a /lack/ of fur, so much as that the fur he did have simply was barely present. A rather crazy-looking fellow appearance-wise, but Rou could see in his eyes, his expression and how concerned he was that this fox wasn't remotely as insane as his appearance might have suggested.

  "You have returned to us?"

  The fox's voice was soft, a bit concerned but almost as if he had expected it.

  "Mm. I have." In his head he heard the name 'Vitor' echoed by Affection causing realization to occur. "I take it you are Vitor sil Krum? I cannot say I expected to… meet you so soon after your Illustrious relative informed me of your existence."

  Both Vitor and Rou knew exactly what was meant by Illustrious and Vitor promptly hacked out a laugh much like Affection was wont, and cackled in amusement. "Illustrious! Illustrious!!! I shall begin to use that! The irony that yet again, my dear Fluff Sage has given me something so pleasant."

  Though Rou could feel a slight disdain towards Vitor from Affection, it wasn't like Borgain. She didn't hate the man. She didn't even dislike him. Vitor simply made her uncomfortable to look at. For Affection, who was as vain and obsessed with appearance as she was, seeing Vitor with his clear lack of fur, likely a result of some medical issue, made her extremely uncomfortable.

  Rou, by proxy… didn't care at all. One of his cats from his past life had psychogenic alopecia from overgrooming, which wasn't exactly uncommon among cats, so seeing Vitor like this? …to Rou, the poor bastard was almost cute. Rou very much wanted to touch him to see if he was as soft as his old cats balding belly was.

  Of course, clearly Vitor was a bit eccentric as well, as when he noticed Rou looking at him like that, the fellow walked closer and leaned in. "Is there a problem? You don't seem upset by my appearance, so it would have to be something else."

  The frustration and anger Rou had with Borgain earlier eased away and Rou slowly stood up. Vitor sil Krum was about a foot shorter than he was, thin, wiry, certain aspects of his appearance and personality a little more feminine, as if he tried to make up for his failings in other ways and didn't quite succeed. Though as Vitor continued to look at Rou as if he was trying to understand what 'his dear Fluff Sage' was thinking, Rou reached up with both hands to cup Vitor's cheeks and kissed atop his head.

  "Thank you for taking care of me and keeping me safe just now. You most certainly did not have to, and I do appreciate it." Rou had by this point eased away his awkwardness about genders and being a bit more… open to his 'duties' as the Sage of Fluff in the public's eyes. It wouldn't have been his first time granting males a blessing, even if it was mostly women who sought after him for the kiss blessings.

  Vitor? Seemed a bit like a deer caught in a spotlight before his tail, which he had been previously holding onto with one hand for confidence - equally hairless mind you - began to twitch and awkwardness finally overcame him as he offered a soft 'ahem' and looked aside. "Yes, well, how could I just leave you there.” Vitor didn't even pull his face away from the hands that were on his cheeks despite not quite making eye contact with Rou at the moment, just using his tail as a child might, for emotional support and covering himself.

  Rou used to do the same, albeit unconsciously, such as when he was trying to reach the crystalized dragon heart. As he noticed this trait about Vitor, he found himself a little more endeared than he already was.

  "You have strange tastes. Let me know when you are done toying with your new pet."

  As he received a notice that Affection had temporarily cut their shared senses, Rou rolled his eyes, something Vitor noticed and hesitated. "Did I upset you?"

  "No, no, pardon. Affection is being vain. She isn't used to being in the same room as someone else who is as pretty as she is and now she's awkward."

  Suspecting poor Vitor was rather self conscious as a result of his appearance, Rou took the gentle approach of trying to be slightly playful and sweet with him. What Rou hadn't expected was just how much that managed to stir Vitor's heart and the held tail quickly tugged free from his hand and began to flop around behind himself as he tried to pretend he didn't just receive such a compliment from the Fluff Sage.

  Eccentric and Awkward as Vitor was by default, however, the fellow looked as if he wasn't quite sure what to say before leaning up to kiss Rou. Caught off guard in how that happened, the sage relented and allowed such for a moment only to ask as he pulled back, "What was that about? We just met after all. Are you that desperate for a blessing?" It was meant as a joke, but Vitor shook his head.

  "No, that was from me to you. Thank you for the kind words. Don't feel obliged to me to stay here longer than you wish. But, all the same… my bed is always open to you, as am I."

  "..."

  Vitor promptly realized what he said and looked like he was about to shrink into a ball of disgust as his words went a bit faster than his mind did at the time. He couldn't believe how stupid he was for just making a pass at the Sage of Fluff!

  Affection scoffed in his mind. She wasn't quite as excited for /this/ romance option as others. The dating sim aficionado in her had always pictured cute, or attractive women with Rou. The nearly bald, awkward, eccentric seemingly gay Vitor that she didn't even want to look at?

  Rou, however, simply seemed amused. "No offense taken, and I appreciate the offer. I will… keep it in mind?"

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  Vitor's head practically hid in his neck like a turtle as he tried to tuck away, the lack of fur meaning he wasn't exactly able to hide the scrunching of his skin, once again leaving Rou having a hard time not laughing at the very much gay mess that was this fellow.

  –

  What impressed the Sage though, was once Vitor got out of his horror at having made such an unintentional offer while /trying/ to imply 'If you ever need a place to stay and recover', it actually turned out Vitor was a rather incredible magic tool inventor. He had taken various anti-gravity ideas and pretty much bred them into nearly every magic tool he could find! One Vitor was especially proud of, showing off a device, amused Rou.

  "An air purifier?"

  Rou's sudden understanding of what something was after Vitor tried to explain the function of 'floats in the air, sucks air in from here, and blows air out here… it was rather obvious the scraggly fox was utterly confused as to how Rou so quickly understood that.

  "Oh, well, uh…" It wasn't hard given magic tools were so often proxies from things in his past life. Spray nozzles, automated washing machines, so forth. With no need for power cords and any cabling it really made designing the things quite free. "I think we just share similar ideas and intentions? I would love to see the whole world filled with things like this that just make everyone's life better."

  What Rou had not expected? Was Vitor looking at him with starry eyes as he said that, suddenly idolizing him even more than he already did. Even his mostly hairless tail was flopping about excitedly at the prospect.

  "Have you any other ideas or things you might want to see? I often carry things around with me in this satchel so I can adjust them as I go! I… uh… sorry, I'm taking up your time aren't I?" Vitor laughed at himself and tried to be polite to avoid taking up even more of his time than his 'Illustrious' cousin Borgain had.

  –

  Rou most certainly did not expect his time with Vitor to turn out as it did. Sure, it was a short time, but he could easily feel just how utterly lonely and desperate Vitor was for any form of affection. For any form of positive attention his way. As he had started to leave, he was asked to wait a moment before the fox went to try and find something, digging around through a heap of junk before finally coming across a small orb that looked mechanical, jousting it out up into the air with one hand as if he had attained a legendary treasure. Vitor took the orb and pressed it gingerly into Rou's hands, closing the hands around the orb and saying very lightly, "I wanted to give this to you a couple of years ago, but you went and got yourself hurt. Please, Sage, take better care of yourself. For all of us in the world who love you, and appreciate what you brought us."

  Naturally Vitor had turned to leave by this point, going back to his study. Rou stood at the exit of the manor, trying to think of what to say about it all. He really wanted to give the poor fox a hug, to thank him for thinking so highly of him.Yeah, he should do that.

  Thus Rou turned and walked back through the manor quietly to return to where he had been, the room still open only to see Vitor curled up on his bed, wrapped up in the blanket Rou was previously covered with, having it over his nose and seemingly enjoying the lingering scent of his cologne choice for the day.

  "..."

  "..."

  "..."

  For the first time that evening, all three shared the exact same sentiment.

  But as much as Affection was aghast and disgusted, Rou found it hilarious and cute. Vitor had reminded him of Affection this time, and how Affection often wrapped herself up in his blankets to feel comfortable.

  "... I resent you comparing me to that. I am not like that. …At least when you’re around."

  Vitor promptly hid under the covers, very much pulling it over his head and praying that he would just get a pass.

  "Ah, Sage, I'm sorry, I just…"

  As Vitor stumbled to try and find the proper words to excuse himself or at least apologize, Rou had walked towards the bedside only to lean down and nudge Vitor's chin up, as he tugged the blanket away from his face that was being used as a shield. Why? To kiss him once more, on his own terms this time, for being impossibly cute to him.

  "You are lucky that I find you cute. At least wait until someone is actually out of the manor before you start playing with yourself."

  "I WAS NOT!" Vitor squeaked in terror at the accusation, "I simply thought you smelled nice! Look, see?! Clothes are on!" He tried to discard the blanket that remained on himself as if to prove his claim for innocence! It didn't help that his tail was very much over his lap, likely hiding further proof he may very well have been.

  "I do smell nice, thank you. Mind a piece of advice?"

  Vitor looked like he wanted to crawl in a hole and die. "...what would that be, Sage?"

  Having fun teasing the awkward fox, Rou leaned in and whispered just for him to hear, not that there was anyone else in the room, "I am quite sure I taste nicer than I smell."

  "..." The balding, awkward, very much gay fox did not have a working brain after that teasing from his idol.

  –

  As Rou eventually returned home the next day, it was a strange idea to acknowledge that perhaps he was a bit more open preference-wise than he'd imagined in the past. Sure, he always acknowledged perhaps there was /something/ there, but Vitor? Apparently hit all the right notes for Rou.

  –

  Vitor, of course, laid in his bed, pillow over his head, having a bit of a meltdown as to how the previous evening and night went for him. He could die happy. Rou was everything he'd ever hoped for. Attractive, lucious fur, smelled lovely, well dressed, a sense of humor and seemingly found him cute despite it all? The very much gay fox had just experienced heaven by complete accident and now was worried he'd never be the same for it.

  And of course the Sage was right.

  …he did taste better than he smelled.

  Right, right, he had to do something to show his appreciation.

  –

  "...Rou? It would seem someone sent you a gift. It's a bit… …extravagant." As Rou heard his father calling out to him, he went through the manor to arrive at the front hallway, looking at the package that was there. His father had brought it in, looking at his grown son curiously. "Did you solve world peace or something?"

  Rou's shrug caused the both of them to chuckle as the jewel-encrusted box, encased in a simple magical lock, was picked up. Rou picked at the magical lock with his fingertips, able to see it clearly enough, before the lid opened and… within was an assortment of extremely expensive candies.

  "Ah, fucking hell, Affection, calm down!" Rou actually chided her aloud, leaving Dominic confused and Rou to explain, "She nearly jumped through my damned eyes to get at the candies."

  "GIVE! PLEASE!"

  With slight amusement, Rou tossed one directly through an aether node, snorting loudly in amusement as a pair of grabby hands shot through the node to take them slightly quicker. Of course he took one as well, offering another to his father as he went to try and see who had sent it.

  Eventually he noticed a familiar mechanical orb. It took him a moment to realize it was enchanted with various anti-gravity aspects and Rou managed to cause it to break up and float apart, revealing a small piece of paper with something written on it.

  "Oh, so that is how that works. What a novel application of anti-gravity magic."

  The paper though? Was penned by a slightly shaky hand. Vitor's, as he quickly realized. 'Yours Forever, if you want me.'

  Dominic eyed the paper from the corner of his eye but said nothing, a bit amused at what he assumed was just yet another simple confession. He'd seen a great many over the years since Rou came out of the crystal, so it was hardly new for him.

  "He can have you if he gives me more of this candy, it's fucking delicious!" Rou could feel Affection drooling from the higher-dimensional realm. Quite literally drooling. Did Vitor send these specifically because he'd sussed out Affection's tastes through Rou's previous dining experiences? …that would of course mean Vitor was paying a bit too much attention to him, but instead of being upset, Rou was… strangely flattered?

  "Dad? I'll, uh… tell mom and Millet that I'll be back at some point. Not sure when."

  "Sure, take care of yourself. You going to be alright?"

  "Mm. Affection's with me regardless. I'm never really alone."

  –

  Quite angry at someone ringing his bell at this time of night, Vitor stormed down the stairway of his manors main entrance and threw the door open, yelling angrily, "What fool is making a rack-et…"

  "Affection greatly approves of the candy, as did my father and I."

  It took a moment for Vitor's brain to process everything, almost as if he was the one who was having disconnection problems like Rou had been. At which point Rou's wrist was grabbed and he was promptly dragged through the manor, the front door shutting on its own with a clack.

  –

  "You're doing a good job, dear, don't be shy now~ Thank him for the candy and leave him in debt so I get more~" How quickly Affection's loyalties swayed. Maybe this dating sim option wasn’t so bad after all.