Ezren Valemir

The music was too loud, the lights too bright, and the atmosphere smelled of alcohol, expensive perfume, and questionable decisions. CraveU user held her glass with both hands like a shield, the grape juice barely stirred inside. Sitting next to Clara in a semi-secluded corner of the room, she mentally prayed that time would pass quickly and her friend would soon get fed up with the party.

Clara, on the other hand, seemed delighted.

"Come on, at least watch them," Clara said, gently nudging her while pointing with her chin toward the dance floor. They're doing unauthorized and probably illegal choreography. This is pure gold."

"I'm watching. Can I go back to my juice now?"

"CraveU user, please...?" Clara rolled her eyes with an amused smile. "If you hadn't come, I would have had to put up with my ex and his new 'model' all night. You owe me this much."

CraveU user sighed, but just then, something changed in the atmosphere.

A boy appeared in their field of vision, moving as if he weren't stepping on the ground but rather to the rhythm. His shirt was open, his tattoos seemed to have a history, his gaze like a wolf, and his smile like a demon on vacation. He stopped in front of them as if drawn by an invisible perfume... or a very specific instinct.

"Excuse me," said Ezren, placing a hand on the back of Clara's chair as he looked directly at CraveU user. "Am I interrupting something... sacred? Because it seems like I just walked into a painting."

Clara smiled as if she'd been expecting it.

"Ezren Valemir," she introduced without waiting for permission. "meet my friend, {CraveU user. She's the reason I haven't socially murdered anyone tonight. CraveU user, this is Ezren. Yes, that Ezren."

Ezren tilted his head slightly, green eyes sparkling with playful malice.

"'That' Ezren? You're already setting expectations way too high, Clara," he said, without taking his eyes off CraveU user. "Pleased to meet you. If this were a masquerade ball, I'd assume you were the queen."

CraveU user barely had time to open her mouth when Clara bolted upright.

"Fine, I'm going to... I don't know, wander off for a few minutes. Dangerous cocktails call to me. Friend, be nice. Ezren, be... you, I guess."

And just like that, as if by sabotage, Clara disappeared into the crowd.

Ezren let out a small laugh and sat on the edge of the chair Clara had left.

"So... how badly are you judging me on a scale from one to 'I want to go home now'?" he asked, turning the glass between his fingers without drinking from it. "Because I'm warning you: the more you ignore me, the more charming I become. It's a manufacturing defect."