Choux-fleurs

“Redjade29 Thank you for the akasupa! ‘Hey Violet, glad to see you’re enjoying 999 it’s one of my favourites, I think you’ll really like the character Clover and hope to see you play more’ Thanks again! Yeah I’m really enjoying the game, I guess it’s technically a visual novel but the puzzle elements make it a lot more engaging so I’m actually enjoying myself way more than I thought, also I like Clover but Akane is best girl!”

On a computer screen surrounded by a png backdrop of a forest was a purple plant woman wearing a crown of roses seeming to grow out of the scenery itself as she bobbed along to the simple background music which in turn caused her exaggerated assets to shake on screen as she responded to donations.

“Alright guys, it’s late I’m gonna have to read any other superchats this weekend during my usual reading! But I’ll be back again tomorrow, we’re going to be trying out Balatro, I’ve never played poker before but I’ve been told that’s not really a big deal for this game? Anyways, that’s it for tonight! Hanasumi!”

In a dimly lit bedroom, Lily Wright hit the button on her stream pad to start the end screen and to end stream and breathed out a heavy sigh. The young woman couldn’t have been more different than her online avatar. Barely any chest to speak of, glasses, freckles, sandy brown hair. Lily felt as nondescript as it came

She was exhausted. It had been a six-hour stream, she hadn’t anticipated just how long it would get with needing to narrate most of the dialogue. At least Balatro wouldn’t require her to narrate.

She stretched out her arms and yawned glancing at the energy drinks littering her desk. It was three in the morning already and she still had things to get done before she could sleep, not to mention her shift at the convenience store started at noon. At this rate, she might squeeze in a good four hours of sleep.

This had been pretty consistent with her routine since starting her Vtubing channel “Violet Indigo, the Gaming Alraune”, it had seemed like a fun creative outlet, a way to make some money that might also be fun. She neglected to think at the time how much work it would put on her shoulders considering she had to handle everything on the production end too. She was almost making enough that she could quit her part time job, but growth had slowed and she wasn’t sure how to get it to pick back up.

Yawning again as she grabbed her mouse to start answering some emails “Maybe I should plan a subathon…how would I fit that in with work though…dammit.” She tried to remain peppy on stream but off stream in spite of or maybe because of the effort she spent on stream she had a hard time not being pessimistic.

She then felt sudden lightheadedness and stopped “Ok maybe food first then work…let’s see what I got”

She walked on her barefeet over to the small kitchen in her studio apartment and opened the fridge. An opened container of monster energy, a carton of eggs, a box of baking soda, a cheese stick, and a container of what had been indian food a few days ago but the smell coming from it indicated it low longer was edible. Heaving out another sigh, she grabbed the cheese stick and put it in her mouth.

She needed groceries, she needed to get work done, she needed sleep, she needed…something. Streaming was fun but outside of that every day felt so hollow and empty. Most of her friends had moved out of the city since graduating for work, leaving her alone. The only person she knew close by was a non-option, not after how things ended. Not after what he did. Besides it had been four years, he might not even be around any more.

The thought just made Lily feel even more alone, and that feeling made her feel pathetic. “Ok work time, can’t feel bad about things when you’re too busy working. That’s all I got to look forward to anyway”

Walking back to her seat she began to type away at an email with the cheese stick hanging from her mouth when suddenly darkness overtook her vision.

When her eyes reopened, she was blinded by light as it seemed like the sun was shining directly in her face. No, not the sun, a spotlight. She was on a brightly lit stage next to an absurdly proportioned woman and a man dressed in a suit who was pointing a stick at her.

Caleb blinked in his seat, he couldn’t believe it. In the same puff of smoke that the host and assistant had used to appear now, a very dazed-looking Lily had appeared. It had been over four years since they last spoke but he’d recognize her anywhere. She looked…less healthy than the last time he had seen her, and even as he dreaded her noticing him, he hoped she was ok.

Her senses coming to her, Lily looked around “Where am I? Who are you?” She stood up on shaky legs trying to get her bearings and looking around the auditorium when she spotted Caleb in the audience, her eyes widening “Caleb?! Cheating wasn’t enough you have to kidnap me now?! Are you trying to ruin my life?”

Caleb tried to hide his face in his hands as Lucian spoke up “Ah Yes, delightful! Yes, our first contestant is Lillian Wright, Caleb's first love, girlfriend, and the woman he lost his virginity to!” Both human’s faces turned bright red and Lily approached the host, anger flashing in her eyes.

“How dare you!” She raised her hand as if to strike the demon but was met with a cold glare and a flashing from the stick in his hand and she froze as her body stiffened on it’s own.

“None of that dearie, why don’t you introduce yourself?” Lucian hissed out, a forked tongue momentarily glimpsed between his teeth as he spoke.

Against her will Lily turned to face out from the stage and in a voice that was chipper beyond how she was feeling write now began to speak. “I’m Lily Wright, I’m 26 years old and currently work as the Vtuber Violet Indigo on Youtube and as a convenience store clerk. My hobbies are playing video games, knitting, and gardening though I haven’t been able to in my current apartment. I met Caleb in college and we quickly hit off and started dating. I thought things were going great until one night I caught him cheating on me. He said it was a one-time thing, but I couldn’t forgive him and haven’t seen him since”

In the audience stands, Caleb felt like his chest was in a vice, he didn’t like reliving that moment. It had been a mistake, he knew that and he regretted how he had treated Lily. But it was strange to hear how she thought their relationship had been great at the time. He didn’t know how much of that was her believing it or whatever magic was compelling the situation.

That was another thing to reconcile with all this, nothing had been said but it had to be magic. Summoning people from nowhere, the strange look in the host's eyes. Whatever he had done to stop Lily just now.

While Caleb had been thinking about this, it seemed that the streamer on stage had recovered and was asking questions. “What exactly is going on here? You called me a contestant? A contestant on what exactly?”

Lucian slapped the stick into the palm of his hand “Why the prestigious program Harem Hotel, you are one of eight women now officially a part of the Master’s Harem. We’ll get more into the weeds of it later plant girl, but for now, why don’t you take a seat in the front row and wait for out next guest?”

“You can’t expect me to accept this, I don’t want to be anywhere near him! I can’t think of anyone I hate more!” As she shouted, Caleb winced. Even if he knew she had every right to feel the way she did, it was painful to hear it said plainly.

The Host leaned in and whispered into Lily’s ear. “Listen…I’m working very hard to be pleasant right now you disgusting bag of flesh.” The words were said calmly but with a level of disgust and hatred that took Lily aback.

Lucian continued“ I can make things really bad for you, you don’t want me to do that.” He pointed at a cushioned seat with his slapstick and it burst into flames. After a few seconds of burning it was reduced to ash. “Now go have a seat”

Lily then felt a tugging on her sleeve and looked over to see Reyna who gave her a little bow “Let’s not get our Host all excited, follow me”

“I-um…sure” Lily acquiesed following Reyna to a seat in the front row “What the hell have you gotten us into Caleb?”

Once she was seated, Lucian was all smiles again. “Ah young love, we hope to see it rekindled but also let’s see something new! Everyone knows behind a good man is a better woman and she’s been Caleb’s Agent for the last two years. Give it up for Mira Gayen!”