There's a hideous pounding in the back of his head and between his eyes as he comes to. He softly groans with eyes pinched shut as the pain registers in his sleep addled state. The bed squeaks as he tries to roll over into a more comfortable position. Mainly to stick his face into the lumpy pillow, only to fail when he rolls off the bed and onto the concrete floor.

He can feel his brain rattling inside his head as he pathetically lays on the ground. His face mashed uncomfortably into the concrete. The scent of wet stone, corroding metal and something distinctly earthy fills his nose.

A gritty, dry feeling lingers in his mouth no matter how many times he smacks his tongue and lips. It almost feels like he's been in the desert eating sand. He groans again, this time louder as he squints his eyes open.

The world is fuzzy and wobbles before settling into shapes that seem vaguely familiar.

Or mostly familiar.

It takes him a few minutes for his mind to catch up with what he's seeing. Darkness of the underside of the bed greets him. A deep rich blue stops the limited shadow of the room. He's not quite sure what to make of it as he stares at it. His brain attempts to grasp what this should mean.

He's sure he almost has it when a man chuckles from far away. Or something that sounds like a man.

Something scratches at the inside of his head. An idea, a memory, information on what is going on.

"Please take your time." a young lady's voice calls, " we have all the time in the world." The voice is polite.

An image of a glowing white butterfly crosses his minds eye as slowly sits up.

The room he's in is small and brightly colored blue. Most contents of the room remain blurry and out of focus. This detail doesn't phase him as he slowly trudges out into the larger room. Bright lights sting his eyes. He squints a bit before they dim into a softer glow.

Everything suddenly clicks as he spots a man seated at a worn desk. A man with bloodshot eyes bulging out of their sockets and a long hooked nose. Beside him is a young looking girl of silverish blond hair dressed in a blue dress.

"Welcome to the Velvet room. I am most delighted to formally meet your acquaintance. As you know, this place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter." The unworldly man states. His hands hooked together, elbows resting on the desk. His eyes observant and sharp. "It has been a few years since we've had a guest. It is most interesting that you have returned."

Their guest gently nods his head in quiet agreement. He wants to question why he's here but his voice fails to leave his throat.

"We are unsure as to why you are here." She answers, as if she knew what he wanted to ask.

The long nosed man chuckles before opening a strange glowing blue book with golden decoration laying on the desk. The spine creeks as he leafs through the pages. He stops on a certain yellowing page, tapping his finger gently on curvy text his guest can't see.

"Your contract has been fulfilled but yet it appears that your destiny has not." The book snaps shut with a flick of the man's wrist and is placed back at the edge of the desk.

"This is most strange." A smile appears on his face. "I look forward to see what you do."

"We as before, will provide our services to help you in your journey. You need only to visit us." The girl says, her voice slightly melancholy.

"O-of course."

"Then we will see each other at another time then."

"We wish you luck, trickster."

~"I never strayed, I'm not a figment of your ill and old mind.
I'm just as fearless, I'm just as dangerous as you soon know you'll find!"~

From underneath a mountain of blankets, a voice moaned as a hand hopelessly groped around. It took a couple of tries before they found a blue poodle covered phone. Only for the phone to stop a second later. It chirps for a minute or two before the I phone falls fortunately silent again.

~"I've got a feeling it's never too late. I close my eyes and see myself how my dreams will come true
There'll be no more darkness when you believe in yourself you are unstoppable"~

He was nearly drifting back to sleep when the new ringtone began to blare, startling him before making him wince. Like the dead, he emerges out of the bedding, his body going into autopilot as he answers the phone. His eyes dropping half in exhaustion, the other half from a pounding hangover.

"Hello Yuuri."

"Celestino?" He asks tiredly. He gently scrubs the side of his face. It feels slightly numb as if it had been laying on concrete instead of a pillow.

"Your little sister texted me. Said you might need a wake up call?"

"Little sist- ...Oh... yeah..." He rubs the sticky crust out of his eyes.

"Well just be ready in an hour alright?"

"alright"

Yawning, he ends the call with a click before sending a quick 'thank you' text. It's nearly instantaneous when a reply comes back. It chirps at him as he slowly enters the bathroom, turning the shower to full blast and icy cold.

The dream from the night before only a vague memory of fuzzy blue and destinies.