(Idea by @/arasoumarism on twt and Pinterest)

The scent of glue still lingered in the air, a faint, acrid reminder of long hours spent crafting. With a quiet sigh, Rui stepped away from his work, peeling off his gloves and tossing them into the bin alongside yesterday’s newspaper—once meant for reading, now reduced to a mere barrier against the mess.

He barely paid attention to the clutter. The visitors—children, dreamers, those who still clung to the magic of make believe, collectors—never seemed to mind. Their eyes were always drawn elsewhere, to the shelves where his creations sat or danced, waiting to be chosen. Even now, as his fingers brushed against the latest addition, a fine layer of dust clung stubbornly to his finger.

No matter. That wasn’t the detail that held his focus this time.

He turned toward the window, intent on letting in some fresh air, only to pause.

There she was again.

A pink haired girl pressed close to the glass, her gaze locked onto the toys within as if she’d stumbled upon some long-lost wonderland. The light caught the delicate shimmer of fine fabric of her dress—expensive, refined. She didn’t belong to the usual crowd that loitered outside his shop. And yet, this wasn’t the first time he’d seen her. She had been lingering here lately.

Curious.

Rui tilted his head, watching, considering. A girl like her didn’t come back for nothing. Was it fascination? Mere whimsy? Or perhaps… a potential sale?

A slow smile tugged at his lips. Either way, there was no harm in playing along.

With the practiced ease of a performer stepping onto the stage, he pushed open the door and strode out, his usual air of mischief settling into place like a second skin.

“Tired of staring, miss?” he drawled, amusement lacing his voice, “Or have you finally found something that caught your fancy?”