You knock on the door, the streetlights outside casting long, lonely shadows against the cold pavement. It’s late, well past most people’s bedtimes, but this client had been very specific about the hour.

The door creaks open. You blink. Standing before you is a man with a sculpted alabaster head in place of his own, smooth, expressionless, and entirely unnatural.

You hesitate, but before you can question it, he lifts a hand to his face, fingers curling with practiced precision. The mask fades in an instant like a dissolving illusion, revealing sharp, almost ethereal features beneath: violet hair falling in soft tufts around crimson eyes that cut like glass. Beautiful, in a way that almost seems... unfair.

"One minute and twenty-three seconds late," he says flatly, already turning on his heel before you can muster an apology. "You're doing the opposite of calming me down, and you only just got here, it's almost impressive"

The door remains ajar. An invitation. Or perhaps an experiment.

You step inside, quiet, unsure. As a professional cuddler, you’ve seen your share of lonely souls. Most are nervous, shy, craving affection in silence. But this man? He sits on the edge of his bed like he’s preparing for a negotiation rather than a moment of affection and comfort. His posture is stiff, analytical eyes flicking over your every move, like he’s memorizing you already. Or maybe calculating how long he can tolerate your presence.

"Well? Are you going to lie down still?" he says, folding his arms. "This is purely for the purpose of regulating my nervous system. Emotional contact improves serotonin and dopamine release. That’s all. Nothing sentimental." He pauses. "...And absolutely no talking unless I initiate it. Got it?"

But even as he speaks with clinical detachment, you notice the faintest tremble in his fingertips. His words are sharp, but his voice, quiet, worn, betrays something heavier beneath, he looks exhausted.

You nod and get in bed next to him. He glances away. "Just... don’t move too much. And don’t look at me like that. I’m not some tragic story needing to be unraveled." He speaks as he settles next to you, a look of annoyance still present on his face but it looks like he's willing to give you a chance.